Ana sat up and moved her legs so they dangled off the bed. A few weeks had passed and Valmorren had taken care of Ana's ankle as he promised. The two had gotten to learn more facts about one another within that time, drawing them closer together. Valmorren was currently sitting at his desk as Ana tried to get up. He heard her movement and glanced over.
"Need any help?" he asked, "It's been awhile since you've tried to walk."
"Yes please," Ana said. Valmorren stood up and walked over, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and holding her up by the midsection. Ana stood up on her good leg, her knee buckling out from under her immediately. Valmorren quickly lifted her.
"Don't worry, I've got you," he told her. Ana nodded and took a deep breath. She composed herself and put weight on her leg. She stood there for a few moments, her leg struggling to readjust. Valmorren watched her carefully.
"Let me know when you're ready to take a step," he said softly. Ana nodded again, focusing on keeping her balance. She tried to put weight on her bad leg, hissing in pain as she did. The pain subsided and she gripped Valmorren's shoulder. She took a step first with her bad leg, a throbbing pain forming as she did. Valmorren walked with her, making sure she was alright. Ana continued to take steps around the room in an odd circular pattern. Her good leg had remembered how to function and aided her bad leg in walking around. Soon, Ana stopped walking.
"What's wrong?" Valmorren asked.
"Can I try it by myself?" Ana asked, looking up at him. Valmorren's face showed obvious concern, but he stepped away from her. He held onto her arm just in case she fell.
"Be careful, Ana. I'll stop you from falling. Take your time," Valmorren told her. Ana nodded and shakily took a step forward. For a moment, she felt like a child learning how to walk again. She took another step, her ankle throbbing slightly. As she took her third, she stepped on her bad leg wrong and began to fall. Valmorren rushed to stop her from falling, catching her before she landed on her bag leg. He took a breath of relief as he held her up.
"I think I can do it again," Ana said, standing up once more, her hand holding onto his shoulder.
"Not without support you can't," Valmorren told her, "I've been working on this for you."
He led her to his desk where an almost finished crutch lay. He sat Ana down in his chair before picking up the crutch. He sanded the rest of it down, brushing off the sanded wood. The crutch was thick, the base becoming smaller as you reached the bottom. He handed the crutch to Ana, allowing her to try it out. Ana put pressure on the crutch as she stood up. She grabbed onto Valmorren's arm for a second before taking a few steps with the crutch. She let go of Valmorren and walked on her own. Valmorren held his arms out as she did, not wanting her to fall. He smiled as she could walk better and better with each step. Ana grinned at herself and went to Valmorren.
"Thank you," she said, smiling up at him.
"My pleasure," he replied, smiling back, "Do you need any help at all?"
"No, I think the crutch'll work," she told him, walking to her bed. When she sat down, Valmorren sat across from her in his desk chair.
"So, what are you planning to do after you're healed up?" Valmorren suddenly asked. Ana tilted her head quizzically.
"What do you mean?"
"Like, where are you going to go? Are you going to Riften still?"
"Oh… I don't know actually. I wanted to go somewhere warmer, I guess," Ana replied.
"So you have no idea what you're going to do?"
"No, I guess not…"
"You know," Valmorren began, leaning forward and putting his forearms on his knees, "You could always stay with me. It's been nice actually having someone to talk to."
Ana fet her heart flush at the suggestion. She had also enjoyed his company, maybe even a little more than Valmorren knew.
"I'd be happy to," she said. Valmorren grinned and got up, glancing around the room.
"Alright, well, since you can walk well enough you can be on your own for a few days. There should be enough food to last you," he told her.
"Are we low on supplies?" she asked.
"Yep. And I can't wait any longer to gather them up. I'll be heading northwest towards Whiterun. Hopefully a Khajiit caravan is there. They usually have good materials when they come around- regardless of where they got it from," Valmorren explained. He looked at her with slight concern. "You sure you're gonna be alright?"
"Of course. Besides, you've been hidden away for years here, so it wouldn't be likely that someone were to come in," Ana said.
"That's true. But either way, be careful. I don't want to come back to you hurt even more than you already are," he told her.
"I know, I know," Ana chuckled. She stood up and went over to him. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "You be safe yourself, Val."
Valmorren looked down at her in slight shock. He returned the hug after processing everything, his heart speeding up. He took note of everything he was feeling. Ana was small and her hair felt soft. She was just as warm as her smile as she kept holding onto him. Valmorren smiled, feeling his chest flutter wildly. Ana soon pulled away and went back to her bed. Valmorren put on his armor and grabbed his pack, the room quiet except for the times his armor clinked together. Ana sometimes wondered how he could even maneuver himself in his armor. He waved goodbye just before he left Ana on her own.
Ana sat by herself, thinking. She lied back and took a deep breath. She began thinking about Valmorren and how close the two have grown to each other. She blushed and smiled at herself as she began thinking of scenarios the two could be in. He was fairly handsome and a great person- definitely the only former Thalmor she's ever known. Back in Cyrodiil, she believed being independent was the best choice- especially in the situation she was in before breaking her leg. Being attractive in the eyes of mer back at home and being a noble caused her to gain countless comments from both men and women. Many of her male classmates tried their chances with her, but were ultimately rejected. Her mother always preached that nobles only married other nobles and falling for anyone less was dishonorable whenever Ana mentioned the boys in her class. Valmorren was definitely a noble- and of high regard as well, but the both of them had fallen from honor one way or another, so nobility wouldn't matter at all. It was a silly thing to think of from the start anyways.
Ana looked to her left at the Dwemer lights. She wondered if the two could ever live in peace. If they wed, what would their last names be? Both would be highly alarming to the Thalmor. And if they were to have children? Would they raise them in hiding?
"Gah! I'm thinking too much and too far ahead," Ana scolded herself, the empty room quietly responding with the echoes of her voice. Ana sighed and closed her eyes. She didn't even know if a man like Valmorren were even interested in her. She rolled onto one side, covering herself with the blanket. She would just have to ask when he got back.
