Chapter Five

The next couple days were full of fighting-first killing the ice wraith, then dealing with Imperial soldiers and draugr at Korvanjund. It was only after returning to the Palace of the Kings with the Jagged Crown did Dar'Mora finally collapse-having not realized that a hit she took from a Legionnaire had cut her leg badly. Ulfric blinked at the fallen Khajiit before lifting her up, sending Inigo to the Temple of Talos to fetch the priestess before carrying her upstairs, laying her down. Now Dar' laid on a bed having her leg tended to by Jora, grumbling as she tried to call on her magic. "Stop that," the Nord woman said firmly, giving her a stern look. "You're already weak enough and that's just going to make it worse."

The blue-furred male grinned at this. "Dar' wanted to prove herself among her compatriots," he explained. "I didn't notice she was possibly injured until we were on our way back."

"Killing herself in this way won't prove anything." Came the reply as she finished up. "You need to stay off that for several days-and NO magic during that time."

The answer was a flash of fang as the priestess left, Ulfric coming in with some bread, cheese and meat along with a pitcher of water. "Don't worry about Jora," he said, sitting down and setting the food where the two could reach it. "She means well is all." He watched her devour the food. "Tell me Dar'Mora-you said you grew up in Whiterun Hold..."

Dar' blinked at him. "Yes, on a farm about half-way between Rorikstead and Whiterun-I haven't returned in 5 years. It was a simple life-working in the fields along with hunting and fishing." She glanced down. "You know how to Shout...is there some god that grants this gift I have?"

"Kyne is said to," came the reply, seeing the confusion on her face before gesturing to the pendant on her pack. "You follow her actually-she is also known as Kynareth. Anyone can learn to shout with training and practice-the Dragonborn, however, is said to have an inborn ability to do so-it is instinctual. I trained with the Greybeards until the Great War with the Dominion happened and I just...couldn't miss it. Arngeir would call my usage of the Voice blasphemy, but I don't use it for just anything." There was a chuckle. "Some of his teachings did stick with me."

"I follow Kynareth due to being a hunter and my father teaching me to respect my prey-before knowing her by the name I do now, I knew her as Khenarthi-the Khajiiti Goddess of the Winds."

"What of your feelings towards what you do in battle?"

"I swore that if I could stop the injustice that the Imperials and Thalmor do, I would do so. They have become prey for their actions and I will not grant them the same mercy I would a deer or other animal-they are not deserving."

Ulfric let out a chuckle. "You may be Khajiit, but you think as a Nord in some things. We fight this war to so we can have a choice."

Inigo watched them, eating some of the meat. "I have to ask," he said finally. "Why didn't you get angry when Dar' tackled Galmar?"

"The old bear can be kind of...abrasive," was the reply. "And I was interested in seeing how she dealt with that."

"Be glad he wasn't a bandit-the last one that called her that-let's just say Dar' aims low-if you catch my meaning."

Dar' grinned faintly, carefully moving her leg a little as she tried to get comfortable. "Thank you for this my Jarl." She said politely. "I had been meaning to ask you about shouting to be honest and...I guess I feel a little...nervous to go to High Hrothgar just yet."

"The place is very...disconnected from the world." He intoned, watching her doze off before lifting up her armor. "I am going to take this to get repaired and upgraded." He went on, looking at the other Khajiit. "Do you think Dar'Mora would be upset if I did so?"

"She's probably try and pay you back actually." Was the reply. "No, I do not think she'd be overly upset with you-the set requires ebony from what I've been told-some Dwarven oil wouldn't be a bad idea either."

Ulfric hefted the chestpiece slightly. "It's very lightweight, yet strong." He looked over at Inigo rummaging through their packs, taking out an ebony ingot and some cans of said oil that Dar' had gotten from an alchemy shop. "At least I can give you the materials for it." Was the reply as he settled in to watch over his friend.

-*Timeskip*-

Dar' woke a couple days later, managing to heal up the wound as Jora came in, raising an eyebrow as the Nord came over and unwrapped the wound, nodding. "You are good at that." She said, the Khajiit grinning faintly before noticing her armor was gone. "Where in Oblivion is my armor?!" she cried, getting up and looking around before seeing Ulfric come in with it, her eyes narrowed before seeing it had been expertly repaired and upgraded, staring at him. "Y-you..."

The Nord male raised an eyebrow as he set it down next to her. "Was hoping to get it back before you woke up." He admitted, watching her blush faintly. "Why don't you get ready and come down-I have a request for you."

He headed out of the room, Inigo moving as well to let her get changed, looking up as she came out after several minutes, stretching her body to test the repairs. "He must have taken it to Oengul." She said "Normally I'd take it to Eorlund Grey-Mane in Whiterun-he's the one who originally crafted it for me."

"I have seen Eorlund's work in the past," her companion said. "Nothing else compares to his work."

"I'll have to thank Oengul for doing this," was the reply as they headed downstairs, Ulfric asking them to deliver his axe to Balgruuf, chuckling when the female Khajiit started muttering. "Yes, the man's known for his temper."

"It's not that my Jarl," Dar' explained. "It's the fact he basically accused me of lying when I told him of the dragon attack-he had the audacity to ask if it was a Stormcloak raid gone wrong."

The words had an effect on the Nord. "He did hmm? Even though that gives me a feeling on which way he's going to lean in this war, I ask that you go anyways-I would rather do this honorably." He watched them turn to go. "Oh, and Dar'Mora? Do be careful all right? Really don't want to hear about you collapsing again."

