*Takes place before An Awkward Dinner

The smell of burning grass filled my nose as the smoke cleared. I could now completely see the bandits' campsite once again. There had been fifteen of them when we started. But from where I was standing I could only count twelve. As I turned to look for Vorstag, the stench of burning bodies hit me. I was wondering when I was going to start smelling them. It wasn't pleasant, but when your main and favorite defense against creeps was fire, you had to get use to the smell at some point.

"How 'bout next time ya don't throw fireballs five feet away from me" Vorstag said, coughing, as he came from behind a bolder. Drama queen, it was at least 10 feet. He waved the smoke from his face as he met me in the middle of the field.

"I'll think about it" I smirked.

"I'd appreciate it. Who were we fighting these people for anyway?"

"You know, I don't actually remember." I laughed. I had been sent to clear out so many different bandits that the orders had all started to blur together. Eh, I'd figure it out eventually.

"So, you want to go get something to eat or rummage something off these unlucky sods?" Vorstag asked, a smug grin on his face.

Returning that grin I said, "Any reason we can't do both?"

He raised his hands defensively and laughed "Hey, you're the boss!"

As we pilfered through the bodies I managed to make my way to the base of a tree. Looking up, I found where the other three bodies had managed to go. So, that's what that shout did. As I looked at one of the bodies hanging over a branch, I laughed.

Noticing my laughter, Vorstag asked, "What's so funny?"

I pointed to the tree. "It made me think of this story Moth told me about when he was in the Legion and they…"

"Ah, Moth" he chuckled to himself. "Doesn't seem like the story telling sort."

"He is when you get him in the right mood."

"And what mood would that be?" He grinned, raising his eyebrow suggestively.

Vorstag knew that I….had feelings for Moth. There had really been no way to hide it from him. He seemed to be able to read my mind. Lying to him had proven to only make things worse. So, I no longer bothered. Although, Vorstag swore everyone in Markarth knew, except Moth who was apparently clueless.

"Not whatever mood you're trying to make with that ugly expression on your face." I joked, while he mocked offense.

"You completely messed up my theories about women."

"Something tells me those weren't too solid to begin with" I said, wondering what he was going on about.

"I always assumed women liked young, attractive men. I've never seen anyone have affections for an orc almost twice their age."

What in Oblivion was that suppose to mean? Moth was very attractive, at least I thought so. He was very solemn looking until you got to know him. But when he smiled, that was something else. It's wasn't a full on smile. I had never seen one of those. But he would do this half grin, where one edge of his lips would turn up. It would give me this knot feeling in my stomach, but also this warm feeling in my chest, especially when that smile was directed at me. Then there were the muscles of his arm. It just wanted to….but those were thoughts for another time.

"He is not twice my age." I stared down at him, placing my hand on my hip.

"What, how old are you? 25?" I could see him doing the math in his head already.

"27" I sighed.

"And he's at least 40. So, he's got 13 years on you. Close enough."

"That's a long way from twice my age" I protested. I hadn't realize he was that old. That didn't bother me. But would it bother him?

I had stopped working for a moment. The back of my neck and shoulders ached and popped as I stretched them. As I sat, rubbing the back of my neck, Nelcara walked in. She wasn't dressed in the mage robes I had been expecting. Instead, she wore a deep green dress with a belt cinched around her waist. It looked nice on her.

"Still here?"

She let out an exhausted sigh as she took the seat in front of me. "Yep. You know, I had a delightful conversation with your sister the other day."

The word delightful and my sister were put together in the same sentence about as many times as my name and delightful were. "You met her?"

"I picked up a book for her. She's so hard on that poor assistant of hers."

Ah, I knew who she was talking about. Ghorza said he was useless.

"She is actually quite funny when you get to talking to her though."

After a few minutes, I got back to work. Nelcara sat, half leaning on the table watching me. She looked exhausted.

"Is it bad that I just want to stay home? That's selfish is in it?" She let out another sigh as she laid her head in her hands. "I'm too old for this crap."

Apparently I wasn't the only one who was tired. But too old?

"You're 27." And as soon as I said it, it finally occurred to me. She was only 27. It was so easy to forget her age with everything that depended on her. That was remarkably young for the weight of the world to be on your shoulders. I don't think I could have done it.

"Ugh….are you sure? I feel about as old as you." A small smile playing on her lips.

"Truly? That explains why you apparently keep seeking my company."

She laughed. "The old like the old then? Makes sense to me."

"Well, I suppose I need to prepare to leave tomorrow. The world isn't going to save itself." She began to stand to leave but I stopped her.

"Stay another day. Rest would do you good."

She raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

"Fighting tired, just gets you dead. I don't…we don't need you dead."

"Well, isn't that sweet." She smiled. "Nice to know." And she sat back down.