Chapter Summary: Miranja re-recruits Faendal, and they retrieve Esbern and end up having a harrowing couple of days. Throughout everything, she and Faendal continue getting more familiar with each other, but Miranja's frustration is mounting, and she arranges for some relief.
^O^O^O^O^O^
The day after the party at the Thalmor Embassy, she'd parted ways with Lydia when they reached Whiterun. When she met back up with Delphine in Riverwood and showed her the Thalmor's dossiers on Delphine, Esbern, and Ulfric Stormcloak, Delphine was excited to learn that her old Blades friend was still alive. She told Miranja to go to Riften to find Esbern while she waited there at the inn, as she didn't want to risk the Thalmor catching her. Miranja took the opportunity to seek out Faendal and ask if he would accompany her again. To her delight, he agreed without hesitation!
Last time he'd accompanied her, he'd gone with just the clothes on his back and his bow and dagger. This time, he wanted to be more prepared, so he invited her to come into his home while he got some provisions together. Miranja was pleased to see that his humble little house was simply decorated and neat as a pin. She looked around while he packed, noting the archery supplies, the trophy animal heads and fish mounted on the walls, some weapons, a helmet and a shield. There was a lamp or candle in every corner of the large room, and the fire in his hearth had burned down to small, feeble flames. Small animals like pheasants and rabbits he had hunted and killed hung from iron racks over his dining table, which was arrayed with modest breads and cheeses. She wondered about the bread; her Bosmer lover Arendor had told her a bit about the Green Pact and Bosmer not killing or eating plants. Was that only in Valenwood? There was wine on his bedside table, and she idly wondered if it was for him, or if he might have ever entertained a woman there, be it Camilla or another lucky lady. Perhaps the bread was for company, as well.
"I hope I didn't get you in trouble with Hod and Gerdur," she told him rather sheepishly, straddling the bench at the dining table so she could face the whole room. "I know you only asked for the rest of that first day."
Faendal shrugged it off. "By the time I got back, the word had already traveled about you being the Dragonborn and being made the new Thane of Whiterun. In light of that, they were honored to have been even second-handedly involved in your story. In fact, they asked me to tell everyone in town about our adventures, and they all gathered at the Sleeping Giant to listen. I'm sure they won't mind letting me go with you again, but I'll ask them, just to be responsible. I'm willing to bet they'll want a recap of all our new adventures the next time I come back here." He gave her a charming smile, and she smiled right back, struggling mightily once again not to throw herself upon him and kiss him right then and there.
So far, he hadn't once complained about leaving his job at the mill and he'd only occasionally sighed about Camilla still not returning his affections, so she assumed he was enjoying the adventuring life with her. And as before, every time he displayed his lethal archery skills and his savagery in close combat, she got incredibly turned on.
They spent their first night back together – Tirdas, the ninth of Heartfire – at Breezehome because by the time she'd traveled to Riverwood, dealt with the business with Delphine, popped in on the Valeriuses and Alvor and Sigrid, and recruited Faendal to head toward Riften, they were already running out of daylight.
They stayed Middas night in Pinepeak Cavern near Ivarstead after killing the bear outside the cave and the bear inside the cave. They could have spent the night at the Vilemyr Inn, but the only open bed was a single bed in the same room where the bard, Lynly, also slept. Miranja suspected that Wilhelm, the innkeeper, slept in that bed when there were no guests, because the two times she'd stayed there with Lydia he'd spread out a bedroll on the floor near the bar and slept there. In light of that, she and Faendal had decided to simply find a place to camp, as it was only for one night and they had to continue on to Riften the next day.
