Author's Note:
My dear readers, here I am with another update. I apologize for my absence and in reply to Guest' review, I must say that "I no update" because of work, flu, writer's block, Dragon Age Inquisition and much more. Yet, here I finally am - and with me there are also Agda, Steinarius and their problems.
First of all, a huge thank you to all my lovely readers and reviewers. I'm glad MeanE enjoys the way I make vanilla characters slimey, as it is one of the things I like the most about writing fanfics. Also, I agree with msyendor about Delphine being the perfect Champion for Mephala. I once tried to charge the Blade of Woe, but I had to delete the save because I felt guilty!
Also, I'm very happy Elspeth and kaibaeskyrim enjoyed Steinarius' glorious entrance and his hug with Agda. This chapter will have a few more hugs, so be ready for it!
As for Valtieri's review, I am really glad to read that, in your opinion, chapter 58 was the best one in the book. I particularly adore chapter 28 (the one when Agda gets mad at Steinarius and they break up) and now I'm very curious to know what the others think of this; therefore, here's my question: what's your favourite chapter of the story so far? If you want to answer, feel free to write a review or send me a PM.
Back to Valtieri, don't worry for the Harry Potter references - I'm a big fan of the canon series, so I'm very familiar with books/movies. While writing about Delphine stealing the letters, I was actually aware I was "stealing" the idea from someone else - and thanks to you, I have finally realized who my muse was. Also, thank you for pointing out how useless the Blades are now that Stein has left them. Weird as it may sound, I had never thought of that!
Last but not least, a huge thank you goes to DracoOblivion. Your reviews allowed me to know more about myself as a writer and about the feelings my readers may experience while dealing with this fanfic. Also, they allowed me to take a wonderful trip down Memory Lane, as they reminded me of my own thoughts while I was writing the first part of this story.
In order to thank you for putting up with my long absence, here's a rather long (at least for my standard) update. It is a transiction instalment that prepares a lot of greater events, but hopefully you will like it anyway.
Enjoy!
11th of Second Seed, 4E 202
After his argument with Delphine, Steinarius felt free for the first time in months. Ever since killing Ancano, the man had been caught in the Breton's net: he had namely accepted to serve the Blades as head of the recruits and had also taken advantage of Esbern's experience in order to improve his shape for the final battle against Alduin. The old man had always been kind to Steinarius, whereas Delphine had always used him for her own means - a thing the Dragonborn realized when it was already too late.
Of all the things he'd suffered at the hands of the Breton, Steinarius especially couldn't get over the way she had heartlessly hidden the letters he'd sent to Agda. He'd often asked the young woman to visit him, he'd volunteered to spend a few days in Winterhold just to stay close to her, he had even written long pages in which he tried to remind her of his affection for her, of his interest in her happiness, of the way he was always ready to help her get over the demons from her past - and Steinarius felt outraged at knowing that all those words and invitations had never received by the muse who had inspired them in the first place. Actually, the man wasn't simply outraged by that discovery: he also felt completely and utterly betrayed. Despite all their arguments, Steinarius had trusted Delphine - and knowing that she had toyed with his life made him angry and confused.
"And now that Delphine has kicked me out of the Order, Erik and the others don't even have the means to kill a dragon for good!", he'd often shout at the end of his long rants.
Agda would nod and sigh, then she would try to change topic of conversation. The Archmage never talked about her own feelings towards Delphine – rather than wasting time ranting about things she couldn't change, the young woman namely preferred organizing the expedition to Blackreach.
Steinarius was surprised by the changes his best friend had undergone in the previous six months. Agda was kind and friendly, but the Imperial didn't fail to notice that she was much more nervous and detached than usual: she often got angry at her apprentices, she often got distracted while he was talking, she always turned him down when he asked her out for dinner – and when Steinarius heard Colette call her "Agda the Cold", he realized he wasn't the only one who seemed unable to break through the girl's high walls.
For some time, the Dragonborn thought that Agda's weird behavior depended on her worries for their upcoming task. In order to tackle the expedition of Blackreach in the best possible way, the young mage spent many a hour reading about Falmer and Dwemer and old Nordic legends; also, she tried to create a little group of volunteers that would help her and the Dragonborn during the exploration of Blackreach. The girl now had a lot of experience under her belt, but the thought of venturing in that dangerous place somehow made her unease. Sadly enough, Agda wasn't the only one who didn't feel safe inside old Dwemer ruins – and when she asked her colleagues and friends for help, no one lent her a hand. Steinarius reacted to the news with a shrug, whereas the girl felt hurt and disappointed.
