Disclaimer: All references to places, people, and things within the worlds of Morrowind and Morrowind: Tribunal are © Bethesda Softworks. I think. Well, they're © not to me, anyway. However, Adryn and Elendro are both © me. Yay.
Guards
by
Tierra
17:14 p.m.
It was afternoon in the majestic city of Mournhold, and night would soon be falling. The two moons could just be seen beyond the light cloud cover, moving slowly on their inexorable course across the sky, and the streets were comparatively emptier than they were in the morning as the smarter citizens realised it wouldn't be safe out after dark.
Adryn was shaken awake by the old Dunmer nurse. He had dozed off on one of the Temple's seats out in the expansive gardens, where he had wandered, not wanting to leave his friend alone.
"Sera...sera, wake up..."
"H-huh?" Adryn shook himself awake quickly, rubbing his eyes. The events of the morning rushed back to him and he clasped the nurse's wizened hand, wincing as his overworked muscles protested against their rough treatment from earlier. "What of Elendro? Is he alright?"
"He is awake and stable, but very weak, sera. If not for his strong physical condition, he wouldn't have pulled through. He has been asking for you."
Adryn stood and followed the nurse inside the Temple and to the Infirmary, forcing himself to keep calm when in reality he wanted to pick the nurse up and carry her there. She walked so slowly, but he hid his impatience out of politeness.
Elendro was indeed awake, though he looked very sleepy. He was on the same bed, with a poultice against his wound. He didn't turn as the nurse let Adryn in, but his eyes flicked sideways and he smiled weakly. "Hah, you look awful, Adryn."
Adryn arched an eyebrow and surmised that he probably did, with blood on his armour and across his face. He chuckled, sitting on a stool next to Elendro's bed. "And you look great, I'm sure." He softened. "How are you?"
"Oh, can't complain." Elendro chuckled and winced. "I'm not supposed to move my neck too much."
They stayed in silence until Adryn sighed. "...I'm sorry, 'Dro."
Elendro snorted derisively. "Sorry? You? Why? It's not like you called out like a moron and got me shot, is it?"
"No, but I said we'd go into the sewer and--"
"--do our duty," Elendro cut him off. "And we did. I was an idiot. I'm the one who should be sorry." He lifted his arm weakly. "Speaking of duty, did you find that poor woman's family?"
Adryn shook his head. "I didn't have to. There was a young Khajiit down there who was taking care of them. Also got you back here. Without her..." He didn't finish. He didn't want to voice the horrible possibility that without her, Elendro wouldn't be talking to him right now.
"Really? Wish I could thank her."
Adryn chuckled. "That might just be possible, from the sounds of it she'll be hanging around. How long until you're up and about?"
"The nurse said I should be alright by tomorrow. Oh, bugger!" Elendro exclaimed suddenly. Adryn was instantly on his guard.
"What, what's wrong?"
"Sorry, Adryn..."
"What?!"
Elendro heaved a huge, theatrical sigh and slapped Adryn's knee weakly. "No Winged Guar tonight."
18:43 p.m.
Adryn hated to leave his friend, but he knew he had to report back or Tienius would skin him alive. Actually, he thought as he pushed open the door to the throne room, he'll probably skin me alive now; I'm almost an hour late. He looked down at himself and grimaced. He should have cleaned himself up. Tienius would give him hell for losing his helmet.
The Imperial was poring over a sheet of paper as Adryn approached. He glanced up and had to double-take. "What in blazes happened to you?"
Adryn sighed, trying to make it sound a bit less serious than it actually was. "Uhm...Bazaar duty?"
Tienius looked at him quizzically. "Bazaar duty or bizarre duty? Okay, run me through this slowly. First, where is that slacker Elendro, aren't you two always together? It's like seeing a tree throwing no shadow. And where is your helmet?"
Adryn appreciated his commander's humour most of the time, but this time he couldn't bring himself to laugh. "It's probably still in the sewers, sir. We ventured down there to find a young woman's husband and daughter. Elendro had an unfortunate encounter with the wrong end of a Black Darter while we were there."
Tienius' face fell. "Oh, Adryn, I'm so sorry..."
Adryn felt a little lost before it dawned on him. "Oh! No, sir, he isn't...h-he's resting at the Temple now. I got him back in time thanks to a timely meeting with a Khajiit who happened upon us."
Tienius sighed. He didn't often show much emotion, but he looked intensely relieved at the news. "Glad to hear it, soldier." He rubbed his chin. "A Khajiit, you say? Young lady? Wouldn't happen to have been wearing glass armour, would she, carrying a Daedric blade?"
Adryn was surprised. "Why, yes sir, how did you know?"
Tienius chuckled. "Ah, then you ran into the young Nerevarine."
"The...the Nerevarine, sir?"
"Aye, she's on a mission for me. Good thing I sent her, eh? Real tough girl, too." He shook his head. "On to more pressing matters. Concerning the festival tomorrow..."
Adryn snapped to attention. "Sir?"
