Chapter 7
Time moved along for Helgrim as he worked in the mine for money and saved to be able to build the house he planned in his head. He became a lot closer to his cousin, Iddra, during the next few months and had even started to work the field a little bit, making sure everything was growing the way it should. He also made regular trips into Windhelm for supplies for Iddra and training with Oengul at the forge. Many times during his rides to or from, sometimes both, he would 'encounter' the creature that always watched him and Matilda. The mare never became accustomed to the creature's existence, but never did the thing leap out and attack them. It only watched from the shadows, never revealing more than it's glowing yellow eyes. He wasn't sure whether to be happy or upset that he never came face to face with the creature. On one side he was glad because he wasn't sure he could kill it, but on the other side he was upset because he wasn't even being given the chance to kill it. If for nothing else, he wished that he could keep the thing away for Matilda's sake.
Today he was heading out once more along the road toward Windhelm with Matilda. The chestnut and white mare snorted and threw her head up in the air, a signal that the creature had arrived once more. Helgrim gave it no more notice now, however. It had become so normal that the only times he thought about the thing was when he went somewhere and didn't have the creatures' eyes on him. He reassured Matilda and urged her on so she wouldn't slack off. The creature always managed to make her so nervous that she sometimes forgot that he was on her back. Only once had she unseated him, but once was enough. He had maintained that from then on he would keep her comforted and under control. He had wondered what it was about him, exactly, the creature found so intriguing that it had to follow him everywhere, but so far he hadn't come up with anything solid for a reason.
Helgrim looked up at the clear sky and sighed. Though it was cold as usual, he had finally gotten used to it and hardly even felt it now. The wispy clouds moved slowly through the sky and he could hear birdsong from the trees he passed by. Helgrim slowed the mare as they approached the intersection and turned to the left, toward the bridge that would take them across the water and on the way to Anga's Mill. His mission today was to visit with Aeri for a while, perhaps even do a bit of logging himself, and explain his situation to her. He was prepared to pay for the lumber he needed for his house, but he wasn't sure how much she could supply him with. It would be best if she could supply him with everything that he would need for building, but he knew it was a tall order. A two-story house with a balcony on the second level wasn't really the best starter project out there. He'd already started stockpiling stone that he mined from the quarry just behind the inn, though it would probably take him much longer to get what he needed to even start on the foundation. The entire ride from Kynesgrove to Anga's Mill was about seven hours, six if he really pushed Matilda. He had left at dawn to make sure he had enough time to visit with Aeri, then get back to Kynesgrove before dark fell.
Just as he thought, he reached Aeri's house by one in the afternoon and dismounted from Matilda's back after stopping her near the rail in front of Aeri's house. He tied her lightly and patted her neck, whispered to her not to cause any trouble, then went to knock on Aeri's door. He looked around as he waited for her to answer the door. Her two employees, Leifur and Kodrir, were busy putting the logs through the saw at the mill. He could hear them joking back and forth between them and their laughter carried across the breeze to him. He smiled at the ease with which the two Nord men worked. He'd seen the same sort of camaraderie with Kjeld and his son in the mine. It came from spending so much time with the other person that you know their personality so well that you attune your own to it. At least that's how he viewed it. He hadn't had anyone that close in his life. Not really. He supposed the closest he'd come was back in Hammerfell with Eir's father. Before his mind could follow that path of troubled thoughts, Aeri opened her door and smiled when she saw who it was.
"Why if it ain't Helgrim! Come on in, stranger," she teased and stepped back so he could enter her house.
"Good to see you, too, Aeri." He laughed and then entered the house, standing at the doorway for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the dimmer light before moving over to the table and sitting on the bench.
"So, tell me Helgrim, what have you been up to?" she asked as she moved to the pot cooking over the fire.
"Oh boy, so much to fill you in on, Aeri. I made it to Kynesgrove, as I'm sure you figured out." He paused and she nodded to him. "I've been working as a miner, actually, for the past several months. It's not a great career, but I don't plan on doing it for the rest of my life either. I'm making decent money hacking at rock."
"Making money is a good thing, my friend. Even if it is made in the tunnels cutting away at rock for pieces of ore."
"Aye, but it's hard on the back." He winked at her and leaned back, accepting the mug of ale she offered him. "My cousin and I have reconnected and it's been great, but I can't help feeling like I'm putting her out. You know? She runs Braidwood Inn there in Kynesgrove and it's not a super mecca of activity. I feel bad for taking up one of the rooms she could be renting out to travelers." He took another sip of the ale.
"You're so kind, Helgrim. It's hard to believe that you're a Nord with a fighter's heart." Aeri sipped her own ale and sat down next to him on the bench now.
"Thank you, Aeri, but I'm just being myself. Nothing special about it." He shrugged and then went on. "Regardless, I have decided to build my own house there. I would eventually like to bring my family back from Hammerfell to live here." He didn't mention he also planned to bring back a wife. It wasn't like Aeri had asked and he didn't feel he needed to volunteer the information to her.