"We've already made it out of Labyrinthian on our own", the man told her in a weak attempt to cheer her up. "We will face this challenge together and we'll achieve our aim without problems".
Unfortunately, Agda didn't seem to share that opinion. When Steinarius told her that he was sure they'd make it out of Blackreack unscathed, the girl actually rolled her eyes and stormed out of his room. The Dragonborn was shocked by that behavior – and a few days later, when he returned from a visit to Septimus Signus' hideout, he was even more shocked by Agda's cold greeting. The sweet innkeeper he had learned to love had seemingly disappeared once and for all – and in her wake she had left a detached woman who constantly zigzagged between moments of kindness and sudden outbursts of rage.
"You could have used our boat, you know".
Surprised by that remark, Steinarius gave Agda a baffled look and abandoned the towel he was using to dry his hair.
"Our boat?"
The young mage looked at the Dragonborn with a mixture of tiredness and exhaustion. She and Steinarius were meant to leave for Blackreach in a couple of days and the man had just returned from a visit to Septimus Signus' hideout. The mage was a true expert in Elder Scrolls, but he was also as mad as a hat. Steinarius had asked him a few information about his upcoming task and had been rather surprised by Septimus' close association with Daedras.
"The boat of the College, Stein", Agda explained the Imperial. The man didn't miss the hint of exasperation in her voice. "When I went to visit that Septimus maniac, I didn't swim all the way to his shelter".
Steinarius was surprised by that revelation. Not only had he ignored the existence of a boat he could use to get to Septimus Signus' hideout - he had also been told that Agda had never visited that crazy old man. Considering Septimus's close relationship to Hermaeus Mora, that discovery caused the Dragonborn to frown. He hadn't forgotten the nightmares Agda had once mentioned to him and he was afraid the girl could have striked some inconvenient deal with the Daedric Lord of Memory and Knowledge.
"You'll catch a cold if you don't hurry and finally get out of those wet clothes", the Archmage of Winterhold continued after a short moment of silence. Due to his surprise, Steinarius had remained speechless and had temporarily forgotten about the pool of water that was currently forming at his feet. "Also, your new armor may become rusty already".
As he listened to those words, Steinariu forgot about his stupor. After his argument with Delphine, the Imperial had turned into a werewolf and stormed out of their campsite – and by doing so, he had left his precious Blade armor behind. Luckily enough, Agda had asked the blacksmith of Winterhold to create him a strong set of steel armor, which she had later enchanted with defensive spells.
"Really Stein, I don't know why you decided to swim all the way to that cave when you could have simply asked me for a better way", the girl continued her rant as Steinarius finally shed his cuirass and replaced it with a dry shirt. "Also, I don't...".
"Agds, you don't have to worry about my health", the Dragonborn replied while hiding behind a wall in order to put on his trousers. "Werewolves don't get sick. Also, my dragon blood provides me with warmth even when I swim in frozen waters. By the way, I didn't know you had visited Septimus. Urag told me that Tolfdir went there on your behalf".
Steinarius had tried to mention that topic in a tactful way, but he soon realized that his efforts had been in vain.
"Urag lied", Agda namely replied. The girl looked rather annoyed by her friend's inquiries. "Still, I don't understand why you're so worried about it".
"I'm not worried", Steinarius promptly said while leaving his shelter. The man was now completely clothed and dry. "I just don't get why Urag would lie to me".
To the Dragonborn's shock, Agda replied to his words with a humorless chuckle.
"Think harder, then you'll understand why my man wasn't sincere. Don't get a nosebleed, though: I know warriors sometimes have a hard time using their brains rather than their muscles".
Taken aback by Agda's harsh and bitter tone, Steinarius grimaced. He'd grown accustomed to her snappiness, but rudeness was something totally new to him.
"Agds, Septimus seems to be entangled with Daedras – and you know how dangerous they can be".
"Said the man who sold his soul to Hircine and Hermaeus Mora", the girl scoffed. "By the way, Steinarius, I really don't get why you're so worried. You're incredibly apprehensive for a man who didn't even try to meet me for more than six months".
