A large well built Redguard man with a battle-hardened face dressed in light leather armor stands in the middle of a battlefield with men and even women dressed in similar armor fighting against orcs. The man lifts his scimitar to block the downward strike of a large orc riddled with scars from countless battles covered in extravagant warpaint and the bones of several creatures including humans. the orc picks his battle-ax back up and smirks

This is the last time we'll meet on the battlefield Si'on. Let's make this one for the history books the large orc says in a rough guttural voice

Couldn't have said it better myself Grofang Si'on agrees drawing another scimitar from his waist

Si'on using his lighter frame begins to rush Grofang with his dual-wielding technique putting Grofang on the defensive. Attack after attack, Si'on shows no signs of slowing down until a stray arrow nearly hits him in the back forcing him to dodge and lose his momentum.

In that split, second Grofang throws his heavy bloodied battle-ax to the side and pulls out a smaller hand ax coated in poison then with all of his strength he slams the ax into Si'on's right knee causing him to crumble to the ground in immense pain. Si'on manages to hold back his scream but when he tries to stand again he finds that he can't seem to put any strength into the lower lection of his leg

Grofang!! What foul tricks have you pulled!? Si'on demands his voice full of rage

All tactics are fair on the battlefield Si'on or did your weakling redguard commanders not teach you that Grofang said with a grizzly smile creeping on his face. I'm going to enjoy stripping the flesh from your bones!!

All tactics are fair, are they!? Si'on says with a cocky grin digging his hand into the dirt

Just like a redguard! you think you still have a chance even in this dire situation Grofang says with a chuckle whilst picking his battle-ax up from the ground. I may never find an opponent as exhilarating to fight as you. as a sign of respect, I'll salt and cast your head and keep it at my side. How does that sound?

Not too bad actually, although I should be posing that question to you Si'on says just before throwing dirt into Grofangs eyes

Gah! What cheap tricks! Grofang says trying in vain to get the dirt from his eyes

Cheap tricks? You should have thought about that before crippling my leg with poison Si'on said before using his left leg to kick Grofang's out from under him

Grofang falls to the ground with a large thud, the weight of his own body knocking the wind out of him. Not wasting any time Si'on grabs one of the scimitars he dropped and with all his strength brings it down on Grofangs neck severing it from his body in one swing. As the warm crimson blood of his once nemesis stains the dirt and grass under him he lifts the orc leader's head as high into the air as he can manage.

The orc leader has fallen!!! Brothers! Sisters! Push back with all your might, leave no survivors and when the day is done we shall have the grandest celebration in the history of Elinhir!!

Si'on voice booms across the battlefield bringing with it an eerie silence that is no sooner drowned out by the motivated cries of his men and the enraged screams of the orcs. Using his scimitar for balance Si'on attempts to stand but as soon as he gets onto his feet a berserk orc comes rushing toward him, with no strength Si'on closes his eyes and says a silent prayer to Onsi the redguard god of war. The orc jumps into the air ready to bring down the slayer of his commander when he's struck out of the air by a lightning bolt kicking up dust around Si'on. When the dust clears a redguard woman dressed in a black flowing mage's robe stands over the charred orc corpse.

It seems my prayer didn't go unanswered, it took you long enough Te'hz Si'on said with a relieved smile

Don't get too comfortable the battle isn't won yet Te'hz says getting under Si'on's right arm to support him

Have your men work in tandem with mine to take out the stragglers, their leader may be gone but even in the face of death orcs will continue to charge forward. It's almost admirable if they weren't so bloodthirsty

You should really worry about yourself more, had I not been there you would have been cut down by an orc grunt Te'hz warned

If Onsi wish me to go out in such a fashion after taking down my nemesis I'd have no qualms with it Si'on said with a peaceful look

Let's just get you to the medical tent and heal your wounds first

Si'on with the help of Te'hz makes his way off the battlefield and into an empty medical tent. Te'hz quickly and efficiently strips Si'on of his bloodied leather armor and removes the handaxe wedged into his right knee. She then casts a healing spell curing Si'on of whatever open wounds he may have and restoring his stamina.

