Erandur quietly entered their room, expecting his darling Telki to have long since tucked herself up in bed. He had to chuckle to himself when he found her slumped in a chair, repair kit and leathers in her lap. He carefully stowed the gear, making an appreciative hum at the nigh invisible repair job to his red jerkin. He remembered that fight. A saber cat had leapt out at them on a mountain road, not much maneuvering room, and the cat had attacked from an overhang. A long claw had ripped down the side. The leather took most of the damage, but he'd still required a potion or two before the gash in his side quit seeping blood. Telki had stopped then to do an emergency repair, but wanted to get after it right when they got to Riften. She'd kept true to her promise. It was just one of the many reasons he'd fallen in love with her.
Which was why he meant for her to have no delusions about how he felt before they left this city. It had all been arranged, if she said yes. He was fairly sure of her answer, but then, she was probably the least predictable person he'd ever met. He considered the sleeping woman in his arms, a warm smile tugging the corners of his mouth. She looked small, delicate, and so very innocent sleeping in his arms. Entirely unlike the hellcat that had leapt to his defense when the saber cat had marked him. He'll never forget the sight of her leaping from the back of her horse, over him, and onto the saber cat, both war axes swinging. Just how does one reconcile the two?
He slipped into bed with his enigma held close. She murmured something in her sleep, and nuzzled her face into the curve of his neck. He kissed the top of her tufted ear, and settled down to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a hectic day.
"Telki, will you marry me?" The question came out of nowhere. She turned to Erandur, her armor only half on. Looking at his face fall, she could only imagine what her own face looked like.
"Are you sure you want me?" Well, that's not what she meant to say. She certainly didn't mean to sound so pitiful about it, but seeing the astonishment on Erandur's face was highly rewarding. He immediately scooped her up, covering her in kisses, half dressed and all. "I come with more baggage than a highborn, and who knows if I'll ever be able to settle down and have a normal life. You sure you want to sign on for all that?" She wished she could shut herself up, but important life altering questions tended to bring on the babble.
"Love, you think I didn't already know all that? I love you, and I can't think of a better way to spend my life, than with you." The kisses were getting more heated, and she had a sneaking suspicion that all that time getting dressed was about to be wasted. When Erandur found that spot behind her ear, she was certain.
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Telki had thought the art of teleportation had been lost. It was the only explanation for the number of people waiting in the temple for their marriage. How Erandur had gotten people from as far away as Dawnstar and Riverwood she'd never know, but there they were. She knew he was adept with magic, but this was a bit much.
Of course, he had stalled her out for a day: distracting her in the best of ways that morning, and then encouraging her walking about the marketplace helping people. It was sheer luck she'd had ice wraith teeth and fire salts. Getting Sapphire off poor Shadr's back was just a matter of confronting her in front of Brynjolf and making enough commotion she got the 'bad for business' eye from her senior. Then there was poor Wujeeta, strung out on Skooma.
Telki was honor bound to make sure the cure stuck, and getting the okay from Laila to take out the poison dealer was a piece of cake. Thankfully, going after the suppliers could wait a day or two. She had enough on her plate for the next two days. She just didn't realize a wedding was one of them. Her wedding. To Erandur. How'd this happen again? The benedictions from Maramal hardly registered, but she was fully present for the sealing kiss from Erandur and returned it with full fervor. The roar of approval from the wedding guests never even registered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even in the gloom of the ratway, her lovely new wedding ring twinkled. She loved it, and she loved the man that gave it to her. Even as they were trying to find their way past bully boys and traps, she took time to gaze at it in wonder and then give him the goofiest grin. Erandur didn't mind, he was spending almost as much time grinning back at her just as smitten.
He barely had time to duck when he saw her expression harden and her eyes spit fire, she drew her longbow and fired, catching yet another footpad in the chest, his dead weight crashed into Erandur's back, knocking him off balance. "Perhaps, Love, we should focus more on finding the Ragged Flagon, and less on our newfound wedded bliss."
"I think you might be right. Hmmm, let's try this way." Telki took time to chalk the archway, so they'd at least recognize they'd been here if they wound up double backing in a loop.
"Well, took you long enough to get here. Come, have a drink!" Brynjolf quickly masked his surprise that she wasn't alone with a wide grin that took them both in. The proprietorial manner and matching new rings left Brynjolf no doubts as to what took so long.
"I wished I had the time, a drink sounds lovely 'bout now, but if I don't get Esbern back to Riverwood before the Thalmor find him, well, I don't like any of our chances against the dragons."
"Thalmor? Then you better hurry, there's some loose in the warrens now." Vekel offered over his shoulder, as he was putting mugs back on the shelves behind the counter.
"Telki? Is that you?" Telki looked over to see a familiar rumpled brown head, and a very surprised face.
