404: Obligatory statement about this being Chapter 7 not found.
Okay, so straight into it! The mood in this kinda goes from dark to light and back to dark. I don't know if Alduin's bipolar or I am, but it has to be one of us. And, unfortunately, there's no reason to raise this to a mature rating yet. (Alduin, you shameless tease!) Ah, well. Maybe the next chapter...
Thanks for reading and reviewing! Especially Viper1542, CandyWolf33, and the dark euphie, who are all really faithful in their reviews.
Brett was waiting by the door when Alduin returned. She'd waited for hours, her stomach in knots, wondering what he had done to Paarthurnax. Her hair was still tousled from sleep, as were her clothes. She hadn't bothered straightening herself up, spending her energy pacing and trying to think of what she would say to her captor. And then he arrived, and all of the half-formed plans seemed to disappear.
"What did you do to Paarthurnax?" she asked, forcing herself to sound calmer than she felt.
Alduin's expression told her nothing. "What do you mean?" he asked innocently.
"I heard the two of you arguing," she said. "What did you do to him?!"
Alduin laughed. "Drem, Dovahkiin," ["Peace, Dragonborn,"] he said. "I've done nothing...as of now."
She felt cold dread settle in her stomach. "As of now," she repeated softly, looking down. The last thing she wanted to see at the moment was the gloating that always seemed to be in his eyes. She felt his fingers on her face, and he forced her to look up.
"Perhaps I could be persuaded," he said. "But there is something else that I came here for."
Cheeks burning, she hastily took a step backwards. "What, then?"
His smile widened, and he held up a pack that she recognized as hers. "I've been looking through your things-"
"What?!" she said, outraged.
"I've been looking through your things," he said matter-of-factly, either unaware or apathetic about the rudeness of his actions. "And I want to know about them."
She mentally went through all of the things that were in her bag, and had the sudden desire to sink into floor. It had never occured to her before how some of her possessions could be misunderstood, if the person looking at it didn't know how it came to be in her possession or why she had it.
A sudden grip on her hand drew her from her thoughts. Alduin had hold of her and was pulling her towards the bed. The idea of him leading her there made her stomach squirm again. "Um, is there any particular reason-?"
"It is the one piece of furniture that you left intact," he said matter-of-factly. "Nuz Zu med hin morahhe, Dovahkiin. Zu fen lost wah dahmaan tol..." ["But I like your thoughts, Dragonborn. I will have to remember that..."]
She fought back the sudden desire to bang her head against the wall for her stupidity. 'Why did I have to bring that up?! Why, by Sheogorath's multi-colored bloomers, did I have to bring that up?!'
He forcibly sat her on the bed, then sat beside her, taking care to be uncomfortably close. Unceremoniously, he overturned her pack, scattering her things over the silken sheets. The first thing she noticed were that all of her weapons were gone, down to her cutlery. Even the spoon was missing, though she had no idea what he thought she was going to do with it. She also couldn't miss that her clothes, which were normally kept rumpled up and shoved in the bottom of the bag, were now neatly folded on top. It made her wonder what he had done with them, and why he'd decided to fold them.
'Perhaps he's gotten tired of my inherent sloppiness...'
Almost as if reading her mind, he picked up one of her dresses, and examined it. It was one of her favorites, made of black velvet with silver embroidery. He motioned for her to sit up further, then held it up against her, smoothing it out over her curves.
"It suits you, mal gein," [little one,"] he said. "Far better than that armor I always seem to see you in."
She couldn't disagree with him. As not only a Breton in Skyrim, but one with an ample figure, it was impossible to find armor that fit properly. So everything was either far too tight or far too loose.
"Um..." she said, uncertain. But then Alduin sat the dress aside and began digging through her belongings again.
Much to her dismay, he picked up one of her corsets. To make it worse, it was one of the frillier ones that she had just bought from Radient Raiment. It was light blue, silk, with white lace along the seams. She'd never worn it and, at the moment, wondered what had possessed her to even buy it.
Once again, as if only to increase her mortification, Alduin held the garment up to her body. "Nii drunne voko hin miinne," ["It brings out your eyes,"] he said absentmindedly. He purred deep in his throat, and she felt his hand on her thigh. "Zu fenaan med wah koraav hi ko daar." ["I would like to see you in this."]
She was certain her hair was about to combust from the heat of her face. This was the most forward he'd ever been, though she was amazed that she hadn't expected such behavior from him. Still, all she could do was sputter incoherently. Even then, he seemed to either not notice or not care about her discomfort.
