Confronting Azura

Nevano went to bed without any fuss. Suspiciously without fuss. He wasn't willing to let his part in this mess end just yet. For the first time ever, as soon as he felt his body fall into sleep with Serana holding him, he sought out Azura.

She seemed to be waiting for him, a bright star amid the darkness.

"I need to speak with Boethiah." He tried to not sound too terribly annoyed...but was failing spectacularly. "This was a nasty little game she played."

"Nerevar asked for help, Boethiah gave it." Azura said. "While I question the wisdom of putting such a damaged soul in another, you yourself have said they are helping each other."

"She used him! Both of them!" Nevano roared.

"No more than I used you, or used Nerevar. No more than Akatosh uses the Dragonborn." Azura graciously allowed him to rage. "You are angry because of the love you hold for him. Were he anyone else, you would not be here yelling and making demands of a Daedra Lord."

Nevano sat back a bit at the chiding, knowing it was a bit deserved. "Why didn't she tell him?"

"For the same reason I did not tell you Nerevar was with you." Azura swirled around him, the scent of roses strong. "It is something you must discover on your own. Though Bal and Sul pushed it a bit and Nerevar told you, the boy would have eventually discovered his partner on his own."

"It could have killed them." Nevano said flatly.

"Again, your personal feelings are presented. Meeting Nerevar could have killed you. But it did not." Azura sounded a bit annoyed at his stubbornness. "Boethiah could have easily kept Sul as a pet in her arena pits, letting him burn his rage on the contestants she keeps for her amusement. Veleth could have lived his life without Sul...and perhaps without Boethiah's influence. Perhaps he'd have lived without it. Perhaps not. They are both alive now and will soon become a part of the other, stronger than before. Why do you question this?"

"He was trapped in his own head and got hurt. I just..." Nevano trailed off.

"You are hurt from what you saw in his mind." Azura said. "Let me remind you that you yourself hold small resentments towards others, despite liking them. These Chii Chare, for instance. You forgave them but a small part of you will forever hate them for what happened in Chorrol. The demon pushed all those resentments and sorrows to the surface and you pushed through the defenses that allow him to keep such negative feelings in check while allowing more positive ones to dominate. Do not put stock in what you saw. You eased his mind. He will remember what the three of you did. In a positive way."

"Just be thankful that Veleth's mind was the dominant one and not Sul's." Azura's light flickered sadly. "My poor child. His mind is a burning, blackened landscape with pits of fire and nothingness. Bal almost stripped him entirely of himself. Nerevar saved a few pieces. He will never be whole again but perhaps the pieces can be filled with Veleth and the black scrubbed away. It will be a very unique bond with them. Be patient. It might be a bit difficult for them to tell where one ends and the other begins, unlike you and Nerevar, who is whole."

"So they won't switch around like Nerevar and the Dov can do?" Nevano asked.

"No. There isn't enough of Sul to accomplish that; and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to handle himself in a normal situation. Think...like your friend Grak."

Nevano's eyes went wide thinking of that beast in the middle of Dragonsreach or Rootspire. "You have a point. He didn't seem mer anymore. Will it change Veleth?"

"Only what he allows." Azura said. "Boethiah wants more of Sul to show but he might not allow it. In time he might. He has a compassionate heart in there, much to my amusement and Boethiah's disgust. It's interesting though. Were it not for Boethiah's influence, he would be more like Ebonarm. Perhaps it is why that old Black Knight likes him so much. He is a good ally. For now. I'm sure after all is said and done, we can go back to hating each other in happy peace."

"I like Zak." Nevano laughed a bit. "He's an ass but a good one. Doesn't like us yet stands guard. Drelasa likes having him around so that means I like him too. Clueless though."

"Indeed." Azura sounded amused. "Now, if you have calmed down, tell this to the Dragonborn so she will also settle and not challenge Boethiah again. She got one chance at that. The next Boethiah will take her up on it and I will be displeased to see fractures in this careful alliance."

"I will." Nevano sighed.

"Good. He is not a child. He will talk with Boethiah himself. Despite what she's done...she enjoys him. She will indulge him and not you." Azura said. "Now go back to yourself. It will happen soon. I am eager to see how they resolve themselves."

Of the number sleeping in the Companion's mead hall, Gyrmallion was the first to awaken. He stretched and rolled over, feeling vastly better than he had when he'd gone to sleep. Stronger, no longer sore...and ravenously hungry. He rose, pulling on a shirt, and left the dormitory, looking for something to eat.

Nevusa waved as he came up, though she seemed fully absorbed in teaching a card game to a handful of Companions. A few were complaining that the Dunmeri game had complicated rules; something Nevusa heavily disputed, seeing that the more popular Imperial version had twelve extra rules.

Athis was having no difficulty with it, and laughed when Nevusa said that. "These are Nords, remember," he said, ducking away when Njada went to punch him.

