A/N: Hey everyone! Here's this week's chapter. It was quite difficult to write, but I hope you all enjoy!
The sky is as grey and red as the Elves that settle here. The sky here was dimmer than in Skyrim, but it looked even less like home. That is unless I forgot what the sky at home looks like.
Within moments of getting off the boat, we're approached by a fancy looking Dumner.
"I don't recognize you, so I'll assume this is your first visit to Raven Rock, outlander. State your intentions," he requests.
"Just passing on through," I calmly respond, not remembering if that was a legitimate response or not in the original game.
"You've picked one of the worst places in Morrowind to do that, but suit yourself," he responds. "Just remember, Raven Rock is sovereign territory of House Redoran. This is Morrowind, not Skyrim. While you're here you'll be expected to abide by our laws. Any questions?"
"None, thank you." I nod. The Dumner walks away, and Conlan and I proceed off the docks towards the town.
"So, I'm assuming you're familiar with this place as well as you are with Skyrim?" Conlan questions turning his head to face me.
"I'd say i'm a little iffy about this island," I admit, "but I know enough to get by."
"Then tell me about this place the quest marker is pointing to," he pauses to check his map most likely. "'Nordic Ruin.'"
"Um," I stutter. "Almost every ruin on this island is Nordic. Could you be more specific?"
"That's all it says," Conlan claims. "It's also to the northeast of us."
"We're at the most southwestern part of the island," I remind him. "You can't be serious: there's nothing else?"
"Not that I can pull up," he mutters. "Maybe I can request to log off and talk to Kirito. I think he can look at my menu and map and give me more details."
"That sounds like a good idea," I agree. "But you've got to be quick."
"I won't log off until we find an inn," Conlan states.
"There's one in this town," I state. "Let's head there."
Conlan and I enter the Retching Netch, which has an exotic aura. It obviously felt like an inn, but there was no scent of mead. The smell was almost spicy, and the air was slightly smoky. We find a staircase in the middle of the room, and make our way down.
"This place doesn't feel right," Conlan mutters.
"It's okay," I assure him. "We'll have a bed to rest in as soon as we find the innkeeper."
At the bottom of the stairs is a long space, and a counter was to the left side of the room. We approach the mer standing behind the counter.
"Welcome to the Retching Netch," he says with a hesitant tone.
"Hi, we would like a room," I state, trying to get a room as quickly as possible without having this innkeeper tell me useless stories.
"We don't have any rooms with double beds," he states.
"That's fine. Only one of us needs to sleep," I state.
"If you insist," he mutters. "Follow me, I'll take you folks to your room." We follow the Dumner down the hallway until we reach a doorway with a small room with a single bed, a wardrobe, and a table with various foods in the corner.
"If you need anything else, just let me know," he dismisses himself.
"Thank you," I smile.
After settling ourselves in our room, Conlan and I both took off our armor and laid in the single person bed together, being the second time we got to be alone together without being chased to death. We were both wearing robes; I was in Conlan arms, and my head was on his chest, which was much smaller than it used to be. If we weren't kissing, he was playing with the little hair that I had.
"You know," he mentions. "Your hair irl is fifteen times your length here."
"I figured as much," I sigh, imagining the disaster hair I'll have to shave off when I get back. I wouldn't shave my head for style purposes, but it's far more attractive (and practical) than matted hair. "How bad is my face?"
"I wouldn't say it's bad," he mutters. "It's beautiful, like always, but you're basically skin and bones until you get fed real food again."
The thought that Conlan has seen me more recently than I have frightens me... and I've never seen him before, other than here. Gods, what could he be wearing? A sweatshirt and jeans? A suit? A hospital gown? What type of glasses does he have?
Gods, I can't be thinking about this now. I may be blind when I wake up for all I know, I can't make expectations and assumptions about everything I've missed.
"Wha'cha thinking about?" His voice crashes into my thoughts. An innocent question makes me lose all of my memory of my own thoughts. Wow, I've really become hard to socialize with.
"You," I sigh.
"I'm right here," he smiles. "You don't have to think when I'm physically here."
"You weren't for the past eight months," I croak.
