Disclaimer: I do not own The Elder Scrolls Series, Skyrim, or any characters I've used except Greta and this version of the Dragonborn.
Previously:
"Give me your amulet. I'll not have anyone coming for you." She reached up slowly and took her amulet off. Her breasts strained against the fabric as she lifted her arms.
Staring into his face, she handed it over to him. He placed it onto the table behind him before turning around and capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. Pulling away, as she clung to him, he chuckled softly. His chest rumbling against her soft form.
Chapter 8 – Mercy's Hold
Greta shivered lightly as she stood in the stone watchtower, staring out the barred window at the soldiers gathered below in the glow of the burning campfire. Faintly, she registered the large cell door slamming shut behind her. She was startled, but would not grant him the satisfaction of watching her cower before him again. She had made that mistake once, groveling before him on her knees begging him to take mercy on her, but there wasn't any mercy to be had.
He had taken everything from her and still it wasn't enough.
Her home, her life, her smile, and her innocence…
Seeking penance afterwards he brought her food and pastries. Fine wines and the best mead, spoiled her like a bride, and when the tears finally subsided, she found a strength that she never knew existed. With that strength grew a quiet burning rage. She hated him so much. His stoic demeanor and incessant insatiability was draining. She no longer fought him.
"You wound me with your silence, beauty." The man whispered quietly from the doorway.
Turning, she glanced blankly into his youthful face with large sullen eyes. The hope had long faded and her orbs glassy like a doll's, with that unmoving stare. At one time he could have been a handsome man, but his face too hostile and his skin was too scarred.
"Why won't you just stop?" She whispered silently. "What pleasure do you get out of hurting innocent people?"
"I am not killing innocent people, we are at war! It is us against those Imperial bastards and anyone who does not support our right as Nords to worship Talos."
"The men you hurt in my village were innocent. They were not Imperial supporters."
"Aye, and they were not Stormcloak supporters either. There is no room for opposition. You are either with us or against us."
She turned away, staring back into the bleak horizon. Walking up to her smaller form, he glared down at her sternly. Snatching her chin roughly, he forced her to look into his rugged face.
"Beauty-" She pulled away from him, wincing slightly.
"You hurt me and I am not an Imperial supporter. Why do you keep me here?" He reached up and lightly traced the scar on her cheek from his sword.
"I am a rough man, but your beauty makes me weak. I simply offer you a greater life than you would have ever known in that mining camp. Bear my sons and stand at my side. That is all that I ask."
"What if that's not what I want?"
"What more could you want? I will be victorious! When I am finished, there will be no other Jarls. And you, my beauty, will be the high queen of Skyrim."
Her eyes flashed to his in shock. He grinned lecherously as he regarded her pouty lips as she gasped quickly composing herself and looking away again. He hadn't missed how her eyes had lit up at those words. She was power hungry and would do well at his side. Ulfric was pleased.
"Will you be my queen?" He asked.
"If you'll teach me to wield a sword, I will fight proudly at your side." She whispered, refusing to meet his eyes. He chuckled.
"I knew you would choose wisely. I will gladly, my sweet bride." Gripping her shoulders tightly, he pulled her to him roughly and kissed her lips until she yielded sweetly to him.
Turning, and walking from the tower, he didn't see the hateful look as she stared into the back of his head. She'd let him finish his campaign, and when he was done she would no longer play the dutiful bride. Greta had seen how the men of her village had been unable to protect her. She wouldn't make that mistake again in ever trusting a man to save her.
He would pay for what he had done to her.
And she'd make sure of it.
...
Sylgja had slept most of the way to Whiterun. Cillian held her cradled in front of him on the horse. His strong chest molded to her back and his thighs to her bottom. She could feel the dull thumping of his heart beating and the heat from between his legs, a constant reminder of his virility. Noticing that she was awake, he leaned his head down and brushed his lips gently against her cheek. The hood covered his face, so all she could see were his full lips and the stubble decorating his tanned leathery skin.
Blushing, she glanced up and caught eyes with Aela as the red head peeked over at her. She clung loosely to Vilkas now that they were at a slower trot. Her long red hair trailed down her back - dancing with each clapping footstep of the hooves on the stone pathway.
A courier had intercepted their path a while back, but other than that the trip had been uneventful. The man handed Cillian a letter and waited a moment, while he read the document quickly. The two spoke quietly before Cillian had returned to his horse and the group. Apparently he and Jarl Balgruuf had been summoned for a meeting at High Hrothgar with the Greybeards. He announced that he would meet with the Jarl first thing in the morning to discuss this. The others had asked a few questions, but he refused to speculate and only replied that he would wait and see what the Jarl knew of this request.
Stopping in front of the stables, Cillian reached up to lift Sylgja from the saddle. Setting her firmly on the ground, he glanced down into her face for a moment. The last fading rays of sunlight casting an eerie glow across his handsome face. Smiling faintly, he grasped the reins and moved the horse towards the open stall.
"You'll be leaving shortly then?" Sylgja queried.
"Aye, but you'll be in good hands." He murmured, stroking a finger gently down her cheek. Leaning into his touch, she closed her eyes briefly.
"Where will we stay?" Aela questioned.
"There is room at Jorrvaskkr, the Companions Hall." Vilkas replied.
"Aye." Farkas chirped. "We'll take you to meet Kodlak the Harbinger, then set you up with Ria and Njada the other two female recruits."
Aela nodded, "And what of Sylgja?" She then asked.
"She will stay at the keep with the Jarl's family while I am gone or in my room at the inn." Cillian replied.