"Nords, Argonians, the dog down the street, the rules are streamlined! You just aren't used to it." She sighed. "Look, just play a few hands. It'll make sense!"

"All right," Vilkas agreed. He glanced over at Gyrmallion. "Huh. So the one who was halfway across the bridge to Sovngarde last night is the first one up this evening. Don't know where they found you, but you're a tough one."

"It's why Molag Bal keeps sending big nasties at us." Nevusa said. "Lots of tough leather around here. It's the only chance he's got!"

"Comforting thought that," Gyrmallion said, not entirely joking. "Is there some place I could get some food? I don't know how long it's been since I've eaten, but I am ravenous."

"Normally they'd have something over the fire pit but ever since Drelasa banished that demon, they've been afraid to really use it." Nevusa said. "I told you it's safe."

"We'll try tonight," Ria said, her voice not entirely thrilled. "If the flames don't turn black again..."

"They won't." Nevusa's tone indicated she'd explained this several times already. "Use cedar wood as kindling and throw sage and lavender in the flames if you are still worried. The fire does cleanse itself though."

"Juniper wood work in place of cedar?" Gen asked. The two Forsworn had not yet joined the card game, but he and Sine were sitting to the side and watching with interest.

"Yes. Aspen will work too." Nevusa clicked her tongue. "And a certain pine tree. I don't know its name but it's not the green ones. The ones that look more blue?"

"We have some of those," Gen said. "And I know where to get their wood. Juniper's easiest, though: it's all over the Reach, and it smells like home to us."

"We have some logs. And kindling." Sine glanced over at him, then unfolded and padded off silently to retrieve the wood.

"They'll have food at the inn," Zak said from where he was sitting, halfway between the main doors and the stairwells down. He briefly glanced up from tending his blades.

"Oh! Sorry, got distracted." Nevusa said, eyes wide.

"I'm...not entirely sure where the inn is," Gyrmallion admitted. "I was up in Dragonsreach all yesterday."

"I'll show you." Nevusa jumped up. "Won't be long."

"Thank you." Gyrmallion tried not to laugh when Farkas promptly stood as well.

Nevusa was a jittery ball of nerves the entire short distance, her attention everywhere and chattering nonstop about nothing.

Gyrmallion raised an eyebrow, managing to insert his own comment somewhere in the middle of it. "Is...something wrong? I don't remember you being this scattered before."

"It's the waiting." she said.

"It's not easy," he admitted. Then he paused, a look of dismay crossing his face as his hand, absently reaching for his pack, encountered nothing at his waist.. "I just realized...I may have no way to pay for a meal."

"I'll cover you." Nevusa said. "It's...the least I can do for you convincing Nerevar to talk."

"I...really don't remember doing that," he admitted. "A vague memory of a dream is the best I have, and it's so confused I'm not sure I could explain it."

"However you did it, you still did." Nevusa said. "And it probably saved Vel's life. We'd have no idea what was wrong with him otherwise. Might not have thought to go in his thick skull to save him either. Or Zak would have attacked him."

Gyrmallion rubbed his head. "I'm glad it happened. I'd just like to know how. And not just to explain why I sleepwalked through what was apparently a very powerful sleeping potion."

"Twist Nerevar's arm again. Maybe the fetcher knows. Obviously he's good at hiding secrets." Nevusa muttered.

"I'm just wondering...Champions tend to be favored by someone. Nerevar has Azura, the Dragonborn has Akatosh, Zak has Ebonarm...Drizzt has Kynareth." He glanced toward the statue of Talos. "I can't help but wonder. Who...is interested in me?"

"Hmm. You might have a point there. After all, more than one has said you've been marked." Nevusa tapped her fingers. "More than likely an Aedra."

"Elealda would probably say it's Arkay, as often as I've come to meeting him," he muttered.

"Which one is he?" Nevusa asked, sticking to Farkas' side when the random cold wind hit her suddenly. "I know daedra, not so much aedra."

"He brings souls into the world...and escorts them out," Gyrmallion said. "He's also a patron of healers and surgeons, as well as being in charge of the funeral rites."

"Sounds more like Elealda rather than you." Nevusa said.

"I was being facetious. Though it is true she's had to pull me back from the edge of death...more times than she'd probably like to count."

"No wonder she and Drelasa get along so well." Nevusa said.

"Healers...tend to, I've noticed." They reached the inn and went inside, into a burst of warmth and mouth-watering smells. Nevusa handed over a small pouch.

"Thank you." He made a beeline for the counter, not noticing how the chatter grew quiet, or the way people turned to look as he went past. A wave of curious, even excited whispers swept the inn as several guards confirmed that yes, this was the one all the stories were discussing, who'd saved the Dragonborn from some monstrous demon.

"So it begins again..." Nevusa murmured to Farkas. "Think it's best to stay here in case they get too excited."

