Chapter 15

Ragnthor

Ragnthor woke early and quietly walked downstairs and looked into Lucia's room. He smiled when he saw that Slasher was on the bed with her. As he was leaving he made a small noise and Slasher's head whipped up and over toward the door, eyes bright and tensed for instant action. Ragnthor nodded and he lay back down.

As he shut the door he laughed to himself. "That crazy dog. Guess that means I need to be on the lookout for a she-dog." He shook his head as he went outside.

He walked over to the horse pasture to check on the horses. He tossed some hay over the fence, as the grass was still short. As the horses ran over, he checked to see if they were moving free and easy. He smiled as Ahearn tore into his food.

"No wonder the Jarl that you were getting fat. You eat like you're starved." Ahearn snorted, not bothering to lift his head.

Ragnthor laughed as he walked back to the house. As soon as he was in the house he started making the morning fire. Soon it was burning well. Ragnthor just sat there, staring into the fire, not really feeling like doing anything. Soon Lydia walked out in full armor and sat down by him.

Ragnthor put his arm around her. "I will miss you, you know."

Lydia looked over at him. "Why? I will only be gone for a day."

Ragnthor mentally braced himself before he spoke. "About that. I would like you to stay in Riverwood overnight. I would prefer that you not travel in the dark, call me worried. And please don't hit me, you're wearing armor and I'm not."

Lydia just leaned on him. "I can understand that." She attempted to snuggle but was hampered but her armor and a groan of pain from him.

Ragnthor gave a pained chuckle. "Let's never try that in armor ever again."

He heard Lydia laugh as he handed her a small bag of gold. "This should be more than enough for a room at the inn if you don't want to stay with Gerdur. And enough for the pay I owe you."

Lydia slid the bag into the pouch on her him. "I haven't really talked to Gerdur in years. And you do know I still have what's left of the 10,000 you gave me in Solitude."

He nodded. "Yea but you still have to put up with me. So you have earned every cent of that."

Ragnthor stood and whistled which was followed by the sounds of screaming and giggling. "Well it's time to get up and get moving. Lucia should be out soon. What do you want for breakfast?"

Lydia laughed. "Anything but porridge or potatoes." So that is exactly what Ragnthor pulled out of the cabinets.

Soon the food was on the table and Lucia walked out of her room with Slasher. Slasher's shoulder was almost as high as Lucia's head. As she sat down at the table Ragnthor slid her a bowl and plate.

"Now don't feed Slasher too much. Too much table food and he will be sitting on your lap and eating from your plate." Lucia nodded, month full.

Ragnthor slid Lydia some food and sat down himself. They ate in quiet, the only sound was chewing. At the end of the meal Lydia stood and gave Ragnthor a quick kiss.

"I should leave now if I'm going to make Riverwood by nightfall." Lucia's mouth dropped open.

She mumbled something through the food of her mouth and Ragnthor smiled. "Swallow your food and try again."

Lucia swallowed. "Where is Lydia going?"

Ragnthor nodded. "Lydia is going to Riverwood to get some of my friends to watch you. In about a week and a half we have to go somewhere and we would take you if it was safe."

Lucia looked like she was thinking. "How dangerous is it going to be?"

Ragnthor smiled. "Well, little lass, I don't truly know. But I do know that we will be prepared to fight anything we might come across."

Lucia nodded and though some more. "Why is Lydia the one going if it is your friend?"

Ragnthor laughed. "Well we all were friends back when we were your age. Lydia is going because, whether she likes it or not, I am a better farmer than she is and we still have 1 field of corn and 2 fields of potatoes to plant."

Lydia nodded and Lucia's face fell. "It's not that much Lucia. It only took us a half a day to do one field. And if we get done fast I might teach you something."

Lucia's face brightened up. "Now go and put on your dirtiest clothes. We will get started as soon as you are ready." Lucia nodded and tore off to her room.

Ragnthor smiled and shook his head. He looked over at Lydia and saw a questioning look in her eyes.

"What are you going to teach her?"

Ragnthor smiled. "Quite a few things, maybe. Woodwork is one, she will be able to help me to make something for this winter. And we do live in Skyrim so I will teach her to defend herself. Being a combat master I can teach her what she wants to learn, from the dagger to the longbow."

Lydia nodded. "It will be good for her to learn these things and soon. She is getting a much later start than we had."

Ragnthor smile left as he nodded. "That's just one thing on a large list that I could have prevented. Though I don't think an 18 year old boy has much of a chance raising a 4 year old child." Lydia glared at him.

