Chapter 29


A/N: Watch out, I've got a ton of pre-written chapters for this story, I'll try to update once or twice a week. Thanks for reading :)


The other couple collapsed on a bed in some room not far from Jane's, and Nazgurat held Lynne close in his arms; trembling from exhaustion.

"That was terrifying," Lynne whispered, gripping the back of his shirt.

"I kept thinking it could have been you that happened to…" Nazgurat's voice faltered, and he sobbed quietly, angry with himself for letting his emotions overcome him.

"I wish it had," Lynne replied quietly. "Jane…she's so much younger than I, if her arm can't function…"

"It will."

"I hope so," Lynne sighed, closing her eyes. They fell asleep within minutes, and all four of the travelers slept for many hours, through the night and well into the afternoon the next day.

A throbbing pain in her arm awakened Jane, and she gasped out loud, reaching up to touch the bandages. Bo heard her, and quickly sat up, asking her what was wrong, rubbing his weary eyes.

"I don't know…fuck!" Jane groaned, as a fiery bolt of pain shot up from her fingertips to her shoulder.

"I'll go get Lynne," Bo replied, getting up from the bed. He rushed out into the hall and seeing the nearest Greybeard, asked him where Lynne was staying. The man pointed to the door three rooms down from them, and he ran up to it, knocking urgently. Lynne opened the door and stepped out, forcing Bo to back up.

"What's wrong?" She asked sleepily, but her eyes were alert.

"Jane is in pain, her arm…she swore."

"Jane swore?" Lynne asked, following Bo back to where Jane now squirmed uncomfortably in her bed, pulling at the bandages.

"It burns again," she whimpered. She had breathing quickly, and was cool to the touch as well as drenched in sweat.

Lynne gently unwrapped the bandages, inspecting the damage, trying to see where the source of the pain was coming from.

"I…I don't know what's happening. Whatever it is, it's internal."

"Fuck!" Jane yelled, and she began to scratch at her arm.

"Jane no!" Lynne cried, and Bo quickly rushed forward and pulled her arm back.

Then the pain vanished, and Jane stopped struggling. She was gasping for breath like she had just run a marathon, but when Lynne checked her over, said things looked normal.

"Have you tried moving your arm?" Lynne inquired, looking down at the limb.

"No, I was sleeping until…until the pain woke me up."

"Do you want to try?"

"Yes."

Jane looked at her shoulder for the first time, since the first time she woke up it had been all wrapped up. Four puncture wounds dotted her skin, and the scars ran upwards, showing how the troll had literally tried to rip her flesh off. It dipped slightly and her shoulder wasn't the same shape anymore, marred by the great ugly red scars. She breathed in slowly, and wiggled her fingers, and then her hand, lifting it off the blanket and then back down. Slowly, she lifted her arm, feeling the muscles clench tightly together in her shoulder, and she let it fall back down, huffing.

"Jane that was incredible!" Lynne exclaimed, rushing forward to kiss the girl's forehead. "Easy Jane, easy," she commanded, as Jane attempted to lift her arm once again.

"It will take time, love, do not push it. Bit by bit we will get it working again."

"Okay," Jane whispered, leaving her arm on the bed. It left her feeling as though her left arm had done a thousand push-ups, and it was an uncomfortable new feeling. She gently ran her fingers over the puckered flesh and shuddered, pulling her hand back. She was going to have to get used to these foreign feelings.


Over the course of a week Jane slowly regained the use of her arm, although it tired much more quickly, and she couldn't do stressing things for very long. Bo stayed with Jane in her room, hungrily stealing kisses from her when he could, and Lynne and Nazgurat would come and stay with them for their meals. Bo had not told Jane he hadn't talked to the Greybeards yet; they probably didn't know the supposed Dragonborn had arrived, since he figured they weren't expecting an Orc.

"How did your conversation go with the Greybeards?" Jane asked once evening, stroking his bicep while he lay beside her.

"Oh. I uh…"

"You haven't spoken to them yet." Jane had a suspicion Bo hadn't, but now she knew it to be true.

"No. I will, I promise…" Bo sighed, looking down at her. "Will you come with me? I'll do it tomorrow."

"Of course I will," Jane replied soothingly, leaning forward to kiss the Orsimer, who growled happily.

Arngeir was a friendly and wise Greybeard, and he greeted the couple as they approached.

"I am glad you are feeling better Jane, you gave us quite a scare."

