Blood Moon Rising part 3
-Four Shields Tavern; Dragon Bridge-
"Who are you? What do you want?"
Tarrion turned around and saw the innkeeper standing behind a counter. She had long, blonde hair and a young face, but her eyes were fixed on Tarrion in suspicion. It was clear that she didn't trust him, and Tarrion was confused by this. He saw that he was the only guest, so he thought she would be glad to finally have a guest, but something about the silence made Tarrion think otherwise.
"What is going on here? Where is everyone?"
"What's it to you?" the innkeeper asked sternly, but when Tarrion walked up to the counter, she recognized him.
"Oh… apologies thane. I… I did not realize it was you." and she made a slight bow with her head.
Tarrion saw in her eyes that she was shaken up about something. That, and the fact that the entire tavern was empty, made Tarrion realize that something had happened here.
"What happened here?" he asked.
The innkeeper sighed. She grabbed a tankard from under the counter and poured the mead.
"Yesterday a few soldiers came by." she said, but then she changed her mind. "I guess I should say 'bandits' instead of soldiers. They wore the Imperial uniform but nobody recognized them, and they did not seem to care about any of us. They demanded that we'd serve them whatever they asked for, and then said that they wouldn't pay. 'We risk our lives, therefore we don't have to pay', they said. And to make matters worse, they…"
The innkeeper sighed again, as if she remembered something horrible. "One of them grabbed Julienne and tried to…. Have his way with her."
"He what?!"
Tarrion had grabbed the tankard, but now he felt how he almost crushed it in his tightening grip.
"Yes…" the innkeeper continued. "thank goodness her father came by just in time to stop him. But then they beat him and gave his daughter a black eye."
With a crack Tarrion squeezed the tankard in his fist and the mead spilled. "Didn't the guards do anything?"
The innkeeper sighed and shook her head. "They came during the night, and ever since the war ended, there are not as many guards anymore…. Funny actually, at first I hated how many guards and Imperial soldiers were here, and now they're gone, I'd like them back. But since that is not going to happen, everyone is now afraid to leave their homes."
A door behind the counter opened and a young woman appeared. She was young, with short, brown hair and a deep, light-brown skin and Tarrion saw that she was a Breton. Her eyes were clear and green and she had a young and handsome face.
As soon as she saw Tarrion she recoiled, and he saw that one of her eyes was indeed bruised and black.
"Oh, Julienne my dear." the innkeeper said and she walked toward her. "Don't be afraid of him. This is Tarrion, he is a Thane and the Dragonborn."
Julienne carefully stepped into the main hall of the tavern, still looking at Tarrion with fear in her eyes, but Tarrion could not blame her. He could understand that she had been through an harrowing experience, and that she would be afraid of anyone she did not personally knew.
"Faida," she whispered to the innkeeper. "it is not working. It keeps burning."
"Still? I'm sorry dear. I don't know what else to do."
"What is it?" Tarrion asked.
Faida sighed. "It's her eye. It still hurts and it keep burning. I tried to ease the pain a bit with water, but I don't know what else to do. We need a healer, or a herbalist but they are far away."
Tarrion thought for a few moments. He knew that Julienne would not trust him, but he also knew that he might be able to help.
"I might be able to do something about it." he said. "I can use a small spell, but I can also make a small paste to put on your eye. It might dull the pain and help with the healing."
Julienne looked at Tarrion and it was clear that she did not trust him, and she looked from him to Faida.
"It's alright, dear." Faida calmed her. "We can trust him. What do you need, thane?"
"Hmmm…. Some wheat…. A few blue mountain flowers, and boiling water. Oh, and a mortar and pestle."
"I… I think we have some flowers downstairs." Julienne said with a small voice.
"Yes.. and there is also some wheat in the back." Faida added.
While the two women left to get the ingredients, Tarrion started to boil some water. He knew that the paste would not work as good as a spell, but the paste would be easy to make, so they would be able to make it themselves.
