Note: This happens roughly a month after Rikke and the Dovahkiin return to Solitude. Now, as a reminder Sarieh is Nameless's sister, Aeta is Nameless's real name, the savages believe the Dovahkiin killed Nameless, and Rikke never told the Dovahkiin that she killed Nameless/Aeta. Now, enjoy.
Dovahkiin POV:
I feel Nameless above me, her weight bearing down on me. I desperately kick and fight to get away from my captor, but it's no use. My 'wife' smiles as she claims me, her sharpened nails scratching against my walls. Hot tears roll down my face as I scream in agony, but that only seems to spur the nameless savage on. The dark, damp room is lit only by a few candles. There's not a single rock, piece of wood, or other object I can use to defend myself. The room itself is deep under Riften, where nobody can hear me scream as the other woman continually claims me against my will. I once again scream for Rikke to come save me, but no help comes. Nameless cruelly laughs, leans in, and whispers, "She didn't care about you. Why do you think she left you with me?". I try to fight even harder than before, but the Nord above me is twice as strong as any normal human. I'm not sure where Rikke has gone, but she sure as oblivion isn't here. I once again scream, but this time something happens. I feel someone roughly shaking my shoulders, and Nameless's face slowly dissolves above me. I keep screaming, but I hear someone else screaming back. "Wake up! Wake up!". I snap awake, embraced in my lover's arms. Rikke keeps consoling me, and when she notices I'm awake she places gentle kisses on my face. I slowly catch my breath, sweat soaking my nightclothes.
Rikke keeps holding me, calming me down all the while. Since we've returned to Solitude I haven't been able to sleep, night terrors haunting me every single time I close my eyes. And, I haven't been able to have sex with Rikke for the last few weeks. We arrived at Solitude a month ago, but I've only had sex with her once. In part because we haven't had time, but mostly how that one time ended. I was enjoying it, but suddenly I was back in Riften. Back in that dark, cold, and cramped room where Nameless kept me captive for three weeks. Where I lost one eye, a finger, and a toe. Rikke didn't do anything Nameless did to me, but suddenly she morphed into the nameless savage. I could only imagine what it must have been like for Rikke. One second she's fucking her lover, then suddenly her partner breaks into tears and starts yelling 'rape'. I truly don't understand why I can't have sex with Rikke, and why I can't fall asleep. I was perfectly fine after The Battle of Whiterun, but suddenly it's all come crashing back. I want nothing more than to pleasure Rikke, but I can't bring myself to. Nameless has tainted a deep part of me, and I can't seem to cleanse the darkness from my soul. I think it might be because winter is over. I let Nameless live, and now she could be anywhere. There are even times where I'll be doing household things (cleaning a plate or training with a sword), and suddenly I have a crushing feeling like Nameless is near me. Behind me. I try not to overreact, but more than once I've found myself screaming at the dog or swinging at a shadow.
Rikke pats me on the back, thin beams of sunlight shining through our window. My lover glumly tells me, "We have to get to work.". I nod into her breast and ask, "Will you need me today?". She shakes her head and tells me, "Take the day off if you wish.". I once again nod into her breast. I haven't had to work since we've returned to Solitude. Having your lover as your boss is a definite advantage in this situation. Tullius might not have understood what I was going through and demand I come to work. He seemed like a nice man, but treated people as tools rather than human beings. Rikke has heard my stories, seen my nightmares, and wants me to recover rather than work. I haven't had to go to Castle Dour to do my job, but I'm not 'recovering'. Nameless could be anywhere, and I can't shake that fact. More than once Rikke looks ready to contradict me, but she never has. I think Rikke just assumed the woman died, but I know better. And, my fear controls my life. I can't walk around at night without having my weapon drawn, I grow tense whenever a stranger approaches me, and I start panicking if someone isn't around me. I snap back to reality when Rikke kisses me, dresses for the day, and prepares to leave. I follow her to the door as she heads out to work, waving to my lover and friend as she walks away.