"Thank you," Jane replied, smiling at him. "I really appreciate all you've done for me. For us." Jane squeezed Bo's hand, feeling it start to sweat as he became increasingly more nervous.

"Is there something you need?" Arngeir asked, placing his book down on the table beside his chair.

"Uh…well, you called me," Bo muttered, staring down at the floor.

"You are the Dragonborn." Arngeir's voice was not harsh; he spoke like it was just a simple fact.

"Yeah, surprise."

"I am not one to judge, Bo Gro Graul," Arngeir replied kindly, standing up. "An Orsimer as Dragonborn is interesting, but you will never be judged by myself or any other Greybeard."

"Thank you," Bo looked at the man, comforted by his words.

"If you will follow me, there are many things to discuss."

"I will go back to my room Bo," Jane squeezed his hand one last time and reached up to kiss his cheek. "See you later."

Jane knew what Bo would be doing while he was with the Greybeards, learning about his new role and about his shouting abilities. She sat in her room with a book Lynne had let her borrow, trying to focus on reading but her thoughts wandered elsewhere. Jane's arm still ached every so often, but she had learned to ignore it, until she never knew it was there unless she consciously thought of it.

Her thoughts conflicted with one another, she wanted so desperately to help Bo, but she was unsure of how to go about doing it, and if some things might cause him more suffering. In the end she decided to speak with Arngeir in private and get his opinion on the matter. With that resolution, she turned back to her book and was able to read several chapters before Bo returned from his lessons.

Bo came back to Jane around suppertime, his face unreadable. Jane allowed him some moments to breathe before asking him how it went.

"It was…interesting."

"What did they do?"

"Told me how to use my shouts, harness my Thu'um. They taught me a few as well, and I practiced them."

"That sounds amazing," Jane replied, pulling the Orsimer down to her level so she could kiss him. Each kiss still felt as magical as the first, and Bo couldn't hide a smile from her each time she surprised him with one.

"I'm going to go see Lynne, I'd like to talk to her. Will you tell me more when I get back?"

Jane wasn't lying entirely, she did want to speak to Lynne, but she was going to Arngeir first.

"Okay," Bo replied, stealing a kiss from her before Jane slipped out of the room. Jane smiled to herself as she closed the door, feeling incredibly lucky that Bo had finally gotten over his nerves and kissed her. His kisses were so sweet and tender; something she honestly wouldn't have thought an Orc could be so damn good at; she craved them all the time. And Bo was no different; he always longed to feel her soft rosy lips, and he felt like the longing was greater now that he knew what it felt like to be so intimate with her.

Jane made her way down to Lynne and Nazgurat's room, knocking quietly; thinking to herself with a small snort that she didn't want to walk in on anything private.

"Come in," Lynne called, and Jane stepped into the room, greeting the couple.

"Do you think I could uh…" She trailed off, noticing Lynne's shirt was rumpled, and Nazgurat's breeches were untied.

"Did I interrupt something?" Jane felt awkward, and wished to leave.

"No! No…I mean…it can wait." Lynne replied quickly, glancing over at Nazgurat, who hastily tied up his strings.

She followed Jane down out into the hall and down the dark hallway until she felt it was far enough out of Orc hearing.

"What did you wish to talk about?" Lynne inquired, facing Jane.

"I wanted to speak with you, but first I wanted to find Arngeir. I think… well I wish to ask him something, but I don't think Bo will like what I wish to do. So can you go somewhere in case Bo comes to your room before I get back? He thinks I am only speaking with you right now."

"Sure…" Lynne replied, curious as to what was going on in Jane's mind. "I'll go to the kitchens, and see if I can help with anything. Come find me when you're done."

"Thank you so much Lynne," Jane whispered, hugging her.

It was easy to find Arngeir, as he greeted her first. The Greybeards looked quite similar to one another, with their actual grey beards, and dark blue robes.

"Jane," Arngeir spoke. He gestured for her to take a seat. "You have questions." He spoke like he knew why Jane was seeking a conversation with him.

"I do," Jane replied, sitting down. "I take it you're knowledgeable in many things, and probably have a sense of Bo's personality."

"He is a very interesting Orsimer, very…sensitive; intuitive. I like his character."

"So do I," Jane whispered. "But he…has many uncertainties, especially involving all this Dragonborn business."

"I sense he has some fears of what lies ahead."

"He is very frightened, he wishes it were somebody else. What I was wondering is…and I know this sounds terrible because of Ulfric Stormcloak…can you teach me the words of power?"