Faendal had built a campfire inside the cave and they'd spread out their bedrolls before heading down to the waterfall below the bridge. Having spent the day in sweaty armor, and being splattered with bear blood, they were eager to take the opportunity to wash the dirt and stink off. They found a reasonably flat rock ledge that jutted out into the river's flow, and they undressed on the riverbank so they could quickly put their clothes back on after their chilly shower. Miranja had no qualms about Faendal seeing her undressed; in spite of her parents' attempted teachings, she had never understood why so many people felt shame, or at least embarrassment, about other people seeing what the Divines had blessed them with. Everyone had a body, and they were all pretty much alike. It was true that some were more attractive than others, but everyone's bodies had the same basic features. It made no sense to her that people got so hung-up about them. Faendal was of the same mind; he had been the first one to start undressing and he showed no inhibitions at all. Bathing was a necessity, after all, and getting naked was a necessity for bathing.
Miranja was quite aware that she had an attractive physique, and she hoped that Faendal noticed. During that first bath together, he seemed to be avoiding looking at her and kept his back turned to her except when she asked him to wash her back for her – and she had deliberately waited until he turned to face her before turning and showing him her back. She wasn't sure if he was being respectful because he was used to women being more modest than she was, or if he simply wasn't interested in her. He asked the same favor of her, and as she soaped his freckled skin she had to admit that Faendal definitely had one of the finer bodies she'd seen. She would have loved to wash the rest of him, too!
Getting dressed again on the riverbank, she surreptitiously cast hungry glances at him while he wasn't looking, and she had to struggle to restrain herself from staring, to say nothing of touching. She was a long time in getting to sleep that night, mentally feasting her eyes on her vivid memory of Faendal undressed, and yearning to touch him, kiss him, make love with him.
They spent the next three days frantically running around with very little sleep. Before leaving Ivarstead on Turdas morning, they skinned the two bears and added the pelts to the growing collection for Temba. The pelts were starting to get quite heavy, so they decided to leave the skins they'd collected so far in the cave to retrieve later. Surely the dead hunters outside would be enough to deter anyone else from going into the cave. Finally, around mid-morning, they headed for Riften, dealing with wolves, bears, and bandits along the way, and discovering Sarethi Farm – a nirnroot farm owned by an older Dunmer woman and her lively young sister.
Once they reached Riften, they took some time to have a warm meal and a brief rest at the Bee and Barb, then they spent an entire night fighting Thalmor and other riff-raff in the Ratway and retrieving Esbern. They spent the whole day Fredas escorting him back to Riverwood to reunite with Delphine. In Delphine's secret cellar room, Esbern told the little group that he'd figured out the location of a long-forgotten, ancient Blades sanctuary: Sky Haven Temple. Delphine and Esbern were impatient to go there, so much so that they eschewed a good night's sleep and left that very night. Miranja and Faendal were already flagging, and they probably could have stayed the night in Riverwood and left the next morning, but neither of them really knew where they were going, so they wanted to stick with Delphine and Esbern.
They ran all night toward the Karthspire, getting separated from Esbern and Delphine in the process because they stopped to help a hunter from Falkreath fight a bear and three spriggans in Moss Mother Cavern to retrieve his dead companions. Somewhere between there and Fort Sungard, they were attacked by the dragon Vuljotnaak. Not much further down the road, they were assailed by a Dark Brotherhood assassin carrying an order specifically naming Miranja as the mark. She'd been in Skyrim for not even a month, and she'd thought she was making only friends, not enemies! Who would want her dead badly enough to perform the Black Sacrament? That was a horrifying and mystifying thought.
Within sight of Rorikstead, they were distracted by the rather awe-inspiring sight of Alduin in the act of resurrecting Nahagliiv. When they got close, Alduin flew off as if he hadn't even noticed them, leaving the reanimated Nahagliiv to take them on. Although they battled Nahagliiv even as he was still regaining his flesh, he had nonetheless been a formidable opponent, and the fight had worn them out significantly.
Near dawn on Loredas, they stumbled into Rorikstead. It was overwhelmingly tempting to have a nap at the Frostfruit Inn, but since Miranja didn't know how far ahead Delphine and Esbern were, she felt it best to keep going and not keep them waiting and worrying too long. They stopped long enough to ask a guard which way to the Karthspire, then they downed some stamina potions and grudgingly moved on. Near Soljund's Sinkhole, they were attacked by yet another dragon – a blood dragon this time.
