Disclaimer: I do not own the Elder Scrolls series. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this story. Thank you for the kind reviews, I am very glad you are all enjoying my story so far! I hope I have not let you down with this latest instalment, but please feel free to give me critiques and points to improve on.

I am sure I am not the only one eagerly awaiting the release of Skyrim in November! I can not wait to get my copy and start writing new fictions in an awesome new province...with dragons! - Fallon.

Chapter Eleven

The next few days passed without discomfort for Ariella. Yes, her wounds ached. But for the first time in a very long time, her heart did not.

Ilmeres loved her, and little else mattered while she had that knowledge. All she wanted now was for her wounds to heal so she could be with him in every way...

Ariella turned her head to the infant that lay sleeping beside her.

Laena slept soundly, her small chest rising and falling softly, and Ariella found herself thinking about the child's mother, Lairah. She hoped the woman was looking down on her with pride and gratitude, happy with all Ariella had been able to do for the child under the less than ideal circumstances. She smiled, yes, she decided, Lairah would be happy.

There was a knock on her door and Eriadne entered.

Ariella knew the routine by now. She lowered the sheet and allowed the woman to examine her healing wounds. Eriadne poked around Ariella`s knee, and she tried not to make a sound less the woman determine she still required bed rest.

"Still sensitive" She pondered. "you will have to take it easy, no going for runs now!"

Ariella chuckled, the scar across her nose stretching as her face twisted. "I think I can promise you I won't be doing that."

"Hmm, I'm not sure, you clearly are more adventurous than I originally thought..." She gave Ariella a sarcastic look.

Ariella sighed. "I promise Eriadne, on my honor!" She touched her hand to her chest and tried to look serious.

Eriadne sighed. "Fine, but please be careful and move slowly! For Laena`s sake, my dear!"

She touched the older woman's hand. "I swear Eriadne, and thank you for all you have done for me. You have been far too kind..."

Eriadne blushed and stood. "Not a problem dear, just don't go making a habit of it."

Ariella smiled and nodded. "Alright, it is a deal."

"Good" Eriadne said as she exhaled heavily. "now go get yourself some dinner in the hall, I will have Diana take care of the child, I am sure there is someone else you want to spend time with?" She arched her eye brows suggestively.

Ariella, half way out of her bed, crossed her arms over her chest. "Who has been telling you stories!"

Eriadne shrugged. "Doesn't matter, is it true though? Does that dunmer lad have a thing for you?"

Ariella felt her cheeks flush. "Well...we love each other, if that is what you are asking..."

The older woman smiled and rocked the infant in her arms. "Good, I was getting tired of catching him staring at you like a love-struck fool."

"I am sure that is a bit of an exaggeration." Ariella said as she slipped into her clogs.

Eriadne shook her head as she smiled down to Laena. "If only you had eyes on the back of your head, dear."

...

When she entered the main hall, the Blades greeted her with warm smiles and well-wishes. She scanned the room and did not see Ilmeres.

"He stayed in his room." Svan said, knowing exactly who she was looking for. "A serving boy said his wounds were bothering him."

Ariella awkwardly thanked the Nord, gathered up a small plate of food, and returned to the living quarters.

She knocked on his door and was relieved when he told her to come in.

Ilmeres was in bed, propped up against a pillow and reading a book. He looked up and quickly set the book aside, clearly not expecting to see her in his room. Ariella noticed it was slightly smaller than hers` and guessed she had been given the larger one because of the infant.

She sat the plate of food down on the small table and sat on the edge of his bed. "Svan said your wounds are bothering you..."

Ilmeres tried to sit up a little more. "I'm alright, Ariella."

"Why didn't you tell Eriadne?" She continued.

"She was tending to you" He shrugged, cringing as he stretched healing skin in the process. "besides, they are not inflamed. I would have just been wasting her time..."

Ariella sighed in frustration and pulled back his sheets. Ilmeres looked at her wide-eyed but did not stop her as she eased the bandages on his lower stomach aside. Her hands were so low and it took a tremendous amount of will power to remind himself that her actions were chaste.

Satisfied with what she saw under the wrapping, she continued to check the others.

Ilmeres was suddenly quite nervous. He was not the fit, healthy man he had been when she bought him. Their journey had tested them both, and he was thinner than he had been while in the slave caravan. His muscles were tired and worn, his skin and hair almost devoid of all softness.

But if she noticed, she said nothing.

Ariella began tracing an older scar near his clavicle and he shivered.

"Are you cold?" She asked, her voice soft and concerned.

If only you knew, he thought to himself.

She pulled the sheet back up and fetched the plate of food from the table. She offered it to him with a smile. "Hungry?"

They both picked at the food, neither truly interested.

"Eriadne freed you from your bed rest?" Ilmeres asked nervously.

Ariella nodded. "Finally, I was getting tired of looking at those four walls!"

"So you come to a smaller room to stare at four more dull walls?" Ilmeres chuckled as he reached for a strawberry on the plate.

Ariella beat him to it. "No, I came here to make this room a little more interesting for you."

She smiled and offered him the strawberry.

