Chapter 18

Jorik kept watch through the night; Argis was sleeping in the tent. It didn't bother him keeping watch, actually he preferred it. He glanced at the night sky, watching the stars twinkle high above him. In the distance he could hear the roar of a dragon, he wasn't worried.

They had cleared out two Nordic ruins and informed the blade of what he found in the Embassy. He didn't like the woman, couldn't stand her actually. Even the souls he had taken agreed with him. He wasn't sure if he should be amused or insulted with that information.

In the morning they planned on taking out one of the dragons, he prayed to the nine that Argis would be safe. If things work out this time then he would take Argis with him while he killed the other two. If things didn't work out… Well he will either be a widow, or… he wasn't sure what could be worse, and he didn't want to find out.

"Jorik, you should get some sleep," Argis said. Jorik glanced over his shoulder to see him stepping out of the tent. He thought for sure Argis would sleep the night away. "No, there is a dragon nearby," Jorik stated and watched the clear, starry sky. He heard Argis' breath pause before picking up speed. Jorik glanced at Argis, watching as he took a seat beside him near the fire.

"How do you know there is a dragon nearby?" Argis asked quietly. He hoped the answer was 'he heard the roar' and not something else. He really prayed that the man he married wasn't too far gone that he could feel dragons around.

"You heard the roar? I think everything in the area did. He's not near now, but when he comes closer I will feel it. His soul will call to me. Not to take, but call just the same," Jorik muttered as he tossed a branch he had been playing with in the fire.

"Still you should get some sleep. You even said that the dragon wasn't very close," Argis argued. He was forcing himself not think too hard about what Jorik said. Feeling the dragons, that tidbit worried him more than a lot of things his husband told him.

"No, I don't need any right now," Jorik answered with a smirk as he watched Argis' eyes widened.

"Ok." Argis muttered looking at Jorik strangely. He didn't know what else to say. He tried to think of anything to talk about to fill the night air and keep Jorik's mind off of dragons. That was the last thing he needed, his husband's eyes changing to amber. "With your hunt for Alduin, what is the next action?"

"Don't know. Probably have to talk to that bitch once more. So instead I am going to focus on the Companions for a bit. Train some more, take missions. After that I see if the Greybeards can help me instead," Jorik answered, closing his eyes as he listened to the crackle of the fire.

Argis fell silent when he saw Jorik's eyes close. He smirked as the man fell asleep. So far there hadn't been too many weird things happening on this trip. A few word walls that called to his husband or the draugr that talked to his husband. He had to admit those things were weird, but he knew it could get a lot stranger and deadlier. What surprised him more was the amber eyes didn't stay long.

Argis watched the night sky, searching for that dragon but saw nothing. He relaxed more, still on guard, but not fearing for his life at the moment.

~oooooooo~

Argis sighed in relief when the made it down the small mountain from the third dragon. It had been close, too close. He had almost lost Jorik to those souls. He had watched as amber eyes stared at him coldly. Those same eyes had his death written in them, but what he feared worse, there was no sense of Jorik. The only thing that saved him was when Jorik collapsed and passed out. So to keep his husband warm he built a fire and set up a tent. With a grunt he had moved Jorik into the tent. It had taken three days for Jorik to wake. Three long, nerve wracking days.

Now Jorik acts like nothing had happened. Almost like he couldn't remember anything. Argis shook his head, if he had known even half of these things, there was a good chance he would have taken his death sentence over this. If he had any intimate feelings for Jorik then he would be there for him. But at the moment, they were married in name only and Jorik was his Thane. Now he understood why Lydia had the look of fear a few times.

"Where are we heading to next?" Argis asked, dreading the answer.

"If you want to head home, you can. Or you can come with me," Jorik answered with a shrug.

"Where are we going?" Argis asked once more.

"To see the Greybeards," Jorik answered as he stared up at the large mountain where the greybeards lived.

"I thought you were going to see the Companions?" Argis murmured thoughtfully. It wasn't like Jork to change his mind, but something happened that he didn't know of to change his mind.

"I need to speak with the Greybeards first and then we will head to Whiterun," Jorik muttered and shivered as he thought of his last dream.

The mist cleared, this time he couldn't see the person.

"Still haven't accepted what you are," The voice commented. He wondered which deity was speaking with him this time.

"I will not accept something that will take my humanity from me," Jorik spat, insulted that they would think so little of him.