By now Miranja was exhausted and beginning to hallucinate, and she ran in blind terror from the dragon, even forgetting Faendal, but the dragon followed. She blundered into a huge Forsworn camp beneath the Karthspire, but fortunately, because the dragon was tailing her, the Forsworn spent more time worrying about bringing down the dragon than about one exhausted woman staggering erratically through their home. And of course, the dragon now had more to worry about than just trying to kill her. Miranja still had no idea where Faendal was, but she could tell that Delphine and Esbern were already up ahead because Esbern's flame atronach was at the top of the last long flight of stairs going up the hill, throwing fireballs at every enemy within range. She charged clumsily up the stairs to join them, slashing with her sword or shield-bashing every Forsworn who got in her way, and they fought off the last of the Forsworn together from the top of the hill. Once they were safe from being followed, they entered the cave there.
Surprisingly, Faendal entered the cave just a moment after they did, and there were more Forsworn inside to contend with – including the first Briarheart Miranja had ever seen – before they got to the first puzzle protecting the entrance to the temple. By then, Miranja was a nervous wreck and so tired she had tears streaming down her face. She would have been falling asleep on her feet if her nerves hadn't been singing. Getting through the puzzles was a welcome change from getting past dragons and the Forsworn.
After they reached Sky Haven and Esbern examined Alduin's Wall and determined that they needed a special Shout to defeat Alduin, they decided that Miranja should go back to High Hrothgar to find out what the Greybeards knew about a Shout that could take down the World-Eater himself. Esbern and Delphine decided they should stay in the sanctuary of the temple for, aside from being at odds with the Greybeards, they also now knew for sure that the Thalmor were looking for them, so this was their safest option.
Miranja searched the whole place with Faendal for anything that looked useful, procuring some old Blades armor and an enchanted katana called Dragonbane. When they reached the old bunk room with all the beds and chests and the big hearth, Miranja stopped Faendal and gave him a long, heartfelt embrace.
"This has been the most grueling few days of my life," she told him as she clung to him, her tears wetting the shoulder of the Imperial light armor she'd lent him. "I don't think I could have done any of this without you. This whole Dragonborn thing is the last thing I expected when I came to Skyrim, and now I feel obligated to follow through because people seem to be depending on me. It's a lot to shoulder. Thank you for being more than just a sort of indentured servant, but for being my friend."
Faendal hugged her back most comfortingly then pulled back to look her in the eyes. "I'm honored to fight at your side, Miranja – Dragonborn. I'll be here whenever you need me." He kissed her cheek, and she felt a little of her energy return at that thrill.
Miranja withdrew from his embrace and gave him a grateful but weary smile. He smiled back reassuringly, cupped her face in his hands, and wiped her tears away, which made her heart ache, then they continued on.
Finding that enchanted sword had been quite fortuitous, because when she and Faendal went out the upper doors of the temple and into the courtyard, a shadow fell over them, and the fourth dragon in twenty-four hours landed right in front of them! Miranja was starting to wonder what Divine or Daedra she had pissed off to deserve this. She had to dredge up her last reserve of strength to finish it. She couldn't even see it clearly because of the exhausted tears that flooded her eyes. Better to kill it now than have to worry about it finding them again later.
Once that dragon was dead, Miranja and Faendal hung around Sky Haven for a couple more hours, taking the edge off their hunger with some dried meat from their packs and just resting up. Miranja nodded off sitting at the big table in the central hall, and Delphine let her sleep for about half an hour before rousing her. Finally, around midafternoon, although they could hardly see straight or walk a straight line by now, Miranja and Faendal set out for Rorikstead so they would be that much closer to High Hrothgar before they ran out of daylight. They found a way down that didn't involve going back through the Forsworn camp.
They didn't make it to Rorikstead before dark, but they did make it well before midnight, and they had a meal of Mralki's – the innkeeper's – cold leftovers from supper, conversing with Mralki's son Erik as they ate. Erik wanted to be an adventurer like them, but his father wanted him to stay and help with the farm. Miranja said she would talk to Mralki and see what she could do for him.
