Alright, this is the morning after their little camping experience. Lydia does not know what quest they are on, due to Duvaithor not telling her (typical), or if they are even on a quest. She is still suspicious of the dark elf, but is slowly starting to accept him. She questions if he even is this so called "Dragonborn".
I dedicate this chapter to my dog. Why? I don't know. He is staring at me.
Every little girl dreams of adventure. They dream of fighting beasts in the name of their ancestors, fighting for glory and honor, or for simpler things such as fame or the pure thrill of it. What they forget to add to the equation is labor and walking. They don't think about walking until their feet bleed, and are too exhausted to even fight that glorious battle. It isn't quite as magnificent anymore. You just want it to be over with so you can go home and sleep.
We trudged through the snow going up a mountain nonstop for nearly two hours. Yes, such glory can only be dreamt. Good luck my fellow dreamers. It's a slippery way to Hell.
"Duvaithor… there has to be a path or something!" I whined childishly, stopping my climb again. I was hungry and tired. Not to mention how cold the snow was. I know I'm a Nord, but that doesn't mean it isn't cold!
"No! I will NOT go around this mountain!" Duvaithor declared as he took a step forward, or should I say up. I rolled my brown eyes as I saw him slip and begin sliding down the steep mountain.
"You idiot," I mumbled. He began rolling towards me, quickly picking up speed. I gasped and yelped when he suddenly tumbled into me and I was thrown back into the air, snow flying around. Gravity got the best of me and forced me down on top of him as we rolled down the mountain we had spent so long climbing. "DAMN IT DUVAITHOR!" I screamed as he slammed down on top of me and then I slammed down on top of him. The wind had been knocked out of both of us. Duvaithor held onto me and I held onto him for dear life. If I died… so would he!
The snow crunched under us and rolled after us like mini avalanches. Oh I was going to be sore after this. My neck was getting one hell of a beating. Oh great, there goes my boot. If we lived through this, Duvaithor was SOO buying me new ones, better ones! Daedric boots even! Was this even in the job description!? Rolling down mountains with your thane? Well I surely read over thatin the fine print.
Duvaithor grunted every full roll as I landed on him. Well by the gods I'm not that heavy. Why doesn't he grow a pair and realize that I was right and we should have tried to find a different path. Men and their problems with asking for directions! 'Let's just go OVER the mountain Lydia, it will be quicker!' Quicker my ass, we just lost half a day!
I had no idea how long we had been rolling when Duvaithor's spine had been crushed into the base of a tree. We both groaned and refused to move for several minutes. I couldn't see straight from being too dizzy. Duvaithor was still was pressed against the tree. That's karma, stupid little elf.
"I think a different path should be sought after…" Duvaithor finally said. I scoffed at him.
"You think?" I snapped and then groaned in agony. Duvaithor gave a pained laugh and slowly pushed me away from him so he could attempt to move away from the tree that had stopped us from rolling. He slowly sat up and leaned against the same tree. I rested in the snow, staring at him. "We could have been killed, you know."
"But we weren't," he pointed out. I glared at him, wishing it had killed him. Then again, I would have been blamed for it and hunted down and imprisoned. Well at least that's what it would have seemed. Oh yes, and the world would have been put into slavery by the World Eater. I weighed my options. Kill him and die, or go with him and most likely die. Well they all just sounded so lovely… I sighed loudly.
"Whatever, come on, we should get going…" I grumbled, trying to stand. My back cracked loudly, forcing me to sit back down. "Ouch…" I groaned.
"That didn't sound very good," Duvaithor commented as he shimmied up the tree to a standing position. The wind blew softly, gathering snow and causing it to twirl around us. Duvaithor slowly extended his hand out to me. I stared at his hand for a very long time. He had such long, slender fingers. They couldn't possibly try to hurt me… I slowly and tentatively reached out for his hand. My fingers brushed his palm, making me to flinch and jerk my hand back slightly. Duvaithor smirked faintly at my hesitation. He knew I was the only person to see past his charm, and it was going to stay that way. I swore to myself I would never fall to his tricks. I would remain strong and unaffected. He was a siren. He lured innocent (and not so innocent) women into his jaws. Oh no, I was not going to be one of those women.
He gripped my wrist as I gripped his. He effortlessly pulled me to my feet.
"Let me heal you…" He said, touching the back of my neck, making me cringe.
"No… No, I am fine…" I lied terribly. He gave me a stern look and began healing me anyways. I sighed loudly in relief. Duvaithor smirked slightly, gently pressing to me as he healed my lower back. My eyes were wide. "If you so much as think about touching my ass…" Duvaithor laughed loudly.
