Multi-chapter. Many characters! Annekke Crag-Jumper, Verner Rock-Chucker, Sylgja, Filnjar, Grogmar, Erandur, people of Dawnstar, OCs. Action, Angst, Love, alternate storyline. NSFW due to graphic description of injury AND eventual smut. Based off a tid-bit of canon in-game lore!

Mara saved Annekke's daughter, through a Dunmer priest named Erandur. She didn't think she could ever repay him - but he had other ideas. Now she's about to strike off on her first adventure in a long, long time...

Acts of Restoration: Part II

They tried to get she and Verner to drink something for their exhaustion, but they both refused. All that mattered right then was seeing their daughter.

The four of them walked as a group to Sylgja's house, and then the two men stopped at the gate in the fence – wanting to give them some privacy. Annekke was grateful for the gesture; her hand trembled as she reached for the front door's handle.

She yanked that door open, stepped into the cottage – and was met with the most beautiful sight on all of Nirn.

Their daughter was lying in the middle of her bed, back propped with pillows and a fresh quilt covering her to the waist. Her lovely face was slack with the peace of sleep. And she wasn't alone; her head was resting on the shoulder of Dasturn, who had wedged himself into the bed beside her. The burly young Nord was less than half-awake, from the look of him – but his hands stayed firmly clasped where they met, arms looped around her waist, holding Sylgja close as they dozed in the low firelight.

The sound of the door opening had roused him, and dark eyes slowly widened as Dasturn shook his shaggy black head and looked over to them. He looked exhausted, pale and drawn, and a stab of warmth and pity speared Annekke's heart as she stared at the dear young man. A sound of surprise – and maybe embarrassment – escaped him, and he hastily but gently let Sylgja go as he made to get up off the bed.

'Annekke, Verner. Ah, I'm sorry. We've been waiting for you. I'll get out of your hair—'

'No.' She said it swiftly, cutting over him, and gave her head a fervent shake.

'It's alright. You've been through so much. Stay, and rest.' The view of the room was blurring now with thick tears, and she swiped at them as a watery smile pulled at her mouth. Sylgja hadn't stirred, even as he'd pulled away and sat up, and Annekke toed her boots off in a rush before dropping her pack and starting toward the bed. Dasturn looked uncomfortable, like he was only just sitting and about to stand. Two spots of high color sat on his cheekbones, and he couldn't quite meet her eye as he blushed.

'You're her parents. And you've had a long day. I wouldn't want to intrude.'

An impatient sound crossed her lips, and she waved a hand at him as she came nearer.

'Nonsense. She would want you to stay, Dasturn. We don't mind at all. Stay.'

Verner made an assenting noise behind her, and finally the younger man relaxed some. Slowly he nodded, and shot them a small, relieved smile.

'Alright. Here, let me stir the fire a bit for you, at least.'

He slipped from the bed and rose to stand, towering over she and Verner both, and Annekke vaguely noted the room getting a bit brighter as she finally sank to her knees in front of her daughter.

Sylgja's soft brown hair had been washed and brushed, a far cry from the stringy mess it had been the night before. Her skin had a healthy pallor, with a faint rose clinging to the apples of her cheeks. Even her shirt looked fresh and clean. Annekke figured someone had sorted her out as a kindness, both to Slygja and to them, and a brief prayer of thanks flitted through her head unspoken before it washed away. Their girl looked so peaceful lying there, breathing slowly in and out, that a part of her hated to disturb her. But she had a need that outweighed any guilt, and slowly she raised a trembling hand out to grab her daughters, where it rested on the blanket. Tentatively, she shook and squeezed.

'Sylgja...wake up, love. Wake up.'

Sylgja started to stir. Annekke didn't notice she'd been holding her breath until spiky dark lashes started to flutter, and Sylgja's eyes slowly opened. Beautiful hazel exactly like Verner's swept over to lock gazes with her, and then a groggy, happy little sound escaped the parted lips below.

'...Mama. You're here.'

The familiar sound of her daughter's voice was too much for her, after so many hours of anguish. Relief rushed through her so hard it was painful, and Annekke exhaled in a woosh as fresh tears welled, spilling down her cheeks. She squeezed Sylgja's hand again and nodded, helpless against a hitching sob. Her other hand moved to cup the side of Sylgja's face, fingers brushing through her hair, and she took a shuddering breath as she smiled down at her daughter.

