Author's note:
Hi everyone! As usual, I send a huge thank you to all those who are reading/favoriting/following this fanfic. Moreover, I deeply thank Alastair279, Guest and reddevil47 for leaving me a review. Without your support, updating my story would cost me a much greater effort.
As far as the reviews are concerned, I'm very glad to see that Guest is enjoying this fanfic. Moreover, I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only one who thinks that Delphine is rather hateful. I admire her for being a strong woman who fights for what she believes in, sure, but I don't enjoy being ordered around as if I were her own personal slave. Given that there's a mod that can solve that (apropos, thank you Alstair279 for the tip!), I'll probably take the big step of buying Skyrim for pc (I am but a poor console player).
As far as reddevil47's review is concerned, I'll admit that it had me grin for a few glorious minutes. I've tried to hide Steinarius' connection with the Dragonborn as long as I could and it looks like I've made a rather decent job *pats herself on the shoulder*. Also, I'm taking my sweet time building Steinarius' relationship with Agda because I want them to do/say certain things before the whole Dovahkiin-madness spirals out of control. Oh, and in case you're wondering, I haven't forgotten about Vigdis and her baby. You just need to trust me: all will be revealed in due time ;)
Anyway, enough spoilers for the moment. Here's the second part of the previous chapter, in which we get to discover more about Steinarius and his new life as the Dragonborn. It's another build-up instalment that explains a few important things about the previous parts of the story.
Enjoy!
There was a long moment of silence as Steinarius' words slowly sank in Agda's mind.
At first, the girl thought that the Imperial was making fun of her. Yet, as she noticed his troubled eyes and the way his hands were slightly shaking, she realized that he was telling the truth.
"I didn't believe it either, at first", the man faintly whispered. "The guards called me Dragonborn, Balgruuf made me Thane of Whiterun, the townsfolk even organized a party at the Bannered Mare. As I met them on the streets, all of them were smiling as though my simple presence was enough to keep them safe. I didn't have the courage to face their happiness, so I made up a stupid excuse and left Whiterun before my newly appointed huskarl could even realize it.
"When I finally reached Castle Dour, I made no mention of the Dragonborn problem. I told Tullius that I still had nightmares about Helgen and that I wanted to be stationed somewhere far from Whiterun. When the General assigned me to a post near Karthwasten, I eagerly accepted his offer.
"The daily fights with the Forsworn allowed me to forget the whole Dovahkiin madness for a few weeks, but I was harshly taken back to reality when a dragon attacked my camp. I killed the beast and once again I absorbed its soul. As I did, I had no doubts left: there was something wrong with me, something deeply, terribly wrong".
Agda immediately noticed the slight fear in Steinarius' words. At that moment the man looked frail and scared and worried. It was hard to believe he was a hardened warrior - and it was even harder to believe that he was the prophesized savior of Skyrim.
Agda deeply wished she could do something to make him feel better.
"There's nothing wrong with you", she said with a reassuring tone. As she spoke, she leant towards the Imperial and laid a hand on his arm. "You're a good man, Steinarius. Without you, I would have never recovered from the way the Thalmor tortured me".
The man shook his head.
"I'm not a good man, Agda. I tried to kill you, I ashamed the Companions by joining the Legion, I didn't protect Thorygg from his enemies, I didn't manage to kill Ulfric. Moreover, had it not been for me, you wouldn't have been tortured at all".
Taken aback by that remark, Agda remained speechless for a few seconds.
Bothered by that uncomfortable silence, Steinarius quickly resumed his tale.
"As you might have heard, the Greybeards summoned me to High Hrothgar as soon as I killed my first dragon. I pushed their calling aside for more than a month, but when the second dragon came along, I could no longer ignore the weird effects that those beasts had on me. Therefore, I finally faced my destiny and headed for Ivarstead. You've never visited the Greybeards, have you?"
Agda shook her head.
"Then you should", Steinarius suggested her. "At first I was annoyed by their slowness, their prayers and their silence, but after two days in their monastery I felt as though I didn't have a care left in the world. The Greybeards have managed to guide me and reassure me in one of the worst moments of my life, therefore I decided to live with them as long as I could. The monks told me about the Way of the Voice and taught me some of their secrets. I stayed at High Hrothgar until I was forced to leave in order to recover an ancient item and complete my trial as the Dragonborn.
"When I was told about that errand, I got really angry. I'd grown to love the peace of High Hrothgar, therefore the idea of returning to the world was enough to make me puke. It didn't help that on my way to Ustengrav I came across a couple of angry dragons.
"After I arrived in Hjaalmarch, I trekked through a Nordic ruin for almost two days. I was tired and injured and worried I would never find my way back. Then, when I finally reached the resting place of Jurgen Windcaller, I had one of the worst surprises of my life, as the item I was looking for wasn't there. After the first moments of desperation, I realized that the object had been replaced by a note that asked me to come to the Sleeping Giant. Unfortunately, that's when I lost it.
