Chapter 24
Ragnthor
For the 3 months until the snow melted, the days followed close to the same schedule. Ragnthor would wake up early, quietly leave Lydia's room and make a fire, feed the horses, make breakfast then sit and wait for the rest of the house hold to wake up. Lydia would sit by Ragnthor as they ate.
After breakfast Lydia would teach Lucia some small thing she had learned about fighting with a one handed sword. For the first month Ragnthor would seat on the edge of his seat, tense with fear, ready to stop the fight if Lydia' strength failed when Lucia could hurt her. After the first month he relaxed as Lydia started to get stronger. After the second month, Ragnthor repaired Lydia's shield and crafted Lucia one of her own.
After that they would sit around the fire. Ragnthor would teach Lucia all he knew about wood carving. Lydia would lay on him and watch his surprisingly nimble fingers take a block of wood and make it into a pipe, a running horse, a lumbering mammoth, an agile swordfighter, an impressively detailed dragon, and once, a perfectly detailed hawk, with eyes that seemed to pierce into the soul and feathers so realistic it looked like it would move and fly away.
And this continued until the morning Ragnthor woke and found the snow gone. After he built the fire and started making breakfast, he walked up to his room and pulled out a package. He was walking down the stairs as Lydia came out her room. He placed the package down in front of her.
"A present for you."
She torn open the paper and he smiled at the look of shock on her face. "It's my armor! And it looks as good as new. How did you do this? And when did you find the time?"
Ragnthor ran his fingers through his hair. "Well I finally learned how to get the metal to obey instantly when I tell it to. And I found the time during the first few weeks of being back. It was easy to sneak out of bed, you were so tired and slept so deep."
She got up and kissed him. "Thank you Ragnthor. I will cherish it when I recover the strength to wear it."
Ragnthor laughed. "I wouldn't have given it to you if I thought you wouldn't be able to wear it."
She shook her head. "I think you over estimate me."
Ragnthor shook his head and smiled. "I thought you would say that." He pulled her shield and a practice sword from behind one of the chairs near the fire and handed them to her then took his from above the mantel. "Attack me." He heard Lydia sigh as she swung.
Ragnthor mentally shook his head at the fight she was giving so he pushed. He drew on all that he knew and launched into a lighting fast chain of slashes and thrusts. He did smile as she caught everyone on her shield and all it seemed to do was make her mad. Her sword darted out from around her shield insanely fast. Ragnthor attempted to deflect and dodge and it still tore a hole in his shirt. That left him off balance. As he struggled to regain his footing her shield slammed into him with the force of a horse's double hoofed kick. It knocked him back 6 paces. Lydia lowered her shield and charged. He grabbed the sword with both hands and drove the point toward the shield as hard as he could, hoping to stop her. Instead it almost jarred the sword from his hands. As he struggled to regain it, she knocked it a crossed his body and held it there with her shield, the point of her sword pressed against his stomach.
He smiled down at her as he raised his one free hand, watching her shoulders heave as she struggled to catch her breath. After standing like that for a while, he gently pushed her shield away. She still looked shocked.
"I always thought that you would best me if we both used the same size sword. I would try again with shields but you would win even faster, never could handle 2 different things in 2 different hands at once."
She looked at him even more shocked, if it was possible. "So you didn't hold back?"
Ragnthor shook his head. "I was trying to prove a point, not give you false confidence. Did it work?"
She took off her shield and hugged him. "Thank you, I don't know where I would be without you."
Ragnthor smiled. "Can I be honest?"
She laughed. "No."
He laughed. "Does that mean I have to stop sharing a bed with you? I rather like waking up with something warm and soft next to me."
She nuzzled his neck. "You can stay. I'm still not 100 percent sure you will be there when I wake up if I'm not holding you."
Sudden Lucia spoke. "Wow."
Ragnthor looked at her. "What are you gawking at?"
Lucia shrugged her shoulders. "Both, I guess."
Ragnthor laughed. "Well quit your gawking and get your breakfast, I have something to tell the both of you."
As they sat down to eat he started. "Well before I went to get Lydia, I got another clue about how to end the dragon threat. I need to speak to the Grey Beards gain. I have been waiting to leave until Lydia was strong enough and realized that herself. I would like to leave today. We will be taking to wagon because both of you are coming. And you will be staying in Ivarstead while I climb the mountain. I don't want you on it. I wouldn't risk it yet but…" Her looked at Lydia with longing and smiled as he saw her face slightly flush.
Suddenly Lucia spoke. "But what?"
He rubbed her head. "But I'm tired of running around and want to spend more time with both of you."
He stood and clapped his hands. "Alright, girls, let's get packed."
Ragnthor climb the stairs and walked into his room because even though he had spent the last few months with Lydia, most of his traveling gear was still in his room. After he was packed he went outside to hitch the horses. He chose one of the thicker bodied mares and the hitched the palomino yearling beside her. Then he tied Ghardh to the back.
