Chapter Six: Ivarstead (Fridas, 12th of Hearthfire)
Ivarstead was a small village, similar in size to Riverwood though a bit more sprawled out. It was situated on a slope between the Darkwater River and Lake Geir in the shadow of the Throat of the World.
It had taken the two women a full day to travel there from Whiterun, and it had been a beautiful and fairly uneventful trip. The road followed along the White River for some time, through forests similar to those in Falkreath though a bit more sparse, as it traveled around the base of the great mountain. The foliage changed from a mostly coniferous forest to a decidious one after some time, the trees majorily of the birch variety, and their leaves already showing the faint yellow hues of the approaching autumn. They turned from the main road and followed a road through some mountains providing breathtaking vistas of the holds known as The Rift and Eastmarch, and Aela had pointed out the volcanic tundra that separated the two. Even from a distance, the steam from the hot springs could be seen rising over the rocky terrain, and seeing her friend's fascination with the alien landscape, she promised to take her there someday.
The sun was beginning to set as the two women tied their horses outside the Vilemyr Inn and made their way inside. The inn, very similar to those in Riverwood and Falkreath, was full of patrons, townsfolk who had quit their work for the day and a few hunters who frequented the area.
The innkeeper greeted them and introduced himself as Wilhelm. "Are you here to make the journey up the 7000 steps?" he asked.
"How did you know?" Aerenwen wondered.
"We don't get many visitors passing through town for any other reason," he replied. "Although, if you don't mind me saying, you don't look much like pilgrims."
Aela chuckled. "We're not pilgrims," she answered. "We're Companions, actually, though the trip to High Hrothgar is of a more personal nature."
"Companions!?" Wilhelm exclaimed. "Well, then, allow me to serve you each a drink on the house!"
The women thanked him and accepted the mead.
"We'd like a room for a few nights," Aela told him. "Three at least, possibly more."
Wilhelm nodded eagerly, obviously pleased to have the business. "Are you Aela the Huntress?" he asked.
"I am," she replied with a smirk.
"It's an honor to have you staying here, both of you, although I'm afraid I don't know your name," he said with a sheepish smile toward Aerenwen.
She chuckled. "I'm new," she explained, "to both the Companions and to Skyrim."
"This is certainly turning out to be an exciting few weeks here in this small town," the innkeeper boasted. "Companions staying here in Ivarstead, and why, just last month, we had a visitor stay in town for a few weeks, one of your kind, and she cured us all of our fear of the barrow at the edge of town. We were tricked to believe it was haunted. Turns out some treasure hunter made fools of us all, but Nesta set it straight and took care of him for us."
Aerenwen's eyes widened, and she interrupted the man as he continued to carry on about their visit. "Did you say Nesta?"
Wilhelm nodded. "Do you know her?"
"She's my sister," Aerenwen replied, her own excitement growing. "Is she here?"
The man frowned. "I'm afraid she left here just over a week ago. She was headed for Riften. You could probably find her there. Nice girl. Brave. A bit foolhardy. But eager to help and kindhearted. Why, most folks look down on poor Narfi, but she took him food and ate dinner with him almost every evening while she was here."
"Who's Narfi?" Aela asked.
"He's a man here in town," Wilhelm replied. "Simple. Something ain't right with him, but he was born that way. His family's all gone now, and he lives alone in their rundown cabin across the river, although Nesta paid to have some work done on it, so, far as I know, the roof ain't leaking no more."
"And you said she was headed to Riften when she left here?" Aerenwen confirmed.
Wilhelm nodded. "Aye. That's what she told us. Lynnly might know more. She's the bard here and helps around the inn as well. They were friends."
Aerenwen glanced across the room toward where an attractive blonde played a lute and quickly excused herself to go and talk with her. Aela paid Wilhelm for their room and some dinner and then followed after her.
"Oh, I do hope you find her," Lynnly was saying as Aela approached. "She was dreadfully worried about all of you. I'm not really sure what her plans were in Riften. She promised she'd come back for a visit before snow falls though, so if she hasn't seen you when she comes, I'll tell her you were here and that you can be found in Whiterun."
