Chapter 12

It was the early the next morning, and Nazgurat was feeling restless. He decided to pay the young Merchant a visit. He first stopped by Bo's room to find the pair fast asleep. Unsure of where the man was staying, Nazgurat tried a couple of rooms nearby. Two of them were empty. On his third attempt, the Orc knocked on the door and a low, soft voice called out.

"C-come in."

Nazgurat hesitated and then opened the door. He peered into the dim light of the room and found Ahmon sitting upright in bed. He looked to be worse for wear.

"Is something wrong?" The Orc grunted, stepping closer.

"Ahh," Ahmon responded quietly, and he groaned. "I uh... I dunno. I just feel... weird."

Nazgurat watched as the young Nord closed his eyes and gingerly rubbed his temple. The welt on the side of his head was still swollen, and he appeared to be disoriented.

"I'll... go get the healer."

"Thanks."

Nazgurat wandered back into the hall and made his way towards the room that he had seen Lynne come out from the day before. He let out a deep sigh, and then briskly rapped his knuckles on the door. He waited for several moments but there was no response. He was still annoyed by their earlier confrontation but he needed to put it aside. Ahmon was unwell and needed the Nord to tend to him.

The longer the silence drew on, the more Naz became impatient. He knocked once more, and then slowly cracked the door open.

It was dark inside the room, and Naz peered inside for a moment, unsure if Lynne was even inside. He could barely make out the form of a figure laying on the bed, and so he crept forward. However, he froze when he heard a soft whimper. Lynne was laying on her back with the covers mostly thrown off of her. Her eyes were closed, but she mumbled something in her sleep. Nazgurat watched as she shifted nervously in her sleep, her whole body shaking, and realized she was having a bad dream.

"N-no," Lynne sobbed, and she began crying harder.

Her body and blanket were soaked in her sweat, and tears streamed down her cheeks but she remained asleep.

"N-no... what did you d-do..."

Nazgurat couldn't watch anymore and so he leaned down and gently shook the mage's shoulder.

"Lynne," he called out as softly as he could muster. "You're having a bad dream."

After a few more shakes the woman was startled awake. Lynne jerked her shoulder out of Naz's grip and her eyes shot open. She scrambled back against the headboard and clutched her hands to her chest. Her eyes were wide with fear.

"You're fine, honest. It was just a dream."

Lynne blinked as she came to and then she hastily wiped at her tear-stained cheeks while letting out a long shaky breath. She closed her eyes and took a few moments to collect herself. She had forgotten where she was for a moment, but now she knew she was in Nightgate Inn.

Embarrassment coursed through her body as it dawned on her that Nazgurat had seen her seized by a nightmare.

"What are you... doing here," Lynne whispered, unable to look at him.

"Ahmon is feeling unwell."

"He is?" Lynne sighed. "Okay... I'll go see him."

Nazgurat moved back towards the door and then he paused. He wanted to say something to the Nord but decided against it. He shook his head and left her room, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Lynne sat on the edge of her bed with her head bowed, trying to calm her frayed nerves. She had the same recurring nightmare for close to a year now, and it was beginning to take its toll on her wellbeing. Sometimes she barely slept at all because she knew if she closed her eyes the images of her past would haunt her. Sometimes the Mage would resort to sleeping potions just so she could get some rest, but she only kept a limited amount in her pack when traveling.

The Nord sighed again, and then she slowly rose from the bed and made her way into the hallway. When she reached Ahmon's room Nazgurat was nowhere to be found, but the young Nord was still sitting up in bed, groaning.

"Hey Ahmon, what's hurting?"

"My h-head," Ahmon replied quietly, his eyes closed.

Lynne sat down on the edge of the bed and smoothed his blonde hair back as best she could with the softest touch. Ahmon flinched and sucked in a deep breath while Lynne inspected the bump on his head.

"I think you're alright. It'll be a few days before you feel better again, but if nothing improves then I'll have to look into it further."

"O-okay."

Lynne smiled at the man, who weakly returned it. She uncorked a small vial and handed it to him. Ahmon tipped the content into his mouth and then handed it back to her. Lynne helped him lay back on his bed and tucked him in.

"Just take it easy."

"Thanks, Lynne."

"No Problem."

Lynne turned to leave when Ahmon spoke to her once more.

"Lynne?"

"Yes, Ahmon?"

"Are you alright?"