Tienius eyed him. "Relax, you look like someone just shoved a pole where the sun don't shine. Since Elendro's wounded, he'll be off-rota. And you will be too, of course. Dismissed." He returned his attention to the papers in his hand, casually flipping through them.
"But...but sir!" Adryn was confused - he had been on the rota since the festival was announced. "I don't-"
"You're one of our top soldiers here in the Royal Guard, Adryn," Tienius said curtly, still looking over the papers. "Honest, hard-working, dedicated. However, you are also Elendro's partner and, more importantly, his best friend. This is an order - you are not to show up for work tomorrow. You are to keep Elendro company, because that's where you're needed most, not apprehending pickpockets amongst the masses." His face broke into a rare half-smile. "Life's not all work, boy. Enjoy your holiday."
19:27 p.m.
Elendro was sitting up in bed when Adryn came in later that night. "Please say you brought clothes." Elendro jerked a thumb at where his armour was lying rather haphazardly on the floor. "Fell asleep in my greaves and woke up feeling like I'd been chopped in half. Luckily that old nurse let me move so I could get them off. Did Boss-Man kill you? Shouldn't you be resting?" He looked over Adryn critically. "And shouldn't you have washed up by now?" Adryn held up a half-full cloth sack and tossed it into Elendro's lap. "Stop whining. There you go, a fresh change of clothes. Tienius wasn't so bad. Besides," he added dramatically, seeing Elendro watching him with an expectant look on his face. "I could never rest knowing my gallant partner is here, bedridden with poison."
"Oh, shut up." Elendro pulled off his shirt and began to rummage through the bag, extricating a fresh one. "Shouldn't you be...I dunno, getting ready for tomorrow or something?" he asked once he had fitted the shirt over his head.
"Nah, Tienius gave me the day off," Adryn said casually. "You too, of course."
Elendro paused, one arm through a sleeve. "Really? That man gave you a holiday? That's new. Probably realised we both deserved a break, overworked as we are. Now, unless you want to watch me strip, I suggest you wander behind that screen so I can change in private."
Adryn meandered obediently behind the screen, sitting on one of the stools and examining the goblets on the small table idly. "So, seriously, how are you feeling?"
"Couldn't be better! Well, considering the circumstances."
"Oh, hey, guess what?"
"What? Oh, I'm changed by the way, you can come back now. And, before you tell me what, I remember what I wanted to ask you - where's Ratty?"
Adryn froze, halfway around the screen. Ratty! He had forgotten all about the heroic little pack rat, and Ratty certainly hadn't been transported back to the temple with them. Before he could explain, a voice hailed them from the door.
"Ah, it is the sewer guards!"
Both Guards looked at the door, surprised that they hadn't heard someone approaching. It was the glass-clad Khajiit from the sewers, her armour cracked with fresh wounds showing underneath, her fur matted with darkened blood. However, she was still grinning. "It warms my heart to see you both alive."
Adryn was about to make introductions until Elendro, who had been looking thoughtful, cut him off. "A-ha, I already know who you are! You're the Nerevarine from Vvardenfell, aren't you?"
"Haha, that is right, sera."
Adryn sat on the edge of Elendro's bed, looking mock annoyed. "Great, am I the only one who didn't realise who you are?"
Elendro pointed a finger at him and laughed. "Hah, that's what you get when you work too much, you don't recognise celebrities." He held out a hand towards the Nerevarine. "I'm Elendro, the one whose life you saved. He's Adryn."
The Khajiit approached, shaking Elendro's hand firmly. "Charmed, sera. But perhaps your friend may have left fellow behind. There was little rat in the sewers when you left..."
Elendro looked at Adryn in shock. Adryn held up his hands defensively. "Hey, before you start, I was kind of distracted, what with you dying and all..." Elendro puffed up indignantly. Adryn could recognise a tirade worthy of Tienius coming on, but before Elendro could berate his friend, the young Khajiit cut in smoothly.
"Relax, sera, your rat is fine. He is waiting for you back at Royal Palace. I want bring him here, but old nurse woman say no rats allowed in hospital. He is a very good little rat."
Adryn nodded. "He is. Without him, you'd probably not be here to worry about him, 'Dro. And the family, sera? What of them?"
"Safe and reunited." The Khajiit looked over her shoulder. "Anyway, I would like to stay with friends in comfort, but I cannot. Your Guard Commander is a...how do you call it...hardarse? And if I do not finish my duties, then no reward for me. Perhaps Adryn would walk with me?" Adryn followed obediently, wondering what the Nerevarine could possibly want with him.
Once outside, the Khajiit turned to him seriously, a frown on her muzzle. "Sewer is no place for Royal Guards, yes?" She pressed something into his hand and closed his fingers over it. "For you and your friend to use, if either of you get into poison trouble again."
Adryn opened his hand. Two small rings, set with small emeralds, sat in his palm. He looked at the Nerevarine. "B-But you've done enough for us already! We are both deeply in your debt...I can't take these! They're valuable!"