Those words caused Steinarius' frown to get even deeper. Here we go again, he thought. He and Agda had faced that topic multiple times in the previous days, but the girl had never got angry at him. That day, however, the Archmage seemed determined to make the Imperial feel sorry for his long absence from her life.
"You didn't try to meet me either", Steinarius pointed out while trying to keep his irritation in check. "And to say that you were in Markarth more than once over the last few weeks. The headquarters of the Blades are just a couple of miles away from the city".
"And you were in Dawnstar less than one month ago, Stein. It takes less than a day to get to Winterhold from there – and it takes less than three hours if you're a werewolf".
As he noticed the obstinate look on Agda's face, Steinarius sighed.
"Agda, there's no use in arguing because of Delphine. That witch tried to turn us against each other, but our friendship is stronger than her".
"Is it?" As Agda posed him that question, Steinarius deadpanned. "Steinarius, I'm afraid I'm not the same person you once knew", the girl added when she understood that the Imperial had been shocked by her words. "And I think it's time for you to realize it".
This time it was Steinarius' turn to let out a humorless chuckle. He had heard the rumors regarding 'Agda the Cold' and the way the Archmage of Winterhold supposedly tried to drive everyone away from her, but he had never thought them to be true.
"You think you've changed just because they call you 'Agda the Cold', don't you? If that is the case …"
"Stein, they call me 'Agda the Cold' because I am cold", Agda bitterly replied. "And it didn't help that my best friend abandoned me when I needed him the most".
"Agda, I didn't abandon you!", Steinarius protested while trying to keep his calm. The werewolf inside him was getting annoyed at Agda's accusations, but the Imperial was keen on using his brains rather than letting his inner beast take over. "I do care about you and I never wanted to leave you. You are well aware of that, so I think it's utterly unfair for you to criticize me just because my boss made me think that you were angry at me. You know that Delphine is…"
"I know only one thing, Stein: Delphine has proved me that you don't have a spine", Agda surprisingly broke her friend off. "You thought I was angry at you? Then you could have come here and ask me why I wasn't replying to your letters. Instead, you took the easy way out and simply believed I no longer needed you. I do realize I am a nuisance, but…"
"Agds, what are you talking about? You're not a nuisance to me! Damn it, Agds, you're the most important woman of my life!"
There was a moment of silence, during which Agda bitterly shook her head.
"I suppose it doesn't matter now, does it?", she asked with another of those humorless chuckles Steinarius had slowly grown to hate. "By the way, worry not: I have visited Septimus Signus, but I won't end up in Apocrypha. I namely turned down Hermaeus Mora's offer to join him".
Steinarius let out a relieved sigh, whereas Agda simply grabbed a book and turned her back to him.
"It's been a long day and I'm very tired", she announced before the man could say anything else. "Also, we're leaving for Blackreach in three days time. It would be wise to get some rest".
And with those words, the mage abandoned Steinarius' room and retreated inside her shelter.
That night, as she tossed and turned in her bed, Agda felt on the brink of tears. She didn't know what had got into her that afternoon: Steinarius had always been kind to her and she'd been sincerely happy when she had seen him for the first time in six months. Yet, the demons in her head had been quick to cause that argument and destroy her joy.
Over the previous months Agda had done everything in her power to gain the unpopular nickname of 'Agda the Cold'. She now carried that title like a crown and often told herself how proud she was of her detachment, of her independence, of her ability of dealing with problems without relying on anyone else; yet, as she got ready to another lonely night full of nightmares and insomnia, the girl realized that over the previous months she had simply pretended to be happy. Life had taught her not to trust anyone but herself: Delphine had used her for her own means, her colleagues helped her only when they needed a promotion, her own mother had tried to sell her to a man she didn't even know – and now that Steinarius was back, Agda didn't know what to do. His presence often caused her to lower her guard, but lowering her guard made her unable to defend herself from all those who wanted to exploit her for their own means – and after all she'd suffered in her life, the Archmage of Winterhold wasn't going to repeat that mistake.
No, she thought as she finally found a comfortable position. I don't need anyone in my life – especially not a man as troubled and troubling as the Dragonborn.
And with that thought in her mind, Agda slowly drifted in Vaermina's realm.
