text: You're sure the Emperor means well and he probably does have more knowledge on these things. But he doesn't know Alison the way you know her. You also can't and won't spend your life in fear that something might occur that will cause strife between you and Alison.
  
  That's why you're going to tell her what happened two years ago and face whatever the consequences may be.
  
  You leave the palace and the capital to make your way to where Alison is currently stationed, which means a long ride back to the new eastern frontier of the Empire. You eventually arrive at Fort Stalwart, which is actually just a renamed and rebuilt fort once held by the ex-Felkan Kingdom.
  
  Given your reputation, the gates are immediately opened for you. A few of the older soldiers are also probably aware of your relationship with their commanding officer so orders are already given to alert Alison of your sudden arrival. She meets you even before you make it to her office.
  
  She flashes a smile when she sees you and goes to put her arms around you presumably to kiss you. While you'd love for her to do so, you stop Alison, which confuses the hell out her.
  
  "What's this? Oh. The other soldiers around. You and your insistence on keeping protocol. Very well let's get to my quarters so we can get you back into your comfort zone, because its been too damn long."
  "It has and we should get back to your quarters, but I'm not sure if you're going to be in the mood for what you probably had in mind after I tell you what I have to tell you."
  
  Alison steps back and gives you a tilted look.
  
  "Hmm, sounds serious. You look even more grim than usual. Well let's get this over with." Alison says and the pair of you head towards her quarters.
  
  Her private quarters are neat and clean, as you'd expect, on the right wall you see your portrait, which is right across from her bed. Placed in such a way so the first thing she sees when she wakes up is you.
  
  "Alright. Out with it and let's see exactly how mad you think I'm going to be at you." Alison remarks closing her door. You sit on the bed and take a deep breath then exhale giving her a look on your face which contains a mixture of shame and guilt.
  
  "Geez... this must be bad. I don't think I've ever seen you like this. Its almost like you're afraid to tell me. Shit, maybe I better sit down too." Alison says taking a seat in one her chairs.
  "Alison... I love you. I want you to know that before I say anything else. I never thought I could ever feel this way at all about anyone. It just wasn't something I was taught or even learned. (whew) Okay enough stalling. Here it is... "
  
  You tell Alison everything that happened two years ago at Gnome's Home and afterwards. You also explain that you didn't want to tell her in a letter because you felt something like this should be face to face. You expect Alison to show some sign of anger at this point, but she remains stoically silent just listening to everything.
  
  Lastly, and you weren't planning on telling her this either, but you mention that the Emperor suggested that you break up with her and how you obviously ignored this advice because your feelings are just that strong for her. This one causes her eyes to widen a little.
  
  "Wow, obsessed svelk, rape through magic trickery, warnings from the Emperor, defying orders... sheesh. Bet you never thought you'd have to deal with things like this."
  "Rape?" you say.
  "Well, yes. Its not like you willingly had sex with her, you willingly had sex with what you THOUGHT was me. It might've been a civilized form of it, but it still was rape since you wouldn't have had sex with who it really was. What else would you call what that svelk bitch did to you? The act doesn't always include a bunch of men holding down a hapless young girl and ramming their dicks into her you know."
  
  Hell, you never even thought about that. For a brief moment you feel slightly... violated.
  
  "And here I thought she was just making up shit and posturing." Alison continues.
  "Wait a minute. You... knew? When?" you ask.
  "For about two years now. Though as you might expect she told things a little differently. Never mentioned about disguising herself as me."
  "So she visited you? You never mentioned it in your letters."
  "Well hey guess what, neither did you. Though in your case I can understand why. In my case it was more I thought she was just so full of shit that I didn't believe her in the first place and in the second place I knew you were so busy with the Felkans that I didn't want to distract you with unpleasant thoughts of her in my letters. Figured it would be best to keep her out of them."
  
  "What did she tell you exactly?"
  "She appeared in my office one night claiming that she would always be the main woman in your life. And how I didn't stand chance against her and that I should just give up now. She said this along with the predictable insults of monkey and my general appearance. Then she mentioned how she easily seduced you into having sex with her and that you would always be hers. Like I said she was so overly dramatic about everything I thought she had to be lying."
  "So what did you do?"
  "Nothing, I mostly just shrugged my shoulders and told her I thought she was lying. I also mentioned that I found it pretty sad that for all her superior svelk talent and beauty she was still jealous of a mere monkey like myself and obsessed with a man who obviously did not share the strong feelings she obviously has for you. Then to finish up my retort I also told her that even if what she said was true, that even if you did have sex with her it would only make you appreciate me all the more."
  "Yikes. I can imagine she didn't like that."
  "Oh no, she did not like it at all. Her face turned from a smug sneer to one of frothing anger. I thought she was going to attack me, some flames started emanating from her fingers and for a moment it felt like a force was keeping me from drawing my own weapon. I couldn't even call out for other soldiers to help. I guess she thought better of it though because she just stood there for a moment staring at me and then made her way out the window. Wasn't long after that incident the svelk merc support was transferred out of here, which was fine by me and everyone else of course. Not like we needed them against gnoll attacks anymore anyway."
  
