Chapter One
Rowen crouched behind a boulder with her bow drawn. Slowly, she peered over the boulder at the mammoth that stood just yards away. Even after years of slaying dragons, Rowen still found hunting the beasts of Skyrim to be one of her favorite sports. The mammoth's massive body swayed as it stomped through the grassy plains. Out of the corner of Rowen's eye, she saw the movement of someone stealthily creeping into position beside her. "You know, I'm not carrying that thing home with us," Serana whispered as she steadied her own bow over the boulder. Rowen took a deep breath in and pulled back on her bowstring. She felt her aim steady on the swaying mammoth. As she exhaled, she released the tension on the string, which sent the arrow slicing through the air until it landed directly into the beast's eye. As the mammoth fell to the ground, Rowen jumped onto the boulder and held her bow to the air in triumph. Serana rolled her eyes, "What did that mammoth ever do to you?" Rowen slid over the boulder and started sprinting towards the mammoth; she didn't want to wait around for the wolves of Skyrim to claim her kill.
"Well, for one, he happened to be stomping around my hunting grounds," Rowen shouted back at Serana as she came to a stop at the mammoth's side. Rowen pulled the arrow out of the mammoth's skull. The blood on the arrow glistened in the sunlight. She brought the bloodied arrow to her pants leg, but stopped suddenly as Serana shouted, "NOT the pants! Use the cloth!" Rowen groaned as she dropped her bag to the ground. She retrieved the cloth from her bag and turned purposefully towards Serana as she wiped the arrow down. "I'm using the cloth!" She shouted across the field.
Serana was leaning against the boulder with her arms crossed at her chest. Rowen grabbed the sharpest axe from her bag and proceeded to free the tusks from the mammoth's skull. Serana walked slowly to the mammoth's side with a dagger in hand, and began stripping the meat from the bones.
"We are close enough to Whiterun that we could sell this meat. We might even convince someone to buy a tusk or two," she stated as she rolled strips of meat into a large leather satchel.
"That sounds like a plan, but we are taking one tusk back with us to Lakeview."
"Back to Lakeview? Are you kidding me?"
"It won't be too bad…I'll hire a carriage to take us to Falkreath," Rowen shrugged, "Then, we'll only carry it a couple miles."
Serana crossed her arms again and stared. Rowen smiled awkwardly and started hoisting one of the tusks over her shoulders. Serana sighed and picked up the other tusk begrudgingly.
It was a short walk to Whiterun. As Serana had anticipated, the mammoth meat was quickly sold to the local food vendors. Rowen only needed one mammoth tusk, so she made her way from the food vendors to Belethor's General Goods Store. As she opened the door, a small bell alerted the shop to her entrance. Belethor turned to Rowen and started shaking his head, "Out of all the possible treasures of Skyrim, you bring me a mammoth's tusk?" Rowen hoisted the tusk onto the counter and turned towards the entrance as she heard the chime of the bell announce the entrance of another customer. Serana entered the shop, dragging with her the other mammoth tusk.
Belethor was very familiar with the site of the two explorers. It was rare that he would see one without the other. Belethor clicked his tongue at the sight of the second mammoth tusk and wondered silently where in Oblivion he was going to display these things in his humble shop.
Rowen leaned across the counter, making eye contact once again with Belethor.
"Look, I know what you are thinking, but I really only need you to buy one off of me. In exchange, I'll buy your whole lot of ebony arrows."
Belethor scratched his chin pensively, and then stretched his large hand across the counter, "You've got a deal, Dragonborn."
Rowen's jaw clenched at the sound of the title. Very few people still recognized Rowen as the Dragonborn. To most people, their hero had long ago disappeared into the wilderness of Skyrim. It was a more fitting end to the legacy of a hero. But, the truth of the matter was that Rowen hadn't disappeared. Rowen slapped her hand into Belethor's open palm, "Deal."
"Now, ebony arrows, ebony arrows…" Belethor's voice trailed off as he disappeared into the back room. Rowen scanned the newly acquired oddities in Belethor's shop. "I count thirty-three arrows here," Belethor stated as he dropped the arrows onto the counter, "But I have to ask why in the world are you holding on to that second tusk?"
