Chapter 7

It wasn't until late the next morning when Jane woke up. Her head ached a little, but it was mostly her cheek that was sore. She yawned, and stretched, arching her back until it gave a satisfying crack. She opened her eyes and glanced over at the empty space beside her.

I guess he's already up.

Jane took the opportunity to find one of the young servant girls and request a bath and was directed to the private room. Jane took her time, soaking for quite a while in a tub of hot soapy water.

She trailed her fingers along the surface of the water, with her arms resting lightly on the edge of the wooden tub. Jane sighed, thinking back to the night before. It still made her feel uneasy, and she wasn't looking forward to seeing Ulfric so soon. She really wanted nothing more than to punch him, but that would be a terrible decision.

Jane waited until the water grew too cold to withstand before climbing out and drying herself off. When she was finished getting dressed she wandered back to the front hall and found Bo sitting at one of the tables. He sat casually in his chair with one of his long legs stretched out. Jane couldn't help but admire his tall figure. The Orc towered above her when they walked beside each other, and she secretly enjoyed their height difference. She also liked the way Bo's breeches hugged his body very snugly, and she found herself blushing when Bo looked up from the paper he had been reading. She flushed with embarrassment at having been caught staring.

"Hey," Jane called out quietly, and she sat down across from Bo.

"Hey. Are you hungry?"

Jane nodded, and she twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers.

"I haven't eaten yet. What do you want?"

Jane was touched that the Orc waited to eat until Jane joined him. She smiled warmly at Bo, who blinked in surprise, but he smiled as well. Part of her wanted to reach over the table and stroke one of his big white tusks, but she refrained from doing so.

What is up with you? Her mind whirled, and she nervously looked down at the table.

Bo stared at Jane for a moment, his curiosity burning. It was then he noticed her left cheek looked like it was bruised, and he frowned.

"How did you bruise your cheek?" He asked, and Jane stiffened.

"O-Oh..." Jane responded quietly, thinking fast. "I was... I got in the way of some couple dancing. W-was a complete accident."

"Really..."

A servant girl walked by so he stopped her and requested some breakfast. When it arrived, Jane took a sip of the herbal tea she had ordered, and they both tucked into a hot bowl of porridge.

"When are we leaving Windhelm?" Jane inquired after a little while, hoping Bo had believed her made up story.

Bo had finished his breakfast and he took a big drink of water.

"Tomorrow morning, if you're ready," he responded, and he wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I'm ready whenever. Oh, that's right..."

Jane placed her spoon down on the table and looked over at Bo with her brows furrowed together.

"I completely forgot my coat last night. It was unbearably hot in that hall... and it was so refreshing to go outside and cool down. I didn't realize it until I was already back here."

"Oh, that's okay, I have to pick up the axe before we leave anyways."

Jane was relieved. She really hoped Bo wouldn't find out about anything that happened last night. Bo appeared to be totally oblivious, and so she quickly finished her breakfast so they could go about their business.

When they were ready, the pair exited Candlehearth Inn and took off towards the Palace to retrieve their items. As they reached the massive doors, a guard nodded at Bo and opened one of the doors for them. They stepped inside and brushed the snow off from their shoulders. Jane wasn't cold because Bo had given her his coat to wear up to the palace.

She had protested at first, but then remembered that Orcs weren't nearly as bothered by extreme weather conditions as puny little humans such as herself. It was a massive article on her tiny frame, but it was warm, and Jane was grateful for the little kind gestures.

Jane had forgotten her gloves back at the Inn. She clenched and unclenched her hands for a moment after stepping inside the building to try and warm them up. Bo noticed her movement and he reached out and gently took her hands.

He held them for a long moment, ignoring the fact his heart was pounding in his chest. His desire to warm up Jane's hands outweighed the nervousness he felt about touching them. Jane smiled up at him, and then a voice called out.

"Bo Gro Graul."

Ulfric greeted them loudly from way down at the other side of the hall.

The Jarl relaxed in his usual spot out the throne, and he eyed Jane with a mixture of anger and amusement as she nervously pulled her hands away and they continued walking. Bo didn't seem to notice anything, and he kindly greeted Ulfric.

Jane quietly watched as they grasped hands, and she resisted the urge to shudder as she thought about Ulfric's hands groping her. The Jarl fixed his gaze back on Jane, and he smiled. It took all of Jane's energy not to scowl, and she forced herself to smile back.

"Good to see you, Jane."

"Thanks," Jane responded curtly.

Ulfric chuckled, and then he led Bo towards the back room where they could discuss his current task. Jane sighed, and she impatiently waited for her Orc companion. She stood with her back to the hall, chewing her nails, and she didn't hear Galmar until he greeted her.

"S-sorry-"

In his hand was her coat.

"Oh... thank you very much."

Jane took the coat from his outstretched hands. He stared at her with a hardened expression, and Jane nervously rubbed at her neck, struggling to come up with something to say. She didn't have to, as the Nord spoke first.

"I'm sorry about... Ulfric..." Galmar Stone-Fist started. "I may be his Housecarl but it doesn't mean I agree with everything he does."

"Thank you Galmar," Jane whispered.

She was surprised by the Nord. He literally wore a coat made from a Bear, and its giant grizzly head rested atop his head like some twisted crown. Galmar Stone-Fist appeared to be a hardened warrior, and Jane had assumed he was like all the Nord men she'd met so far. She had misjudged him.