After supper, Miranja took the time to plead with Mralki on Erik's behalf. Mralki said he couldn't afford to buy armor for Erik. She gave the man enough money to buy the armor Erik needed, and Erik was over the moons with joy. That done, she asked Mralki for some hot water, and she and Faendal had a warm, refreshing bath. Once again, Miranja couldn't help but steal furtive glances at Faendal. He was, to her, a shining example of masculine beauty, and she enjoyed drinking up the sight of him. It hurt how badly she wanted him.
Finally, before they turned in for the night, Miranja asked Mralki to wake them as close to dawn as possible, to which he agreed. Miranja wasn't even lucky enough for them to have a double bed to share at this inn; they slept in separate single beds.
Bright and early on Sundas morning, they set out for Whiterun, laden with all the loot they'd picked up over the last few days. There was enchanted armor to disenchant, books and a few other things to put away at Breezehome, and dragon parts, gems, and such to sell.
On the way, they passed Gjukar's Monument, and Miranja remembered that her last mission for Lady Mara was waiting for her there. She quickly explained to Faendal, made sure she was wearing the Amulet of Mara that Dinya had given her, and set out toward the monument.
Sure enough, as they drew close to the monument, Miranja could see a ghostly woman moving about. When she spoke to the ghost, the woman told her that her name was Ruki and she was looking for the body of her husband Fenrig, who had supposedly taken part in the battle that was fought here. Ruki said she'd heard that Fenrig and his men had lost the battle, but she had turned over every body and he was not among them.
Faendal, of course, could neither see nor hear Ruki, but when Miranja relayed Ruki's end of the conversation, he had some helpful information.
"I've heard stories about that battle – from Sven, of all people. It was called the Battle of Greenspring Hollow, but I don't know why, since Greenspring Hollow is several miles from Gjukar's Monument. Something was probably lost in the retelling over the years. Anyway, Sven said there was more than one cadre of men under Gjukar, and those who fought in the battle all died, but the group Gjukar himself was with had camped out at Greenspring Hollow the night before the battle. They were raided by the enemy during the night, and they all died there – most of them killed in their sleep. They never made it to the actual battle, which is probably why the battle didn't work out in Gjukar's men's favor. Maybe this Fenrig was part of that encampment."
Miranja felt bad that they had to go so far out of their way to complete this mission, but Faendal didn't complain. She found Fenrig right where Faendal had suggested he might be, led him to Ruki, and watched their joyful reunion. After the couple had risen toward the heavens and disappeared, Miranja and Faendal continued toward Whiterun.
By now it was almost midday. They snacked on fruit and dried meat as they walked.
"You know, Faendal," Miranja commented wistfully, between popping berries into her mouth, "I'm a very sexual person, but I'm also very loving and romantic. As much as I enjoy just having sex for the fun of it, and trying to find ways to live out fantasies I've had, part of me hopes that someday I'll find someone that I love more than anyone else, and who loves me just as much. And right now, I don't care to have any children, but if I found the right man, I might just consider it. I think it's incredibly romantic that Ruki and Fenrig loved each other so much that they couldn't bear to be apart, even in death. I'm so happy to have been the one to reunite them. I want a love like that someday."
"I know what you mean," Faendal sighed. "If only Camilla shared my affections… or even knew about them."
Miranja had to fight very hard not to roll her eyes and sigh in exasperation. If only Faendal shared my affections, she thought, or even knew about them.
From the time they'd gone to get Esbern from Riften, Delphine had made everything seem so urgent. But now, Miranja was just getting too tired – and too heavy laden – to keep up that insane pace. Tonight, she wanted to relax and do something stress-relieving.
Buying fresh meat from Anoriath to cook for dinner, and watching him hungrily during their transaction, she made a decision. Partly because Faendal was still keeping her at arm's length and partly because she had a certain fantasy she wanted to make reality, she turned on the charm and pierced Anoriath with her eyes.
"Have I told you yet how handsome I think you are, Anoriath?"
