A/N Just to say my pen name changed from BlackLightIsolation to MeltingSunlight :). And that I started a forum for Skyrim fans to talk about their version of events for the game, called Skyrim Retold if anyone's interested :) And that I'm sorry this chapter came out a little later than intended, but I had to go to exeter at short notice. Enjoy the chapter :)

Her breath caught in her throat as she stared back at Serana. For a long time, neither of them moved, just gazed at each other wordlessly, still just inches apart.

Serana took a soft breath. "Are you-"

"No." Lyra said immediately.

Serana frowned. "You don't know what I was going to-"

"But I wasn't."

"I was going to say are you alright?"

Oh, of course. Well done, Lyra.

"Oh." Lyra breathed.

Serana "Why, what did you think i-"

"Nothing."

Serana sighed softly and moved slowly away. "Okay."

Lyra could have slapped herself.

What in the name of Talos were you thinking?

They sat together in a reasonably comfortable silence for a time, until finally Serana stood and walked a few meters away, murmuring about the Frost Mirriam not picking itself. Lyra followed suit, scooping up her half full satchel and swimming through the hazy warmth of the morning to hone in on a patch of Dragon's Tongue. She cursed herself continually as she worked, stuffing the delicate flowers in her bag in a manner close to carelessness.

The sun was slow to rise, and the morning dragged on far past its welcome. By the time the sun proclaimed noon, the silence was nearly unbearable. Lyra was searching for the courage, though she didn't know why, to suggest going home when Serana put her hood up against the sun, which was slowly gaining in intensity, and gave her the perfect opportunity.

"Do you, uh.. want to go back now?"

Serana looked at her for the first time in the last few hours. "If we have everything." She said softly.

Lyra sighed. "Are you angry with me?"

Serana shook her head. "No, not angry."

"Upset?"

"No."

"Scared?"

"No. Wait, what?"

Lyra shrugged and risked a smile. "Ran out of applicable adjectives."

Serana rolled her eyes, but smiled gently too. "I gathered."

"Come on." Lyra said, pulling her bag over her shoulder and crossing the little clearing towards the tree line they first came from. The birds sang merrily, oblivious to the tension, and the wildlife continued on its daily routine of pollinating and blooming and burrowing and nesting without a single care in the world. Sometimes, Lyra wished she could join them.

And we all know what happens when you get too caught up in wishing, don't we Lyra?

She suddenly felt miserable. She hadn't felt great since.. Whatever actually happened between her and Serana earlier, but it was only now she felt truly sad. She was aware of Serana walking quietly with her, matching her pace exactly but placed so she was just far enough behind Lyra for her not to be able to see the older nord in her peripherals. Lyra eventually gave up straining her eyes to see if Serana was okay. It was pointless anyway. She knew that even if she did glance Serana's face, it would be a perfect emotionless mask, the ultimate garrison to her thoughts. Lyra would have to ask directly, and not that she didn't want Serana to know she cared, that wasn't going to happen.

When they reached the house, only Lucia's fox greeted them. It lay basking in sun on the doorstep, breathing deeply and not looking like it was going to move for anything. Lyra knew looks could be deceptive, and as they approached, the animal leapt up and fled for the safety of the currently unoccupied stable instead. Lyra held the front door open for Serana who smiled softly and disappeared into the house before her, satchel in hand. Resigned, Lyra followed. Runa and Lucia were no where to be seen which wasn't uncommon for the hour and weather. Lydia was out of sight, but with Lyra's hearing, she knew she was only in the cellar using the grindstone. Serana put her satchel down onto the end of the now cleared table and quietly disappeared upstairs. Lyra watched her go, not knowing what to do, or how to make everything right when she barely knew where she stood to do so. She put her satchel down on the table resting against Serana's and sat down. As usual a bottle of Bloodwine stood next to a glass, waiting for Lyra as it always was when she got home.

Lydia works too hard sometimes.

But it was in her nature. Ever since they'd met, Lydia had worked hard at everything- Killing dragons, building the house with her, and now protecting her children. And she never once complained. Lyra wondered if her housecarl could speak with such merit about her.