"I dreaded those eight months," he states. "Every day I could, I'd sit beside your hospital bed and apologize under my breath, just audible enough for you and I to hear. I'd want to just wake you up, and explain everything to you. Each moment that went by where I couldn't talk to you made my insides burn out of my system."
"Each day I lived thinking I couldn't save my only friend left," I sigh. "I was always worried for what would happen when I'd have to save anyone else, including myself."
"You don't have to worry anymore," he states, stroking my cheek with his index and middle finger.
"I won't," I agree, "as long as you're here with me." I nuzzle my head in his chest. I feel a kiss on the top of my head, and a tighter hug.
"I won't be leaving you," he assures. "Unless I'm taken from you, in which case I will fight to my death if it means returning to you, I won't be leaving."
Unable to think of any other response, I let my heart speak for me. "I love you, so very much."
I could feel myself blushing as Conlan continues to stroke my cheek. "I love you too, precious. I don't want to log off."
"You really should," I state.
"Let me kiss you first?"
A smile invades my face. "Certainly," I sigh as I move my face closer to his. I could feel him pulling my face even closer, until we were gently kissing.
After the kiss, I leave the bed. "Tell Kirito I say 'hi.'"
"I shall," he says as he lies down his head. "I'll see you in a bit, darling."
"Sleep well, dear," I comment as I sit at the table on the other side of the room.
Conlan peacefully shuts his eyes, and yawns until he is asleep, which is like unplugging a lit lamp. Before I could get up to get something to eat, Conlan's body suddenly vanishes.
"Conlan!" I scream in horror, feeling my vocal chords cry in pain.
No! I just got you back!
Don't leave me!
I stretch my arms and legs, the covers fall between my armpits and crotch. I roll to my side and find myself entangled in the covers with a beautiful woman by my side. I wrap my arms around her, and pull her into myself. Her body was warm, not because she had a fever, but because she was full of warmth.
She yawns, and stretches like I did. She nearly hits my face, then yawns again. Her eyes open to find mine.
"Morning, baby," I smile at her.
"Morning," she blushes. "How did you sleep?"
"Very well," I asnwer, squeezing her in my arms. "And you?"
"Lovely," she sighs. "What are we doing for breakfast?"
"Pancakes?" I suggest. The smile the suggestion brought to her face gives me immediate satisfaction. Pancakes it is.
"I'll get the stove going," I say. I put one foot on the floor of our room, and the world turns red. I turn around to find her body soaked in wet, warm blood.
"No!" I shout. I wanted to run, but my legs were dlues to the ground. I continue screaming, and the screaming only echoes into many voices. My head was begging myself to be taken away from all of this. A faint shout of my name was barley audible over the screams. The screaming continues as I'm yanked from the floor, and jolted through the ceiling. I open my eyes to find myself in a white hospital bed.
"Summer?!" I call.
"Conner, calm down," Kirito hushes.
I open my eyes to the fuzziness of the world, can clearly hear beeping hospital equipment and wheeling carts from hallways. I try to sit up, feeling the aching of my back and arms.
Awake again. I pull my new Amusphere off my head, which was gifted to me by Kirito.
"What happened?! I just saw Summer!"
"You must've had a nightmare, but that isn't important," Kirito rushes. "Summer's heart rate is sky rocketing. She's likely having an anxiety attack. Something is seriously wrong, and you have to go back and see to it," Kirito insists.
"Wait, can I at least see her?" I ask, peering to her side of the room. Without my glasses, I could only see the shadows of nurses and doctors looking over her, ready to perform an operation on her sleeping body if needed. "We have questions for you, too."
"There's no time," he claims. "I'm sorry Conner, but you must go back. I will answer your questions later."
I've been gone for less than a minute and something is already wrong. Who could be trying to kill her while I'm sleeping? Whoever they are, they aren't going to live knowing they're attacking the Dragonborn's gir- uh, friend.
"I'll check it out," I lay back down. "But I'll be back once the situation is handled."
"Fine," Kirito says, speaking above the constant beeping of Summer's monitors. "I'm going to see if there is anything I can do to help."
"Thanks," I say as I pull the Amusphere over my eyes. "Link start!"