CHAPTER SIX
Hrongar woke to the sound of sizzling.
"What are you cooking?" He asked.
"I'm cooking eggs."
"Where did you get eggs?"
"I bought some off the mine owner, fresh bread also." She smiled.
Hrongar heard Greeta's stomach rumble this time. He laughed.
"Now you sound like the hungry bear."
"Do you get to travel much?" Greeta asked.
"Not as much as I would like. Being the Jarl's bodyguard, I can't leave for too long." He answered.
"You seem more relaxed outside of Dragonsreach." She observed.
"I hate politics and Proventus' constant whining."
"Do you have a wife?"
"No, haven't found the right one yet." He stated. "Are you married Greeta?"
"No. I would like to get married someday, but with this Dragonborn business, I doubt I'll live long enough to find a husband." She grimaced.
"You never know what will happen between now and then Greeta. You might be married sooner than you think." Hrongar stated.
After finishing breakfast, they packed up and traveled towards Ivarstead. Halfway there, they stopped to rest the horses. Greeta needed to relieve herself but had to walk a while to find a more private spot. When she finished, she started back. Suddenly, an arrow pierced her thigh and she screamed. An orc ran out and pinned her to the ground.
"You'll make a fine toy for the boys back at the camp." He laughed evilly.
"Not today you filthy bastard!" Greeta heard Hrongar bellow as he crashed through the brush with his battle axe raised.
Hrongar brought down the axe on the orc's neck before he could get up. The body of the orc flopped back down on Greeta. Blood was spurting from his neck onto her face and chest.
"Get him off! Get him off!" She screamed in a shocked panic.
Hrongar grabbed the body and heaved it over into the brush.
"Are you okay?" Hrongar checked for wounds and found the arrow embedded deep in her thigh.
"Damn it!" He cursed. "Let me get you over to the horses." He picked her up in his arms and carried her back, then sat her down gently. He grabbed a healing potion and a leather strap. Kneeling down beside her, he looked into her eyes.
"I've got to pull that arrow out." He said apologetically. "It'll hurt like hell."
"Just do it!" She demanded, biting down on the leather strap he gave her.
"Ready?" He asked, taking hold off the arrow tightly.
Greeta nodded her head
Hrongar jerked hard and quick. Greeta screamed onto the leather, tears streaming down her cheeks. He poured half the potion directly into the wound and gave her the rest to drink. While waiting for her wound to heal, Hrongar got a water skein and a torn cloth. He began washing the blood from her face and neck.
When she was healed enough to ride, they traveled the rest of the way to Ivarstead. It was after dark when they arrived at the Vilemyr Inn. There was only one room available. Hrongar gave Greeta the bed while he slept on the floor in his bedroll. Hrongar thought to himself as he lay there. This is the first time he had ever shared a room with a woman and not shared her bed. He chuckled softly and went to sleep.
When they woke the next morning Hrongar suggested she might want to take a bath and clean up more. She agreed. He had her pass her armor to him through the door so he could see about getting it cleaned up. Hrongar found a blacksmith and, using Greeta's old armor for sizing, had the blacksmith fit a new set of leather armor. While he was out, he wrote a letter to Jarl Balgruuf.
Brother,
We have made it to Ivarstead and will be staying a few days before Greeta heads up to High Hrothgar. We encountered bandits at Valtheim Towers and cleared them out. Greeta is an excellent shot with the bow. You would be impressed. I suggest you station guards at the towers.
On our second day, we had an incident with an orc. Greeta was hit in the leg with an arrow. She is well now. I killed the orc.
I also found out she stands with the Empire. She has an interesting view about the position of High King. I'll explain when I return.
Hrongar
P.S. I think she might be the one. So hands OFF!
Greeta was really enjoying her bath. It felt good to get the dust and blood off her skin. After drying off and combing out her hair, she decided not to put it in the usual braid and left it loose. Her dark hair reached her mid-back. She checked her bags for the extra clothes Lydia was supposed to pack, but found them missing.
"Damn it Lydia! Now what am I going to do? I don't have my armor."
