I know it has only taken me forever to finally post this, but here it is and I am (mostly) quite pleased with it. Seems the fresh start given me by a new account was really all I needed. That, and to finally be rid of pointless medical tests that only told me what I already knew; I am broken and there is no fixing it. Good thing insurance covered it, because it was really nothing but a waste of time and money.
For those who read the original incarnation of this story, you will find that quite a bit has changed/been improved upon, and the length has almost doubled. Some parts in it are a little rocky, and I apologize; it was written on and off over the course of several weeks, and the break in my writing rhythm was likely detrimental to the story. Again, I apologize.
Without further ado, and with assurances that I own only the story idea and Eris, I am off. Do enjoy.


The afternoon sun had risen high, making the day surprisingly warm and humid. The sudden summer downpour that morning had soaked them through, and thanks to that they suddenly guessed as to what it was like to be steamed Mudcrab legs. The mud sucked at their boots as the pair trudged along a barely visible pathway. Finally they found themselves in a bit of a clearing with large rocks, which they wearily sat down upon.
Eris leaned back with a groan as Lydia rummaged through a bag in search of food. Finally she withdrew a battered loaf of bread and two ales, one of which she tossed at her traveling companion. Eris scrambled to catch it, and she gratefully uncorked it and chugged while Lydia tore the bread in half and handed her a share.
"I do not see why we could not just travel by wagon, my Thane."
Eris choked on her beverage as she involuntarily inhaled it. Panicked, Lydia quickly slammed Eris on the back until she was able to breathe again. The former took a few shaky breaths before downing the last of her drink and wiping her mouth. Lydia sat there with an arm around the other woman's waist, a worried expression on her face.
Eris leaned into the embrace and rested her head against Lydia's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak hesitantly. "Lydia, something you do not know about me is that my earliest memory of Skyrim is of being bound and tossed bodily into a cart to be hauled off to Helgen to be executed. No idea why they were going to, but they were going to. Then suddenly, Alduin. It was terrifying and had it not been for a rather dashing young Imperial soldier who lead me to safety, I surely would have perished. So, can you see why I am not all that fond of carts?" she ended with a shrug.
Lydia swallowed and held a hand to her neck. She may be a seasoned warrior, but no one likes the thought of their head being lopped off. Squeezing Eris even tighter, she took advantage of her thane being distracted to begin undoing the clasps of her armor. "Come on now. We need to set our armor in the sun, let it and us have a chance to dry off.

Eris rose and stretched, then carefully scooted away from Lydia. Lydia yawned and shifted in her sleep, and Eris tenderly brushed a stray lock of hair from her friend's face. Their friendship began tenuously, but soon they became quite close. As the weeks had gone on, Lydia had admitted to her that men had never held her fancy after Eris had accidentally stumbled across her friend in a compromising position with a bar maid. The housecarl had worried that her preference of sexual partners might perturb her new thane, making her uncomfortable. As Eris thought back on things, she shook her head, bewildered that it should matter to anyone what others did behind closed doors.
Lydia had woken while Eris dressed and proceeded to follow suit. Soon both were dressed and on the move again. The sun had set while they rested, and Eris cast Candlelight to accompany what little moonlight made it through the forest canopy. After a half an hour of walking, the trees started to thin out. Not long after, the forest opened to a roadway. In the distance the moons glimmered off of a lake near what could only be a walled city.
Lydia and Eris cheered to themselves. A city meant an inn, which meant hot food and soft beds. With renewed vigor, they started forward. Soon a stable came into sight, and next to it the entrance of the city. As they neared it, a guard rushed forward. "Halt! You need to pay a visitor's fee before you can have the honor of entering Riften."
Lydia groaned as Eris rolled her eyes. Suddenly, she perked up and elbowed Lydia out of sight of the guard before pulling her closer. "Just follow my lead, alright?" she hissed. Fluttering her eyelashes and thrusting her chest forward, Eris pouted at the guard.
"Are you sure that there is really a tax to enter this fine city? That seems so unusual. Almost like a...like a shakedown to take advantage of people. You seem much too nice to take advantage of us, especially as we have no coin. See, my partner and I were told we could find work here as we are just ever so poor," she simpered in a husky voice, placing emphasis on the word work. Fortunately Lydia caught on quickly, draping her arms around Eris' shoulders and letting her hands roam while winking coquettishly at the guard.

The man's face had gone pale, his breathing shallow as his eyes wandering between the two women. They could see him debating, until he finally swallowed nervously and shuffled off to unlock the gate. "Just...just do not tell anyone, alright?" he muttered, his gaze lust filled as the two women sauntered past him.
The large gate shut behind them and they exhaled in relief. "I was not sure if that would work. Was so worried for a minute," admitted Eris.
Lydia pinched her at this, leveling a displeased glare in her direction. "You are just lucky that he did not try to work out a 'deal' with us before letting us pass!" Both women shuddered at this, and Eris made a quiet retching noise at the thought of the filthy guard sweating over her as a shudder of disgust rippled through her body. They joined arms and set off in the direction of inn, so marked by the sign.

Halfway to their destination they were accosted by a large man whose frame blocked their path. Eris eyed him warily, and she could feel Lydia shift her stance in preparation for a fight. Flicking her eyes downward quickly, she could see her friend's hand move to the dagger she kept at her belt. She lifted her own hand and entwined their fingers to stop her.
"Better not cause any trouble around here, if you know what is good for you." His voice was gruff, intimidating. The growl in it was obviously meant to be threatening. She bristled at his behavior, taking a deep breath to try to settle the anger within her. Nodding slightly in mocking acquiescence, she found her voice and replied to him; "We are only stopping through and are looking for a bed for the night." Noting the interested gleam in his eye at those words, she quickly moved to deter an offer to share his bed. "As I said, we will be leaving soon enough and shall cause no ill to any who do not bring it upon themselves." A thinly veiled barb. Damn the nine, the dragon got the better of her in the end, as it tends to. Eris stood taller, her temper turning foul as this strange man who accosted them narrowed his eyes, suddenly appearing surprisingly calculating for one who looked so oafish. If he is so fond of intimidation, two could play that game. Or really, three; the dragon blood within her veins rather had a mind of its own so it might as well be an entirely separate entity.
He finally rolled his eyes and chuckled; they could hear the belittlement in it. He disbelieved that two disheveled females were a threat. He stepped aside, and as Eris passed him he caught her elbow. "Might want to watch that attitude around here. Could get you into an awful lot of trouble." He let go of her, almost shoving her away from him before he stalked away.

Lydia snickered. "Trust you to always make friends with everyone you meet." she muttered wryly. Shaking off the foreboding feeling the encounter had left her with, Eris gripped Lydia's hand tightly as they walked the short distance to the doors of the Bee and Barb.