Chapter 18

Five travelers reached the outskirts of Whiterun in six days. It was marked by the changing of the landscape. The snow became sparser, and the weather grew clearer and warmer. Jane still rode with Ahmon to keep Bo comfortable, but the young Orc understood now that Jane didn't like the Nord romantically. Their courting became a little bit more intimate, which Jane liked greatly. There was now a different tone behind their interactions, something different in the way he looked at her. It was as though he was realizing that being with Jane as more than a friend was possible, and he was overwhelmed by this discovery, but also excited.

Jane looked at the great plains of Whiterun, completely amazed by how beautiful it was. Seeing it on a television screen did little justice to what it was like experiencing it in person. Grass as far as the eyes could see spread out over the plains, alight in hues of orange, yellow, and red. It was broken up here and there by boulders and small trees, and the sky was bright blue with little specks of white fluffy clouds. It was picturesque. When she glanced back at Bo, he was smiling.

They were forced to make camp for one more night, as Bo assured Jane they'd reach the city by tomorrow afternoon. Jane didn't mind now that they were away from the snow, but she knew it was not forever. She shivered when she thought about the trip they'd have to make up the mountain to see the Greybeards, but quickly pushed that thought away for the time being.

Nazgurat and Lynne sat on their bedroll, their thighs touching, and Naz's arm hung loosely around the Nord's shoulders. They spoke quietly to one another, while Ahmon lay on his own bedroll staring up at the night sky, which twinkled brightly with a beautiful array of stars. He didn't mind being the odd one out; he was looking forward to going to Whiterun to see if a girl he had been sweet with before was still around. He smiled to himself as his thoughts drifted to her.

Bo lay on his back with his arms tucked under his head, relaxed. Jane sat cross-legged facing the fire with a stick in her hand. She enjoyed letting the end of the stick catch on fire, and she'd watch it burn for a few moments before dabbing it on the rocks surrounding the fire to put it out. After a while, she joined Bo underneath the blankets and resumed their usual position. Bo shifted closer, his arm wrapped firmly around her waist and breathed in deeply. Jane sighed and closed her eyes.

"They are getting closer," Naz commented quietly, and Lynne looked over at the young couple.

"It's sweet."

Nazgurat tipped Lynne's chin towards him and planted a kiss on her lips. She smiled and kissed him back. Then they curled up together under their blankets and fell fast asleep.

Their peaceful slumber was rudely interrupted several hours later by a terrible noise. A horrible roar echoed all around them. The moons were low in the sky and bathed them in white light as everybody was suddenly woken up.

Everyone scrambled out from their bedrolls except for Bo, who was frozen in his spot. He knew that sound all too well.

"What is that?" Nazgurat growled as he unsheathed his sword.

Lynne readied a fireball in her hands, and Ahmon also got his sword ready. Jane stood near Bo, and she looked down at him, realizing he wasn't standing.

"Bo? You know what it is, don't you?"

"It's a Dragon," he replied quietly. "If we put out the fire it should leave us alone."

"Yeah? Maybe I want to fight it," Nazgurat responded, and he flexed his arms. "It's been a while since I've had a good fight."

"We don't even know how to fight one," Ahmon said.

He sounded scared as well. Bo finally pulled himself to a standing position, and he moved towards the fire.

"I've seen what it can do," he continued, as the roaring got closer. "It took out half a dozen grown men before the guards and I took it down. Please... put out the fire Lynne."

Lynne shot Naz a glance, and the Orc simply sighed and turned away. Then she walked forward, and a stream of ice flowed from her hands, instantly putting out the fire. They were all washed in darkness, and they crouched near their bedrolls, waiting to see if it would pass.

There was a rush of wind and another roar. A huge winged animal flew gracefully above the camp high above them. Jane gawked up at it with wide eyes, completely amazed. Its massive arms flapped back and forth, and it swooped over them, heading towards Eastmarch. They waited for a long time after the dragon passed, just to make sure. Bo sat on their bedroll with his head bowed, and Nazgurat once again confronted him.

