Adraria had never been much of a morning person, liking rather to sleep until early afternoon, after the sun had already warmed her surroundings and continue her routine until the very late hours of the night when even the moon itself was tired. For the past couple weeks, however, she'd started to change that schedule, waking just as soon as the sun. Not because she knew it was "healthier" for her, or something a responsible adult her age should be doing, but for a certain scene that she could only stumble upon at morning's first light.
The raven haired Imperial leaned against the door frame of her home, a steaming cup of tea in her hand, and watched her ink skinned Dremora out in the yard. He, too, had just woken up and readied himself, not even groggy as he loaded his strong shoulders with lumber. With a deep grunt, he moved the heavy pieces to his working bench and started the process of making wood planks. The first chop of the ax to the wood made the Imperial jump, just like it always did, but she still couldn't keep her eyes off of Kynval.
This was most definitely worth Adraria's lack of sleep; watching as Kynval worked tirelessly every day, bringing a smile to his mortal lover's lips. Though, as he continued to work, her loving smile usually turned to one of lust as her orbs observed him work up quite a sweat that made his body glisten in the sun. Which is when she usually had to go inside to cool herself off and possibly go back to sleep. Just because she woke up earlier didn't mean that she actually stayed up.
But for right now, she was just content watching him and thinking over how their life had ended up like this. From him being a slave who hated her with every fiber of his being, to her loving husband-self proclaimed, mind you, because there wasn't a damn priest in this whole world that would abandon his beliefs, if only for a moment, to wed a human to Dremora. The story seemed almost impossible, yet here they stood as proof. Adraria looked down at the jeweled ring on her finger and smiled even harder.
Yes, they had come a long way in the past four years together. And unfortunately, not all of it had been as easy going as it seemed now. Just because they had found their happily after ever with each other hadn't meant that everyone had forgotten that they'd existed. After Adraria had won against Sanguine, they'd continued their lives as fugitives, because you were damn right if you thought that the Altmer weren't done with her. Luckily, she'd had Kynval with her always, because there were times where she'd thought they'd be captured and killed. But they'd made it through by the skin of their teeth.
The thing that had really helped, however, was the peace treaty that the Dragonborn himself had proclaimed. He'd stopped the evil dragon Alduin and found his new task in bringing Skyrim back to peace. No one was sure how he had done it, but he'd convinced the Empire and Stormcloaks that the real enemy was the Altmer. And it was a quick battle, with all of the man's pet dragons on his side. Once the magical mer were out of the picture, the Imperials were happy to forget about Adraria and Kynval's existence.
Which lead them to their life now. Located on the outskirts of the Rift, they'd started their own home, built by their own hands. It wasn't something the small Imperial ever thought she'd get to do, especially along side a Dremora, mind you. But it had been the happiest she'd ever been, so she wasn't going to look the gift horse in the mouth.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of crunching leaves startling her, and her eyes focused in front of her to see Kynval coming her way, his dark brow raised in question. She licked her lips when she noticed that he already had a light dew of sweat covering his naked torso, but was able to keep her dark eyes mostly on his own
"Something I can help you with, dear?" Adraria said, her voice coated in fake innocence. Kynval rolled his eyes and didn't respond to her until he was only a foot away from her. Every part of Adraria told her to touch him, but she kept her hands tightly around her mug, which had cooled down quite a lot, showing how long she'd been in her thoughts just staring at Kynval.
"Was just curious as to why you were standing over here staring at me like a wolf does a hare while I'm over there doing all your dirty work."
That comment was enough to get her mind out of the gutter for a second. "My dirty work? This is our house you know. This is our dirty work."
Kynval scoffed, crossing his muscled arms across his chest.
"So when do you plan on helping build our house?" he asked sarcastically, making Adraria's temper flare.
"A lot of this house was built by me, you know! I just decided that I'd let you finish the building part while I worked on the decorating. We can't just be surrounded by wood and stone, you know."
"Women," the Dremora sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Dremora," Adraria sighed back, taking an annoyed sip of her cooled beverage. Yuck, it was as cold as ice.
She almost choked on that sip, however, when Kynval pulled her body into his, wrapping her up in his warm arms before resting his head atop hers. The cup fell from her hands, falling to the grass at their feet since she was too busy worrying about not drowning on tea to try and catch it. An angry response was about to leave her lips when the Dremora whispered to her.
"I hate what you do to me," he mumbled into her hair, stroking her locks and rubbing her back. Adraria's cheek flushed for only a moment before she regained her composure. Damn him, he always knew how to turn her mood around. The woman moved her arms so she could wrap them around him and softly kissed his chest. Because he was a big, bad Dremora, he wasn't supposed to show any emotion other than anger, or that's what she'd been lead to believe. But it was moments like this that she lived for.
Because to his kind, what he just said meant "I love you".
