Chapter 7

"I'll try to return as soon as possible." The Dragonborn said as she picked up her travel bag. She had packed light, knowing she would return by nightfall. The sun had just risen and the female warrior and Silvan had quickly made preparations for her to leave. Miraak was still asleep, which made things easier.

The Dragonborn had decided that today she would finally look for a place to house Miraak. He was behaving better than expected and she felt that it was almost time to send him to a new home. The nearest city would be her first stop on her search. "Are you sure you'll be alright alone?"

"I will be fine. You need to make this trip." Silvan responded.

"Eager to have him gone?" The woman laughed, making her way toward the door. She could understand the feeling but didn't feel it as much as her steward. Yes Miraak was a nuisance but… She could not blame him. He needed help right now. The woman still felt like she owed him that much, no matter the trouble he caused her.

"You have no idea." Silvan sighed, looking visibly tired. It had not been easy on him, the last nine days that Miraak had stayed in the manor. The Bosmer was always on edge with Miraak around and the man himself irritated the Silvan completely.

"Thank you, Silvan. For everything you've done for me and Miraak. I know you didn't sign up for this but I'm so glad you are still willing to help."

"You are most welcome. I will take care of the bea-, Miraak, while you are gone. I pray you will find someplace for him on this trip."

"I'll try my best. See you soon." The Dragonborn promised and left quietly. She did not want Miraak to see that she was leaving. The woman rushed towards her readied horse. Within moments, she had mounted it and guided it away from her home.

Even though Miraak had never really tried to kill either of them, the woman was still worried. He could be a little violent but she believed he didn't mean to harm them seriously. She hoped everything would be okay with her gone.

As the female warrior moved further away from her home, she felt the odd connection she shared with Miraak begin to fade away. It had been with her so long that she had almost forgotten it was not normal. The woman didn't understand what it was but it had never bothered her.


That night, the female Dragonborn returned home, her trip unsuccessful. There had not been any place she found suitable for Miraak. There was an asylum for those considered insane but the woman had not liked the place. It was more of a prison and the people were not treated well. Next she found herself at a home for the elderly but that was no place for Miraak. He doubted anyone there would want to deal with such a handful, let alone have the capacity for it.

While asking around, a group of people had overheard of what the female warrior wanted and offered to house Miraak, for a price. The woman had swiftly declined, not liking the feeling she got from the group. She could tell they were just a bunch of thugs. The only other place in the city was the prison itself and there was no way she was going to allow Miraak to be sent there.

The Dragonborn arrived home near sunset to find her steward sitting by the entrance of the manor with his head in his hands. When he heard a horse approaching, he jumped up and rushed to her. As the Bosmer approached, the female warrior could see that his clothing was covered in dirt and quite rumpled. Silvan took pride in his appearance and the woman felt her heart quicken. What had happened?

"I ask that the beast man be removed from this house immediately." The Bosmer continued when he saw the expression on his employer's face. He knew she wouldn't do it just like that. "If you cannot do this, then at least tell me you have found someplace for him." Silvan was trying hard to keep composed, the woman could tell.

"I'm sorry Silvan. There was no place suitable." The Dragonborn admitted. "Please tell me what happened. Are you okay? Where is Miraak?"

"I am fine, filthy, but fine. Miraak is inside." Silvan spat. "Not even an hour after you left, that... creature began to make a mess. I attempted to get him to stop and he lunged at me! I feared for my life and so I tried to leave the house. I attempted to close the door behind me but the beast was too fast. He got out. After that, he stalked me through the forest. I've never run so much! And when I was exhausted, the beast pounced on me. And do you know what it did? Nothing! It just laughed at me. I could see him grinning at me and then he fled. Back into the house, I learned after. He's unstable! You must get rid of him!"

The Dragonborn felt some anger bubble up at what Miraak had done but there was also relief. Miraak had chased Silvan, yes, but he had not hurt him.

"Let me see him, Silvan. I will deal with it. You go get yourself cleaned up and rest." The woman ordered before dismounting her horse. What was she supposed to do now?


The female warrior entered the house to find that Miraak had tracked dirt all over the floor of the manor. The filth from his 'hunt' led around the house and then back to his room. When she entered, she found the man sprawled on the bed, napping. The Dragonborn noticed Miraak had been using the bed more often, maybe realizing it was more comfortable than the ground.

Miraak's clothing was ruined and and he was oblivious to the exasperation the Dragonborn felt while watching him. Maybe, the woman thought once again, she should have left him on Solstheim. The Dragonborn moved to shake him awake but paused when she looked upon the sleeping man's face. Her anger died at the contented look she found. It was such an odd thing to see, since the man did not express that sort of emotion often.

Rethinking, the woman stepped back from Miraak. The man had probably missed hunting and being able to roam outside. Could she really blame him when he did not really understand his actions? Miraak hadn't really hurt anyone so maybe she could give him a free pass on this, just this once?