"Build a house, Helgrim? That's a big undertaking. Guess you decided that you like it in Skyrim after all, eh?" She smiled and tilted her head slightly, as if trying to figure him out. He'd come to see her for some reason other than catching up, she was sure of it.
"Aye, a huge undertaking actually. I'm planning for it to be two stories with a balcony around the entire second floor."
Aeri's eyes widened as she heard his plans for the house he wanted to build. Always the businesswoman, she was calculating already how much wood he would need to build such a house. It would be more than she'd made all last year. It became clear to her, then, why Helgrim had come to see her when he had. No doubt he intended to get his lumber from her for his house. While she was sure Mixwater Mill could supply him wood as well, she suspected he hadn't been there and made friends yet. A slow smile appeared on her face as she finished her ale and leaned on her hand that was on the table.
"I see now, Helgrim. Are you looking to ask me to supply lumber for your building endeavor?"
"You are a smart woman, Aeri. Aye, but don't think of me as a moocher. I intend to pay for the lumber I order. Fully. No discounts. Understand?"
"Really, Helgrim? You're a friend, you have done so much to get here and you deserve some sort of break. I don't mind giving you a discount."
"Nay, I'll not accept it, Aeri. I will be paying full price and would like you to provide my entire supply of lumber for the house. I know the wood you use is of great quality. I've handled it myself. As I'm sure you know I cannot cut down any trees in Kynesgrove, they are protected. You have a mill that is thriving, but can always use a little more business, am I right?"
"You are a hard man, Helgrim. Aye, you are right. I can always take more. Alright, I can certainly supply you fully. In fact, I could probably get the first shipment out in three days, five days at the most. It's a good thing that you are so close to us because it shouldn't take long to deliver all that you'll need. Maybe two or three weeks tops."
"That's what I like to hear, Aeri. At full price, remember."
"Aye, at full price. Two hundred gold for each hundred lumber. It might take some time to figure out exactly how much you'll be needing."
"That's fine, Aeri. I trust you. I can give you two thousand right now and if you need more just let me know." He was already pulling the pouch out of his pocket.
"Oh dear! You carry that much on you? Aren't you worried about thieves and bandits?"
"Not with Matilda at my side, Aeri. That mare is something else, I tell you. She sees a nefarious character and they had better have wings or she will surely pound the life out of them. I've not seen any live after encountering the brave Matilda." He smiled and looked out the window at his painted mare, grazing at the hay on the ground he had put there for her. "She's really becoming a good friend to have."
"Interesting. She will actively attack the thieves and bandits? Even those with weapons?"
"Oh, aye. Weapons just seem to anger her further. She's got some scars, as is pretty normal, but I'm careful not to let her get too hurt. I tried stopping her early on, but I soon realized that it was no use and I couldn't really get her to stop. I didn't want to become a target of her hooves and teeth, so I stepped back and let her attack. Luckily I learned healing magic in Hammerfell so I can keep her from getting too injured."
"I swear, you have more adventures just living than most people do in their entire lives, Helgrim." She touched his hand softly and lingered there, her blue eyes lifting to meet his own. She blushed, but didn't look away, just moved a little closer. "I wish I could go with you one day."
Helgrim swallowed as he felt the warmth from her hand on his and the way she looked at him had his body aching to touch her back. It had been so long since he'd been with a woman, but reminded himself that he had promised he would stay faithful to Eir. Just because she wasn't here and they weren't wed yet he couldn't fall back on that. He cleared his throat and wet his lips, shifting on the bench.
"I uh, never thought of taking uh, anyone along with me."
Before he knew what was happening, Aeri had lifted her hand to touch his lips and moved her head closer to his own. His eyes focused on her lips as she ran her tongue along the bottom one to wet them. His muscles tightened as he became aroused by her nearness and touch. A split second later and her lips touched his own in a soft yet passionate kiss. He felt that it was a test, to see how he would react and react he did. Even as his mind screamed out at him to stop, his body moved his arm around her waist and pulled her closer so that she sat upon his lap, his aroused groin pressed against hers. His tongue slid across her lips and was rewarded when she opened her mouth to accept him into it, allowing his tongue to wrestle with her own. The mind was still screaming at him as he groaned against Aeri and lifted her in his arms while he stood and carried her toward the bed. Deep down he knew he should stop, but he couldn't. The woman was quite sexy and he'd had a hard time the first time he'd stayed at the mill to keep away from her. Now that she had made the move and kissed him, his body was taking control and she didn't seem to mind either.