  "I can't believe all this happened and you aren't mad." You say.
  "Oh trust me I'm mad, but if you think its with you, you're mistaken. I can't do much about it though I suppose. I'm not really concerned with your little svelk stalker. I'm a little more troubled with what you just told me about the Emperor. I get the impression he doesn't care for my influence, not that I think I really have any over you."
  "Oh that? I wouldn't worry about him. I believe he's just overly concerned with my well-being again. He's always been a little over protective at times, like a father with an only son I suppose. Right now though I'm just wondering how you feel about me after all is said and done."
  "I don't feel anything. Ha ha ha ... wait that came out wrong. What I mean is I still feel the same way I always have about you. I love you. Nothing has changed."
  "Good, then let's get married. Let's take our relationship to its next logical step."
  "Married? You serious?"
  "Well sure. I mean don't people who feel the way we do get married?"
  "Usually I guess... but I dunno... seems like there some forces against us, and that's not even including one of us dying violently in battle. I mean in some ways the Emperor might be right. You might save yourself some pain if you ended our relationship now."
  "Perhaps, but I won't get to experience the good stuff if I did that."
  "Good stuff eh? Is that what you're calling it now?" Alison jokes. "Well, you sure you're ready for the pain of possibly losing me on some forsaken battlefield somewhere?"
  "How do you know you'll die first? You could outlive me."
  "Pfft, please. You'll outlive everyone. You'd outlast this entire world, if you had the time." Alison laughs.
  "So will you marry me?"
  "Yes, of course I will."
  
  As fitting for two soldiers, you and Alison don't have a fancy wedding; in fact you get married the next day in some small town in the Arat province by a local bureaucrat. Alison is still on duty for the next week so you return to her post and spend your wedding night in her quarters at Fort Stalwart. She tells you though as soon as she has time off, the pair of you are going to spend quality time doing something fun which doesn't involve the bedroom. You don't see the need since the bedroom is just fine with you, but you agree.
  
  While waiting for Alison's time off, you take it upon yourself to have a pair of proper rings made for you and Alison. You also have what possessions you actually own sent to Fort Stalwart since you don't know where you'll be stationed next and there is as good of place as any.
  
  After you've taken care of all that, you still have a day left to wait for Alison, so you go back to see the Emperor, you figure he should know what you've done and he'll know eventually anyway.
  
  When you see him again, he's still coughing a lot and moving slowly when he walks. He seems happy to see you though.
  
  "My (cough cough) son. This is an unexpected (cough) visit. I would've thought you would've been off enjoying your down time." He says.
  "I am, but I have also come to tell you something. I have married Alison."
  "Oh. I see. Well (cough cough) whatever makes you happy son. I trust she makes you happy."
  "Yes."
  "Then I'm happy for you. (cough cough) Heh, that was quick. Have to admit I didn't expect you to marry her. You should've told me though (cough cough) I could've ordered a big city celebration like what (cough cough) we're doing for the victory over the Felkans. You two could've walked down the streets with fancy guard and everything."
  "That would've been very generous, but I don't think that would've been either of our style."
  "I suppose not. Well as I (cough cough) have said, I'm happy for you, enjoy your time together and cherish it. So was there anything else?"
  "No, nothing of any note."
  "Very well... (cough cough) ugh... I'm still afflicted as you can tell. I need to just rest, so if you'll excuse me."
  
  Again, you feel like asking if he needs help, but you resist. Instead you just quietly start to leave. The Emperor speaks to you as he makes his way back to his bedroom.
  
