The now familiar routine at the Netch blurred the days together. Vanya truly looked like she belonged. She had traded her rough green trousers for a soft pair made of brown leather. Her plain colored tunic was replaced with a finer one of light blue cotton along with a leather belt to which she could attach a small satchel when she needed to run errands. She still wore sandals, but her new ones were far more comfortable.

It was a day like any other, just after breakfast. Vanya was carrying dishes through the archway to the kitchen when she heard a commotion up the stairs. The excited voices grew louder as a small crowd filed out of the stairway.

"What's going on?" Vanya asked as she approached Geldis, who was leaning far over the bar to see the crowd. He echoed the question in their direction.

"Hey! What's going on?"

A girl named Mirri Severin replied, "It's the Dragonborn!"

As she said it, his towering form appeared. He was wearing the same boney armor Vanya remembered, but he had removed his helmet so she fully saw his face. He looked every bit like how she imagined a Viking to look. He had a beard that was not overly long and his blonde hair tied back with a small braid on either side. He moved forward through the group of fawning admirers, graciously accepting their praise.

Geldis approached the crowd waving his hands as if to scatter wild animals. "Let the man have a bit of room! Don't you all have work to be doing, or are you planning on buying something? No? Clear out then!"

Geldis' scolding backed the crowd off enough for Roggir to break free. The man in the dark armor, who she remembered was named Erik, followed and it looked as if his armor had seen better days. He'd also removed his helmet and looked to be a nord as well. His blonde hair was cut shorter and perhaps a shade darker than Roggir's. He was more handsome and definitely younger, possibly younger than her. Then she saw the curve of the unusual chitin armor and let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. To her disappointment, Teldryn was still wearing his helmet and scarf. As Geldis and the trio made their way toward the bar, Geldis called out to her. "Two Honningbrew and a sujamma! Make haste!"


The woman that whirled away into the kitchen at Geldis' command was nearly unrecognizable to the one he'd left in the marketplace. He knew it was Vanya though he hadn't seen her face- unless there was another human woman with dark brown hair that had moved into town. He sat at the bar with Roggir and Erik, nodding his head at acknowledgment from Geldis before the barkeep turned his full attention back to the Dragonborn. When Vanya returned and handed off the bottles to Geldis to open, she glanced briefly his direction before picking up a mug to fill from the tap. Teldryn was glad he'd left his helmet on for the moment as it allowed him to freely assess her. She had put on a little weight, at least enough that her feminine curves were more evident as she bent over slightly at the keg. Her hair, tied in a braid from which a few strands had escaped, looked nearly black but for the warmth that glowed in the reflection of the lantern light. Dark lashes framed her lowered eyelids, contrasting against the smooth skin of her cheeks as she focused on her task.

Erik's voice broke his trance. "Hey! You're that one girl aren't you? From the cave!" He nudged Roggir. "Remember?"

The slightest of shadows crossed her expression as she straightened up, disappearing as she blinked. She smiled as she set Teldryn's drink in front of him. "Yes, it's me," she replied.

"Wow! You look amazing!" Erik's eyes were nearly out of his head, and Teldryn had a mind to finish the job. He'd gotten used to the boy but every so often he was irritating. Like now.

She blushed lightly. "Thank you. And really, thank you all for saving my life. I wouldn't be here without you." At her last statement, her dark eyes landed on Teldryn.

Roggir replied, "I'm pleased you are doing so well. It's a good thing Teldryn decided to bring you this way. You're a much friendlier face than Drovas. He fits in well at Neloth's, if you were wondering." He nodded toward Geldis, who muttered 'fetcher' under his breath. Roggir, unfazed, looked back to Vanya "As fate would have it, we brought another woman here today, rescued from Highpoint tower. Though she was in a much poorer state than you. We left her with Milore just before coming in here. I wasn't sure she would make it, to be honest."

"Oh," Vanya breathed, her eyes full of empathy. "I hope she'll be alright."

Teldryn opened his mouth to assure her when Erik cut in. "I had to carry her. She is ill with something even Teldryn's magic couldn't fix and he's fixed me up loads of times." Erik glanced over at him, smiling.

He pulled off his helmet and set it on the counter, picking up his sujamma with a smirk. "Perhaps if I didn't exhaust all my magicka on you I'd have more for others."

He took a sip as the nords laughed and Erik defended himself. "Hey, I get into the thick of it so you don't have to, old man."

Teldryn scoffed, "I am ever so grateful for your generosity."

It was true that Erik regularly took beatings that would put himself out of commission if he experienced the same, he would not deny it. He was more the 'divide and conquer' type, rather than rushing headlong into open melee like the young man seemed to relish. Roggir was also more calculated in his battle approach, though he suspected it was not out of self-preservation. Perhaps he just liked being efficient. The few times he'd seen a weapon scratch the Dragonborn's armor, the unfortunate wielder was meted out such a swift and vicious death that Teldryn was, to be truly honest, a little bit fearful of the power this man possessed.