"Even with help. Still, apart from not knowing as much as she should, she has turned out well. Much better than if I had tried to raise her."

Lydia walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. "That may be true, but I'm sure that you will do a good job from here on. Especially with me to help you." He smiled and gave her a kiss.

Ragnthor heard a snort and turn to see Lucia walking out of her room. She shook her head and he laughed. Lydia walked over to her and knelt down, making Lucia taller than her.

Lydia smiled. "Why aren't you tall."

Lucia laughed. "Now you be a good girl why I am away. And it won't be for too long. Just a little over a day and a half. And when I get back I want you to show me all that Ragnthor taught you."

Lydia stood and patted Lucia on the head. Lucia gave her a hug. Ragnthor saw her tense then the shocked expression when she turned her head toward him. He smiled and gently nodded. Lydia wrapped her arms around the little girl. She only held on for a second then let go. Ragnthor saw that Lydia hadn't moved so he spoke up.

"Lucia, take Slasher outside and get the tools ready. Lydia has a few more things she needs to do to get ready." Lucia nodded and she and Slasher bounded out the door.

Ragnthor walked over to Lydia and she turned and hugged him, tears streaming down her face. Ragnthor held her until the tears stopped. She used his shirt to wipe up her tears.

"Are you feeling better Lydia?" She nodded. "

If you want you don't have to go. I can hire a courier or we could just show up when we leave."

Lydia shook he head and smiled, eyes red. "No, I'm ok. It has just been a long time since I have felt like there were people who actually care for me."

She pulled him into another quick hug. "Now you stay safe while I am gone, you hear." Ragnthor smiled and nodded.

Lydia smiled back then turned and walked out the door.

Ragnthor stood there for a moment, smiling. When he walked out he saw Lucia following Lydia down the lane. When they got to the end he whistled and Lucia and Slasher started walking back. He waved at Lydia one last time then bent down and picked up his hoe. As Lucia got close he saw that there were tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong little lass?"

Her eyes flew wide and she wiped them. "I just got a family and now its splitting apart."

Ragnthor laughed and put a hand on her shoulder. "Lydia will be back, if not for us than for the honor she would lose for abandoning her Thane."

Lucia looked up at him. "But what if someone attacks her?" Ragnthor patted her shoulder. "In all my years I have never met a match to her skill of the blade. In a match of pure skill I would be hard pressed to beat her. And she rides a war horse. Her horse is worth at least one man in a fight."

Lucia looked up at him with worried eyes. "And I would not have asked her to go if I thought she would be in danger. She means more to me than almost anything else this world can offer."

He felt Lucia relax as she smiled at him. "So how about we get some work done. The fast we get done the faster you get to do something fun." She nodded and ran over to her hoe.

Ragnthor smiled and walked over to the field closest to the pasture. When she got to him he handed her a bag.

"These are the seeds we are going to plant today. Its corn so if it doesn't grow, it doesn't grow. Now what you are going to do is dig a little hole and put 3 or 4 seeds in it the cover it up. Then move over about the width of you outstretched hand and dig another little hole. And try to make your rows straight. It would look real funny to see the rows bob and weave through the field."

Lucia nodded. "Now let's make a race out of it. First one done get to go to bed whenever they want." Lucia nodded and flew into a flurry of motion.

He smiled then dug into his first row. It was a good day to be alive.

It was late in the afternoon when they got done. Lucia had managed to keep up with him all day so he let her win.

She started jumping and shouting. "I Won! I Won!"

Ragnthor laughed. "So you won. No bedtime for you tonight." She beamed up at him.

He looked at the sky. "So there is enough to do one more thing today. Do you want to start making something for this winter or do you want me to teach you to defend yourself?"

Lucia thought for a moment. "What are we making?" Ragnthor laughed. "Want to do the most fun thing, huh. It will be something that will make going to town this winter fun."

Lucia thought some more. "What would you teach me about defense?"

Ragnthor looked at her. "I can teach you the bow or the blade."

Lucia's eyes lit up. "I have always wanted to have a sword."

Ragnthor nodded. "Ok, the sword it is. Go around the back of the house, I will be there shortly." She nodded and started walking toward the back of the house.

Ragnthor went inside and took something wrapped in cloth off of the shelf in the top of his closet. He unwrapped it. Inside were 2 old swords. He took these outside. He handed one to Lucia and smiled as her arms sagged a bit with the weight.

"These are the same swords my father used to teach me how to use a sword."

He took a few steps back and held his sword in front of him. "Come on, attack me."