He laid her down on the bed and hovered above her, breaking the kiss long enough to look into her blue eyes once more as his hands moved up to cup a breast through her dress. His gaze asked without words if she wanted him to stop. He gathered from the lust he felt from her body that the answer was 'no' and so he didn't. He lowered his head and took her lips again in a long, deep kiss. His hand brought the dress down further and revealed the breast he had been fondling. He sighed as he pulled away from her lips again, this time making a trail of kisses down to the breast and took the nipple into his mouth. Her gasp echoed in his ears and he pressed his erection against her as he suckled. Her hands dug into his hair and pulled him closer. Feeling the urgency of wanting to bury himself inside of her, he pulled away and looked into her eyes as his hands began to undress her. Still she did not stop him and so he removed her dress and underclothes, leaving her naked before his eyes. He tensed as she sat up and reached him, her own hands exploring his body as she removed his clothes. He closed his eyes when she touched his erection, concentrating so that he would not lose himself right then. He swallowed and opened his eyes after regaining control and saw her smiling at him. He growled and slid his hands up and down her sides, stopping as he reached her breasts. He settled between her legs and paused, giving her one last chance to stop him. She didn't and so he thrust into her, burying himself to the hilt in one swift motion.
It was exquisite. The feeling of her warmth surrounding him as he pulsed inside of her nearly made him lose it, but he held on. He gazed into her face and saw that she was holding back tears. Had he hurt her without knowing it? He didn't move, afraid that he was too large for her, but she soon explained to him and had she not grabbed onto him, he would have pulled out and left her right then.
"N-no, Helgrim. S-stay." She looked straight at him. "I... I want this. I... I wanted you... To be my f-first."
Immediately his heart was pounding because not only had he assumed that she had done this before, he hadn't even planned on this happening so he hadn't asked her. How very rude of him and he felt downright guilty. She must have sensed it because she cupped his face and shook her head, keeping him looking at her.
"Don't feel bad, Helgrim. I wanted to do this. Don't... Don't stop now. Please." Her words were breathy, now that the pain was mostly gone, she could feel the pleasure starting to radiate through her body. "Please," she pleaded.
Helgrim took a breath and figured the damage was already done. At least understood now why she was so tight. It wasn't that he was too large for her, it was that he was the first one to enter her this way. That knowledge gave him a renewal to his erection and he grunted, then slowly pulled back, only to slide right back in. He claimed her lips once again and felt the fury that came with lovemaking. He showed her ecstasy that afternoon, taking her higher than she'd ever been before. He knew he should have stopped, but he couldn't get his body to cooperate. Later, as he lay in his own bed alone, he would look back on this and repent to Talos for being disloyal to Eir, but right now all he could think of was reaching his climax after ensuring his partner had reached hers. Watching her face as she orgasmed caused his own to surface and he tensed above her, thrusting as far as he could and stilling. A grunt escaped his lips as he pulsed within her folds, releasing his seed as he orgasmed. His breath was rapid and it took a minute to look down at her beneath him. She glowed with the beauty the first sexual encounter gave women and he sighed. Then he kissed her for another long minute or two before pulling out of her and rolling to the side to regain his breath. He had taken just two virgins before Aeri and he wasn't about to compare them to one another, but it had been so long since he'd made love to a woman that he felt relaxed for the first time in a very long time. She moved to lay her head on his chest and he wrapped an arm around her. He should get up and help clean her, but right now he was just tired. As he watched her fall asleep his own eyes drooped and he fell into his own slumber.
Helgrim slept for some time before he awoke when he felt her shift against him. He tilted his head down slightly and saw that she still slept in his arms. What did he do, he wondered silently. How could he just throw away everything he'd told Eir before leaving Hammerfell? He let out a soft sigh and then slipped out of bed without waking her and dressed quickly. He really should be getting back to Kynesgrove and he wasn't even sure what he would say to Aeri if he was still here when she woke up. Thanks? That hardly seemed appropriate after taking her virginity. He supposed if he were a "true Nord" he would just accept it, smile and walk away. He wasn't, though. He had been taught better values than that. He looked back at her sleeping in the bed and hoped she wouldn't be too upset with his absence. Then he turned and left the house, locking the door as he did so. Matilda's head shot up and she snorted, showing her displeasure at being tied and saddled for so long.
"Sorry Tilly. Look, let's just go home, alright?" he asked her as he approached and mounted after untying the reins from the rail. He turned the mare toward the road and looked around. Leifur and Kodrir must have gone inside the common house for the night. It was getting dark and Helgrim cursed himself for being an idiot and spending so much time with Aeri. He should have just asked her for the wood and left, instead he had stayed and ended up sleeping with her. Not exactly his best idea, but he had to admit that he felt a lot more relaxed afterward. As he urged Matilda on down the road to a canter, his thoughts were on whether or not he should come clean to Eir or keep it a secret. It was just this once, after all, and that shouldn't hurt the woman he loved. Perhaps if she were waiting for him at home he would have felt differently, but since she was back in Hammerfell and he was here, he figured she didn't need to know. He didn't plan on it happening again.
