Blindness

by Deunan and Hawkings.

That Man.

~~~*~~~

Xochi rode most of the way back in silence, she loved the small abandoned room where she made her little hideout and she'll miss it, Nero knows that.

Nero could only watch Xochi diligently, blaming himself for her kidnapping, Nero didn't know what they did to her but he suspected it was something bad seeings how she refused to talk and kept her left forearm completely covered at all times and whenever he would bring it up, she said she couldn't say.
Couldn't? Or wouldn't? Was what happened to her emotionally damaging, or physically painful?

He sighed and slumped over, at least as best as he could in that armor of his.

In truth, Xochi was only missing Cheydinhal's abandoned house and only hoped she could return frequently and she was also in hopes to find that man again, the one who told her not to say anything about him or where he stayed, that Fort, it must be important for him to want to defend it so... frighteningly.

She knew Nero wanted to know what happened so she tried to find a way to edit out the man in black that saved her without being so... flimsy and unbelievable, or maybe unbelievable is what she needs to convince him?

She only smiled and looked once more towards the beautiful forests that covered all Cyrodiil.
Daydreaming back home was forbidden, it was seen as a form of empty-mindedness that would only develop negative behavior in a child, but Xochi wasn't a child anymore and she isn't a slave to their every bidding now, right? So she asked herself why would she listen to it?
Finally she decided it was because of how she was brought up and that habits die hard, but she would beat them to death if she had to.
The ever longing feeling of being free was finally hers and now all she has to do is break her former life away from her current self and learn that her personality does not concern those around her unless she wishes it to be so.

On the other hand, Nero was concerned for her personality getting her into trouble, naturally she's outgoing and tries her best to be funny, but when she makes a joke, no one understands, their worlds are so different that they cannot even comprehend what the other is saying once it comes to politics, races, cultures, etc.

Nero cannot understand why a race as beautiful as hers would remain so unhelpful in her world, Leocadian's were mentally tough, completely magika resistant and had no war history.
Her race creates a barrier between her world and the real world and somethings telling Nero that it won't turn out easy for her once that barrier is broken.
Lastly Nero felt that if Xochi was born when her race was common around the richest cities that Xochi wouldn't be the same and that she would be held back, emotionless, careless of others, and the worst of all, that she may have never found real happiness.
So to him, her existing in this year, this very day was a blessing not to be taken for granted, people hunt her, they want to use her for terrible things, for money, greed, pleasure, all of which Nero would rather die then let happen.

Nero noticed that every time he would attempt to talk to her, it would end in silence, no conversation end-er, no 'we'll talk later.'

Even through it all, Xochi was sort of glad that the whole kidnapping thing happened, at least now she had a house, albeit makeshift, to go to, but she didn't know when she could visit it...

"Nero?" She asked and he looked to her. "Nero. Nero, Nero, Nero...?" She put on a begging face.
"Oh no, I'm not going to like this am I?..." He looked at her with distress.
"Can we go back to Cheydinhal often?"
"What!? I thought after everything you'd want to get out of there!" He was honestly surprised.
She tilted her head. "Well, I can see how you could see that, but I worked for that room in that house and I'd like to come back every now and then... I mean, if you don't mind... you know, I can stay there a week for every month or something..." She tried to give him no reason to say no.
"Xochi... what if those men come back and I'm not there? What'll happen then, huh? You'll be hurt again, taken away and by the Nine Divine who knows what'll happen then." He groaned.
"But I'll be fine! Their are plenty more guards there then anywhere else! I can stay there, at the abandoned house and you'll never have to worry!" She begged.
"No Xochi! If something happened to you, something worse then a bite on your arm, I don't know what I'd do."
"Oh please! I have enough guards in that city to watch me, and people around the city know me! Very well too! I can cope..."
"Xochi, we can visit, but no staying for days in a row, I can't let you do that." Xochi sighed.
"Maybe I'll do it on my own then..." She whispered to herself.
"What was that?" Xochi looked right at him. "What? What was what? I didn't hear anything, you're hearing things. Come on, let's get inside." Xochi got off her horse and put him in the stables where he was soon fed and watered.