He smiled as she ran forward, the small sword held with both hands. His smiled grew as their swords met. For a wisp of a girl her blows were surprisingly forceful. He let her flail away for a while, deflecting her wild swings and thrusts with ease before catching her blade with his cross-guard and twisting it out of her hands. She looked at him in awe.

"Pick up your sword." She did and got ready to charge him again so he held up his hand.

"Lucia, these are one handed swords. They aren't heavy enough to just flail away at someone, even for big man like me. To use a sword like this you need to use speed and deception. Move fast enough to keep your opponent off balance but maintain enough control to lead him where you want him. Do you understand?" Lucia nodded.

"Alright, let's try again." Lucia nodded and ran in again.

Ragnthor felt that she was moving faster and could see that she was thinking as he looked in her eyes. He decided to let her control the fight. The fight had flowed for a few minutes when he felt a change in the fight. Suddenly Ragnthor had the feeling to sweep his blade across his chest. As he did, their swords met and he felt her sword tug his shirt. He knocked her sword down and smiled.

"By the gods lass, you might make a swordswoman yet."

He saw Lucia stare at him with wide eyes. "What are you staring at lass?"

She pointed at him. "You're bleeding!"

He looked down and saw a little blood stain on his shirt over a tear and he laughed. "That's just a little scratch. But it does bring us to lesson 2. If you fight with a blade, there will be blood. On you, on the person you fight and all over the ground. It's just a fact of life. Which then leads to lesson 3. If you carry a blade, expect to fight. The only way to avoid a fight is to not be armed for only a man without honor attacks those who can't fight back." Lucia nodded, her face pale.

"Now you know this, I will offer you a choice. Myself and Lydia can train you to fight with a blade or I can teach you to defend yourself with your fists."

Lucia grabbed the sword tighter and the color returned to her cheeks. "I will keep learning to use a sword."

Ragnthor put a hand on her shoulder. "And you shall be a powerful fighter. And you shall learn to use your fists as well. It will harden you for swordsmanship. And Lydia will teach you. She uses a style that would fit you better than mine." Lucia nodded and smiled up at him.

"Now let's get in the house. I'm ready for dinner." She nodded and they walked into the house.

They were out almost before the sun the next morning. Ragnthor threw Lucia up on top of the stable so she could get the potatoes, which had sprouted nicely. They worked fast and were a little over half done by noon. As they were sitting on the fence taking a break, Slasher started to growl.

A few seconds later Ragnthor hear a dull roar and saw a growing dot in the sky. He cursed under his breath.

"Shite. All I need now is a dragon."

He turned to Lucia. "Lucia I need you to take Slasher and go into the woods until I call you."

Lucia looked up at him with questioning eyes. "Why? What's wrong?"

Ragnthor shook his head like a bull and snarled. "Never you mind why."

Suddenly there was a loud roar. "It's safer for you there. NOW GO!"

She took off like a startled deer with Slasher right beside her. Ragnthor reach over his shoulder. "Shite."

Then he reached to his waist. "Gods Be Damned!"

He reached into his boot. "Talos be praised."

Pulling out his dagger he jumped to fence that led to the road and waited. Suddenly the dragon dove at him, bathing him in fire. At the last second he dodged and, grabbing a horn, swung onto its back. He sat there for a second as it flew up into the sky and tore off what was left of his shirt. Then, using his dagger as a handhold, he crawled over to its right wing.

When he got the he plunge his dagger deep where the wing met the body and twisted hard. There was a sick pop and the dragon roared with fury as it fell toward the ground, right wing flapping wildly in the wind.

Ragnthor made a desperate lunge and grabbed its other wing. As the dragon tilted to its right side he climbed out onto its wing. The dragon hit the ground hard and even though the wing broke Ragnthor fall, when he hit the dragon's body he felt some break inside of him as he bounced off. He hit the ground hard and got the wind knocked out of him.

He lay the gasping for a moment before he tried to move. The pain was intense as he stood. When he looked at his chest it was covered in dips and bumps. As he ran his hands gently a crossed it he cursed.

"Damn. 5 or 7 broken ribs."

He hobbled over to the dragon which was thrashing on the ground, both wings broken, unable to move. The dragon didn't even seem to notice him as he plunged his dagger into its skull. It shuttered once then was still. He doubled over with the added pain of dragon's soul melded with his.

As he straightened as much as he could he hollerd "Lucia! You Can Come Out Now! It's Safe!" As he finished he felt something slosh inside.

As Lucia rounded the corner of the house he heard the thunder of hoof beats and turned. He saw Lydia leap of her horse and run to him. When she reached his she wrapped her arms around him which caused him to groan and cough. He wiped his mouth and his hand came back bloody. He knees went weak and he half fell.

