I actually updated as I'd planned?! OH GOD THE WORLD'S ENDING.
Smut in this chapter. :3 Yay. OH! And Odahviing! But only a bit part, it's not time for his big role yet.
To Nhaiw: Thanks! I've always liked a love/hate kinda thing. It's like they can't go two days without fighting or, well….
To Nightfangfox: You're reviewing on mobile. You're a better person than be for that reason alone. And I love that quote!
To : He could turn ye into a goat, or a puddle, or a bad idea…. *read in cheesy Scottish accent mixed with my own Southern drawl*
Alduin was still angry as he sat in an alcove of Skuldafn, staring out of a stone window. Though, after taking a few hours to think about it, he realized that it wasn't his Dragonborn he was upset with. True, dealing with Daedra was never a good decision, and she had omitted an important fact about herself. But, at the mention of Hermaeus Mora, his rage had flowed from one Dragonborn to another.
From this perspective, and with a dovah's sight, he could make out the shoreline of one of his least favorite places on Nirn: Solstheim. It had changed quite a bit since he'd last seen it: What had once been a mixture of Skyrim's icy landscapes and Morrowind's strange flora, was now an endless wasteland of matte gray ash. He hadn't ventured close in the time he'd been back; he'd had much more important things on his mind. But, after the Dragonborn's revelations, his concerns were at the forefront of his mind.
'Miraak,' he thought venomously. 'Fin tahrodiis aar. Zu fentaan losluvaan fin sil nol ok kopran.' ['The treacherous slave. I should have torn the soul from his body.']
He hadn't known, the first time he'd laid eyes on his priest, that this was the first of the Dragonborn. There had been something…different about him, of course. He was the most powerful mortal that Alduin had ever seen, until he'd met his own Dovahkiin. Still, he knew that the Nord would be the only joor [mortal] that would pose a true challenge for Brett. But that was something that he was certain would not ever happen: The snake had disappeared before the dovah's defeat at the Monahven.
Miraak had been a trusted priest, and a particularly clever, if cruel, ruler. Alduin had given him control of the entirety of Solstheim to govern, and he'd done well. A large and secure temple had been built on the center of the island, and he'd quickly turned the untamed wilderness into a small kingdom. The World-Eater had made few trips there, but could well remember the sight of the temple, the stone arches stretching into the sky. A quick walk around the grounds, a few words of praise, and Alduin left, leaving a few of his dragons to help marshal the mortal slaves.
The word that Miraak had turned on his thurre [overlords] had infuriated him. It was bad enough to learn that a mortal was killing his dovahhe [dragons], but to learn that their souls had been lost to him drove him to a level of anger he'd never experienced before or since. He'd ordered his dragons to raze Miraak's temple to the ground. In the ensuing chaos, the traitor had disappeared. It was only after examining the rubble that he had realized that, while Miraak had outwardly been worshipping him, he had been truly loyal to Hermaeus Mora.
"Drog Alduin," ["Lord Alduin,"] came a drawling, familiar voice. "Hi laanaan maari?" ["You wanted myself?"]
He looked up. Standing a few feet away was a familiar figure, in deep red robes with a shock of bright crimson hair and small beard. Alduin smiled, and clapped him on the shoulder in a friendly fashion.
"Odahviing," he said, smiling. "Ni lostaan kosaan aan lingrah tiid, fahdoni" ["It has been a long time, my friend."]
"Geh, ni lostaan," ["Yes, it has,"] he agreed. "Ni los pruzah wah koraav hi." ["It is good to see you."]
His smile fell as he remembered what he was asking of the sahqo dovah [red dragon]. "Zu fenaan med wah tinvaak, wuth fahdon, nuz Zu lost aan uth fah hi." ["I would like to speak, old friend, but I have a command for you."]
"Ruz ni fen kos ful," ["Then it shall be so,"] he answered crisply. "Ofan fin uth, drogi, ahrk Zu fen koraav ni zeim." "Give the order, my lord, and I will see it through."
"Wundun wah Solstheim," ["Travel to Solstheim,"] Alduin said. "Ahrk yah voko Miraaki rahdein." ["And seek out Miraak's temple."]
Odahviing nodded. "Ahrk ruz?" ["And then?"]
"Ag ni wah fin golt. Pah do ni." ["Burn it to the ground. All of it."]
Brett wasn't sure how long had passed since Alduin's attack. It had taken a while for her to gather the energy to haul herself back into bed, trying the entire time not to move too quickly or breathe too heavily. After that, she had drifted in and out of sleep, occasionally waking to sharp jolts in her side. When she woke for the final time, it was dark outside again. She was still groggy from sleep, she felt someone carefully pulling her upright. Before she could open her eyes, she felt a glass bottle pressed against her lips.
"Drink this, Dovahkiin," Alduin said, his voice softer than she had expected. She wasn't given a choice: He tilted the bottle, and the bitter taste of a healing potion entered her mouth. With the only other option being choking, she drank. It tingled in her stomach, and a warmth spread through her. It wasn't the same heat as the moon sugar; it was a pleasant heat. She felt her ribs mending themselves.
He pulled the bottle away only when it was empty. She coughed briefly, and touched her sides carefully. "Th-thank you," she said hoarsely.
He stroked her face. "You are welcome," he said. After a moment, he was continued. "Have you learned your lesson?"
