With the Alliance War ended, the Dominion doesn't linger long in the frigid climes of Skyrim. When Ayrenn's main force has recovered sufficiently from the last, difficult stretch of their campaign, the Queen leads them on a homebound journey towards southern Tamriel. They cross the border into Cyrodiil, where they spend months on a steady march to Elsweyr, stopping at cities in their path for Queen Ayrenn walk among Imperial citizens. Though the Dominion forces are greeted with little warmth or cheer, it's only to be expected, and Ayrenn bears it with grace through the journey.

The warm sands of Anequina is a welcome sight at the end of their homeward march. Unlike in Cyrodiil, their presence is received with more cheer, and they make camp outside Riverhold where their Khajiiti troops eagerly head into town, to bask in the comfort of home. They stay for a few days, before resuming their journey southwards to the city of Corinthe, which straddles the border between Anequina and Pellitine. Queen Ayrenn has chosen Corinthe for an official visit due to its central location, where the leaders of Anequina and Pellitine can gather conveniently. She hopes to use this city in her future efforts to unite the two Khajiiti territories into one true kingdom, but it isn't a pertinent concern for the moment.

Corinthe, upon receiving word that Queen Ayrenn will be visiting after her successful campaign, has held no reservations in putting together a celebration in honour of the Dominion's victory. Royalty from both Anequina and Pellitine have gathered in the city, first to listen to the Queen's speech, then indulge in festivities and the sweet, sweet feast.

Sielaire raises a hand and shakes her head politely when a tipsy Khajiit sidles up to her, offering a glass of moon sugar-infused wine. Obviously he hasn't picked up on the fact that she is armed and on duty, but he smiles good-naturedly and saunters off, drinking from the glass he'd just offered. Sielaire looks away as he blends into the crowd of guests milling around, then turns back to the tables set on a platform in the manor's courtyard. The nobility are still gathered there – Khajiit dressed in flowing robes speaking with Queen Ayrenn, who is adorned with similar robes tailored to her tall frame. As with the guests, the mood around the tables is jovial – especially after Ayrenn's promise of aid in post-war reconstruction.

Sielaire allows her gaze to linger on Ayrenn's joyful expression, before focusing on the guests again. Though the war is over, the Queen's safety cannot be taken for granted. So she stands at vigil in a corner of the courtyard, watching as the night grows merrier with the help of food and drinks infused with moon sugar. Then the musicians start strumming their zithers and beating their drums, and Sielaire's job is made more difficult when the guests spring towards the dance floor.

It's mostly Khajiit who first warm the carpet with jaunty, agile steps, before the rest gather their courage to join their graceful feline companions. There is a fleeting pause in the throng when Ayrenn rises from her seat as well, and surprises the Khajiit with her proficiency at their dance, robes flowing behind her figure with immeasurable elegance. The Khajiit smile and laugh with the Queen, and soon they've gathered around her, swaying and twirling in harmony.

"She is pretty good, isn't she?" Sielaire hears two Khajiit guests whisper to each other. "So graceful with a tail-less posterior."

Sielaire has to bite on her bottom lip to stop a laugh from escaping, and her eyes seek Ayrenn out once more, resting a long while on the posterior which has been deemed graceful by Khajiiti standards. Her gaze returns to Ayrenn's face, alit by the bright glow of torches and the grin on her face, which masks any trace of exhaustion Sielaire knows she feels from the months of travel.

She stares at the young Queen as she twirls and glides smoothly over the carpet, entranced by the fluid movements...until she notices a slight shuffle right beside her. Sielaire turns her head, and is startled by the sight of her lieutenant standing beside her. She jumps a step back, but gathers herself and straightens her shoulders, frowning when Earilas smiles playfully at her.

"Distracted, ma'am?"

Sielaire clears her throat, fighting the urge to glance back at the dance floor. "Report, Earilas."

