A combination of the shrill call of the rooster and the midday sun streaming through the windows woke him. He grunted at the dull ache in his head and the stiffness of his body. He opened his eyes to find he was slumped in his favourite chair with a thick quilt tucked around him and an empty wine bottle cradled in one arm. The sizzle of raw meat against hot steel let him know that Thomas was already awake and probably had been for some time. He groaned as he pulled himself upright and put the bottle on the floor beside him. He managed to stand and ambled towards the kitchen ruffling his tangled hair. The dark terracotta strands of Thomas's hair were tied back out of his face neatly when Vorstag stuck his head and its tangled strawberry blonde mess through the door.
"Good morning" Thomas smiled kissing his forehead on his way past to the larger table the other end of the room from the oven.
"Just morning today" Vorstag groaned hoarsely and cleared his throat walking over to retrieve a flagon to dip into the newly drawn water. He paused as his eyes came into focus on a flagon with a bunch of fresh cut snow white roses sitting in it. His breath stuttered in his throat and he took a step back. Thomas stopped in his beeline for the oven again to worry about Vorstag's frozen stare.
"Vorstag, what is it?" He questioned softly, following his line of sight to try and get an idea
"Where did you get these?" Vorstag breathed
"They were at the door when I went to get the eggs," Thomas said looking confused "I've never seen flowers like them before, aren't they nice?"
Vorstag clenched and un-clenched his fists but let his defensive stance drop
"Yes…of course" He murmured and turned swiftly heading out the door
"Vorstag, what-" But when he turned Vorstag was gone
Thomas sent a puzzled look after him but went back to his work.
Vorstag went along the outside of the house, paying extra attention beneath the windows and balcony doors. Not one thing was out of place. Vorstag growled in frustration, who would go to so much trouble to leave flowers and no trace of themselves? he thought. A niggling little idea chewed away at the back of his mind, What if it's a distraction? What if this was just meant to drive him silly wondering why? He did another lap of the house for good measure before retreating inside.
"Right, are you still going in today? I'll come with you." Thomas announced confidently
Vorstag's eyes lit up, he had been planning to just stay home, but his husband wanting to leave the house was so rare his mind was quickly changed.
"Of course, certainly, just let me change!" Vorstag said before hurrying across the main hall to their bedroom to assault the mannequin his armour hung from.
He pulled on his fur lined boots with the steel plating down the front, worked quickly with the buckles on his full body armour, strapped his sword to his waist and rushed out in hopes Thomas hadn't changed his mind. Much to his relief he hadn't and was loading up both sides of the huge saddle bags with the mountains of cooking he had most recently finished along with older creations he had finished the day before along with a very expensive looking box that he slipped into a draw string bag.
"You know, I swear you make us more money in one go than I do in a year," Vorstag scoffed "have you got buyers for all of this?"
"Of course" Thomas replied simply, raising his eyes.
"Gods, I should just give up being a mercenary and become your delivery boy, we'd make millions"
"We don't need millions, we have what we need already" Thomas smiled and Vorstag couldn't help but return it.
"But I would feel a lot better if you gave up being a sell-sword" Thomas added quickly
"I enjoy it and you've seen what I can do, come on, it's already sun high we need to leave soon to be home by sunset"
"Alright" Thomas agreed, picking up the saddle bag carefully
Vorstag held the main door open for him before shutting it and locking it, handing the house key to Thomas who was less likely to lose it after he'd slung the thick strap of leather with its decoratively stitched bags either side. Harrow accepted a handful of grass from Thomas before a rope was tied around his neck to lead him. They set off through the forest and down the slope towards Falkreath.
They reached the town without incident and at the main gate Thomas gave Vorstag a list of orders.
"What, you came all the way here but you won't come in?" Vorstag said looking deflated
"I have a special order to deliver," He said patting the bag Vorstag had seen him put the box into "I'll meet you back here"
"Alright," Vorstag said the feeling lifted and looked at the list leading Harrow towards the first orders location "Oh are you going to get supplies?" He turned and called out
Thomas twisted his head but continued walking
"Yes, why? What do you want?" He asked
"Get some more Honningbrew, Yeah?"
