Chapter 2

Levaden was the first to stir. He groaned and rolled onto his back, rubbing at his eyes. Then he opened them and was greeted with the wooden ceiling of the Inn. He craned his neck and looked over at the bed where Aisha lay still fast asleep.

She lay on her stomach facing him, her red hair spilling around her face, and one pale arm hung down the side of the bed. The elf admitted silently that she was even beautiful when she slept, despite the soft snores and messy hair.

Feeling suddenly flustered by his thoughts, Levaden tossed the covers back, swung his body around and placed his feet down on the cold floor. He rubbed the back of his neck and tugged lazily at the string holding his hair together. Usually he let his hair down before going to bed, but he had been so tired last night and forgot. Now it was a tangled mess.

Temporarily giving up, Levaden left the room to go and relieve himself, and when he returned Aisha had woken up.

"Did I wake you?" He asked, shutting the door behind him.

"Maybe," Aisha replied softly, yawning. "I'm a light sleeper."

Aisha yawned again as she sat up in her bed. She stretched her arms above her head for a moment, and then rubbed at her eyes, clearing the sleep. Once she was more alert, Aisha got up and wandered over to the table where Levaden resided.

He tugged at his hair with a frustrated sigh. The string hadn't managed to come loose and was instead tangled into a knot with a part of his hair. Aisha noticed his dilemma.

"Do you have a brush?" Aisha inquired, and Levaden nodded.

"Yeah I do, I'm just being lazy."

"Let me help," Aisha offered, standing up.

"Y-you don't have to," the elf stammered, glancing up at her, "I can manage."

"Please, it's the very least I can do."

Levaden was like putty in her hands, especially with the girl's enticing green orbs fixed intensely on him. He nodded and directed Aisha to his pack.

"It should be in the larger part... right there."

Aisha recovered the small wooden brush, and then she quietly stood behind Levaden. She gathered a handful of his soft golden hair, and then gently brushed at the tangled parts, making sure not to pull too hard. Once the string was free, she placed it down on the table and continued brushing.

Levaden did not protest. Aisa brushed her fingers through his hair while she worked, and the soft massages on his scalp felt like magic. He closed his eyes in content and did not stir until Aisha had finished brushing out every tangle and had tied it neatly in a ponytail. He was touched by the gentleness in her gesture.

"Thank you," he spoke softly, and Aisha smiled down at him.

Levaden excused himself so he could go order some food for breakfast, and when he returned Aisha had changed into her new clothes and was finishing the end of her long braid.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

Levaden joined her at the table, and Aisha nodded her thanks when he handed her a warm bread roll.

"Ask me anything."

"I don't know if it's a sensitive topic... but I've been curious to know how you got those scars."

"Oh."

Levaden's simple reply made Aisha immediately regret her question.

"I'm sorry, it's really none of my business."

"It's okay, I don't tell many people, that's all."

Levaden sighed, and he placed his fork down. For a moment he simply stared at nothing, thinking of what to say. The images of what had happened flashed in his mind. Even eighteen years later it was still painful to think about. Aisha was silent as she waited for him to speak. She internally berated herself for being so damn nosy.

"My father wasn't a very nice person," he began slowly, choosing his words carefully. "Harsh is an understatement, but he was the political type so people were always making excuses for him. He was extremely critical of my siblings and I. Altmer are a generally proud and snobby race. It's normal to hold their offspring to ridiculous expectations."

Aisha took his silence as an opportunity to respond.

"That's not a healthy environment for anyone, let alone children."

"No. No, it's not. Nothing I did was good enough. My older brother was his pride and joy, and nobody else came even close to him. To my father, he only had one child, not four."

The memory was fresh as day in his mind, but Levaden continues despite the fact his chest contracted painfully when he breathed.

"One afternoon in particular, I had been drilled with sword practice all day, and I was at my limit. My father didn't think that was good enough. I guess he wanted to make a general or a commander out of me someday. I was always doing gritty, grueling work while my brother was the scholar."

"What of your other siblings?"

"They were both girls, twin sisters. My mother dealt with them. She wasn't the warmest of women either, but she was a ray of sunshine compared to her husband."

"Well, that day, he was especially angry. He kept smacking me with that stupid cane of his. The sparring ring was surrounded by these pillars, and alongside were these shallow basins that held fires if you wanted to spar at night."

Aisha's eyes widened, wishing she could take it all back. But the floodgates had been opened for the Altmer. He hadn't told anybody this story, not in such graphic detail anyways.

"I pissed him off. I don't even know what I said now... it was so long ago. He... he grabbed me by the back of my neck and threw me to the ground." Levaden bowed his head, his voice low.

"He beat me really bad, and that wasn't enough. He took it all out on me. Before I knew it, I was on my knees and he had pressed my face against the hot embers of one of the basins. I was lucky the flames were barely lit."