It wasn't long before he sensed the creature's eyes on him again and he growled under his breath. In the mood that he was in, he wasn't willing to take much more. Especially from a creature he couldn't see and couldn't kill. He soothed Matilda and kept her as calm as possible since she never got used to the thing watching them. Helgrim felt like lashing out at something. Where were those undead when he needed them? Or bandits, bandits would work as well. Then again, Tilly would probably kill them all before he could get there and smash their skulls in. That thought brought a smile to his sneering face and he sighed. Surely his tenseness wasn't helping the mare at all, so he let it go. For now. He slid his hand down her neck in a soothing motion and leaned forward, showing her he trusted her. She could find their way back home without his guidance and without his interference probably better than she could with it. He dropped the reins and let her have her head. The mare snorted and shied slightly, then understood his actions and moved to a trot. Her hooves on the first bridge seemed loud to his ears, but he gathered that was because it was dark and his senses had come alive. He thought if he focused he could hear the creature breathing, but tossed that away as pure imagination.
It took longer than it would in daylight, almost all night, to get to Kynesgrove but they eventually made it. The moon was setting as he dismounted and unsaddled the mare, then let her go into the pen and gave her a bucket full of grain to eat as well as hay beside her. He made sure her trough was full of water and then patted her once more. Turning to go into the inn he nearly ran into Kjeld the elder and stopped quickly.
"Good morning, Helgrim." Kjeld emphasized the 'morning' in his greeting making the point known. He understood the other man had been out all night.
"Morning, Kjeld. Look, it was a long ride. I'd like to get some sleep before I have to get up for work."
"Of course. I'm sure you would. It's not my business who you spend your nights with, but at least think of your cousin. She was worried when you didn't return last night."
"Worried? Nonsense, Iddra knew that I was going to Anga's Mill. Surely she understood that I might end up staying the night. Right?" Perhaps not for the reasons that he had ended up staying, but he had thought it reasonable to think he'd stayed to help with the lumber.
"With all the talk that's been going on in Windhelm about a murderer, she was worried about you and I had to hear about it ALL night long. Don't ever do that again. Hear me?"
Helgrim understood now. It wasn't the fact that he'd been gone all day and night and was returning in the wee hours of the morning that was bothering Kjeld, it was the fact that he'd had to hear his wife talk to him all night about her worry for Helgrim. He gave Kjeld a clap on the shoulder as he passed by and nodded.
"Don't worry, cousin, I'll make sure not to interfere with your blissful solitude again." With that, he left Kjeld and walked into the inn, soaking up the warmth he felt there for a minute before heading to his bedroom. He would get a little bit of sleep before he had to get up again and go to work in the quarry to mine the stone that he would need for his house. Everything was coming together for his project and he wanted to keep it that way. No delays. This time next year he would have Eir sitting beside him and they would be in their own home, perhaps expecting a child of their own. With that thought, and others of the betrayal he felt toward Eir, he fell asleep in the early hours of the morning. He didn't wake again until near supper time. He didn't even realize it until he was dressed and had left the room. He expected to see sunshine coming through the windows but instead saw darkness. Iddra came up and hugged him, not letting him go for a good three minutes. Helgrim hugged her back and smiled, but when his cousin stepped back and slapped his face, he was surprised.
"Iddra?"
"That's what you get, you jerk, for making me worry about you." She nodded, turned and walked away to clean the counter.
Helgrim rubbed his cheek where she had slapped him and sighed. Women were often perplexing and he hadn't even tried to figure them out, but there were times like these that he wished he knew what made them tick. He swallowed and then moved up to the counter and sat down on a stool, looking at her.
"Iddra, I'm sorry for making you worry. I should have known you would be thinking of the killer in Windhelm when I didn't show up. However, let me tell you this. When I am not here, I have Matilda with me and she is better than any guard dog I could ever have. Seeing that horse fight is certainly not something I wish you to see, but it is definitely something that once you see it you realize that I'm protected. Don't ever think I would be caught unaware by some stupid bandit, thief or other ruffian. Alright?" He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it lightly.
"Alright. I suppose. So, is Aeri going to sell you the wood?"
"Aye. She said the first shipment should be here within three to five days. I'm really looking forward to this. Would you like to go with me tomorrow to scout out the site for the house?"
"That's good to hear. You know you don't have to move out, right? You always have a place here, but I suppose I will go with you to look for a house site." She smiled and then moved her hand, continuing to clean the counter.
Helgrim was pleased to see that she didn't hold a grudge, that she had actually just been afraid that the murderer in Windhelm had somehow gotten the drop on him and killed him. He was flattered that she thought of him so much, but he needed his own place. If for nothing else just so he didn't have anymore run-ins with Kjeld at the early morning hours. Iddra brought him his dinner and then left him to it as she went to visit with her husband and son. As he ate his meal, Helgrim unwillingly thought about Aeri and how she had reacted to him being gone from her bed when she awoke. He really should have stayed and talked with her, but it wasn't like they were in a relationship or anything. He had told Eir he would return for her. He had to keep his word to her. He would remain faithful to her from this day forward. Never again would he let his guard down and allow his body to make the decisions that his brain should be making.