Rowen glanced back at Serana impulsively before answering. "Well, it's sort of my two-year wedding anniversary with Ysolda." Belethor blinked, "So, you are bringing her a mammoth tusk as a present?" Rowen looked down at the counter and spoke quickly to Belethor, "It's kind of a silly story, but I met her two years ago when I was traveling through Whiterun. She asked me to get her a mammoth tusk. When I returned with the tusk, I asked her to marry me."
Belethor smiled across the counter at Rowen, "How romantic…"
Rowen laughed and glanced quickly back to Serana. Serana was sifting through a pile of books near the doorway. Belethor followed Rowen's gaze, and then gave Rowen a knowing smile.
Rowen frowned at Belethor, "Anyway, for our first anniversary, I thought it would be funny to give her another mammoth tusk. I had also made her a diamond and gold necklace, and draped it over the tusk for her to find. And, since I am so creative, I figured I would keep this a running tradition."
Serana had now joined them at the counter. She forked over a few pieces of gold to Belethor in exchange for a book. Rowen stared at the title. Belethor dropped the gold pieces into his pocket, "Ah, the Lusty Argonian. Good choice." Serana blushed, "Even an adventurer enjoys a little romance." Rowen coughed and then quickly turned to Belethor, her voice suddenly tense,"Well, we better be going then."
"I just have to ask before you go…what in the world is Ysolda doing with these mammoth tusks?"
Rowen laughed and ran the flat of her hand over the back of her braid, "Well, the first one she gave to her dad, and the second one is hanging above our fireplace."
Belethor nodded, "And, last year, you made her a diamond necklace. What did you make her this year?"
Rowen shifted, "I actually haven't made her anything yet."
Belethor disappeared behind the counter. Rowen met Serana's gaze again, but the expression on her face was unreadable.
Belethor reappeared with a tiny golden box from behind the counter. "Now, if I remember correctly, you weren't as financially stable when you were first married." Rowen shrugged, but continued to listen. Belethor opened the box and turned it towards Rowen. Inside of the box was a beautiful ring with a large diamond in the center and sparkling rubies lining the band. The entire ring seemed to glow in the light. Belethor leaned across the counter, "Don't ask me which metal was used in the crafting of this ring." Rowen picked the ring out of the box and studied it, "I've been smithing long enough that I should know this, but I haven't the foggiest idea what I am looking at." Belethor whispered to the Dragonborn, "That's because this is no ordinary ring. Legend has it that Mara herself crafted this ring and enchanted it with a spell that would bind two lovers together in this world and the world beyond."
"That's basically the definition of marriage," Serana smugly added.
Belethor shrugged, "It could be a token of marriage…a contract to legally bind two people in this life." He then turned his gaze back towards the Dragonborn, "But, marriage is a contract of flesh, and what I am offering to you is a contract of the soul."
Rowen swallowed and looked from Belethor to Serana. She was suddenly aware that Belethor's shop was sweltering hot. Rowen opened her mouth to talk, but the words seemed to escape her.
"So, I'm guessing you are going to want more than a mammoth's tusk for this ring," countered Serana, breaking the silence. Belethor beamed at Serana and then turned an amused gaze back to Rowen, "Well, for my two favorite adventurers, I'll see what I can do."
Chapter Two
Rowen and Serana were silent during the carriage ride to Falkreath. Rowen thumbed the golden box in her pocket nervously. It seemed that every fiber of her being was tuned into this tiny box. Serana seemed unfazed by the presence of this mysterious trinket. She was completely engrossed in her new novel and bit her lip as she flipped to the next page. What was she reading that had her so enthralled? Rowen suddenly found herself staring at Serana and biting her own lip.
The carriage came to a halt as the driver announced their arrival at their destination. Serana closed the book suddenly and dropped it unceremoniously into her bag before hopping out of the carriage. She dropped a few gold pieces into the driver's hand before turning to Rowen. "Well, are you just going to sit there and stare at me all day, or are we going to drag this tusk up the road to your wife?" Rowen frowned and hopped down from the carriage. Serana grabbed one end of the mighty tusk and Rowen grabbed the other. In comparison, the tiny box in her pocket seemed to weigh ten mammoth tusks.
