Disclaimer: I own not Dragon Age franchise or Elder Scrolls franchise. Made up names are my own though.

A/N: Originally this fiction was not expected to have as many fans as it does. Going back and reading it though, it's fairly amusing and I can see where people would like to know what happens next. I can't guarantee frequent updates though.

A Daedra's Boredom

Chapter Two: Winterhold

Raniel felt herself awaken slowly. She was enveloped in a comforting warmth. It was the kind of warmth that one bemoans having to leave. With a regretful sigh, Raniel started to shift in an effort to wake fully. Her movements were halted by something tightening around her waist. The previous night's confrontation hit her like a Blood Dragon landing on her head. She glanced over her shoulder, hoping not to see what she knew would be there. A pair of forest green eyes were staring back at her.

Fenris let out a small growl of frustration. When Raniel turned huge and worried eyes at him he knew that she still didn't remember him. It was becoming quite worrisome in all honesty. He stood up from the bed after giving her what he had hoped would be a reassuring squeeze. "We'll leave as soon as you've had something to eat," he announced. "We can't have you suffer from lack of nutrition on top of amnesia."

"There's nothing wrong with my memory," Raniel snapped. "How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Are you saying that I've made everything up?" Fenris demanded. "How many people would know that your favorite stew is venison with onions, carrots and potatoes in it? How many people know that your feet are always freezing when the temperature is always cold out, even if they're next to a roaring fire? How many people know you have a birth mark on the small of your back? How many people did you tell that you are the leader of the Dark Brotherhood after the former used herself as the Black Sacrament?"

"I haven't told a single person that," Raniel admitted. "So unless I was talking in my sleep you must have used some sort of spell to divine that information."

Fenris threw his hands up into the air. "There is only one way to settle this," he announced. "I suppose the only way you'll believe me is if we go see that mage friend of yours. She was there at the temple when we were wed after all."

"Now that sounds like a fabulous idea," Raniel stood up. "She'll figure out what it is you're trying to pull and smoke your arse to High Hrothgar."

Fenris shook his head as he started heating up the meat from the rabbit they ate from the night before. He put the meat on a plate and handed it to Raniel. "You need the nutrients to heal that head of yours," he said. "I'll start packing everything and saddling up Frost."

"What's Frost doing here?" Raniel demanded. "I usually ride Shadowmere if I'm going out on a mission."

"I ride Frost while you ride Shadowmere," Fenris reminded. "I'm not going anywhere near that insufferable beast. The only one he tolerates getting close to him is you."

"He is an assassin," Raniel nodded in agreement. "That still doesn't explain how you know about him and Frost though."

Fenris stood straight from where he was picking up Raniel's armor. She narrowed her eyes at the sight of him holding it away from her. "How many times do I have to tell you?" he asked. "It's only natural for a husband and a wife to know and share things in their lives that they wouldn't with other people." He turned to walk out of shack.

"Where are you going with my armor?" Raniel demanded.

"I'm packing it on Frost," Fenris announced. "This way you won't get any ideas of getting into a fight and hurting yourself more. You might develop worse amnesia and forget about your mage friend from the college."

Raniel set the plate down and chased after Fenris. "I never agreed to allowing you dictating how I travel!"

"You're clearly not well enough to make such decisions on your own," Fenris charged. "Until we can cure your amnesia then I won't allow you to take part in any form of fighting."

Raniel was about to unleash a Shout at the elf. She stopped herself in time once she saw that Fenris had moved to where Shadowmere and Frost would be in the line of fire. "Smart elf," she muttered. Feeling a biting cold in her feet Raniel looked down. Her barefeet were buried in the mountain snow. Sending a final glare in Fenris' direction she went back into the shack. She quickly found a pair of leather boots next to the fire. Whether it was to dry them or keep them warm didn't matter to Raniel. She was in such a bad mood now that she just shoved them on her feet and stormed back out.

