A World Upside Down

Chapter 4

Hey guys! Here's the next chapter!


"Annekke!" Sullivan called out to her from the bridge, but not getting a response.

He crossed over, trying to find her in the complete darkness, but he couldn't. So, he used a shout.

"Las...Yah...Nir." He spoke in the dragon language.

He looked and saw the red, cloud-ish shadow running towards Whiterun, heading to the next bridge.

Then the shadow disappeared as the shout expired.

Sullivan didn't waste time to catch up with her. He was over the bridge and back on the road.

He looked down to see the teardrops she shed ill instead by the moon overhead. As he walked, there was one on the right, left, right, and so on.

He turned his gaze back up, and began jog-running again.

The Dragonborn slowed his pace when he came up on the bridge. He saw Annekke on the right side, facing the fields below and far. She had her elbows on her knees with her hands covering her face as she let it out.

Walking quietly over, he couldn't help, but feel sorry for her. She just got over him, and she thought she could deal with him when they came by Darkwater Crossing.

He turned and leaned on the stone railing with his back at the beginning of the bridge to let her have the privacy. He couldn't hear anything other than the shedding Annekke was doing.

Then, it got quiet. He listened as a pair of feet hit the bridge, and begin walking towards him.

He looked to see two beautiful eyes moistened by feelings.

"You okay?" He asked.

She shook her head, then bowed it.

The only thing he knew to do was;

"Come here," Sullivan said to her, lifting himself off the rail and facing her with open arms.

She walked into his embrace. He closed his arms around her in a gentle, tight grip as she laid her head on his shoulder, and her arms circled around him.

He heard a sniffle, followed by a slight sob.

Sullivan rocked her side to side in a smooth, slow motion.

"Just, let it out, Annekke, don't hold it all in."

He felt a nod, then she started to cry again, but not as much.

Sul continued to rock her as she shed more emotions.

He didn't blame her, but he hadn't felt the pain she's going through now. He's never had a lover he has given his heart to, and it was obvious that Annekke did. She taken down even further when Verner shown up with that woman, it had to tear her heart into pieces, and the explorer was showing it now.

When she came down, Sullivan asked;

"Are you ok? Do you need more time?"

She looked back at him, shaking her head, "No. Thank you," she said in a cracked voice, drawing her arms from around him.

The truth was, she was still hurting, but she didn't want Sullivan to have a heart attack over her, but she really valued his caring.

He nodded as he brought his arms back to his side, releasing her.

"Where should we go to settle down for the night?" She asked.

"I think up there at the Towers. That's where we'll stop."

She nodded, then turned to begin walking. Sullivan stayed at her side.


"We'll use the fire pit here," Sullivan explained, "And I'll go up in the tower and see if two bed rolls are up there."

She simply nodded.

He walked up to the fireplace, and examined it when he kneeled.

There were ashes from the fire being previously used by a bandit he killed when he was asked to clear the towers out, but his magic should last the night.

He stood up as he spawn a miniature flame in his hand, and shot at it at the pit. A straight burst of fire exited his hand and the pit lit up.

He looked at Annekke, and she nodded, he did so back.

"I'll be right back," he told her.

He moved past the fire and into the tower. He walked up the stairs, then the ramp, turning left. Walking in, taking the ramp to the left again, leading to the third floor, and he found two bed rolls left by the previous, deceased owners.

Making his way over to one by the wall, he set his large knapsack down, afterwards, he made his way back down the tower. When he got to the doorway, he saw Annekke sitting on the bare ground, her back to the building.

The Dragonborn walked quietly over, and sat down next to her, inches apart.

Looking over at her, Annekke's gaze was unwavering to the flames in front of her. He sees a tear roll down her face. Taking his hand, he gently wiped it away.

She sniffed, "Thank you."

He simply nodded.

Eventually, Annekke scoots over to him, and lays her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," she cracked.

"For what?"

"For being there and here for me."

He nodded again, "Just let me know when you need me."

Then again, passes by another moment of silence, the only ambient noise was the fire popping.

"I loved him," she said, "I just couldn't believe he would get with that woman right after I left. It's...it's hard..." As she started to let tears out again.

Knowing who she was talking about all too well, Sullivan replies;

"He doesn't deserve you."

She nodded, telling him she was listening.

"If he wants that woman, let him have her."

She lifted her head, and looked at him, "But..."

He put a hand up to stop her, "Because You're the better lady with a loving heart a man should never lose,' he said with a smile.

Her eyes went wide with her mouth agape, speechless of what he said. In a good way.

"I mean what I said, too," he said to her, still smiling.

In the end, she gave a big smile, the words that exited his mouth really made her forget about Verner and the woman, and completely focused on the little speech he spoke.