"I mean, I can't blame you. If that's my partner, I would also stare without noticing my lieutenant's been standing here for ten minutes…"

She shoves her elbow into Earilas' ribs. "Report."

"You're still smiling, by the way."

Now aware of her own affectionate smile, Sielaire purses her lips together. "Report, Earilas, or I'll have you scrubbing the entire city's latrines."

Earilas chuckles, then clasps both his hands behind his back, standing at ease. "Sweep is done, ma'am. Nothing out of the ordinary. I've assigned patrol routes for the night, and coordinated with the Eyes to cover every inch of the city. We're as safe as can be."

Sielaire nods. "Good. You're dismissed. Join the celebrations, you've earned it."

"Thanks, ma'am." Earilas knocks a fist to his chest in a salute, then walks off with his eyes on the wine kegs.

Sielaire watches him go, then notices a pair of eyes beside a tree, glinting from firelight. She meets the Khajiit's gaze, but the young girl seems surprised by the attention and quickly scarpers off, running behind the throng of guests. Sielaire cocks her head when she loses sight of the girl, but shrugs off the odd encounter.

She turns back to the dance floor, where the dancers are taking a break during a brief lull between songs. Ayrenn catches her eye, and Sielaire forgets to breathe when the Queen smiles at her. Flicking the blonde locks from her face, which have fallen during the dance, Ayrenn winks before accepting the gracious hand of a Pellitine lord, as the music starts up again.

Sielaire feels a desire to join Ayrenn, but takes a breath and calms down. Focus, she reminds herself, determined not to lapse into another bout of silent adoration. And she doesn't – though a small smile remains on her lips for the rest of the celebrations.

As expected, Ayrenn's time in Corinthe barely gives her time to breathe. Even at the celebratory feast, Khajiiti nobles sought her out one after another, eager to know Elsweyr's place and role in the Dominion's future. Ayrenn welcomes their curiosity and enthusiasm, of course, but she finds herself yearning for some time alone. So she dons the enchanted earrings which masks her true hair and eye colour, and ventures into the city when the Queen has been declared indisposed for the day.

The city has calmed down after the celebrations, and resumed its daily routine, albeit with an underlying hum of excitement at the Queen's stay. Ayrenn takes the time to walk along the streets, noting the wear on citizens and infrastructure, and signs of the war's strain on the city. It will be a long while before anyone recovers and rebuilds to their pre-war splendour, but there will come a time when her citizens have shaken off the ravages of war, and are able to prosper. That, she promises herself.

She follows the roads aimlessly, then remembers that Sielaire is currently off duty as well. Ayrenn wonders where she can find her partner, but it doesn't take long to figure out. Sielaire has mentioned the childcare she's visited during her downtime, and sure enough, Ayrenn finds Sielaire playing with the kittens in its yard. The group is mostly tiny Alfiq children, who jump and swat at the scarf Sielaire dangles over them, while a few actual cat-kittens climb and clamber onto Sielaire's shoulders, meowing shrill and uncoordinated songs.

Ayrenn smiles, opting to watch from a distance for now. Sielaire seems like she's in paradise, lips parted in a chuckle as she dips and tugs her scarf above the kittens, causing them to jump one after another. When Sielaire has gone a few more rounds with the kittens, making them leap after the ever-elusive scarf, Ayrenn moves forward, bringing a momentary pause among the little ones. Their eyes leave the scarf and fix on Ayrenn as she sits down on dry soil, pecking Sielaire on the cheek before she smiles down at the kittens.

"Having fun?" Ayrenn asks in Ta'agra.

A chorus of high-pitched 'yeah' comes from the group.

"We're waiting for the rest–, here they are," Sielaire says, raising her head when the childcare's door opens, letting a larger group of Khajiit into the yard. Interestingly enough, instead of scattering in different directions, they make their way to Sielaire with comfortable familiarity.

"Hello, Sie," some of them say in common Tamrielic, and Ayrenn looks to Sielaire curiously.