Gyrmallion went to the counter. "Excuse me, what do you have on the fire?" he asked, determined to stay polite despite the eager shrieking in his midriff at the smells around him.

The pretty woman at the counter saw him, and her eyes briefly widened; but she regained composure quickly enough. "Roast venison and grilled vegetables tonight; there's also vegetable and apple-and-cabbage soup."

"A plate of venison and vegetables, please," he said, opening the purse. "And a bowl of vegetable soup. And I think...wine to go with it."

"Huh...thinking on it, I don't think he's eaten since...we made that stop before we even got into Whiterun." Nevusa mused. "Poor thing."

"Certainly." The innkeeper didn't seem afraid of him. In fact, had he been thinking of anything other than food, he might have noticed that she appeared to be...not quite simpering, but definitely giving him the eye. "Find yourself a seat; I'll have it all right out."

"Okay, now this is getting funny." Nevusa giggled.

Farkas watched him seat himself at a nearby table. "I don't think he noticed her flirting."

"Oh no, he has no clue. I doubt he's really even noticed her. Or anyone else, really." Nevusa bit her lip to keep from laughing as the innkeeper came out from behind her counter, a tray of food in her hands. "He's focused totally on what's on that plate in front of him. I think another hybrid could come tearing through and he might not notice right away...unless it had fruit dangling from its horns, that is."

Farkas considered. "No, I bet he'd fight it anyway. Actually, he'd probably fight harder if he thought it was going to spill his food."

"How to watch a man fight with a sword in one hand and a fork in the other." Nevusa said.

Farkas laughed. "That's Nevano. Where does he get those, anyway? We were wondering about it all after the wedding."

"We have no idea." Nevusa put her head in her hands. "It made its first appearance around the time I met him for the first time, according to Vel. I don't even think it's the same fork. No idea where that one came from either because we didn't have forks at the Safepoint at the time!"

"Huh." Farkas considered, smiling as he watched Ysolda continue to flirt with Gyrmallion, who remained unaware of what was going on. "Doesn't Sheogorath like forks as well as cheese?"

"Funny you should say that. Geril looked Nevano dead in the eye and said if he said a single word about Sheogorath he'd nail Nevano's tongue to the table with the fork!" She giggled. "Considering all the pranks I've been hearing he's pulled over the years during our jaunt to Cyrodiil? You'd think Sheogorath popped him out. Look at that, she's all but in his lap and he's still oblivious."

"Uh-oh." Farkas had noticed something Gyrmallion had not. "That's right, Mikael started flirting with Ysolda after Olfina got married. He's not happy about this." He strode forward to join the Chii Chare.

"Oh lovely..." She hurried after him.

The bard had indeed started prowling forward, glaring. Ysolda scowled at him and twisted away from his grasp as she went back behind the counter to refill Gyrmallion's cup, which she had been offering to do while nearly sitting on him. Gyrmallion had finished the large bowl of soup and was starting on the venison and vegetables, but with his hunger now dulled, he had started noticing a few things again, one of which was the approach of a hostile figure. He glanced over his shoulder at the bard...just as Farkas pulled out a chair across from him and plopped down in it.

Nevusa settled next to him and looked over at the bard. Hmm, so he liked to claim a woman, did he?

"That's Mikael," Farkas said calmly, and more than a little loudly. "He likes to think he's better with women than he is."

Gyrmallion looked back at the Companion, one eyebrow raised. "Oh?"

"Uh-huh. Used to flirt with Carlotta Valentina, a long time ago: pretty widow, wasn't interested in men after her husband died. Drizzt beat him up and made him back off of her. Then he started giving Olfina Grey-Mane a hard time." Farkas nodded sagely. "But she's married now, too. Ran off with Jon Battle-Born. So now he's flirting with Ysolda."

Nevusa slid a hot-eyed glance at the bard. "Huh...sounds like he is lousy with words. Imagine that! A bard who can't charm women."

They made a song about his fight with Drizzt," Farkas said. "It's not really accurate...but it's a good song." He grinned. "I can sing it, if you'd like to hear it."

"Oh, I absolutely must hear this." Nevusa grinned wickedly.

Farkas started singing. "Oh, the tavern was crowded at closing of day, The bard at his post, he was singing away-"

"You shut up, you big lummox!" Mikael might have already had a drop or three too many, judging by the way he lunged at the big Companion.

Farkas had been waiting for that. His fist snapped out, fast and hard, catching Mikael on the chin. The bard went over backwards with a crash...and stayed there.

Nevusa smirked broadly. "Now that is how you set a woman's blood on fire."

Farkas grinned at her, then looked down regretfully at the unconscious bard. "I probably shouldn't keep singing," he said. "Drizzt doesn't like the song either. It's not accurate. It says he kisses Carlotta at the end-and he didn't."