After examing the corset far too closely, Alduin's eyes fell upon a gold chain. Brett could feel the magic radiating from it, and was certain that he could, as well. She'd hoped that he wouldn't find it, that it wouldn't interest him. But, as he took the chain in his fingers and pulled it up, exposing the pendant, her hopes were dashed.
"What is this?" he asked evenly.
"It's...a necklace."
He laughed. "I am aware of that, joor. [mortal.] But this has significance to you, and I wish to know it. Ahrk dreh ni nok." [And do not lie."]
She took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly. "It's an Amulet of Mara."
He was quiet for a moment. "And?" he asked impatiently.
"And...what?"
"The significance. What does it mean? Why do you wear it?"
'Morah se Paarthurnax, morah se Paarthurnax,' ['Focus on Paarthurnax, focus on Paarthurnax,'] she thought. "It...meansIwannagetmarried." The last part came out like a mixture between sleep-talking and a sneeze.
"What?"
She tried to look away, but he grabbed her face and forced her to look at him again. "It means I want to get married, that I'm seeking a husband."
A dark look came over his face. "Losyah aan ahmul..." ["Seeking a husband..."] he said quietly. He rose to his feet, still clutching her amulet. With quick, deliberate steps, he walked onto the balcony. Sensing that something was about to happen, she followed.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
He held the amulet over the edge of the balcony. He didn't have to say anything; his expression said it all.
"No, please don't drop-!"
The chain slid between his fingers, clinking lightly as it went. With one last glimmer, the necklace fell out of sight. Her shoulders slumped.
"I worked really hard for that," she mumbled, knowing how pathetic it sounded.
"You have no need for it," he said, walking back over to her. Unexpectedly, he pinned her against the wall. "And you shouldn't advertise yourself so cheaply, Dragonborn."
"Believe me, it wasn't cheap..."
He growled lowly. "That isn't what I meant, joor, [mortal,] and you know it."
"Why are you so angry?" she asked angrily. "Did you think that I spent my entire life waiting for you? Or that my entire life revolved around you?"
This time his growl was louder, and pressed her even more tightly against the wall. When he spoke, he leaned in to speak into her ear. "Nii aal ni lost ruz, nuz nii dreh nu," ["It may not have then, but it does now,"] he said. Possessively, he stroked her hair. She flinched, which seemed to upset him. "Why do you always draw back?" he asked, his voice sharp.
Brett could hardly believe he'd asked that. "Because-...well, damnit, you're Alduin! I'm the Dovahkiin!"
"Ful?" ["So?"]
"So I'm only supposed to be this close to you when we're trying to kill each other!"
She expected him to be angry. Instead, he laughed. "Hi ov ko fin Kelle ful pogaas, mal Dovahkiin," ["You trust in the Elder Scrolls so much, little Dragonborn,"] he said. "Nust dreh ni mindok pah." ["They do not know all."]
Wearily, she laid her head back against the wall. "What do you want from me now?"
"To be still," he said softly. "And to not pull away."
For once, she intentionally looked him in the eye. "And in return?"
He chuckled at her brashness. "Ah, hi tinvaak se Paarthurnax," ["Ah, you speak of Paarthurnax,"] he said. "Very well. Cooperate, and I will absolve him of any responsibility for his words," -she could feel his breath on her neck- "Now do stop acting like I'm about to have you flogged..."
His lips brushed over her neck, pausing briefly when he reached the spot where he could feel her pulse. He snickered when he heard the pause in her breathing, her heartbeat quicken. His tongue barely traced over her skin, and he relished the taste. It was the same as it had been days before, and the same it had been when he drew her blood in battle. So sweet...
"So you have finally decided to obey?" he teased. "Pruzah. ["Good.] You will spare yourself and Paarthurnax a lot of pain that way," -he nipped at her ear- "Yet I don't think this is quite the suffering I had intended..."
Brett's eyes focused on the horizon behind them, though Alduin's sleek black hair was always in her field of vision. He was wrong, she was suffering. It just wasn't the kind of suffering he might have envisioned. This was mental torture, making her want to both stop him and keep him going. And, all the while, she felt ashamed, like she was a traitor, a prisoner of war that had submitted to the enemy.
"Dein hin hahdrim nahlot, mal gein," ["Keep your mind silenced, little one,"] he said, kissing a line over her jaw to her mouth. "You'll fare better that way."
Her reply was lost when Alduin slammed his lips against hers. The kiss was far from gentle, and seemed to suck the very breath from her body. His tongue invaded her mouth, and tried to draw her in further. Abruptly, he pulled away.