"Hey," Sielaire replies, ruffling as many of their heads as she can reach. "What do you want to play today?"

"Ball!" One Dagi exclaims, holding up a ball of yarn in her hands.

"No, chase the tail!"

"I wanna play Alliances!"

"No, Sie hates that!" Another Khajiit replies, just as Sielaire's face scrunches up.

"So many different games," Ayrenn laughs, and the group falls silent, looking at the stranger. "How about, everyone splits up and plays what they want? Then Sie will play with each of you in turn."

The kittens fall into uncertain murmuring, heads tilting side to side as they discuss the current conundrum. Sielaire laughs under her breath, and clasps Ayrenn's hand.

"They like playing together," Sielaire explains.

"Oh." Ayrenn hums in thought. "How about this? We'll play each game together. Sounds good?"

"Yeah," they reply.

"Alright then." Ayrenn turns to one little Senche-raht, who's been watching her intently. "What's your favourite game?"

The Senche's ears prick up, dark eyes brightening. "I like to wrestle. Sie knows!"

"Wrestle, huh? Isn't that a little too rough–?"

Too late. The Senche boy has lowered his head close to the ground, then charges right into Sielaire, who laughs and falls over with the Senche's head buried in her stomach.

"Ah! You got me."

"She's down," the kittens sang. "Get her!"

They clamour over one another in what seems to be a familiar game, and climbs all over Sielaire, rubbing and patting their paws on the Altmer. Sielaire is effectively pinned to the floor by the kittens, but seems unbothered by her predicament.

"I've been routed!" Sielaire cries in mock dismay, snickering as many paws pat at her face. "Help!"

"Only the Queen can save you now!" the Senche boy exclaims, unaware that the very Queen herself is sitting by, watching as they pile on top of Sielaire. Not that it matters – the Queen is quite content to let her battlereeve suffer the taste of defeat...for now.

Ayrenn leans back with a smile on her face, heart growing soft as she watches Sielaire laugh breathlessly under the Khajiit children. She hadn't known how well Sielaire gets along with children – she has never seen Sielaire interacting with one before. Does she even like children? She certainly seems to, though her current company is made of cat people…

Still, Ayrenn can't help but wonder, as she gazes at her wife. How would Sielaire be as a mother?

She is lost in that single thought, until she's shaken back to reality by green eyes meeting hers.

"My Queen!" Sielaire says, albeit at a careful volume. "Please aid me!"

Ayrenn laughs and grasps Sielaire's outstretched hand, tugging her wife up from the ground. The Khajiit fall off her, save for the two Alfiq clinging onto her jerkin by their claws. "There you are, my Battlereeve. I thought I'd lost you."

Sielaire smiles as Ayrenn kisses her briefly on the lips. She turns her gaze back to the children, then looks up when the door is swung open again.

"Snacks are ready!" the caretaker calls, gesturing for the children to go in. "There's some for you too, five-claw."

Sielaire raises a hand in thanks, as the children race one another into the building. She blinks when Ayrenn clasps her by the chin, and stays quiet as her head is tilted this way and that, sharp eyes examining her quietly.

"Dear me," Ayrenn murmurs, looking at the shallow scratches all over Sielaire's cheeks and neck. "They are fierce little warriors, aren't they?"

Sielaire chuckles as Ayrenn heals the scratches with a simple spell. "They can be over-enthusiastic."

Ayrenn smiles, straightening the silver circlet which has been knocked askew on Sielaire's head, then runs her fingers through her wife's mussed hair. "I didn't know you liked children."

"Me neither," Sielaire says. "But I chanced upon this place the day before, and it's full of Khajiit children, so…"

"You couldn't stay away."

"Yeah," Sielaire admits with a sheepish smile, looking back at the building. Her gaze turns wistful. "Some of them are orphans, you know? Because of the war."

"Ah. Unfortunate," is all Ayrenn can say.

