Chapter Four

The only times Inigo left the room was for food and to send a couple messages; one by bone hawk to Vingalmo, the reply to which had made him smile and was the reason for sending a second message by courier to Ulfric. Apparently the Thalmor were attempting to install another puppet king via the Moot and they even had a name, which had been duly passed along. Now he sat over some food in the main room as he heard a groan, getting up and rushing into the room where his mate lay, red eyes focused on him. "In...igo?" she rasped, sipping the water he brought her gratefully. "Where am I?"

"The Sleeping Giant Inn," he said, sitting next to her on the bed. "One of the bandits got a lucky hit off. I had your armor repaired and upgraded." He nodded to her Guild Master's armor on a nearby chair before leaning down and kissing her lightly on the forehead. "I lost it when you were hurt." He admitted. "I tore into the bandits like I was possessed."

"A Khajiit only does that when their mate or cubs are in danger." She stated. "Your words were well-spoken. I love you Inigo...thank you-for everything."

"Not just me-Gretta helped as well. Just don't scare me like that again."

He turned away as she got up, stretching a little before pulling on her armor, noticing the panels that had been built into it on the sides for protection and gave a smile, buckling it and slipping on her boots and gloves before attaching the sheath with her dagger to her belt. She came out of the bedroom as she slipped on her hood, realizing she'd need to go wash herself later and chuckled; they had their own place they went off an island in the lake by the Lady Stone where they wouldn't be disturbed. 'Though this time,' she thought to herself. 'Maybe the hot springs Southeast of Kynesgrove would be better...warmer too.'

Inigo was having similar thoughts, wondering if it would be too much trouble for her to summon the dragon Odahviing to take them there. 'Wouldn't be surprised if he isn't already in the area,' he thought. 'Probably heard the shout she gave off...' He came back into the room as she fastened her cloak. "You were probably thinking the same thing about the hot springs that I was." He said. "Do you think it would be too much trouble for you to summon that red dragon friend of yours to take us there?"

The white-furred Khajiit looked up at him, opening her mouth to speak as she heard a roar and yelling, sighing as they hurried outside, said dragon having landed nearby and looking bemusedly at the guards aiming at him before spotting the pair. "Hail thuri!" he said, watching her gesture for the guards to lower their weapons before looking at him. "What brings you here Odahviing?" she asked. "I was actually about to call you."

Odahviing watched her come over, smiling faintly as she gently scratched his scales. "Even at the Throat we heard your roar, little Kaaz," he said, using the Dragon word for her kind as he looked to the other Khajiit. "And I see your Vahlok still follows you-Drem Yol Lok Inigo."

"Ayath naba bago Odahviing." Was the reply. "Could you possibly take us to the hot springs Southeast of Kynesgrove?"

The dragon chuckled, sensing there was more to this request as Ralof came over with their packs, blinking at the massive creature as he handed them over. "I have seen you," he said. "Were you...?"

"I know how this one sees this place," came the reply as he nodded his head at his friend. "Usually I watch over it for her sake, save when she is here." He looked to the guards. "Know that I will not harm those who live within the homes here."

The felines swung their packs over their shoulders and climbed onto their friend, who launched into the sky, giving a roar as they headed off. "So tell me young ones," he said over the wind. "What is the occasion?"

Odahviing glanced back to see the look the pair shared, shaking his head slightly. "Followed your instincts did you both? Do tiid if you ask me."

He turned back to focus on where he was headed and laughed as there was a growl from the smaller of the two. "I am not blind Dar'Mora-that day in the Hofkahsejun when you two parted ways before we flew the skies-I saw it then-even Paarthurnax saw it when you came to the Throat."

They flew in silence before the dragon spotted where they wished to go and soared down, landing and lowering his head so they could slip off before lifting into the air once more. "Call me if you have need." He said before soaring off, Dar' setting up camp under an overhang before removing her leathers and slipping into the water as she unbraided her hair, carefully peeling off the bandage. Inigo smiled as he removed his cloak and hood, scenting the air before grabbing the fishing rod and heading to the river to catch dinner. 'I could get used to this life for a time...' he thought, keeping one ear on the other Khajiit as he hummed slightly.

The white-furred feline climbed out of the water after a while, shaking out her fur and grabbing her brush, tending to her hair and tail before dressing and redoing her braid, looking up at the sky and going to gather firewood, stacking it neatly and starting a fire as her mate returned with dinner. "It smells of rain." She said, sniffing the air as they settled in, cooking dinner. Not long after the food was ready, the storm she had smelled came in and she scooted over next to Inigo, eating her fish happily and feeling content. "You know," he began. "The only place nicer would be the Castle, but there's a distinct lack of privacy there, even if we went into one of the towers. I don't suppose you can give a housecarl the 'night off' either, can you?"

She laughed. "I've never tried giving Rayya the night off..." she said, sipping from her waterskin. "Probably get some comment about it being her duty to protect my person, even though she knows you do that too. Besides, I'm more of a creature of nature love-this suits me."

The blue-furred Khajiit removed his armor. "Come love, let us get warm." He grinned at her, watching her remove her own leathers and snuggle with him in the bedroll happily within their tent.

(A.N.: Nope, no lemons here! Dar' prefers her privacy and I'm gonna give it to her.

Ta'agra Translations:

Ayath naba bago: Sky be open-more of a ritual greeting

Dragon Translations:

Thuri: Overlord

Vahlok: Protector

Drem-Yol-Lok: Peace-Fire-Sky: Dragon greeting

Do tiid: about time

Still working on the next chapter of my other fanfic...it's coming...slowly)