And I've finally completed chapter 21! Honestly couldn't wait to write this chapter as it is really a key part in the beginning of the story, along with giving you readers needed information. Speaking of which, if you guys still have any questions (I purposely left some stuff out so I would be able to use it later) please, please PM me. And not on just Ranar, but on anything that confuses you in the story. I won't hesitate to answer (unless its plot related and then I'm afraid I'm going to just have to tell you to stick around and wait and see). Hopefully this will fill in a few questions that have been needing answering and also throw another plot wrench into the mix (like I don't have enough of those). On a final note: to Worn Steel7, you wanted Ranar back (and so did I; just couldn't seem to get to him fast enough) so here's a whole chapter dedicated to him! And with that, please review.

"You're alive? But- but how? Did anyone else make it out?" I asked frantically, the questions practically flying out of my mouth.

Ranar held up his hands in surrender. "Whoa, easy there. One at a time." He put his hands down. "Besides, you might not like what I have to say." He whispered.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could get the words out, I felt a hard bump on my shoulder. "Hey!" yelled a couple who gave us dark looks.

"Sorry," I murmured half-sincerely and quickly looked back at Ranar. With only a moment's decision, I grabbed his wrist and led him out of the crowd to the set of stairs that Shade and I had sat on earlier. It was there that I faced him again. "I don't care if the news is good or bad. I've lived here in Skyrim for a year and a half and not once have I had any idea of what happened to the place where I spent fourteen years of my life. Ranar, please; I need to know."

Ranar took a deep breath. Whatever it was that he was going to tell me, it must be bad. "Cheydinhal is no more. The whole town was burned to the ground. There's nothing left." He said simply. My next intake of breath was sharp and seemed to stay in my throat, threatening to almost suffocate me. Cheydinhal's gone. My whole hometown, just blown right off the map. Or rather, burned off. I looked down at my feet, not able to meet the eyes of the Altmer standing next to me. It's my fault. They were after me and the whole town paid for it. No doubt anyone who survived will have blamed the whole thing on me, as well as they should.

"Mivryna." Came Ranar's voice through my thoughts, unusually kind and soft, his elven dialect turning my stomach in painful twists. Suddenly, Ranar's fingers brushed up against the bottom of my chin and gently pushed my head upward, forcing me to meet his eyes, which studied me worriedly. I felt tears start to threaten me and I quickly looked away, his hand moving away as I did so. But instead of going back to his side, I felt it go around to my back, where it rested there. Slowly he rubbed it up and down my back, sending my nerves on edge with each stroke and somehow managing to resume my breathing, which I seemed unable to release until now.

I rested my head against him and the two of us stood there until I had finally gotten control of myself. When I did, I took a step back and met Ranar's gaze with my own. He smiled, but it was weak and failed to lift my spirits. I felt something brush against my side and looked down to see Shade staring up at me, a pitying whine escaping her. I smiled down at her, but like Ranar's, it was weak and failed to achieve its goal.

"Hey, there." Said Ranar as he took note of Shade and reached down to pet her. "So you've the one keeping an eye on Mivryna here, huh? Is she a lot of trouble?" he asked playfully. Shade whined and moved her head to give him better reach as he scratched her behind the ear. I couldn't help but smile at that.

"Careful. Shade's just as smart as you." I warned, knowing all too well what would happen when someone misjudges the young shadow wolf.

"Really." Ranar said jokingly, looking at me. He looked down at Shade, who nodded in agreement. The Altmer's eyes widened in disbelief. "Well, I guess you were right. I'll make sure not to get on your bad side then." He said, looking from me to my wolf. Shade moved to the top of the steps, where she then sat down, looking at the two of us with what seemed to be the face of a fox.

Suddenly the music changed to a sort of ballad as Ranar's face lit up in recognition. The smile that came to his face made me feel like he had an idea that I knew I wouldn't like. "I know this song. Good to see that we aren't the only elves here tonight." He said, smiling down at me. An idea of what he was thinking came to mind, and suddenly I wished that the bards had just stuck to Nord songs. "Mivryna, would you care to dance?" he asked in a gentleman-like voice. At that moment I felt my cheeks heat up and was sure that they were red.