Steinarius gave the entrance of Alftand a worried look, almost as though he was expecting the door to start vomiting Falmer and Chauri and many other foul creatures ready to attack him and turn him into pieces. Next to him, Agda was equally concerned.
As he looked at her from the corner of his eye, Steinarius noticed that the Archmage was wearing her usual robes and a scarf. The girl seemed to disappear beneath those heavy clothes but, despite the warmth that was clearly radiating from them, she often shivered because of the low temperature. Steinarius thought of lending her his own scarf, but he changed his mind at the last moment – after their discussion from three days earlier, they still hadn't made peace.
As he gripped the hilt of his sword and finally walked inside the ruins, the Dragonborn frowned. The place smelled of death and decay.
"You said that some archaeologists were carrying out a research here", he diffidently told Agda. Ever since their argument, the two of them only spoke about their task. "I don't see anyone though".
"Onmund and Brelyna told me there was a snowstorm here the other day", the Archmage replied. "Maybe the scholars found shelter inside the ruins".
Steinarius frowned. He didn't like that idea at all.
Walking on his tiptoes, the man carefully stepped inside the hut the archaelogists had used as a basis for their exploration. The place was cold and half of it had been destroyed by the snowstorm Agda had mentioned.
"Do you think we'll find anyone alive?"
In reply to his question, Agda cast a quick life-detect spell. None of them was surprised when magic showed that they were the only living-beings inside that place.
The expedition to Blackreach was beginning in the worst possible way.
To tell the truth, a few minutes later Agda and Steinarius did come across another living-being. One of the archaeologists, a young Khajiti, was namely talking out loud to someone.
Worried by the tension in the boy's voice, Agda and Steinarius exchanged a worried glance. They slowly reached the Khajit and, as they did, they were both shocked by what they saw: the crazy creature was namely talking to the corpse of his brother as though it were still alive. Moved by that sight, both Agda and Steinarius hoped they could do something to help the poor Khajit. When he attacked them, however, they had no choice but to kill him.
As they proceeded towards the entry to the Dwemer ruins, the two companions grew even more silent and worried. The remaining members of the expedition had decided to avoid the snowstorm by finding shelter inside Alftand – and if their experience meant anything, both Agda and Steinarius knew they were about to come across their corpses.
Venturing through the ancient Dwemer ruins of Alftand was as scary as both of them had predicted. Steinarius was focused on his own actions, but couldn't ignore the fear he felt every time Agda confronted an enemy without his aid. The mage fought in a calm and rational way, without wasting too much energy and without using too many spells. Her Atronachs were incredibly lethal, and so were her traps – and shielded by them, Agda could drown her opponents in a sea of fire before they could even realize what had hit them.
Steinarius was fascinated by this new side of Agda, but at the same time he was slightly scared by the changes the girl had undergone. Even when confronted with the tortured corpse of an archaeologist, the woman didn't even flinch: she just shrugged, then she turned her back to the dead elf and carried on with her task.
With a frown, Steinarius wondered what had happened the the sympathetic woman he had once known.
As she and Steinarius made their way through the ruins of Altand, Agda experienced different feelings. She felt safe knowing that the most lethal warrior of Tamriel was by her side, but at the same time she tried not to rely on him. Steinarius was a deadly warrior and, when she looked at him fight, Agda couldn't help but feel admired by his swift and confident movements, by his sheer force, by the elegance he put in his attacks despite the fact that his life was at stake; at the same time, however, the girl perfectly remembered that the Dragonborn was the clumsiest person she knew, a fact that prevented her from lowering her guard.
After a whole day of trekking, the young Archmage was nearly exhausted. Dwemer ruins were dark and damp and scary and Agda was tired of being alert all the time; also, even though she had now become a very good fighter, her physical shape still didn't allow her to jog through dangerous places for too many hours in a row.
Luckily enough, Steinarius seemed weary too. The Dragonborn knew that Agda was too proud to admit that she was exhausted, so he decided to stop for the night as soon as the first wave of tiredness washed over him. The unlikely couple found shelter in an abandoned room where they ate some cold meat and prepared for the night. Steinarius would have liked to keep guard for the whole time, but Agda was keen on taking the first shift.
Later that evening, long after he'd exchanged place with the girl, the Dragonborn sighed. Agda seemed troubled by nightmares and, when he heard her whimper in what sounded like fear, Steinarius couldn't take it anymore: he walked up to her, sat down beside her and covered her with his blanket. Agda didn't wake, but the warmth of the wool succeeded in calming her down: she stopped tossing and turning in her bedroll and finally seemed to find a comfortable position.
