Marid and Julan Kaushibael -- Ashland Romance

This is my Morrowind character Marid and her husband-to-be Julan Kaushibael of the Ahemmusa tribe of the Ashlanders. This requires a bit of history, and there are definitely spoilers ahead…not sure if that matters on a ten year old game.

Marid was a foundling in Yokuda, home of the Redguards, uncertain of who her parents were, but she was taken in by a noble family. When she was nineteen her family was framed by a rival family and all of them, including Marid, were sent to the Imperial City in Cyrodiil and thrown in prison. A year later, under mysterious circumstances, the Emperor ordered Marid's release in the Vvardenfell district of the province of Morrowind, home of the Dunmer, the Dark Elves. Marid was informed she would be working for the Imperial spymaster in Vvardenfell, an Imperial named Caius Cosades. Marid was far from thrilled, but it was better than wasting away in prison. When Caius told her to build up a cover story as an adventurer and come back whenever she was ready, Marid took it as an opportunity to build a new life for herself in Vvardenfell. She converted to the prevailing local religion, the Tribunal Temple, which she found to be very spiritually satisfying, and she found employment in one of the three Great Houses present in Vvardenfell, Great House Redoran, the warrior's House. Beautiful, charming, and naturally talented, Marid rose the ranks of Great House Redoran swiftly.

While attending to some business at Ghostgate, Marid encountered a young Ashlander being attacked by three of the lizard-like Daedra called clannfears. After helping him defeat them, Marid first met her future husband, Julan Kaushibael of the Ahemmusa tribe. Their first meeting was far from promising. Julan was proud, frustrated, and suspicious of outsiders. He showed little gratitude for the rescue and little more for the healing Marid provided for his wounds afterward. Finally, however, Julan revealed he was on a secret sacred mission within the Ghostfence—the magical barrier surrounding Red Mountain—and could use training. Marid agreed to train him and the two became traveling companions. Over time, they learned to trust each other and became friends—Marid slowly learned to sympathize with the tribal Ashlanders, and Julan slowly opened his mind to the fact that there were people different from himself.

Eventually Julan informed Marid that he felt he was ready to ascend Red Mountain, and Marid agreed to accompany him. As they climbed the dangerous, monster-ridden slopes of the volcano, Julan grew increasingly paranoid—even more than normal—and at last he collapsed into a catatonic state, first crying out that he was Nerevar reborn—Nerevar being a Dunmer saint and hero and companion of the Tribunal. When Julan woke up after being tended by the Ghostgate healer, Julan and Marid had a long discussion in which Julan revealed that he was the prophesied Nerevarine, Nerevar reborn to take revenge on the Tribunal, cast down the evil Dagoth Ur, drive out the outlanders, and restore the Ashland tribes.

It was shortly after this that Julan and Marid discovered that they had feelings for each other. They decided to take it slow and see where it might take them; after all, they both had complicated missions to achieve and long paths ahead of them. Marid and Julan continued to adventure together. Marid was soon elected Archmaster of Great House Redoran, and not long after was named Patriarch of the Tribunal Temple, much to Julan's annoyance—the Temple and the Ashlanders are bitter enemies. The irony, however, was that even as Patriarch Marid happened to be a member of the Dissident Priests, a sect of the Temple questioning certain Temple doctrines, including the persecution of the Ashlanders.

Marid also began working for Caius. She did not tell Julan he was an Imperial spymaster or why he was after information on the Nerevarine and the Sixth House—indeed, she did not know why herself. Eventually Caius revealed to Marid that the Emperor believed she might fulfill the Nerevarine prophesies and wanted her to make sure the prophesies never came true—Marid was appalled. To make matters worse, Julan had been listening in on the conversation. He was furious. This was definitely the lowest point in their relationship, as both felt hurt and betrayed.

The two eventually reconciled their differences, and it eventually became clear that Marid was the true Nerevarine and that Julan had been deceived by his mother. Julan and Marid finally acknowledged their love for each other and agreed to be married once Dagoth Ur was defeated and the great adventure was over.