"I lent a horse and rode as fast as I could for a few days. When I finally reached Riverwood and saw your satisfied smile, I couldn't keep my anger at bay. I thought you'd lured me inside that ruin just because you wanted to see me and, when you mentioned the note you had sent me, I felt as though my suspects were completely right".
Steinarius sighed and let his hand flow through his blond hair.
"I'm sorry, Agda, I really am", he whispered as he remembered the way he had almost strangled her. "I don't know you well, but you come across like a very sweet girl. Despite my rage, I shouldn't have treated you like I did".
"I thought you'd received the note Adaeze sent you on my behalf, that's why I didn't ask you why you were so angry", Agda muttered in a weak attempt to make Steinarius feel better. "I should have stopped you immediately rather than…"
The Imperial interrupted her with a gesture.
"You have no blames, Agda. Not even a drunken note could excuse my behavior".
"It was a very blunt note, actually".
Much to Agda's embarrassement, Steinarius unexpectedly chuckled.
"So I've noticed. You know, before reaching Ustengrav I spent a few hours in Solitude. As I had dinner at the local inn, I quickly read the letters I'd received during my absence. As you can imagine, your note was among them".
Agda felt as though her cheeks had just caught fire.
"You'll probably be scared, given that you're in an isolated shack together with a girl who's already voiced her desire to molest you", she somehow managed to utter.
As he noticed the girl's embarrassment, Steinarius nervously laughed.
"Agda, it's not the first time I receive a letter like yours", he reassured her. "Moreover, Hadvar got a very similar note from Adaeze, so I immediately realized that your friend had sent me that letter on your behalf. Yet, I thought you had somehow decided to lure me in Ustengrav because I hadn't replied to your note. After all, you're the only person I know who lives in Riverwood and works at the Sleeping Giant. It was a very stupid mistake on my side, Agda: I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions".
"So you're not angry at me?"
Steinarius tenderly smiled.
"I should be the one to ask you that question, Agda. By the way no, I'm not angry at you. And you, are you mad at me?".
Agda shook her head. She wasn't angry at the man who had tried to kill her – at least, she wasn't angry at him anymore. Steinarius was quick to lose his temper, sure, and sometimes his mysterious ways could be downright annoying. Yet, the girl believed him to be an honest, decent and honorable man.
As soon as he received Agda's forgiveness, Steinarius smiled. Prompted by her questions, he went on to tell her about Kynesgrove, Alduin and Delphine's true identity.
"After killing that dragon in Kynesgrove, I went to Solitude and officially resigned from the Legion. After all, If I'm to save the world – everyone's world, not just mine -, I don't need the Empire to support me. Rikke immediately understood the reason why I was quitting, whereas Tullius protested. He even called me names, but I couldn't care less.
"After leaving the Legion, I returned to High Hrothgar to continue my training. Every morning I would visit Riverwood to talk to Delphine, then I'd go back to the monastery".
Agda was shocked by that revelation. It took a very long time to reach High Hrothgar, therefore she couldn't understand how Steinarius could travel so fast between Riverwood and that remote place.
"I have my ways", the Imperial told her with a sheepish grin.
He then proceeded to tell Agda about the Thalmor embassy, his visit to the Ratway and his upcoming journey to Alduin's wall. The Imperial said he would leave for the Pinnacle of Karth in a few days, then he fell silent.
While she watched his troubled eyes and listened to his heavy sighs, Agda suddenly felt the need to hug him and thank him for all he was going through.
As an inhabitant of Nirn, she couldn't help but feel safe knowing that such a loyal man was set to fight against the end of her world.
By the time Steinarius finished his tale, Anise's cabin had been surrounded by darkness. The Imperial explained Agda why the Thalmor were looking for him, then he made her chuckle by telling her about his disguise for Elenwen's party - a curly red wig and a fake scar across the eye. Luckily enough, the Emissary of the Dominion hadn't paid him any attention.
As Agda and Steinarius finally left the shack, the snow was slowly falling on the forest. The Imperial had filled his knapsack with the potions Agda had brewed and he had also lent her his cloak. The girl was happy to be with him: Steinarius was sweet and kind and gentle and made her feel safe even when they were facing the wilds.
While they were walking side by side, Agda perceived that the Imperial was much more relaxed than usual. As he told her about his youth in Solitude, he often allowed a tiny, crooked smile to appear on his lips; moreover, Agda noticed that his eyes were now completely grey, as though he felt completely at ease after revealing her his true identity.
When Steinarius gave her a particularly long smile, the young innkeeper scooped closer to him, then took him by the arm. Steinarius frowned for a second, causing her to blush. Yet, as he noticed that Agda was about to let him go, he smiled and draped an arm around her shoulders.
As they finally reached Riverwood, both of them were feeling much better than they had over the previous month – and when Agda opened the door to the inn and found herself face to face with Adaeze, she felt even better.
Now that she was reunited with her best friend, the celebrations for New Life Festival could finally begin.