Chapter 37

Lynne had insisted that everyone return to the Inn so they could rest, as she could see the mixture of emotions bubbling in Bo, and Jane was still disoriented. The group stumbled back down the hill and entered into the warm room of Braidwood in and made their way to the bar to order rooms and food. Everyone was exhausted and excited, a mixture of emotions and feelings from what they all had just witnessed up the hill. Bo glanced nervously at Jane with weary eyes as she sat down beside him and passed him a bottle of Nord mead, for she was the only person who looked considerably cheery. However she couldn't hide the look in her eyes that told him she was probably feeling a lot more than what her small smile was telling them. Bo sighed, his mind completely frazzled, he didn't have the energy to think. Jane reached over and squeezed his hand, and the Orsimer could barely muster a ragged half smile. Across from them, Delphine watched the couple intently, her thoughts whirling. Two Dragonborns means twice the chance at figuring things out and stopping the Dragons from coming back, and the only thing she mulled over was how useful the two could be to her cause. There was a slightly awkward air between everyone, as they all sat silently with their thoughts, glancing up here and there to look over at Jane or Bo, or Naz would look up at Lynne, although he usually stared at his hands. After a while of silence Lynne was a little tired of it, she knew what everyone was thinking but were refusing to talk about.

"So, is somebody going to talk about what just happened or do I have to do it?" She spoke up, and everyone looked her way.

"What about it?" Delphine muttered, "There's two Dragonborns, now it's time to figure out who's behind this dragon rebirth operation."

"How are you going to do that?" Nazgurat replied gruffly, eying the Nord through narrowed eyes.

"I need time to think about it, after some rest I'll return to Riverwood and start planning."

"Well I think I deserve some answers as to who you are first, before my companions and I just throw ourselves blindly into your service."

Bo's voice was quiet, but he stared at Daphne with a wary expression. He was sick of this stranger. She's arrogant, he thought, I'm not sure I like her.

"Right, what do you want to know?"

"Who are you?" Lynne replied exasperatedly, throwing her hands up. "We've been trusting you, and you're a complete stranger."

Delphine leaned forward, and everyone followed suit.

"I'm one of the last remaining Blades," she replied quietly, her eyes shifting from one face to another. "You know-"

"Emperor's body guards." Nazgurat replied, frowning. "Thought they dwindled out not long after the Oblivion crisis."

"Yes, we did for the most part. But do you know what the original purpose of a Blade was?"

"To…" Lynne bit her lip thoughtfully. "I read it somewhere…"

"To protect the Dragonborn and stop the Dragons." Delphine cut in; her voice firm. She stared directly at Bo, and then Jane as well.

"Okay, so who do you think is behind this?" Bo asked, taking a sip of his mead. He rubbed his tired eyes and rested one elbow on the wooden table, fixing his gaze on Delphine.

"Well it's just a suspicion… but I think the Thalmor may be behind it. But lets wait until we're back at Riverwood okay?" Delphine looked around, too paranoid to continue the discussion in the crowded Inn. "I will take my leave, tomorrow morning I'll be heading there, you come whenever you can." She drained the last of her drink and noisily placed her mug down, the sound of her chair scraping on the floor made Bo wince. A headache was swiftly forming and the Inn seemed all too loud.

He needed to lie down, and a few minutes later he leaned close and told Jane he was going to bed. The girl nodded and smiled at him, before turning back to her conversation with Naz and Lynne.

When Bo left the room Jane sighed quietly, running a hand through her damp hair.

"Part of me wished it hadn't worked, you know?" She told Lynne, who nodded. "Now he'll be twice as worried about my safety, the Dragons will target us especially."

"That and Alduin knows who you are," Lynne pointed out, and Jane sighed again.

"You were so brave," Nazgurat commended, squeezing Jane's tiny shoulder. She smiled weakly at him. "It is a mighty thing for such a tiny woman to have bellowed at a Dragon so fiercely as you did."

Jane laughed, and thanked Nazgurat; glad she could still laugh.

"I think I'll go to bed now, I'm so tired."

"Take it easy okay? You know what I mean," Lynne told her sternly, winking when Jane looked up at her. "Get lots of sleep."

"I will, night guys."

Jane didn't realize just how exhausted she was until she started walking towards her room. Her legs suddenly felt like lead and her eyelids refused to stay open, and she stumbled when she finally reached the tiny, cold room, while trying to get out of her armor. Bo lifted his head up to see Jane struggling with her buckles, and then she bowed her head with a huff and stood hunched over until he pulled himself up and helped her.

"Will you always need my help, woman?" He growled softly, and Jane elbowed him in the ribs.

