Ki'raith--(Kee-RAITH) from dark elven, meaning beloved--literal translation--Heart's Blood.


                                                                     Zerith

    Though it had been mere minutes since my defeat of that strange frog-beast, I felt like it had been hours.  Kriella and 
her friends were on the way, and to be honest, they couldn't arrive soon enough for me.
    My heart ached then, for I so badly wanted to be with Nyx, to hold her in my arms, to kiss her and whisper in her ear of 
how much I loved her.
    I wanted so badly to be with her, and her alone.  Others held a fascination for me, though, something I knew I would 
not overcome any time soon.  We'd tried exclusiveness time and again, only to have some intriguing partner catch my 
eye.  I knew that Nyx didn't sit idly by during these times, but I also knew that for her, it was a way to fill the hole in her 
heart my absensces created.  The only man who she spent any time with was Varshennon, or Varsh for short.  Varsh was 
a fellow Shadow Walker and a good friend to her.  Like me, he was a dark elf, though, as a Shadow Warrior, he was 
much more powerfully built.  It was easy to understand why Nyx was drawn to him.  Unfotunately, he'd disappeared the 
winter before our capture by Emerald Vex.  More than once, I had doubted it was a coincidence.
    When our last attempt to be exclusive faded away, Nyx had only smiled sadly at me and said, "I can no longer bear to 
have my heart torn in two every time some intriguing person walks into your life, Zerith.  Nor is it fair to Varshennon that I 
go back and forth.  For now on, I will accept your vows of faitfulness with a grain of salt, and know that, at least for the 
time being, you will be mine alone."
    I will confess that her words stung quite a bit.  But I knew she was right, and I counted myself lucky that she didn't 
leave me.
    It was Nyx who had created the rules for our relationship.  At first, I'd resented them--why should there be rules for this?  
But as I came to see how these rules prevented us from hurting each other, and others, I respected her all the more.  And 
they were simple enough:  no taking others into beds we shared (I'd broken this rule once, and paid dearly when I nearly 
lost her for good), no breaking dates to be with others, no tolerating blatant disrespect to the other person from anyone 
and keep at least one place sacred to us alone.
    Now, sitting on the shore of the Lake of Dreams, I understood what it was that she'd wanted all along.  Nyx had 
wanted only to feel special, to know that no matter what, she held a place in my heart, and was not merely one of many, 
and many more to come.
    I buried my face in my hands and sighed.  All the times I'd caused her pain, all the times she'd sought solace with 
Varsh, she'd only wanted to feel special.
    "Ahh, my love, forgive me.  I will do my best to be yours alone, but come what may, you will always be my Ki'raith."
    She needed to know how special she was to me.  I would do two things--one would have to wait until we were safely 
back in Tamriel.  The other I would do now, in case I did not survive the attempt.
    Now, I would be a wretched wizard indeed if I could not conjure a quill and parchment from thin air.  I summoned them, 
thought a moment, and began to write.

    Mhai Ki'raith,
If you hold this letter, it is because our attempt to free you from Emerald Vex has failed, or succeeded and I was slain in 
the attempt.
    Know that I have loved you ever since the day you ran, terrified, into the Angry Porcupine, begging Nightshade and I 
for help.  And know that I loved you more and more every day.
    Forgive me, my love, for failing to be faithful to you.  I never sought out others because you were not desirable enough, 
or beautiful enough.  If anything, you have more to offer than one man could ever fully enjoy.  As for me, I am ever 
compelled to seek out and enjoy what the world has to offer.  Nightshade (Jephre bless him) would oft tell me "Tis dark 
elves such as you that give the others their reputation."  Mayhap he is right.  But even should I one day come to love 
another, you will always be my Ki'raith.
    Emerald Vex once told me that since taking you to his bed he desired no others.  It shatters my heart to know that a 
fiend of Oblivion is capable of giving you what I cannot.  Forgive me, Nyxalinth--I cannot help but feel that I have failed 
you.
    I promise you this, Mhai Ki'raith.  If what the bards and sages say of death is true, then Oblivion will be what we wish of 
it.
    Nightshade and I will be waiting for you at the edge of the Lily Pond.  And one evening, just as the full moon rises, we 
will see you walking along that tree lined path, the light turning your hair to flowing silver, love lighting your eyes from 
within.  And I promise, Night Flower, we will give you in eternity what we could not give you in life.
    Whatever else, Mhai Ki'raith, I beg this of you--find what joy you can in life.  Pay no heed to the mutterings of others.  
Follow your heart, for that is what you have always done best.
    And do not weep for me, Heart's Blood...for I am already dead.

    I rubbed a single tear from my eye as I folded the letter in thirds and wrote her name on it.  My heart ached with the 
idea that I might never see her again.
    I shuddered with the chill of a sudden premonition.  Something was going to happen...not now, not here, perhaps...but 
it would happen.
    I shook my head.  I wouldn't allow it to interfere with my plans.
    I cast a contigency spell on the letter, citing the spell to deliver the letter to her under the circumstances I had stated.  
Then I sat back, smiling a little as I contemplated her reaction to a question I never thought I'd ask anyone.
 
  

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