Akiseta stared at the roof of her bedroom, swishing her tail absent-mindedly. She ran her finger along the reeds making up her bed. It felt humid today. She wasn't sure why she noticed it. It was always like this in Murkmire. She placed her hand over her left cheek. She'd just gotten her tattoo the other day. She knew it would hurt for a little while, but she swore it felt like the hot ink was just freshly applied to her scales.
She heard the creak of the front door, and sat up. "Mother? Father?" They couldn't be back from their trip so soon.
"It's me, my love." The soft, slightly raspy voice was followed by Thari-Na entering the room, her golden eyes looking bright against the shadows of the doorframe.
"I missed you." Akiseta said, getting up and embracing her uxith-beeko.
"I haven't been gone long, Aki." Thari-Na said, leaning against Akiseta.
"It felt like you were."
"I'm here now."
Thari-Na tilted her head up and pressed her lips against Akiseta's. Akiseta closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss. It made her feel... a little sad? Why?
Thari-Na pulled back, concern on her face. "What's the matter, love?"
Akiseta looked away. "It hurts."
"What does? Your cheek?"
Akiseta nodded.
"It's going to hurt for a little longer. But it won't last forever. No pain does." Thari-Na reminded her. She placed her hand over Akiseta's left cheek.
Her touch made Akiseta's cheek sting more, but it was still very comforting, so Akiseta leaned into it.
"You sure that's all that's bothering you?" Thari-Na asked.
"I'm sure. Just can't wait for my parents to come home. Running the shop while they're gone isn't my favorite thing to do. If one more visiting landstrider 'accidentally' breaks something..." She muttered.
She didn't know how they could be so clumsy. She knew they couldn't walk from birth like Saxhleel hatchlings, but she thought that something that used its hands to support itself for a few months until it learned to walk could make better use of its hands. How does one drop something barely the size of its fist?
Thari-Na laughed. "At least you can close the shop for today. We have the day to ourselves, love. What shall we do?"
Akiseta smiled. "I can think of a few things." She said softyy, brushing her hand across Thari-Na's cheek. A red hue came to her uxith-beeko's green scaled cheeks. "But, before anything else..."
Akiseta pulled Thari-Na closer, placing her hands on her shoulders. Thari-Na wrapped her arms around Akiseta's waist. Akiseta draped her tail over Thari-Na's, and they began to dance.
Thari-Na smiled at Akiseta, then rested her chin on her shoulder. Akiseta rested her head on top of Thari-Na's. Thari-Na had no horns or feathers, just smooth scales.
Akiseta closed her eyes, letting out a soft groan. Dancing with Thari-Na made her happy. Thari-Na made her happy.
But she felt... distant. Akiseta was holding her, but... she felt far away. Akiseta pulled her as close as she could, holding her tightly.
"Not so tight, dear." Thari-Na said. "I'm lither than you."
"I'm sorry..." Akiseta replied, her voice starting to break. Her cheek was burning like crazy, and there was a tight pain in her chest. It felt like something had pricked into her heart. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's alright, love." Thari-Na pulled away. She brushed a few tears from Akiseta's eyes. "It's okay. You're okay."
Akiseta closed her eyes. "No, I'm not.."
She opened her eyes, shivering in the cold. She missed the warmth in Black Marsh. She looked up at the stars. They glittered brightly. She heard crunching in the snow.
"Star gazing?" Serana asked, sitting next to her.
"I enjoy it."
"So do I."
They looked up at the stars together.
Akiseta looked for the Thief, but couldn't find her stars. It was her month. She should be here.
She found the Serpent. The Lover wasn't too far from it. She frowned. 'That doesn't make sense... this isn't the Lover's month...'
"Something wrong, Aki?" Serana asked.
'Can't she see what I'm seeing?' Akiseta wondered. She shrugged. "No, not really. Just... you know. Everything that's going on."
"I get it. It's all been on my mind too. But it's almost over now."
"I know it is." Akiseta looked down at the snow. "But I don't want it to be." She added so quietly even she almost didn't hear it.