Sielaire nods, then averts her eyes sharply, looking into the distance. Curious, Ayrenn follows her line of sight, and notices a lone Khajiit standing by the yard's fence, staring at them. The girl's shoulders are hunched over as she clutches at the fence, and looks as if she's trying to hide behind one wooden post – without much success.

"Who's that?" Ayrenn asks quietly.

"I don't know," Sielaire whispers, but she lifts a hand and waves the Khajiit over.

The girl shuffles on her feet, then approaches them timidly.

"I saw you at the feast," Sielaire says.

The young Khajiit nods. "Yes. This one was… She has heard of you," she says quietly. "How you won that last battle in Skyrim. How you rained a storm of thunder and lightning on your enemy? Is it true?"

Ayrenn glances at Sielaire, whose expression stiffens by a fraction which only her wife can detect.

"I did use lightning spells, yes. They're my favourite." Sielaire smiles. She lets lightning crackle briefly over her hands to draw the girl from her guarded shell. "Can you use magic?"

The Khajiit nods fervently. "Yes! Very well." Her hands come alight with harmless fire in demonstration, before she extinguishes it with similar ease. "This one wants to train...and be like you. Can she join your Wings when she grows up?"

Ayrenn knows Sielaire's answer, and that her wife won't voice it. At least, not directly. She watches as Sielaire pieces together a tactful answer in her head.

"Of course. Anyone who meets our standards is welcome. But you're still young, don't rush into being a soldier, alright?" Sielaire lays a hand on the Khajiit's arm. "How about this? Read and study as much as you can. The war has just ended, and I'm sure the city needs as many hands as they can get. Why don't you help your people rebuild first? And, if you still want to join the Wings after, you are more than welcome to sign up with us. How does that sound?"

The Khajiit thinks it over, head cocked. Then she nods. "Papa is building many new homes in the city, and outside too. He says a lot of people need places to stay now."

"Yes. Many people need help, in many different ways," Sielaire replies. "Why don't you study magic, and see if you can help them with your talent?"

The girl smiles and nods again, with more conviction. "This one will. But the Wings…"

"We will be around for a long time yet," Sielaire assures her. "Anytime you want to join us, just seek us out."

"Yes, thank you." The girl scratches at her head, and steps away. "This one will remember what you said."

Sielaire waves as the girl skips away, then leans back with a sigh. Her eyes are lowered in thought, before she realises Ayrenn is watching her. "Yes?"

"My dear hero," Ayrenn croons. "Already inspiring the next generation of soldiers."

"Gods, I hope not," Sielaire says quietly. She looks back in the direction the girl had disappeared. "To go through what I did…"

"A heavy price to pay," Ayrenn concurs, stroking her cheek.

Sielaire gazes at her wife, then smiles. She leans in, placing a soft kiss on Ayrenn's lips. "It's for a worthy cause," Sielaire murmurs, resting their heads together.

After sharing some sugary snacks with the children, they wander about the city together, Sielaire walking hand-in-hand with the Queen in disguise. Sielaire hovers near her wife, worried that someone will recognise her dark-haired companion as the blonde queen who'd danced gaily at the celebratory feast, but she has to relent when Ayrenn tugs pointedly at her hand. She sighs audibly enough for Ayrenn to hear, and settles for walking with an arm around her wife's waist – the best security measure while incognito. Ayrenn cannot wander far, and Sielaire is close enough to protect her wife at a split-second's notice.

It's in this manner that they spend the day – as a regular Altmer couple visiting the Khajiiti city, soaking in the sights and daily bustle of its people. They doze on a terrace overlooking the temple within the city, then dive into the market crowds with their coin pouches fastened securely beneath their shirts. They buy and exchange a few interesting trinkets, and Sielaire purchases an intricate Khajiit stone statuette for herself, while Ayrenn buys sticky, rectangular little cakes to sate her stomach. Sielaire first frowns at the cakes, which are very dense in moon sugar content, then goes into a half-trance when Ayrenn feeds her a mouthful. After the battlereeve finally returns to her senses, she shoots her wife a pout, and swears off eating it until they are back in her quarters.