The two of them trudged up the road silently. After a few paces, Rowen couldn't stand it anymore. "What's with the silent treatment? What's wrong with you lately?"
Serana raised her eyebrows and asked quizzically, "What is wrong with me?"
"Yes! I want to know why you are…ignoring me." The words came out more desperate than Rowen had anticipated.
"Look, when you asked me to go hunting with you for the week, I didn't know I was signing up for a quest to retrieve your anniversary gift," Serana hissed.
Rowen stopped, "Can we just take break for a second?"
Serana dropped her end of the tusk with a thud. Rowen followed suit and dropped her half. Rowen perched on the ground, looking up at Serana. "I wanted to spend time with you, so I asked you to go hunting with me. It wasn't a quest for my anniversary gift."
Serana glared down at Rowen, "It certainly hasn't felt that way. I swear, I feel like I don't even know you…the person I know wouldn't just buy off someone for marriage with a mammoth tusk!"
Rowen met Serana's gaze, "What would the person you know do?"
Serana pursed her lips and looked down at the ground. Their relationship seemed to be filled with these moments. Every time Serana hinted any sort of feeling to Rowen, she would quickly shut down.
"I'm sorry, Serana," Rowen started, "I was married a long time ago. I didn't know then that I would be meeting you."
"I thought companionship meant something to you—how did you just commit your life to the first woman that would have you?"
"At the time, I was told that I was destined to slay a time-traveling dragon that was going to eat the entire world. I didn't exactly expect to live through it, but here I am," Rowen gestured at their path.
"Yes, here you are," Serana added bitterly.
"I thought getting married might give me some reason to live through it all, even if I wasn't expecting to actually make it," Rowen looked up at Serana, suddenly feeling very small in her presence. Serana was terrifyingly beautiful; her dark hair framed her delicate, porcelain face. She had lived a hard life, but you would not know it from her appearance.
Serana looked down the trail to Lakeview, "Well, it just so happens that your reason to live is walking this way."
Chapter Three
Rowen followed Serana's gaze and saw Ysolda standing several yards away. Ysolda beamed at Rowen and shouted, "I had a feeling you were coming back today!" Rowen found herself suddenly at her feet and walking towards Ysolda with a grin on her face. Ysolda walked hurriedly towards Rowen and threw her arms around her neck. She kissed Rowen deeply and then playfully added, "And, you took down a mammoth for me." Ysolda had a painfully gracious personality that seemed almost completely foreign in Skyrim.
"And, hauled it all the way out here from Whiterun," Serana chimed in with an equally large grin on her face. Ysolda walked towards Serana to embrace her, "And, I have you to thank for always keeping my hero safe on all of her adventures." Serana returned Ysolda's embrace, her eyes moving slowly over Ysolda's shoulder and falling coldly on Rowen's face before releasing Ysolda. Ysolda turned and smiled warmly at Rowen and as if a reflex, clutched the diamond pendant hanging from her neck.
Serana motioned towards Rowen and asked expectantly, "Rowen, don't you have something else you'd like to give Ysolda?" Rowen knew that it wasn't just a question about Ysolda. It was a question about the future nature of their relationship. Rowen played coy, "Ah, yes, I do have something very special—too special to give away right here in Bandit Country." Rowen hoisted one end of the mammoth tusk over her shoulder and turned an impartial gaze to Serana as she motioned towards the Lakeview Homestead. Serana's eyes burned with a mix of hurt, rage, and betrayal. Rowen pressed her lips together into a line and fought wave after wave of emotion that she felt at that moment. Her voiced faltered only slightly as she spoke to Serana, "Come on, it's getting late and I want to know you're safe inside." Ysolda clasped the Dragonborn's hand and breathed, "I've been here for a week with just a house carl and a bard, you know. But, I love that you always want to take care of me." Rowen's gaze was still fixed on Serana, "I know you probably don't need me to keep you safe, but I need you." Serana swallowed as she broke their graze and lifted the other half of the tusk. Rowen turned toward the road to Lakeview, "Let's get going then."