Lynne paused. She stood with her back turned to the young man. Her clothes were still drenched in her sweat, and she knew she probably looked like crap. She swallowed hard and tucked a few strands of her long blonde hair behind her ear.

"Yes, thank you. I'm just fine."

"Okay."

Lynne quietly left Ahmon's room and returned to her own. She changed out of her sweaty robes and wiped herself down with a cool cloth before returning to her bed. Then she downed one of the last few vials of sleeping potions left and laid down on her bed, waiting patiently for a dreamless sleep to take her.

Nazgurat's hostile demeanor continued over the next couple of days and Lynne tried her best to avoid him. His arm was completely healed, and so they had no reason to interact with one another. However, it was awkward being in the same Inn together, for it was all too easy to run into the Orc in the hallway or dining hall.

It was a mild, cold night, and Lynne had been invited into Bo's room, along with Ahmon and Nazgurat. When she stepped inside, she found everybody was waiting for her, and she quickly apologized.

Nazgurat stood near the dresser with his arms crossed and he did not send a single glance her way. Ahmon sat in a wooden chair next to the towering Orc, and he smiled softly at Lynne. His head was still badly bruised and sore, but he was doing much better.

Jane sat with her butt perched against the wooden footboard, looking pretty as can be. She wore a soft cream-colored tunic and brown breeches, as well as a pair of leather boots. She had braided her hair earlier in the morning, with some assistance from Lynne. She smiled at everybody with a soft expression, and Lynne couldn't help but smile back. She barely knew the young woman but liked her greatly. She had a feeling that the others felt the same way.

Bo rested with his back against the headboard, wearing a dark grey tunic. The blanket had been pulled up to his chest and his arms rested lightly on either side of his body. He looked tired, but when he gazed up at Jane his expression was soft.

"Thanks for meeting us here," Jane started softly. "I wanted to see you all at the same time because I've come to a conclusion."

She glanced back and forth between everybody as she spoke, her expression thoughtful.

"It's dangerous to be traveling right now, and I will explain but... well, I'd first like to introduce you, formally, to the Dragonborn."

Lynne's eyes widened, and she looked over at Bo, whose face had turned an even deeper shade of green as he blushed. The Orc squirmed uncomfortably under everybody's gaze, and Nazgurat let out a small grunt.

"An Orc Dragonborn? Not possible."

"Well, it's true, Nazgurat. I wouldn't lie to you," Jane responded quietly.

The Orc opened his mouth to say something, and then quickly changed his mind. He looked over at Bo with his bright red eyes.

"You are the one they've been talking about?"

Bo nodded, and he stared down at his blanket.

"Unfortunately."

"Why unfortunately? This will bring honor to our kind."

"I am not a hero," Bo responded heatedly. "I did not ask for this!"

Nazgurat was growing furious. He took a step forward with clenched fists. Ahmon immediately stood up, while Lynne silently watched from afar.

"Heroes are not asked, they just become. The Greybeards have summoned you and you hide away in Eastmarch for what? Ulfric and his nonsense mean nothing when it comes to the Dragons returning!"

Jane stood up from the bed and placed a soft hand on Nazgurat's arm. The Orc stared at Bo with a furious expression, and the younger Orsimer glared back at him. He finally let out a deep breath and stood back. Nazgurat looked down at Jane.

"I understand your frustration, Naz," Jane started.

"They've been looking for this fool for over two months Jane, and he's been away playing civil war instead of-"

"I get it, truly," Jane continued firmly. "Bo has admitted to his mistake. You have to put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Not everyone is as confident as you are."

Nazgurat snorted, and he crossed his arms with a displeased frown. Jane moved back over to the bed and this time she sat next to Bo and gave him a reassuring smile.

"We're going to Whiterun to drop off the Axe. When that is done we are going to the Greybeards, like he has been summoned. I didn't bring you all here to argue about morality... I wanted to offer you a plan."

"What is it?" Lynne asked quietly, and Jane glanced over at the tall Nord.

"I've been talking with all of you the last few days, and we all have something in common."

"That is...?" Ahmon chimed in.

"We were all on our way to Whiterun when fate brought us here. As I said earlier, with it becoming increasingly dangerous to be traveling right now, I think we should all go together as a group. Can we all get along for a week or two on the road or is it totally impossible?"

Jane's brows furrowed together, and she shot Nazgurat a weighted look. The Orc shrugged.