"Thank you, Lynnly," Aerenwen replied. She followed Aela to their room and, after shutting the door behind them, grinned broadly at her friend. "I can't believe it. Nesta! Here! You know what this means, don't you?"
"That we'll be taking a detour to Riften on our way home?" Aela asked with a chuckle.
Aerenwen frowned. "You don't mind, do you? I mean, we don't have to. I can come back after. I know you hadn't planned to be away that long."
Aela approached the other woman and placed her finger on her lips, silencing her. "Shush. You know I would do anything to help you find all your siblings. I will be right beside you as you follow this lead and any others you may get. They're important to you, so they're important to me as well."
Aerenwen sighed and wrapped her arms around the shorter woman's waist, burying her face in her hair and inhaling the scent she was growing so familiar with - outdoors, fire, and just Aela. "Have I ever told you how amazing you are?"
"Perhaps," Aela teased, "but you're welcome to tell me anytime you please."
Aerenwen chuckled and glanced around the room. "They only had the room with the double bed available as well?"
Aela bit her lip and looked guilty. "I may have requested it when given the choice of this or two separate rooms. I hope you don't mind. It was selfish of me, but those two nights in Falkreath, lying in your arms . . . I don't remember when last I slept that well. It's as if even the beast in me finds peace with you, and I would be lying if I said I didn't miss it these last few nights. I've missed your warmth, your scent . . . my arms have ached for this." She wrapped her arms tighter around Aerenwen and buried her face in the other woman's neck.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the same," the elf replied, and they stood like that, just holding one another in silence for some time.
Later, the two women lay in bed together wearing only their underclothes. They still hadn't crossed the line into full intimacy, but after a great deal of heated kissing and heavy petting, they'd found themselves relaxing in an embrace, Aerenwen lying on her back with Aela in her arms, her head rested on the other woman's golden-toned shoulder.
Aela absent-mindedly traced patterns on the flat expanse of Aerenwen's exposed stomach as the elf told her stories of all the trouble and exploits Nesta had gotten into at home.
"Tell me about Riften," Aerenwen said after a time.
"It's the capital of the Reach," Aela replied, "comparable in size to Whiterun, walled and built upon the edge of Lake Honrich with canals flowing through the city. The marketplace is one of the largest in Skyrim, and most of the city's business revolves around the Fishery and the Black-Briar Meadery. It's also home to Skyrim's orphanage and its branch of the Thieves Guild. Though rumor has it, they've been quite down on their luck. It isn't as safe as Whiterun, with the thieves and heavy involvement in the underground skooma trade. All in all, it could be a quaint little town, but with the corruption and dangers, I wouldn't want to call it home. The Jarl has allegiance to the Stormcloaks, but from what I hear, she's in Maven Black-Briar's pocket."
"Who is Maven Black-Briar?" Aerenwen asked.
"She owns Black-Briar Meadery and is Thane of the Rift," Aela replied. "Very influential, very rich. And rumor has it, she has friends everywhere, from the Empire to the Thieves Guild to the Stormcloaks and the Dark Brotherhood."
Aerenwen raised her eyebrows. She'd heard of the Dark Brotherhood, a group of assassins that was once prominent throughout Tamriel. They'd even taken credit for the assassination of an emperor once years before. "What could Nesta be doing there?"
Aela shrugged and continued her ministrations on the other woman's stomach, finding a ticklish spot as she circled Aerenwen's naval, causing the elf's abdominal muscles to contract and a slight gasp to escape her. "Could be she just went there because it's the largest city nearby. She may have been doing well here in Ivarstead, but there isn't much here. Definitely not a place to start over and make a life for herself. It would've been like you remaining in Riverwood and not continuing on to Whiterun."
Aerenwen nodded.
"But, I'll be frank, love," Aela continued, causing the other woman to smile slightly with the use of the pet name, "from what you've told me of Nesta, she's just the type the Thieves' Guild would recruit. Her skills would be beneficial to them, and it sounds like her proclivities would draw her to them as well. She may find herself a member if she's there too long."
