The Docks

Serenity and Balir walked closely side by side, their arms occasionally brushing up against each other. Serenity wore a delicate, sparkling shawl over her bare shoulders against the cool night air. She could hear eerie music which came from the strange, exotic instruments that the bards were playing back at Hearthhart Hall. People walked past them, a few were chatting happily while others just stared at her and Balir - some with interest, some not. The scent of the ocean washed over them and Serenity inhaled the salty sea air, deeply savoring the atmosphere. Balir carried a bottle of Cheydinhal Sherry, his family had gifted her father with virtually an entire cellar's worth. They took turns drinking it as they laughed and chatted merrily.

"This place sure is nice. I thought Morrowind was beautiful, and that no other place could ever compare to it. But not having to choke on ash every waking moment… well, it's a welcome change."

The sound of the ocean lapping against the shore mixed with the sounds of the night, and the light of the moons shone down and reflected off the water.

Serenity smiled and stared at the glorious scenery before them, wrapping her shawl tighter around herself.

"My nanny used to read me stories about Vvardenfell and the other provinces when I was a child. The very idea of them always enthralled me. I once asked Mother if she'd ever been far away and her eyes… I don't know, just clouded over. She said to me she had traveled, and that Daggerfall was boring compared to just about everywhere else in Tamriel. She left it there and walked off without saying another word."

"Your father mentioned her leaving. It must've been difficult for you."

"In a way it was. I was young and still needed a mother. She was a strange woman though, it was like she wanted to keep us all at arm's length. Everyone except Cas that is. It's almost as if she didn't want to be a part of our family."

Balir put his arm around her.

"We don't have to talk about this. Sorry, I can be rather… insensitive at times. I got it from my father."

Serenity smiled as she remembered how Mr. T'rizul shut down his conversation with Hilda Dinklehorn, a prudish old Nord woman, and a vicious gossiper. She would always call Serenity out on her numerous sexual escapades around Daggerfall, as well as insult her mother for, in her opinion, 'running off with that Redguard'. Her words used to be cutting, but Serenity had learned to ignore them.

"It's fine. Really. She treated my brothers worse than me for some reason. For what it's worth, I think we're all much happier now that she's gone. I really hope she's happy, and that she's found her peace… whatever that looks like. It was well known that she had issues. But let's not waste our time worrying about her."

Serenity told hold of Balir's arm and turned to face him. She looked into his eyes as she leaned towards him before they closed.

Kissing him was pure bliss, his lips were so soft. Serenity began to feel pleasantly flushed as the cool air blew against her skin, caused by both the alcohol and her arousal. She tensed her thighs as a familiar feeling shot through her lower abdomen. She hadn't had a lot of sexual experience with elves, but they had a different scent when compared to say Nords or Imperials. Elves were much more into perfume and cologne for one thing, but there was something else… something luscious.

Balir placed a hand on her lower back and in response, Serenity leaned further into him.

"Shall we go back? I would very much like... to see your room," Balir breathed through their increasingly fervent kissing.

Serenity thought for a moment. She tried to be discreet around her family when it came to sex and hadn't invited anyone into her room since she was a teenager. These days, she'd go with them to their house, normally when their wives weren't home. She was quite an opportunist and simply loved doing it in public when no one was around. Her favorite place was Daggerfall Castle with Addison Brenner, captain of the Daggerfall Guard.

Since Balir and his family were staying with them at Hearthhart Hall, she'd have to improvise. Thinking of Addison, it clicked. There was a cave just a short way up along the beach that some bandits were using as a hideout to store their smuggled skooma. Addison told her a day before that the Daggerfall Guard had raided it, so it should still be deserted.

"I have an idea," Serenity whispered as she took Balir's hand and led him towards the docks. "Come with me."

They walked close to the water's edge. Serenity took off her heels and opted to wade through the shallows. She lifted her beautiful dress so it didn't touch the water, winking suggestively at Balir. He smiled and placed his hands on her hips.

"Oh, I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone," he murmured, running his eyes lustfully along the length of her body.

She grinned. His tone made her excitement grow, and she wondered what his body looked like underneath his fine attire.

Serenity's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of people shouting on the docks, next to a ship she'd never seen before. They turned around to see a small crowd forming a circle around what seemed to be a brawl. Serenity squinted at them to see if she recognized anyone.

Apparently not, she thought. The crowd was mostly made up of Khajiit and Argonians as well as a few towering figures, probably Orcs and Nords. They definitely weren't locals, most likely sailors from one of the newly-arrived merchant vessels.