The soft kiss was enough of an invitation for Kynval. Grinning madly, he pushed the woman harder against the door frame, her body trapped against his, and moved his lips until they were pressed against her neck. The way she let out a shaky breath only made him even more excited. Seeing her like this, because of him, was what he lived for.
His teeth gently bit into her neck, with his lips locking around the spot so he could suck and lap at the sweet flesh and leave his mark on her. The action made Adraria moan his name quietly and wrap one of her legs around his waist, pressing her warm center against him. He groaned into her neck and curled his fingers into her hair, pulling gently.
Adraria was ready to tear both of their clothes off then and there, not having to worry about anyone, besides maybe the wildlife, seeing them, though it didn't matter either way. When she wanted her Dremora, it sure as hell didn't matter who was around. And right now, she wanted him to use a different kind of wood on her.
Just as her fingers started to tease the waist of his pants, making him grow more and more hard and excited, the loud clattering of wood scared them both. Adraria screamed shrilly, clutching in a very unsexual way to the meat shield in front of her while Kynval reached for a weapon that wasn't at his waist, ready to kill anything he saw as a threat.
Except there wasn't a threat. It was just the fallen pile of planks he'd been sawing earlier had fallen, echoing around the clear space in the yard. Both of them were quiet for a moment, watching the saw dust settle until Kynval chuckled and turned back to his wife, looking down at her, watching as amusement filled her own eyes. This is the life they'd come to live. Small things around every corner that lead to so many memories.
"That killed the mood, didn't it?"
"It didn't kill it," Adraria purred, licking her lips with a dark look in her eyes. Kynval felt a growl start in his throat and went in for another kiss, but his lover's slim fingers on his lips stopped him.
"It just made me realize I have things to do that don't include you."
"You're an evil, evil wench," Kynval hissed, pushing her away while she quietly cackled. He stomped back towards his work bench to fix the wood, dismissing her with a flick of his hand, "Leave me alone and go have fun doing your things. I'll just be finishing our home."
"'Bout time you did something around here," she mumbled loud enough for him to hear, quickly finding shelter from his anger in the house. While she got ready, she couldn't help but continue laughing about the shape she had left him in. Gods, as much as she loved fucking him, messing with him was just as much pleasure.
The Imperial readied herself quickly, throwing her long hair into a messy braid, clothing herself in a short summer dress, and adding a dagger or two on her belt. Though they were safe for now, Skyrim was still a dangerous place, and Adraria would never leave without protection. Though, after all these years, it still seemed strange for her not to be carrying Kynval's staff.
"Is there anything you need me to get?" the woman asked when she was finished, hands on her hips while she watched him angrily chop and nail wood. He sent a glare her way that was filled with the heat of Oblivion.
"Besides for you to get undressed so I can fuck you? No."
"I thought I cured you of that foul mouth of yours!" she reprimanded him, giving him her own glare.
"You may own me, but you haven't tamed me, woman. Just hurry back. I'm not a patient man."
"Maybe I'll just stay in town had have a couple drinks with my friend Brynjolf," Adraria mused, letting her finger rest on her lip in thought, "He always appreciates my company, and he's always such a gentleman."
That was enough for him to stop him in his tracks and make him look at her. He pointed his saw threateningly her way and rumbled from deep within his throat. "If that puny mortal ever lays a finger on you, I will saw him into a million pieces while he's still alive and mount his tiny dick as a trophy."
"Mmm, I love it when you talk dirty," the Imperial sighed, giving him a wicked grin and blowing him a kiss before she started her short journey. For quite a while, she was sure that she could still hear his sarcastic remarks following her.
Adraria appreciated the peace and quiet that came with living in the woods, surrounded only by nature, but it did sometimes grate her nerves that every time that she had to visit Riften, the trek was usually longer than the stay in the place. She'd made a couple comments to Kynval, saying that maybe they should get a horse for quicker travel, but he'd only said keeping her around was already an ordeal enough, he didn't want to take care of another pet. That comment had gotten quite a violent response out of her and she'd only persisted in the matter. Though it didn't matter; they didn't have enough gold between the two of them to be able to afford the horse, let alone take care of it. So the long walks into town it was.
The dark haired Imperial sighed. She missed the days all those years ago when they'd been rolling in the cash. She robbed while Kynval killed and it kept them both happy. Unfortunately, when she'd been captured, they took everything Adraria had had with her, and the few things they had left had gone into keeping them alive and building their house. It was how most people lived, but Adraria was almost sick of it. She missed the adventure of her old life. Why couldn't she mix the peacefulness of her at home life with the mischief of Skyrim?
The closest thing the woman had found had been the Thieve's Guild. They were looking for work here and there, but with what Brynjolf had told her, they were just now starting to spread their wings again, so it wasn't much money even when she did come to them. But she hoped that one day soon, Kynval and her could go on one of those big heists they had talked about and relive their glory days.
"Ugh, glory days, as if I'm already an old maid. Bah! I've still got all my tricks," she grumbled to herself, stomping like a child. At one point, she'd been the most wanted criminal in Skyrim! You just didn't lose talent like that.