She nodded. "Geh." ["Yes."]
"Good girl," he said, leaning in and pressing a kiss on her forehead. When he pulled away, he studied her. "You have blood on your face, mal gein," [little one,"] –he stood, and took her hand- "Come with me."
Still barely awake, she let him lead her forward. For the first time in a long time, she was lead through the door of Alduin's bedchamber. This alone surprised her: After his outburst, she'd been afraid that she'd never escape those walls again. The hallway was empty, though there were guards at the far end. She couldn't help but wonder if Alduin had prearranged this.
"Alduin-?"
"Hush," he said, taking a turn. "We'll talk when we get there."
"Where?"
"Hi fen koraav." ["You will see."]
She knew that he wouldn't elaborate on what he'd said, so let it go. She'd had more than enough of his rage for one day; she didn't want to invite more. Just out of sight of the bedchamber door, he turned a corner and pulled her into another doorway, which had been blocked with a thick curtain.
It took Brett a moment to realize that they were in a dark, steamy stone room. There were no windows to let in light, just a few candles and a dim chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The room smelled good, like the expensive oils from Hammerfell she'd once found in a ransacked cart. In the center of the room was a large, shimmering pool of water that was giving off vapor.
It was a bath.
She almost cried in relief. Even before her captivity, warm baths had been a luxury she could rarely enjoy. Most of the time, she was forced to dunk herself in Skyrim's freezing rivers. At Skuldafn, she'd been provided a pitcher and basin. But this….
Lips moved over her neck, very gently. Alduin reached around and loosed the laces of her nightshirt. Petting and nipping teasingly, he peeled her out of her clothes, then slipped out of his own. Placing one more soft kiss on her lips, he led her into the water. It was warm, and felt good on her skin. Her muscles relaxed, and she let out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. The water in the center of the pool was deep, up to her shoulders.
Alduin's hand brushed across her face, startling her, until she realized that he was wiping away the dried blood. Looking down, she saw that his hand was streaked in the rusty color. he ran his thumb over her cheek in a small circle.
"Much better," he said, more to himself than to her. He stroked her hair, then paused. "There's some in your hair."
"I can-"
"Niid," ["No,"] he said. "I take care of my pets myself, mal gein," [little one,"] –he kissed her, deeper this time- "Lean back."
She did as he said, leaning back against him. Her hair spread out around them both like ink, though she could make out a few streaks of carmine. His hands massaged through her hair, working the water down until it reached her scalp. It took a while, but he managed to work all of the dried blood out of her hair.
"There we are," he said, letting out a small growl as he held her tight. She was pressed flush against him, with his chin resting on the crown of her head. "You smell good."
She was quiet for a few moments. "You…aren't angry anymore?"
"Nii ahst hi," ["Not at you,"] –he turned her to look at him- "Meyz wah hin drog, Dovahkiin." ["Come to your lord, Dragonborn."]
He kissed her passionately, almost drawing the breath from her lungs. His hands trailed down her back to her bottom. When he pulled away from the kiss, a slight smile was curling his lips.
"I told you, mal joor, [little mortal,] that I would teach you, geh?" [yes?"]
She nodded, breathless. "Yes."
He rested his forehead against hers. "I can't think of a better time."
Brett looked up, a nervous blush coming over her face. She tried to say something, but nothing would come out. He chuckled in response, and kissed her.
"Don't fret, dear one," he said softly. "Just do as I say."
He took her trembling hand in his. He kissed the back of her hand, almost gentlemanly in a mocking way. His mouth moved up her arm, over her shoulder, across the curve of her neck and jaw, before finally settling on her own. He drew her hand down beneath the water; even when she jolted, he didn't hesitate.
Alduin guided her fingers around him. Slowly, he worked her hand up his length, then back down. He changed her grip a bit, adjusted her grip, still guiding her.
"Med tol, mal gein," ["Like that, little one,"] he said, ducking down to bite at her ear.
His hand left hers and deftly slipped between her own thighs. She let out a moan, and her ministrations faltered for a moment. Still, she quickly picked back up, even as his keen digits moved over her most sensitive areas. Slowly, then quicker. It became difficult to do as he wanted her to; she wanted to just curl into him and let him continue. He pulled her into a kiss so suddenly that their teeth clicked.
"Come here, Dovahkiin," he said, his voice low and husky. "Zu laan hi. Nu." ["I want you. Now."]
Taking her by the backs of her thighs, he picked her up so that she had to wrap her legs around him. Carefully, he guided himself into her, eliciting a shudder from her.
"It's your turn now, mal joori," [my little mortal,"] he breathed into her ear. When Brett seemed a little nervous, he stroked the small of her back. "Just do what feels right, precious one."
Still uncertain, she rolled her hips. It felt good, but she had absolutely no idea if she was doing it right. Breathing heavily, Alduin wordlessly urged her onward. She moved again, and again. After a few good moments like that, she was more at ease, and was moving faster. The water helped, making her movement easier. For the first time, she was able to manipulate him to do what she wanted, coiling that familiar spring tighter of her own accord.
The tension in her core finally came undone. Through her own cries, she could hear her lover's moans in her ear. He held her tightly, as if she made up the entire world. When they were both relaxed, leaning into each other, he smiled and kissed her gently.
"You are a quick learner, Dovahkiin."