Note: Thicc Lydia is best Lydia, change my mind.

Chapter 2

Their walk passed Valtheim towers was mostly quiet, with nothing except the babbling stream to keep them company. They continued downhill for a bit before laying some hungry wolves to rest. Even with two clean headshots, Ulmir didn't feel as if he redeemed himself. Strangely enough, his housecarl made no indication that she was at all displeased with him or his earlier behavior. Lydia just asked if his head still hurt, to which he tried to lie and was easily caught.

"Let's take a little break," she told him and pointed towards a path shooting off into some woods.

"It's only midday still? If we stop now, we won't reach Ivarstead before dark."

"That's alright. I wanted to properly tend to your wounds anyway."

Ulmir felt his face burn with color as he attempted to push on. His efforts to hide his pain were pitiful thought his housecarl. He fell to one knee, grabbing his head and sucking in air from the stinging touch of his hand. Lydia rushed over and didn't take no for an answer. She shouldered her thane once more and brough him to rest near the outcroppings of some ancient Nord ruins. He watched her unroll a sleeping bag and insisted that wasn't necessary. What she did next caught him completely off guard.

"That's enough of that," Lydia said in a stern, seemingly parental fashion. "Quit acting like it doesn't hurt and let me help you!"

"…ok."

"Good, now I'm going to get you wrapped up and then I'll get some lunch ready. If I find you wandering around when I get back, there's gonna be trouble. Is that clear?"

"Um, y-yes ma'am!"

Satisfied with his response, Lydia unpacked their belongings and got some soft linen to encase his head. Ulmir couldn't help but notice how even more stunning she looked mere inches away. Even with her scent of sweat and steel, he found her to be intoxicating. Lydia finished up with a smile at her boyishly charming thane and told him to sit tight. She then went off to find some dry wood for the fire and left Ulmir to his thoughts.

He cast a sour look at his groin, where his manhood had begun to swell from being in her very presence. Something about her motherly and protective nature was making her even more desirable than yesterday. Ulmir shook his head in disgust. Lydia was his housecarl and was accompanying him under the command of Whiterun's Jarl. Would she really enjoy partnering up with a pathetic young runt of a Dragonborn like him? He couldn't even handle one old bandit on his own, and everyone was expecting to stop Adluin the World Eater?

His self-loathing came to an end when his dark-haired companion returned sometime later. She scooted right next to him as he rose to accept the bowl of piping hot stew. Ulmir thanked her for the food but was bewildered. Not because of how fast she started a fire and cooked him a mouthwateringly delicious smelling meal, but because he realized she had no intention of letting him feed himself.

"Lydia! I will not be fed like a child, now give me the bowl or…"

"Or what? Are you going to throw a fit?"

His blue eyes fell to the floor as he sighed in defeat.

"My thane, you need to stop acting as if everything is test of strength. As if you don't need someone to lean on. There's nothing wrong with needed a little help. After all, I am your sword and shield, remember?"

"I know… I'm just sorry for making you worry so much."

"I don't mind," she said before giving him a spoonful of what Ulmir figured out was rabbit stew. "You're still learning and have a long way to go before you can be the hero Skyrim needs. So until then, I'll be there with you every step of the way. If you allow me, that is."

"Of course! Um, I mean, I'd like that."

Her smile was like skooma to an addict, he couldn't get enough of it. He wanted to just throw himself at those soft looking lips of hers and make Lydia his woman. If he really wanted to, his status as thane would probably be enough to make her act like his little servant girl. But that's not something an honorable man would do. There's no way he'd ever stoop so low as to act like that scum from earlier. He'd win her over

Lydia tells him to eat up as she goes to get some grub herself. Ulmir puts an empty bowl at his side and places a hand on his stomach. She not only fights like a true Nord, but cooks like one too! He pulls up his map to see how much farther they had to go before reaching their next stop. To his surprise, Ivarstead was closer than he thought. It gave him some peace of mind, allowing the young Dragonborn to shut his eyes for a few moments.

A little while later, Ulmir got up with a stretch. Well-fed and rested, he was feeling more than eager to get back on track. He noticed Lydia had not return still and went to go find her. Not too far off was the snuffed-out campfire and small kettle that had cooked that delicious meal. A quick peek revealed that it was totally empty. If Lydia had her fill, then hadn't she returned? Where did she go? Did something happen to her? All manner of paranoid thoughts filled his young mind. The image of her being taken against her will by depraved and fiendish men was enough to get him searching for her frantically. In his haste, he ran right past some dense shrubbery and stumbled upon a very small crystal-clear pond. A pond that his naked housecarl was bathing in.