The next day he and Iddra walked around the area searching for just the right spot for him to build the house. There was a spot he thought would be perfect, but he couldn't build there because it was the sacred Kyne's Grove that the village is named for. He'd tried to get Iddra to see that it was just silly to think that a grove of trees were sacred, but he couldn't dissuade her so they started looking again. Finally, he found a spot that was near the road large enough for both the house and the stable he intended to build. He marked it with a stick that had a piece of fabric attached to it and left with Iddra. He would return in the coming days to measure it out and stake it properly to show where everything would be located. He knew Matilda would love it because she would have the entire stable all to herself. She wouldn't have to share it with chickens. He'd seen her chasing Iddra's chickens away with her head down and ears flattened, much like she did when she went after the bandits she enjoyed taking down so much. It was only a matter of time before she ended up killing one of the chickens. Best to separate them as soon as possible before that happened.
Over the next week Helgrim staked off the area that showed where the house would be built and the stable as well. He also continued mining in the quarry to ensure he had enough stone to build the house, the stable and fireplaces that were going to be necessary. He was hoping the wood would arrive soon, but each day it never came and he told himself that it would come the next day. After ten days had passed Helgrim realized that he would have to ride to Anga's Mill and speak with Aeri to find out what happened with the order. Had she been upset by his leaving that she decided not to sell him the wood? That thought upset him because he didn't think Aeri was like that, but who knew how a woman would react after what happened between them? On the eleventh day, he saddled Matilda and rode to the mill to see Aeri. This time he left before dawn arrived so they would get there earlier than one in the afternoon. They arrived around eleven in the morning and he sat upon Matilda and surveyed the scene. There were logs tossed haphazardly around and the mill saw wasn't working. He couldn't see anyone outside and his mind went immediately on alert. He was not the only one, Matilda's nostrils were flared as they took in everything she could. He dismounted and left the mare loose in case there was danger. He took his bow out of the special scabbard he'd made for it on the saddle and readied himself for anything.
"Hello?" he called out, searching for any signs of life. As he got closer to Aeri's door, he noticed it was open. Upon reaching the door he realized it hadn't been left open, but had instead been kicked in. His mind immediately went to warrior mode and he clenched. It was as if something had happened to a family member. Aeri had become close enough that his mind thought of her that way and he would hate to see something happen to her. The mare nudged him with her nose and let out a breath, ears flicking back and forth, feet shifting with nervousness. Helgrim looked back at her and nodded, then crouched low with the bow readied to shoot an arrow if needed. He didn't receive an answer to his greeting and that worried him. Someone should have been around to hear that. He moved closer, sensing that Matilda was following, too, at least as far as the steps up to the house. He pushed the door open and waited for a moment for his eyes to adjust and he saw Aeri on the floor. He looked her over without getting any closer and was relieved to see that she was breathing. At least she was still alive. He gazed around the room, but didn't see anyone else there so he moved closer to Aeri and rolled her over onto her back.
"Ungh." Aeri groaned and then blinked several times before opening her eyes. "H-Helgrim?"
"I'm here, Aeri. Just lie still." He kept her from getting up and closed his eyes, hovering his hands above her and focusing his thoughts on healing her. The warm glow radiated from his hands and down into her body as he healed her with his magic. He slowly pulled away and stepped back, offering her a hand to stand on her feet again. "Is that better?"
"Aye. Thank you, Helgrim." She took his hand and rose to stand beside him.
"What happened here? When the wood didn't arrive, I decided to come and see what was holding up the shipment."
"Oh, it was terrible! They came in just as we had finished work for the night. Oh dear, have you checked on Leifur and Kodrir? They tried to fight them off, but I fear they were unable to. We must find them."
"We will, Aeri, but first tell me who it was that came here."
"Bandits. A whole gang of them. I never had such fear in my life, Helgrim." She pulled in her bottom lip and sighed, then stepped closer to him. "It was awful! Those stinky men and their grubby hands."
"Did they... Did they touch you, Aeri?" Helgrim may not want to think of her that way, but he couldn't help having a protective interest in her. He'd taken her virginity and that was important to women as far as he understood it. They seemed to place a lot more on it than men did.
"Not like that. Leifur and Kodrir kept them from doing anything more than grabbing here and there. Oh Helgrim, please do find them!"
"I will, lass. I want you to go outside and stand next to Matilda. If she takes off, don't follow her, she will come back to you. Alright?"
"Your horse? Alright. I trust you, Helgrim." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek, then turned and walked slowly outside to stand next to the painted mare.
Helgrim left the house and nodded to Matilda who seemed to know the importance of keeping the woman safe. He moved along toward the common house and found a few more logs on the ground here as well. They must have rolled down from the mill or the hill behind the houses. Either way, he found a foot poking out from beneath a small pile of them and feared the worst. He only had the ability to heal the living, not bring the dead back from the dead. He got closer to the foot and looked around. The bandits, he suspected, were long gone, but it never hurt to be a tad cautious.