"Oh Levaden," Aisha whispered, and she covered her mouth in shock.

"My brother wasn't quite as heartless... yet. He heard my screams and pulled our father off of me before he killed me outright."

Levaden had finished his story, and he stared silently down at his hands. Aisha couldn't believe what she had just heard. It was unfathomable. It was beyond horrific.

"I'm sorry I asked you to retell that."

"It's alright," Levaden shrugged, and he seemed to shake himself out of his thoughts. "I'm just glad I didn't frighten you when we first met."

Aisha frowned, utterly confused.

"Frighten me? Why would you do that?"

"Most people, especially women... find me repulsive."

"That's ridiculous," Aisha replied passionately, and Levaden looked up at her in surprise.

"You are kind, you are caring, and you are handsome. I have known you for less than a day and I can say those things with a fairly good degree of certainty."

"I... thank you," Levaden whispered, and he coughed nervously.

Aisha smiled warmly at him, and they continued their breakfast, speaking lightly about other things.

After they had finished eating, Levaden began to put his armor back on, and while he did he spoke to Aisha about his future plans.

"I have to go to Kvatch," he explained, and Aisha nodded knowingly. "There's a man there, his name is Brother Martin. I'm supposed to get him to come back to the Priory with me."

Levaden finished putting on the last of his armor and began slipping on his boots.

"Do you want to come with me? I don't know what sort of life you lead, but I think I'd really enjoy your company."

Aisha couldn't suppress a smile. She was really starting to like the elf. His caring nature was contagious, and she wanted to get to know him better. She really didn't have any other choice because without him she'd really be at a loss for what to do.

Plus, I'd be a fool not to follow the future hero of Kavatch. It's my chance to see some amazing things.

"I'd love to go with you. I really don't have a clue what I did before landing myself in the middle of the woods. Until then I guess you're stuck with me."

Her reply was cheerful, and it brought a smile to his face.

"Then that's settled. Are you ready?"

"Ready as I can be," Aisha replied, and the pair headed out into the main hall of the Inn.

This morning was a bit busier. There were more people milling about than the night before, and most of the patrons were just beginning to tuck into their breakfast. As they reached the entrance and stepped outside they were greeted with the soft rays of a beautiful sunrise, and Aisha was glad for the good travelling weather.

"I haven't had a chance to get my hands on any horses. I don't have enough gold for one yet, but hopefully I can purchase one soon so we don't have to walk so much."

"Sounds like a good plan."

They walked down the cobblestone road towards the gate leading out from Chorrol. A few people went about their business as well, and she was able to peek at the unmistakably dark skin and pointed ears of a dark elf. She also got a glimpse of a rather intimidating looking Orc that brushed past them as they were leaving the city. Aisha struggled to accept it was real, but there was no mistaking the soft wind on her face and the calm presence of the Elf walking beside her.

Once the pair were back out into the open plains of Cyrodiil Aisha took in a deep breath of the crisp morning air and smiled at the beautiful landscape around her.

"It truly is a stunning country," Aisha commented, her eyes drinking in every sight before her.

"I love Cyrodiil, I've traveled all over this land."

"I'm sure you have some pretty good stories," Aisha responded, smiling when Levaden nodded in response.

This morning he had left his hood down, and she was able to see his scarred face as she walked on the right side of him. It didn't disgust her at all, and she wished she could have gone back in time and prevented that event from happening.

I can't change what happened, but he seems pretty happy with me around. I barely know him and I already want to move mountains for him. What an interesting situation I've found myself in.

Aisha smiled as she mused silently to herself.

"You seem deep in thought," Levaden commented, and Aisha chuckled.

"A little bit. I'm curious as to what it is exactly you're involved in."

"Funny you should ask, I'm still not so sure about it myself..."

That morning consisted of Levaden sharing the story of how he came to be travelling to Chorrol in the first place, starting with his arrest in the marketplace on the Imperial City. It had been entirely ungrounded, but they had whisked him off anyways and thrown him in a cell.
Levaden touched lightly on his meeting with the now deceased Emperor of Cyrodiil, his escape from the prison, and then it ended with him finding Aisha in the grass near Chorrol. It was a tale she had heard and experienced many times now, but always in different ways each time. This was by far the best version of all. She still listened with great enthusiasm.

Together the pair travelled comfortably, making good time, with the warm sun on their backs. Levaden had decided that travelling on the main road, although a longer route, was much safer than trying to trudge through the unbeaten path. There were far too many prey animals that roamed the land, from small grey wolves to giant brown bears and other more questionable creatures.

Aisha had to agree, as she knew about the Minotaurs and spriggans and magical beings that occupied Cyrodiil as well. She couldn't fight worth beans and had no magic spells to her name. That little thought frightened her a bit, but she kept silent.