"Not until now," Anoriath replied with a smile, "but I think I already knew by the way you've looked at me every time you've passed my stand. If you don't mind my saying so, you're a very attractive woman yourself, Miss Miranja."
"Oh, please, you don't have to call me 'Miss.' And thank you; I'm flattered that you think so." She looked around for eavesdroppers and spoke again in a low voice. "Can I ask you a very personal question, Anoriath?"
Anoriath, noting her conspicuous behavior, saw the direction this conversation was going and leaned forward conspiratorially. "Sure," he said, holding her gaze with a lifted brow and a knowing smile.
"So, you and your brother: you live together, work together, drink together, hunt together… have you ever… enjoyed a woman together?"
"Well, funny you should ask that, because actually…" Now it was Anoriath's turn to glance around. "There was a frisky young woman back in Valenwood some fifty years ago now. She liked both of us and couldn't decide who she'd rather be with. So, rather than fighting over her, we both saw her. Individually at first, but eventually she asked us if we would both –" He looked around again and lowered his voice even further. "If we would both make love to her at the same time. She said she'd been thinking about it for weeks, and it was her favorite fantasy. Of course, we were willing to oblige her."
"I can certainly understand her indecision," Miranja smiled. "I think both you and Elrindir are handsome in your own ways, and if I'm not mistaken, I think Elrindir has been discreetly flirting with me when I go in to buy arrows from him. There's something suggestive about the way he asks me what I'm hunting."
"Oh, yes, Elrindir has noticed you, as well. It's hard to miss a beautiful new neighbor. And I have to say it's quite a pleasant surprise to find that she's single and willing to bypass the chase and go straight for the kill. Tell you what: I'm here for about another hour, but if you want to run down to the Huntsman and ask Elrindir about this, you can tell him I've already said I'm willing. Willing, and quite eager, if you want to know the truth."
"Mmm, that's so good to hear, my handsome friend. I hope to see you after the market closes, whether Elrindir wants in on this or not."
"Would we be meeting at Breezehome or the Huntsman?"
"I was thinking more of a moonlight hunt," Miranja smiled craftily, and Anoriath's eyes lit up. "Without arrows in the bum. In the forest over between Honningbrew Meadery and Riverwood. "I could be your quarry and you and Elrindir could hunt me. I could slip out of town around nine o'clock, and you and Elrindir could arm up and head out half an hour later, and you wouldn't be lying if anyone asked and you told them you were going night hunting."
"That sounds absolutely captivating," Anoriath smiled. "There's no way Elrindir wouldn't bite on that bait. I'm already imagining it."
"You have to make full use of whatever game you bring down," Miranja winked.
"I'm sure neither Elrindir nor I will let a single morsel go to waste," Anoriath replied with burning eyes.
At the Drunken Huntsman, Elrindir greeted her in the usual manner, and she asked what he had for sale. As she had hoped, he responded with, "What are you hunting? Never mind, I don't want to know."
"Actually, I think you might want to know all about it this time," Miranja replied with a penetrating stare and a suggestive smile. She lowered her voice to keep Jenassa, sitting in her usual chair in the alcove, from hearing. "You see, I'm looking to be the hunted. A certain other handsome Bosmer hunter has agreed on a moonlight hunt with me as quarry, and we'd like a third party to come along, to make sure that none of the bagged game goes to waste."
Elrindir's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to speak, but the words stuck in his throat as his expression turned uncertain. He swallowed and tried again. "Surely, you don't mean what I'd like to think you mean."
"Oh, please tell me what you'd like to think I mean. I'd love to hear it in the dulcet tones of your ever so attractive voice."
"Please forgive me if I'm completely off the mark," Elrindir began rather nervously. "After all, Anoriath is the better archer." He smiled at his little joke, and Miranja smiled back impishly. In a quieter voice he continued, "What I'd like to think you mean is that you're interested in… an amorous liaison with both me and my brother?"