"Take it easy. Look after that Orc friend of yours. Ulfric's putting a lot of pressure on him."

Jane frowned, and she stared at Galmar for a second.

"He's gonna have a lot more pressure than that soon, believe me. I'll take good care of him."

Galmar nodded, and Jane thought he almost smiled. She watched him as he walked away. A moment later Bo came striding towards her. He held a massive war axe in his hands.

"Wow," Jane commented when he drew close.

"Axes aren't really my thing. I prefer a sword."

"Yeah I don't think I'd do well with an axe, it's bigger than me..."

Bo chuckled, and Jane grinned at him.

"Looks like you got your coat. Ready to head back? We've got one more night in a nice soft bed."

"I know, I'll probably miss that the most," Jane lamented, and the pair wandered back towards the front doors of the Palace.

"Me too. Bedrolls are never quite comfortable enough."

Jane couldn't help but notice that while Bo chatted lightly with her, his smile didn't reach his eyes. She wondered if Ulfric had said something to the Orc that had upset him. As they walked back to Candlehearth Inn Bo was mostly quiet, content to just walk beside her in the snow. They reached their room and lounged about for the rest of the day.

When evening came around neither one of them really wanted to go to sleep. Sleeping meant the next day would come, and then they'd have to brave it out in the cold and snow again. Bo mostly disliked the lack of hot, fresh meals when he was traveling. Unless he caught something wild and skinned it for their supper, they'd have to rely on dried and cured rations they had purchased from the market.

Jane lay in bed on her back, staring up the ceiling. She was thinking about the coming trip and realized she was pretty nervous, although excited to be putting distance between herself and Ulfric Stormcloak.

Bo sat on the edge of the bed and he rubbed at his aching shoulder for a moment, sighing softly. Jane sat up, her eyes glued on Bo as he rubbed his shoulder through his tunic with his back turned to her. An idea crossed her mind.

It'll probably fluster the hell outa him, but I bet I can make it feel better.

"Bo?" Jane spoke softly.

The Orc grunted, and he spun his body around to look at her.

"Yeah?"

"Is your shoulder still really sore?"

Bo shrugged.

"Sort of. I think I'm just a little stressed."

"Can I offer something?"

"Offer..."

"If you'll let me, I can massage it for you."

The Orc's eyes widened, and she swore his ears turned red. Bo swallowed hard as he struggled to come up with a response.

"U-uh you don't have to do that-"

"Nonsense," Jane cut in quickly. "It'll help, I promise. You gotta be in tip-top shape, remember I'm useless in a fight?"

She tried the humor tactic to get Bo to calm down, but it didn't quite have the effect she was going for. Bo continued to nervously stammer at her while Jane chuckled softly. She shuffled forward and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She peered at him with her warm green eyes, and Bo tensed for a moment.

"Please?" She implored, and the Orc sighed.

"If you must," he responded thickly.

He knew he could never say no to her. Jane smiled, feeling triumphant; and she asked Bo to remove his tunic.

"Wh-why," Bo blurted out, and his heart was racing.

"Haven't you ever had a massage?"

The Orc shook his head, and Jane patted his shoulder affectionately.

"I see... that makes sense. Don't be nervous Bo, I've seen you shirtless before," Jane chuckled again, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

Bo tried not to shiver as he removed his shirt and placed it on the bed beside him. He turned around so his back was once again facing Jane, and he swallowed nervously as Jane shuffled closer on her knees, almost touching him.

Jane reached up and placed her hands on his thick shoulders, enjoying the feeling of his thick muscles beneath her hands. She loved how soft his deep green skin was, and she gently began kneading his shoulders, squeezing gently. Bo shivered and a small growl of content escaped his lips as he felt her palms rubbing along the tight muscles of his neck.

Bo could barely believe it. Jane's impossibly soft hands roamed lightly along his shoulders and back, and he found himself closing his eyes. The act of her light massages felt incredible, and the Orc's body began to relax the longer Jane kneaded his sore and aching muscles.

It felt like all of his troubles were melting away, and he lost track of time. Jane smiled to herself as she felt Bo's body relaxing, and eventually, he leaned into her as if he was turning to putty in her hands.

Jane gently rubbed her fingers along his neck, traveling further up. However, when she gently stroked his ear, just wishing to feel its point, Bo lurched forward and out of her grasp. Her touch had had an immediate effect. His arousal had been almost instant, and Bo quickly ended their little session.

"Is something wrong?" Jane asked quietly.

She felt really bad.

"N-no not at all... we should just... get some rest."

Jane shuffled back on the bed and laid down, watching Bo as he sat with his arms crossed uncomfortably in front of him. Bo couldn't blame Jane for not knowing how sensitive Orc ears were, but he was embarrassed that he had become so turned on from her stroking them alone. He'd never been affected so quickly before and he felt slightly dazed.

Bo pulled the covers back and slipped underneath them. He nestled as far under the blankets as he could. Jane followed suit after putting out the light and they laid in the darkness for a while, their light breathing the only sound.

"Bo?" Jane inquired quietly.

"Yes, Jane?"

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight Jane."

Jane fell asleep rather quickly, her thoughts lingering on the image of Bo's strong, bare back. Bo took a while longer to fall asleep as his body coursed with the feeling of desire. After a while he too drifted to sleep and they both slept soundly until early the next morning.