Miles and miles from Mjoll...
Malik gently undoes my bandages to check my wound. My friend disposes of the old dressings as Robert guides my stump upwards for him to examine. He rubs the white, scarred flesh with soft hands and turns it this way and that. The wound was peeling and raw when I first arrived; however, the weeks I've spent resting at home have done it wonders. The skin is no longer red and, best of all, some of my fur is growing back between the cracks and crevices of my scarred skin. If I'm lucky, my fur will grow long enough quick enough that it'll be completely covered when my love returns to me. Robert washes the flesh, adds a small amount of pollute, and takes some bandages from Malik to rewrap my arm.
"I promise, this will be the last one. It's just better to be safe than sorry.". I nod my consent as I let my mind wander to more important things than the healer to my right. According to my father, my betrothed will arrive in another week. He was forced to feast at House Coluc and House Lok stopped his lord father to beg his assistance in capturing or killing a rampaging werewolf. The feast that lasted for a night set back the march days as soldiers tailing behind overstayed their welcome and forced Lord Dres to completely halt the march, turn around, and ride all the way to the end of his tail to whip his soldiers back into shape. It caused an even bigger delay than I could have hoped.
As for the werewolf, it was another matter entirely. The beast had supposedly reined for a day before disappearing into the woods to hide. Men and boys alike swarmed the area in a desperate bid to find it. Of course, the peasants saw werewolves in every shadow and every dog that fled before them became a fleeing werewolf. By the time Lord Dres arrived they swore up and down an entire pack of werewolves were hiding around the pathetic village. An entire week was spent scouring the woods and nearby fields. Oddly enough, a single werewolf was found. The poor beast was ancient and slow enough a mounted soldier was able to ride him down. The skin was hung in the village tavern and Lord Dres took his leave. Still, the week was wasted.
Now, the first snow of the season promises to fall any day now. Thick ash from southeast has blow up high into the sky and flakes of grey, hardened snow are beginning to pepper the landscape each night before thawing on the morning. Now, the flakes are beginning to stay a little longer each morning before disappearing. Hopefully, the first thick snow will fall before the tail of House Dres' march begins to move. It'll leave the end of the procession no choice besides hunkering down in the village and waiting for warmer weather to thaw them. That way, even if my betrothed arrives, he might have to wait for everyone else to arrive before beginning the wedding preparations.
Robert suddenly excuses himself and leaves me alone with Malik. I take the opportunity to try talking to my friend. Briefly, her eyes flick to mine and I offer her a smile. Before i I can speak, the other woman's heading to the door. I don't know what I've done to cause a rift between the two of us; still, ever since I've returned she's acted as if I'm no longer her friend. I've tried being kind and gentle and probing only as a last resort. Now, I'm finally fed up with her dodging me and giving me looks as if I'm some dremora come to ruin her life.
"Malik!". The woman hesitates at the door.
"I have need of you.". She twitches and sways in the doorway. It's clear she can't decide if she wants to stay or go. Ultimately, she stays. I'm seated at the table beside my bed and I motion for her to take the seat across from me. She heavily plops down in her chair and refuses to make eye contact with me. I lean backwards, grab a bottle of rum from my own private stash beside my bed, and lean forward again to offer her a bottle. Malik takes it without looking at me, unscrews the lid, and takes a deep swallow. I think of anything I can say to get her to say why there's a sudden gap between the two of us. I'm still racking my brain when she finishes her rum, puts the lid back on, and returns the bottle to me. I place it by my feet and finally settle on just outright asking her about what's going on between us. Malik beats me to the punch.
"I know you're pregnant and I know Mjoll is the one who put that bastard in your belly.". I'm frozen in complete shock. I've taken every precaution. I hid the fact Mjoll didn't leave immediately, had her leave as soon as she could, and haven't even mentioned her name since she left. The only time I've interacted with her was when I fucked her before she left as a promise of how much I'd miss her. Someone speaks and it takes me a moment to realize it's my voice.
"You spied on me.". A red blush covers Malik's face. Shockingly, she doesn't try to deny it.
"I saw her climbing up your window while I was doing a patrol. I'll admit it, I spied and listened to what you had to say.". I feel heat rushing to my own face with the realization Malik heard everything I said to Mjoll. Since Malik was so candid with me, I decide I owe her the same courtesy.