The speed at which she drew forth a steel dagger from the water was both impressive and frightening. Once she realized it was only her thane though, she lowered the weapon while keeping one arm covering her breasts. A near impossible task for someone who possessed such an ample and buxom chest. Ulmir found himself frozen, utterly enthralled by her bare flesh. It took every ounce of his will power to avert his gaze.

"Forgive me Lydia! I just couldn't find you and I thought something bad had happened, so I went looking and I swear I wasn't trying to peep on you or anything!"

"It's alright my thane, really it's okay," she told him while sinking lower to hide her bareness. "I'm the one who should be apologizing for making you worry like that. I'll just be another minute, if you don't mind? The water's really nice here."

"Yeah th-that's fine, take all the time you need! I'll um, wait for you back at camp!"

Ulmir sprinted away with a red face to rival even the ripest tomatoes. And speaking of ripe fruit, Lydia's nude form was even more luscious and bountiful than he could have ever imagined. Her boobs looked so plump, yet so perky. Her muscles were strong, but not overly pronounced like that of a man's. The width of her fertile hips tickled his male instinct to reproduce like crazy and had him struggling to keep a raging erection in his hide apparel. Sadly, that was all he could see as the water blurred the rest of her voluptuous physique despite its transparency. He just tried to get the image of her bare body out of his head as they resumed their quest.

The duo passed an old fort that seemed to be under the control of some necromancers. It wasn't in their way and they both wisely avoided the unnecessary conflict. An hour or two later, they made a very brief stop at the nearby mining settlement of Darkwater crossing. They traded some of the wolf pelts with the miners who in turn, gave them a small leather tent among other supplies. As a bonus, Ulmir agreed to help find this woman named Annekke Crag-Jumper's daughter that worked in another mine near Riften. But that's another journey for another time.

For now, Ulmir and Lydia made their way up a series of steep paths along a cliffside. They walked besides a river that produced the waterfall they had seen on the way up and were momentarily distracted by the calls of elk in the distance. The two soon returned to a precautious state as the smell of death and decay attacked their senses. There was something ahead, something hungry.

"Lydia look out!"

Ulmir shoved her out of the way as a large cave troll descended upon them from a rocky incline to their left. The hairy and triple-eyed man-eater grabbed the young Dragonborn's ankle with its powerful and long arm and chucked him against the solid rock. The beast would have easily torn into him apart had the steel-clad maiden not jumped in between the beast and her thane. She cut a deep gash in its chest, enough to make the troll stumble back but not retreat. With its inhumane strength, a single swipe knocked Lydia's shield from her hand. Another lunge dropped the Nord onto her back. It closed the distance in mere seconds and took hold of Lydia by the neck. A measly twitch of its hand would've crushed her windpipe. But to her amazement, a steel arrow found its mark in one of the creature's three, beady black eyes. It howled in pain, angrier than ever. Lydia looked back to see Ulmir standing tall with his bow in hand and watched as he slowly approached the beast. A volley of arrows landed around the charging troll. By the tenth or so arrow, the vile monstrosity had collapsed from its wound.

"I guess now we're even, huh?" Ulmir joked, helping her stand.

"Thank you for that, my thane."

"C'mon, I think I see its cave over there. Let's go see what goodies this guy had."

Ulmir came to regret his words after finding the mutilated bodies of two Stormcloak soldiers. A note from one of them revealed that they had been tasked with killing the troll that had attacked them. Unfortunately, it looked like that very same ambush tactic it tried on them, had worked on these poor souls. There was nothing they could do for them.

They gathered some precious Orichalcum ore nearby and didn't linger any longer than necessary. Their next resting spot for the night was just a short hike away. The two were relieved to see the guard towers in the distance and eventually found themselves walking by them. Naturally, one of the Ivarstead men, in his distinct purple sashed uniform, questioned their arrival. It wasn't an interrogation of any kind; the folks here just didn't want any trouble from bandits or other individuals of ill repute. Ulmir thus presented himself and his companion in a humble manner that for some reason seemed to irk Lydia. So much so, that she stepped in front of him to inform the guard that he was standing before the Dragonborn himself. But without proof however, that did little more than get a good laugh out of the man and his buddies. Either way, softening up the guards worked in their favor and they were allowed to wander about without further questioning.