Ysolda had stood still for a moment and studied her wife's face. Something was different, but she didn't know what. She wondered silently if the gift her wife brought back to her had something to do with this strange behavior. She walked in stride, hand-in-hand with her wife when suddenly a glimmer caught her eye. The glimmer was from the setting Skyrim sun, sending out its last rays of warmth before the coldness of the night. The setting rays fell perfectly into the small opening of her wife's pocket and reflected back what appeared to be a ring box made of gold. Could her Dovahkin be re-proposing to her?
She absent-mindedly turned the plain silver wedding band around and around her finger. She had married Rowen almost on a whim. She had been completely enamored with the fact that the prophesized Dragonborn was choosing her as a wife. The first few months of their marriage passed without much contact other than the occasional night that her wife would return beaten, bloody, and exhausted from the reality of the duties that accompanied being a prophesized savior. Those nights were rare and limited to a brief exchange of warmth between two lovers before the Dragonborn left again with no expected date of return. After assuming title of Vampire Lord, a change occurred in her wife. The ever-distant spouse was suddenly warm and content while at home. At the same time, Ysolda had to accept Serana, another powerful vampire and right-hand to her wife. Ysolda had feared how close this other woman was to her wife; however, the vampiric changes appeared to spark a hunger in Rowen for more than just blood. The nights Rowen would return with Serana in tow were the nights that Rowen would display such desire for Ysolda that it could make anyone blush. Those nights were filled with passionate pleasures that Ysolda never knew she could experience. Her wife made love to her with such urgency, as if she had needed release every night that she had been away. Their last night together, before Rowen's latest expedition, was spent in each other's arms next to a warm fire in the home they shared. Rowen had opened up to Ysolda that night, stating that she felt their marriage had started in a rush and before true feelings could have developed between them. Rowen had held Ysoda next to the fire as she expressed her wishes to go back in time and make things different. Ysolda reassured her wife that the only important thing was that they had found each other.
The next day, Rowen had announced that she was going on a hunting trip with Serana, and that she would be back in time for their anniversary.
Chapter Four
Serana was opening a bottle of wine at the Lakeview Homestead before night fell on Skyrim. The three sat silently around a warm fire, sipping wine from their goblets. Before long, Ysolda was halfway through her share of the wine. She moved closer to Rowen, and placed her hand on her wife's thigh. As if on cue, Serana stood up abruptly and announced she was retiring for the evening. Ysolda let her hand run slightly down her wife's leg before squeezing her knee. Serana paused in the doorway, looked back at the couple, and grabbed two large bottles of wine before turning towards the guest quarters.
Rowen felt her stomach sink as she heard Serana shut the door to the guest bedroom. Ysolda squeezed Rowen's knee again and whispered in her ear, "I think our bath might be ready." Rowen quickly finished the wine in her goblet, then turned to her wife and said, "Let's go get cleaned up then."
Ysolda grabbed Rowen's hand and lead her to the bedroom where a hot bath was ready for the two of them. Steam was rolling off the warm water and it reminded Rowen of her first bath with Serana.
The two had emerged from an ancient Dwarven ruin with two full bags of loot in tow. Their horse was nowhere to be seen, so they walked for what seemed like days into the wilderness of Skyrim. As they walked, they listed all of the things that they would purchase with their newly acquired treasure when, suddenly, Serana stopped and gasped, "A hot spring!" Rowen kept walking and nodded, "Yes, you could probably buy a hot spring with that much money." Rowen turned when she heard Serana's bag hit the ground with a thud. "It's a hot spring! We stumbled across a hot spring," Serana breathed as Rowen focused her eyes on a tiny hole filled with water so warm that steam rolled off it and faded into the night sky. Rowen looked around nervously, "I could really use a bath, but this is not a safe area for us to be stopping." Serana was already taking off her boots, "We'll be quick about it then." She started to shrug off her cloak. Rowen looked up quickly at the night sky, and tried to pretend that she was not seeing her companion undress right in front of her. "I'll just watch from here—I mean, I'll just keep watch from here…at our current surroundings," Rowen stammered at the night sky. Rowen