"Yes, I'm pregnant. At least, as far as I know, I'm still pregnant. And, yes, Mjoll is the father.". We sit in an uncomfortable silence for an extended period of time. Ultimately, it's her who breaks the silence.
"Why?". I'm tempted to keep my motives a secret, but at this point it doesn't even matter. If Malik hasn't gone to my parents before now, then I doubt she ever will.
"I don't want to get married.". A snort interrupts me before I can say anything else. Without thinking, I hit Malik lightly on the arm like we always do to one another when we piss each other off. Malik shrugs me off and explains herself.
"You don't want to get pregnant, so you decided getting a bastard in your belly would be the next best thing.". It's my turn to avoid eye contact.
"It's not that simple! I love Mjoll.". Malik falls silent and I join her in letting our conversation die. I've know for a while Malik has a small crush on me. I always doubted it was anything serious; still, it can't be easy for her to hear I'll never even consider her. It's also not easy to hear the woman you have a crush on has someone else's baby growing inside her. The cherry on top is Mjoll is a complete stranger who my parents and sister don't even know whereas Malik is beloved by everyone in my family.
"I'm sorry.". I don't quite know what I'm apologizing for.
"It's fine. You can't control how you feel.". Malik shakes her head and finally makes eye contact with me.
"I just don't understand why you would do this. How in oblivion does this stop your marriage? And how in oblivion is this going to end with anything other than heartbreak?". I've had months to formulate this plan, but I know to an outsider like Malik it must seem odd.
"Technically, my betrothed or I are free to have bastards. That is, as long as they happen before marriage. It was meant for the men, but it applies to women as well. So, if I pop this bastard out before the wedding there's nothing the Dres family can legally do to end the marriage.". Malik nods to show she gets the idea.
"They can't legally set you aside, but socially they won't want you. So, they set aside the marriage, return what your father gave them, and head home.". I nod. It's an underhanded tactic; still, I'm not above using it to get out of this marriage I never agreed to.
"What will your parents think?". That's the part I've been chewing over ever since we returned.
"I was hoping the sight of their grandchild will soften them. You know their feelings on women terminating their pregnancies. I'm far enough along by now that Robert couldn't cleanse me with a potion. He'd have to pull the bastard out; and, you and I both know my parents wouldn't stand for it.". Malik just keeps nodding to show she's hearing me.
"You're putting too much faith in them.". She breaks eye contact again and stares down at her hands.
"They aren't above shipping your baby off to suit their needs. Oblivion, they'll probably say the baby's theirs and move the wedding along.". My heart almost stops. I knew adopting the baby out was a possibility. My plan for that was to go into a fit of sobbing and begging until my mother broke and convinced my father not to give away his own grandchild. The other part I never even considered. A fresh babe would be easy to pass off as anyone's. If the baby comes out a Nord they could even claim it's my sister's and move on without issue. After all, my sister isn't about to get married to a powerful member of House Dres. And, much as I love her, my sister benefits from me being taken out of the line of succession.
"I need your help.". I've put on my best pleading eyes and Malik turns to see them in full force. A deep, heavy sigh comes from her chest. She rises, goes to grab another bottle of rum, and waves a hand at me to show me she's still listening.
"I need you to go to my parents and tell them of Mjoll.". She snorts as she takes a sip of rum. The rum ends up spurting out her nose and Malik goes into a coughing fit. Once she's gotten herself under control, she shakes her head at me.
"Tell them what?".
"Tell them the truth. Tell them how wonderful and kind and gentle she is.". The tiny, scruffy dog Mjoll saved from a tiger comes running out from under my bed since he's finished his afternoon nap. I scoop him up into my lap for effect.
"Tell them of how she's risked her life for me and how unwavering she is in the face of adversity.".
"They won't care, my friend. They'll want to know how rich she is. They'll want to know what she can offer you for a living.".
"Tell them the truth. Tell them no matter what happened, she always provided for me. I was always safe and comfortable as long as I was under Mjoll's care. She saved my life and will always protect it. And, I know without a doubt, she'll protect their grandchild with just as much vigor.". Malik is done with her second bottle of rum by the time I'm done. She shrugs lazily, tosses me the empty bottle, and starts walking towards the door.
"I'll tell them, but if I was you I'd start focusing on getting that baby done as soon as possible.".