"Yes," she replied with a sniff, and crawled onto the soft bed, pulling the furs around her. Bo lay down beside her and she shifted so that her head rested on his chest. Jane closed her eyes, listening to the sound of Bo's heartbeat through his tunic, and gently gripped his waist, letting out a long sigh. They were silent for a moment, and Bo thought Jane had fallen asleep.

"You know I only want to help, right Bo?" She asked quietly, craning her head to nuzzle his neck, and the Orc felt her lips against his skin. He shivered slightly, and pulled Jane closer, kissing the top of her head.

"I know you do, I have to accept what has been done."

"I knew I was brought here for a reason," Jane murmured half to herself, and then froze when she realized she'd said her thought out loud.

"Brought here? What do you mean?" Bo's brows creased in confusion.

"I-I just… that I was brought to Skyrim." Jane stuttered, but Bo was not fooled.

"You remember now? Where you came from?"

"No… no I don't remember-"

"Jane you need to tell me something right now." Bo replied quickly, unwrapping her arms from him and pulling himself up into a sitting position. His heartbeat was racing, and his stomach dropped, he felt the worse feeling he ever could; a suspicion that Jane had been lying to him.

You fucking idiot! Jane screamed to herself, and she slowly sat up, pulling the furs around her shoulders. Bo watched her nervously bite her nails, and her nervousness was confirming his suspicions.

"Where did you come from Jane?" He growled quietly, a sense of anger slowly rising. His normally bright blue eyes were a stormy grey.

"Bo please believe me, I don't remember much…"

"But you remember something," he persisted, and Jane nodded.

Bo blinked, and let out a deep breath. This had taken him completely by surprise.

"You owe me an explanation," he replied after a moment. "Tell me the truth, the truth Jane. Is your name really Jane?"

"Yes! It is, I swear. Okay…." Jane bowed her head. "I'm from… the memories are so foggy…" she continued to lie. Jane knew she had to tell him something, for she was sinking fast; his face bore her betrayal and she felt utterly terrible. However, how much she needed to tell him was debatable.

"I can't remember what is was called, but where I come from there are no races of elves, only humans. That's why I was so surprised to see you."

"No Orsimer?" Bo asked, stunned.

"No, if there were any they died a long time ago."

"Okay…" he replied slowly, "Continue."

"I know of Skyrim from… books. But I had never been here until I was unknowingly dropped in the Rift."

"You know of Skyrim? How much? And your race?"

"I'm like a different version of an Imperial," Jane spoke quietly, her eyes averted. "I know a lot about weapons and armor, and places. The landscape and ruins, caves, lore, stuff like that."

"You know so much, and you act like you know little… why?"

"I just… I'm sorry Bo," Jane whispered. "When I was placed here, it was so surreal. We cannot come to Skyrim, and yet here I was, in a place I only visited in my dreams. I just wanted to start from scratch with you, leave my old self behind. I thought if I knew too much you'd grow suspicious."

Bo thought over what she had said, the air between them tense.

"I don't think I can forgive you for lying to me just yet," Bo replied quietly, his feelings starting to get out of control. Tears swelled in her eyes but Jane nodded, knowing she deserved it. A huge wave of anxiety washed over Bo. My Jane, he thought, the only one I could trust completely lied to me this whole time.

A sob escaped his lips, and Jane's head snapped up.

"Oh Gods Bo… Bo I'm so sorry." Jane covered her mouth with her hands and lowered her head again, unable to look at him. Guilt filled every part of her, and she did not try to stop Bo when he quickly rose from the bed and picked up his discarded armor.

"I will be in another room if there is an emergency." His voice wavered, and he bit back another sob, but waited until he had left and was in the privacy of his own room before breaking down and beginning to cry. In her own room, Jane curled up with the furs and continued to cry until she fell into a fitful sleep, anguished and disgusted at herself for what she did to Bo. The lack of Bo's strong reassuring arms around her frame only made things worse, and she woke continually throughout the night to start crying anew. Bo however, barely slept all night; his mind plagued him every waking minute.

The next morning was dreadful; Jane's head ached and her eyes were sore from crying for so long. Bo's neck ached from falling asleep in a sitting position, since he was unable to lie down without Jane is his arms. When the group re-gathered in the hall, the other couple knew something was up. Jane did not touch Bo, and the Orc made no movements to touch her either, the tension was still thick.

"So…" Lynne spoke, frowning slightly. "What are we doing next? Greybeards want their artifact I assume."

"Yeah," Bo replied quietly, "We'll take their stupid horn back and then I guess we have to go to Delphine."

"Okay."

They departed the Inn and started West back towards High Hrothgar, their boots crunching over the newly fallen snow. Their breath came out in puffs, and Jane wrapped her arms around her and focused on walking, anything to keep her mind away from Bo, which was nearly impossible because he walked several feet ahead of her. Every time she saw him out of the corner of her eyes the guilt washed over her, and she was glad for Lynne's company as the woman came over to her at some point to chat.