She smiled. "You care much for your friend. Look..." She drew a claw across his face lightly. "There is still blood on your eyes. You are still in uniform. He is lucky for having friend as loyal as you. He is like littermate, yes?" She pushed his hand to his chest. "See? You is having one, he is having one, then you can be littermates for long, long time. Poison does not concern you anymore. Anyway," she growled, turning away nonchalantly. "Travelling the world, seeing a lot of things. Killing a lot of bad people. Already have much better rings. Prettier rings." She held up a claw so that Adryn could see Moon-and-Star glowing brightly, and grinned cheekily at him. "So rings are yours, but tomorrow, you and littermate must show me around festival, pay for me, have fun. Deal?"
Adryn stared at the rings, and felt a grin on his lips. "Deal."
20:44 p.m.
"Hey, you're back, and you're clean. Good. So? What did she want? And where's Ratty?" He squinted at him. "And why do you look like you're pregnant?"
Returning to the infirmary was like opening floodgates, Adryn mused idly as he closed the door behind him. He had a theory that if Elendro didn't release his curiosity in regulated burst, it built up behind his teeth, to be unleashed upon the next poor soul with ears. No wonder the nurse was never around.
Adryn crossed the room to where Elendro was relaxing on the bed, hands behind his head. Reaching into his shirt, he pulled out a dishevelled but clean Ratty. Elendro gasped. "Ratty!" Adryn grinned and passed the small rat over to Elendro, who cradled Ratty in his arms. "Wait...aren't rats not allowed in here?"
"He's clean, I washed him myself. Besides, he's just visiting and the nurse is sleeping."
Elendro arched an eyebrow, stroking Ratty's glistening fur. "You? Of all people? Breaking a rule?" He shook his head.
"Well, who would you rather found out you were keeping a pet - the nurse or Tienius?"
"Oh, right. Tienius." Elendro held the rat up, looking at him sadly. "I can't keep him, can I?"
Adryn sighed. "I wish you could, but you won't be able to hide him from Tienius forever, 'Dro. Find him a good family, he deserves a life of luxury. Those Bretons from this afternoon, maybe?"
"Yeah, I guess," Elendro murmured, letting the rat lick his nose. "It'll be for the best. I'll...I'll look for them tomorrow."
Adryn saw the depressed expression on his friend's face and dug around in his pocket. He tossed one of the Nerevarine's rings onto Elendro's chest. "For you."
Elendro plucked it off his chest and eyed it critically, cradling the drowsy Ratty in one arm. "You know, if you wanted me to marry you, you could have at least been a bit more romantic with the proposal."
Adryn rolled his eyes and grabbed a chair, pulling it up to the bed and sitting on it backwards. Elendro had a strange sense of humour, but he had had many years to get used to it. He rested his chin on his arms. "It's a little present from our friend, lunatic. For curing poison. I've got one too. I got them valued while I was on my way back here - she must have beaten some powerful odds to get those, because they have some really strong enchantments on them."
"Serious? And she just gave them to you?"
"She said, and I quote, that with these we can "be littermates for long, long time"."
"No wonder people like her, if she goes around giving away stuff like this to people she's just saved." Elendro held the ring up, the emerald catching the light.
"Our only payment to her is that we're committed to taking her to the fair tomorrow."
"Hah, that's hardly payment." Elendro stroked his chin, staring into space. Adryn knew what that was a sign of - Elendro's train of thought was taking a massive detour and wasn't going to be stopped for anything. Adryn braced himself. "Hey," Elendro mused. "If she's Nerevar reborn, and Nerevar was once with our Almalexia, do you think the Nerevarine is...?" He eyed Adryn significantly, an innocent smile on his face.
Adryn couldn't help grinning, though he tried to berate his friend. "That's practically blasphemy, 'Dro."
"What? I'm just saying! You never know, right? And don't you tell me you didn't think the same thing."
"Only you would think of something like that, 'Dro."
"And that's why you love me."
Adryn laughed and shook his head. "Get some rest. We got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
Elendro settled back on his pillow, stroking Ratty thoughtfully.
"Adryn, we always have a long day of us tomorrow."
- End -
Author's Notes:Hey, congratulations, you've made it all the way through "Guards"! Way to go! The ending was so hard to write, and I really think it shows, but eh, it's as finished as it'll ever be. Anyway, this isn't the last we've seen of our heroes. Their next fic is in the works, and you don't know how hard it was for me not to name it "Guards, Guards". One of Pratchett's books I actually haven't read yet - silly me.
The obligatory end-of-chapter questions obviously can't exist here, so this space will be filled with other things. Thanks a lot to all those who read the story, and double thanks to those who took time out of their lives to actually review it - I appreciate that, because I am an amazingly lazy reviewer. And writer. And updater. But let's not focus on that, shall we? Thanks also for being so patient with me - I always tell myself to update more often, and something always gets in the way.
Hope to see you all next time when Adryn and Elendro make their next appearance - what will they get up to next?
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