"O handsome hunter, you have hit the bullseye. I'm already aching with the anticipation. Anoriath can fill you in, but I'm thinking we could start the hunt after everyone's had supper and my traveling companion and housecarl have – hopefully – gone to bed for the night."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Elrindir breathed. He picked up her hand from the counter and kissed it lingeringly, making Miranja's heart pound as she imagined those lips kissing her own. If she had them pegged correctly, Elrindir was the tender lover, and Anoriath was the more exuberant, animalistic one. How would they work together? she wondered.
"Just don't let there be any shooting of anyone in the haunches, okay?" she grinned and winked mischievously, and Elrindir responded with a sheepish smile. "See you later!"
Since her first visit to Whiterun, when she hadn't been obsessing over Faendal, Miranja had been thinking about the brothers and wondering if she'd be able to make her fantasy come true, and now it was unfolding before her, smooth as butter. Now she just had to go back to Breezehome and let Lydia and Faendal know she would be leaving later that night after supper.
Miranja helped Lydia prepare supper while Faendal took what Miranja felt was a well-deserved rest. Even though he had agreed to accompany her, the poor man probably hadn't expected to be run completely ragged from one end of Skyrim to the other, at least not at such a frenzied pace. It was good to see him back in his everyday clothes, although the thing she most loved to see him in – besides his birthday suit – was the shirtless fur armor they'd gotten from one of the thieves at Bleak Falls Barrow that was little more than a fur kilt.
Faendal had mentioned to her more than once that he was a big fan of a warm fire and a stiff drink, and Miranja had used some of their hard-won loot to purchase an expensive bottle of Colovian brandy from Proventus Avenicci that very afternoon after they'd returned to Whiterun, just before her talk with Anoriath. Proventus had wanted to give it to her for free, but Miranja didn't feel right about taking advantage of her position as Thane. She still wasn't, and felt she would never be, used to being a person of affluence and influence. She'd grown up with few luxuries and was content to have her base needs met and to have an occasional luxury.
Miranja chatted with Lydia but occasionally glanced at Faendal to make sure he was content. He had pulled one of her books from the shelf and was holding it open with one hand while swirling his brandy in the other hand. She suspected he was not reading so much as listening in on her and Lydia's conversation.
"So, Lydia, just a heads up: I have something of a date later tonight. It's an outdoor date, outside the city, with an element of danger. I'll be leaving around nine, and I'm not sure when I'll be back, but if all goes well, I WILL be protected, so please don't feel responsible for me. That said, if I'm not back by morning, send a search party."
"Where would we search for you?" Lydia said, concern evident in her voice.
"Our meeting is to be a secret, but if you look to the south, you would eventually find me, I'm sure. But like I said, I'm going armed, and so is my date. We should be fine."
"Forgive me if I'm not excessively comforted by that," Lydia retorted. "But as you wish, my Thane."
They got supper cooking in the pot so they could mostly ignore it for a while, and Miranja took the opportunity to experiment with the flute she'd picked up on her travels. She'd always loved music but since neither of her parents played and they couldn't afford a good instrument, she'd never had the chance to learn to play anything. She did, however, have a fairly pleasant singing voice, and had learned quite a few songs to simply sing, if only to herself. The flute was light and much easier to carry and play than one of those heavy, eight-stringed lutes. Mikael had told her about the Bards College in Solitude, and she hoped that somewhere between all the other things on her growing to-do list, she'd be able to learn more about music and playing the lute from the College. She wanted to be able to play music and sing at the same time – someday. For now, though, she was figuring out how to play scales and pick out the notes to Ragnar the Red. At one point, she glanced over at Faendal and caught him looking and smiling at her.
"What?" she asked, dropping her flute to her lap. "Am I amusing you?"
"Maybe just a little," Faendal admitted. "But I never learned to play any instruments so I'm actually rather impressed that you're teaching yourself how to play. You're doing pretty well."
Miranja blushed and smiled, lowering her eyes. "Thank you."
Faendal smiled back, and something in his gaze made her thrill a little and started that ache in her crotch again. She couldn't wait until after supper to go relieve that awful, pent-up feeling.