Having no other choice, she went through Hrongar's belongings, hoping to find an extra tunic. She found a burgundy one and slipped it on. It was big on her and thankfully long enough to cover the important parts. When the wash tub was removed, Greeta sat on the bed with a blanket over her legs then locked the door. Shortly after there was a knock and Hrongar called out from the other side.
"Can I come in?"
Greeta went and let him in.
"Is that my tunic?" He asked, grinning at the beautiful picture he was seeing. A familiar twinge hit below his belt.
"I'm sorry, Lydia forgot my extra clothes and I had to steal your tunic." She explained.
"Thank you, Lydia. I'm definitely happy with it." Hrongar said.
"Ugh, men!" Greeta huffed as she took a seat at the table and trying to keep things covered.
"What about my armor?" She asked desperately.
"It will be a couple days." He grinned.
"Arrgh, that's just great."
"Yeah, that's just great." Hrongar said with a drawl. After a few minutes, Hrongar threw his hands up.
"Alright, after we eat, I will try and find you some breeches." He said.
"Thank you."
Hrongar ordered food to be brought to the room. When it came he answered the door, and then shut it again. Hrongar ate slowly, taking in Greeta's appearance as long as he could.
"I like your hair down like that; it makes you even more ravishing."
"Well, thank you Hrongar."
He finally finished and went to get her some breeches. While waiting for him to return, Greeta started thinking about what it would be like with Hrongar. She had been with a couple of men before but they weren't anything like him. She wondered how he would look without all that armor and if he would be a good lover. Hrongar knocked on the door startling her out of her thoughts. She opened the door and he handed her some breeches and ankle boots.
"I'll turn around while you slip those on."
After she got on her breeches, she told him he can turn back around. "How much do I owe you for these?" She asked while putting on the boots.
"A kiss." He said.
"A kiss!" She screeched.
"Yes, I had to sit here and look at you and restrain myself. You could at least give me a kiss." He said indignantly.
"Fine. But only a kiss."
She went to give him a kiss, but when their lips touched it felt so right. He groaned and kissed her harder. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss. They pulled apart to catch their breath.
"I wasn't expecting all that." Hrongar whispered lustfully.
"Me either."
"How about we go for a walk? You know, get some fresh air." Hrongar suggested, trying to calm the ache in his manhood.
"Sure, I could use some fresh air." Greeta agreed, trying to calm her racing heart.
They walked for awhile in silence, both thinking about what happened.
"Greeta?" Hrongar spoke softly.
"Yes, Hrongar?"
"I know this is sudden but I really like you and I've all kinds of feelings going on." He admitted.
"I do too, Hrongar."
"Greeta, would you be my wife?" He asked nervously.
"Hrongar, are you sure that's what you want?"
"Yes, yes I do. I love you!" He declared.
"I love you too." She said, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him again.
He picked her up, twirled her around laughing. Setting her down again, he said:
"This is what we'll do. After we get back to Whiterun we will tell my brother. Then head to Riften and get married. Is that alright?"
"Yes, that's fine. So after we are married, where exactly are we going to live?"
"Well, my room is too small and not private enough. We could stay in your quarters until we have our own house and I arrange for different security measures at night; I'll have to be in Dragonsreach during the day." He told her.
"I can live with that. What if I have to travel because of this Dragonborn business?"
"I'll go with you when I can, I won't like it when I can't, but you'll have Lydia with you." He explained.
"Well, okay then."
They walked back to the inn and sat around the central fire, enjoying the music and stories. Thundering was heard, startling everyone.
"DOVAKIIN." The Greybeards called again.
Greeta looked at Hrongar and said: "We need to leave for High Hrothgar as soon as my armor is ready."
"I hate to break it to you, but you'll have to make that trip by yourself." Hrongar said sadly.
"What! Why?" Greeta frowned.
"No one meets the Greybeards without invitation and they only invited you. Besides climbing the 7000 steps is a personal journey." Hrongar explained.
"If that's the way it has to be, then so be it." She conceded, getting up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Hrongar asked.
"I'm going to our room. I need to be alone for awhile." She told him.
"Okay, I'll hang out here."
By the time Hrongar retired to their room, Greeta was fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb her or crawl into her bed without her permission, he went to his bedroll.