"I hope you realize just how important this Dragonborn matter is," the older Orc told him. "I have never seen one of those beasts before, but if there's one, there's more."

"I know," Bo responded quietly.

Nazgurat opened his mouth to say more, but Lynne's hand on his chest stopped him. He turned around and returned to his bedroll. They lay in awkward silence, and nobody was really able to sleep for the rest of the night.

Four black stallions galloped down the cobblestone road towards Whiterun. They slowed to a brisk walk, and Ahmon stopped them when they reached the stables. Everybody dismounted and quietly waited as the Nord talked with a stablemaster. Soon his horses were inside their stall, happily munching away on some hay.

"Alright," Ahmon called out as he drew closer. "They're good. I will stay in Whiterun a night or two, and then I have to face my parents."

"Where is your family's farm?" Jane inquired.

"Not far from here," Ahmon gestured with his arm to the east. "We can see the city from our home."

"Don't make them wait too long."

Ahmon sighed, and his shoulders sagged.

"I know."

Nazgurat clapped Ahmon on the back, and then the group walked the short ways up the hill towards the front gates. When they arrived, the guards eyed them suspiciously, and one of them addressed Bo.

"Dragons are about, keep safe."

Bo frowned, and he nodded before moving forward. They entered into the city, and then awkwardly stood in a little circle as they decided on what to do.

"I need a drink," Nazgurat grumbled. "You should get that axe up to the Jarl."

Bo felt the weight of the axe on his back. It suddenly weighed very heavily, but he nodded. It was time to deal with his responsibilities. He knew that now.

"So, we'll go get a couple of rooms at the Inn?" Jane ventured.

She looked at her surroundings with a curious expression, eager to see more.

"I have a home here," Bo explained quietly, and Jane raised one eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Breezehome." He gestured towards a house just up the street a little way.

"Can we stay there?" Lynne asked.

"I wish we could. I purchased it a few months ago and never got it furnished. It's completely empty."

"Oh, that's too bad."

"We'll just go to the Bannered Mare," Ahmon chimed in. "I know a girl there, she can probably get us a little deal if I ask nicely."

Nazgurat chuckled, and Ahmon winked when Jane looked over at him.

"Alright. I'll go up to Dragonsreach right now. No point in putting it off any further."

Jane turned to Bo, and she took his hand.

"Do you want me to go?"

Bo shook his head, and he stared down at the ground for a moment. Then he let out a deep breath and looked back up at the group.

"I'm good Jane, thank you. I'll see you all later."

Bo let go of Jane's hand and began walking up the hill to their left. Jane watched him go for a moment, feeling proud that the Orc was finally confronting his problems head on. However, the axe was the least of his problems, and she wondered how he was possibly going to juggle both an oncoming civil war and the potential end of the world. It suddenly occurred to Jane that there might not be a happy ending.

This is real, her thoughts whirled. Not a game. There's no save points, no do-overs.

A wave of anxiety washed over her, but then a voice brought her from her thoughts.

"Jane?" Lynne called out. "Are you okay?"

"U-uh yeah, sorry. Was just thinking."

Ahmon and Nazgurat were already walking towards the Inn, while Lynne hung back. She smiled at the younger girl, and Jane smiled back. Jane walked forward and linked her am through Lynne's, and then they walked up the hill towards the Bannered Mare. Jane glanced over at the house she knew was Breezehome, surprised that Bo already owned it. That meant he was a Thane of Whiterun.

I guess he had to make a living somehow, he's probably done a lot of odd jobs all over Skyrim... I wish I knew more about him.

Jane was blown away by how much bigger the city of Whiterun felt when she was in person. When playing, Jane always felt that it was a tiny place, easily maneuvered. But in person, it took much longer for them to walk to the Market square from the front gates. She was pleasantly surprised that it was not a complete cookie-cutter version of the game. When they reached the Inn, Ahmon went in first to seek out the woman he had been sweet with and speak with her. Nazgurat, Lynne, and Jane hung out near the entrance, waiting. Jane adjusted the pack on her back and then pulled her gloves off, feeling too hot in her fur coat as a huge fire burned in the middle of the room. A Nord bard stood off to her right, strumming a small red lute. His deep, full voice drifted over to them, and Jane listened for a moment while he sang.

