You can't say no to a Thegn, right?

The well-dressed dwarf’s announcement finally shocked my brain into working again.

We all followed him out the door and down the hall.

“You both look absolutely beautiful,” I whispered once I remembered how speech worked.

Valentia giggled.

Ami blushed.

We entered a long stone room. There were no windows, but ornate silver chandeliers hung from the ceiling, filling the chamber with warm light. Carved stone pillars supported the ceiling, making the room feel even more imposing.

Banners and tapestries covered the walls, interspersed with torch sconces. Wide swaths of blue-and-red tartan hung from the rafters in graceful curves, forming a colorful canopy overhead.

Most of the floor was bare stone, except for an eight-foot-wide carpet running from the door to a large stone chair at the far end of the room. Three stone steps led up to a square dais. The throne had been carved from a single block of stone. It was solid. Commanding. And looked absolutely fucking miserable to sit in.

An older dwarf sat upon it. His auburn hair was streaked with white, while his thick beard was white streaked with auburn. Both were carefully groomed, braided, and decorated with polished metal beads.

Violet eyes - slightly darker than Ami’s - looked out from a weathered, stern face. A nasty scar ran from just above his eyebrow to his upper lip, somehow missing his eye entirely.

He was broad-shouldered and clearly muscular despite his age. Not chiseled, exactly. He looked more like a man who had spent his life doing physical labor. Or military service.

A large double-headed hammer rested beside the throne, close enough to reach without standing.

He was dressed similarly to Ami. A loose white shirt and a blue-and-red tartan kilt.

Two dozen soldiers stood along the walls. And beside the throne stood the blonde dwarf from before. Etienne.

What was with dwarves being so incredibly badass? I mean, yeah, he was a Thegn. But he was eight times my level.

What even was the level cap in this game? A hundred? More?

I kept my mouth shut, but seriously? Where the hell were these guys when the Fleshwoods tried to kill me?

The Thegn's eyes moved from Ami to me, then to Valentia, and finally back to Ami. For several seconds, he said nothing. “Amelie.” His voice was deep and carried across the room effortlessly.

She swallowed. “Father.”

Gautier leaned back slightly. “Level four.”

She looked down. “Aye.”

“Yer still afraid a fightin’.”

Ami's shoulders tightened. “Aye.”

“Ye learned ta act despite the fear.” He paused. “That's courage.”

Ami refused to meet her father's stern stare.

“But yer still me daughter. An’ ye still have responsibilities.” His expression hardened. “The marriage arrangements remain.”

Ami froze.

Valentia's eyes widened.

“Yer intended is still available. ‘Is family’s been patient. The alliance remains advantageous ta both clans.”

Ami's breathing quickened. “I donna wanna marry ‘im.”

“I know.” His voice was almost gentle.

“Then why are ye still talkin’ about it?” she demanded.

“Because wantin’ somethin’ and bein’ responsible fer somethin’ ain't always the same.”

“I donna love ‘im.”

“Love ain't the only reason people marry.”

Ami's face went bright red. She looked at me. Then at her father. Then back at me. “I'm already betrothed.”

Silence settled over the room.

Valentia's mouth fell open.

The Thegn stared at Ami. “Ta who?”

Ami grabbed my hand. “Riven.”

I almost choked.

Her father slowly looked at me.

I had never been stared at quite that hard before.

“That so?”

I opened my mouth.

Ami squeezed my hand hard enough to hurt.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, sir.”

Her father raised an eyebrow. “Ye? Yer betrothed ta me daughter?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

I hesitated. “Recently.”

“Who arranged it?”

I glanced at Ami. She was staring at me with a desperate expression that very clearly said ‘Please don't make this worse.’

“I did,” I said.

Her father's eyes narrowed. “Ye proposed ta me daughter?”

“Technically-”

Ami stomped on my foot.

“Yes,” I said. “I proposed.”

Her father leaned back. “An’ she accepted?”

“Yes.”

A long silence followed.

“Why?” he finally asked.

I had absolutely no idea what to say to that.

Luckily, Ami did. “Because I love ‘im.”

Her father's expression changed. Not much, but it was enough to notice. “Amelie.”

“I do.”

“How long ye known ‘im?”

“Long enough,” she answered.

“Amelie.”

“A week.”

He gave her a hard look.

“‘E saved our lives. Several times. An’ ‘e dinna half ta.”

“That donna answer the question.”

Ami looked at me. Then back at her father. “‘Cause ‘e donna treat me like I'm broken.”

Her father's expression softened.

Ami continued. “‘E knows I'm afraid. ‘E knows I hate fightin’. An’ ‘e donna tell me I need ta get over it.” Her voice trembled. “‘E just stands beside me.”

The room went quiet.

Her father looked at me. Then at Valentia. Then back at Ami. “And ye expect me ta believe ye arranged a marriage in a week?”

“No.”

“Good.”

Ami swallowed. “I expect ye ta let me choose who I marry.”

Her father leaned forward. “I never told ye ye couldna choose.”

“Ye picked ‘im fer me.”

“I picked a lad who’da been good fer ye.”

“Maybe I donna want good.”

“Then what do ye want?”

Ami looked at me. “Someone who makes me happy.”

Her father was silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed. “Yer makin’ this very difficult.” The Thegn rubbed his face. Then his eyes turned toward me. “Riven.”

“Sir?”

“Do ye actually intend ta marry me daughter?”

I looked at Ami.

She wasn't looking at me anymore. She was staring at the floor.

I thought about everything that had happened. The night she'd crawled under my cloak. The way she'd stood between Valentia and the Skinthief despite being terrified. The way she looked at me when she thought I was going to die. The way she'd been there when I was falling apart.

“I don't know what my future looks like,” I said. “I don't know if I even have one.”

Ami looked at me.

“But if I did…” I squeezed her hand. “I'd want her in it.”

Her father studied me. Then he looked at Ami. “Ye have one year.” He held up a finger before she could respond. “No a marriage. No yet. A betrothal.”

Ami stared at him.

“Ye can travel with this lad. Ye can continue adventurin’. Ye can even refuse the marriage at the end of the year.” Her father's voice hardened. “But ye return here when the year is done.”

Ami's mouth opened. “And if I donna?”

“Then I consider ye an adult who made ‘er choice.”

That seemed to surprise her. “Ye'd let me go?”

“I'd be furious.” He smiled faintly. “But I'd let ye go.”

Ami looked down at our joined hands. “What do ye want in return?”

“Two things.” Her father raised a finger. “First, ye stop runnin’.”

Ami frowned. “Meaning?”

“If ye decide ye donna want the life I planned fer ye, then tell me. Donna disappear inta another kingdom an’ make me wonder whether me daughter is dead.”

Ami looked ashamed. “Sorry.”

“I know.” His expression softened. “Second…” He looked at me. “Ye take the responsibility seriously.”

I nodded. “I will.”

“Good.” He settled back into his throne. “Then ye have me permission ta call yerselves betrothed.”

Ami exhaled. “But there's one problem.”

Her father looked at her. “What?”

“Riven is dyin’.”

The room went silent.

Her father's expression hardened. “Explain.”

And suddenly, the entire conversation changed.