He showed her his hand. "I might need to go to town," he coughed up more blood "Take me to the temple. The priestess should be able to fix what's broke."

Lydia

It had been a productive visit. She reached Riverwood near nightfall and found Ralof on his way home from visiting Brasella, who was working for Alvor. He said they would come and she had dinner at Gerdur's home.

When it was time to leave Gerdur had asked that she stay in such a way it would have been rude to refuse. She left before dawn the next morning, eager to get home. She had just passed Whiterun when she hear a blood mad roar and saw something falling from the sky.

It was a dragon and it had landed near the house. She put her heels the Black Moon and rode as fast as he would carry her. As she turned up the lane she saw Ragnthor turn toward her. He was a sight. His hair had been burned a foot shorter and his mustache was gone. His chest was covered with burns and his pants were charred. She leapt off Black Moon and hugged him, making him cough.

He pushed her back and she saw his mouth and hand were bloody and he almost fell. "I might need to go to town," he coughed and she saw blood fly out "Take me to the temple. The priestess should be able to fix what's broke."

She fought back hysteria and helped him to the wagon where she laid him in the back so he couldn't fall out. She saw Lucia standing there with a worried look on her face. She waved her over.

"I want you to sit in the back of the wagon and keep his head up please. And try to keep him awake as long as possible."

Lucia nodded and climbed in while she caught Ahearn and hitched him to the wagon. She climbed onto the seat and drove as fast as she dared, not trusting herself to look back for the crying. She played with her necklace the whole way there. Soon she was in front of the gates arguing with the guards.

"You are going to have to walk in, no wagons are allowed in the city."

Anger filled her reply. "Like Hell I Will! Your Thane is in the back, coughing up blood. If you want him to live, Move Your Asses!" They opened the gates faster than she had ever seen.

Soon they were in front of the temple. She saw Balgruuf walking toward them and ran over to him.

"Jarl, I need help. Ragnthor is in the back of the wagon and is barely awake. I can't lift him to get him in the temple and he's hurt. I'm just…"

Tears filled her eyes as Balgruuf put a hand on her shoulder. "Tell me later. Let's just get him inside." As they walked around to the back of the wagon Lydia motioned for Lucia to get out as Balgruuf whistled.

"I see what you mean. Let's hurry." As they moved him he coughed, covering himself in more blood.

As they got inside Lydia called out. "Danica, we need help! Ragnthor fell and broke something inside of him! He has been coughing up blood almost the whole way here!"

Danica walked over from the back room. "Lay him on one of the tables and I will look at him."

They did and as she felt him she whistled. "He has broken at least 6 broken ribs, maybe more. What happened?"

Lydia's shoulders hunched, fighting back sobs, as Lucia spoke up. "He fell out of the sky. With a dragon!" Everyone's eyes grew wide.

"Can you help him?"

Danica smiled at her. "Of course I can. Why don't you, Lydia and the Jarl go outside and wait while I work." Lucia nodded and held Lydia's hand as they walked outside.

As they sat down on one of the benches in the upper district, Balgruuf looked at her. "Did that really happen? Falling out of the sky with a dragon?"

Lydia nodded, wiping her eyes. "I was just coming back from Riverwood. There was a roar and a dragon fell out of the sky. He must have been on it to be broken that bad. But that's all I know. Maybe Lucia knows more."

Balgruuf looked at her and she nodded. "We were taking a break from planting potatoes when he told me to run into the woods, saying it would be safe there. I just ran around the corner of the house. As I looked around the corner this huge dragon swoops down at him, breathing fire. Then he is on the dragon's back as they fly into the sky. Then there was a really loud roar and the dragon falls out of the sky and makes the earth shake. Ragnthor bounced off and hit the ground. Then he killed the dragon and told me I could come out. Then Lydia came over and that's when he started coughing up blood. Is he going to be ok?"

Balgruuf put his arm around her. "If he can be saved by man than Danica can do it. She is a master of the healing arts. So how did you come to live with these two?"

Lucia sniffed and replied. "Ragnthor is my uncle. He found me right here, begging. He took me in and gave me a home."

Balgruuf smiled. "Well it's good that he found you. Everyone should have a home." Lucia gave a little smile and nodded.

About an hour later Danica walked out and waved Lydia over. "I have done all I can. He had multiple punctures in one of his lungs and to point of a rib was dangerously close to his heart. I managed to fix all the internal damage but his ribs will have to heal on their own. I just don't have enough strength."

