I commissioned the wonderful @sssamsondraws for this wonderful picture of my eso character Eldaea Larethan with Queen Ayrenn - I see this as a little moment between them when Eldaea comes back from Coldharbour. I am in love with all the little details on the armour and the jewellery - I can’t stop looking at them, they are so beautiful!
There’s a sudden, cheerful exclamation and Tilhi is startled out of his thoughts as a flower crown is deposited on his head. It’s not like him to let anyone catch him off his guard like this but the dread he feels doesn’t get a chance to grow when he’s sandwiched between two smaller elves and the shorter of them (a Bosmer – how does that not surprise him?) immediately starts chatting him up. Bewildered, he looks to his left at the other one and the Dunmer smiles softly before signing, You really looked like you needed a distraction but if we’re a bother, just say so.
Tilhi can’t help but laugh at the sentiment and he shakes his head.
”It’s alright. Thank you, uh–”
”Humus, a pleasure to meet you!” the Bosmer leans onto the table to get into the Altmer’s field of view, looking only a little vexed that his first attempt at conversation was so blatantly ignored.
”My pretty partner here is Aamos,” he gestures towards the Dunmer and the pale elf smiles wider, although the reddening tips of his ears betray his embarrassment. Tilhi finds all of this slightly confusing yet endearing and he lets himself loosen up, taking a swig of his nearly forgotten mead. It’s not very good manners but he figures it doesn’t matter – the atmosphere in Woodhearth is so different from that of Alinor and the ex-Commander rather likes the change.
”My name is Tilhi, pleased to make acquaintances.”
Likewise, Aamos signs over the table. Do you like the flowers?
Tilhi hems and looks up at his forehead, getting a glimpse of the plants. They’re a beautiful light shade of pink and to his surprise, he can catch a whiff of their scent. It’s sweet.
”I do, rather. Do you always give these to newcomers?”
”Just to the special ones who look like they need some beauty in their lives,” Humus breezily replies on behalf of Aamos but immediately contradicts himself as he reaches down and thumps a basket full of flower crowns onto the table. Tilhi briefly wonders if this is how interactions of these two go on the regular.
”Anyways! What brings you to Woodhearth? Business, pleasure, adveeeeenture?” Humus asks him, stretching the syllables of the last word in a way that makes Aamos chuckle. It’s the first sound Tilhi has heard from the Dunmer and he’s surprised by the softness in his voice. Granted, he doesn’t look like most dark elves anyway, so it’s fitting.
Strangely, Tilhi realises that he’s already growing fond of these two odd elves that so nonchalantly barged into his new life.
”Retirement, more like,” he tells Humus. ”So I guess a little bit of pleasure and a little bit of adventure?”
Humus visibly brightens at that and he grins wide.
”You sure look a bit young to be already retired from whatever it was you were doing, but that’s great! I love adventures! And pleasure!”
Tilhi chokes on his drink at how the Bosmer made that sound like and he feels a hand pat him on his back, although it’s a little too gentle to be of much help. Still, he offers a grateful nod to the Dunmer and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
Noticing the reaction his exclamation got from their new friend, Humus guffaws.
”You’re quick to jump to conclusions, huh? That’s fun,” he winks and bumps shoulders with him (or more accurately, his shoulder to Tilhi’s arm. Even sitting down, their difference in height is considerable).
”Don’t worry, you’re very handsome but I don’t have anything untoward in mind. Just, if you’re finding yourself staying here for a while we’re bound to see each other again, right? So if you feel like exploring the graht-oak forests or merely hope for a meal recommendation, we’re your guys!”
The Altmer is quite sure the grin currently on Humus’ face could well split his face in half. It’s incredible how fast these smaller cousins of his warm up to strangers and he feels a distant ache in his chest, the easy-going friendliness warming him but at the same time it makes him realise very clearly how out of his depth he is.
He left everything he knew behind and came to Valenwood by request of none other than the High Queen of Alinor. He had also been told that the simple and down-to-earth lifestyle of Bosmeri and the calming presence of thousands of years old trees would do him good. He has yet to find out if that’s true for him.
”You’ve earned your retirement, Commander Thiilthan,” Queen Ayrenn says softly and walks down the stairs of her throne, coming to a stop right in front of him. His head is bowed, gaze on the ground, as is proper, and he sucks in a sharp breath when he feels a hand touch his cheek, guiding his face upwards to look his Queen in the eye.
”Go, and heal your heart. Heal it well. Know that your efforts and dedication have made me and the Aldmeri Dominion proud. Although I wish I could grant this reprieve to all of my soldiers, I cannot, so it brings me solace to be able to do this for you.”
Tilhi feels the sting of tears in the corners of his eyes and he almost averts the Queen’s gaze by reflex – almost. He wouldn’t offend her like that so instead he swallows thickly and bows his head again, in reverence, the Queen’s fingers slipping off his cheek as he does so.
”…or, just, you know. Hang out here in the city and read books, if that’s more your speed for now.”
Tilhi is brought back to the present for the second time that day and he becomes aware of the curious amber eyes of the Bosmer watching him thoughtfully. He glances at Aamos and sees worry in his expression. Great.
”Ah, my apologies,” he grunts and rubs a hand over his face, pinching the bridge of his nose as he does. ”I am still… adjusting.”
”Oh, we get it,” Humus shrugs and smiles lopsidedly at Tilhi. Aamos touches his hand briefly and the Altmer shifts his gaze to him.
We all have our baggage, Aamos signs and offers another one of his soft smiles. No need to apologise.
Tilhi breaths in deep, letting his shoulders relax and he utters a small laugh.
”Thank you, both of you,” he says, sincerely. ”I feel fortunate to have crossed paths with you today. I would very much like to get to know the city and the woods with you, when you’ve got the time.”
Humus grins again and leans back onto his elbow to wink at him.
”And we’d love to get to know you! It’s a deal!”
Aamos nods enthusiastically and smiles wide, a happy glint in his eyes.
Tilhi finds himself smiling, too.
—
Eyyyyyy I’m still on my self-indulgent TES roll and this time it was my Altmer’s turn to be transported into the future– wait, uh, the past? Since this fic takes place in ESO timeline and Tilhi was made for Skyrim lmao ok moving on
Sadly he’s never been as important to me as Aamos and Humus are but I realised that I miss him a lot so here he is, finally. He’s always been a part of the Thalmor but his personality never really fit in with them and having him exist under Ayrenn’s rule gave me an easy way to get him out of that system. Now he gets to be the kindhearted, cat-loving himbo he was always meant to be u_u
ALT