'Yes, love, I'm here. We both are.'

A floorboard creaked beneath her as Verner settled on his knees beside her at the bed. The added weight of his arm wrapped around her, and a calloused hand clasped itself around she and Sylgja's, warm and comforting. A smile bloomed over Sylgja's face as she took in the sight of her father; Annekke couldn't help but lean in, elbows on the bed, to rest her forehead against their girl's. Deeply she inhaled through her nose, nuzzling against her, and caught the smell that had always been Sylgja's. It was mixed with a lot of other things – beeswax soap, rosehip. Sweet arrowroot. And unmistakably, a tinge of coppery blood. It served as a painful reminder, and more tears slipped from the corners of her scrunched up eyes.

'We came as soon as we possibly could,' she murmured, and beside them Verner squeezed their hands.

'You should've seen your ma, love. She wouldn't stop for a minute.'

This pulled a chuckle from Sylgja, sort of tired and rusty, and Annekke pulled back to see that her eyes were shining.

'I'm not surprised,' their daughter said softly. Flushing, Annekke shook her head.

'Enough about me, silly. How are you?' Again she smoothed a hand over their daughter's forehead, through her hair.

'How are you feeling? Is there anything we can get you, food, a drink?'

Sylgja sighed, and then gave a little nod.

'A drink, I guess. I'm pretty thirsty.'

'I can make some tea.' Dasturn had been so quiet by the hearth, Annekke had nearly forgotten about him. He sounded eager to be of use, and Annekke shot him a grateful glance as she nodded.

'That sounds wonderful. Thank you.'

Sylgja's gaze landed on Dasturn across the room, and a lovely blush stained her cheeks as she took in the sight of him.

'You stayed.'

Instantly, a flush of his own flooded Dasturn's face, and he smiled shyly at their daughter before ducking his head.

'Course I did. I wouldn't leave you.'

Watching the two of them lifted some of the weight from her heart, and Annekke smiled secretly to herself as they both muttered and looked away. If she was right – and she usually was – a proposal wasn't far afield. She stifled the smile as Sylgja looked quickly to her parents, eyes more alert and a tad embarrassed, and helped her daughter when she made to fully sit up in the bed. She couldn't help but fuss with the pillows at her back, pulling and arranging them just so, and when she finally smoothed the quilt over Sylgja's lap, her daughter shot her an exasperated smile.

'Please, mama, relax.'

'I am, love. You have no idea.' Compared to the anguish of their sleepless night and their day on the road, this was bliss. Beside her, Verner spoke up in his soft rumble.

'How are you feeling, Syl?'

Sylgja sighed.

'So much better. And not so tired anymore. I guess I really needed to sleep.'

'I'll bet.' Relief was still coursing through her, and she squeezed the hand she'd grabbed again as soon as she finished with the blankets. Sylgja looked to Dasturn where he stood with her kettle.

'How long was I asleep?'

He made a thoughtful sound. 'Hard to say...since noon, at least.' As he poured steaming water into three clay mugs, he shot a look over to her parents.

'That's the soonest we could get her back to bed. Once the priest was done with her, she insisted on getting cleaned up. Then figured she'd clean her whole place. Stubborn as a mule.'

Sylgja made a weak sound of protest, but Annekke and Verner both smiled. 'She's her mother's daughter, boy,' he murmured. 'We might as well apologize now.'

The suggestive words had both younger faces flaming anew, and Annekke jabbed an elbow at her husband's ribs. But there was no heat in it, and she turned with raised eyebrows back to their daughter, shaking her head on a furtive smile.

'Good on Dasturn for roping you back into bed. You should rest, love. You've had...quite the ordeal.'

Everyone's face fell a little, and there it was – no putting off the question any longer. It was Verner who asked it, gentle and probing.

'Do you...remember what happened?'

Sylgja's brow furrowed; she sighed and frowned. Tea was passed around, and she stared into her cup, lost in thought.

'I don't really remember the fall. A shot of fear – and then nothing.' She shook her head, a rain-cloud crossing her expression.

'But...I remember waking up, and...some of what came after. It hurt.'

