Author's note: Guys, I think I'm a dork. I actually had a lot of fun writing the ending to this. But it's true that if you look upstairs in the meadery, where the two employees are sweeping and being grouchy bastards, you'll find this play. When I first found it, I didn't read it completely, so I didn't really know what it was. But after I got curious and looked it up online, I couldn't help but laugh.
And so that's why I now imagine Gabrielle as being very naive when it comes to more...intimate and emotional matters. You pretty much have to hit her over the head with your intentions before she'll notice.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my burst of silliness.
Prompt: The kind of book that changes your life
It was during one of their many explorations through the nearby Honningbrew meadery, at midnight of course, because Gabrielle did not understand the meaning of the words 'rest' or 'privacy'. She ignored the annoyed huffs from the employees downstairs while she searched avidly through one of the men's bookshelf, flipping through books before tossing them on a nearby bed. Faendal stayed downstairs. Someone in the group had to have good manners.
He honestly didn't understand how a "great warrior" like Gabrielle could enjoy reading books as much as a scholar, but as long as it kept her out of trouble, he didn't care. Though, with the way the workers were beginning to get louder in their growling, the Bosmer had a feeling that his partner's exploration was going to come to an abrupt end.
"Faendal! Come look at this," Gabrielle said as she waved a book excitedly in the air. He looked quickly back at the two men and then bolted up the stairs. Maybe after this, she'd be satisfied and they could finally go to an inn…
As he drew up next to her, she shoved the book into his face and said, "I have no idea what this book is, but it's really weird. There's some Argonian maid and this guy is talking about a spear."
The Bosmer took a second to actually read a few lines of the play before it finally dawned on him exactly what was in his hands. His face heated up and he fumbled with the book before it dropped open onto the bed. Gabrielle laughed and made some joke about the blush on his face, but Faendal wasn't listening. He quickly grabbed her arm and booked it back downstairs and out of the meadery.
He finally let go after they were halfway back to Whiterun. She punched him in the arm before saying, "What in all of Skyrim was that about? You were running like there were a hundred giants chasing you."
They both shivered at the thought. Faendal turned to Gabrielle, completely gobsmacked.
"Do you have any idea what you were just reading?"
"…a really badly written play?"
Faendal smacked a hand over his eyes and slowly drew it down his face with a groan. After a moment, he finally said, "You were reading The Lusty Argonian Maid."
At the blank look on her face, he deadpanned, "It's an erotic play by Crassius Curio."
The whole moment was worth that look of sheer embarrassment and flustered confusion. That moment ended when Gabrielle stopped and looked at Faendal suspiciously.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Faendal, how do you know who wrote The Lusty Argonian Maid?"