Chapter 39

Lynne and Jane were fast asleep. The pair had spent most of the evening by the fire lost in quiet thought. They had drunk some delicious herbal tea as they stared at the fire that burned brightly in the hearth. But eventually the tea was gone, and they ran out of things to talk about, and so the silence lapsed as it often did.

Jane's shoulder was almost completely healed. She still felt the strain of her once injured muscles whenever she overworked herself but it was nothing a little vial of potion couldn't fix. She had gained muscle in other places as well since she spent so much time outdoors practicing her spells or archery. Her arms started to get toned from working them in different ways, and Jane noticed how other parts of her body were beginning to grow leaner as well.

Skyrim is good for my health, Jane had mused to herself one night as she stared at her figure in a full-length mirror.

Bright red gashes across her chest and shoulder would forever be a reminder of what had happened. The severity of her scarring had surprised Jane at first. But as the weeks dragged on the less glaring it became.

I encountered a Frost-Troll and lived to tell the tale.

At some point during their stay at High Hrothgar Jane sought out Arngeir. He was a kind man who always had something kind to say. When he spotted Jane from across the hall, he bowed his head politely and was surprised when she approached him and asked if they could speak. Arngeir guided Jane to a small private room and they both took a seat in two comfortable chairs seated in front of a small fireplace much like the one in Lynne's room. Jane quietly stared at the flames for a moment, struggling to come up with the right words.

"Is something troubling you?"

Jane sucked in a deep breath and shrugged. She glanced over at Arngeir, and he gazed at her from beneath his light grey hood.

"Not really. I'm just... curious... about something."

"Please, ask away."

"I um was just... just wondering," Jane continued nervously, and she played with a strand of her hair. "Is it possible that there is maybe... more than one Dragonborn?"

Arngeir's light brown eyes twinkled warmly at Jane from where he was sitting. He didn't say anything for a moment, but Jane knew the Greybeard understood exactly what she was trying to say.

"I wouldn't rule anything out, my dear. People never imagined Dragons would return anytime soon, and they returned nonetheless."

Jane nodded. It hadn't been a direct answer, but then again, she hadn't asked a direct question. She was satisfied with his response.

"Thank you, that's all I wanted to know."

The pair quietly stood up from their chairs and Jane wandered over to the door. She began to open it when Arngeir's soft voice called out to her once more.

"You have an important purpose in all of this, Jane. Don't forget that."

With those words echoing in her mind, Jane wandered back to Lynne's room where she spent the rest of the evening wondering what the Greybeard meant. She went to bed feeling more confused than ever before.

Jane mumbled something in her sleep and nuzzled her face into the pillow. Beside her, Lynne shifted as well, and, still asleep, released Jane's hand and rolled onto her back. The door to their room opened, and a tall cloaked figure stepped inside. He strained to see in the dark but eventually, his eyes adjusted and a grin spread across his face as he spotted Lynne.

Lynne felt movement beside the bed and she opened her eyes. Her body stiffened as she felt someone was there but a moment later, she realized who it was as his hands reached out for her.

"Naz!" Lynne croaked.

In an instant, the Nord shot out of bed and she wrapped her arms around Naz's neck in a viper-tight hug. She sobbed into his cloak as Naz clutched her to his chest and he mumbled something in Orcish.

"Lynne," Naz whispered thickly, and he buried his face into her hair. "Lynne..."

Jane could hear voices and she began to stir. She lifted her head and peered up in the dark for a moment, confused.

"Naz?"

"Yes Jane?" Naz responded thickly.

Realization crashed over Jane like a big huge wave and she immediately threw the covers back and stumbled to her feet.

"Where's Bo?"

"Probably looking for you."

Lynne cupped Naz's cold green cheek and he hungrily pressed his lips against hers. Jane didn't waste another second and she took off at a dead run towards the bedroom door. She swung it open and ran into the hallway, wearing only a long tunic; her eyes peeled for Bo. She quickly began making her way towards the main hall, her bare feet pattering lightly against the cold stone floor as she ran.

Jane stopped once she rounded the corner and spotted the Orc several feet away. He had just left the room that he thought Jane would be occupying, and he was a little confused.

"Bo!"

Bo turned around just as Jane threw herself at him and she let out a sob as he swept her into his arms and held her so tightly it hurt. She didn't care. Jane could hardly believe that Bo was really back, and his thick arms were wrapped around her right this second. It felt like a dream.

"Jane," Bo whispered thickly, and he let out a long shaky breath. "Oh, Jane."

Bo buried his face into the crook of Jane's neck and when he breathed in he could smell her familiar scent. Tears poured down Jane's cheeks as she cried, and he squeezed her even tighter.

"I don't want to let you go," Bo mumbled with a small growl.