Lydia didn't like how modest Ulmir had been. She even told him as they walked into the town that he should have shown them the Voice. To hear a thu'um, was to hear thunder. Or so the old Nord tales went.

"I don't know Lydia, maybe it's better to lay a little low."

"Don't talk such rot. Those men should be in awe of your very presence. You could blow them away with just one shout, could you imagine that?"

The young Nord rubbed his neck as other people around them took an interest.

"Alright, alright I get your point. But don't forget, actions speak louder than words. Going around telling people I'm Dragonborn isn't gonna have the same effect as me absorbing a dragon's power, or whatever that was. Plus, since Ulfric killed the High King using the Voice, I don't think everyone would be okay with me going around shouting carelessly."

"Even still, you should be more confident in yourself!"

He listened to his housecarl chastise him some more as they came up to the Vilemyr inn. Though they could reach High Hrothgar before dawn, traveling up the seven thousand steps at night was too risky. It would only take one mild blizzard to cripple them in their tracks and leave them stranded till morning. If they were going to be hunkered down somewhere, it may as well be someplace nice and warm.

They entered the inn and found that it was busier than it looked. The folks were reveling in merry making, the bards were singing, and the wenches were looking for a sucker with heavy pockets to drain. A young and smooth face like Ulmir's however, was a pleasant change from the usual lot of rugged beards that stunk of cheap alcohol. The women were of course quickly dissipated once Lydia stepped into the picture. Instead, she led her thane to the bar where hot food and some drinks were in order. Ulmir tried to tell his housecarl that he wasn't the best drinker around, but she wasn't having any of it and started him off with two mugs.

By the end of the night, Ulmir was downing his fourth mug. Bearing in mind that these mugs were large enough to hold nearly two bottles of mead, the young man was well above his limit. His slurred speech and uncontrollable swaying made that clear to his far more sober companion. Lydia proceeded to pay for their meal, followed by one room for the night.

"You really weren't kidding," Lydia said in shock as she practically dragged him towards their room. "I've just never heard of a Nord who couldn't hold his mead."

"Whaddya talking about, I'm purrfectly fine," Ulmir drunkenly shot back.

"Come on, in you go."

"But I don't wanna go to bed yet. It's too early!"

"Don't be difficult now, you need your rest!"

Lydia had been so focused on helping him into bed, that she was unprepared for a sudden embrace pulling her in as well.

"If ya join me, I might reconsider! Ha!"

"Join you?"

"C'mon, stop playing hard to get Lydia," Ulmir sloppily stated while gripping her armored waist firmly.

"Quit messing around or I'll… my thane? Are you alright?"

Lydia easily removed his arms to stare down at Ulmir. Her furrowed brow quickly relaxed after seeing the drunken young fool below her. He stared back at her with a soft chuckle and tossed his weary head to one side. She knew her thane wasn't in his right state of mind, but something told her that this was his subconscious emerging. A part of her figured this would be the case when they first met, and she had been mentally preparing herself to provide comfort upon request. The trouble was, she had no idea how emotionally jarring this would be. Had Ulmir been your typical strong-headed Nord, she might not have had any problems with degrading herself to please him. That was just it however, he wasn't like most of the men she has met.

Sure he was still new at this whole Dragonborn business and made his fair share of blunders here and there, but what person wouldn't? In almost two days times, he's shown the makings of a true Nord hero. It's the intent, the desire to protect and save others that has her staring at him with admiration. Who knows what this young man has undergone before coming to the aid of Whiterun and its people? And now he must shoulder the weight of saving Tamriel from an unbelievably powerful child of Akatosh? Lydia honestly found it amazing that not once did he try taking advantage of her, especially given his age.

The poor thing was already snoozing by the time she finished having her internal dilemma. Lydia knew Ulmir meant no harm despite his drunken demands. She took just one more look at her sleeping thane and made up her mind. Her steel gear was stacked to side of the room as she climbed back into bed dressed only in her undergarments. She also relieved him of his own armor as well. Lydia then blew out the only candle illuminating their little room and pulled her thane in for a cozy night under the covers.

Note: Chapter 3's in the works, but I just couldn't wait to get these two out there so I do apologize if some parts seem kinda rough. I'll definitely give them a little polish after the next one's out.