Soon Lydia and Lucia were walking out and they set off down the road to Whiterun.
Lydia
Ragnthor pulled up outside the outer walls. They all got off and walked into the city. The road to the gate was a beautiful sight. The green grass was slowly pushing out the brown and the stream was happily rushing down the hill.
As they walked into the city Ragnthor turned to Lydia. "Go and talk to your friends and take Lucia. I'm going to get some traveling supplies." Lydia nodded as he walked off.
Lydia took Lucia over to Adrianne's forge. As soon as Adrianne saw her, she stopped what she was doing and pulled Lydia into a hug.
"Where have you been? It's been almost a year since I last saw you. And why do you feel so thin?" She looked down and saw Lucia. "And who is this."
Lydia laughed. "This is Lucia. She is Ragnthor's niece. You might remember her as the little beggar girl in the square. Ragnthor is giving her a real home."
Adrianne nodded. "Then why is she with you instead of him? Have you become a nursemaid, Housecarl?"
Lydia rubbed Lucia's head and smiled at her. "I would become a nursemaid for her. And the way things are moving, there is a chance I might be more."
Adrianne jumped and hugged her again. "That's great. But what about my other 2 questions?"
Lydia looked at Lucia. "Why don't you go into the shop and see what Ulfberth can tell you about the swords." Lucia nodded and took off.
Lydia looked at Adrianne. "Can I trust you not to tell anyone but Ulfberth, because I know you tell him everything. Our honor, Ragnthor's and mine, is on the line."
Adrianne looked shocked and nodded. "I…ran away from Ragnthor a little over 9 months ago. I was growing extremely close to him. But I just couldn't watch him throw his life away with every fight. The snapping point came when he beat a dragon to death with his hands after knocking me out of its next attack. I just couldn't stand it any longer. I knocked him out after he told me he loved me."
Adrianne gasped and Lydia nodded sadly. "After that I took off. I ended up in Windhelm and I joined up with group of mercenaries. I served with them for 3 months. During that time fate found me and Ragnthor in the same inn in Solitude. The moment I heard his voice I realized, deep down, I loved him too. But not wanting to face him I left. Soon after I decide that after the job was over I was going back, to see if he would still want me in anyway. A month after that I almost died making sure the band I serve with could complete its job. I took a Forsworn spear in the gut."
Adrianne's hand flew to her mouth. "I managed to get the spear out and…somehow avoided infection. There a spent the next 3 months in the woods, learning I am not a woodsman. To make matters worse, the Thalmor were after me because of something the Ragnthor had done. I managed to last 3 months. Then Ragnthor found me. I was starved and ready to kill myself to stop the Thalmor from getting to him. Looking back, I don't think I would have lasted more than 2 days. I almost did kill myself, thinking he was one when he opened the door." She pulled down her shirt and showed Adrianne the scar.
Adrianne pulled her into a hug. "That night he kept me warm while we slept. We have spent every night like that since then."
Adrianne looked at her. "Have you…"
Lydia felt her face flush as she shook her head. "I'm still scared that I will wake up and he will be gone and I couldn't give myself to someone and have that happen, not again. I don't why I'm still scared. He hasn't left in 3 months nor pushed in any way. He just holds me all night and I feel safe in his arms."
Lydia shook her head. "I do love him, though. And he loves me to the point that he has managed to bind our honor. He gave up his keeping mine, lying about where I was so I wouldn't be disgraced. He would have killed Aela the night the feral wolf was killed. Aela came in and tried to seduce him. I came out as he was pushing her away. He slammed her against the wall and put a dagger under her throat when she gave a veiled threat about revealing the truth. He would have crushed her neck or drove the dagger up into her skull." Adrianne nodded, eyes showing she was unsure about whether or not to be scared.
Lydia laughed. "Ulfberth has done the same thing, in a way. He has convinced everyone in town that your steel should be given a chance, otherwise you would have no work." Adrianne nodded and laughed.
They talked for an hour before Ragnthor came back. He looked around and gave a mock scowl.
"What have you done with my niece?"
Lydia laughed. "She is inside looking at swords with Ulfberth. I will go get her if you want."
Ragnthor smiled and shook his head. "No, finish talking with Madam Blacksmith, as soon as I come out I would like to leave. I hope to push hard and make Riverwood tonight. I have gotten used to beds and I don't want to sleep on the ground." Lydia nodded and watched him walk into the store.
Adrianne looked at her and smiled. "I'm surprised you haven't. You look at him with a hunger I have only seen from the Companions before a hunt."
Lydia pushed her. "Quiet you. I will when I'm ready."
Soon Ragnthor walked out and Lydia followed him and Lucia out of town.