After a moment or two, the two women came back with the ingredients and a mortar and pestle. The water was not boiling yet, but Tarrion took the ingredients and grinded them fine. After he added the water it turned into a light-blue paste. The scent spread across the room and everyone felt invigorated.
"Are you sure this will work, sir?"
Tarrion looked up and saw Julienne standing in front of him, still with a bit of distrust in her eyes as she stared at the paste.
"Yes." Tarrion said calmly as he finished. "It will not heal you immediately, but the pain will dull. You can apply it yourself, if you want."
"No… it's alright… you can do it."
Tarrion nodded and dipped two fingers in the past and applied it to her bruised eye as gently as possible. Julienne flinched at the first touch, but Tarrion saw that she felt relieved afterward. The pain indeed dulled quickly and the burning stopped as well.
"The spell would be easier," Tarrion said. "but this paste is easy to make. Anyone would be able to make it, and it works for many different types of injuries. You remember what you need for it?" and Julienne nodded.
After a few moments Tarrion applied the last bit of paste to her eye. It looked a bit strange to see a part of her face completely covered with blue paste, but Julienne did not care.
"So… how does it feel?" he asked.
"Much better." Julienne smiled and she hugged him. "Thank you."
On that moment the main door opened.
"So… after you lead me on last night, you go after him the next? You are such a slut."
A man had walked in, followed by eight others, all dressed in the Imperial uniform. The first man was a bit larger than the others, yet not as big as Tarrion, and he had a vindictive and unsettling grin on his face. His hair was long and brown and his eyes were deep and dark. Julienne turned, and as soon as she saw the man, she went pale. Faida, who sat on a nearby chair, stood up and walked quickly behind the counter.
"Oh, don't worry my dear." the man said. "I won't forget you this time. Now, how about we go someplace private? But we can also stay here… if that is what you prefer."
Tarrion came standing between the men and the two women, and he had to force himself to hold back, as he felt a strong urge to Shout the men from the tavern, but he had learned to use his Voice only when needed.
"Faida… take Julienne to the next room please. You don't want to see this." he said calmly, although his voice was trembling with anger.
"Oh, who in Oblivion are you?" the man asked. "The squeeze of the day? Get lost! We have some unfinished business here."
Faida had grabbed Julienne and left to the next room, and after he heard the lock did Tarrion walk forward.
"You either leave now, or you leave in pieces!"
Tarrion did not listen but simply walked toward the leader. The man lashed out and his fist went straight for Tarrion's face. Without even blinking, Tarrion tilted his head forward and the man's fist broke against Tarrion's forehead. A normal man would not have been able to do that, but since Tarrion was battle-hardened, faced down dragons and was a werewolf, the impact felt like it was only a small punch. The man screamed in pain, but Tarrion threw him against a wall.
The other eight tried what they could, but none of them stood a chance against Tarrion who was faster, and many times stronger. None of them even had a chance to grab their weapons, and even if they did, it did not help them. After a few moments all nine of them lay on the ground unconscious. A few of them had broken ribs, while others had broken arms, and the leader had a broken hand.
Tarrion knocked on the door and the two women walked out the room and saw the bandits lying on the ground.
"How did you…?" Faida asked, but Tarrion only smiled.
"We should get the guards here. I know what we will do to them."
Faida and Julienne ran outside while Tarrion threw the bandits together in a corner. He did not care if the one sat on the other's head, for he thought that people like this deserved no fair treatment.
After a few minutes Faida, followed by several guards, came running in the tavern. Right behind her came Julienne with her father who had a pitchfork in his hand. The man had several bruises on his arms and head, but his eyes were fierce. As soon as he saw the leader of the band, he lunged his weapon at him, but Tarrion stopped him.
"We will not kill them."
"But, thane-.." but Tarrion shook his head, and the man lowered his pitchfork.
"What should we do with them?" a guard asked.
"Bring them outside the city, and strip them." Tarrion said.
The guards looked at Tarrion in confusion.
"Strip them of their uniform. They do not deserve to wear it. After that, bind their hands behind their backs, and then bind all of them together."
