Chapter 17

Jorik sat in front of the fire in his house. His thoughts turned to the previous night, a wistful smile lit his face. He shook his head in disgust at himself.

"My Thane?" Lydia's voice broke through his thoughts.

"What?" he asked. He could even hear his own inner turmoil in his voice.

"Jarl Ulfric and General Tullius are still requesting you presence."

"The both of them can keep waiting. I am not joining this war. I have more urgent matter," Jorik snapped coldly.

Lydia fidgeted nervously as Jorik's eyes turned black with amber flecks.

"My Thane?" Lydia said nervously, wondering what set Jorik off this time. She may have become use to seeing his eyes change, but she still feared when they did. She knew it was Jorik's dragon blood peeking out and that wasn't good for anyone.

"Leave Lydia," Jorik ordered as he felt the souls press against him. He clutched his head as he heard their whispers, the chants that came with each word wall. It all echoed through his mind. He groaned in pain hunching in on himself.

"Jorik…" Argis said quietly when he heard Lydia rush up stairs. He had walked to the top of the stairs and saw Jork with his head in hands, his shoulder vibrating with tension. Slowly he made his way down stairs to see what was happening and why Lydia seemed fearful. She was his housecarl, there shouldn't be anything that made her fear her Thane. He didn't flinch when Jorik raised his head and looked at him with amber eyes. They were emotionless, eyes he had only seen one other time. When they had faced a dragon, they had the same eyes, the same look, a challenge with a hint of death. But beneath all that he saw Jorik fighting. Fighting for what he wasn't sure. Hesitantly he raised his hand and watched those eyes follow his every move. They were warning in the look that had him moving slowly.

Lightly Argis placed his hand on Jorik's shoulder, "Is everything ok?" he asked slowly. It was a stupid question, he could see something was wrong. But he was at a loss for word. This was his husband and he knew nothing of this man and yet here he was trying to sooth him. Honestly he was just wanted the amber eyes gone. They made him leery, like he was a prey and his husband was the hunter.

Jorik clenched his eyes closed tightly a shudder ran through his body at Argis' touch. He wanted to lean into that touch, he wanted to shout at him for his audacity of touching him. But most of all he wanted the voices to be silenced. They looked at Argis as inferior, beneath each of the souls. They all cried out at the insult of being touched by a mortal. All those souls flinched when Argis' hand made contact with his shoulder. He could feel them sift, pressing closer then backing away. Slowly they receded no longer pressing in anger at Argis' touch. Jorik relaxed into that touch, needing it more than ever. It was changing away the voices, the chanting, his mind was becoming his own. For once over the past months his mind was finally becoming his own with the touch of this man. It made no sense to him, he didn't understand how, or why but he wasn't about to push this gift away. The souls were becoming too much for him that he needed help to be human and not what these dragonsouls wanted.

Argis was surprised when Jorik leaned into his touch, he could feel tension in the larger man's muscles and it worried him. He moved closer, his hand lightly rubbing Jorik's shoulders, hoping this would ease the man's pain. Argis scowled when a scent he was very familiar with came to him. He knew of only one thing that makes that scent - sex. Jorik had bedded someone tonight and he was pretty sure who it had been. He thought about saying something, but there marriage wasn't a normal one. They both knew this.

"What happened?" he asked instead, staying far away from what he just figured out.

"The souls of the dragons I have taken… sometimes they are too much. I can hear them…" Jorik choked out, not sure how to explain what was happening.

"You mean each soul, you can hear them?" Argis asked, very shocked and disturbed at hearing this. He wasn't sure what to make of it. From what he knew of old legends, the dragons ruled man, they didn't allow others to rule. So did that mean those souls were fighting to rule Jorik? If that was so, then what did that mean for the one person who had any chance of defeating Alduin? Argis could admit it, he was scared… his husband was being taken over by dragons. It wasn't something he had wanted to hear, but there was nothing for it now.

Argis lightly ran his hand through Jorik's hair as he tried to come to terms with what he just learnt. It was a lot to take in, more than he expected. He smiled down at the larger man's head as he relaxed even more. His eyes widened when it dawned on him that his touch was relaxing Jorik. Hope bloomed, that maybe he would be able to help his husband as much as he had helped him. He had hated that Jorik had taken such drastic measures to save him.

"Come on, let's go to bed," Argis said. He felt Jorik stiffen beneath his touch and worried that the voices were coming back.

"I don't think that's a good idea tonight," Jorik whispered, angered at himself for his betrayal.

"Is it because of the voices or because you were in someone else's bed tonight?" Argis asked bluntly. He held Jorik's eyes when he whipped around out of shock. Argis was ready to see anger or a ready lie, but there was none of that. Which surprised him, he thought for sure there would be lies and hiding.

"Both," Jorik stated, rising to his feet. "As for bedding Balgruuf, it won't be happening again."

Argis hated asking, but he needed to know. He didn't want to be one of those spouses that were left in the dark because they were afraid of the answer. "What was your relationship before we married?" he asked, hiding his turmoil.