"You wish to be able to shout like Bo, so that he doesn't feel alone in this journey."

"Yes, exactly." Jane wrung her hands nervously; worried that Arngeir would be angry.

"I sense something in you," he replied softly, staring at Jane with kind blue eyes. "There is…a whisper. Similar to what I can feel from Bo Gro Graul although not as vivid. But it's just below the surface, untouchable."

"What?" Jane asked, confused by his cryptic words. "Like…the dragonblood?"

"Something like that, yes. Being Dragonborn is much more complicated than blood alone, but I am not certain.

Jane's heart was racing, could she really be a Dragonborn? Her skin tingled with anticipation, and she leaned forward.

"And how do we see if I am a Dragonborn?"

"Well, now that is hard to say. It will be a wonderful thing indeed if my intuition is correct. To have a second Dragonborn join the fight against Alduin the World Eater would be very beneficial. This is only a speculation, and I cannot guarantee it will work, but do you know how Bo Gro Graul came to discover his gift?"

"Alduin burned down Helgen and roared at him," Jane repeated, a sense of hopelessness starting to settle in. She had not been at Helgen for that event, and so she had not encountered Alduin.

"That's right. I may be completely wrong…but if you were to find Alduin, and killing him is not an option right now; he's too powerful…perhaps the Dragonblood within you will surface. Like I said before, I cannot say for sure. This is all an educated guess."

"That is very interesting…" Jane replied quietly, knowing there would be no way of finding Alduin without Bo's help, meaning he would have to know about Jane's plans.

"Jane?"

Jane's head snapped up, her eyes widening as they landed on Bo.

"Jane what are you doing?" He asked, coming over to her and Arngeir.

"Bo I can explain…"

"You're talking to Arngeir behind my back." Bo frowned, feeling confused that she would do such a thing, and also feeling hurt that she felt the need to lie to him.

"I'm sorry Bo!" Jane stood up, reaching out to Bo, but he backed away from her.

"Tell me what you were talking about," he replied, crossing his arms.

Jane sighed, looking down at the floor.

"I…wanted to learn the words of power so that I could help you, and so you wouldn't feel alone."

"You what? No…no! That is not happening!"

"But Bo listen to me…"

"This MY burden to bear, and I will do it alone!" Bo roared, his body trembling.

"Bo Gro Graul," Arngeir replied gently, his voice cool and soothing. "Jane may also be Dragonborn."

Bo was completely dumbfounded. He took a step back like he had been struck.

"That is…no…NO!" He roared, pointing a finger at Arngeir. "What have you told her? I will not let someone suffer like I have been! You do not understand what it is like to have this…this curse inside you! Especially my Jane…" Bo's voice broke off, and he let out a sob.

"Bo…" Jane stepped towards the upset Orc and took his hand. "I want to do this. It is not coincidence that brought you across my path that day you found me in the Rift. Think about it Bo, two Dragonborns who know each other closely? And how long has it been since there was last a Dragonborn at all? It is fate."

"Screw fate," He muttered, dragging a hand through his hair.

"No, Bo. If I am Dragonborn, then that's an even greater chance at defeating Alduin; and saving Skyrim."

Bo huffed, feeling overwhelmed.

"What…must we do?"

"Now, don't freak out, but Arngeir thinks that if I find Alduin he will awaken the blood within me, like he did with you in Helgen."

"That is ridiculous!" Bo let go of her hand and stormed away.

"That is not happening!" He roared, his voice echoing down the hall. Jane watched the infuriated Orc as he left the hall, returning to his room.

"That was to be expected," Jane turned back to Arngeir with an apologetic expression.

"I am sorry he did not take the idea like you would have wanted."

"It's okay, I…I guess I'm used to it."

"I hope you work things out with Bo Gro Graul," Arngeir replied softly, rising from his seat. He gently squeezed Jane's good shoulder and then excused himself, heading down the hall to meditate.

Jane quickly made her way to the kitchens, and found that Lynne had left, so she rushed down to their room, knocking urgently.

"I'm sorry," she told Lynne, who had opened the door. "Bo found me talking to Arngeir, I should have known he'd want to speak with the Greybeards more."

"Is everything okay? You look flustered."

"No, not really. Bo is very upset…and I mean very."

"I'm sorry to hear that, will you fill me in later?"

"Of course, goodnight Lynne."

"Goodnight Jane, and good luck."