"Have you no home?" Aela asked and promptly the three men chuckled. Cillian removed his hood and grinned slightly. His gray eyes twinkling with mirth as he stared back at her.
"I have a small manor, but I have been staying at the inn while renovations are being completed."
Sylgja moved closer to Aela, the two glancing at each other as Vilkas and Cillian moved on ahead to greet the men at the entrance gate to the city.
"Why can't I stay with you? Especially, since he's leaving me there while he's gone." She whispered.
"I'll ask and see if that will be okay." Aela agreed, "I don't like the idea of you being alone either."
"Farkas." Aela called, as she moved closer to the taller man. He turned and grinned widely down at her slim figure.
"Aye, milady."
"Why wouldn't Sylgja be able to stay at the hall with us?"
He glanced between the two women remorsefully before clapping Aela on the shoulder lightly.
"I'm sorry, but she can't. Jorrvaskkr is for Companions only."
Turning towards the brunette he smiled gently, peering down into her face.
"You'll be in good hands at the keep, and the inn is only a few paces away from the hall." He grinned before saluting the guards talking quietly as the group approached.
"Hail Companions!" The first guard, an older dark-haired Nord, called as he pulled a large wooden lever.
With a loud groan the huge wooden gates slid open. Turning awkwardly towards Cillian the second guard, a much younger fresh faced male, bowed quickly as the older one saluted the tall blond man approaching.
"Welcome home, my Thane."
The men nodded in greeting and promptly stepped through the large gates of the city as the last of the light in the sky slowly died. The stars, now visible, twinkled like a million pearls in the sea. Staring up into the clear darkening sky, Sylgja shuddered. She had never noticed how vast Skyrim felt at night. The horizon stretching endlessly in the distance like a smooth meandering stream. If not for the torches burning along the path to the center of the city, she would have stumbled over her own feet passing along the slight incline. She hobbled slightly as the fatigue started to set in and the muscle in her leg burned incessantly.
"The market is straight ahead in the center of the city. The inn is right behind the marketplace. You'll notice a small bridge just to the left and right beyond that is the Companions Mead Hall, Jorrvaskkr." Cillian spoke softly in the still darkness of the night. His voice echoed faintly off the stone walls of the houses and shop fronts they passed.
Turning, he placed a hand on the small of Sylgja's back, leading her slowly towards the center of the city as the twins and Aela followed. Glancing over at the Companions hall, Sylgja could see the stairs leading up to the magnificent structure. It resembled an upside down ark. There were two wooden buttresses and the doorway was covered with a large pointed awning. She watched the others walk towards the large decorated doors after they said their goodbyes. Vilkas lingered for a moment, curiously watching two women and two small children nearby.
The two small girls sat under the large tree in front of Jorrvaskkr and a woman stood cleaning up a now empty fruit stand. There was another woman leaning against the edge of the market stall in a tight blue dress. Her short red hair swept gently behind her ears. Faintly Sylgja registered the impish giggles from the children.
It was dark, but it wasn't that late. The woman stood to her full height and, shoving the large sack of fruit over her shoulder, turned towards the children as the redhead walked away from her. She lifted her hand towards Cillian in a greeting as she moved by them and touched Vilkas' arm lightly as she passed. The darker haired woman turned and swept her eyes over the stall one more time before adjusting a wooden tray on the counter.
"Mila!" She called as she started to move towards their small group, standing in the center of the market. Sylgja could see the sweat on the woman's forehead glistening in the moonlight reflecting on her pale creamy skin.
Promptly the children embraced each other quickly before the taller one ran towards the dark haired woman. The woman kissed the top of the child's head softly before moving towards a small wooden shack. The home was slightly smaller than Sylgja's home in Shor's Stone so she knew the woman couldn't have much, but her clothes were tidy and the dark woolen dress accentuated her slender waistline and tall legs well.
"Good evening." She murmured as she passed. Cillian nodded in greeting before offering to carry the large sack of vegetables for the woman. She smiled politely, but declined his offer. Vilkas promptly walked up and snatched the large bag and lifted it onto his own shoulder as he led the way to her house. Cillian chuckled lightly before grasping Sylgja's smaller hand in his own and leading her to the inn.
The child that was left behind on the bench spotted Cillian and ran towards him and the others. She hugged his firm thigh, her tiny arms clinging tightly to his muscular form and smiled up into his face as he ruffled her light brown hair softly. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a shiny green apple and handed it to the child.
"This is Sophie." He whispered in Sylgja's ear as he caressed the top of the child's head once more.
"Sophie, this is Sylgja." He murmured gently as the child peeked up at the duo.
"Is this your daughter?" Sylgja asked, smiling down at the small girl. Her wide eyes large as she stared up at the older woman watching her.
"Nay, she stays at the temple."
"Oh! Is your mother a priestess?" Sylgja asked sweetly, reaching out to the small girl, but Sophie snatched her arm away from the older woman and ran off towards the large tree. Her small form disappearing in the darkness
Cillian chuckled as they watched the little girl run off.
"I hope I didn't hurt her feelings." Sylgja whispered. "Will she be alright?"
"Aye, the temple is just past that tree. She just needs to warm up to you." He replied.
Sylgja trembled as she looked up, meeting Cillian's eyes. The muted passion blazing in his cool gaze, unnerved her. She could feel her head swimming. Faintly she registered staring into the shadowed whiteness of his smile as he stared back at her. The stars surrounding his head in the dark, twinkling like the ore in the mines. Vaguely she thought of Greta and could only hope that the gods had shown her mercy.
Alright, it's finally done. Sorry it took so long! This was a hard chapter to write. Leave me a review and let me know what you think!
~ES
