A/N: This is my first ever fanfiction and I could really use some reviews on my writing, so here it is. Don't know why but I fell in love with Rikke in the game so I decided to make a love story about her. Kind of long, but please bare with me.

Disclaimer:All rights go to Bethesda

She called herself Tsidahra. Rikke was skeptical about trusting her but Tullius seemed willing to bargain with her after she brought them the head of the bandit chief from Fort Hraggstad.

"If you don't mind my asking, but what are you exactly?" asked General Tullius, placing his hands on his hips.

"This one is half-breed. Mother was khajitt, father was imperial. This one was raised by khajitt caravans in Tamriel until she left to come to Skyrim." She spoke with a khajitt accent as well as in their strange third person speech, but Rikke had to believe her. She was only slightly taller than the legate with a slender, toned body. She wore clothing similar to the forsworn's but hers was crafted from a sabre cat pelt. Her face was angular and cat-like with large amber eyes and she had a long tail with a tuft of black hair on the tip. Wavy waist-length dark brown hair framed her face to perfection and even Tullius seemed to be ogling her body that could rival Dibella's easily.

But she was looking directly at Rikke. She hadn't even glanced the general's way since she arrived, blood soaked and covered in cuts and scratches.

"Well then, tomorrow, we'll test your arm before we make a final decision." Tullius said.

"But she completed the task. She should be taking the oath." Rikke grumbled, exhausted and nearly ready to collapse after not sleeping for almost 2 days straight. The rebellion was keeping her on her toes, fulfilling tasks for Tullius who did nothing but spend his days in the Blue Palace, micromanaging every decision Elisif made.

"This Tsidahra does not mind." said the half-breed with a flick of her tail. "As long as the Legate is present." She smirked, almost seductively at the older woman before departing as silently and mysteriously as she had come.

"Well," Tullius said, turning back to Rikke. "Be up at dawn tomorrow in the training area. When we're done with her, we'll start discussing plans to take back the pale."

"Let me guess, I'm leading the march?"

"Of course. Who else can I trust to do it?"

"Amand, Fasendil-" the Legate began, but was shut down at once by the general.

"Not another word. Go to bed, Rikke. See you at dawn." He turned on his heels and walked away, leaving an exhausted Rikke to stumble to her bedroom, grumbling every step of the way. She barely managed to wrestle out of her heavy armor before collapsing onto the bed. But sleep wouldn't descend just yet. The half-breed slipped into her thoughts and disrupted the flow of dreams. She wondered if her skin was as smooth as it looked and her fingers twitched at the thought of finding out.

"Ugh!" Rikke shot up in bed, confusion etched across her face. Why the hell was she thinking about a woman in such a way? She growled to herself, punched the pillow a few times before falling back onto it again. This time, sleep hit her like a club and she could finally rest.

The next morning found the Legate and the General waiting in the training yard. Aldis and a few of his men were present as well.

"Where is she?" asked the guard captain. "Are you sure we must go through this trouble for this woman? Is she worth it?"

"I believe so, yes." Tullius answered. "She cleared out an entire fort on her own."

"This one has arrived." They all turned at the sound of a melodious khajitt-like voice as Tsidahra entered the yard. She wore the same attire as the night before but this time, she had a pair of ebony knives strapped to her thighs and a strange black bow strapped to her back.

"Finally you arrive." Aldis growled. "Take up stance." He motioned one of his men forward. Tsidahra drew her knives as the soldier drew his sword and raised his shield. "Begin!"

The soldier stalked forward defensively. Tsidahra frowned and looked at Rikke. "This is true test of skill? He is not trained. This Tsidahra will not fight a boy."

"What are you talking about?" Aldis said. "He is one of my best!"

Tsidahra sheathed her weapons and relaxed, waving the man on. He charged, sword raised and roaring like he was going for the kill, only to be sent rolling across the ground after a quick smack to the face by the half-breed. She looked completely bored and slightly irritated at the lack of challenge as he charged again and nearly took his head off with a loud, powerful kick to the side of his jaw.