"You don't have to tell me twice," he said soothingly. I watched him intently as he continued to slowly heal my aches and pains. I stood on one foot due to me losing one boot. I shivered. Duvaithor smiled softly, warming his hands with fire, rubbing my arms. I gawked at him, shoving him away.
"Stop that!" I hissed loudly, nearly falling on my butt. Duvaithor caught me before letting go.
"I was just trying to help…" He mumbled slowly, trying to make me feel sorry for snapping at him. There was a twinge in my gut. That one small dwindle of hope wanted to apologize. I shoved it away. Screw that he shoved me down a mountain!
Duvaithor's white eyes collided with mine. I huffed and turned away from him, trying to hop on one foot down the mountain. That got a chuckle out of my Thane.
"You are going to kill yourself, come here," he stopped me and pulled me behind him. "I'll carry you…"
"Oh Hell no," I said swiftly. Duvaithor glared daggers into me.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was under the impression that you wanted to keep that foot after we arrived in a town…? I might as well cut it off now to save myself the head ache," he snapped harshly. His gaze immediately softened to an easy smile. "Now. Let me help you… Please..." He said politely. My arms were crossed over my chest, pouting. I wasn't weak. I was a strong Nordic woman! Then again I really didn't want to have to roll down the mountain anymore…
I stomped my bare foot. "Fine!" I grumbled, climbing onto his back, locking my legs around his long middle and my arms around his neck. I looked around slightly. "So this is what it's like…" I mumbled. Duvaithor tilted his head to look up at me.
"Hmm?" he questioned.
"This is what it's like to be so tall…" I clarified. He smirked slowly and easily, flashing his teeth only for a moment, only long enough to see that they were very white.
"Ah… You have thought about this?" He questioned, situating me so he could be more comfortable.
"Well, not exactly… just came to mind when-just never mind," I sighed. He nodded, allowing the topic to blow away with the wind. Duvaithor slowly began making the descent I watched the side of his face. He looked calm and not burdened with me on his back. He moved gracefully, yet cautiously. Within an hour, we had made it down the mountain, but Duvaithor did not put me down. My eyebrows rose in confusion.
"Uhh," I began. He simply ignored me, approaching a small khajiit caravan. I stared down at the dark elf. He must have been purchasing shoes for me. If he wasn't, I was going to strangle his stupid neck. My toes curled slightly as he stopped in front of the caravan.
"Good evening," Duvaithor said smoothly.
The Khajiit looked up to the tall dark elf curiously, for they sat on blankets in the soft snow.
"Ahh, Khajiit greets you…" A male Khajiit said, seeming to run the caravan. I held onto Duvaithor tighter, slipping. Duvaithor slowly let me down, allowing me to balance on one foot. The cat eyed me, his lips curling into a sinister looking smirk, but perhaps that was just how he smiled. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, slightly behind Duvaithor. "Dar'zha especially greets the fair maiden…" He purred. My eyebrows rose slightly. I caught Duvaithor's jaw tightened, making me smirk.
"Aw why thank you! Dar'zha, was it?"
The Khajiit nodded his furry head, several gold earrings clinking together from the motion. "Khajiit wishes to know the name of the fair maiden…" he purred again, standing. Duvaithor's back stiffened, making himself appear even taller. His palm rested on the butt of his blade. Dar'zha only seemed amused, edging him onward with flirting with me. I would definitely flirt back if it meant pissing of my Thane.
I threw out a giggle, swaying back and forth slight, still on one foot. "I'm Lydia…" I said softly, twirling a loose stand of my hair. The Khajiit's purrs only seemed to grow.
"Lydia is very beautiful, for a Nord…" Dar'zha said, stepping forward. Duvaithor growled slightly, sidestepping in front of me.
"I'm sorry, I would like to purchase something…" he snapped. Dar'zha's ears flattened against his head as he stepped back, his black tail slowly swishing in the light snow.
"Yes… Yes… The greyskin needs assistance…" His seemed to bare his teeth, but again, he could have been giving a cheesy smile. Duvaithor's jaw seemed as if it would break from how much pressure he held on it. He apparently was very offended by being called a greyskin. For a moment, I truly thought Duvaithor would pull out his sword and slaughter them all then and there, but he didn't, he merely stood there. "How can Khajiit assist you…?" He meowed.
Duvaithor took a deep breath. "I need to purchase boots for her. She lost one…" Dar'zha laughed softly.
"Fair maiden, so silly…" he purred deeply. I smirked slightly, winking at him.
Duvaithor's back was to me, but I knew he was pissed the fuck off.
Dar'zha seemed pleased with himself and by Duvaithor's reaction. He fed off of Duvaithor's displeasure, which was coming off him in waves. "Dar'zha can supply the fair maiden with boots… free of cost!"
Duvaithor was silent for many moments, just staring at the Khajiit. I was surprised by his offer. I got free boots! Sweet!