  "Oh. Don't (cough cough) worry about Semra. I spoke with her earlier a couple days ago about bothering you again."
  "Semra?"
  "Yeah, you know (cough cough) Mistress. I made it quite clear to her if she did do it again that she'd be executed, along with every other svelk in the Empire. (cough cough) Funny thing is, she went into a complete breakdown exclaiming that I didn't need to worry about that ever again, because as far she was concerned she never wanted to see you ever again. Then she (cough) proceeded to swear in common tongue as well as her own language. Mostly about you. Then she stormed off. If I didn't know better I thought she was going to cry. I actually wondered what it was that caused all that. Now I know. I guess you had a hidden witness (cough cough) to your wedding."
  
  "Shit." You say quietly to yourself in amazement. Then you address the Emperor.
  
  "Thank you, sir."
  "No problem. (cough cough) Think of it as my wedding gift to you."
  
  Well you couldn't have asked for a better one, assuming she really does stay away.
  > married without children (Year 31)
  Year 31
  
  You didn't mean to get into a minor argument about this, but you like to be prepared for all eventualities, so you had to ask the question... 
  
  "Alison, I actually don't care if you've been drinking stillness potions to avoid unwanted burdens, because I'd understand. I just wanted to know if you were drinking them." You explain.
  "No, I haven't. I used to before I met you and I did even in the beginnings of our relationship, but I stopped taking them years ago."
  "Really? I would've thought you would've waited until after marriage."
  "What for? It wasn't like I had any intimate encounters after you got transferred, well other than my hand."
  
  You quickly start counting up the times in your head when you've had sex with Alison since you've been married.
  
  "Yes dear, it's been MORE than enough times for an accidental burden as you put it to have occurred." Alison remarks. "I'm not sure why you're even concerned about this, I've never known you to want kids. Is this something you want?"
  "Well no... (Sigh) I just wanted to know if it was something you wanted because I think... and I don't know this for certain, but I believe I am unable to provide you children. I probably should've told you this before, but honestly you're right in that I've never gave children much consideration before. In fact, I've probably only been pondering this more because I've had more downtime than I ever had since we defeated the Felkans.
  
  Alison gets silent for a moment.
  
  "I see. But why do you think this? I mean do you have any proof? It can't be an equipment problem because we both know that works. You might take into consideration that sex doesn't always lead to a screaming infant. Just most of the time."
  "Yeah, but as you pointed out, once is all it takes. I guess I'm just thinking about Roldan and his own marriage with Brenda. He once told me they've genuinely tried to have children on several occasions. Even to the point of both of them imbibing fertility potions. Nothing worked."
  "So? Just because Roldan or Brenda sterile that means you are too?"
  "Quite possibly. You forget, we're all Eternals. Roldan told me that he and Brenda came to that conclusion. He believes that it might have something to do with all the enhancements that are made on us when we were still babies. I mean its not like Warrick or Kane have any children either."
  "I'd hate to think about Kane having any offspring given what I knew of him and what you've told me since you saw him again. Look, I think you might be worrying over nothing."
  "I'm not worrying for me, so much as I'm worrying for you. I mean I don't know if you've ever wanted children. You've never mentioned it much. But I don't know if you're going to change your mind one day and if that's the case then you're going to be mighty upset with me."
  "Funny enough, I thought you bringing up the subject was going to result in you being upset with me."
  "Why the hell would I be upset with you?"
  "Well, I don't know if you're aware of this, but stillness potions aren't exactly the best thing for your lady parts. I mean they don't do any fatal damage to the drinker as far as I know, but given that they are designed to kill potential offspring, it can make it a bit hard for future pregnancies. I guess it's the mixture that stays in your body or something. So for all we know, the problem might lie with me."
  "Oh. Didn't know that. Um... are you okay?"
  "Sure. I mean I knew the risks every time I drank the foul tasting potions. That's why I don't even think you should concern yourself with this. I mean if we create a future hell spawn then we do, if not well that's fine too. I didn't marry you for the idea of hanging up my sword so I could pop out kids. And as far as your potential sterility problem it's not like you've got much to test that theory on. If you were some super stud that fucked multiple women and didn't get any of them pregnant I could see your concern. You've had at exactly two women in your life and in my case we've already explored the possibility that it could be me. And as for the other... well she's a svelk. It isn't like elves and humans can produce offspring."
  "Thank the Emperor for that." You say.
  "Although as you've pointed out, you're not quite the average human are you? So for all you know you've got some half svelk bastard running about that your obsessive stalker hasn't told you about." Alison jokes.
  "That's not funny Alison."
  "Hey it would explain why she's still carrying a bit of a torch for you. Okay, I'll stop I can see you're getting grumpy. Let's get off the subject entirely."
  
  At this point you're more than willing to do just that rather than dwell on very unlikely yet very depressing possibilities.