The guards did not know why but since Tarrion was the thane, they obeyed his command and dragged the men outside the city while Tarrion asked Faida for a piece of parchment and some ink and a feather to write a letter.
To General Tullius, General of the Imperial Legion
And to Lady Elisif the Fair, Jarl of Solitude and Haafingar.
Good fortune to you
These men have been found guilty of many crimes in the town of Dragon Bridge. They have been found unworthy of wearing the Imperial uniform and have dishonoured the Legion.
I find it hard to believe that these men are truly soldiers of the Imperial Legion, and therefore I strongly request an investigation on how they were able to acquire the uniforms. If they truly were soldiers, I suggest a dishonourable discharge immediately.
The charges are as follows:
Dishonouring of the Imperial Legion
Abuse of power
Damaging of private property
Theft
Attempted rape
Possible impersonation of soldiers of the Imperial Legion
Threatening a Thane with death
I trust that these men will receive punishment according to the Law.
Furthermore, I request additional guards to be assigned to the town of Dragon Bridge. If a small group of bandits can do as they please, the town is not defended well enough. I trust the right decision will be made.
Signed
Tarrion Dovahsebrom
Thane of Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, The Pale, The Rift, Winterhold, Whiterun Hold, The Reach, Eastmarch, Falkreath Hold.
Archmage of the College of Winterhold
Harbinger of the Companions
Legate in the Imperial Legion
After Tarrion had written the letter he walked outside. He saw that half the town had gathered at the north-eastern gate and now laughed and shouted at the bound men. Tarrion saw that his orders were followed, and more, for the men were stripped, not only of their uniform, but of every bit of clothing they had. Now a group of nine men sat on the ground with their backs together, naked, while half the town laughed at them.
Tarrion gave the letter to six of the soldiers and instructed them to lead the men to Solitude. The guards gladly accepted, while the crowd laughed and threw a few rotten tomatoes.
Tarrion stood there with a smile on his face. But it was not in amusement. He felt happy that he could help his people again. To do his duty as a thane, which, after all, was to help the people. For a few moments he forgot about everything else and watched how the guards drove the men like cattle to Solitude. It was an amusing sight. Nine men, bound together in a circle, desperately trying not to fall being driven up the road. Quite amusing indeed.
-Hjaalmarch-
"Serana?"
A familiar face popped out of the entrance to the tent and Aela's long, brown hair and war-paint were unmistakable. She looked at Serana with her brows furrowed, and her brown eyes did not seem to understand why she was here.
"What are you doing here?" Serana asked her.
"I can ask you the same." Aela said back.
Behind her, Serana's horse started to tug the reins to look for grass and Aela noticed that she was standing in the pouring rain.
"Oh, sorry. Please, come in."
The tent was small and there was enough room for only one bedroll a large backpack filled with supplies. Serana took a seat next to the backpack while Aela followed her with her eyes. It was clear she was completely surprised to see her way out here.
"So…." Aela started hesitantly. "I bet you saw this question coming. What are you doing here?"
Serana did not answer immediately. She knew this was a private matter, one that only Tarrion knew about. At the same time she knew that Aela was one of Tarrion's oldest friends and she was her friend as well, and she knew that she could be trusted.
"It… it is a personal matter." she concluded. "I'm sorry, but it is very personal."
"Alright," Aela said and she raised her hands. "I'll not pry."
"But what are you doing here then? If it is not a personal matter."
Aela gave her a slight smile and took a deep breath. "No, it's not. It is something I have to do on certain moments."
"What is it then?"
"I have to get away from the cities and any place where there might be people, because… the Blood Moon is approaching."
Serana looked surprised at Aela. "The Blood Moon?"
"Don't tell me you don't know what a Blood Moon is."
"I do know…" Serana answered. "but I don't understand why."