The words twisted in Annekke's stomach, and she winced. 'I'm so sorry.'

Sylgja startled to attention, and shook her head with a sudden crooked smile.

'No, don't be. Grog did what he had to, to get me through. Then the priest came along and healed me. It was worth the pain.'

'The priest.' A shot of warmth went through her chest, and Annekke released Sylgja's hand to turn to Dasturn.

'Is he still here?'

'Yeah, he is. We offered him a bed in the bunkhouse, to stay the night. He's on his way north in the morning.'

Sylgja had taken a gulp of warm tea; now she swiped at her mouth with a wrist and nodded.

'He told me he'd like to meet you both.'

Annekke stared at her, dumbfounded. 'Your da and I?'

More tea. Another nod.

'They told him you were coming. He said he felt it was only right.'

She was fascinated.

'What is he like?'

'He's a Maran priest,' Sylgja answered warmly. 'A Dunmer named Erandur. He was very kind, and soft-spoken. He had gentle hands...and the most interesting eyes. I felt safe as soon as he came near me.'

'Wow.' Annekke all but whispered the word. Her curiosity was growing with her warmth, for this man she'd never met, and could never repay.

'That sounds like it would be nice,' Verner chimed amiably. Annekke could only nod for a second – then she pulled herself together and smiled.

'But not until we've spent some more time with you, young lady. After the scare you just gave us, you're lucky I'm letting you out of my sight.'

Sylgja chuckled – a sound she would never tire of hearing.

'Yes, ma.'

It was well after nightfall by the time they left the cottage, where Dasturn had eventually insisted on making them some supper. Every light in the bunkhouse was blazing bright up on the hill; they assumed they'd be walking into a full house. In reality, every man still in Shor's Stone was drinking in Filnjar's basement, with the exception of Dasturn. So when they entered the bunkhouse, they were met with a lone occupant.

His back was to them, when they entered; a broad-shouldered, wiry back, clothed in a worn brown robe. He stood at the bunkhouse's dinner table with arms raised in prayer, and a half-dozen candles lit ahead of him cast him in silhouette. She couldn't help but notice the tips of his ears – long and tapered, shot through with glowing red from the candlelight. He was noiseless as he lowered his arms and turned around. Then he nodded at the sight of them.

'Ah, yes. Here you are.'

The priest was as warm and steady as they'd been told – and it wasn't long before Annekke found herself talking to him alone. They'd tried to insist on paying the man, but he'd flat out refused. Eventually they settled for thanking him profusely instead, and after that Verner had announced he'd best get started pitching their tents for the night on Filnjar's covered porch. Erandur had asked her to join him by the fire – and now he was staring at her intently as she took a chair. Sylgja had been right – he had such interesting eyes...

They were the color of garnet gems, and just as deep, seeming to look into her rather than at her. They were so soulful that they drew her in – and now they glowed, reflecting the firelight. For a second she was lost in them – then she remembered her thought, and collected herself.

'It's still hard for me to wrap my head around. How lucky we were, that Odfel found you...'

Across from her, Erandur smiled. It suited him, warming the plains of his dark and chiselled face, lessening the severity of his brow. Idly, he reached up a hand to stroke his tidy black scruff.

'We could consider it luck. Or just as easily the will of the Lady.'

He had a deep voice, with a thick accent that reminded her of Sondras, and she conceded with a quiet hum.

'I guess you're right. Sylgja needed you,' she murmured. Then clasped her hands in her lap.

'...She was pretty badly off, wasn't she?'

The light in those eyes dimmed a little, and he frowned.

'I've no wish to disturb you.'

'Please. I need to know.'

The priest sighed, and then nodded, brushing black hair that came past his shoulders behind his pointed ear.

'It was a near thing,' he said softly.

Focus left her eyes as she turned to memory, nodding at him ever so slightly.

'I remember when I finally got to hold her...smell her...there was still a hint of blood.'

'That Grogmar fellow is truly to thank, for her living. Without his intervention, I'd have been far too late.'

She fought down a shiver despite the fire's heat, and nodded again, speaking softly.

'I don't know how to thank him enough...' suddenly a thought occurred to her, and blue eyes sharpened back onto his face.

'Or you, for that matter. I feel like I can't possibly repay you.' They'd been more than willing to give all the gold between them.