Sarieh POV:
The men and women around me form the ceremonial circle, our blood sacrifice in the middle. When everything is in place I take the remains from my bag, Nameless's skull gleaming in the torchlight. I place it beside our sacrifice, the babe wailing for a teat to suck on. His mother is long dead, some straggler we met on the road to our home. When we left our sanctuary it was perfect, but now it's fallen into disarray. The walls are weak, the floorboards creak, and the roof is close to caving in. But our trophies remain. Skulls of deer, bears, and Khajiit line the walls. I dawn my pitch black robes, gazing at my sister's remains. Our mother was a great leader, but Aeta was a terrific one. Ygfa kept us safe, fed us, and gave us all we desired as long as we pleased her. But Aeta bolstered our numbers, made us well-known across all of Skyrim (even now our story is spreading), and gave us the riches we deserved. However, our leader made one fatal flaw. She chose a wife she couldn't have. The Khajiit was below her station, unworthy of our attentions, and Rikke had already laid claim to her. My sister got to claim her wife, but not for long. The filthy beast escaped, returned to Rikke, and was protected by an army. I expected my sister to show better judgement, but she was persistent. Which has led us to this moment.
My sister led an attack on Whiterun. At first glance it looked like it would work, but once again Legate Rikke stopped our plans. She slayed our main force, and that filthy Khajiit killed my sister. I was lucky I managed to convince the legate to give me Aeta's skull. I swore to Rikke that when I became leader I would lead my brothers and sisters home, settle down, and never bother the legion ever again. The dumb bitch believed me, and returned Aeta's skull. I'd hoped there would be more of a body, but what we have will do. One of my brothers steps forward, shaking. He takes the child in his right hand, Aeta's skull in his left, and drinks the sacred liquid I give to him. I resume my place in the circle, draw my throwing knife, and begin to chant. The chant is spoken in the ancient Dremora language. I understand a few words, but not all of it. In essence we're begging whatever Daedric Prince has Aeta to let us communicate with her in exchange for this newborn's life. My brother holds the baby by the leg at arms length, giving me a clear target. When the chanting stops I throw the knife, the blade solidly landing in the baby's chest. He wails one last time before dying, his guts sliding from his body. My brother convulses, falls to the ground, and begins to spasm. We begin to chant again, blood beginning to spew for our brother's mouth.
When the ritual is done I rush to my brother, the man occasionally coughing blood. I pat him and ask him, "Where is she?". He manages to tell me, "Mephala has claimed her soul. She is in the deepest part of her realm, banging at her cage. She saw me, and she wants out.". He coughs blood one more time, then dies. I groan, push the body to the side, and look at Aeta's remains. She wants to come back. I figured as much, but it's good to know she wants to. Some souls prefer death, but even from the grave Aeta still seems to be planning. And, we couldn't have a better prince to work with. Mephala enjoys messing with mortal affairs, tends to be generous to her followers, and won't demand something demeaning of us. My biggest fear was Aeta being taken by Molag Bal. Any priest would probably say she deserved that faith, and I agree. But it would be harder to get our leader resurrected. Now for the next step. We know our leader wants to return and what prince has her, but we need a body. Even a skeleton would do. I have one just in mind. I smirk, stand, and yell to my followers. Time to go get me a skeleton.
Rikke POV:
I slowly walk into Castle Dour, stacks of reports pilled on my desk. I groan, throw my sword to the side, and collapse in my chair. I try to focus on the words, but my mind keeps going back to my lover. What's she doing right now? Is she still in bed? She's been staying in bed almost all day every day (our children always complain, 'Mommy won't play with us. She never leaves your room.'), and that concerns me extremely. I've known soldiers who (after the war is over) stay in bed all day and night, then one day they snap and jump from a bridge. Nameless still haunts my wife. It looked like she was getting better, but now it's like she's gotten even worse than she originally was. I want to help her, but I can't. It's like she's in a locked cage where she can't see or hear me.
I can bang on the cage as much as I want, but this is a battle she has to fight alone. All I can do right now is offer her my help, console her when she needs it, and be ready to intervene if it gets too bad. I don't think it'll get to that point, but I need to be ready to help her at a moment's notice. I feel a burning in my stomach. I know exactly why my innards burn. The priestesses said I'm close to having an ulcer due to stress. They told me to take it easy, but I can't. And, I know exactly where all the stress is coming from. My wonderful lover back home. I haven't told her the truth about Nameless. She thinks she's still alive and walking around, but I know the truth. I killed Nameless, and she can never hurt my lover again. I sigh, put my head in my hands, and try to read my work. Hopefully that'll drive the guilt from my mind.
Aeta/Nameless POV:
I pace back and forth in my cramped cell, rage burning in my heart. Mephala isn't the best Daedric Prince, but there are worse princes to be taken by. I was saved from being raped by Molag Bal, beaten by Mehrunes Dagon, or driven insane by Sheogorath. My brother just recently sought me out, his presence a welcome relief. He was only here for a few seconds, but that was all I needed to know. To know at least a few of my followers are fighting to get me back. A few is all I need. I can't help smirking.