Aela let out a slight sigh, like she was a bit uncomfortable, but she started explaining. "You already know I am a Werewolf, right?" and Serana nodded. "Well… a Blood Moon is the worst night for a Werewolf. It happens every once in a while, but the exact date is always unpredictable. Which is one of the reasons why it is feared by Werewolves. On that night, when the full moon turns red like blood…. Werewolves lose control."
"Lose control?" Serana asked. "What do you mean?"
Aela looked at the entrance to the tent and a small ray of light from the fire shone into the tent. The rain still hammered down on the hides, but the two women stayed dry, and the warmth from the fire flowed inside.
"They go completely feral. They are uncontrollable... Unreasonable…. Unpredictable…. And unparalleled in ferocity and killer instinct. A Werewolf under a Blood Moon is stronger, faster and larger than usual. But more than that, he becomes a killer, and nothing can stop him. You cannot reason with them, you cannot talk to them and even other Werewolves cannot communicate with him. They will attack anything and anyone on their path. It does not matter if it is human or elf, beast or animal or even Dragon… a Werewolf under a Blood Moon will attack anything and anyone."
Serana listened as Aela explained. As she heard what happens to a Werewolf under a Blood Moon, she imagined a blood-lusted beast that only knows killing. A terrifying and monstrous version of a normal Werewolf, who already look intimidating.
"I know of a story where a Werewolf stayed inside a city during a Blood Moon." Aela continued and she sighed at the memory. "He killed his entire family and a third of the town before he was finally killed. He did not know pain or fear, no guilt or restraint. He only knew one thing: Kill. His own wife tried to stop him. She stood between him and their six year old daughter, but…."
Serana gasped for air and covered her mouth with her hand. "No…"
But Aela nodded. "Yes…. Werewolves have been hated and feared ever since. That is why I am all the way out here. I stay away from cities so that when the Blood Moon comes, I have a much smaller change of killing innocents."
"So… isn't it dangerous for me to be here… with you?" Serana asked.
"Ha… not tonight." Aela laughed. "It is not a full moon just yet, so you have nothing to fear. But since the moon will be full in the next two weeks, it is safe for me to be out here already. Plus I was on a hunt anyway, so I saw no point in returning to Whiterun."
Serana nodded in understanding, and listened how the rain continued to hammer down on the tent. Outside she could hear her horse trample the ground and it whinnied when a thunder was heard.
"The weather is getting worse." she said.
"Mhm. But I still have to ask you." Aela said. "What are you doing out here? I know it is personal but…. Is.. Tarrion the problem?"
"What?" Serana looked shocked at Aela. "No, of course not."
"Then what is? You can tell me. Maybe I can help."
Serana opened her mouth, but closed it again. She wasn't sure if she should tell Aela or not, but she knew she could be trusted. She saw how Aela looked at her with concern, and the same type of strength that Tarrion had in his eyes, was now in hers. Serana sighed and told Aela everything.
She told her of her problem with her Vampirism and what she came to do in Morthal. Of the confliction she felt. Of what Tarrion had said and advised her.
"I have been a Vampire all my life. I don't know anything else. This is who I am, but….. there are so many things that I cannot do."
"Like what?" Aela asked. "Beside 'not walking in the sun'. What is something that you want to do?"
"Just have a normal relationship."
"How are you not having a normal relationship with Tarrion right now?"
"…Well…" Serana stammered and a slight blush came on her cheeks. "When people are in love, they…. You know.."
Aela looked at Serana like she did not understand. But then her eyes widened and she saw what Serana meant.
"Wait!.. You want to have sex with Tarrion?... You mean you two haven't slept with each other yet?"
Aela now was completely shocked and surprised by this news, and Serana felt a blush on her cheeks.
"What do you mean 'you haven't 'yet''?"
"Oh, by the gods." Aela mumbled, and she rubbed the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes like she could not believe it.
"What!?"
"Oh, no. You are just as much a virgin milk drinker as he is."
"…I…"
"I honestly thought that you two would have broken the bed by now." Aela continued and she started to smile at how embarrassed Serana was. "You two have been living together for three months now, and all that time nothing has happened?"
"Aela!" Serana yelled and her blush became brighter.