"I m-missed you so much, Bo," Jane replied with a sniffle and she pulled away to look at him.

Bo looked like death. There were dark circles under his eyes and the stress of everything that had happened was written all over his face. But he was smiling, and he quickly leaned in and pressed his lips against Jane's. He kissed her deeply and could feel her entire body relax into his as she eagerly kissed him back.

Eventually, they came up for air, and Jane stepped back. Bo snatched her hand and Jane shivered as his lips brushed against her knuckles.

"You look amazing, Jane."

Jane blushed, and she played with the hem of her tunic as she beamed up at him. Bo squeezed her hand affectionately as his eyes roamed over her features. She was infinitely more beautiful than his memory.

"Thanks, Bo. I've been working my ass off while you've been away."

"My beautiful Mage" Bo growled, and he quickly pulled her back into his arms. "You feel different, yet the same."

Jane laughed, and they kissed again. Finally, Jane pulled away a second time and she led Bo back into their room.

"I thought I'd find you here," Bo told her softly. "But I was wrong."

"I couldn't sleep on my own. Lynne and I have been sleeping in the same bed since you two left."

Bo's brows furrowed together.

"I'm sorry I left you for so long."

"Hey," Jane replied softly, and she reached up to cup Bo's cheeks. "Don't apologize. You had important places to be."

"But-"

"No buts!" Jane cut in, and she reached up on her tippy-toes to kiss the tip of his nose. "There's nothing to apologize for."

Bo wanted to do more, but he was dead on his feet. He and Naz had traveled as fast as they could without pushing their horses beyond exhaustion. They'd travel well past sunset and only stopped to sleep for a few hours. Then they would rise before sunrise and continue racing down the road towards Ivarstead.

When they had reached Ivarstead, Bo had wanted to climb the Throat of the World immediately, but it was late. Naz managed to talk the younger Orc into renting a room for the night so they could wash up and rest before making the big trek.

"We're almost there," Naz grumbled, and he clenched Bo's shoulder. "It'll do us no good if we race up there and arrive half dead and reeking."

The Orc had admitted his defeat, and so they had quickly clambered into the Inn and sought out baths. The next morning, they were out of the Inn in record time and quickly began ascending the mountain.

Jane helped Bo remove his armor so the task would go faster. She could tell he was exhausted, and she wanted nothing more than to help him get a good night's sleep. Or even several.

He could probably sleep for a couple of days and still be tired, Jane thought quietly, watching as Bo finished tugging off his boots with a quiet yawn.

When he was stripped down to his underclothes, Jane started to remove them as well, and Bo obliged.

"I want to make love to you," Bo mumbled, and he yawned again. "I just don't know if I can..."

"Don't be silly," Jane laughed, and she tugged on the strings to his breeches with slender fingers. "I'm not asking you to. I just want to be as close to you as possible... I need to feel you."

"Then you have to strip as well," Bo growled softly.

"Deal."

When they were both naked Bo grasped Jane's hand and walked over to the bed. He tossed the covers back and laid down. Then he shuffled backward and watched as Jane slipped under the covers and slid closer, pressing her warm body against his. Bo wrapped his arms around Jane and closed his eyes, feeling more relieved than he had in weeks. No matter how troubled he was, no matter how hard everything seemed, all of his problems melted away when he touched Jane.

"Mmm," Bo murmured sleepily, and he squeezed Jane lightly. "You really have gotten leaner."

"You can tell?"

"Of course I can... I can tell you've been working hard. I'm so proud of you. But, your shoulder..."

"Is perfectly fine."

Jane rubbed his chest for a moment and then her hand trailed up his neck and Bo leaned in for another kiss.

"Everything healed properly?" He mumbled against her lips.

"Mhm."

"Good."

The couple snuggled closer and both of them were asleep within minutes. Jane and Bo slept soundly until late the next morning, and it was the best sleep they'd had in weeks.

Down the hall, Lynne and Naz were a little more energetic. Lynne hastily began tugging at Naz's armor as she kissed him over and over. The Orc complied, and within a few minutes they were both naked and tumbling down onto the bed.

"I'm all sweaty."

Naz let out a small huff but he trailed his lips along the curve of Lynne's jaw. His hands squeezed and groped every inch he could find of his partner.

"I don't care. You've been away for too long."

"Gods I missed you," Naz mumbled thickly, and he pressed his lips against hers again.

They coupled quickly, their bodies entwined as Naz lifted Lynne into his lap and guided her hips. Lynne moaned and clutched her arms around his neck as he entered her, and within a few minutes of passionate thrusting, they both came. Their breath came out in ragged gasps and the couple collapsed onto the bed, completely spent.

The two reunited couples lay fast asleep in their beds, and nobody stirred until later the next day.