"I-I I don't know how to dance." I said, my voice breaking. For once, couldn't my parents have taught me something other than casting a spell or swinging a sword? Not that that hasn't been helpful…

Ranar gave a small laugh, though the tone wasn't scornful or mocking; in fact, it seemed playful. "Well, it's a good thing I do. Don't worry; I won't let you fall. In fact, this one is pretty basic. It should be easy to learn." He said, gently grabbing my arm and leading me to the dance floor. Once there, he set me a few paces apart.

"OK, now you place your hand here." He said, taking my left hand and placing it on his shoulder. He then placed his right hand along my side, his touch making me jump a little. "Relax. I'm not going to bite." He said into my ear. He then leaned back to get a better look at me. "All right. Now we take our hands like this…" he said as he took my right hand in his left, holding it firmly, but not hard enough to hurt. "And we step closer…" he said as he closed the gap between us, making it where I could hear every intake of his breath, which somehow made mine come shorter and faster as I looked up into his eyes.

"Don't be so nervous." Said Ranar calmly. Easy for him to say! He's done this before! I thought as Ranar continued. "Now for the actual dancing. First, you step back." He said, and quickly I backed up as he followed my step. "Don't be so stiff. Loosen up a little. This is a slow dance, so don't move like you're jumping out of the way of a sword or something."

Ranar had meant it as a joke, but he didn't know the truth; that dodging a sword or an arrow had seemed to become my whole life. "Normally, I am." I said, my voice calm. Ranar's shoulders tensed, and for good reason; after being on the run for so long, the whole thing tends to take a toll on you. Not even I could tell what had happened to the fourteen year old me who had cried her heart out because her childhood friend was moving away.

"Let's try it again, but now in the opposite direction." Said Ranar, who ignored my comment, and he lightly stepped back and I followed him, this time slower and actually using my elven grace. "Much better. How about we try it a few more times?" We did, and by the second time, I was actually starting to get it. If this is all there is to this dance, then I'm golden.

"Alright, you seem to have the most basic steps down. Think you can handle adding a little variety?" he asked. Crud. Naturally, things are never as easy as you wish them to.

"What do you have in mind?" I said, after trying to find my voice for a moment. Ranar's eyes seemed to twinkle like stars as he shifted his weight. Suddenly, he drew me in closer, making our faces just a few inches apart. He curled our arms in a way that reminded me of a snake coiled and ready to strike.

"I'm going to spin you, alright?" he asked, but before I could answer, I felt myself pushed outward, the world moving around me as I twirled away from him at a speed that made me breathless. When I finally stopped, I was an arm's length away from him. I looked down my arm and met his eyes and suddenly wished I hadn't. He looks at me the same way Malcolm did, except that his is kinder, genuine in fact. Ranar really means it. He really cares for me. As those thoughts floated through my mind, a tightening feeling rose from my stomach to my chest, making my breath become quick and shallow.

Just as quickly as the first feeling came, apprehension formed in my gut, causing a pain that almost made me gasp. Ranar really cares for me. And in my life, people who really care for me end up dying when it should have been me. When I should have been the one to get hurt, somehow it always ends up being some else. Someone I care about. Ranar pulled me in, twirling me as I reentered his embrace. Up close, Ranar smelled of soap, but, with him being a swordsman, that probably wasn't usually the case. "How was that?" he asked, his voice sweet and warm. Oh gods. My mind begged. Don't do this to me.

"That was amazing." I breathed, forcing my thoughts to remember the fast, weightless feeling of flying through the air, but it was quickly overrun by more morbid thoughts. One day, he'll take a dagger that was meant for you. Do you really want to do that to someone you care about a third time? First it was your parents, then Nirya, and now you want it to be Ranar? How can you live with yourself? My mind battered at me. I can't was the only answer I could give.

"Mivryna? Is something wrong?" he asked as we continued dancing, and I knew that I had to look pathetic because the moment Ranar saw my face, he took his hand away from my side and laid it against the side of my face, brushing my hair out of my eyes. "Mivryna, please, tell me. What has you so upset?" You can't tell him. He won't believe you.