"Alright, we're good to go."

Ahmon walked back to them with three keys in his hand. They followed the Nord as he wandered to the sleeping quarters and handed off the keys.

"This one's for you two," he gestured. "That's yours and Bo's room, and mine is next to yours."

"Thank you Ahmon."

Jane smiled. Ahmon grinned, and he lightly squeezed her shoulder before walking off to his room. Jane followed suit. When she entered her room, she took a moment to look around. A small double bed stood in the middle with two matching night tables on either side. It looked wonderfully soft, and Jane resisted throwing herself down on it. Instead, she eased her pack onto the floor and worked on getting her hot coat off. When that was finished, she gathered a clean set of clothes and went into the hall. Lynne joined her a moment later.

"You had the same idea," Lynne commented, and Jane nodded. "Yeah, I need a bath too."

The two women went to the main room and went into a smaller hallway that led to the bath rooms. They went into the women's only space, while Ahmon and Nazguat went through the men's entrance.

Hot steam rose up from a natural spring pool in the middle of the room. Jane breathed in the sweet scent of what seemed like lavender, already feeling relaxed. Then she stripped her sweaty clothes off and sank down into the hot water. Lynne joined her, and they both leaned against the smooth rocks, completely content.

"We haven't really had a chance to talk much," Lynne started, and Jane glanced over at her.

Lynne looked better than she had in a few days. The dark circles under her eyes were lighter, and she appeared happier in general, which Jane was glad for. She had grown fond of the Nord and came to consider her a close friend.

"True, we've been pretty busy. I've wanted to say I'm really happy for you and Nazgurat. You two make a cute couple."

Lynne chuckled, and she sank further into the water until she was submerged up to her chin. Her long white hair floated all around her.

"Thank you, Jane, I can still hardly believe it."

"He's a good guy. I know he pushes Bo because he cares."

"Yes. He's different from the men I am used to, but I know underneath his brashness he means well for everybody."

"How are you and Bo doing?" She continued softly, and Jane shrugged.

"He was dealing with some jealousy because I'm friendly with Ahmon, but I think he's over it."

"I don't know much about him... but something tells me he's very inexperienced."

"You're correct," Jane laughed. "Bo had never even held hands with a woman until he met me."

"Really? That is surprising."

"Cause he's an Orc?"

"Cause he's male," Lynne responded, and they both laughed.

"I know," Jane replied breathlessly after a moment. "I didn't believe it at first, but it's been obvious by his behavior towards me. I mean... we sleep in the same bed, Lynne, and we've never even kissed."

"You poor thing."

"I know," Jane sighed and slapped lightly at the water. "It's honestly frustrating at times."

"Just kiss him, then."

Jane chewed her lip for a moment, and then she glanced over at the Nord and their eyes met.

"I don't know if I can. That might be cruel."

Lynne laughed, and she reached over and patted Jane's shoulder.

"He'll get over it. I'm sure he's not as delicate as you think."

"Perhaps... but he is different. I can't treat him like any other man."

"True, we are both unused to interacting with Orcs in this manner."

Both women were silent as they became lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, they dunked their heads underneath the water and washed up. A while later, as they were getting dressed, Lynne added one last comment about Jane's dilemma.

"I know you're at a loss for how to handle Bo, but I'll just say this..."

Jane turned to Lynne as she was patting her long, wet hair with a towel.

"I can guarantee that Bo thinks about kissing you, but he's holding back, for whatever reason. It might be a moment or two of panic, but it'll pass, and he'll wonder why he hadn't kissed you sooner."

Jane smiled, feeling comforted by her words.

"Thank you, Lynne. I'll definitely remember that."