"Enough!" Rikke snapped. "Obviously your 'best' men need more training, Aldis. Tell him what they're doing wrong, then show us anything else you need to so I can prepare to leave."

The legate was very much aware of the incredulous looks she was receiving, plus the irate one from Aldis, but at this point she was too annoyed to care. By this time the next morning, she would be on her way up north to put an end to this foolish rebellion, added to her restless night, she was in no mood to deal with nonsense. She was almost positive this was just some ploy by Tullius to ogle the woman without being ridiculed by his feisty legate.

Tsidahra smiled, a mysterious smile, that revealed rows of catlike teeth and nodded repectfully. "For one, his stance is weak. He can be knocked over too easily. Your men must strike with precision and purpose, and not give away intention by bellowing like crazed goat. As for your second request..." A black and purple fire began swirling in her palms as she launched both at the ground, a few feet from the gathered legion. A pale wolf flickered into existence, unleashing a thunderous howl from its gullet. A flame atronach materalized next to it. The flames in her hands turned orange and she let loose a stream of fire into the air, followed by a single blast that could've destroyed the entire yard if she had wished to do so.

The men were now staring at her in shock, some with fear, but Rikke found herself smilling, oddly enough at the strange woman.

"Well, um," Tullius cleared his throat. "Rikke, she'll be assigned to your guard. Give her the oath then follow me so we can get started." He walked briskly back into Castle Dour. Rikke turned to her new charge and watched as she made the atronach and familiar dissipate. She turned around walked toward her, her hips moving with a natural seductive sway and her bare feet making no sound on th smooth stone. Rikke noticed for the first time an amulet of Dibella shimmered from around her neck. Of course.

"This Tsidahra wants to know the name of her commander."

"Legate Rikke. You are to be part of my guard, but with your skill, I would see you as something better, perhaps a personal escort." she paused to see the woman's reaction but she said nothing, instead she slowly looked Rikke up and down, as if appraising her, but there was a mischeivous glint in her eyes that made the legate bare her own. "Repeat after me: Upon my honor I do swear undying loyalty to the Emperor, Titus Mede ll... and unwavering obedience to the officers of his great empire. May those those above me judge me, and those below me take, if I fail in my duty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empire!" Tsidahra repeated the oath. "Now, go to Beirand and get your new armor. Spend the day as you wish, but I expect you to be at the gates at first light, packed and ready to go. As far as I know, we'll be travelling with a small company of about 100 men to our camp in the Pale."

"That is small company?" Tsidahra asked.

"Yes. Any questions?"

"This one is satisfied."

"Good, you are dismissed." Rikke turned and marched away.

Tsidahra watched her shapely ass disappear into Castle Dour and a sly smirk cracked her lips as she imagined what it looked like uncovered. A skip found its way into her step as she went to find Beirand. The task was rather easy, seeing as he was right outside the gate. She chose medium armor, only to tear it apart before his eyes. She made it into an ensemble, similar to the one she was currently wearing. She used the scraps that would've protected her midriff to make a decorative piece of plate for her tail.

By then it was midday and she was starving. A quick stop at the local inn had her belly quickly filled with chicken, pork and beef. She dropped her new armor off at her room before making her way down to the stables. The owner, Katla, gave her a large golden stallion, in exchange for 1200 gold. A silver tongue soon had the price down to 800. With her more important duties completed, Tsidahra retired to her room and spent the rest of the day oiling and shining her modified legion armor.

As she worked, she let her mind wander to her new commander. The woman had caught her eye as soon as she stepped across the castle threshold. Strong, feisty, just like she liked them. Rikke had to be twice her age and the lines around her eyes and lips indicated that, but Tsidahra could only think of the woman as striking beautiful, seasoned and mature, unlike the young floozys that she seemed to attract. She wanted Rikke. There was simply no other way to put it. It was then that she realized that maybe the legate preferred men. That mattered not, she would have her, not just her body but her heart. She slept soundly that night, dreaming of the taste of her legate's lips.