Satisfied by the relieved expression on her face, Steinarius gathered his courage and gently caressed her cheeks. He could feel Agda' scars under his fingertips and, now that the effects of her usual potions had worn out, he could also see the pale marks Ancano had left all over her face. As he did, the Dragonborn took a decision. He had already risked to lose Agda more times than he could count; now, however, he was ready to try everything he could to give her the peace and the happiness she so clearly deserved.
Agda woke to the pleasing aroma of fresh bread with marmalade. Steinarius had already made her breakfast, a fact that caused her to frown.
"You shouldn't have bothered", she claimed, coldness well evident in her voice. "I can cook too, you know".
The man didn't say anything: he just shrugged, then he resumed crunching his own loaf of bread. Agda made to comment on his rudeness, but only then did she notice the woolen blanket that was covering her. The cloth was warm and soft and smelled like lavender, juniper and nightshade – and as she took in that detail, Agda understood that Steinarius had lent her his blanket.
"Why…"
"You were cold", the Imperial broke her off. "After all, I suppose there's a reason if they call you Agda the Cold".
There was a moment of tense silence during which Agda thought of the implications behind Stein's words. Was he making fun of her or did he want to make her smile? Either way, the girl eventually took a big breath and decided to forget her pride.
"Thank you", she said, her voice much softer than she'd planned.
Steinarius replied with a tiny nod and, although he was trying to be neutral about her reply, Agda didn't miss the sparkle of happiness in his grey eyes. Unbeknowest to her, the Dragonborn had just begun smashing through the high walls she'd built around her during the previous six months.
The second day in Alftand proceeded just like the first one. As they ventured deeper inside the ruins, Agda and Steinarius came across many enemies; yet, that didn't seem to bother them and they even succeeded in taking care of threatening opponents like Chauri and Centurions.
To his surprise, the Dragonborn had to admit that the two of them formed a very good team: Agda could hit their enemies from the distance, whereas he could dispatch them in close combat. Also, the girl had spells that warned them of traps, whereas the Imperial used his werewolf senses to detect nearby threats. Together, the two explorers felt almost invincible.
Despite their alliance, Steinarius and Agda had to face a few difficult moments during their adventure through Alftand. Facing the Falmer hidden in the so-called Cathedral was much more dangerous than predicted, whereas killing the last two surviving archaeologists took a heavy burden on their morael. Steinarius wished they wouldn't get down to that, but Umana and Sulla attacked Agda as soon as the young mage tried to speak to them – and when the warriors launched towards her friend, the Imperial was quick to protect her and dispatch the two enemies. Agda gave him a crossed look, but she didn't comment – just like Steinarius, she knew he had no other choices.
In an attempt to please the man, the Archmage showed him the beautiful shield sported by Umana. It was a rare item with spikes and studs that made it perfect for defense as well as for attacking; yet, Steinarius abandoned it with the corpse of its previous owner. He felt bad for killing Umana and had no wish to take her shield as a constant reminder of his guilt.
It was late afternoon when Agda and Steinarius finally gained access to Blackreach. As they took a first glimpse of that legendary place, both of them deadpanned: they had never seen anything so big, so majestic, so breathtaking. The two of them were many miles underground, in a place surrounded by legends and mystery, alone against a surreal landscape that was probably full of things that wanted to kill them; yet, right then the adventurers didn't feel any worry, as the awe for that amazing discovery was enough to overcome their concerns.
The first one to feel intimated by the size of the ruins was Steinarius. He knew that Elder Scrolls were usually hidden in dangerous places and he was sure that his entuthiasm for Blackreach would fade in less than ten minutes. That place was cold and dark and damp and his grey eyes were having troubles adjusting to the light; also, his werewolf senses seemed overrun by the many feelings that washed over him at once.
Beside Steinarius, Agda looked equally worried. At the same time, however, the reason for her concern was very peculiar. The Archmage wasn't afraid of the creatures that lurked in Blackreach - she was afraid she would be unable to discover all the secrets hidden in that wide area.