"Who said you would be giving it up?" the voice asked.

"I know that will happen. I know because every soul I take it almost happens," Jorik hissed his annoyance. As far as he was concerned they should know this answer.

"Is it you fighting yourself that takes your humanity or the souls of the dragon? Have you tried not to fight them?" The voice asked.

"No, I haven't," Jorik muttered.

"Wouldn't it be wise to see if what I say is true then? You have help now, use it wisely," The voice stated before leaving. He stood in the clearing with thick fog rolling in. He thought he was going to wake, but that wasn't what happened.

"Stubborn, you were always so stubborn," a voice he knew well said.

"Father?" Jorik whispered.

"Your mother would say you are a lot like me with your stubbornness," Aden said mildly as he moved towards his son. Akatosh had asked this of him and who was he to say no to the head god?

"Where is mother?" Jorik whispered.

"She's probably scolding everyone in Soviengard right now," Aden answered with a fond chuckle.

"Why am I seeing you now?"

"Those dragon souls that you fight? Keep it up son and they will rule you! If you follow your instincts, allow yourself to be one with those souls, and then you might not be scaring people as you are now. Your mother worries, so does your sister," Aden admonished.

"If I don't fight then will take over," Jorik argued.

"Who are you?" Aden demanded.

Jorik looked at confused, "Jorik, your son," he muttered.

"Aye, but you are more than that. You are Dovahkiin, a mortal with the blood and soul of a dragon. Let your soul fight them, let it show those other souls who is in charge. Trust who and what you are!" Aden stated adamantly.

"Dad…" he didn't get to finish before his father cut him off.

"Jorik!" just his name and the tone told him there was going to be no arguments. He knew that tone well, it was one when heard you knew not to cross.

"Alright, I'll try…" Jorik sighed and watched his father disappear with a smirk.

Jorik had woken up without the press of the souls, but he thought about what his father had said. Right now he wouldn't try it, later when he was alone and no one could be harmed he would. He just prayed that he was strong enough.

~oooooooooooooooooooooo~

Argis walked a few steps behind Jorik still shaking his head when he found out they were heading to Whiterun instead of the men on the mountain. He didn't know what changed his husband's mind once more, and wasn't going to ask.

They made it to Whiterun late into the night. Lights glowed brightly in the window of their house. Argis chuckled to himself and wondered how Lydia knew they were going to be home so soon. Usually she was in bed by now.

"Hmm, Vilkas must have stopped here when he saw us on the road," Jorik murmured as they entered the house.

"Nope, it was Farkas, not Vilkas," Lydia answered when she rose from her seat to greet her Thane.

"Well from a distance they both look alike," Jorik muttered with a shake of his head when his housecarl chuckled.

"I'm going to head up to bed," Argis said quietly as he slowly moved up the stairs. All his muscles ache from the brutal pace the kept.

Lydia grinned as Jorik watched his husband walk up the stairs. "How are things going between the two of you?"

"As good as can be expected under the circumstances," Jorik answered, shrugging his shoulders. He glanced at Lydia and then around the room making sure nothing was out of place. With his mind at ease he headed up stairs to where Argis was waiting.

Argis laid on the bed, he was actually becoming used to sharing a bed with Jorik. They had been alone for a month or more and quite a few times they were sleeping at an inn where they would share a bed. While they camped if there was a blizzard, or torrents of rain, both of them would be sleeping together in the tent, curled up to each other. It was only when they had to take watch they didn't sleep together. Weeks ago he had found it odd and awkward, now he automatically pulled Jorik to him.

Jorik stretched out on the bed, not bothering curling up with Argis. It wasn't like they were out on the road, they were home now and he didn't want to upset Argis or make him uncomfortable.

Argis smirked and watched as Jorik drifted off. It didn't take long before Jorik's head was resting on his shoulder even though he had tried to put room between them.

At least he knew there would be no nightmares tonight and he wouldn't wake to a thrashing – shouting dragonborn. The shouts were the worst; a lot of things were destroyed when they came outwhile he slept.

Argis drifted off to sleep lying on his side with one arm over Jorik's waist and the other still supporting his head. He glanced at the man, seeing his face relaxed for the first time. He looked younger, not as hardened. It wasn't something he expected to see. Even with the scars, he still looked young. Argis knew Jorik was only a year or two younger than him, but right now he looked a decade younger.