Aerenwen began to argue but realized the huntress was right. That life of adventure, of living above the law and easy money would certainly appeal to her younger sister's rebellious streak.
"If that's the life she chooses, Aerenwen, you can't be too hard on her," Aela stated, raising her head slightly to meet the other woman's eyes. "We all travel different paths to success, and she's your sister. We may not see any honor in that lifestyle, but we can't dictate or understand the desires of others. Just as you are finding your success in Whiterun as a Companion, Nesta will find her own niche."
"You'll accept her either way?"
Aela smiled and placed a soft kiss on Aerenwen's lips. "I'm not going anywhere, Ren. Your family is my family now. I always wished I had siblings, and if I end up with a thief for a sister, I won't love her any less."
Aerenwen stared at Aela in silence for a few moments, her amber eyes gazing into the Nord's silver-green ones. She reached her hand up and caressed Aela's face, wondering what she would look like without the warpaint. Aela immediately reapplied it at Jorrvaskr after washing up and never removed it while out of the city, so she had still yet to see the other woman's face without the reddish-brown claw marks across it. "By the gods, I'm falling hard, Aela," she finally commented, so quietly that even as close as they were, the huntress had to strain to hear the words.
"I'll catch you if you catch me," she replied with a smirk.
They kissed then, and Aela's firm thigh found it's way between Aerenwen's applying just enough pressure to elicit a gasp of pleasure from the other woman. She kissed down the elf's jawline and sucked gently on the other woman's neck.
"Our first time," Aela stated softly, her mouth just centimeters from Aerenwen's ear, "will not be in an inn when we need to part ways the next morning. But I promise you, when it happens, and the way things are going, I suspect it will happen soon, I will make you feel so much pleasure, you'll have no idea of how you ever lacked interest in it in the past."
Aerenwen let out a strangled groan as Aela pressed her thigh down again and rolled it slightly, pressing their lips together and gently running her tongue across the elf's plump bottom lip. She'd never wanted anyone, or anything, the way she craved the Nord woman's touch, and she knew she was being teased to increase her desire.
"Aela, please," she begged, and she never begged.
"Soon, my love," Aela replied, removing the pressure from her thigh and placing a soft kiss on Aerenwen's opened mouth. "Soon, I promise."
She rolled onto her back and pulled Aerenwen on top of her, switching their positions, so the elf's head now rested on her shoulder, her deep red hair fanning out on the pillow behind her.
"Where did you tell the others you were going?" Aerenwen asked after some silence.
"Farkas knows exactly where I am," Aela replied, "and exactly what is going on between us," she added with a chuckle. "Everyone gives him a hard time for being a lout, but, in truth, I'm not certain I've ever met a man who reads people as well as he does. He's known from the start that we would be more than shield-siblings, and he's rooting for it. He cares for you deeply, and he's like a brother to me. I don't think he'll be satisfied until we're standing before an altar of Mara, pledging ourselves to one another."
Aerenwen laughed. "And the others?"
"I simply said I had a personal errand," she replied, "just as you did. Skjor, too, has picked up on what is going on between us, so I suspect he gathers we're together."
"Is he alright with it?" the elf asked, knowing just how much the older man's opinion meant to Aela.
"Aye," she replied. "That's part of the reason he sent you on that ridiculous, dangerous mission with Farkas. He saw what we could be but knows me well enough to know I would never pursue true intimacy without being completely open and honest with that person. He had hoped Farkas would have to let you in on the secret in a manner that didn't break his oath, which is exactly what happened, because he knew I never would break mine, but the guilt of secrecy would keep me away from you."
"Smart man," Aerenwen chuckled. "I think Kodlak suspects."
"Probably," Aela agreed. "He's very observant, as well, and his wife, somehow, has eyes all over Jorrvaskr. Although we've been rather discreet there, I know there is very little that goes on beneath that roof that Tilma isn't somehow privy to. I doubt any of the welps have picked up on it, though. Although I know they must be aware we are close, there's no reason yet for them to assume it's anything more than a friendship. And if it's alright with you, I would just as soon it stay that way until you are initiated into the Circle."