"Hey you," Lynne called, falling into step beside the woman. She brushed her windblown hair out of her face and tucked it back into her hood, glancing over at the grave faced Jane. "What happened last night? You guys fight?"

"Not exactly…" Jane replied slowly, and let out a deep breath. "I…I lied to him, to all of you, about who I am."

"What?" Lynne blurted out loudly, and Bo glanced back at them. "I mean… what are you talking about Jane?"

Ahead of them, Nazgurat had caught up to Bo and was proceeding to get an answer out of the depressed Orc.

"What's going on between you and Jane, brother?" Naz inquired. The women had slowed down considerably, and there was no chance of being overheard.

"It's… complicated."

"I've got nothing but time," Nazgurat replied jokingly, and Bo scowled.

"She lied to me, Naz. She told me she couldn't remember where she had come from but she does. She knows more about Skyrim than she lets on, maybe even more than you or I. She's not from this world, she claims. I don't know what to think anymore." Bo huffed, picking up the pace. He was beginning to feel hurt and angry again, and would have loved to have something to punch right now.

"Okay, so she knows where she's from, what's the big deal?" Nazgurat replied, keeping up with the younger Orc, earning a glare from him.

"What's the big deal?" Bo repeated angrily, stopping to face Naz. "She lied to me! How can I trust her, how can I know what she says is true?"

"Do you love her?"

"What… does that have to do with anything-"

"Answer me!" Nazgurat barked.

"Yes!" Bo shouted.

"Then there's your answer, that's how you trust her. Has she given you any reason not to?"

"I…well…no…" Bo bowed his head and let out a defeated sigh.

"Then there's no problem, is there?" Nazgurat placed a hand on Bo's armored shoulder, and the Orc nodded.

"Doesn't mean you have to forgive her right this second, she still lied to you. But think about it Bo, look at your woman."

Bo and Naz both looked back at the forms of Lynne and Jane while they talked, having stopped walking as well.

"She loves you more than anything in the world, and I'm sure she had a damn good reason for lying. So have your breather and then forgive her, it doesn't have to be such a big thing."

"You're right," Bo replied firmly, "God damnit you're good."

Nazgurat laughed, slapping his arm, and the men continued walking, at a slower pace so the women could catch up eventually.

"So you know about Skyrim through books?" Lynne asked Jane, and the woman nodded.

"Wow, you smart girl! You shouldn't have kept that from us."

"I realize that now, and I'm sorry for lying." Jane bowed her head, but Lynne tipped her chin back up.

"Come now Jane, see look at them. Nazgurat's probably talking some sense into dear Bo."

The women looked over at the Orsimer while they talked, and then Lynne turned her attention back to Jane.

"I just feel really bad, he trusted me."

"He'll get over it," Lynne told her confidently, "You lied about what you knew, but there's no harm done. I don't understand what your world is but who cares, you're here in Skyrim with us and that's all that matters right?"

"Of course! You guys are everything to me, I would never hurt you."

"Good." Lynne brushed Jane's hair back, it was much longer now, and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Now lets go! You can kiss and make up later, we gotta cover some ground first," Lynne poked the girl's arm and winked, laughing when Jane made a swipe at her. They jogged after the retreating forms of their Orsimer mates, the warmth of the afternoon sun on their backs.

When evening started to settle in the Rift, the group stopped in a sheltered area and started to set up camp. While they worked, Nazgurat came over to Lynne to talk about the younger couple.

"You know?" Naz asked, and Lynne nodded.

"It's incredible isn't it?" She replied, "How extreme everything is when you're young and in love for the first time."

"Shit, the way Bo was acting you'd think he lost a loved one, not got in a bloody fight!"

Lynne laughed, spreading out her and Naz's bedrolls.

"I remember when I was like that, everything was so new, and I felt things to such an extreme because of it."

"It's definitely interesting…" Naz replied quietly, "Do you feel that way with me?"

Lynne sat down on and patted the space beside her. When the Orsimer sat down she entwined their fingers together and squeezed his hand, and for a moment they simply watched Bo and Jane as they talked nearby.

"Not quite," she told him after a few minutes, turning to head to look into his eyes. Lynne reached up and stroked his stubbly cheek, and Naz briefly closed his eyes, opening them again when she continued to speak.

"My love for you… it feels, less like a sprint and more like a slow and pleasant walk. Believe me, you make my heart race, but I think…" Lynne paused to gently kiss the Orc's lips, smiling when he growled softly. "When I was younger everything was always going so fast, love was a big rush, and now that I'm older it's like I can finally feel it for the first time, and revel in it."

"I love you," Naz replied thickly, still deeply affected by his feelings for her, and Lynne grinned, embracing him.

"I love you too Nazgurat," she whispered, her arms wrapped tightly around him.