He'd been sitting still, but now he went...stiller, in his chair. Red-jewel eyes regarded her carefully, as he looked her over. His expression had gone appraising.

'I'm not entirely certain of that myself, sera.'

The words pricked her confusion, and she crinkled her nose.

'You wouldn't let us pay you. Not even a donation.'

'I've no need of your coin. Actually, it's aid I would welcome.'

Annekke's brow furrowed as she looked at him, and Erandur continued in that rich, mellow voice.

'I'm on my way to an errand of grave importance.'

Her interest was piqued by the look on his angular face. It was solemn, and she couldn't help but frown.

'What kind of errand?'

'A rescue mission. I received a desperate missive, while I was in Riften. The people of Dawnstar need my help.' Her lips had parted as she listened; now his pursed as he shook his head, and snorted.

'And if I'm correct in what I believe to be the problem, then I'm going to need some help.'

'...Help.' The word came so slowly she gave her head a shake, embarrassed. Then she straightened up hastily in her chair, a dawning thought taking her aback.

'And you think that – that I could help you?' He tipped his head toward her, and her mouth fell open.

'With what? How?'

He was watching her keenly, looking – what? Warm? Amused? Ever so slightly, he leaned forward.

'You have the look of an adventurer, sera. Someone who knows their way around a weapon.'

A jolt shot through her at those words, and she actually flushed as she dropped his gaze. She felt a strange mix of proud, wistful and shy, and it took her a minute to shake her head and stammer a reply.

'Well, I – I keep my practice up, but I'm not really an adventurer. Not anymore. Those days are...long behind me.' It'd been ages since Verner had started asking her to stick close to home...memory grabbed her, and she felt a sharp twist of yearning. Then tried to shove it down.

'I have my daughter to think of...my husband. And there's always the mine...'

'I know it's no small thing, I'm suggesting.' She felt the pull of his gaze, and when she met it, his face was full of knowing.

'But I can't help the feeling that you're the right person to ask.'

His tone was so earnest, his gaze so intense that it moved her. She hardly noticed herself leaning toward him.

'Why? What makes you say that?'

His brow furrowed, and Erandur hummed beneath his breath.

'Forgive me, it's...hard to explain. I've been a servant of the Lady for a long time, and sometimes She grants me with...hunches. Understanding. I know it may sound strange to you, but I have the strongest sense that She's the reason we met. That I was meant to wait for you...and ask you for this favor.'

Another jolt swept through her, this one making her breath hitch. Annekke stared at the man across from her, the queerest feeling blooming in her chest. Something was nagging at her – a thought, a realization...then all at once it clicked, and she couldn't help but gasp.

'By the Nine...I said I'd do anything.'

The look on his face said he didn't understand, but it didn't matter – she plunged ahead anyway, raising her hands in front of her, speaking in a rush.

'From dawn to dusk I pushed as hard as I could to get to Sylgja, and that whole time I prayed...like a chant in my head. I begged the gods to save her, told them I'd do anything if they just let her live. I...I begged Mara, especially. And then you...'

She looked to him, stunned, and Erandur's expression wasn't far from her own. Slowly, he nodded.

'From the moment I left Riften, I had the strong sense of knowing I was walking toward more than just Dawnstar. I think...that Mara meant for this meeting.' An awed little smile pulled at his mouth, and his hands lowered to clasp his knees through his robe. Annekke's heart had started pounding in her chest, and in a daze she nodded back.

'You could be right. What if helping you is how I repay her!?'

She couldn't possibly say no, in that case. She owed the Divines for her daughter's life...and she always paid her debts. She'd have gladly given her own life, if that would've saved her. No favor he could ask could be too much. Expression turning resolute, Annekke straightened in her chair and nodded. Her eyes were sharp and keen when they returned to him, and she reached out and settled her hand on one of his.

'It's settled, then. I'll help you. Tell me what we have to do.'

A/N: So, this series is likely going to be more than three parts long. Is anybody shocked? I hope you're all enjoying, so far. And if not, no worries – just scroll though the index until a title that isn't 'Acts of Restoration', if you wanna skip it. This idea has grown into something I REALLY love, so I would really appreciate your review! I'm having so much fun!