"Sure" Thomas smiled and turned back
Vorstag watched Thomas's beeline with curiosity and tilted his head as he disappeared into the jarl's longhouse.
"Well, Harrow we're either apologising or going to be very rich if he's going in there" Vorstag addressed the horse who looked forward blankly. He stroked the side of Harrow's neck and led him over to the first stop, took out the marked package and carried it inside.
"Can't get enough of these," The innkeeper smiled looking over her order "The guy who makes these, charges me basically nothing and I sell 'em for triple the price, people snap 'em up faster than I can get them in! Have you ever met him? He set up the deal with a courier and has 'em delivered that way too, I've never even met him"
"Oh, I know him quite personally actually," Vorstag smiled mischievously as the imperial's eyes widened and she leaned closer as to not miss a word "But I'm afraid I'm not allowed to talk about him, the gourmet likes to remain secretive"
"The gourmet, the real live actual gourmet…but why would he sell to commoners" She breathed
"To test him-self," The smirk danced in his eyes "He loves a challenge. Lords always want fine dishes with the finest ingredients, but can he make common dishes just as delicious with their regular ingredients?"
"Well, obviously!" The woman spluttered, enthralled with the over exaggerated story.
"And, that is what he strives for. He will be glad to know his work is appreciated" Vorstag said and turned for the door leaving her speechless
Vorstag tucked the completed list into the saddle bag and led Harrow back to the main gate where Thomas sat cross legged with a half eaten apple and a book balanced on his thigh. The bag was now filled with supplies and resting against the wall beside him. Vorstag picked the bag up and placed it in Harrow's pack.
"Are you ready to go?" Vorstag asked looking down.
Thomas slid his eyes up and chewed a mouthful of apple.
"Were you friggin' telling people I'm the gourmet again?" He growled
Vorstag stood up straight and looked around.
"Nooooooope. Why would you think that?" Vortag said looking back to him
Thomas huffed and snapped his book shut and held the rest of his apple out to Harrow who stretched out his velvet lips and snatched it up eagerly.
"For the love of Mara, Vorstag, some maid of the jarl's who went to the trader came back with the news that the gourmet is the mysterious seller of the exotic food all the traders get once a month"
"You know how maids are with gossip" Vorstag said and slipped Thomas a nervous grin.
Thomas brought his huge height to stand over Vorstag in mock intimidation and Vorstag couldn't help but laugh and hold out his arms to push him away playfully if he got too close.
"Apparently the gourmet has a personal courier who knows all about his fascinating life"
"Does he now? Well I must say I never knew that" Vorstag chuckled
"Vor, the actual gourmet will hunt me down if I unwilling steal his reputation!"
"He's a chief not an assassin," Vorstag laughed "Besides you actually are better than him anyway"
"Vor!" Thomas groaned and led Harrow out the northern gate and towards home.
"Well, if you really don't want to be a famous cook we could always move to Solitude and you could be a famous bard-"
"Oblivion no!" Thomas spluttered, actually managing to sound aggressive.
"Alright, alright!," Vorstag said "You're very talented is all, I think you should do something with it"
"I do" Thomas said, calm now, knowing Vorstag wouldn't push the matter.
"Yeah but something…more," Vorstag said ducking under a low hanging branch "You're extremely talented, Thomas" Vorstag said again more gently
"Why? I'm happy doing what I'm doing now." Thomas said with a sideways glance
"I love how content you are with life"
"You've given me a good one, what is there to not be content with?" Thomas asked
Vorstag stopped in the middle of the path causing Thomas to pause when he noticed.
"What is it?" Thomas asked worried
Vorstag strode over to him, reached up placing one hand either side of his jaw and brought Thomas's face down to his own and pressed their lips together lightly pulling back slightly and resting their forehead's together.
"I love you" He whispered to his husband
"I love you, too" Thomas replied
"No," Vorstag said sternly "I really love you. I don't tell you that enough"
Vorstag's expression changed to concern and he ran his thumbs across Thomas's cheeks.