There your wounds should be healed, try standing Te'hz commands

Something isn't right, I can't seem to move the lower half of my right leg Si'on says concerned

That's strange I cast a rather high-level healing spell on you all your wounds should be healed

Well I'm trying to move my big toe but it isn't budging

Hang on, where's that ax I removed from your leg? Te'hz says while looking around before spotting a nurse taking Si'on armor and weapons out of the tent. Hold there, nurse!

Y-yes ma'am! The nurse studders

I want you to take this hand ax and have some of our sorcerer's study the poison this is laced with whatever it is it's not normal, be sure to check if any other mercenaries are experiencing an inability to move parts of limbs

Yes ma'am right away the nurse says before quickly leaving the tent

It's hard to believe it's ending already Si'on says looking up at the peak of the tent.

It was bound to happen eventually, just be glad you were on the winning side Te'hz says while mixing a potion

Well with this injury I doubt I'll be heading any more battles. Maybe this is a sign that I need to retire… not that I have a choice Si'on says with a dry chuckle

Probably not, but if you're lucky one of my mages will be able to identify the poison and make an antidote

Even if they do I'm not opposed to settling down

Why? have you finally found a woman able to put up with you?

I think I have someone in mind

Oh, do tell! I've never been one to turn down gossip

Well, she's strong-willed for one, and an excellent mage. Not a day goes by when I wonder how I would have survived without her help

Oh!? someone from my squad or someone from the city?

Oh, you know her very well. She's a bit rowdy when she's had a few pints of mead but she's always the life of the party, despite her attitude she's an amazing cook, and isn't one to shy away from getting her hands dirty

I thought I had an idea of who you were talking about but as soon as you mentioned drinking you lost me since the only one who drinks in my squad is…

Before Te'hz can finish her sentence Si'on is already down on one knee despite his inability to feel it. Te'hz stops mixing her potion and turns to see Si'on on the ground with an amulet of mara carefully outstretched in both his palms

Te'hz would you do this war-hardened fool a service by him the happiest man on the mortal plane Si'on said his eyes full of admiration and determination

I-i… why would you pick me!!? There are hundreds if not thousands of women better suited for you than I

Were the reasons I listed not enough? Because I can list a few more

N-no the first few were enough, it's sweet… it really is but

But? Si'on says with an eyebrow raised

I can't just abandon my squad and settle down! What would they think of me?. Not to mention my position as a high-ranking mage at the Blackcaster academ-whoa!!

As Te'hz was listing off her reason to reject Si'on proposal Si'on managed to get back onto his stretcher and pulls Te'hz into his embrace

Look you don't have to accept now, take your time, think it over, I can wait. In the meantime I'll get to work on my plan then you can't possibly refuse Si'on said with a warm smile

What are you talking about? Te'hz asked

Well if I told you right now that would spoil the surprise

commander Te'hz!! A nurse calls out rushing into the tent. We need your assistance. Some of the nurses are running out of Magika and… I'm sorry am I interrupting something

No!! Not at all Te'hz says breaking from Si'on embrace and fixing her clothes and hair. Take me to the tent and get the nurses who aren't exhausted to mix some Magika potions. I'll handle all the healing, for now, Don't forget to make stamina potions to cure the fatigue

Yes commander the nurse says before swiftly leaving the tent

Hang on Te'hz before you go, I want you to take the amulet with you as a reminder of what we talked about. When you're ready to make your decision return the amulet whole for yes and just the pendant for no Si'on says not breaking eye contact

What if someone sees me with it? they'll start asking questions or worse rumors will spread

I don't care about that!! Please just keep it with you and think about it. Come this spring give me your answer

Fine I'll keep it with me, but should any rumors arise it'll be your job to quash them understand

If that's all. I wish you the best of luck in your work my love Si'on says with a gleeful smile

Dammit, all Te'zh says before turning her back on Si'on and getting to work.