"Leifur? Kodrir?" he called softly, nudging the foot lightly. He heard a groan and was delighted because that meant whomever was trapped under the logs was still living. He could heal them. He let his hand hover over the man's foot and closed his eyes, focusing his magic into healing the body. He felt the magic draining from his body, but he could also tell that the person trapped was no longer as injured as they were. He stopped before the magic was completely drained from him and then started to move the logs out of the way. Carefully. When he got enough of the logs out of the way, he helped Kodrir out from under the logs and to his own feet.
"Good to see you, Kodrir. Aeri's been worried about you. Said you fought the attackers. Where's Leifur?"
"Aye, Helgrim. Thanks for getting me outta there. Leifur made it to the house before the logs came down."
"Thanks. I left Aeri by my horse and I know she'd be happy to see you." He said by way of sending the man off so he could go find Leifur. He then moved around the logs and up to the stairs that led to the common house. Here he could see the door was closed and hadn't been busted in. He wasn't sure what he would find on the other side of the door, but he knocked lightly.
"Leifur?" he called. He heard a shuffling inside and a couple of grunts as well. He was about to bust the door in when it opened and revealed Leifur behind it.
"Ah, so good to see you," Leifur said in a relieved voice, looking around Helgrim in case the bandits were still out there. "Are Aeri and Kodrir alright?"
"Aye, they are. I've seen to them already. Are you injured? I can heal you," he offered, standing upright again and putting the arrow away as he lowered the bow.
"Good, I'm glad they're alright. No, I was able to make it here before they got to me and barred the door so they couldn't get in. Thanks for the help though."
"No problem. Come, I'm sure Aeri will be beside herself to see that you are just fine." He stepped back and let the man go ahead of him. He thought it odd that he had no injuries at all, considering the fact that he had fought the bandits off with Kodrir. He swallowed and kept his suspicions to himself. There was no proof of anything yet, so he would just go along for now. He walked back over to Aeri and Kodrir with Leifur and the three of them were joyed to see one another. He remained apart from them and stood next to Matilda surveying the area in case any bandits tried to come back and finish the job. He would find out later just what had happened and he could wait. For now.
Helgrim walked back to Aeri's house with her after she had seen both Kodrir and Leifur were alright. He looked at the door and decided he would fix it after he made sure Aeri was alright and resting comfortably in her own bed. He had his arm wrapped around her waist and though he knew she had been through an ordeal that day and he shouldn't be allowing his body to react the way it was, he couldn't stop it. She was a woman and she was in his arms. He didn't act on it, however, because of what she had endured that day. He laid her down into the bed and remained standing beside it.
"You should rest for a few days, Aeri. Kodrir will be out of it for a few days as well. I'll help Leifur around here. It's the least I can do to help you." He gave her a small smile and then raised her hand, kissing the back of it before lowering it again and turning to leave.
"Thank you, Helgrim. I don't know what..."
"Have no fear, Aeri. I'll protect you. Sleep. You need it." He didn't want or need her thinking of what might have happened had he not shown up. He was trying not to himself. She mumbled something incoherently and he shook his head before exiting the house. He wanted to make sure to fix her door, but he would do that after she slept for a bit. Since he couldn't do that yet, he would have to focus on getting the yard cleaned up. He looked around and saw Matilda sniffing around Aeri's chicken shelter and when he walked over there he saw that both of her chickens had been killed. He didn't think it had been Tilly who'd done it, but he couldn't be a hundred percent sure. She did have a fascination with chickens that bordered on psychotic. He patted her shoulder and took off the bridle, then unsaddled her. He knew she wouldn't go too far, but he planned on the rest of his day being taken up by cleaning the yard of the damage the bandits had done to it.
This wasn't what he had planned on the day being like, but he was glad to help Aeri. She hadn't deserved what had happened that day. The fact that she had nearly been raped hadn't escaped his mind. The only reason she hadn't been was because Kodrir and Leifur fought the men off. He would have to thank them both personally later. He wasn't going so far as to say that he was forsaking Eir for Aeri, but the woman had wormed her way into his heart much like a sibling would. He felt very protective of her. He supposed he had that sense about all women and perhaps that was sexist, but he couldn't help the way he was raised. At least he wasn't demanding that all women stay at home and tend to the fire and learn to sew. He had no problem with females taking part of a mostly male dominated world. The fact that Aeri had taken over when her father passed on was impressive. Most women, at least in his opinion, would have let someone else take over and found a man to marry. Apparently he had found the small handful of women in his circle of acquaintances and friends that weren't like that. Still, he had the urge to protect them, even if they didn't need it.
It took him and Leifur most of the rest of the day to move all the logs back to where they needed to be and to clean up the debris in the yard and on the road. Not wanting to bother Aeri or Kodrir, he decided to cook up the chickens that had been killed during the attack for supper for them outside. The two men sat together on a bench outside, each wearing a cloak to stay warm, and talked about the events of the day.