"I can control myself. Can't speak for anybody else."

"I will go," Ahmon responded warmly. "I have the horses, we will make quick time. But you're right. It never used to be so dangerous. I had a feeling something was wrong."

"Lynne?" Jane asked, and the Nord chewed on her lip while she mulled it over.

"Guess there's no point in saying no, we're all headed that way anyways. Alright Jane, I'm in."

"Excellent!"

Jane's eyes nearly sparkled as she grinned and patted Bo's lower leg.

"I told you they'd say yes."

Bo simply shrugged, and he continued to silently stared down at the blanket. Three out of the five members chatted lightly for a few minutes before one by one they left. Lynne left last, making sure that Bo's injuries were still on the mend, and she told him he should be fine to travel by the end of the week.

"A few more day's rest," Lynne told him sternly. "Can never be too sure."

"Alright."

When everyone had left, Jane curled up beside Bo once more and they napped lightly for the rest of the day.

Lynne left Bo's bedroom and wandered into the dining hall to have something to eat. She sat by herself at one of the smaller tables and was unaware of the Orc watching her from across the hall. He was well aware that somebody else kept a watchful eye on her from the other side of the Inn. Lynne tipped back the bottle of her ale and finished her drink. Then the healer got up from the table and wandered out through the front door into the cold night. A hooded figure followed her a moment later, with Nazgurat a moment behind.

The Orc let out a deep breath that came out in a white puff in front of his face. He pulled his cloak tighter around his body and quietly walked down the steps, following the footprints in the snow as they wandered around to the side of the Inn. Light snowflakes fell all around, and the only light came from a lamp near the front steps of Nightgate Inn, as well as candlelight that spilled through the windows. Naz paused and pressed himself close to a nearby bush, straining with his keen Orc ears to hear the hushed voices nearby.

"How did you even find me?" Lynne asked with barely controlled anger. "Never mind, I know that's a stupid question-"

"We need you Lynne," a deep male voice responded. "The Brotherhood is broken."

"I wasn't the one that broke it!" Lynne retorted, her voice full of rage and pain. "I didn't betray anyone!"

"The Night Mother knows this... she knows you are innocent in it all... she wants you to come back to us. We can rebu-"

"I'm done, Nazir! My time with the Brotherhood died with Astrid... And everyone else who perished that night. You don't understand, I can still see them in my dreams, Nazir... they haunt me."

Nazgurat flung himself away from the bushes and raced up towards the front door to the Inn. He reached his room long before Lynne ever came back, and he listened for her to pass by. When he was sure she was in her room, the Orc wandered back into the hallway and opened Lynne's door without knocking.

"Excuse me!" Lynne shouted, and she hastily pulled her robe back around her waist.

Nazgurat strode up to Lynne and she glared up at him with her ice blue eyes. She was impossibly pale, along with her white-blond hair, and he would have thought her pretty if she didn't look like death. Sleep was not her friend these days.

"Do you make it a habit of chatting with assassins?" Nazgurat asked slowly.

Lynne's mouth opened for a moment, and her cheeks blushed bright pink, and then she frowned. Her expression turned to anger.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't think for a moment you can fool me, healer."

"What gives you the right to follow me, Orc?" Lynne spat back, and she balled her hands into fists.

Nazgurat snorted, and he crossed his thick arms together. He stared down at her with a scowl, his red eyes burning a hole into hers.

"Aren't healers supposed to save lives, not take them?" He sneered.

"Shut up," Lynne replied in an icy tone of voice.

Her gaze could have chilled any other person, but Nazgurat wasn't fazed. "You don't know me."

"That's because you lead a life of lies," The Orc responded matter-of-factly.

"Get out of my room."

"Fine."

Lynne watched as Nazgurat spun around on his heel and took off from her room, slamming the door behind him. When he was gone, Lynne sat down on the edge of the bed and covered her head in her hands. Hot tears streamed down her face but she didn't know why she was crying. The Orc both confused and fascinated her.

I want to punch him and I want to kiss him all at once and it's driving me mad, Lynne thought to herself, and she hiccupped slightly as she wiped at her face. I just don't get it. I don't know why he affects me so much.

With a defeated sigh, Lynne climbed under the covers and after tossing and turning for several hours while she stewed over her encounter with both Nazir and Naz, she fell into another restless sleep.