had been on the road for close to six months with this woman, and it was getting harder every day to pretend that deep feelings did not exist between the two of them. Rowen heard Serana pat the ground outside the hot spring, "Oh, come on, you need a bath more than I do! Just take your clothes off and get in here so we can get back on the road!" Rowen finally allowed herself to make eye contact, "You bathe and I'll hop in after you." Serana swatted water at Rowen's boot, "That's ridiculous. You said it yourself that we need to hurry up and get back on the road." Rowen paused, then sighed as she quickly took off her clothes and lowered herself into the water with her back turned to Serana. Rowen thumbed at the wedding band on her finger, quietly trying to remember her vows. With her back still facing Serana, Rowen silently noted that the hot spring seemed even smaller now that she was actually in it. She felt Serana's leg touch her own and, in response, Rowen tried to press herself further to the edge of the hot spring. She froze when she felt Serana's fingers lightly touch her shoulders. Rowen closed her eyes and leaned into Serana's touch. Serana ran her hands over Rowen's shoulders and lightly skimmed her breasts. Rowen breathed as she felt Serana's lips lightly touch the base of her neck. Rowen slowly turned to face Serana. Serana's eyes searched Rowen's face for a reaction. After a moment of silence, Serana began to pull away, "I'm really sorry—I shouldn't have—I just thought…" Rowen slipped one hand out of the water and placed it lightly onto the side of Serana's face. Serana relaxed and leaned her cheek into Rowen's open palm. Serana felt Rowen's other arm snake behind her back, pulling her into a full embrace. In response, Serana wrapped both of her arms around Rowen's neck and pulled her into a deep kiss. Rowen leaned into the kiss and slowly backed Serana into the side of the hot spring. The two lovers quickly found themselves pressed against each other, legs intertwined and lips pressed together. Serana moaned deeply as she felt Rowen's hand slip between her inner thighs. Rowen groaned as she felt Serana's legs part for her.
Suddenly, Rowen broke Serana's grasp and launched herself to the other side of the hot spring. Serana steadied herself and stared breathlessly at Rowen in confusion, "Did I do something wrong?" Rowen hoisted herself out of the spring, "No, believe me, you're doing everything just right."
"Then, why?" Serana felt like a fool still standing in the hot spring, looking up at Rowen in disbelief.
"Not like this," Rowen said coldly as she plucked her pants from the ground.
Rowen closed her eyes and leaned her head back into the bath that Ysolda had drawn. The night of the hot spring was the first and last time Rowen had come that close to being intimate with Serana. They had treated that night as if it happened in a dream. At this point, Rowen almost felt like it actually had been a dream, but it was a dream she played out in her mind every single night.
Rowen kept her eyes closed and she moaned as she felt Ysolda's hands slip over her shoulders in the water. I should have stayed. Rowen pulled Ysolda on top of her lap. Ysolda let out an amused yelp as she slid into the bath. Rowen imagined the taste of Serana's lips, as she pressed her own against her wife's mouth.
Downstairs, Serana pretended that she did not hear the water splashing above her. She poured herself another large glass of wine, and stared at the first page of the Lusty Argonian. She found herself silently stewing at the nerve of Rowen. And, as she finished her second bottle of wine, she began contemplating disappearing into the night without leaving so much as a note behind.
Chapter Five
It was either really late or really early, Rowen noted as she saw the candle flame burning low into the wax. Rowen stirred the flames of the fireplace back to life, and watched as Ysolda turned in bed away from the light. An empty wine goblet lay discarded in front of the hearth of the fire. Rowen grimaced and grasped her pounding head in her hands. With her eyes closed, all she could see was the image of Serana from the night before. Rowen had never seen her look so disgusted, but Rowen had also never seen her retire for the night with two bottles of wine. Rowen's head lolled between her hands.
Rowen heard Ysolda's feet padding across the landing towards her. Ysolda sat beside Rowen, and ran her hand through Rowen's braid and down her neck. Rowen leaned into Ysolda's touch, finally allowing herself to rest her pounding head in her wife's lap.
"I'm never drinking wine ever again," Rowen groaned into Ysolda's lap.
Ysolda laughed and then asked skeptically, "Well, how about the mead?"
Rowen groaned again, "Don't even start talking about the mead."
"No mead either? This could be very serious," Ysolda mused.
"No mead, no wine, and especially no bards," Rowen added.