Her expression went to uncertainty as she changed her gaze back to the fire.

Her mind went to thinking of him, Sullivan, and the man he is today.

She wonders, if he could be the one for HER? He was everything she wanted in a man, a desire to get out and explore, incredible strength and wit, and she wondered how he didn't have a former lover. She was sure any lady would faint at the sight of him.

Annekke's mind went to his personality, his was beyond any person she've met in her lifetime. He treated everyone as friends, and the only enemies he had were the occasional bandit, wolves, and dragons.

Sullivan treated his more dear friends with the care she never thought she'd see in one, especially a Nord. Her being here with him proved it all too much past her belief.

He wasn't stubborn as much as the native Nord either. In fact, he used his mind to strike the most critical blow.

"Why didn't you have a former lover?" She blurted out, looking at him, but before she could say anything else;

"I never found the kind of girl like you," he simply answered, looking into her eyes.

"Like me?"

"I wanted a lady who loved the outdoors and exploring, who would travel with me whenever she could, and could also pack a punch, but never found her."

So, there is a chance?

She nodded, looking to the fire.

"Why did you ask?"

"Oh...! I...I was just wondering..." She nervously answered, looking at him with wide eyes.

She tore her gaze away from him with red cheeks, hoping the fire would hide them, but he was smarter than that.

"You want me, don't you?"

"Damn your intelligence," she silently cursed, then looked at him with vulnerable, watery eyes, "Yes, I admit, I've never traveled with a friend who is so...so caring, and...smart. I don't mind you being the Dragonborn, I could care less, all I want is...you..."

Sullivan looked at the fire, he was unsure how to handle this. Annekke just went through a hard time, and realized, thinking that he's the one for her. He couldn't accuse her, hundreds of women fell to the ground whenever he smiled, both married and single, well, except Carlotta.

But, honestly? Annekke didn't fall to the ground for his looks. She went past the barrier of the Dragonborn and into the interior, he could tell. He has done a lot of things for the people of Skyrim out of the kindness of his heart, hardly expecting pay. He could live off the bandits' whenever he was asked after them.

He wanted Annekke too, to be earnest. She's smart, agile to the bone, gorgeously good looks, along with her expertise in scouting, and archery. She had many skills for a miner. Sullivan gave her a little bit of training and advice on using her dagger, which saved her life a few times as well.

"Annekke...I'm not sure..." Sul tried to tell her, but Crag-Jumper had something to say;

She took his hand into hers;

"Please, Sullivan, I won't make the same mistake I did, settling down with the wrong person, because I have the man of my dreams right in front of me. I've been tricked in the past, and I didn't see the signs."

The Dragonborn looked at her, surprised.

Sullivan really thought Annekke was doing this because of her broken heart alone, but she meant it.

Perhaps, they were both blind. Annekke thought she found the right man, and Sullivan was sure he wasn't going to find the woman of his dreams.

It could have been Fate that brought them together. Annekke had her heart broken, then her soul torn apart all on the same day. Just to find her at Kynesgrove, drowning in mead and tears.

Most of all, he wasn't sure he was ready, since never having a relationship before. He always held out, in hope that he would find the right one.

Seeing the uncertainty on his face, Annekke knew what he was thinking, so she'll have to start it for him.

She brought her hands up to frame his face as she brought him in.

When their lips sealed, Sullivan was nowhere near his mind.

It was a slight brush of the lips, and it...was incredible.

Annekke looked back at him with a satisfied smile, wondering what he thought.

"Gods..." He muttered.

Her smile grew bigger, then went in for another, but it was full-on.

Again, it was unbelievable, the soft, tender combination on his.

When she departed, he was still in awe.

Annekke felt the same, but didn't show it, she loved the feeling of his strong, yet gentle mouth on hers.

"I don't know what to say..." He muttered.

"No words are needed, Sullivan, you're all that I need," she said with a smile.

He smiled back, "Verner's going to have something to think about, now huh?"

She nodded, then she got up on all fours, and faced him, slowly marching towards him.

Getting the message, he spun himself around, and stretched out his legs as she climbed over him as he lowered down, placing his hands on her hips.

"So, let us begin," she told him with another smile.

He smiled back and she came down on him with her lips.


Sorry, I had to rush the ending!

It's hard to write a chapter across three days. Your focus comes on and off...

Thanks for reading, and please, leave a review!

~Dark

Story List:

Mass Effect:
NEXT - A Doctor's Man
- Hearts Over Minds
- The Asari Spectre
- To Love A Quarian

Skyrim:
- Between a Mother and Daughter

- ?
~ A World Upside Down