I remembered our conversation from before and decided to use it as a distraction. "How many people survived the fire?" I asked. In truth, it wasn't really what was bothering me, but it was something that I needed to know. How many people died so I could escape?

Ranar flinched. He really didn't want to go back to this. "Mivryna, this isn't really the time. Besides, the news will only upset you." He said, his voice quiet and low.

I shook my head. "I need to know, Ranar. Besides, if not now, then when? This was my hometown we're talking about! Where I grew up, the only place I've known until coming here. And even now, I still don't really belong anywhere. Cheydinhal was my home. I should at least be allowed to know its fate. And that of everyone else's." I argued, my voice pleading. Stop hiding the truth just to spare my feelings! I have enough mysteries in my life! I don't need anymore!

Ranar sighed. "You're right. I just…" He shook his head in an attempt to find the words. "I just don't want see you hurt." I said forcibly, as if saying this was the hardest thing he'd done. He put his head against mine, so that I could feel his warmth against me. "I can't stand the thought of hurting you." He said, so low that I nearly missed it. He isn't making this easy.

I swallowed hard. "You can't hurt me. Not like this, anyway." I said just as quietly. The only way you can hurt me is if I let you whispered my voice through my mind.

The moment that laid in between seemed so still that I swear I could hear my heartbeat and, for a moment, everyone else could too. Then, "After I made sure that you had gotten away safely, I went back inside to see if I could get anyone else out." He said, his voice only loud enough for me to hear. "But the fire… the fire burned so hot, it utterly destroyed anything it touched. Even stone and metal." He said, his voice shocked at the memory. I flinched underneath him.

"It was magic. They used magic to set the fire." I said.

"Yeah, that became obvious. Once the fire caught a house in its grasp, the whole place was ablaze within seconds. And so did anyone unlucky enough to be trapped by that thing."

"So how many were unlucky?" I asked, my voice a whisper.

Ranar pressed his head against mine as he breathed hard. "Everyone. Everyone except three." He said, his voice filled with sorrow.

For the first few minutes, I struggled to control my breathing. Everyone! Nobody made it out of there alive! Except for three. And those would be me, Ranar, and… "Ranar?" I asked quietly, fighting the urge to burst into tears.

He already knew my question. And I already knew his answer. "Malcolm. He managed to make it out."

My heart truly just skipped a beat for a moment. "H-how?" Whatever question I was going to add was caught in my voice. Even my mind couldn't seem to finish a single thought. Malcolm is alive. And if Ranar's here, then he could be…

"I don't know. Honestly, I thought I killed him with that tree branch that night." When he glanced at me (my face had to be as white as bone), he assured me, "Don't worry, Malcolm isn't in Skyrim. He stayed in Cyrodiil, headed for the Imperial City. Probably to blame the fire on you, though." He said, the last part grudgingly. "The last I heard, he was going to follow in his father's footsteps; become a member of the Thalmor."

"I wouldn't doubt that they accepted him. After all, his father was one of them."

"And once he does, he'll make it his personal mission to track you down." He said.

"Well, it's been a year and a half and I'm still here." I said defensively; an attempt to try and act brave but was merely a front. Inside, I wanted to run to some unknown cave miles from any civilization and hide in its darkest corners forever. But I learned hiding never helped anyone; it only made it worse.

"His father's favor will only help him so much. And only the truly ambitious manage to reach the level he wants to go." Said Ranar.

"And Malcolm has that ambition. He chased after me, didn't he?" I said. Ranar made a noise of agreement. For a while, we just danced in silence, going back and forth, back and forth, continuing even after the song ended and a new one took its place. Ranar knew this one as well and soon the two of us took up another dance, this one more upbeat and more complicated, but after a few minutes, I was easily keeping time with my dance partner, matching his step with my own.

After the song had ended, Ranar led me out of the courtyard and down to where the merchants had step up shop. After buying a meal for the two of us, we walked a bit a ways from the festival and ate, enjoying the night in companionable silence.

It was only when we had nearly finished did I break the quiet. "Ranar, why did you come to Skyrim?" I asked after trying to find another question, but failing.