Serenity stared at the two brawlers. One of them was a Khajiit and the other an Orc. Their hands were on the other contender's shoulders and they were violently pushing each other. The Khajiit head-butted the Orc and ducked under his arm, making the Orc grunt loudly and their onlookers cheer.

Balir looked at them with disdain.

"Oh how quaint, just look at these guys. Brutes. Probably wasting what little money they have on wagering who'd win this cockfight, and then they'll go ahead and blow the rest at a bar somewhere," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Who'd you think will win?" Serenity asked, more curious than she thought she'd be about low-borns fighting.

"Oh. Uh, probably the Orc. Khajiits are fast and stealthy, sure, and much smarter than Orcs. But when it comes to strength, Orcs would win every time."

Balir held up both his arms and swiped at Serenity's stomach.

Serenity laughed before turning back to the fight. The Khajiit's graceful movements were mesmerizing. There was a lot of activity going on, and the people in the crowd were fast talkers and very entertaining.

"Ouch! Watch this one's toes, Jhar'ka only has 6 left."

"Come on, my mother could punch harder than you and she's dead! Out-witted by the Dead-eye Tribe, as it were—"

"Oh shut up, not the goblin story again."

"By Ysmir! Jorg, if I have to hear that shit one more time may Alduin come back, just for you, and drop-kick you all the way to Sovngarde!"

"He wouldn't be allowed to enter Sovngarde Kyr, they don't want his story either."

Jorg scratched his head in confusion as one of his companions threw an arm around his neck and slapped his forehead.

Serenity looked at them longingly. What simple lives they must have, she thought. Traveling, drinking, friendship, adventure. All the best things life has to offer, without being bogged down by things like duty and propriety. Everybody has this wonderous view about being rich, but the truth is, wealth is heavy. That's the best way to describe it. Serenity tried to not feel ungrateful, she was always trying to practice gratitude and knew she was lucky in a lot of ways. But sometimes she couldn't help but feel this emptiness in the pit of her stomach. Everyone has friends when they're rich, but only the poor can be sure that they have true friends. Money creates more problems than it solves. The best things in life will always be the same, and gold twists your outlook until you can no longer enjoy that which comes so easily to the poor.

The Orc was becoming enraged by the Khajiit's constant evasion and sharp tongue. He put all his weight behind a punch that, if landed, would've been lethal to even a giant. The Khajiit dodged it in a deft maneuver, and the Orc's momentum sent him sprawling onto the wooden surface of the docks. As he was getting up the Khajiit jumped on his back, wrapping his arms around the Orc's neck and rubbing his face against his head. This made the crowd laugh and get rowdier.

"Get off me, cat!" growled the Orc in a deep voice. The Khajiit let him go and the Orc turned around, shaking his head and readjusting his clothing.

"Just in case it's unclear who won here tonight fellas, this is why it's always brains over brawn. First one to his knees? Let's go then," said the Khajiit, backing away and making a come-hither gesture at the Orc with his forefinger.

"What?" spat the Orc, too enraged to think.

In an impressive show of athleticism, the Khajiit turned around and sprinted towards the ship, leaping up and kicking off of it hard. He launched himself at the shell-shocked Orc with terrifying momentum, twisting his body and delivering a heavy-looking kick to his gut. The Orc doubled over and projectile-vomited, narrowly missing the feet of a disgusted female Khajiit.

"Oooooh no, that's about 20 gold worth of ale, that is."

"Even the Hist would've felt that."

"This one's money had been on the Orc. Dark Moons, what a pity."

The group started to walk off, heading up the beach towards Daggerfall.

Balir shook his head and tsk-tsked.

"Bunch of animals," he said. "I don't even know where to begin with folks like this."

His voice startled Serenity. She was so fixated on the fight that she'd all but forgotten he was there. The group were talking to each other and joking around, but their attention soon turned to Serenity and Balir as they drew closer to them.

"Ah! Spectators! Enjoy our little show?"

"Oh, she's a looker."

"Do you have somewhere to be tonight, Breton? If you want, my lady, you're more than welcome to ditch fancy pants here and join us."

Balir frowned and put a hand on his hip.

"On the contrary, she'd never lower herself to standards such as yours. She's where she'd rather be, I can assure you. Now off you go, best not to mess with those of my echelon."

Some of them pretended to be scared, putting their hands up in fake terror and rolling their eyes.