"Kodrir and I were on the mill working the saw. I heard them coming before I saw them," Leifur said and took a bite of chicken, chewing slowly. "By the time they came into sight, they'd already reached Aeri's house. We jumped down off the mill, but were immediately swamped by bandits ourselves. That was when I heard her screaming." He swallowed and shook his head. "It was awful, Helgrim. I gave Kodrir a look and we both pushed through the bandits and made it to her inside the house just in time. Three of them were holding her down and another was getting ready to..." He shuddered and looked at his hands.
"It's alright, Leifur. I know what almost happened. Go on."
"Thanks. After we got them away from her and back outside, they surrounded us again. By this point one of them had loosed the logs to come down on us. I dodged away and ran toward the common house. I guess Kodrir wasn't that lucky." He felt bad about that. Worrying about saving his own skin instead of making sure his friend was also safe.
"Don't worry, Leifur. Kodrir made it. So did Aeri. You did what you could to survive. I think Kodrir would have done the same had he been in your shoes."
"You're a good friend, Helgrim. You know that?"
"I'm just a friend, Leifur. That's all." He smiled and finished up the chicken he was eating. "I think I'll take some food to Aeri. Would you take some to Kodrir?"
"Sure. See you tomorrow, Helgrim." Leifur prepared a plate for Kodrir and left to bring it to him.
"Tomorrow, Leifur."
He prepared a plate for Aeri and watched Leifur go to the common house to bring Kodrir's plate to him and turned, heading to Aeri's house. He pushed the door open and saw her sitting up in bed, hugging her knees. She looked like she had been crying recently.
"Aeri?" He noticed her jump a little and he sighed, but figured that was to be expected after almost being raped. "It's just me. I brought you some food." He held up the plate of chicken for her to see. "I'll buy you some new chickens. Yours were killed in the attack."
"Thank you. I guess I am a little hungry." She frowned when he said her chickens had been killed, but she'd known they wouldn't be there forever. Nodding when he said he would get her new ones, she patted the bed next to her. "Come sit?"
Helgrim thought about refusing to sit next to her, but he decided against it. She might think he didn't want to be near her after what happened. He walked over to the bed and sat down, handing her the plate of food and a fork to eat it with. Then he looked her over to make sure she wasn't hurt anywhere. He couldn't see any cuts or scrapes, just a few bruises. He was relieved, but then he started to wonder about internal problems that might be going on in her body. Unfortunately, he wasn't an actual healer and couldn't help with those injuries if she had any. The only healing he could do was the minor stuff. It stopped bleeding and closed wounds, but little else. His gaze found her eyes when her hand touched his and he swallowed.
"I can usually handle whatever the Divines throw at me, but this... This is just too much, Helgrim." Her hands shook slightly as she brought the fork to her mouth and chewed the food.
"Aye, I don't wish this even upon my worst enemies and please, call me Grim. I believe we are close enough that it's appropriate." He gave her a smile and then leaned back slightly.
"A-about that. Did I scare you off? I knew that if I told you before you wouldn't have made love to me. I wanted it. I wanted you." She wasn't shy about it, nor was she embarrassed. She was glad Helgrim Frost-Blood had been the first man she had ever been with and even though she knew he had a woman back in Hammerfell, she hoped he would be the only man she would ever be with.
"I wasn't scared, Aeri. I just needed some time to... think. I care for you. I do. However, I have to think of the promise I made to Eir before I left Hammerfell. I gave my word that I would return for her. That I loved her. That hasn't changed." He looked at his hands as he spoke, not sure he wanted to see her eyes.
"I know that, Grim, I swear I do, but do you not suppose that well, until you are actually wed to her you might be able to well..." she said, her words trailing off because she wasn't sure how he would react.
"I can't, Aeri. What happened will have to be a one time thing. I'm sorry. I'm not that kind of man and you shouldn't be that kind of woman, Aeri. That does not mean I won't be your friend and visit with you and keep you safe. As I said, I care for you. A lot."
"You are unlike most of the men here in Skyrim, Grim. If I had offered that to, say Leifur for example, he would have leaped at the chance." Interestingly it did not make her hate Helgrim for what he'd said. Instead it made her like him all that much more. He had a lot of honor and she liked to see that in a man. No other man would ever be good enough for her, she knew that now. If she ever found a man to settle down with that wasn't Helgrim, she knew it would be just that, settling. She would of course want Helgrim for her husband, but he was committed to that woman in Hammerfell, Eir.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Aeri." He smiled and then stood up, stretching. "I'm going to work on that door since you're awake and it's bound to get cold tonight. Don't you dare get up except to use the chamber pot, then you get right back into bed. Understand?"
"Understood, Grim. Thank you."