Probably not.

Lyra shifted uncomfortably, the heat from the still burning fire beginning to become overwhelming even with her long hair to block the brunt of it's restless assault. She wondered if the fire weakness was beginning to set in or if it was just her usual intolerance to heat. Lyra found herself without the will power to care. She reached forward and picked up the awaiting bottle of wine, looking at the glass with consideration for a moment before deciding she hadn't the will power for that either. She drank from the bottle. After only a few minutes, she cursed, begrudgingly stood and left the overwhelming heat, no longer able to stand it, bottle in hand. She made for the door, deciding fresh air might do her good. She stepped out into the daylight, making a mental note that it still wasn't effecting her, and sat down on the doorstep. She was aware of Lucia's fox glaring at her from amidst the hay in the stable, resenting her now not only for moving her but for sitting in her spot, too. She ignored it. The air was hazy with pollen and insects, and the sun a little lower in the sky, casting longer shadows than before. Pine thrush sang shrilly from their tree top nests.

I must have been sat there longer than I thought. I wonder what Serana's doing. She sighed. Probably making a fully functioning voodoo doll of me.

Lyra set her bottle down on the step with the familiar scraping sound of glass on raw stone. For a long while, she stared at the ground before her. It was worn like a pathway, not much of anything growing down the long, thin strip of land. Despite the lack of habitat, a beetle waddled clumsily over the small stones and clumps of dried earth, headed towards the little vegetable garden Lucia kept. It's legs struggled relentlessly to carry its oversized, shiny black body over the ill-suited terrain, and it's speed was painfully slow. It soon tipped itself over, rocking back and forth on its back, legs flailing madly. For a minute or two, Lyra watched it, waiting to see if it would get itself up or whether she should give it a hand. Deciding it was well and truly stuck, Lyra held her finger out just above the insects delicate legs. It took a second for the bug to realise, but once it did, it latched its tiny hooked feet onto it's salvation and held fast. Lyra turned her finger over, the beetle with it, and set it against the ground for the beetle to eventually crawl off. She felt a sense of satisfaction when it came out of it's daze and continued on it's little journey unscathed.

"I guess you never know when you'll need a beetle on you'r side."

Lyra jumped, hitting the bottle with the back of her hand but quickly catching it. She'd been so engrossed in saving her little beetle, she hadn't noticed Serana slip out of the door and sit down beside her, even by scent. "Serana, you scared the living shhh..out out of me!" She looked across to her friend, and noticed with some inner warmth that the little flower was still in her hair.

"You kept your flower.." she added quietly, suddenly remembering half the reason she was sat here in the first place.

"Of course I kept my flower. Why wouldn't I?"

Lyra sighed, and looked back to her beetle. It was now a good few meters away from where it started out, still struggling onwards.

"I.. I'm sorry. About earlier." Lyra sighed, her eyes not leaving the small black bug.

"Don't be." Serana replied. "Hey.."

Lyra looked at her. "Yeah?"

Serana smiled a little. "Close your eyes."

Lyra wondered dryly to herself if the vampire was going to hit her in the face with something, but quickly chastised herself for thinking like that. She closed her eyes, and felt Serana put something in her hair. There was a couple of moments still quiet, the only sound to pick up on even with vampire hearing being the birds and waking crickets in the undergrowth beyond the house. Lyra considered opening her eyes, when she felt a soft hand brush her cheek followed quickly by softer lips touching her own. She felt a flutter go through her as she kissed back, scrambling her thoughts together. It only took a few seconds for her to realise how futile it was. She gave up, and concentrated solely on Serana, knowing any second could be the last of what could be an unrepeated occasion. All too soon, Serana pulled slowly away. It took Lyra a moment to open her eyes. Serana was looking at her calmly.

"To make up for any notion of hesitance the first time round." she said softly, her voice only slightly louder than a murmur. She then slowly stood, and returned back inside the house, leaving Lyra wordless on the step. She reached up to behind her ear and felt a smile spread across her face. The delicate, velvety petals of a mountain flower brushed against her fingers.