Ilmeres smiled and leaned forward, eating the full berry from her fingers. He licked the juice from her fingers and smiled as her eyes became heavy.

He gently pulled her close and kissed her.

Ariella moaned, desperately intoxicated by his touch and wanting more. He tasted faintly of wine and strawberries. She smiled into their kiss.

His grip on her arm became firmer and she hurried to get closer to him. Trying to be mindful of his wounds, she pressed her chest to his as she laid down beside him. His tongue twirled around hers, taking the lead in the dance that was happening between them. She did not mind though, she wanted to give in to him and was happy to have him guide her.

His arm slithered around her, keeping her pressed firmly to him.

Ariella broke the kiss and looked into his eyes as her fingers trailed down his chest before dropping lower...

Ilmeres bucked against her, not expecting her touch but clearly very pleased she had ventured so low.

She cupped and rubbed the bulge in his pants, watching his face as she did so. It had been months since her husband died, months without any physical or emotional closeness. And she was starved for it.

Ilmeres pressed his hot lips to her neck and she gasped and squirmed against him. She felt hot, like the rags she wore were furs, and she was overcome with the sudden urge to tear them from her body.

He seemed to know exactly how she was feeling and turned to face her. Ilmeres slipped his hand under her skirt, cupped her rear and pulled her hips to his.

His erection pressed against her, she felt a rush of excitement and nervousness.

Her dead husbands face flashed in her mind.

She whimpered as his hands travelled over her hips, tugging lightly at the hem of her panties.

Ilmeres heard her and stopped. "I-I am sorry, I got carried away...please, forgive me!"

She touched his chest. "It's alright."

He continued like he had not heard her. "...I know you have not been with anyone since your husband...w-what I mean is, we do not have to do anything if you don't want to."

She rested her head under his chin. "I want to, I mean I really want to. I'm just nervous I suppose..."

Ilmeres touched her chin and urged her to look at him. "You said you loved me, but if you aren't sure yet...that is alright."

She kissed his chin. "I love you, and I am certain I want and desire you, I just want to go slow...is that alright?"

He chuckled, a sad smile on his face. "I would not dream of going anything to you that you do not want, we go at your pace my love..."

Ariella smiled and snuggled back into his arms. Live in the moment, she told herself, here and now with Ilmeres.

She kissed his chest, and after a short while she trailed her kisses lower.

Ilmeres lay still on the bed, allowing her to do as she will at the pace she was comfortable with.

Her lips hovering over his navel, she rubbed his bulge with her free hand. His hips rose slightly at her touch, but he brought them right back down.

Ariella leaned down and kissed his erection as it strained against the fabric of his trousers. He bit his lip and groaned.

She smiled, pleased with the sounds he was making, and continued to caress him painfully slow.

Ilmeres gripped the sheets at his sides until his knuckles went white. "Gods, Ariella!" He muttered through clenched teeth.

She slipped her fingers under the hem of his trousers and hesitated only a second before pulling them down. His erection sprung free from the confines of his pants and Ariella began touching him ever so lightly.

Her fingers felt like a feather being dragged over his skin and it was enough to drive a lesser man insane with pleasure and lust.

She gently wrapped her fingers around his shaft and began slow and gentle strokes. He was of sizable length and surprisingly thick, but beautiful and soft.

Ariella tugged his trousers lower and kissed the side of his shaft. She touched his stomach as she lowered her lips over the head of his cock, and felt the tension in his body.

She looked up, and their eyes met. She mouthed the words "I love you" right before taking him into her mouth.

She could taste the salt of his cum leaking from the tip of his cock and sucked greedily. She loved him and wanted to show him just how much. His hips jerked upwards and she lovingly held them down as she got comfortable between his legs. Pushing aside her nerves, she twirled her tongue around him, experimenting with various licks, sucks and strokes.

His voice was caught in his throat, but he managed to groan her name.

Ariella felt his fingers in her hair and felt proud that she was causing him such pleasure.

"S-S-Stop..."

Ariella stopped her sucking and looked up at him. He looked exhausted, like he had run from Bruma to Chorrol and back.

"Did I hurt you?" She asked, her nerves suddenly rushing back to her.

He struggled to sit up. "Gods, no! I-If you don't stop I'll..."

"You'll what?"

He averted his eyes, unable to look at her. "Make a mess..."

Ariella smiled and immediately brought her lips back to his cock. Ilmeres bucked and moaned incoherent pleas.

She could feel him go rigid in her mouth and pushed him into her until he touched the back of her throat. Ilmeres gasped, but no sound escaped him.

He spilled inside her and she hurried to swallow as more continued to seep from him.

Ilmeres gave a heavy sigh as she licked up the few drops of his cum she had missed. Ariella took her time cleaning him, thoroughly enjoying the sight of him spent and exhausted beneath her.

Finished, she covered him back up and laid beside him. She watched his chest rise and fall and lightly rubbed his side. "I love you..." She whispered.

Having regained some of his composure, he turned to her. "I love you too, Ariella, so much..."

He loomed over her, his smile reflecting his love and gratitude.

Ilmeres firmly kissed her sternum. "Now it is your turn, my love..."