Grohiik awoke with a splitting headache, a telltale sign of a hangover, and an unusual sensation he couldn't quite place. After lying for a few moments to reduce the severity of the throbbing, Grohiik opened his eyes, only to find that the sun had not yet risen, or perhaps there were no windows in the room he was in. Then the sensation revealed itself to Grohiik, it was a woman lying asleep on top of him. They were both naked, one of his arms was looped loosely around her waist, the other cradled her head against his chest, both of her arms were wrapped around his chest. Below the waist, the woman was not on top of him, but was on his side.

Grohiik did his best to remember the night before, to remember the who the woman was if he could. Faded images and sounds were all that came at first, but eventually more solid memories floated to the front of his mind.

Lydia, the beautiful Nord with long, brown hair and emerald eyes. He had joined her towards the end of the night, and had flirted heavily. After that, the alcohol had taken over and blocked him out of his own memory. Though, it didn't take many guesses to realize that he and Lydia must have left for either of their rooms, and then proceeded to bed each other, much to Grohiik's regret.

'I can't stay with this woman, not if those legends of the Dragonborn are true. I'll be travelling all over Skyrim at my current pace, no place for a delicate woman like this.' Then Lydia shifted in her sleep and tightened her grip on his chest and wrapped her legs around on of his. 'How would she agree to leave her life here to journey with a stranger she bedded while drunk?'

'Stop trying to worm your way out of this you idiot, you made a mistake and now you have to pay for it.'

'But what am I going to do, if I'm the only one who can kill these dragons, I can't stay here, and I can't bring her along on any dangerous journey. I'd never forgive myself if she got hurt on my account.'

'Maybe I should ask what she wants idiot!'

'What if she rejects you? How will you react? It's better to leave now and forget her before you do something you'll seriously regret!'

Lydia groaned and yawned as she woke up, but the peace lasted only a few moments before she gasped and stiffened where Grohiik was touching her – so most of her body. "Who?! Grohiik?" she questioned in a started tone.

"Yes, it's Grohiik. How did you sleep beautiful?" 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING IDIOT YOU WANT TO LEAVE NOT TO GET HER TO SLEEP WITH YOU AGAIN!'

'But think about it I could have someone to keep the loneliness away, someone to warm my bed at night.'

'Someone who will be at risk on the road across Skyrim, especially a fragile woman. Someone who's memory would tear you apart if they died because of you. You've already seen enough tragedy, don't include Lydia include your tragedy.'

"Mmh. Good handsome, you?"

"Like a log."

She laughed and Grohiik felt himself go stiff, as much as he tried to tame it; luckily Lydia wasn't touching that area.

Suddenly Lydia bolted up "Wait! I'm naked, and so are you!"

Grohiik sat up, "Yes?"

Lydia got out of the bed and Grohiik heard her fall in the dark. "Lydia! Are you all right?"

'She doesn't want to bed you sober, leave now! Idiot!'

There was no response until Grohiik heard a light sobbing, so Grohiik got out of the bed and began reaching through the darkness to find Lydia. He found her foot, then carefully made his way to her head, and whispered, "What's wrong Lydia?"

She whimpered back, so Grohiik carefully lifted her off the floor and set her down in the bed. He sat down next to her and began talking, "Lydia I want to help, but I can't if you don't tell me what's the matter."

She sobbed for another minute, before choking out, "I lost it."

"Lost what?"

"My virginity."

Grohiik sat silent. He didn't entirely realize the weight of his actions, but did understand that he had done something awful.

'Congratulations idiot! You ruined this woman's life, now leave before you drag her down even further.'

'But now I am indebted to her. I can't leave her! I took her virginity; I have to repay her somehow. And if she really did lose her virginity to me, then I may be more able to convince her to stay by my side.'

"But then she could lose her life in addition to her virginity!'

"I'm sorry." He responded, partly because he stole her virginity; but mostly because his selfish lust was greater than his desire not to endanger her.