"No thank you," Duvaithor said flatly and began walking away. I gasped and hopped after him.
"Hey!" I yelled, yanking him back by his wrist. He growled when he stared at me.
"What," he hissed.
"I need boots!" I snapped, ready to slap him. My nose was red from the wind as I glared at him, probably not looking as threatening as I had been going for.
"Too. Damned. Bad. I will not take a thing from those rugs. Looks like you'll have to suck it up you DRUNKEN ignorant barbarian!" He spat in my face, venom in his words. His white eyes had darkened and his face didn't look smooth and lovely. It was horrifying and foreign.
I blinked, my foot curled and pressed to my leg. It was so cold… My eyes were glassy, tears threatening to rain down. It wasn't from the snow. He… He was just so… mean… How could he have said that to me? I just needed a shoe. I sniffled, my lower lip trembling slightly as the first tear slid down but instantly froze to my face. I spun around, ready to run, and so I did. I ran, ignoring my foot that stung from the cold. I didn't run back to the Khajiits, though I should have. They would have kept me safe. Well, I'd like to think they would have.
As I sprinted across the frozen wasteland called Skyrim, I was suddenly tackled to the ground. The wind was knocked out of me as I was thrown to the side. I elbowed whatever had caught me in the face, earning a grunt from them. Duvaithor trapped my wrists in his rather large hands, pinning them over my head. I screamed. Oh no, oh no… this is where he was to rape me and then murder me… or… was it the other way around?I shuddered at the thought.
"WILL YOU STOP RUNNING GODSDAMN IT!?" He was breathing hard, having sprinted around a hill to catch me from the side. I whimpered at the level of his voice. I felt helpless, like a little girl being scolded by her father. Don't kill me; gods please don't let him kill me… I prayed silently as I trembled beneath him. Duvaithor's eyes where bright white again, his expression one of sorrow. He felt bad, or at least wanted me to think that. "I… I shouldn't have said that, Lydia… I do apologize. I wasn't mad at you, I was mad at that cat," he whispered. "I shouldn't have taken it out on you," he said sadly, giving me his version of a puppy dog face. I gulped, closing my eyes, resting my head back in the snow.
"I… I just want shoes…" I whimpered pitifully, not in the mood for a heartfelt discussion. Duvaithor sighed and rested his forehead on my shoulder.
"I'm really sorry, alright?" He whispered, sounding pathetic. I grumbled under my breath. Why was he so bipolar? One second he is nasty, the next kind and considerate. MEN!
"Whatever, get off," I muttered, shoving him off of me. He helped me up and sighed.
"Well, now that that is out of the-"
"I still need boots," I snapped harshly. I immediately regretted my tone at the sight of his ears drooping slightly, his eyes hurt.
"R-Right… right… I'll go get you some…" he whispered, slowly going back to the caravan. I followed Duvaithor from a distance, not feeling like listening to Dar'zha, though I could see my thane communicating with him. The Khajiit shrugged; unsure what the Hell was our problem. He allowed Duvaithor to pay for a pair of steel boots, nearly identical to the ones I had. Duvaithor slowly wandered to me, looking like he wasn't ready to face me quite yet. I stared at the mountains in the distance, ignoring him for the moment.
The day was growing old, but hadn't died just yet. The bitter cold had numbed my toes and my nose, flushing my cheeks into a possibly permanent rose color. I had no idea where we were. I didn't care really, at least not when we were traveling. I just made sure nothing harmed us. All I needed to do was survive, but for what? It wasn't like I was getting paid here. This was my punishment. Duvaithor had no idea that was the real reason I was being his housecarl. I wasn't doing this because my uncle was grateful, no, I was here as a babysitter to some bratty elf who thought everything of himself.
I was shaken from my daydream when I found a dark grey hand waving back and forth in my face. I huffed loudly, glaring at the D unmer. Duvaithor seemed to be pouting, but handed me the new pair of boots.
"I hope they fit…" he mumbled, turning away, as if I would be getting undressed. I blinked slightly for a moment, unable to move. I stared blankly at the boots. I shook my head, setting them down to take my one remaining shoe off. I grumbled to myself as I sat down, yanking at my shoe, taking my sweet time.
A loud roar screeched across the evening sky, taking our breath. My eyes almost popped out of my skull as it echoed in the valley.
"What. In the fuck…was that." I said to Duvaithor. Duvaithor had already selected a fire spell in both hands, searching the sky. He then quickly looked to me.