Ranar swallowed what he was eating before saying, "My father was in the Imperial Legion. Fought in the Great War, in fact. I was always proud of him, so I followed in his footsteps. After Cheydinhal burned, I, not unlike Malcolm, went to the Imperial City and joined up. The Empire figured that, being partly raised in a family of the Thalmor, I might be a great help. That and they remembered my father and were overjoyed to have his son on board," he turned to look at me, "A little bit after being recruited, they sent me here to Skyrim. I wish I had known you were here too. I was actually trying to find a way to be sent back to Cryodiil in order to look for you." He said slightly cheerfully, but I could tell that his voice was bittersweet. He must have lost his father. That would explain why he got stuck with Edwendir and them my mind told me as I absorbed this new information. For the longest time, I had thought that Ranar was just as stuck up as the rest of his family. But, then again, I also thought he and Malcolm were brothers. And he tried to go looking for you.

"Your father was important to the Legion?" I asked, catching on.

Ranar smiled fondly when he looked at me then. "Yeah, he was a Legate during the war. He quit after I born though."

"Why?" I asked. "Why didn't he stay with the Legion? Couldn't your mother take care of you?"

Ranar shook his head. "My birth was hard on her. A few months later she got sick and died during my first winter." He said, his voice pained. "I never got know her."

I put a hand on his shoulder and he looked at me. "They say ignorance is bliss. And they're right. It's better that you didn't know your mother. Otherwise, all your good memories of her will just remind you of her death." I said, tears coming to my eyes. Seeing that, Ranar reached up and brushed them away gently with his thumb. I laid my head on his shoulder as he draped an arm around me.

"We're both orphans now." Said Ranar. "For better or for worse."

"More like worse." I said melancholy. I glanced up and watched as a drunken couple walked by, singing and laughing as they tripped over each other. I smiled slightly as Ranar laughed quietly to himself at the sight.

"You know, this is supposed to be a happy celebration and we're here moping about the past. C'mon, how about we go and actually have some fun. That was the whole reason I went up to you."

I laughed. "Oh really. You sure it wasn't because you were looking for me?" I teased, and Ranar smiled slyly. Unfortunately, the Altmer could be just as cruel because he quickly reached around me and tickled my far side, forcing me into him and his other hand. I was quickly caught in his grasp as he used one arm to tickle my stomach and the other to hold me close to him, causing me to laugh and squirm until I was out of breath and my side hurt and I had to smack him hard in the arm to get him to stop.

I looked up at him then and found myself smiling happily to myself, completely caught in his warm golden eyes. "Would you care to dance?" he asked.

"I'd be delighted." I answered. As one, we got up from the steps of the house (whose owner I would not doubt was probably drunk or passed out somewhere) we sat on and returned back to the courtyard, where another ballad was being played. I spent the rest of the night in Ranar's arms, the two of us dancing away song after song. At one point, I spotted Alyssa drinking a bottle of spiced wine next to Shade, who just grinned at us happily.

You're going to hurt him. My mind whispered to me. This is wrong. I laid my head against Ranar's chest, who had moved his hand to rest in between my shoulders. I really care for him. I thought. Perhaps just as much as he cares for me. Yeah, and if you really care for him, you won't let him get involved with you. Because it's bad for his health. My guarded Dunmer side warned me. But for once the naïve Altmer in me decided to put a fight. Just one night. Just give me one night to be truly happy. That's all. The Dunmer in me argued but finally gave in to the Altmer's begging. But it wasn't done. One night. But after that, we return to the real world. The world where people you love get hurt because you let your feelings get the better of you. A world that's cold and you have to be even colder. The Altmer begrudging agreed. For one, that was the side of me that kept me alive. And from being broken. I closed my eyes as I slowly breathed in and out, and for once in what seemed like a century, I enjoyed the company of another.

I don't really remember the final moments of that night. All I really remember was Ranar stroking my hair as we danced, and sometimes, rarely, the semi consciousness of my mind gives a second memory. In it, Ranar is walking down the street down to the rows of houses, carrying me in his arms.