The Khajiit, who'd been staying silent, stared at Serenity as he walked past, refusing to break eye contact. His glorious eyes shone brightly, even in the dim light, and made her heart pound. The immediate connection she felt to him was electric, and so unlike anything she'd ever experienced. She smiled shyly at him, averting her gaze and wrapping her fingers around her arm.

"If you want to know what a real orgasm feels like, pretty thing, then come and find me. I guarantee that Dunmer wouldn't know how to do half the things I'd gladly do to you. Oh, how I want to taste you. I'd like nothing more than to hear you moan as you come into my mouth," his gravelly accent sounded exotic and thrilling to her.

Serenity had read about the Khajiit, but she hadn't seen one this close to her before. There was something very attractive about him, she thought as she felt the dampness between her thighs. The sherry was starting to take effect, and she felt pleasantly lightheaded. Serenity giggled and fluttered her long eyelashes, flirting with him and making him smile. He laughed as a member of the group, a rough-looking Argonian female, slapped him across the shoulder from behind.

Balir sniffed beside Serenity.

"You dare insult me, low-born? If you cross me, you'll be in for some consequences!" Balir said meanly.

The Khajiit glanced at him with raised eyebrows.

"And what would those be?" he asked inquisitively, before pulling a sad face and feigning a lunge in Balir's direction. Balir flinched in response, making the group cackle. One of the Argonians snarled something about Red Year and the Accession War, and a few of the others growled menacingly.

"You don't scare anybody, elf, even if you think you do," said the Khajiit. "Let's go, he ain't worth it."

The group caroused off towards the city, leaving Serenity alone with Balir. He somehow seemed much more boring to her now.

Even though Serenity didn't find Balir nearly as appealing anymore, she was still unbelievably aroused and wanted to have sex more than ever. When they reached the abandoned cave, Balir pushed her against the wall.

"What was that, huh?" he hissed, before ripping the shawl off of her and throwing it on the ground.

"Hey!" she cried. "That's expensive."

Serenity put her hands on her hips and pretended to be cross, before pulling Balir around in a dance.

"You know what?" Serenity said in a posh accent. "If we were back at the party, we'd be dancing like this."

Balir pulled away from her, annoyed.

"I didn't want to believe the things people were saying about you around town. But I'm starting to think they were right."

Serenity spun around gracefully and stood away from him.

"Well, my good sir, I didn't want to believe the things they say about elves."

"And what would that be, slut?"

"That you're the biggest bunch of unliberated, infertile, stuck-up prudes who don't know how to have fun."

"I don't want to think about the sort of company you've kept, then."

"Come on, lighten up! Don't you want me, Balir?"

Serenity pulled herself up onto a nearby crate.

"Ah, I do. I'll fuck you all right, but that's about it. Embarrassing me like that is unforgivable. There's no way I'd want anything to do with you after tonight."

"Oh no, what would our families think?"

"I don't give a fuck, honestly. Your father may have my respect, but you sure as Oblivion don't."

"To think… we thought you were a nice person," Serenity hiccuped, pouting and swinging her legs back and forth.

Balir glowered.

"This is why my mother warned me about men and beast races. They're all the same, giving in to carnal desires," Balir shook his head in disgust. "Whatever, come here."

Balir strode over, took a hold of her arms, and kissed her roughly.

"Ouch, stop!"

"Shut up. I know this is what you want, right? You want that Khajiit to screw you, don't you? So how about this… I'll try my very best to do you like he would, nice and rough."

He unceremoniously pulled down her silken undergarment and discarded it. He then spread her legs and undid his belt, before roughly penetrating her. He thrust into her hard while pulling her hips into him.

"Oh… wow, I've never felt one so wet. Or so loose. You really have been around, haven't you?"

"Maybe. But I've never felt one so small," said Serenity as she smirked at him, somewhat speaking the truth.

He slapped her across the face. Serenity yelped but barely noticed the pain. He picked her up and basically dropped her onto the rough cave floor before entering her again.

"Uh, harder Balir, harder!" Serenity grunted, moaning loudly.

He thrust faster and faster, before crying out. For a few seconds, he just laid there, panting and catching his breath. He then got up and put his pants back on, stalking out of the cave and onto the beach without saying a word to her.

Serenity sat there, dumbfounded. She stood up and picked up her undergarments before walking to the cave entrance to call out to him. But by the time she got there, he was already halfway across the beach. Instead, she just stood there and watched him walk the rest of the way.