"What are you waiting for!? Get those damned shoes on! " I yelped at the urgency in his voice, desperately trying to shove my feet into the new boots. I was freaking out and couldn't get them on with my trembling hands. Duvaithor fell to one knee, slamming the shoes on, earning a yelp from me. I quickly drew my sword with wide eyes. Holy shit, this was happening. It was actually happening to ME! Oh I was going to throw up… Could I call timeout? No, Duvaithor would probably frown upon that…
"Duvaithor…" I was shaking. "I… I can't do this," I gulped. I was going to faint.
Another roar ripped across the sky as Duvaithor glared at me.
"Prepare yourself!" As he spoke, the dragon flew over the mountain, heading straight for us. Holy shit it was HUGE! It had pale green scales that looked sharp to the touch. Its wings seemed to stretch miles as it tore through the air, coming to kill us. It opened its mouth to roar, but instead hot smoke and roaring flames fled out of its jaws, paving around its flesh-eating, bone-smashing teeth.
At the sight of the horrid beast, my heart stopped. I felt my limbs freeze and my joints began to ache painfully. My breath was coming out in short, ragged gulps and right then I knew I was going to die. Fuck this.
A scream built in the back of my throat and I let it loose as I spun around, running away in hopes to save my hide, even dropping my sword as I tried to get out of the path of fire. Duvaithor smoothly rolled out of the way.
"What the bloody hell are you doing, Lydia? GET YOUR SWORD!" Duvaithor demanded, changing to a frost spell and shooting ice at the beast as it circled us. I was scrambling, my eyes wide. The boots were too big for my feet, making them clunk around as Ispun back around, trying to run for my steel sword.
"Oh shit shit shit shit. Oh sweet Talos, spare me," cried out, praying. Duvaithor stayed completely calm, conjuring a flame atronach, who went right into the line of fire to defend her master. That's… what I was supposed to do…
Naturally, I took my sweet freaking time. Perhaps Duvaithor and his little magic flame could finish it off without me! Sadly the dragon just kept raining attack after attack. So I just kept running and running, trying to avoid getting burnt. Hey, at least I grabbed my sword!
"LYDIA! ATTACK IT, DAMN IT!" He yelled as he made a bound sword appear, slicing the underside of his belly, pissing him off very much.
"HOW THE FUCK DO I KILL A LIZARD WITH WINGS WITH A SWORD! ?" I yelled at him. At my words, the beast landed. Well… Crap… "Slay…. Slay the dragon!" I cried to Duvaithor.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK I AM DOING WOMAN! ?" He yelled, running up to it and freezing its face. The dragon roared loudly and snapped his jaws at Duvaithor, making him grunt in pain.
"YOU'RE DOING GREAT!" I called from a distance.
"GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" he demanded as he continued to attack the blood thirsty beast.
"But you have your-" at the bash of the dragon's wing, the flame atronach crumbled into ashes. "Thingy…" I cursed quietly and tiptoed around the dragon. Could you kill something by hitting its tail? Eh, why not!
I threw my sword above my head and slammed it down, cutting off a good portion of his green-scaled tail. He screeched in an earsplitting squawk, his head flying up in the air with pure rage. It thrashed around, knocking me onto my back. I screamed and tried to crawl backwards as it loomed over me. The dragon's breath heated up, ready to burn me alive. So this is how I would die, by something that I had always believed to be a fictional creature. I couldn't fathom it. I couldn't help but think of Farkas… His scruffy face, strong arms… could we have been something? Something like the stories I was told when I was little? The books that told of the damsel in distress and her prince coming to rescue her, could that be us? Would he come to save me? If only. I needed to tell him how I felt. How I could only think of him as I died-wait? I'm dying. How was I supposed to tell him that?
The dragon suddenly screamed, making my eyes snap open, ripping me from my thoughts of Farkas saving me from a burning tower. The dragon thrashed around on its legs, its wings twisting in pain.
"The fuck…?" I whispered as I simply lay there, waiting for it to crush me once it fell. I was suddenly yanked away, being dragged across the snow as the dragon fell after his final cry. I was let go, simply gawking at the beast that now lay in ruins. Its blood smeared the calm snowy field, causing for the snow to melt in many places, (along with the fire of course).
I slowly looked up at Duvaithor who had dragged me out of the dragon's path. He was covered in the dragon's blood and his own. He looked out of breath as he stared at the dragon's body for a long while, not looking to me. I gulped at the sight of my thane. My Dragonborn.
It was then that I knew I was in deep shit.
Sorry, it's been awhile, I got lazy this summer. Class is starting up in what, two days? Perfect! I'll try my best to continue writing. Thanks for those who are sticking with me. Love you guys. I've already started my next chapter that follows right after the dragon fight.
I hope y'all like where this is going, I have most of it planned out, but I can't just rush it and make it seem farfetched. So that's why it might seem to be taking a while. You can't just have everything blow up all at once-Ohh… now there is an idea…
Well, love y'all, tatty bye!