"Tsk tsk, shouldn't be spreading nonexistent encounters. No more than one should kiss and tell." Nevusa scolded. Then she put a hand on Farkas' leg. "Don't fret. Something tells me that even a long nap on the hard ground won't stop this one for long."

"Probably not." Farkas grinned, looking over at Ysolda. "But I'm happy to take care of him when he's being a pain." He reached out, pulling Nevusa close to his side.

Gyrmallion still seemed a bit baffled, looking from them to the bard, and then over to Ysolda. About that moment, he suddenly understood, and looked at the ceiling, a dark stain spreading across his cheeks and ears.

Nevusa laughed. "About time the rest of you took over your belly!"

"Oh, hush." He looked at his left hand. "And of course they took my ring when they strung me up out there..."

Nevusa's eyes sparkled. "I have an idea how we can get that back!"

He frowned suddenly. "I think...my cousin might have it now. It just occurred to me, in the chaos after the fight I didn't realize it, but...the wards around the island. I'd bound those to my wedding ring. He mentioned something about being forced to warp the enchantment so that the wards wouldn't go off when they invaded; the only way he could have done that is if he had my ring."

"Oh, that's good then! You can still get it back." She said happily.

He nodded. "Ravenlight has said something about recruiting Valenwood Rangers...and the island in question is near Valenwood. If he and his family don't make it there themselves."

"I'm sure they did. I'm sure they are safe." Nevusa said. "I was thinking we were going to have to search that town you were in."

"The rest of our equipment should be there," he agreed. "And I think most of us would be glad to have our personal items back."

"I can still enact my idea then." Nevusa grinned mischievously.

"Hmm..." He smiled. "Might be interesting to see what you have in mind once we get there."

"Oh, we can put it into motion as soon as today." Nevusa grinned. "Though...probably tomorrow. Once Drelasa is a bit more rested. It requires Jorun. He will think it's hilarious, knowing him."

"Oh, I will enjoy that." Gyrmallion's smile widened. He had enjoyed meeting Jorun.

Ysolda came over with his refilled cup; he took it with a polite smile, but was careful not to indicate in any way that he was receptive to her flirting.

"I've known Jorun since I was really young. He'd visit my mother every so often. I kinda wonder how many curves he'd throw in all this if he were still alive." Nevusa smiled. "Drelasa on her own is near unstoppable but the two of them together? Well, actually, we know how that went. Morrowind rebelled. They still cause trouble together."

Gyrmallion smiled again, but there was a sadness to his expression this time. "I can...sympathize with her. Very much. And I almost envy her. We don't call the spirits of the dead...though I occasionally wish we could."

"We don't view death as an end. It's a beginning of a different sort." Nevusa said. "Though it's not all pleasant. Drelasa simply has a very strong bond with someone who had a good heart. No one responds to me when I ask. And Nevano keeps summoning this maniac who tries to kill every living thing around him. The twins...summon a whole tribe. Veleth isn't comfortable with undead and dead things so he doesn't try. Which makes this whole thing with Sul so ironic. My point, sorry got distracted, is that you have a strong enough bond...you might not be able to summon them but we can always ask Jorun if your wife and kids are okay."

He nodded. "I would...I would like that. They died...long before Rumalashorn came to power, so I...don't think they..." He swallowed, unable to even voice the thought.

Nevusa reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "When Drelasa has her energy back, which she does pretty fast, we can call Jorun and ask. He actually likes doing these errands. Makes him feel useful."

He smiled at her. "Thank you."

"You are one of us now." Nevusa said, as if that explained everything.

From the light that glowed in his eyes as his smile widened...it did.

"If you're finished, let's head back before that bard wakes up and decides he needs to cause trouble again." Nevusa giggled. "And I think I need to be the one to put sage and lavender in the fire pit. If I leave them to do it, we'll smell Jorrvaskr long before we get close to it."

"I am finished." Gyrmallion stood, leaving a small pile of coins on the table, and followed the two of them out of the inn.

Nevusa was in a much better mood heading back, twining her fingers with Farkas' and just about skipping on her toes.

That is, until they got to Jorrvaskr. Just as they were reaching for the doors, they flew open and Dreyla ran out, holding Dusty close, Zeb with her.

Gyrmallion caught her before she crashed into him. "What's wrong?"

"It's starting." Dreyla sobbed. "Drelasa sent me out."

Nevusa's hand gripped Farkas' tightly.

"Sul and Veleth," Gyrmallion breathed. He hesitated. "Should I go in?"

"Go. Please." Nevusa's lips were nearly white. "Help if they need it. I'll stay with Dreyla. I...I don't think I can watch that..."

He nodded, gently passed the sobbing woman over to the two, then hurried inside. "I don't know who it is that's marked me," he prayed, heading down the stairs, "but...we could probably use your help right now."