They walk together until the sun has set, before retiring to the Queen's bedchambers. They take a bath together in the springs behind Ayrenn's bedroom, Sielaire fending off her wife's advances in favour of her empty stomach. She smiles at Ayrenn as she rises from the springs, noting how her wife's eyes rake down her nude body, dripping with water.

But Sielaire is indeed hungry, and indulges in the rich meal brought to Ayrenn's quarters. She feasts on succulent roasted meats, and watches dubiously as Ayrenn scarfs down the cakes without falling into the same state of rapture that Sielaire had experienced.

Ayrenn smiles at Sielaire's narrowed eyes. "Don't worry about it, Sie. I have a natural tolerance for it. Raz likes to say I'm half-cat."

"Is that why I like you so much?" Sielaire deadpans.

"Most likely," Ayrenn replies, as Sielaire drinks more sugar-infused wine. She remains quiet as Sielaire munches on another piece of fluffy, toasted bread, then says, "Sie, can we talk about something?"

"Anything, love."

"Is the wine working on you?"

"Sort of?" Sielaire replies, eyeing Ayrenn closely. "What is it?"

"Since the war has ended, I think it's time to consider our future, yes?"

"Yes?"

"Are you ready to marry the Queen?"

Sielaire pauses with the glass of wine halfway to her lips. "I don't think I'm drunk enough yet."

Ayrenn laughs, nudging her head. "Sie."

Sielaire smiles and takes a sip of wine, wishing it had less moon sugar and more 'knock-you-to-your-knees'. She lowers her eyes, slowly setting the glass back on the table. Her heart, which has been calm and relaxed, now beats with an anxious rhythm. She looks up when Ayrenn rests a hand over hers.

"Coin for your thoughts?" Ayrenn asks gently.

"Truthfully?" Sielaire replies. "I'm not ready. I'm… It frightens me."

"It is no small matter," Ayrenn agrees.

"You're the Queen, and I'm just…" Sielaire sighs, bringing a smile to Ayrenn's lips when she takes a longer draught of wine. "I know you've talked about this many times before, and I've sworn to be with you. But there was a part of me that couldn't...trust a future so far away."

"And so uncertain," Ayrenn supplies, and Sielaire nods. "Like a fantasy to keep you going."

"Right." Sielaire feels a twinge of guilt, then adds, "But this doesn't mean I was not sincere."

"I know, Sie. I understand perfectly." Ayrenn squeezes her hand. "You know what kept me going? You. The thought of winning the war, and sharing everything I have with you."

"You already do."

"Yes, but 'everything' includes my new empire."

Sielaire huffs. "I figured."

Ayrenn smiles, bringing Sielaire's hand to her lips. "Don't let this trouble you too soon, my dear. The Dominion will keep me busy for a long while yet. Maybe a year or two. But after...I do intend to make you my wife. My consort."

Sielaire nods quietly. She moves the finger where her golden wedding band sits, a weight which she has grown accustomed to over the years, now heavier in its promise. She has committed herself to Ayrenn a long time ago, and her love has not wavered once in their years together. Nothing will change her feelings, yet this very same love makes her feel so weak now, when the time has come for Ayrenn's promises to bear fruit.

"Is there anything I can do?" Ayrenn asks.

"No, I'm…alright." Sielaire's lips twitch into a comforting smile. Then she sighs, shaking her head. "Somehow, this scares me more than the war."

Ayrenn laughs. "It scares me too, Sie. But it'll be alright. Trust me." She presses Sielaire's hand to her heart. "I'll be with you every step of the way, I promise."

Sielaire gazes back at the Queen – the treasure she guards, who has watched and protected her in return throughout the long years of war. She feels the beats of her heart, and believes the words that fall from her lover's lips.

"I know you will," Sielaire murmurs, leaning in to seal Ayrenn's vow with a soft kiss.