"No worries." He nodded and then went to work on her door. It took his mind off the fact that she was in bed and had basically just offered herself to him until Eir arrived in Skyrim. If he had not given his word to Eir he would have taken her up on the offer. She was a beautiful woman, but since he had and he was a man of his word, he had to turn her down. His imagination would have to do for now and that ran very rampant as he worked on the door until it was just right. He may not have trained as a carpenter growing up, but he knew enough to get by. It was the reason he was doing most of the work on his house by himself instead of hiring a crew to do it for him.
It was dark by the time he had finished with the door and it closed, keeping the cold out and the warmth inside. He had started a fire in the fireplace and brought Aeri a mug of warm ale to drink while in bed. He was looking out the window at how dark it had become and sighed. He wouldn't be riding home to Kynesgrove tonight which meant he was staying the night here at the mill. He didn't think he should stay in Aeri's house with her, but he didn't want to leave her alone either. His protective nature won out over his honorable side and he decided to stay the night in her house.
"Do you have an extra blanket? I'll make up a bed on the floor here."
"Nonsense, Grim. The bed is large enough for us both and you know it." She crossed her arms in front of her as she saw him look at her. "Have no fear. I do not intend to seduce you tonight. I hurt too much." She smiled and relaxed her arms. "I just feel... better when you're here."
"Very well. No touching." He laughed and pulled his cloak on. "I have to go check on Tilly. I'll be back in a few minutes."
He left the house and sighed as he walked over to the mare. She was munching on some short grass and lifted her head when she saw him. Nickering, she walked to him and nuzzled with her furry nose. She stood there, eyes closed and just accepted that he needed a hug. Helgrim leaned on the mare for some time before pulling his head back and patting her on the shoulder. He walked around and made sure she had some hay to eat and water to drink. Once he was sure she was all set, he turned to go into the house again. She didn't need a blanket since she was a cold weather horse and was used to it. He entered Aeri's house again and shut the door, locking it before taking off his cloak. He gazed at the bed and saw Aeri had listened to him and stayed in bed. He wasn't sure it was such a good idea to sleep in the same bed with her, but he wasn't about to argue with an injured woman. He took off his boots, but left everything else on as he lifted the covers and slid beneath them.
"Tilly's all good?" she asked him.
"Aye. I gave her some hay and filled the water trough. She'll be fine until morning at least."
"That's good." She yawned and then shook her head, wincing as she laid back down in the bed. "Tell me of Hammerfell, Grim. What is it like?"
"It's a lot warmer than this. It could almost be considered hot, but I know it's even warmer in Elsweyr. I had a friend who spent a summer there and said it was worse than anything he'd ever experienced in his life. My family and I spent a week at an oasis in the desert one year and it was amazing. Just to see how the grass ended and the sand began was interesting. There are sparse woods, nothing at all like it is here. I've never seen so many forests and trees growing so closely to one another. It's really quite amazing."
He looked down at her and smiled when he saw she had fallen asleep. He smoothed a tendril of blonde hair away from her face and then leaned down, kissing her forehead. He moved carefully so he was lying down without waking her and kept his arm wrapped around her. His mind soon took flight as he drifted to sleep and showed him dreams of Hammerfell. He remembered the week they had gone to the oasis, staying at an inn there. Each day they had gone out and played in the small lake and he had played the slaughterfish so many times he couldn't count them on one hand. Kenna had only been a baby then so she had stayed with his mother, but his brother and two other sisters had been swimming with him. They would holler out "Eeek" and he would swim toward their voice, using his hands as a mouth to grab their feet. If he got them, they were then "out" and he went on to the next one. Since he had the best swimming ability out of the four of them, he was almost always the slaughterfish. It was a fun week, but he was glad to get back home when it was time.
They had only gone that one year, but it was something that stuck in Helgrim's mind as a special time in his life. They had also taken a trip to the foothills of a small mountain and done rock climbing one year. Unfortunately, his sisters didn't like that trip all that much, but he and Koli had enjoyed spending the time with their father, and that wasn't something they got to do very much. Their father's job was being a hunter and a guide to people who thought themselves hunters but were in fact usually wealthy upper class people that knew very little about hunting and had his father there to keep them safe. It was on a trip like that where he had followed and seen his father kill the bear. However, being a hunter and a guide like that meant he spent a lot of time away from home, sending all of the money back home for the family. That was one of the reasons Helgrim had decided to leave home when he did. One less mouth to feed would mean more for everyone else. While he missed his home, he knew it was important that he strike out and live his own life. To become his own man. As it usually did, his mind wandered to Eir and their future together. He wondered if he should tell her about his transgression with Aeri, but since nothing else had happened between them he decided not to say anything to her about Aeri. Why ruin what he could potentially have with Eir over a one time mistake? With that thought put away, he spent the rest of the night dreaming of home and his family. He missed them, but knew he would soon be with them again. He just needed to get the house built first and then he could arrange for them to come and live here in Skyrim. Never did he think for a moment that things would run out of his control and derail his plans of reuniting him with his family and his love. Never did he think that his life here in Skyrim would be thrown into such disarray that he would have to rethink his future. Never did he think he might never even have a future.