"What?" she sounded confused.

"I'm sorry. I stole your virginity from you, I'm sorry."

'You'll really be sorry when the inevitable tragedy catches up to you. Fool.'

"Don't be, it was my fault."

Grohiik snorted, so she continued. "I allowed you to take it from me, it was my own fault I lost it, and I am prepared to deal with it on my own."

"You don't have to."

'STOP! DON'T DO IT, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! GIVE HER SOMETHING ELSE. DON'T CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH!'

"What do you mean?"

Grohiik laid down in the bed with her, and moved so they were almost touching, "Let me be here for you, I want to live my life with someone, and I want that someone to be you. I can repay you for what I took by giving you something in return. A faithful and protective lover, it is the only thing I can give to make up for my debauchery and villainy." Grohiik reached out and tentatively touched her arms, silently asking permission.

Lydia stayed silent a moment, then wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him in. He coiled his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Their lips locked in intimate embrace, and Grohiik mentally rebuked himself. 'You idiot! Better to break her heart than to break her life!'

With their bodies in intimate contact, Grohiik again became stiff, but neither ended the impassioned kiss for what seemed forever, and only an instant. The battle for superiority between their tongues lasted until Lydia finally pulled out, slowly and gently.

"It seems you need a sheath for your sword Dragonborn," Lydia whispered huskily, "I might be able to help you with that."

Grohiik smirked, "You have intrigued me fine damsel, tell me where might I find a sheath for my sword."

Lydia shifted her legs so they were around Grohiik's waist, "It is not far from your reach, let me guide you to it."

Grohiik shifted himself, and by feeling and with Lydia's assistance, found her womanhood. He set his manhood at her entrance, but did not "sheath" himself just yet. "Lydia, may I have your virginity?"

"What do you mean? I am no longer a virgin. I cannot give what I do not have."

"I took it, and you gave it, drunkenly. Now I ask, soberly, if you will and want to give it to me. I do not want you to think that debauchery forces you to be with me if you don't want it."

They were still, arms wrapped around each other, breath mixing together, sexes touching for a long minute, Grohiik waiting patiently. He did not want to take Lydia's virginity if she did not want to. He may have taken the physical aspect, but not the mental and emotional ones. This was her chance to evade the horrible fate she would encounter by his side.

'Fool, tell her what she is getting into!' Grohiik selfishly ignore the voice of his consciousness, desiring Lydia to accept him. If she knew what could happen, she might deny him.

"Yes."

"Ask me to."

"Please, Grohiik, take my virginity, make me into a woman. I want your manhood buried inside me. I want to be bonded to you by love."

"Anything you desire I will fulfill."

… …

Lydia was shocked by the sudden thrust, Grohiik put all of himself into her, and the sudden presence, feeling and emotion of something intimate and indescribable washed over her entire body. She gasped at the pain and pleasure, and as Grohiik placed his mouth against hers, she kissed him in order to convey the emotions that no words could every truly express.

Grohiik left himself completely inside her, and whispered "Tell me when you are comfortable." Lydia again wondered which of the Nine had delivered this man to her, and how could she repay for it.

'Not one of the nine, but a Daedra. He wasn't brought to you; you were forced onto him. He feels like he owes you and that is the only reason he is being so kind and gentle.' The biting voice hurt Lydia, and she believed it, but after denying her animal desires for so long, the pleasure of Grohiik inside her drowned out all her emotions and thoughts but an animal passion.

Hours seemed to pass, with Grohiik buried inside her, their mouths and tongues fighting for dominance, and their hands exploring new territory. Finally, Lydia no longer felt like Grohiik was going to tear her apart, and whispered into his ear, "I'm ready."

Grohiik, alternating between kissing Lydia and gently sucking on her ear, pulled almost completely out of her, then thrust himself back in. The friction caused such pleasure that Lydia let out a low, guttural moan. "We must be quiet," Grohiik whispered into her ear, "We don't want to wake Skyrim from the sounds of our intimacy."