Aerenwen looked up suddenly, her amber eyes wide with shock. "I'm to become a member of the Circle?"
"That's the plan," Aela replied with a proud smile. "Skjor is very impressed with you. It's another reason he wished for you to know our secret. Because of the dissension amongst us right now about whether or not the beastblood is a curse or a blessing, he wanted you to have time to form your own opinions on the matter before the choice was given to you. You've impressed Kodlak as well, though he wasn't pleased with Skjor's methods. Farkas adores you, and even Vilkas has bregrudgingly begun to respect you. Obviously you have my vote. We all think you would make an excellent member of the Circle. And I suspect Skjor wishes to fill his space before he steps up as the next Harbinger, so he can offer his guidance in the field and not just at Jorrvaskr."
"Skjor will be the next Harbinger?"
Aela shrugged. "It makes the most sense. It's up to Kodlak, of course, who he chooses to pass the role on to. But Skjor has the most experience of all the active Companions, and the others already look to him for leadership more so than they do the rest of us."
"Do you think that will happen soon?" Aerenwen wondered. She traced a scar on Aela's abdomen with the fingers of her right hand.
"I'm not sure," she replied. "Kodlak is in good health, and he doesn't venture into the field much anymore, so his life isn't really in danger. I suspect he would do so more if it weren't for Tilma. The worry is too much for her in her advanced age. But it isn't entirely unheard of for a Harbinger to choose to retire. It's been done a few times before."
"Do Tilma and Kodlak have any children?" Aerenwen asked curiously.
"Two daughters and a son," Aela replied. "They don't visit often, having lives of their own now, but they grew up at Jorrvaskr. Balimund is the eldest. He's a blacksmith who runs his business out of Riften, actually, trained by Eorlund himself. Hillevi, the eldest daughter, married into the influential Cruel-Sea clan of Windhelm. They've a son and a daughter, though the daughter was killed during the summer. Bandits, I was told, though Kodlak and Tilma have been fairly quiet about the whole thing. Then there's Una, the youngest. She's a servant at the Blue Palace in Solitude."
"Is that something you would want?" Aerenwen asked quietly. "The whole altar of Mara thing you mentioned, a family?"
Aela was silent for a few moments before answering. "Honestly, I never thought I would. I didn't see myself wanting to settle down with anyone, but the only experience I had with that was watching my mother and father. Of course, they never found happiness because Pa wanted Ma to be something she wasn't. With you, I can see it. And actually catch myself thinking about it. You and I are cut from the same cloth, Ren, so I know you would never expect me to live a life I wasn't happy with, nor would I expect that from you. With you and Hamish . . . the damn fox . . . maybe other children who need a home if the time comes . . . I can see it. And it makes my heart happy to think about."
"Even with the difference in our aging?" Aerenwen pressed. "Right now, we're similar in age, but as the years progress, you know you will age faster than I will. I'll still be able to go out fighting when age has slowed you down."
"Does that bother you?" Aela asked with a frown.
"The thought of watching you die, of being left here without you afterward, yes, that bothers me," Aerenwen answered honestly, "but only because I've quickly come to already detest the idea of a life without you even if that ends up being the outcome."
"The way I see it," Aela replied, "with the lives we lead, who knows if either of us will live to old age, anyway. My mother didn't. My grandmother didn't. We'll meet our ends when fate sees fit, and if fate really has brought us together, which I truly believe it has, then perhaps our ends won't be so far apart after all."
Aerenwen kissed the other woman deeply after that and smiled, resting over the Nord, supporting her weight on her elbows and knees. "I take it the 'for now' period of our relationship is over."
Aela smirked but quickly grew serious again as she looked into the eyes of the elf who had stolen her heart. "I'm falling in love with you, Aerenwen, quickly and completely. I can't deny it, and I won't fight it. I am yours."
"And I am yours, Aela," the elf replied as they pulled each other closer for another kiss.