Lydia gave a relieved sigh and smiled. "Thank you Danica. How much do we own you?" Danica shook her head. "You don't own me a thing. As a priestess of…"

Lydia held up her hand and handed her the money Ragnthor had given her a few days before. "No. You can't keep this place running without money. And you have done me a favor I can never repay. If you want you can consider it a donation. Can I see him now?"

Danica nodded and led her inside. Ragnthor was sitting on a bench with his back against the wall. Lydia watched him struggle to his feet and walked toward her.

She met him half way with a fist. "Why The Hell Did You Do That?!" She managed to hit him again before he pulled her into a hug.

"Why? Because it was the only thing I could do. Dragons can sense other dragons and I have the soul of a dragon so there is nowhere I can hide if it wants to fight me."

She laid her head on him and wrapped her arms around him. "Then why don't wear armor all the time?"

She relaxed as he rubbed the back of her neck. "Because I don't want to. It would show that I was scared of a fight, of dying. There is only one thing that scares me. Losing you."

She hugged him tighter and he groaned. "My ribs are still broken so be gentle please. And I promise that one day, when this is all over, I will lay down my sword and not pick it up unless I truly need to."

She looked up at him and nodded, tears in her eyes. "Ok. And I will look forward to that day. Now let's go home." Ragnthor kept his arm around her as they walked outside. Balgruuf was waiting for them when they got outside.

He walked over and they shook hands. "So you really fell out of the sky on a dragon?"

Ragnthor ran his hand through his hair. "Well I guess you could call it that. I think of it as killing a dragon that fell from the sky."

Balgruuf laughed. "Like father like son I suppose. Now you 2 kids get home. I would think that you're tired after a day like today."

Ragnthor chuckled and nodded. "I would like some sleep. I have somewhere I need to be next week and would like to heal as much as I can."

Balgruuf's eyes grew wide as he nodded. "Well I can understand that. Good luck with whatever comes your way." They nodded as they walked to the wagon.

As Lydia saw Ragnthor climb into the back of the wagon she asked "What are you doing?"

He continued to climb in the answered. "Sitting in the back. Good as I am feeling I don't think I will make it up to the seat. Let's just go home, we still have a field and a half of potatoes to get in the ground tomorrow. Is that ok?" Lydia nodded as she helped Lucia onto the seat.

Ragnthor

When they got back to the Ragnthor slid off the wagon and started to walk back to the field to pick up the tools. He got maybe 5 steps before Lydia stopped him.

"No. You go into the house and let me and Lucia clean up out here."

He looked over out here. "Let me do something, I'm not totally useless."

Lydia shrugged her shoulders. "But you are pretty useless. I guess you can lead Ahearn to the field." She walked off, shaking her head.

Ragnthor managed to unhitch Ahearn and led him to the pasture. He stood there for a moment, watching the horses then he walked to the house. When he got in he looked at the stairs, weighing the pain in his ribs over the height of the stairs. He was still standing there when Lydia walked in.

"Is everything alright?"

He hung his head and sighed. "Would you mind helping me up the stairs? I…I don't think I can get up on my own."

As he looked down at her he saw her face soften. "Alright. But don't you want any dinner first?"

He smiled and shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I lose the urge to eat when I get magic used on me."

She nodded and pulled his arm over her and together they walked up the stairs. When they reached the top they were both breathing heavy.

"By the gods Ragnthor, who much do you weight?"

Ragnthor laughed. "Enough to make you ask that. But the last time I check I was near 300 lbs."

He looked down at her shocked expression as they walked to his room. "And you asked me to help you up the stairs!"

He laughed and kissed her. "That's right, I asked." Lydia snorted and shook her head.

Ragnthor growled as he lay down on the bed. He saw Lydia standing in the doorway, smiling and shaking her head. "You're going need help getting down the stairs in the morning, aren't you?"

Ragnthor smiled at her. "You know, I just might." She laughed as she lay down next to him.

He wrapped his arm around her as she snuggled close and asked "Will Lucia be alright?"

Ragnthor smiled and nodded. "She put herself to bed last night and she has Slasher if the worst happens. Now goodnight and sweet dreams, little one."

He gave her a kiss and relaxed into his pillow. Slowly he drifted off into a deep, deep slumber.

-Authors note:Round 15! one more and done. Another chapter has come and gone. This is most likely going to be the last slow chapter for a while. It's time to jump back into the story. And then next chapter my take longer to come out. And I would like to do a shout out all my readers in other countries. It is still a shock that people even read what I write. Well I hope you like the chapter. May you have a wonderful life until next we "speak".