"Etienne! You made it! Thank the Nine!" While Brynjolf looked on in shock and Erandur in fond amusment, Telki engulfed the poor unsuspecting thief in a rib cracking hug.
"Careful! Still healing!" Etienne choked out. Mortified, Telki unmanhandled the thief. "Anyways, I figure one good turn deserves another, and I can get you to the old man's hide away before those old gilt crows that are mucking about blind. Get you all out before they know, too."
"Etienne, it'd be most appreciated. Thank you!" Brynjolf hid a smile behind his hand. Telki had the boy blushing to the tips of his ears with her bright smile. The low knowing chuckle next to him informed him this was not unusual. Something else to file away for future reference.
"Ah, least I could do. You saved my sorry hide not only from the Thalmor, but that bleeding troll, too. A man don't forget debts like that and still call himself a man." Etienne was rubbing the back of his neck self consciously, praying she'd look someplace else soon. Thieves do not generally do well under such attention. It's unnatural.
"She's the one that turned the Embassy on its ear? Lass, the guild owes you one, then. Aye, Etienne, if Mercer asks, you're on official guild business. Off with you now." Brynjolf's decree seemed like as good a cue as any to leave, so the two visitors followed Etienne on out into the warrens.
It didn't take long, following the surefooted thief. They quickly bypassed with his help more than a few Thalmor entanglements, some traps, and some less than friendly denizens. Soon enough, Etienne gestured to a door with a multitude of locks and wards on it.
"Esbern? Delphine sent me, she asked me to ask you where you were on the 30th of Frostfall, and for the love of the Nine, hurry up because the Thalmor are already here!"
"Delphine? Thirtieth of Frostfall, by Talos, it can't be...no, just a minute, let me get the door." Amusement built on Telki's face despite the situation, Something about listening to the old man rattle and click his way through the locks tickled her. "This one always sticks." A final bolt slid with a resounding thud. "Come in, come in!" Kindly was the first word in her head to describe the gentleman in front of her. He looked every bit the part of an absent minded professor, more concerned with ancient lore than mundane things like brushing or eating. They filed in quickly, and the books everywhere confirmed Telki's impression of Esbern.
"So, uh, what's so important about the Thirtieth of Frostfall, anyways?" Etienne was nonplussed by his surroundings. Who'd expect a sewer rat to have this many books? It was obvious he wasn't the usual sort to hide down here. Who exactly was this Esbern fellow? Eh, what he really needed to do was make sure the Thalmor hadn't tumbled to them yet. He cautiously stepped outside to keep an eye out for them.
"It was the day Titus Mede II turned down the Thalmor, and started the war. I'm sure Delphine told you I'd be difficult, and to use that to gain my trust, to what end now, I don't know. The World Eater has returned, and without a Dragonborn to stop him, all is lost."
"But I'm Dragonborn..." Telki answered without thinking, like most always. Luckily, it was just the right impetus to get Esbern moving and talking in a constructive manner.
"What child? You? That's why Delphine sent you? By the Gods, she actually found a Dragonborn? There's not a moment to lose, I'll be just a minute." Esbern quickly sorted out which tomes he would need from those he felt it safe to leave behind, and was ready to go fairly quickly.
He was none too soon, for Etienne came slinking back to them. "We'll have to be quiet about it, they're in the warren tunnels. Follow me, and don't lag behind!" Telki and Erandur bookended Esbern as they followed the rapid shadow that was the thief. Telki spotted her own chalk markings, and realized she was back in familiar territory. She fell back a bit, letting Erandur and Etienne guide Esbern to safety. She was going to make sure word never reached the Emissary about Esbern.
In one of the many multilayered rooms Telki had spotted the ubiquitous hanging pot and the usual oil spill beneath. A careful arrow shot against a iron bar caught the attention of the Thalmor. Apparently, it was the first interesting thing they'd found down there, because they all gathered around it like a bunch of gawking children. She hit the hanging pot, engulfing the Thalmor agents in flames. She heard their screams and they reminded her all to well of the screams she'd heard from countless rescued Stormcloaks, from Etienne, when she got him out of Elenwen's personal oubliette, or Thorald, when she rescued him from that Thalmor prison. She stayed until she was sure there would be none to return to Elenwen.
They had waited on her, the stinkers. She was sure the giveaway had been when the oil caught. It had sounded like a veritable explosion. "So, um, I took care of the Thalmor?"
"Thanks, love. Those binty crows still give me the shakes." Etienne took them as far as the canal doorway. He was a little less awkward about accepting Telki's hug this time, and even went so far as to whisper a "thank you" in her ear. She gave him a watery smile, and kissed his cheek. He was staggering as he returned to the Ragged Flagon.
Neither Erandur or Esbern seemed to notice when Telki slipped off yet again. They were well on their way to Riverwood when old Grelod was found dead in her bed the next morning.