Chapter Three
They had made it back to Whiterun after returning the claw to its owner in Riverwood, Lucan thanking them profusely as they left. Now they entered Dragonsreach, heading for Farengar Secret-Fire who was talking with a hooded woman and dropping it off before the dark elf Irileth came running in, having them come upstairs and talk to the Jarl. Apparently a Dragon had been sighted near the Western Watchtower. Dar' let out a sigh as she was once again sent out, heading for the tower and seeing the dragon before firing at it. The two Khajiit managed to take it down with the help of the housecarl and guards, the white-furred feline approaching it curiously. She heard the gasping as the flesh seemed to dissolve as she came near, streams of lights going from the skeleton to her. "I can't believe it..." one of the guards said. "You're...Dragonborn."
The man explained what he meant and had her try to shout, Dar' sending Irileth flying with her voice before rushing over and helping her up, the woman staring as she was given an apology. The pair headed back to Whiterun, looking up as they heard a voice echoing through the skies before moving to Dragonsreach. The Jarl looked at them as they entered, gesturing for them to come closer and listening to her report. "So it's true-the Greybeards were summoning you."
The Khajiit stared at him. "Who are the Greybeards?" she asked, listening to his explanation before being named Thane of Whiterun, using some of the money she had saved up to buy a home before leaving and speaking with her new housecarl on the way out. "You do not seem overly happy to be Thane," Inigo said finally, watching her look at him as they headed out onto the plains, moving far away from the guards. "I can't stand the man trevan," she replied, slipping into Ta'agra due to how pissed off she was. "I don't like being promoted with no thought of those who helped me, and I hate being the center of attention!"
He looked at her, noticing a gash on her arm before leading her to a flat area and making her sit down, tending to her wound with some water and linen bandage after having her switch into some clothing, giving her a look as he set up the tent she carried. He heard crackling and glanced over, seeing she was using her magic to start the fire and getting the cooking pot set up, wincing. "Do not strain yourself," he said, watching her drink a potion. "I am surprised you can't just heal it yourself."
"I'm sorry Inigo..." came the reply. "If you think my control on my destruction skills are bad..."
He came over and sat down next to her, holding her steady. "Dar'Mora, you have to try-if you don't practice you'll never get better at it." He took her hand, helping her hover it over the wound as the gold light of a healing spell came from her palm, seeing from her face that the pain was easing. "There we go...you're just so shaky from everything."
Dar' looked down, tears falling. "I don't like being weak at anything Inigo," she murmured, letting him help her over to her bedroll and sitting next to her. "Dar', you are strong," came the reply. "But remember-strength doesn't come without constant practice."
She chuckled weakly, watching him make up some stew from the meat she carried from her hunts and carefully ate when it was done, sipping from her waterskin and laying back and thinking as she glanced at the wrapped wound, undoing the bandage to get a look: all that was left was a faint scar. 'There's no way my healing spell was that strong,' she thought, or believed she had, not realizing she had spoken out loud until her companion answered her. "I could feel the tingle of magic when I was helping you." He sat down on the other bedroll after adding some more fuel to the fire and reached over, raising her chin. "After we've slept, where do you want to go?"
"Let's travel a bit," came the reply. "I don't think I'm quite ready to speak to the Greybeards. We'll head toward Windhelm, the man I escaped with told me to go there to see about joining the Stormcloaks, and I really can't see myself joining the people who tried to kill me."
She related what had happened in Helgen, Inigo snarling slightly. "You did not deserve that." He said after she finished. "They tried to take your life so why not take theirs as repayment?"
"Who says I haven't?" she intoned. "They and the Thalmor are my prey now; with Kynareth as my witness I will not tolerate them hurting another if I can stop it."
He chuckled, watching her bed down and fall asleep before watching the flames of the campfire for a bit. 'Kynareth,' he thought. 'Was it Your actions that saved one who follows You so closely?' the blue-furred Khajiit looked at the ribbons of color in the sky above, the sun having just gone down. 'I would like to believe that actually. I...am not very devout, but I would humbly ask that You watch over us in whatever we do. I do not ask for a sign that You heard me, only to speak my prayer to You on this.'
He curled up on his bedroll, easily falling to sleep.
(A.N.: Yeah, Dar' has issues with Balgruuf. As to what they are-that's coming in another chapter.
Ta'agra translations:
Trevan-friend)