2 weeks later they were pulling into Ivarstead. It was morning as Ragnthor stopped in front of the inn and got off. He held out a hand and helped Lydia off the wagon. Lucia jumped off the wagon and Slasher followed her as she ran around, taking in the new sights.
Lydia sat on the bed of the wagon as Ragnthor went in and paid for rooms. He walked out and sat next to Lydia. He grabbed her hand and she felt a tingle run through her arm.
She leaned on him as he started to speak. "You and Lucia are staying in the inn while I climb the mountain."
She sat up and looked at him. "Why? I thought you weren't going to leave me?"
Ragnthor pulled her close. "Because I need someone to watch Lucia. There will still be 15, 16 feet of snow on the mountain and Lucia is only a half Nord. Up there, that high, in this cold she might freeze. I wouldn't have taken her but because I am a dumb shite, Ralof and Brasella are in hiding. You will be safe because the Thalmor fear me, I have taken out more men then they want to spare. And if they dare attack again, I will personally kill everyone in Skyrim."
She looked up at him, feeling the tears start to form. "I know but you said you wouldn't leave me."
He wiped her eyes and kissed her. "I'm not leaving you. Imagine I'm just going to town. If I leave now, I will be back by evening tomorrow."
She nodded and kissed him. "Come back to me."
Ragnthor smiled. "I would fight my way through the realms of the Daedra and all nine hells to get back to you."
He slipped off the wagon and pulled a pair of snow walkers out of the back of the wagon. "Remember to feed Ghardh. I will be back for you know it, my love."
She laughed and kicked at him. "Get out of here so I can miss you." He bowed and took off down the road.
All day she walked around the little town. She didn't have to keep much of an eye on Lucia. Ragnthor had bought her a real sword in Falkreath, after a week of her begging, and she had Slasher by her side if anything really bad was to happen.
That night she slept alone for the first time in 4 months. She woke several times that night and found herself reaching for but unable to find him. She didn't get much sleep after the last time.
After breakfast she put on her armor, pulled on her shield and strapped on her sword and walked down to the old troll cave.
The troll lay as Ragnthor had left it, though it was mostly moldering bones now. And arm lay 5 or so feet away and the head had rolled to the back of the cave. She looked around for a while, making sure that another hadn't moved in. Satisfied that one hadn't, she walked back to town.
A few hours later it was getting dark. Lydia was sitting on the inn's steps, having grown utterly bored of wandering around the small town. She looked up at the mountain worried, as she had several times throughout the day, at the dark clouds that surrounded the peak. She sat there for an hour. By then it was too dark for her to see clearly.
As she stood there was laughter in the darkness. "So you have given up on me for the day, have you?"
She fought the urge to tear off into the night and hug him. "You said you would be here in the evening. That was an hour ago."
Ragnthor chuckled. "Someone who holds me to my word, a strange sight indeed these days. I'm glad you are here to try and keep me honest." He walked up the steps and pulled her into a hug.
She put her nose on his collar and took in his smell. It was fresh and clean, like he had just bathed in the river, which he probably had because his hair was wet.
"What took you so long to get back?"
He laughed. "I'm not as skilled with using the snow walkers as I thought. And I rinsed off in the creek. I figured that you wouldn't want a smelly, dirty thing next to you tonight."
She laughed. "You know, you just might be right." Then they walked into the inn, Ragnthor's arm still around her.
As they walked into the inn, Lydia noticed that Lucia had gone to bed because Slasher was in front of her room. Suddenly Ragnthor removed his arm from her shoulder and walked toward the bar. She followed him closely.
He sat down by a man nursing a bottle. "Ho, Klimmek, what's wrong?"
The man gave a just. "Shit, let a man know when you are going sneak up on him."
Ragnthor laughed. "I'm no sneaky fiend, Klimmek. And you haven't answered me."
Klimmek took another sip from the bottle. "The woman I am sweet on has tired of my attention and moved on to green pastures."
Ragnthor nodded. "That is a hard row to hoe. And I have hoed it myself, in a way."
Klimmek glared at him. "Oh really, I suppose your own friend took her from under your nose."
Ragnthor held up his hands. "Easy there, man. I didn't mean to poke a nerve."
Klimmek shrugged his shoulders. "The fault is mine. I'm on edge since Fastred moved on."
Ragnthor nodded. "Well then I shall leave you to your drinking. But may I say one thing?"
Klimmek nodded. "Good ahead friend."
"Did you ever tell her just how you felt?"
Klimmek shook his head. "I, I just sort of thought she knew."
Ragnthor nodded. "Well then you should tell her. It worked for me, in an around the bush kind of way."
Lydia felt an almost forgotten tingle as his fingers walked up her thigh. She stopped his progress but didn't remove his hand.
Klimmek stood. "You know, it couldn't hurt."
As he started to turn Ragnthor stopped him. "Sleep off the mead first. You don't want to show up in the middle of the night smelling of mead. Bring her flowers or something else that she likes, so she knows it's not just words."
