Chapter 25
Jane continued learning from her spell tomes as often as possible. By the time they reached Ivarstead, she had learned how to conjure a bound sword, and much to Bo's delight had killed a grey wolf with the newly conjured weapon. He had been incredibly proud of her, and it made Jane feel even more motivated. She was determined to be able to conjure a Flame Atronach within the next couple of weeks as they made their way up to High Hrothgar. It was an apprentice spell, and Lynne had confidence in Jane that she would succeed.
The group arrived in the small town of Ivarstead late one afternoon. Jane could see the little settlement from where she was seated on their horse, and she thought it looked quite peaceful and quaint. The mountain rose up high in the background, and she knew she was not looking forward to the inevitable hike. She craned her neck up to look at the top of the mountain, which was shrouded by fluffy white clouds.
When they reached the stables, Jane got down from her horse and shoved her book into one of their satchels while Bo wandered into the Inn to get their rooms. While he was gone, she finished taking their belongings off the horse so that it could go rest in the stables.
"Good boy," Jane murmured, and she patted its black rump.
The horse, which they learned from Ahmon was named Jamblin, nickered softly and shook his head. Jane fished around in one of the packs until she fished out a rather sad looking carrot, and she handed it to Jamblin, who eagerly accepted it.
"Okay," Bo called out when he got back to the group. "We've got a room for the night. We'll get a good night's rest tonight and then make out way up to the Greybeards."
"Oh joy," Jane muttered, and the Orc shot her a look.
Jane stuck her tongue out at him, and Bo growled and swept her into his arms. Jane's sweet laughter rang in his ears, and he kissed her a few times before letting her go.
Vilemyr Inn was a cozy little thing, with the Throat of the World and a coursing river serving as a beautiful backdrop behind it. The group clambered into the main hall, and Bo handed Lynne their room key so everybody could drop off their things. A female bard was singing, and the atmosphere inside was warm and calm. When they had finished dropping off their packs Jane and Bo wandered off to their separate bathing rooms. She met Lynne along the way. When they reached the steaming hot pool, they quickly stripped their soiled clothes off and sank down into the water with a loud sigh.
"I wish there was an Inn everywhere," Jane lamented softly, and she dipped her head back into the water to wet her hair.
"I agree," Lynne laughed.
The two women focused on washing for a few minutes, and when they were finished they leaned against the edge, talking softly.
"Naz said something to me the other night that took my breath away," Lynne confessed.
Jane's eyes widened, and Lynne couldn't help but smile.
"Did he...?"
"Yes. He told me he loves me."
"Lynne, that is so wonderful."
"I know. I love that big Orc, I really do."
Jane searched the Nord's face, sensing that something wasn't quite right. Lynne chewed her lip for a moment, staring down at the soapy water, and then she looked back up at her.
"I just feel like... like eventually something has to go wrong."
"Why do you think that?"
Lynne shrugged nonchalantly, but Jane could tell it was really upsetting her inside.
"Everything so far in my life has gone to shit eventually, so... that's why I can't help but feel this way."
Jane slid forward, and she affectionately rubbed Lynne's arm. Lynne's lip quivered, and she blinked rapidly for a moment, struggling to stay composed, but it was no use. Speaking her fears out loud was too much. Jane wrapped her arm around the Nord's shoulder as she began to sob quietly into her hands. Droplets of her tears fell into the water, but after a few minutes, she was able to calm down.
"I know it's scary, opening up to someone like that. But you can't let it take a hold of you."
"I-I know," Lynne mumbled, and Jane gently rubbed her thigh underneath the water. "I'm being stupid. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me, that's w-why I'm so..."
"I know Lynne, I'm scared too. I'm dating the Dragonborn. Wherever he goes, there's a danger I can barely comprehend. It's good to talk things out though."
A few more minutes passed as Jane comforted Lynne in the bath. When she was ready, they got out of the warm water and began drying off. After they were presentable, they wandered into the main hall to find their mates. Bo and Naz were just sitting down at a table when they arrived, both with two bottles of ales in their hands. Jane took the bottle that Bo offered, and she kissed him on the cheek before sitting down.
"You alright?" Naz mumbled quietly to Lynne when she sat down.
"Yes, just tired."
"Okay."
Nazgurat rubbed her back for a few moments, and Lynne took a drink of her ale. They all enjoyed a home-cooked dinner consisting of a hearty beef stew and warm bread slathered with butter and rich cheese. It was the first hot meal they had had in a couple of days, and they were all stuffed and content by the end of it.