The pair waved as they left, first stopping at the Temple of Talos and giving some gold as repayment for services rendered, then heading over to the smithy, hearing Oengul War-Anvil arguing with his assistant Hermir Strong-Heart. "How is your forge this day Oengul?" Dar' called, watching him look up before eyeing the armor. "Hot and ready to go," came the reply, nodding to her. "The repairs were different-I hope Eorlund won't be angry for me working on it."

"I've done repairs on it myself and he hasn't minded-plus it needed work and I couldn't make it over to him." She said. "I'll go up and let him see-he says anything, I'll let you know."

"You've obviously taken very good care of it. All I did was add a bit of reinforcement to it to give you some more protection. How did you get such a strange armor like that if I might ask?"

"My ahnurr, or fatherhad it made for me-had it for going on eight years now I believe? If I could find something better I'd retire it-maybe something with those dragon scales I got-I'd need more though."

"Oh gods," Inigo groaned. "We're going dragon hunting, aren't we?"

"Not right now mind you," she grinned before bidding the smith goodbye, the pair heading out and taking the cart to Whiterun. They chatted a little, the male Khajiit looking at her. "How's the leg?" he asked, watching her look up. "Still a little tender." Was the reply. "I really do need to be more careful, it's just...when I see Imperials or Thalmor, I go into a fury and can't seem to stop myself."

He shook his head. "I get the feeling that Balgruuf is going to get ranted at if he's not careful."

"Well, I don't appreciate being called a liar. I really have no problems helping to take his city out from under him." She glanced at the axe on her belt, admiring the workmanship. "This must have been his father's axe."

Inigo chuckled. "You have a good eye for such things-Nord traditions are sometimes strange."

"I've learned to tolerate such things-like Heimskr and his preaching. There are other priests and priestesses of Talos, but he's the most...vocal of them."

"Do you..." he began as she gestured. "Later, I promise." She leaned back, thinking as they moved along, taking in the scenery. They got out at Whiterun Stables, heading into the city. Dar led the way over to a secluded area, looking at him. "Yes, I do believe in Talos," she said quietly. "But it's more because he was Dragonborn like me. Did he actually become one of the Divines? I don't know, but I'm not going to trounce on the beliefs of others."

He nodded as they headed up to Dragonsreach, handing Balgruuf the axe and listening to him, the steward Proventus Avenicci and Irileth discuss what could happen. Finally the axe was returned to her and they left, the female Khajiit shaking her head. "The man's a fool," she said after they were outside away from the guards. "Come, I want to show you something."

She led the way to a cottage surrounded by a small farm and entered, finding herself face-to-face with a dark elf that glared at her. "What are you doing in my home?" he demanded, Dar' staring at him. "Easy-I used to live here. I was unaware someone was using the old place." She replied, pointing out a few things only someone who knew the house would know. The elf blinked at her. "They said a Khajiit family used to own the place, but left for Elsweyr."

"My parents did, I stayed in Skyrim because I really had no memory of that place."

"I am Drelas," the Dunmer said finally, eyeing the pair. "So, going to kick the dark elf out of his home?"

The white-furred feline shook her head. "I am Dar'Mora," she replied. "And no-this may have been where I grew up, but I have a place in Whiterun I can use. I would, however, ask something of you in return."

"And what might that be?"

She pointed to the two pines outside. "That should something happen to me you allow my body to be buried under one of them."

"I wish my body buried next to hers if possible." Inigo added, Drelas thinking it over. "You know, that doesn't sound like a bad trade at all-you have a deal Dar'Mora. Just a moment actually." He ran upstairs, returning with a carved bone ring. "I found this here-I think it belongs to you."

She took it, staring in wonder. "I remember this," she breathed, removing her glove and putting it on her finger before slipping the leather back over it. "Thank you."

"No, thank you." Was the reply. "Stop by again should you wish."

The pair left, the male Khajiit looking at his companion. "What?" Dar' asked as they walked back to Whiterun. "It's not like I need the place so badly that I'd kick the guy out. I'm glad someone's using it actually."

They got on the wagon and headed back to Windhelm, the female Khajiit stretching before taking her bow from her back, polishing it. Inigo admired the weapon, from the gold on the tips to the strange sections on the shaft. "What are those-sights?" he asked, watching her look up. "Yes, which one is used depends on how the bow is held-it's been helpful to have." She ran her hands over the wood. "A gift from my father-wanted me to have a proper bow, not some crudely-made thing. Had it most of my life."

"Know the feeling-this bow was my mother's and my blade belongs to my father and brother-that is a story for another time however."

She nodded, relaxing for a bit. "Inigo," she began. "You don't have to fight with me in this war if you don't want to-you're welcome to return to Riften and wait for me."

The blue-furred male looked over at her. "With all the trouble you've been getting into? I'm sticking by you."

Dar' chuckled before turning serious. "I just don't want anything to happen to you-especially over something I chose to do."

Inigo grinned. "Thank you for asking my opinion." He said. "But it's my choice to stay with you."

She leaned back. "I'd love to build a house of my own at some point-in the forest if I had my way."

"That would be fun-would I be welcome there?"

"Inigo, you are always welcome under my roof. I don't know where our path will end, but I hope you'll be there when it does."

(A.N.: Little more AU-plus Drelas doesn't do much in the game. I was trying to think of where the farm Dar'Mora grew up on was and decided Drelas's cottage would fit the bill)