"Then silence me with your mouth."

Grohiik obliged, deepening their kiss, allowing neither to break free as he began to speed up his thrusting. Lydia used her legs wrapped around Grohiik to help him thrust deeper and harder. Lydia could not believe the pleasure that she was experiencing. Grohiik's sword was penetrating her over and over, and she enjoyed every moment of the tantalizing experience. They fought with their tongues, slipping into each other's mouths, tasting of the other.

Grohiik reached one hand up, using the other to support himself, and began kneading one of her breasts. He squeezed and pulled, twisted and pinched, pleasuring the entire breast first, then focusing on the nipple. He switched hands to get the other breast and Lydia began moaning into his mouth, low and soft, so that he only felt it instead of hearing it. In response, he began to pound her even faster, and he also began to moan into her mouth.

Then Lydia adjusted the angle he was thrusting from, and he got deeper into her, the pleasure rapidly climbing with every thrust. Then she adjusted again, and he hit her spot. She broke out of the kiss, "There. Right there. Hit that spot." She made sure he knew where it was, then resumed their kissed with renewed vigor.

Lydia began to see white spots forming in her vision, the pleasure, effort and lack of breathing begin to detract from the experience. She broke their kiss breathing rapidly, feeling herself approaching her climax, "I'm close Grohiik!" she gasped frantically.

"Me too," he began nibbling at her earlobe, "Do you want me to finish in you?"

'Even in this action of the most animal of all instinct, where he is in control, Grohiik still puts me before himself,' Lydia sighed dreamily.

'He wants to sow his seed in you only to father a child, so he can leave you and it behind.'

'He would never do that! He is too noble and heroic!'

"Yes, I want your seed to fill me. I want you to take me and call me your own forever. I want to finish this together."

Grohiik began to kiss her again in response. Suddenly, Lydia began shaking, the walls of her womanhood tightened around Grohiik, and the juice of her climax began soaking both of their groins. Grohiik groaned into the kiss, and Lydia felt him begin to spread his seed inside her, he thrusted several last times as they both finished.

When they were done, Grohiik left himself inside her, but lifted her up and changed their positions on the bed. He laid down and Lydia settled on top of him, her head lying against his chest and shoulder. Her arms were still around his neck and his were still around her waist.

"Sleep until morning my emerald-eyed love." He whispered as he kissed her forehead.

Lydia peacefully drifted off to sleep with pleasure still warming her core.

… …

As Lydia fell asleep lying on top of him, Grohiik wondered why he had just made love to her. 'Didn't you say that you couldn't stay, couldn't possibly be the man she would want or need. Now not only have you promised to be there for her, you may have also created a child with her. You can't support a family, you're a vagabond; lost, wandering, and broke, you can't be the husband, or even the lover, that this woman deserves; nor can you be the father any child deserves.' But as Grohiik also faded to sleep, he wondered if he could be a husband to Lydia; and a father, like his own.

… …

Lydia and Grohiik both dreamt of each other and the child now in Lydia's womb, though neither knew of its existence yet. Mara smiled at the family that was forming, she would have preferred a marriage to cement the bonds, but Dibella had moved too quickly to allow that to happen first. Maybe the young couple could be diverted to Riverwood on their journey?

"My lady, you called for me?" Mara turned to see a man barely visible, even though she knew what to look for.

"Yes, I know that my husband has charged you with guiding and assisting his blood-son in Skyrim. I would ask you to also do the same for the woman he has had a child with."

The man stirred, his form blurring even more. "The Dragonborn has a child?"

"It was just conceived."

"I see. Who is this woman?"

"I will do what I can to ensure that they leave Whiterun together."

"Of course. Is there anything else you desired?"

"No, your service is appreciated."

"It is my honor to assist the wife of my master."

With that the man dissipated and Mara turned her attention to the details of her plan for her husband's blood-son and his – if her plan came to fruition – wife and child.