"I've known Jarl Balgruuf since I was a child. Every time my father came here to speak with his friends, or do trading I would spend time with him. He's the one I was with when I lost the sight in my one eye. When I returned we were becoming closer, then I found out I was dragonborn and I avoided him. The voices were too much. I knew I would harm him. Shortly before I went to Markarth for you we had a long talk and cleared up some problems, but it still wouldn't work. He's not a warrior, or fighter no matter how much he thinks he is. He has sat on his throne too long. If we were to pursue anything it would end badly, most probably him dead and my head on the chopping block," Jorik explained quietly. He waited for Argis' condemning words, but they never came.

"And you are not worried that you'll kill me?" Argis asked with a smirk. He didn't fear death, and he knew if he had to fight Jorik it would give him a proper death, a death fit for a warrior.

"No, I have seen you fight, you might be good enough to beat me," Jorik answered and stepped away from Argis. He closed his eyes, bowing his head. They voices weren't pushing, but they were there, manageable. Slowly he opened his eye and met Argis'. He didn't need to be told his eyes were amber, he could feel it already. "And if it comes to that, kill me, don't give me a chance to use a thu'um. The chance is too high that you will die." Argis shivered gazing into the amber eyes. He knew it was the truth, Jorik was a warrior with the soul and blood of a dragon. Deadly, who wouldn't hesitated in killing him. Slowly he nodded his head in acceptance to Jorik's words.

"We should head to bed," Argis said quietly as he walked to the stairs. He hesitated when he didn't hear footsteps behind him. Jorik stood there staring at his back, almost like he could read his very soul.

"Are you sure you wish to sleep with a dragon?" Jorik asked. Args shivered at the deeper voice, he was slowly understanding why Jorik meant about the souls taking over. Right now he didn't sound like the man he thought he knew.

He studied Jorik's face, really thinking about that question and what it entailed. Was he willing to trust his life to a dragon? Was he willing to allow a dragon to see him at his weakest - while he slept? Or did Jorik mean something else? Did he mean sleep with him, where he would give his body willingly to him. IF that was the case, then no, he couldn't do that. Not yet at least, maybe not ever.

"I'll trust you not to take my life while we sleep. As for taking my body, no," Argis stated, meeting those amber eyes squarely.

"Drem mortal, Zu'u fen ni kun hin kopraan erei hi los bahlaan." {Peace mortal, I will not take your body until you are worthy.}

Argis trembled as the deep voice rumbled through the room. He didn't understand a word that was said, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know. He stepped out of the way as Jorik walked past him and up the stairs. Argis watched his retreating back and slowly followed after him.

~oooooooooooooooooooooooo~

Jorik woke late, he could tell by the sun streaming through the windows. His head was comfortably perched not on his pillow, but on Argis' shoulder. He could tell the man was awake, but keeping still so he could still sleep. He was surprised to find Argis' arms around him, holding him close. One hand rubbing him back soothingly.

"Keep it up and I will sleep the day away," Jorik mumbled with sleep thick voice.

"How are the voices?" Argis asked.

"Not there right now," Jorik mumbled, his eyes drifting shut once more.

"Are there any mission you plan on doing today?" Argis asked, hoping he would be able to travel with him. He didn't want to be one of those husbands' cooped up in the house.

"A few, but I need food first. I have to go to Riverwood, hand in some information, then take out three different dragons, one in the Rift, the other two are on the mountain range between Morthal and Whiterun," Jorik said as he sat up on the side of the bed. He was surprised that his mind was clear; there was no chanting or voices commanding him. There was nothing, his mind was his own this morning.

"My Thane, breakfast is ready," Jorik smirked as Lydia called up. She always seemed to know when he was awake.

"We'll be down shortly," Jorik called down.

Argis watched him change his clothes; he noticed a difference right away. Jorik's eyes were lighter; his body not as tense, and his walk was smoother, not as agitated. He didn't know what possessed him to hold Jorik after he fell asleep, but he followed through on that feeling and it had done wonders for the man. He didn't know how many times he woke during the night just to sooth Jorik. He would feel the man tense against him, and the rub his back until he settled once more. The night had been long, but after seeing Jorik this morning well worth it.

"I am going with you," Argis demanded. He waited for the reprimand, or a blunt answering stating no.

"I had planned on it. Have your things ready. In an hour we leave," Jorik stated as he left the room. He was still amazed that Argis held him through the night, more amazing there was no voices. Jorik stopped at the top of the steps…

The greybeards had told him he needed to accept what he was or he would go mad. He had accepted it, but he fought those voices. He wondered if he should give in to them and see what happens. He worried for others safety if he did that. He knew that soon if this continued the dragons would rule him. He would be there puppet. At the moment there were three dragons he needed to kill and he knew then after taking those souls he wouldn't be him. He didn't know what to do. Then there was Argis, he would have to be extra careful there. If the dragons took over, Argis would be in danger, they hadn't like the way he had spoken last night.