"And he is a Werewolf! I should warn you for next spring, because all of nature will have only one thing on its mind then."
"Stop!"
"Tell me," and Aela started to laugh, because Serana's face was bright red now. "since he cannot sense you, do you sneak a peek at him when he bathes? Or do you just think of him when you lie alone in bed?"
"Shut up!"
Aela fell on the bedroll and couldn't stop laughing, while Serana was clearly too embarrassed to say a word. She covered her face with her hands and her ears were almost pink with anger, because Aela was right.
She and Tarrion would often sleep in the same bed, but neither of them ever took a step further. She did not know why, but a part of her seemed to hold back for some reason, but she could not explain what that reason was. They now felt like petty excuses, while Aela confronted her.
"Ooohhh, this is amazing and pathetic at the same time." Aela sat up straight, still with a wide grin on her face. "I knew I should have taken that bet with Lydia."
"What bet?"
"She thought that one of you would make the first move. I thought that neither of you would. Turns out I was right."
"You have been taking bets on us?!" Serana shouted outraged.
"Alright, alright." Aela calmed her. "I'll stop, I'll stop. I think I have embarrassed you enough now."
While Serana still felt that her face was red, Aela calmed herself and snickered a few last times. "I'm sorry Serana, but this is really unbelievable. You two have lived in the same house for three months and yet…. I'm sorry but I honestly thought that that would be the first thing you would do."
"What makes you say that?" Serana asked, still embarrassed.
"Oh, please. The way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. When he…. 'Woke up' again in Solitude, you couldn't keep your eyes off him, and that little puppy look on your face was difficult to miss. And the way he looks at you, well…. Let's just say I know him for a long time now, and I've never seen him like this. So I'd like to ask you again: What is stopping you? Because, unless there is something that you have not told him, there is no reason."
Serana did not answer her. She only listened to the weather outside. The rain had stopped and the soft rustling of the trees was the only sound for miles around, and other than her horse, Serana could not sense any creature nearby. She thought about what Aela said and a lot of different thoughts now echoed through her head. It was indeed true, that she loved Tarrion more than anything, and there have indeed been moments, or maybe entire days, when she wanted to grab him and strip him of his clothes. On other nights, just the mere thought of it would make her loins stir, despite that she was an undead Vampire. She knew that Tarrion thought the same about her, but she did not know if he had a reason for holding back. But she knew that she did have a reason, but this one was too personal to share with Aela.
"I see that you might have a reason." Aela said. "Well… I will not give you advice on this matter, nor on the matter of you becoming human again. I know it is not my place, and I think Tarrion has said everything there is to be said. The only thing I will say is this; If you think that your Vampirism will prevent Tarrion from hopping into bed with you, you are mistaken."
Serana now wanted to be alone. She had to gather her thoughts and think about what happened and what Aela said. Despite that she refused to give advice, Aela had already taken away one reason to give up her Vampirism. She told Aela that she needed to be alone for a while and Aela nodded.
"I understand…. But before you go; If you see Tarrion soon, warn him. The Blood Moon will affect all Werewolves, and you should be careful too. If he transforms, and you are there with him, he will attack and try to kill you. He won't be able to hold himself."
Serana nodded and walked out of the tent. Aela followed her and grabbed her bow to hunt. As Serana mounted her horse and turned to the road, she stopped and looked at Aela.
"I should warn you too." she said.
"How so?"
"If you tell Tarrion about this, about… what we discussed… I will have your head."
But Aela laughed. "I'm not afraid of you. You can't even get the man you love to drop his pants."
=End of Chapter=
=Author's Notes=
And that is part thee for ya. Here we have another reason why Serana felt so conflicted.
I hope you like the story so far and stay tuned for the next chapter.
Characters:
Faida: Innkeeper of the Four Shields Tavern in Dragon Bridge.
Julienne: Daughter of Azzada Lylvieve. Breton, innkeeper in training. When you talk to her father, he does reveal that a soldier staying at the inn did indeed try to rape her.