They retired to their rooms to get well rested before making the trek up the Mountain. Jane gave Bo a quick shoulder massage before they both curled up together in the bed. Bo half desired to ask Jane to pleasure him a little, for he was wanting some release, but his tiredness won over instead and she visited him in his dreams.
The wind blew through strands of Jane's hair, playing with it. She squinted up at the sky, wondering if it would rain, as Bo nervously adjusted the strap on his satchel. Naz and Lynne joined them a few moments later, and they all crossed the small stone bridge across the river. Their horses were comfortably holed up at the stables, as the trek was too much for them.
The steps up the Throat of the World were laid out before the group, winding up a steep path that curved to the right and beyond. They paused for a moment, while Bo stood there, staring at the mountain with a small frown.
"Come on," Nazgurat grunted, and he lightly slapped Bo's back. "We're here. You can do it."
Bo let out the breath he had been holding in, and he nodded. They began walking.
It was alright at first, but within the first fifteen minutes of climbing up the steep steps, Jane was sweating profusely and out of breath.
It wasn't great. The mountain trail was far steeper than it seemed in the game. The steps were broken up here and there, and the higher they climbed the further apart they got. They encountered few people, a ton of goats, and the odd wolf. By mid-morning, they had to stop to rest, as Jane was about ready to collapse.
"I-I thought I was... getting... into shape," Jane huffed, as she slumped against a boulder. "Guess I was wrong."
"You're not wrong," Lynne responded after drinking deeply from her water skin, "It's quite the hike. I am tired as well."
The Orsimer were a little better off, but there was a layer of sweat on Bo's forehead, and he also drank deeply from his water skin.
"How's your hip?" Jane asked him, and Bo shrugged.
"Little sore, but not unbearable."
"Okay. Just take it easy, alright?"
Bo leaned over and kissed Jane's forehead. Then he stood back up and wandered to the edge of the mountainside. It gave a great view of Skyrim, and he simply stood there for a while, staring at the landscape below. Ivarstead seemed like an insignificant little speck from up there.
When everyone had rested a while, they began walking some more. Along the way, they passed a few hunters, who told them to be cautious as they got further up. As they climbed higher, the air became thinner, and the land was quickly covered in snow. It grew deeper as they went on.
Jane found it hard to breathe so high up. She struggled with it but didn't want to be a nuisance, so she suffered silently, determined to keep up with the rest of the group. After a while, they reached a much more open area that was completely covered in snow a little more than ankle deep. They stood for a moment at the top of the stairs to catch their breath.
The mountain dipped down some ways, and then the trail went around a part in the mountain that looked like it had been blasted away. Jane stiffened when she saw it. She knew there was a frost-troll, or so she thought she did.
So far it hasn't been completely cookie-cutter like the videogame. Perhaps I am wrong...
As they grew closer, Jane's eyes were peeled up to the rock cliff where the frost-troll had resided in the game. However, the further they got, the more she felt she was wrong. There was no movement above them, and they pressed on. Snow swirled all around them. Jane was incredibly cold, and she struggled to catch her breath. She had slowed down considerably, with Bo a few paces ahead of her. Lynne and Naz took the front of the line.
When they reached another set of steps that dipped down, Lynne suddenly slipped on the ice and fell. She cried out in surprise, and then in pain, as her ankle twisted the wrong way.
"Lynne," Naz grunted, and Bo jogged towards the Nord to help.
Jane paused to catch her breath. She stood quite a few paces back from everyone else as she leaned with her hands against her thighs.
Suddenly there was a loud rumbling noise that sounded like something out of a horror film. It echoed all around them, bouncing off the rocks and reverberating loudly in their ears. Jane froze, struggling to comprehend what was going on. Her head felt light, and she was too slow to respond to the huge white form that charged towards her until it was too late.
A shaggy white Troll bellowed as it flung itself down from the rock. It charged forward and then swiped at Jane with its huge hands, knocking her clear off her feet. The force of the hit took away what little breath she had, and its razor-sharp claws tore through her leather like it wasn't even there.
Hot blood gushed from her shoulder, coating the front of her body in a shower of red. She could barely wrap her head around it, for between the pain that coursed through her body, and her dizziness from having the wind knocked out of her, it was too much. The last thing she remembered was hearing that horrible roar once more, and someone shouting her name. Everything went black.