One warm July morning, Nox was up before sunrise. The day before, he had already asked the old housekeeper, who was introduced as Mary, where he could find what he needed. She had drawn him a little map and given clear instructions leading to a small building in town: the jeweler's shop.
He knew exactly what he wanted. He'd memorized both his and Torven's ring sizes. 'The perfect gift,' he thought. 'Torven will love it.'
To keep things a secret, Nox asked Velkan and Mary to distract Torven for the day. His partner would get anxious if Nox was gone for too long. To cover his tracks, he told Torven he was going fishing. For good measure, he even strapped a rod to Gerhart's back before heading off. Excitement bubbled inside him at the thought of picking the gift, and especially at the image of Torven's reaction.
He rode straight into town and went directly to the jeweler. The shop was easy enough to find, just as Mary's hand-drawn map had promised, a narrow building tucked between a tailor's and a cafe, its window display was glittering with delicate trinkets and polished stones. A small brass bell chimed as he stepped inside.
And once he was inside, he spent nearly two hours deliberating, silver or gold? Smooth or patterned? He wasn't sure what Torven would prefer. He was looking for something perfect, not flashy, not too heavy, something that spoke without needing to shout. He wanted it to feel right. He even tried on a few rings himself, asking the older woman behind the counter which looked best.
Eventually, he chose two simple gold bands with a discreet engraving on the inside. The same inscription on both: "Never without you".
It was his promise. The woman smiled, not asking questions, only giving a quiet nod of understanding. While she worked, Nox stood still, hands folded behind his back, the kind of nervous happiness building in his chest that he could barely contain.
The clerk wrapped the rings in a white piece of fabric. Nox slipped it into his pocket and stepped back into the bustling streets, deciding to browse the market before heading home.
He wandered for a while until he recognized a familiar stall, the same one where Torven had once bought him a sword sheath. That sheath had been lost long ago during a fight with slavers.
His eyes landed on two new sheaths, nearly identical, made of natural leather stitched with black and gold thread. He bought both without hesitation, one for himself, one for Torven, and packed them carefully.
Just as he turned to leave, something else caught his eye: a set of beautiful paintbrushes at a nearby stall. The bristles were soft, made from natural horsehair, and the handles were finely crafted. 'Torven would be over the moon,' Nox thought. He imagined him painting with them, smiling.
There was no question, he had to buy them.
One stall led to another. He couldn't help himself, picking up little things here and there. By the time he realized how much he'd bought, his coin pouch was empty, and Gerhart was loaded with bags. The sun had started to set. Nox looked up at the darkening sky.
'Torven is going to kill me.'
Then, on the road home, something small darted out from under a cart, a puppy. It was tiny, clearly stray, once white but now a little mud-colored fluff. Nox stopped and knelt.
"Where's your owner?" he asked softly.
No one was around. He sighed.
"This is a terrible idea..."
Still, he picked up the pup. It shivered in his arms, and Nox knew he couldn't leave it behind. 'Torven's going to skin me alive,' he thought. 'But I can't just walk away.'
By the time he reached the estate, night had fallen. In the stables, he found Torven saddling his white mare. His expression was thunderous.
"Hey... everything okay? Going somewhere?" Nox asked, trying to play it casual.
Torven didn't answer at first. Something simmered beneath his calm exterior, then boiled over in a split second.
"Going somewhere? Yes: to find you! Fishing? Really?! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" His voice was sharp. "You were gone all day! I thought something happened to you."
Nox didn't argue. He stood quietly, taking it all in.
Torven continued, still burning. "What if you'd run into trouble? You shouldn't be out after dark, there are wild animals, bandits—"
The little pup in Nox's arms whimpered, curling into his chest.
"I'm sorry," Nox said softly. "I wanted to surprise you."
He stepped forward and kissed Torven lightly. Torven didn't pull away, but his eyes narrowed.
"You think that's going to fix everything? That I'll just forget you scared the life out of me?"
Even still, as he said it, his hands found Nox's waist. Their lips met again until a soft bark interrupted them.
Torven blinked. "What... is that?"
"I found him on the road," Nox said, holding up the fluffball. "Can we keep him? We should give him a name..."
He looked up at Torven with a pleading expression.
Torven sighed. "I suppose I don't have a choice..."
Then his gaze shifted to the overflowing bags.
"And what is ALL of that?"
"Oh! Let's go inside, I'll show you."
Nox held a puppy in one arm as they made their way to the sitting room, carrying all the bags. Nox was proud and excited and couldn't wait to show Torven everything.
Inside, the two of them put the bags on the rug. Torven, already bracing for disaster, watched as Nox, buzzing with pride and anticipation, began unpacking.
First came the sword sheaths. Torven admired them, running his fingers along the stitching. "These are... really well made," he murmured, surprise in his voice. His thumb brushed over the reinforced seams.
"They match," he added softly, more to himself than to Nox. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Nox beamed, chest swelling with pride. "One for you, one for me."
Then came the brushes. Nox passed the bundle with care to Torven, who froze the moment he unwrapped it. A full set of horsehair brushes in varying sizes, each one delicately made, the handles smooth and dark like polished wood. He lifted one, and moved in his hand.
"These are beautiful, Nox." he said quietly, still looking at the beautiful set, visibly moved.
Nox watched him, smiling quietly, his heart full.
But then came the questionable items: pillowcases shaped like flowers, two hideous rugs, decorative flasks, wooden trinkets... Torven said nothing, just smiled faintly as Nox eagerly described each "treasure."
Nox kept talking, describing each item, "This looked like something you'd like," or "I know it doesn't match anything, but feel how soft it is!" Torven smiled faintly, even as he wondered just how much of Nox's budget had been sacrificed in the name of "impulse."
But he said nothing, he couldn't bring himself to interrupt the joy. He just watched, quietly amused, as the living room filled with clutter.
Then Nox fell quiet.
For a second, Torven thought something might be wrong. But Nox only reached into his pocket, his fingers brushing a small bundle. He drew it out, and glanced at Torven.
"I have one more thing," he said, softer now.
With a serious face, he unfolded the cloth, revealing two simple gold rings nestled inside. They radiantly shimmered in the light.
He looked up.
"Will you be mine?" he asked, his voice unsteady but sure. "Forever?"
Torven's breath hitched. His expression cracked open. Overwhelming emotion welled in his eyes. He stepped forward, cupped Nox's face in both hands, and kissed him without hesitation.
"Forever," he whispered against his lips.
With careful hands, Nox slid the ring onto Torven's finger. Torven took the other and slipped it onto Nox's.
They stood there for a long moment, arms around each other, the puppy curled at their feet, the house full of useless trinkets and love.
In that moment, they had everything.
They had each other.