As she carefully walked towards a little hut in the middle of a field, Agda felt unable to close her jaw. The huge mushrooms around her, the deep river she could see in the distance, the very air she was breathing... everything was strange and exotic and she felt the desire to know more about that marvellous place that was so different from the rest of Tamriel. At the same time, however, the Archmage soon realized that there was at least one thing she didn't like about Blackreach. The mushrooms that spread their light all over the place namely had the property to make her scars visible. No matter what spells she used or what potions she drank: every time she raised her arms, Agda could see the marks Ancano had left on her skin almost one year earlier. That discovery was a low blow to the girl's morale - and things got even worse when she and Steinarius started arguing about what to do next.
"I think we should start exploring this place", the young mage stated when the man asked for her opinion. "No one has set foot here in centuries and..."
To Agda's annoyance, the Dragonborn immediately broke her off.
"Agds, we're not here to explore this place", he pointed out. "I just want to find my Elder Scroll and be on my way before the creatures lurking around here can notice our presence".
Agda was shocked by that answer. Since when had Steinarius become less brave than her? And most important, how could she exploit that fact to have him do as she pleased?
"Are you scared?", the Archmage asked him, sarcasm well evident in her voice.
Confronted with that question, Steinarius looked Agda in the eyes. He knew what she was trying to do: she wanted to rely on his pride and have him do exactly what she wanted. Yet, the previous six months had helped the Dragonborn become much more mature than he once was; as a consequence, he immediately understood his friend' strategy.
"Yes, I'm actually very scared - which is why I think we should follow the main road and go straight to our target. Septimus mentioned a tower and it won't be easy to find one in this huge place".
When Agda frowned, Steinarius realized he had taken her by surprise. She was beautiful, the man noticed in that weird moment of silence. Even with the scars on her cheeks made evident by the huge mushrooms nearby, even with that frown wrinkling her forehead, even with that mixture of surprise and confusion and resentment painted on her face, the young mage namely managed to attract the Imperial with her feminine curves, her dark blonde curls and her deep brown eyes - eyes which were currently giving the Dragonborn a rather angry look.
The weird moment of silence continued until Agda scoffed.
"As you wish, Dragonborn", she bitterly said. "We'll follow the main road. If our enemies spot us as soon as we get there, however, don't look at me for help".
Steinarius smiled. It was time he showed Agda what he had learned over the previous months.
Although Agda had been sure of the contrary, Steinarius had no desire to actually set foot on the main road of Blackreach. The Imperial namely believed that many of his enemies probably patrolled the area; that's why, rather than risking to come across them, the Dragonborn decided to follow the main road while keeping himself at a distance he considered safe - and that implied walking along that paved path while remaining in the darkness.
After following that plan for a few minutes, Agda had to admit that it wasn't that bad. There were giants and Dwemer automatons patrolling the road, therefore keeping off of it had been a very good idea. At the same time, Blackreach was much bigger than predicted and the main road provided her and Steinarius with precious help every time they had to use their orientation skills.
"We should go back to the hut we saw as soon as we reached this place", Steinarius suddenly said. They'd been walking for more than an hour and Agda was surprised to hear him ask for a pause. "It looked like a safe shelter".
"Are you tired?"
With a grimace, Steinarius nodded.
"There's something weird in this place. It's cold and damp and my werewolf senses receive too much information at once; add that to the fact that tonight I didn't sleep well, and you'll understand why I am so tired. Also, I think we need to make a clever plan for exploring this area without wasting too much energy. After all, I don't want to spend the rest of my life here".
Agda was surprised by Steinarius' admission of tiredness. The air in Blackreach was weird, she could feel it too, but she didn't find the cold and the dampness annoying - on the contrary, she thought they were a nice change in comparison to the smell of dust and decay that reigned in Alftand.
On her way back to the hut, the Archmage suddenly caught a glimpse of something she'd never seen before. It looked like a normal Nirnroot, but it was crimson - and as soon as she realized that, Agda forgot Steinarius' long rants about prudence and hastily walked towards the small plant.
Before the man could hiss any warning in her direction, the young mage had already crouched beside that weird root and had started revelling in the beautiful music coming from that rare alchemy ingredient. Yet, before she could do anything else, Agda found herself face-to-face with a baby Chaurus - and before she could even open her mouth in surprise, the insect had already spat poison at her. When the liquid came in contact with her eyes, the mage let out a shrill scream and covered her face with her hands.