The woman sighed and went to see Silvan. She would apologize on Miraak's behalf and clean up the mess herself. She'd beg for Silvan to give the former Dragon Priest another chance as well.


After that incident, the Dragonborn redoubled her efforts on training Miraak and making sure he was listening to her. The feral man was fairly irritated with this new development but he had no choice but to do as the Dragonborn wanted.

The female warrior knew Miraak must have missed his freedom and so she began to take him outside. She always made sure to watch him carefully. She did not want him to run away. He could end up hurting someone.

It was hard work keeping an eye on Miraak as he roamed and hunted. Even so, the woman found that she enjoyed the it. She had been cooped up in the house for too long. The woman rarely stayed in one place for more than a few days these last few years.

On these outings, Miraak was able to successfully kill several small animals with his bare hands. She knew he was capable to taking down a small boar with as much so she wouldn't be surprised if he was able to take down larger prey as well. Those talons came in handy.

Though the Last Dragonborn tried her best to stay close to Miraak, that did not mean he did the same. On their fourth trip outside, the woman lost sight of the former Dragon Priest and panicked. She had turned around only for a few moments and when she turned back, Miraak was gone. The female warrior had searched for hours but found no sight of him. She had called for him but received no indication that he was around. Even the connection she always felt had faded away.

That night, she had began the trek home without Miraak. She could feel the worry in her gut like a heavy weight. Where was Miraak? What if he hurt someone? What if he got hurt? It would be all her fault for losing him.

Minutes before returning home, the Dragonborn felt the strange connection reappear. She stood still, trying to discern where he was. The warrior could tell her was somewhere nearby, but not which direction. The feeling was getting stronger so she could tell Miraak was coming closer. He was returning to the manor.

Relieved once more and hoping she was right, the Dragonborn entered her home and waited by the entrance. A half hour later, there was a bang on the door and the Dragonborn immediately went to open it. Outside, she found him.

Miraak was dirty once more but looking almost proud of himself. He was hunched over, carrying something on his back. In the dim light the woman could not immediately tell what it was. The Dragonborn tensed as she saw blood on the man's clothes.

The First Dragonborn dropped what he was carrying and the woman could finally see what it was. A deer. An adult female to be specific, as she could see no antlers.

Miraak grinned ferally as the beast's blood began to darken the front of her home. The expression on his face startled the Dragonborn but she knew he had no ill intention towards her. Or at least she hoped. She felt a shiver crawl up her spine but she ignored her discomfort.

The woman sighed and pulled Miraak into the house. He gave her a half-hearted snap but allowed himself to be drawn in. He stood near the door as the Dragonborn went to inspect the deer. It's throat had been slashed open by Miraak's talons and one of its legs had several deep gouges. Other than that the hide was in almost perfect condition.

The female Dragonborn decided not to call for Silvan to help her dress and clean the animal. That would be her job for the night. Miraak watched her from inside the house. He yawned widely, probably exhausted from taking down such a large animal.

On the spur of the moment, the female warrior walked over to ruffle Miraak's hair. He meant well, it seemed. It felt odd to do such a thing but Miraak did not show any displeasure at the gesture.


That creature was a nuisance, Silvan thought as he glared at the doorless room of his employer's new 'pet'. He sat at one of the tables outside the dining room with a cup of tea. The Bosmer wasn't sure why the Dragonborn brought one of her enemies under their roof or why she let him stay for so long. It was not his place to question her but he wanted to. After the beast had chased Silvan, all he could do was pray that the Dragonborn would change her mind and just get rid of Miraak.

It had been a little more than two weeks since the First Dragonborn had intruded into the home of the Dragonborn. At first, it wasn't too hard to avoid the newcomer as the beast liked to avoid him as well. But recently the feral man began to act more territorial. It was unsettling. Sometimes the creature would even follow Silvan and watch what he was doing for long periods of time.

The beast also didn't listen to him, only the Dragonborn. No matter what Silvan would say, Miraak would refuse to obey.

Silvan was roused out of his thoughts when he heard quick footsteps. Speak of the devil, the Bosmer thought. Miraak walked towards his room with something in his hands. He was walking with his back straight, looking almost like a normal Man or Mer. Silvan knew better.

"Wait, where did you get that, you beast!" Silvan shouted as he saw a loaf bread, one of the many he had baked that morning, in his hand. The steward had put those in a cabinet so the Dragonborn's pet could not find them. The 'man' was always taking any food he could find whenever he got hungry, even when it was not meant for him. He learned not to do it in front of the Dragonborn but when she was not in the immediate vicinity, he did as he wanted.

That beast grinned back at him, sharp teeth flashing. He disappeared inside his room.

Silvan tried to force his anger down but could not. He hastily stood up from his seat and turned away to storm into his room. The Bosmer had been hoping to eat that bread with some jelly he had made. Now he would have to make another batch. He refused to eat anything that the beast's filthy had had touched.