Shandalar's eyes fluttered open as she felt Bael move beneath her with a moan. She pulled herself off her wife and knealt beside her, knowing what was coming.

“My dear, wake up,” She said soothingly.

Bael began to thrash, screaming in her sleep. She placed her hand over the sleeping woman’s heart and began to sing a soft and sweet melody, persisting through Bael’s cries till she calmed. She lay back down beside her, huddling up and drifted off to sleep.

Life stayed busy for the pair. Shandalar set up a station for herself in their room and worked to slowly build up her stocks of remedies and supplies.

Bael would often disappear, sometimes for days at a time, leaving the elf feeling lonely but the dragoness always came back, bringing with her a smile that always made that loneliness melt away.

Days turned to months and life moved at a high speed. Seasons changed untill the snow melted and the trees were reinvigorated with life.

Bael had come back from one of her trips, her lips always pursed when her wife would bring them up. As she walked into the room she ducked under the doorway and saw there was a large, burly man chatting away to Shandalar while she capped a jar.

“Use this twice a day and Goddesses above give some to her too. The triumvirate knows you both need it,” Shandalar shook her head in resignation as the man walked out past Bael, looking up to see the dragoness giving her a cheeky look, “Five times. Five times he has come to me now. Same thing, same woman.”

Bael knelt down beside the elf and wrapped her arms around her, placing a peck on her lips.

“It is because they live such short lives, they don’t learn, but they live everyday like it is their last.”

Shandalar cast her eyes to the side, her face going a little red.

“I miss you when you leave and I get too many people now that we live in this town. Always the smallest things. Especially in that man’s case.”

“I don’t want to know, my love,” Bael giggled, “But I have good news. We are moving. We can leave as soon as you are ready, my dear.”

Shandalar’s face said it all. She was more than happy to leave the hustle and bustle of the growing town.

The breeze whistled through the lush trees of the Great Forest, bird song echoing throughout. The elf and the dragoness sang to each other as they walked along the forest path.

“Bael, do we have much further? My boots weren’t made to walk this far,” Shandalar grunted.

The dragoness shook her head, “We are nearly there. I apologise but I felt the walk would make the surprise so much better.”

“Mhm.”

The pair walked for a little longer before it came into view. A modest cottage, decorated in complex carvings and surrounded by a garden of vibrant flowers. Several lithe skeletons shambled through the garden, working in silence. One of them looked up and waved at Bael.

“Bael, good timing. We just finished working on the garden. Inside is completely done,” The group of skeletons assembled in front of her, offering their greetings and curiously checking out Shandalar.

“Who’s this fine lady accompanying you?” one of them questioned.

“This would be my wife of fifty five years.”

The skeletons bowed and Shandalar rolled her eyes.

“I’m not royalty, I don’t need you to do that.”

Bael nudged Shandalar with her elbow, “It is a force of habit for them,” she turned back to the skeletons, “Thank you for all of your service. Are you ready to be released?” Bael held her palm up, motioning with her hand, creating a purple circle with intricate patterns.

“Yes my liege, We are ready.” The undead all spoke in unison.

Bael held her palm up, motioning with her hand, creating a purple circle with intricate patterns.

“You are free. Find peace wherever you find yourself,” Bael closed her claws and the skeletons fell to the ground as dust, “Well, that will make for good fertilizer. Come my dear, I have many things to show you!” She held her elbow out to Shandalar, the elf taking it.

Shandalar’s jaw dropped when she got inside. Every part of the house had ornate elvish carvings and decorations.

“I.. I can’t believe this is for us. I would ask how but I presume that this is why you disappeared so often?”

Bael grinned, “Indeed, I know my elven architecture- or atleast the spirits I summoned did. They have been working non-stop and since they are skeletons, they didn’t need rest.”

Shandalar wandered around looking from room to room, finding a vasty and tidy place for her craft and a large bedroom with a spacious bed. She frowned, calling out to Bael, “Dear, please come here.”

Bael arrived to see a frowning elf and tilted her head, “What’s wrong, my love?”

Shandalar pointed at the bed, “What is this?”

“It’s a bed made with the most luxurious -” Bael started, looking down at her annoyed wife.

“I’m still going to sleep on top of you.”

Bale cracked into laughter, “Fine, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” She leaned down and kissed Shandalar on the head.