Agda's desperate yell was enough for Steinarius to defeat the horror that had temporarily paralyzed him. Forgetting his desire to pass unnoticed, the Dragonborn used a powerful Shout that caused the Chaurus to catch fire; a moment later, as the creature tried to escape the flames that were devouring its body, the Imperial thrust his sword through its skull, thus killing it once and for all.
Despite that success, Steinarius had no time to rejoice: he was worried about Agda and immediately crouched down beside her. Her face was covered in poison, therefore the man hastily used his cloak to clean most of it. Once that operation was over, the girl threw herself in his arms and began trembling like a leaf.
"It's okay Agds, I've got you", Steinarius whispered in an attempt to calm the young mage. Thanks to the hand that was currently resting on her back, the Imperial could feel her heart beating wildly in her ribcage. He wasn't surprised: after all, his own heart was thudding just as loudly. "Let's go back to the shelter now, otherwise..."
"I can't... I can't open my eyes!", Agda hissed, terror well evident in her voice. "That beast..."
Frowning in worry, Steinarius broke the embrace and looked at Agda once again. Luckily enough, the poison of small chauri wasn't enough to disfigure enemies or to corrode their flesh; yet, it could be sufficient to make a grown person blind.
Keeping that thought to himself, Steinarius took Agda in his arms and carried her to a safer place. They had made a lot of noise during their battle against the Chaurus and Steinarius didn't want to face another threat in such a delicate moment.
Luckily enough, the place the Dragonborn had chosen was near a beautiful river. Although he didn't trust the color, the Imperial had no choice but to use its water to clean Agda's eyelids from the poison.
"Am I hurting you?", Steinarius asked when the girl suddenly pulled a grimace. Probably moved by the worry in his voice, the girl shook her head.
"No, it's just... The water is cold".
Steinarius felt a tingle of relief: the poison hadn't been strong enough to numb Agda's skin, so it was very unlikely to cause her any permanent damage.
When the mage's face was completely cleaned from poison, the Dragonborn finally asked her to open his eyes. Agda was visibly hesitant at following his suggestion, but she eventually decided to trust him.
When she raised her eyelids, the girl was greeted by Steinarius' troubled expression. The man was pale and seemed to have aged a lot over the previous few minutes.
"Can you see me?"
Agda nodded and, as soon as she did, she was enveloped by Steinarius' strong arms.
"Thank Talos!", the Imperial sighed as he held the young mage tight to his chest.
Agda noticed the worry and the relief in his voice and suddenly felt sorry for doubting his orders, for criticizing his suggestions, for arguing with him because of Delphine. Ashamed by the way she had tried to drive her best friend away from her, the girl shivered in guilt.
"Can we go back to the hut now?", she asked, her fleeble voice still full of fear and worry and guilt. "I am afraid I am tired too".
Agda felt Steinarius smile and nod against her shoulder, then she watched as he broke their embrace and crouched once again in front of her. The man made to say something, but then he seemingly changed his mind and got up from the ground. He helped Agda, then he unsheated his sword and resumed walking towards their destination. Fearing that the mage may have troubles with her sight, however, he turned around after a few steps and offered the girl his hand.
"The light is weird here, so it is better if I help you", he explained. "I think your sight may take a while to go back to normality".
Despite the darkness, Agda could tell that Steinarius was looking at her with nervousness. Perhaps he is afraid I will turn down his offer, she thought. Over the last few days I haven't been kind to him at all.
Moved by that realization, Agda immediately took Steinarius' hand in hers. The man mumbled something and gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze, then resumed walking towards his target.
As she noticed the relieved smile on his lips, Agda got closer to him and rested her head against his arm.
"I'm sorry for behaving like a stupid for the whole time", she muttered.
At first Steinarius didn't say anything: he just looked at Agda, then he sighed.
"And I'm sorry it took a Chaurus to make you realize you can trust me", he eventually said. "It means that you've gone through too much, Agds, and that's something I cannot accept. If people have succeeded in turning a sweet woman like you in a detached Archmage, then maybe I should allow Alduin to end the world for good".
As she heard those words and looked Steinarius in his placid grey eyes, Agda felt a shiver run down her spine. For the first time in her life, she finally realized the huge burden her friend had been tasked with; also, right then the young mage swore to herself that she would never allow her pride to build a wall between her and the Dragonborn again.