"What's her name?" Vanya's gentle voice caught all their attention. She looked to each man, again landing on Teldryn last who met her eyes without his helmet for the first time. "The woman you brought back?"

"Niyya," he answered. He'd made sure to ask, still remembering how foolish he'd felt for not asking Vanya for hers. She only nodded in reply while chewing her bottom lip.

Geldis piped up, "It sounds like you've been very busy, you must be hungry!"

Roggir and Erik hummed in agreement, ordering chicken eggs, fish, bread and cheese. They were not accustomed to Dunmer meals and both would grimace when he would collect ash-hopper meat to cook for himself. It didn't really bother him that he didn't have to share.

"And for you, Teldryn?"

"Kwama egg- fried, and some bread with scrib jelly." He looked proudly at the two nords, who were predictably curling their lips in distaste. "Forget to order your milk?" he taunted as he took a sip of sujamma.

"Eat shit," Erik replied with a smirk. "Oh wait, you already do."

Geldis cut in, unable to suppress a smile, "Hey now, I think it's my turn to take offense. Vanya, get these orders started, please, while I show them to their rooms."

Roggir and Erik stood, but Teldryn stayed, catching the key that Geldis tossed his way. He knew where his room was. Besides, they would likely not be spending the night if all went to plan. The barkeep led the nords down the hallway and Teldryn was blessedly alone. He heard Vanya moving about the kitchen, catching a glimpse every so often as she prepared the meals. He was impressed with the way she had carved a place for herself after her rough start in this world. He then wondered if the relationship between her and Geldis was just business. But why should I care? He was long past the days where casual encounters amused him and he was most definitely not looking to settle down. He didn't care, he couldn't care. But surely not. Geldis is...what...four hundred years old?

By the time the ancient barkeep returned, Vanya was setting Teldryn's meal in front of him with two other plates balanced in her other hand.

"My thanks." He smiled and she returned it warmly.

"Vanya, The Dragonborn and Erik will take their meals in their rooms," said Geldis.

"Of course," she replied, casting one final glance at Teldryn before taking off across the room to deliver the plates. Teldryn took a bite and chewed, following her with his eyes as she made her way across the tavern, the tail of her braid swinging ever so slightly just above the bow of her apron ties that indicated a pleasingly narrow waist. He turned back around and was met with an amused and scrutinizing look from Geldis.

"What?"

"Nothing at all," Geldis replied, smirking. The barkeep went into the kitchen and left him to eat in silence. So there's nothing between them, then. Teldryn was sure that Geldis' reaction to his leering would have been much different otherwise. Not that it mattered to him. The relief he felt told him differently, but he had already decided that his mind was not going to go there.

Moments later, Vanya returned behind the bar and approached him. "So how is it?" she asked, motioning to the plate.

"Excellent," he replied truthfully.

"Good." She seemed relieved as she leaned her elbows on the counter. "It's not exactly hard to screw up a kwama egg but I've managed to do it a few times. I still have trouble with ash yams, I think it's the spices. I can't seem to get the proportions right."

Teldryn was finished eating and sipped his drink. "You look well, Vanya."

"Thanks. I feel well. I'd say the same for you, but this is the first time seeing your face." She looked at his helmet on the counter, reaching out to press her finger onto a crack that had unfortunately been inflicted on it. "That looks like it hurt."

"Yes," he drawled as he watched her. "My head hurt for a couple days after that one but the s'wit who did it doesn't have to worry about his head anymore."

She grimaced slightly as she pulled her hand back. "Can it be fixed?"

"Oh yes, I'll take it to Glover today. The real question is, will he have time while trying to remake Erik's battered armor."

"So you aren't staying long?"

"No, we are here to go into the mine looking for something that Master Neloth claims to be there." He was skeptical, but he was not going to question a Telvanni wizard. It's not good for one's health.

"Do you think you'll find what you're looking for?" She was certainly full of questions, though he found he didn't mind.

"Don't know," he said with a shrug. "Honestly, I don't really care. I'm being paid to go, so I'll go."

She raised her eyebrows and then nodded in understanding. "So what is it you are looking for then?"

Teldryn knit his brow and took a drink, wondering if he should say anything. The people of Raven Rock would not likely be keen to learn Roggir was searching for artifacts that would lead to Hermaeus Mora himself. Before he could decide what to say Geldis' voice rang from the kitchen.

"Vanya, your help please?"

"Coming!" she called back then glanced at his mug. "Do you want a refill before I go?"

"I shouldn't, I need to be getting this helmet to Glover anyway."

Vanya nodded, picking up his plate with a grin. "First come, first serve. Right?"

He smirked. "Precisely."

She turned and headed into the kitchen. Teldryn sat for a moment, his eyes lingering on the spot in the doorway where she'd disappeared. Finish the drink and leave. He downed the remainder of his drink and stood up, tossing a few coins on the counter.

As he made his way across the marketplace, Teldryn told himself that the reason he was so interested in her was that she was, according to her at least, from another world. Not to mention he had given her one hundred septims and would have been none too pleased had he returned to see her begging on the street. It was good to see an investment doing well, that was all.