Raniel barely set a foot out of the shack when a blanket was wrapped around her and Fenris was lifting her onto Frost's back. Before she could gain her bearings Fenris was on the horse behind her. Wrapping one arm around Raniel's waist, Fenris took Frost's reins with his free hand and lightly kicked the horse's side to get him to start moving. Raniel looked behind to the shack. She wasn't surprised to see that Shadowmere was following behind them faithfully, nor was she surprised that her spare weapons were being kept well out of her reach.

"You'll strain your muscles by the time we reach Winterhold if you don't relax a little," Fenris reprimanded.

"I think I'll live," Raniel snapped back. She faced forward, not seeing the sad look that Fenris had focused on her.

It took half a day to reach Winterhold. Some of the people that Raniel recognized would nod in greeting as she and Fenris passed. It was shocking to Raniel, no one was questioning the two of them riding the same horse? "What is going on?" she whispered.

"What do you mean?" Fenris asked.

"They're all acting like they see you with me everyday," Raniel said. "They should at least be questioning who you are."

"Perhaps this is more proof to you that I am who I say I am," Fenris said. "Would even a powerful mage be able to change the memories of an entire town filled with scholars, warriors and mages?" Raniel said nothing to that. She knew that the answer was 'no'. Not even a mage using borrowed power could pull off such a feat. The situation was becoming stranger and stranger. She was wondering now if she was in a strange dream and simply couldn't wake herself up.

~Sheogorath was having the time of his life. The Dragonborn was one small step away from questioning her sanity. If she was wondering if she was just in some sort of dream it wouldn't be long now. He had a stroke of genius when he requited Mephala for this event. Weaving her web of plans through the mortals she was able to change the memories of some so that they would believe that Fenris was indeed the husband of Raniel. Of course they didn't do it for all the mortals. Having just enough for Raniel to question her sanity would do. Now the real fun was about to begin.

"Have you not had enough of this farse?" Sheogorath turned towards the voice that questioned his most brilliant plan to date. A figure wearing green armor with the symbol of a dragon across the breast plate emerged.

"My dear friend Peryite," Sheogorath greeted. His voice held a hint of annoyance in contrast to the greeting. "What honor do I owe for this visit?"

"You know well to the reason for my being here," Peryite charged. "You've not only stepped on Mara's toes by this twisted scheme of yours, but mine as well. You're changing the natural order of things in this world. If bringing an outworlder wasn't enough of an insult, now your playing with the minds of the more susceptible mortals. Put things right before more damage can be done and you unleash something outside of our powers to stop."

"Since when have we ever stopped chaos and destruction in the mortal worlds?" Sheogorath asked. His tone was curious and he had a thoughtful look on his face. "I seem to recall many a time when other Daedric know-it-alls started something and had the mortals finish it for them. It isn't fair the others get to play, but you don't want me to."

"Of course I can't allow this," Peryite charged. "It isn't natural."

"Neither is sending Alduin through time," Sheogorath muttered. "I didn't see you doing something about that." Sheogorath rolled his shoulders and faced Peryite. "What is it you intend, or even think you can, do to me if I refuse?"

Peryite narrowed his eyes on the Mad Prince. "You know I don't have the power to directly oppose you," he said. "I do, however, have other influences. I won't let you make the Dragonborn go insane."

"I don't see how you can stop it," Sheogorath rolled his eyes. "You're more then welcome to try it though." With a narrowing of his eyes, Peryite turned and left. "That's right, go and cry in your realm like a baby."

~In the highest tower of the College a woman blinked her eyes rapidly. For some reason she felt a heavy weight lifted off of her shoulders. Glancing out of her window she saw a green shadow flee from sight. "A bad omen if I ever saw one," she muttered. A knocking on the door drew her attention. "Enter," she called.

The master wizard, Mirabelle Ervine, entered. "I'm sorry to interrupt your studies," she apologized. "You have some visitors here to see you. They've come for your expertise in healing magic."

The Arch Mage closed the book she had been reading from after marking her page. "Then we shouldn't keep them waiting," she said.