No matter how many times he'd been to see Alcryst's favorite clearing by now, he'd never get over how beautiful the sunset looked. How it caught the light from the ore in the nearby mountains, the scent of Brodian lilies complementing the view, the way Alcryst was so at peace every time they same out here.

"Brodia will always be my home," Alcryst said. "Thank you for understanding I need to come back now and then." Alear smiled, leaning against his shoulder.

"You know I wouldn't have it any other way. Your family means a lot to you, they're practically my family." Alcryst blushed brightly.

"R-right, of course! Just like Veyle and everyone from Lythos are mine now. In a sense."

Silence fell for several moments, until he felt Alcryst's shoulder tense under his cheek. Alcryst was taking several deep breaths, sitting up rigidly, his hand going to and from his coat pocket.

"I haven't been...that is, I had a different reason for inviting you here tonight," he mumbled. "I'm sorry, I lied to you by omission, but..." Alear sat up straighter, facing him, resting a hand over his.

"Is it a surprise?"

"Well, yes...but also because I've been so afraid," Alcryst said quietly. "Even now, even after you gave me the Pact Ring and we've agreed to live our lives together, I'm afraid I don't have the right to ask you something like this." Oh.

"Alcryst." Alear's hand moved up to his cheek. "You have the right to ask me anything. When I said I wanted to spend my life with you, I meant it. I wouldn't have given you the Pact Ring otherwise."

"I know." Alcryst sighed. "But part of me can't help wondering if I'm being greedy, wanting to take this even further." He finally reached into his pocket and took out a silver ring. "In Brodia, when medals and tokens change hands, they change forms. Mother recently had one of her bracelets melted down to make this ring, and she told me to give it to someone precious."

"Like the gem your father gave you," Alear murmured, taking that gem from his pocket and holding it up carefully. "Then let's do it. Let's attach this to the ring, and I accept." Alcryst's cheeks turned as red as the red half of Alear's hair.

"J-just like that?! You don't think-"

"Why would I think you were greedy?" Alear asked. "Yes, we're already bonded for life through the Pact Ring, but what's wrong with taking that bond to the next level through marriage? I love you, Alcryst, and I could think of nothing better than to call you my husband in every sense."

He slipped the gem back into his pocket and held out his hand. Alcryst didn't move or speak for a moment, and he looked like he was about to cry. Instead, he let out a sound between a laugh and a sigh of relief as he slid the silver band onto Alear's finger.

There was no Emblem in this ring, but the warm glow he felt from it as strong as the first time he'd felt Marth's ring resonate with him during his very first battle.

"We'll go to the jeweler tomorrow and have him set the gem," Alcryst said, smiling widely, his eyes shining as bright as the silver. "I'm so happy, I should've known you'd say yes, but..."

"My answer will always be yes," Alear said, and kissed him.

They stayed there until the sunset faded into the darkness of the night and the stars began to come out, one by one.