By noon they were ready to stop and catch their breath. They wandered off the path a bit and sat down in the soft grass to eat some bread and dried meat for lunch. They shared a waterskin, and within a few minutes Aisha was already feeling much better. She had travelled more in half a day with Levaden than she had in a whole month back on Earth, and she knew she'd feel sore later on. She wasn't looking forward to that part.

"Do you remember any of your family?" Levaden inquired curiously, making conversation while they ate.

"Oh, yes. I remember my parents," Aisha responded thoughtfully between bites, "I don't have any siblings.

"They're probably worried about you."

Aisha hadn't thought about it until now. She wondered if they knew she was missing, or what had happened in that situation. She mulled over that thought while anxiously chewing her lip, and Levaden picked up on it.

"Sorry," he continued, his brow furrowed. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's okay." Aisha sighed and brushed a few crumbs from her shirt. "It'll be alright."

Once they had finished eating, the travelers continued down the main road for the rest of the day. They talked about various things, mostly avoiding stories of childhood and family for both their sake.

It was beginning to get later, and the sun was just starting to make its descent, when Levaden made a decision.

"I know of an Inn not far from here, we'll stay there for the night. I don't have any gear for camping."

"Sounds good."

They continued walking for a couple more hours until the sun was almost completely dipped behind the mountain. In the distance Aisha could make out the shape of a straw thatched roof Inn. It was humbly small, but light spilled warmly through the windows, and it looked inviting nonetheless.

Wawnet Inn was a small establishment, but they had plenty of food and drink to go around, and several rooms to stay in if you needed. However, it wasn't The Oak and Crosier.

"I have one room for the night, sorry folks."

Nerussa smiled at them apologetically from behind the bar.

"Well we'll take it anyways," Aisha responded firmly, and Levaden shot her a sideways glance before agreeing as well.

"You don't mind? The bed is probably tiny." Levaden inquired quietly as they made their way to their room.

"It's just for sleeping," Aisha responded slyly, and Levaden laughed.

"True. I just don't want you to be uncomfortable."

"I'm not, and if I were I'd say so."

"Well that settles it then. We'll take the room."

With that matter solved, Levaden dropped his pack off and removed his armor as per usual schedule. Then the pair returned to the main area of the Inn and found an empty seat.

Other patrons occupied the surrounding tables, most of them already well into their drinks. Levaden waved down the sole server in the room and ordered them both an ale as well as whatever was on the menu for dinner that night. Then they sat there just like the night before, content to just talk. In the dim candlelight of Wawnet Inn, they drank and ate until they were stuffed. Aisha couldn't believe how good the food was in Cyrodiil. She knew it looked appetizing on a screen but in person it was entirely different.

Both Aisha and Levaden lingered downstairs until they were almost the last people left. They were both silently nervous about sleeping in the same bed, even though Aisha had firmly said she was okay with it. Levaden hadn't been within close vicinity with a female for quite some time, and even though it wasn't a romantic situation, it was still very intimate. It really was just to sleep, but he was still nervous.

Aisha stifled a second yawn, and Levaden had to admit defeat.

"Shall we?" He asked quietly, and Aisha nodded.

She followed close behind him as they rounded the corner and returned to their small room. The room itself was small, but the bed was a double, and for that they were both grateful. Aisha sat down on the bed and removed her leather shoes, groaning quietly while she rubbed her sore and blistered feet.

"It gets better the more you travel," Levaden commented, and Aisha nodded in agreement.

"I'm not used to walking so much, but even being sore, I've enjoyed every minute of traveling."

"I'm glad to hear. A lot of women I know are very against travelling unless it's by a horse drawn carriage."

Aisha laughed. It was a bright laugh, and it bounced off the thin wooden walls of the Inn. The sound was music to Levaden's ears and he grinned.

"I'm not sure what kind of women you're used to, but I'm definitely not that kind of girl."

"I know you're not," Levaden responded warmly. "you're far more interesting."

Aisha blushed, and then she hastily busied herself with the bed. She pulled back the covers while Levaden knelt down and tugged on the strings of his boots and slipped them off. He watched as she climbed into the bed and scooted to the far side against the wall and laid down. This time he remembered to remove the tie from his hair, although the Elf had to admit he wouldn't mind if Aisha wanted to brush it again.

He hovered for a moment, and then lay down as well. Levaden pulled the covers up and tucked the open ends behind him so he was warm. Aisha lay in his view with her back turned to him and her braided hair sprawled out against the sheets.

"Aisha?"

"Yes?" Her voice called out, and the girl shuffled around so she was facing the elf. He peered at her in the darkness.

"Are you warm enough?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Aisha responded sleepily, and within a few moments she was fast asleep.