"You're cold" He stated
"I am" Thomas replied quietly, eyes half closed.
"We shouldn't have left so late, I was hoping we'd get back before it got this dark" He said releasing Thomas and looking up at the bleeding black wound of the sky and the first pin pricks of light scattered over it.
"Well, we haven't got far to go now." Thomas said straightening back up to his full height and gesturing forward with his head.
Vorstag started out again, stopping to make sure Thomas was close behind him before carrying on.
The candle bolted to the wall beside the door Vorstag has lit before they left, flickered at them softly as they came back into the semi-circle clearing at the entrance to their house. Thomas sighed in relief to be done walking for the day and took Harrow back up to the stable.
"Throw the key over here, Thomas" Vorstag called, responded to by a sudden "Oh" and a metallic flick, a streak of gold and a dull slap and it made contact with Vorstag's hand. He turned towards the door and was confronted by a steel dagger holding a thick, matted piece of parchment to the wood beneath it. The same delicate ribbons of ink that marked the roses tag stained the paper.
"What's that?" Thomas asked curiously leaning in then stumbling back like he'd been burnt.
He stood quietly for a moment before passing the bag of food to Vorstag and pulling the dagger from the wood and taking the parchment and letting his eyes flick over it. Vorstag stood very still and waited.
"Can you read it alright?" He asked grimly
Thomas's eyes flicked up, nervousness pulsing through them.
"I don't know all the words…," He took a shuddering breath "But I can read enough of it, it's just weird but…"
"How do they know the dragonborn lives here?" Vorstag finished for him
Thomas clenched his jaw as he always did when he was anxious. There was silence as Thomas scanned through it again.
"Let's go inside" He finally said hoarsely and Vorstag was quick to comply.
Dearest Dragonborn,
Your eyes are the most perfect reflection of the smoothest ice.
Your skin a flawless light jade.
Your hair an echo of the brightest flames.
You are seen by most, but can hide from many.
You have the strength of a lion and the nature of a lamb.
You are perfect in every way; your heart belongs to me.
Vorstag held the note up to the waning moonlight peering through the window and scowled. Anger boiled in his chest but fear held it stuck in his throat. His husband slept sprawled over his chest with an arm tucked around him. Vorstag traced his fingers along Thomas's long spine and crunched up the paper with the hand that once held it. It angered him that another desired his husband and was bold enough to challenge Vorstag's place at his side. As far as orcs went, Thomas was an exceptionally attractive one and he had not failed to see other people notice it. He threw the crumpled paper away and brought the ridge of his hand to rest thoughtfully across his mouth. But it scared him because the words were so true. If this person had been stalking him it would have been easy enough to get a description, but how did they get close enough to see into the eyes he never let stray from the ground in public? How did they know his habit's when he rarely left the house? There was a time many years ago when he had roamed, but it had not been for long. The part that bit into his thoughts the most was they knew he was the dovakinn of legend. Even Thomas himself blindly ignored that now and had never even done anything with it when he found out. Only a few select people in Whiterun knew apart from himself.
"Do you think it's my father?" A tiny fearful voice broke the silence and startled Vorstag.
"Huh?" Vorstag grunted in surprise looking down to see Thomas staring into the darkness.
"Just to toy with me, play with my head, would he do that?"
Vorstag was quiet for a moment then turned to stare out the window.
"I really doubt that, he's a chief and has the mindset of such"
"He really hates me, Vorstag" Thomas whimpered softly
Vorstag pushed his arm flat against Thomas's back to anchor him to his chest.
"Your father is a busy man, from what you've told me I think your mother would have convinced him you're already gone from this world," Vorstag looked down to see the blank stare accompanied by silent glistening trails running from his eyes and over his skin.
"I worry about her"
"You worry a lot" Vorstag said before he pressed a kiss to his forehead
"I know." Thomas sighed
They laid together in silence for a moment before Thomas spoke.
"You'll protect me, won't you?"
"Always" Vorstag smiled