"Why don't you ever kiss back?" he demanded.
She blinked, confused at first. "What?"
He raised a single brow. "Should I use smaller words, Dovahkiin?" -when she didn't reply, he brushed some of her tangled air behind her ear- "'Looking for a husband' indeed. What would you do with a husband when you can't even return a simple kiss?"
Anger flaring in her eyes, she turned away from him. She wouldn't rise to his teasing, she wouldn't...
His tongue trailed over her throat, and he chuckled down at her, bemused. "I do not believe you even know how..."
That did it. There was a very finite limit to the insults she could take, and insulting her as he had was pushing it too far. She took hold of his hair and, roughly, pressed their lips together. For a brief moment, he was frozen, as though he was surprised that she'd had the audacity to actually do as he'd asked. But then he regained his composure and, closing the gap between them, responded eagerly.
Even now, they fought for dominance. They'd had this battle many times in the past, and, though they were on a different field, it was the same. She tried to control him but, when she did, he picked her up and slammed her against the wall. The kiss was so forceful that she was certain that she would have a bruise later. But, at the moment, it didn't matter. All that she cared about was winning this fight with Alduin, just like every other time they'd met.
"That's much better, mal Dovahkiin," [little Dragonborn,"] he said breathlessly. "And I would love to continue, but I'm afraid that I must see to Paarthurnax. Oh, dreh ni faas, brit geini," [Oh, do not ear, my beautiful one,"] -he ran a finger down one of the scars on her face- "You have kept your bargain, so I shall keep mine. I am many things, Dovahkiin, but I am not a liar. Still, I must speak with zeymahi." [my brother."]
Lips still tingling and sore, she leaned against the wall as he backed away. The farther he moved, the clearer her head became. 'Gods, what did I do?'
At the last moment, Alduin turned to look at her. "You may keep your things," -he glanced her over- "And change your clothes, joor. [mortal.] Perhaps that dress..."
Paarthurnax roared, furious with himself. Millenia. He had spent millenia at the Throat of the World, trying to learn to control is inborn temper. Yet, when his briinah [sister] needed him to be calm the most, his self-discipline cracked beneath his anger. And now she was going to be punished for his transgressions. Blinking back the bitter tears that were threatening to fall, he turned his head toward Aetherius, wishing he could see the skies of Keizaal. [Skyrim.]
"Krosisi, Bormah," ["My apologies, Father,"] he said, shaking in his chains. "Hin kul los ni bahlaan se hin sos. Zu nis dein hin Dovahkiin, ol hi laanaan." ["Your son is not worthy of your blood. I cannot keep your Dragonborn, as you wished."]
He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of familiar footsteps. "Drem yol lok, zeymah," ["Peace fire sky {Greetings}, brother,"] Alduin said, sounding unusually cheerful.
"Brett," Paarthurnax said, his voice a bit hoarse. "Los rek-?" ["Is she-?"]
Alduin laughed. "Niid, rek los ni dilon," ["No, she is not dead,"] he said casually. "Rek faasaan fah hi." ["She feared for you."]
Paarthurnax felt a pang in his chest. 'Oh, mal briinah... Dreh ni faas. Zu'u ni bahlaan wah kos hin zeymah.' ['Oh, little sister... Do not fear. I am not worthy to be your brother.']
"Nuz rek dreh ni nu," ["But she does not now,"] Alduin continued, smirking triumphantly. "Rek lostaan losofaan ek zahrahmiik." ["She has given her sacrafice."]
It felt as though Paarthurnax's heart had stopped. "Zahrahmiik? Niid, Zu bolag hi-" ["Sacrafice? No, I beg you-"]
"Drem, zeymah. Zu lost ni kriiaan ek," ["Peace, brother. I have not killed her,"] he said. "Ek zahrahmiik lost ekmaar," ["Her sacrafice was herself,"] -he laughed at the outraged look on the old dovah's face- "Ni ol pogaas se ekmaar ol Zu hindaan, nuz los pruzah fah nu." ["Not as much of herself as I wished, but is good for now."]
"Ni ek," ["Not her,"] Paarthurnax pleaded. "Hi lost pogaan vahdiinne, dreh ni vofan ek zin." ["You have many maidens, do not take her honor."]
"Zu fen dreh ol Zu losmorah pruzaan," ["I will do as I think best,"] Alduin said. "Fah maari uv ek," ["For myself or her,"] -with a grin, he turned to walk away- "Pruzah vulon, zeymah. Zu lost wah koraav wah mal Dovahkiini." ["Good night, brother. I have to see to my little Dragonborn."]