"I don't think Llewellyn had much of a hand in last night's merriment," Ysolda continued, "But, I will be sure to warn him that drums may not be the instrument of choice in the morning."
Rowen scowled, "No singing either."
Ysolda paused and then began humming the tune to the Dragonborn Comes. Rowen opened one eye at Ysolda.
"I thought you liked that one! It's about you, after all," Ysolda mused. Rowen righted herself next to Ysolda. Ysolda smiled and passed Rowen a goblet. Rowen groaned again, "I know what they say about hair of the hound, but…"
"It's not wine, it's water," Ysolda insisted.
Rowen took a long drink from the goblet and then spattered, "What is this? Water straight from a Draugr's ass? Seriously, woman, are you trying to kill me?"
"Well, it does have a healthy heap of nightshade mixed into it," Ysolda glared. Rowen dramatically grasped at her chest, "On the anniversary of our wedding day? You traitorous wench! I'm taking you out with me!" Rowen grabbed Ysolda and pulled her down with her. Ysolda laughed and feigned an escape from Rowen's grasp. Rowen looked down at Ysolda in her arms, feeling suddenly very sad.
Rowen took another long sip from the goblet, "In all honesty though, did you siphon this water from a pissing hole in Oblivion?" Ysolda punched Rowen playfully on the shoulder, "I mixed crushed bear claw and honeycomb in it to revitalize you, but now I would just as soon as leave you with your ailments."
Rowen smelled the goblet and smacked her lips together, "A bit heavy on the bear claw and a bit stingy with the honeycomb were we?" Ysolda punched Rowen's shoulder again.
Rowen smiled at Ysolda as she continued to stoke the fire. "It's almost a new day, and another year has passed between us," Ysolda noted. Rowen silently nodded as she began to stare into the fire. Ysolda placed her hand on top of Rowen's and squeezed, "You never showed me that special surprise that you had mentioned." Rowen looked at Ysolda quizzically, "I thought I showed it to you a few times last night?" Rowen could see Ysolda blush even in the low firelight. "I am only teasing you," Rowen continued, "Do you want me to give it to you now?" Ysolda nodded and smiled.
Ysolda was expecting Rowen to reach for the pocket of her trousers that lay discarded on the bedroom floor, but Rowen grasped at her leather travel satchel instead. Ysolda wandered if Rowen had moved the ring box to the satchel while she wasn't looking.
But, Rowen did not return with the golden box that Ysolda had expected. Instead, Rowen was holding something that was wrapped in a green velvet cloth. Ysolda took the package from Rowen and began to unwrap it. Inside of the velvet was a beautiful gold and emerald circlet.
It wasn't quite the gift that Ysolda had anticipated, but she threw her arms around her wife and showered her in kisses anyway. Rowen smiled, "I'm glad you like it. I enchanted it for you…it is meant to restore your health and fortify your magicka." Ysolda fitted the circlet onto her head, "I absolutely love it. It's perfect." Rowen studied the fit of the circlet, "It isn't too loose, is it? You want it to be secure. I know these are two skills that we are still working on, but this circlet will keep you safe when I'm not here to protect you." Ysolda clasped Rowen's hand, "It's perfect. Thank you."
Rowen stood and finished the bear claw water, spattering again dramatically. "I think that I must go downstairs to start mixing together an antidote for the Nightshade cocktail my wife just slipped me." Ysolda smiled back at her dubiously.
Rowen grabbed her pants from the floor and began buckling them as she headed downstairs. The steps leading downstairs seemed colder than usual on Rowen's bare feet. Serana's bedroom door was slightly ajar. Rowen compulsively thumbed the box in her pocket. Had Serana's door been open this entire time? Had she heard me with Ysolda? Rowen was standing directly outside of Serana's bedroom, and decided against her better judgment to peer inside. Even if Serana happened to be awake, what am I going to say to her?
To Rowen's surprise, Serana's bed was completely empty. Rowen stepped inside the room and began to scan her surroundings. The bed was made, the washbasin hadn't been touched, and not a single item of Serana's remained in the room. Rowen scanned the room for a note, but saw nothing. There was absolutely no trace that Serana had even entered the guest bedroom last night.
Rowen felt her head begin to pound again. Serana was gone.