After which, Nero and Xochi walked back to Nero's home for a re-welcome from the family.

"Socks!" Luka hugged her legs. "Hey Luka." She picked him up and hugged him.
"Oh Xochi, we were so worried!" Chanda hugged her and brought her over to the dinner table where food was set out.

Luka quickly took his seat, prayed even quicker and began chowing down.

The dinner was spent in silence until Luka left, then Chanda began with the questions of concern.

"Xochi?" Chanda pushed her plate aside.
"Yes Chanda?" She looked up as she took a drink of water.
"You're... alright, aren't you?" She asked. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I mean, you are quite the woman, you are very tall, fit, healthy, and a very, very attractive woman..." Chanda didn't want to say it, but Xochi only blushed from the compliments.
"They didn't touch you, right?"
"Touch me? They carried me to a horse then held me on the horse, I think they touched me." Xochi looked at Chanda oddly.
She sighed. "Not normal touching... Come on, you know what I mean." Xochi tilted her head to the side, might as well add a large question mark above it, that would complete the picture.
"They didn't hit you? Maybe, force you to do things?" Xochi laughed.
"Chanda, they took me by force... I didn't want to go with them, just ask Noki, oh dear... I tore up her house..." Xochi squinted. "I hope she's not mad about that..."
Chanda finally had it. "Xochi you are a very beautiful woman, any man would find you irresistible! What I am asking is a question I think you are avoiding, did they or didn't they rape you?" Nero's eyes went wide and he spewed his water out.
"Chanda!" He said regaining his breath.
"You know it's possible! I mean, look at her Nero! She's drop dead gorgeous!"
Xochi raised her hand as Chanda and Nero went at it.
"Chanda I think that's something she'd want to deal with in private had if it happened!"
"Oh, don't be so thick headed Nero! A woman would want to speak about such things so she could gain support! It's a hard thing to go through, I hope you notice!" Chanda stood up from her seat pointing right at Nero who didn't get up.
"I realize that, but let her deal with it in her own way! If she wants us to know, she'll tell us!"

"Hold it!!" Xochi shouted, they both looked at her.

"Nothing happened, once more I am too valuable to, um, do that to. If I am kept mark-less, scar-less, and in perfect attitude, then I am worth more. Therefore they didn't touch me in that way, they merely hit me on the head to stop me from trying to escape, which eventually failed since they choose the weakest metal I have ever seen." Xochi explained and Chanda sat back down.
"So, no Chanda, they didn't do that. If they had done so, they would have killed me afterward because to be tainted as a Leocadian would ultimately lead to our death in that world."

"So, nothing happened... At all? Just a bump?" Chanda asked holding Xochi's hands over the table.
"Nothing at all, just amateur kidnappers in for bounty on a prize, that's all." Nero sighed.
"I'm going to bed, besides the long traveling and searing heart racing activity, I am extremely tired." He stood up and took the dishes in.

"Goodnight love." Nero kissed Chanda before he went off to bed.
"Sleep well." She said as he walked up.

"Xochi, I'm sorry for causing a scene, but I had no doubt in my mind that they would choose to do so."
"No worries Chanda, I appreciate your concern greatly." Xochi hugged Chanda.
"And believe it or not, I am tired as well and I am only looking forward to seeing Noki again, so goodnight Chanda, I hope you sleep well as well." Xochi stretched and walked into the guest room after Chanda headed to bed.

After that, Xochi snuck outside for a breath of air from a nice, quiet, peaceful walk.

Xochi walked around the entire town before coming to a landmark Bravil has had for quite some time.
Old Lady Luck, Nero said to pray to it was to bring good fortune, however Xochi never prayed to it for she didn't believe in praying to a statue.

As she headed toward the statue, merely to admire it's stone work, a man appeared.

Xochi looked around her and decided it was best to stay away from men wearing black at midnight.

As she watched, she swore there was a woman's voice coming from no where.
Xochi looked around and saw no one but the man, or was he a man? Maybe a woman?

As she looked closer she saw the same mouth of the man from Cheydinhal, the man who lived in the Fort who saved her.

What was he doing with the statue of Lady Luck?

Come on! I need some reviews, people please?