Surprise! Bonus chapter because I was horrible and forgot to post last Friday!
"Good morning, love."
Iris hums happily as his lips find hers. She pries an eye open, squinting against the sun.
"What time is it?" she asks.
"Half past nine."
She curls closely to him, relishing in his warmth as he draws her closer.
"Let's just stay in bed all day today," she mutters, her voice rough from sleep.
He chuckles softly, swiping hair out of her face. "I wish we could, love."
She covers his hand with hers, keeping it against her cheek. "Everything is just becoming too much, you know? I've been on the go for so long, that I've nearly forgotten how to relax."
He hums, a smirk lighting up his eyes. "Maybe I can help with that."
A laugh bubbles past her smiling lips when he wraps his arm around her waist. She bites her lip, his face less than an inch from hers, their noses touching. Her heart pounds in her chest, exhilarated, and she grows tired of this playing around. Without hesitation, she grabs the back of his neck and closes the small gap between their lips. Her insides shudder as she moves her lips against his, the stubble on his face scratching hers. His hand tangles in her hair as he rolls to lean over her, peppering kisses down her neck. Her chest heaving, she grips his shoulders, rolling him over so she's the one leaning over him.
"This is better," she mutters, the corner of her mouth lifting.
He laughs softly before pulling her closer once more. She pushes his hair back, slipping her tongue between his lips. He eagerly obliges, and her insides tumble at his touch. Gods, she doesn't want this to ever end. She wishes she could stay right here with him for the rest of eternity. This is what Sovngarde would be for her. His hand finds the pulse point in her neck; her heart thunders as if it will shatter. She can hardly breathe for the fluttering in her chest. But she suddenly feels as though they're not alone. She feels eyes on them. Something makes her look to the window—the uncovered window—
"Fuck!" she bursts out, tumbling off of him and out of bed. She stumbles to the window and draws the curtain.
"What's wrong?" He leaps to his feet.
She leans against the wall, panting. "Someone was there. Watching us." She points to the window.
His brow furrows as he goes to the window, peering out from behind the curtain. "Whoever it was is gone now. Hopefully, it wasn't someone from the Guild." He turns, watching her.
She runs a hand through her hair, exhaling in a puff. "Oh, Gods. I really hope not." Her violet eyes flit up to his in worry.
"Regardless, that was a pretty good way to start the day," he says with a smirk.
She tries to fight the smile from forming on her face but loses, crossing her arms and touching her lips. "I have to stop by the Guild today. You should probably head there first. We don't want them to think we're…" She tilts her head, taking a step toward him, her lips touching his ear. "…up to something, hmm?"
His arm encircles her waist. "I swear, lass, you'll be the death of me." He smiles down at her. "I love you."
"And I love you." She gently leaves his grasp. "Now, shoo! I have important things to do today."
"I thought you said you wanted some time off?"
"I said I wanted time off, not that I had some." She elbows him playfully.
"I'll see you in the Flagon, then." He starts toward the door. "And if anyone asks, I only stayed over because you weren't feeling very well."
She nods in agreeance, following him to the door.
"Are you going to be alright?" he asks.
She quirks an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure I can find my way to the Flagon by myself, Bryn."
"No, I mean…I meant about Ianthe, your priestess." He shifts uncomfortably.
She bites her lip, her gaze falling to the floor. "Oh, uh, yeah…it'll just take time, I guess."
He places a hand on her arm, offering her a reassuring smile. "Well, you know that I'm always here if you ever want to talk."
She smiles, covering his hand. "Thanks, Bryn. I'll see you at the Flagon."
He leaves her with a smile before slipping out into Riften.
Immediately, the guilt stabs her in the heart again and practically deflates her, her smile sliding off her face. Groaning, she sinks onto her bed. Because of her lie, she finds herself thinking of the priestess who raised her. Ianthe. Iris smiles to herself. Ianthe named her, taught her the ways of Kynareth, taught her how to walk, talk, and, eventually, told her of her true parentage. Iris hadn't known exactly what happened to her, but she had known that Ianthe wasn't her real mother.
Iris closes her eyes, thinking back on the morning she found out. It was the morning she left for Skyrim.
"Iris, dear," Ianthe's voice floats up the stairs.
Iris stuffs one last book into her bulging bag and grabs her cloak before descending the stairs. "Yes?"
Ianthe looks a bit nervous, but Iris figures it is because she is about to leave. "Come. Sit and have tea with me before you go."
A little worried, Iris flits down the stairs, lifting the hem of her skirt, and takes the seat across from the priestess.
"Milk and sugar?"
Iris quirks an eyebrow. "Do you need to ask?" She laughs.
Ianthe returns her giggle, smiling to herself. "I'm going to miss you, darling." Her fingers brush a hair from the Breton's face.
Iris takes her hand. "I'll miss you, too, Ianthe."
"Listen…there's something you should know. Before you leave."
Iris's eyebrows furrow over her violet eyes. "What is it?"
"I…I think it's about time you knew. About your parents."
"Oh." Iris drops her gaze, running her fingers along the rim of her teacup.
Ianthe reaches across the table to touch her hand. "Darling, there is no easy way for me to tell you this."
"They're dead, aren't they?" Iris's voice is blunt, devoid of emotion.
"I'm…I'm not sure. Their whereabouts are unknown, though." Ianthe sighs. "I suppose it's best if I start from the beginning. A little over twenty years ago, I was here, in this very chapel, very late at night when I heard a knock on the door. I thought nothing of it. The doors are open at any time, so I figured whoever was knocking would just come in. Well, no one did. The next morning, I was opening the curtains and preparing the alters when I heard a sound from outside." Her blue eyes find Iris's violet. "It was a child crying. I ran to the door and flung it open to find a young Breton, two years old, sitting on the chapel steps, left behind."
Iris's lips part silently, tears filling her eyes.
"It was you, Iris, darling." Ianthe blinks, tears forming in her own eyes. "I immediately let you in and asked your name, but you said you didn't have one. I named you Iris, after Kynareth's favored flower. I tried looking for your parents for years after you appeared on my doorstep, but they weren't to be found."
"They just left me there?" Iris asks quietly, tears falling down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Iris. I know it's difficult to hear, but I know you've been wondering. I wanted you to know of your true parentage before you left." Ianthe squeezes Iris's hands. "But I still consider you my own daughter. You are the Gods' gift to me. I knew when I took the oath as a priestess that I could never marry or have a family. But you made it possible for me to have a daughter without breaking my sacred oath. And I love you like my own." Ianthe's hand goes to Iris's wet cheek.
"I love you, too, Ianthe." Iris stares into Ianthe's blue eyes and knows that even though her parents left her, abandoned her, she will always be glad that is was Ianthe who found her and raised her.
Ianthe huffs out a sigh, blinking tears from her eyes. "Well, I suppose it's almost time for you to grow up and leave, hm? Want to help me collect flowers for the alters one last time?"
"Always." Iris smiles.
Iris swipes tears from her eyes, remembering. Gods, she didn't realize how much she misses Ianthe. Shaking her thoughts away, she climbs off the bed and changes into her Nightingale armor, leaving the mask behind. Hooking her sword on her belt, she swings her bag over her shoulder and, after one last roving look over her house, steps out into the city and heads to the Guild.
Ooh, backstory!
I'll be posting another chapter this Friday, and the schedule will go back to normal!
Special thanks to SMJW27410, Mia78, TheSilentShadows, and Guest for the reviews last week!