Klimmek nodded. "You are right Ragnthor. You always seem to be, no matter what you do. I'm sure all of the people in Skyrim owe you at least one drink. Stop by when you aren't busy and I will repaid you." With that he walked out the door.
Lydia watched him leave then faced Ragnthor. "Why did you help him? And how do you know he will be good for her?"
Ragnthor sighed. "I would have hoped you would see it. Klimmek is a fine man, he has a good heart and the strength in his hands to feed and defend his family. And I helped him because the man would never have gotten the courage to himself. He just needed a little push. Do you understand?" Lydia nodded.
"Good. Now let's see about getting some food. I haven't eaten all day."
They were just finishing the meal when a young man entered to inn. "I'm looking for the Thane of Whiterun, Dragonborn and Legate."
Ragnthor stood and motioned for her to stay seated. She watched as he walked over to the courier and took a piece of paper. He read it as he walked over, his face slowly dropping. He motioned for her to follow him outside.
When the door was shut he spoke. "Lydia, I need to go, alone."
Fear gripped her heart as she angrily replied. "Why do you need to go alone? Is there something you haven't told me?"
Ragnthor shook his head, eyes steely. "No, it's because of something I have told you. The legion calls on me once again. Tullius has decided to covertly work with the Blades and they want me to make steps in ending the corruption in Markarth."
Lydia nodded, more angry now than worried. "And why can't I come with you?"
Ragnthor shook his head and grabbed her shoulders. "Because for the last 2 years I have strived to keep you from the Legion's grasp. Don't you think I would have loved to have you will me during the war? But I kept you away because I refused to have you do something that wasn't your choice."
She stared him in the eyes. "And what if I say that it is my choice?"
Ragnthor laughed. "Then I would bend you over my knee and spank you for lying. You made your views on the Legion very clear."
She nodded, fear rising again. "How will I know you will come back? What if you just decide I'm no longer…" she was forced to stop by his lips.
He grabbed the sides of her face and pulled her close. She was shocked by the fury and passion his lips conveyed before she replied in kind. As she was overcome with the emotion, her hands grabbed the back of his neck and her fingers wrapped themselves in his hair as she felt him do the same.
She was breathless when they finally pulled apart. Ragnthor pulled her into a hug and they stood there, swaying. Lydia was hoping that the time would just stop so she could savor this moment forever. But it was not to be.
Ragnthor took a slow half step back. He stroked her cheek and she grabbed his hand and held it there. "I don't know how hard it must be for you, but it kills me every time I have to leave for than a few hours."
She looked at him, pleading. "Then don't."
He smiled at her and brushed the hair out of her face with his other hand. "Lydia, there are no words for how much I would love to do just that. But I still have some honor left. I have been forced to be the only person who can stop these dragons, I was the only person who stopped the war, and people have come to rely on me and I just can't leave them to suffer. If life had gone according to plan I would be a simple farmer. But on the same hand we might have never gotten back together. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you have to take the chaff with the wheat. You're my wheat, Lydia, and the rest of the damn world is the chaff."
She gave a soft smile and pulled him close. "Alright, alright, you made your point. How long do you plan on being gone?"
Ragnthor sighed. "2 months if all goes smooth, 3 at the latest."
Lydia stiffened and held him tighter. "That long?"
She felt his hands rub up and down her back and after a while she relaxed slightly. "I know it's a long time but I just don't see any other way. And it would be best if I left tonight."
She looked up at him. "Tonight? I was hoping to get one more night with you."
Ragnthor nodded, sorrow in his eyes. "And I was hoping to not have to leave. Sometimes the gods have other plans." Lydia nodded as they went inside to pack.
An hour later they were standing on the porch of the inn, waiting, not wanting for any of this to happen. Suddenly Ragnthor let out a long sigh and walked off the porch. Lydia followed close behind him. He stopped when he got to Ghardh.
"Well I guess this is goodbye."
Lydia shuddered. "Don't call it that. Goodbye sounds like you are never coming back."
He smiled at her. "Then until we meet again."
A he was starting to put his foot in the stirrup she grabbed him. "Tell me you love me and are coming back."
Ragnthor turned and kissed her, soft and sweet. "I love you Lydia, with every fiber of my being. And I would tear down the heavens and freeze the hells in order to get back to you."
She looked up at him and gave a soft smile. "I guess that will have to work."
Ragnthor swung up onto Ghardh. "Just keep yourself busy and the days will fly by. I will see you soon."
Ragnthor waved as he swung Ghardh out onto the road. Lydia watched him until he was out of sight. Then she walked back into the inn and forced herself to sleep.
Author's note Another chapter come on gone. Who can guess which quest I turn into a plot point next. Thank you for reading and for all you Witcher fans out there, enjoy the game I currently cannot.