She wanted the prophecy to be over. She wanted to find Auriel's bow. She wanted to stop Harkon. She wanted her life to go back to normal. But she wanted to spend more time with Serana.
"What will you do when this is all over, beeko?" She asked, a little afraid of the answer.
Serana shrugged. I'm not sure. I do want to see my mother again. But the castle is a very lonely place. And it's filled with a lot of... hard memories." She looked over at Akiseta. "I have a lot of nicer memories with you." She scooted closer. "And, I don't feel lonely with you. So, maybe I'll stick with you, if you'll have me."
Akiseta smiled. "I'd really like that." She looked back at the snow. "I don't want you to leave me."
It was selfish. But it was true. She didn't want Serana to leave. Serana didn't want to leave. Maybe it wasn't so selfish.
"I'm not going anywhere, Aki. I promise." Serana told her, smiling. Akiseta couldn't help but smile too.
She looked into the vampire's golden-red eyes. The look in them was familiar. It reminded her of the way Thari-Na used to look at her. It pulled at her heart. She turned her head, biting her lip.
'I can't. I can't..'
She felt Serana's hand on her right cheek, a cold thumb gently tracing one of her scars. She turned her head back to Serana.
"It's okay, Aki. You're okay." She said soothingly, taking one of Akiseta's hands with her free hand.
'Why can't I?' Akiseta asked herself. She couldn't answer. Maybe... maybe she could.
Serana's hand fell from her cheek to her shoulder. The vampire sat up on her knees. Leaning up, she softly kissed Akiseta's cheek.
Her scales were already bitten by the cold air, and the coolness from Serana's lips made them sting slightly, but the kiss felt nice. Akiseta felt her heart race.
When Serana moved from her cheek, Akiseta saw that same look still there. It solidified her decision.
She placed her hand under Serana's chin, and leaned in.
Akiseta opened her eyes. She sat up, and looked around. The sky was grey, growing lighter in hue. Snow clung to her bedroll. Thaer's horse picked at small bits of grass that forced themselves through the frozen ground.
She'd been dreaming. It was a dream.
She swallowed dryly, shivering. Her heart ached. She shook her head. She needed to put it out of her mind. They would be arriving at Winterhold today. Then they could get the Dragon Scroll, and get back to Dexion, and this would be over.
Akiseta looked towards Serana, who was sleeping on the shade of a tree. She wished they'd had a little more time before all this. Maybe they could have...
'No. No we couldn't. It was a dream. A silly dream.' That's all it was. It wasn't like these.. these things she was feeling would matter when this was over. Would they? Did they even matter now?
Akiseta dragged herself out of her bedroll, rolled it up, and put it back in her backpack. She walked over to Thaer, and gently shook him.
"What? What's going on? Something wrong?" He asked groggily.
"No. Sorry to wake you. I'm just... anxious to get going."
"No worries, Akiseta. Just give me a minute to hook the mare back up."
Akiseta walked over to Serana while Thaer got the carriage ready. She gently shook the vampire.
Serana opened her eyes. She sat up, and yawned. "Morning already?"
"Sort of. It's still pre-dawn. But I was already awake, and I'm anxious to get going."
"Alright."
Akiseta packed Serana's bedroll into her bag. She glanced at the vampire, who was fixing the braids in her hair.
"My hair's like a bat's nest. It's well overdue for a washing." Serana remarked.
That reminded Akiseta that she could use a bath herself. "We can take care of that in Winterhold."
"There a bathhouse at your college?"
"Yes. But I have a private bath in the Arch-Mage's quarters. You'd get more privacy."
"A private bath? Fancy."
"Nothing but the best for the Arch-Mage. And her special quest."
"Special guest? I'm honored."
They climbed into the carriage, and set off. They rode in silence.
Akiseta tried to keep her mind off her dream, but that's where her thoughts kept turning. Part of her wanted to forget it. Part of her wished it had lasted a little longer.
Huge huge huge thank you's to my dear reviewers, and to everyone who's favorited and is following this story. I appreciate the support immensely. You guys are the best.