She was still in a bad mood when she finally made her way to Riften's gates, steaming to herself like a crazy lady, but she didn't care. Adraria just wanted to get the shit that she needed and go back home so she could take her anger out on and unsuspecting Dremora. She would either annoy the shit out of him, or fuck him until they both passed out from exhaustion and she forgot this train of thought.
"Stop right there, ma'am," one of the armored guards said as she went to walk past, moving his spear in her way so that she was physically unable to pass. She gave the man a glare, but it didn't seem to phase him in the slightest.
"What is it, boy? I'm honestly not in the mood for any of your foolery right now, so I'd suggest moving your arse."
"I don't know who you think you are," the other guard started, "but you just can't waltz into here whenever you want without paying for Riften's entrance fee. This is a top notch town, and we don't just let anyone in here. That'll be 100 spetims."
Adraria took a step back and gave the man a blank look. He was surely kidding, right? The Guild had tried this shit a long time ago on the tourists of Riften a year or two ago, but they'd gotten rid of that rule. Plus, she was here about once every week. It was surprising that they didn't know who she was. She stood there, staring at both the guards, waiting for them to just give up, but they stood there awaiting their payment.
And that's when Adraria burst into laughter. She doubled over, hands on her knees as her laugh bounced off the stone walls. She was sure all the town's folk inside could hear her. It sure as hell took the men off guard.
It took her a moment to settle down, but soon she was just letting out the occasional giggle and wiped a tear from her eye, smiling over at them.
"Oh, that was a good one. I haven't laughed like that in a while. Usually my foolish husband is the cause, but now it was you! Alright, now go ahead and open those doors so I can share your joke."
"This isn't a joke!" the second man yelled, glaring harder, as if trying to will her to give him the money, "it's the gold or no entry!"
"Look, I've lived around here for quite a while, and I can tell you right now that that is a bullshit rule. It's been used and disbanded long before you got here. So I would stand aside before you make a bigger fool out of yourself."
"Mal, just drop it. Let her through. You'll get the next tourist," the first guard spoke up, stepping up to place a hand on Mal's shoulder. Mal shook it off harshly and didn't take his blue eyes off of Adraria.
"No! I have to get as much money as I can or they won't let me into the Guild! Hand over your money, lady, or else I'll have to force you." To show how serious he was, he pointed his spear at her.
Adraria lost the happy facade and frowned at the young men in front of her. The Guild surely wasn't going so low as to hire a useless hand as this, were they? If so, they'd really hit rock bottom. But she had a bigger problem right now. The man was pointing a very sharp looking weapon right at her, and as dumb as he looked, she knew even the dumbest man knew how to use a tool like that. He was threatening her, and the Imperial did not like that.
She let her hand fall to the handle of her dagger, feeling the familiar metal under her palm, and felt the pulsing thrum of Daedric power pushing against her hands. She'd thrown away Dagon's blade not too long after she'd acquired Kynval, said Dremora giving her his own well used blade. She carried it with her ever since, and it had never let her down. She felt a certain blood lust when she used it, and right now, she wouldn't have minded slitting the man's throat right then and there.
However, before she could even offer her own threat to the "guard", another hand was over hers, stopping her from pulling the blade out. The touch was a warm zap of electricity, feeling familiar, but when she looked up, the man beside her was just a dangerous looking stranger cloaked in all black.
"Now look here, ya bastards. Step out of the way of this lovely lady right here or things will get very messy. And I wouldn't want to get my armor dirty with your blood."
Mal was just about to make a wild comment, but his friend finally had the sense to pull him away and open the door, probably due to the very heat filled threat against his life. He mumbled something along the lines of a greeting to the city then pulled Mal towards the stables.
"Ah, that's better. I was beginning to think I'd have to cause some trouble around here, and I haven't even introduced myself to anyone yet. Especially not the pretty lady next to me."
Adraria scoffed and pulled herself effortlessly out of his grasp, turning her body to look at him while her arms crossed her chest. The look she gave him was enough to make the plants around them wither from heat.
"Just because you have a different face doesn't mean I don't know who you are! Why would you go and interrupt me when it was just getting interesting, Sanguine?!"
The tall male laughed, bowing his head to her in defeat before looking back up with a wicked smirk.
"I should know by now that I can't hide myself from my Champion. But I don't like seeing you threatening men other than me with a good time. Plus, if you get hauled off to the brig, who am I supposed to drink with?"
"Oh, no, no, no. I'm not falling for that again, you wicked bastard. I know not to mix drink with your company! Kynval will be furious if I end up on the other side of Skyrim without him."
"Sounds like him," Sanguine said, "and speaking of my minion, where is he? Surely he follows you like an evil shadow."
"We've discovered the hard way that it's best if he stays home when we need something in town," Adraria answered sheepishly, "There's a lot less bloodshed and death threats that way."
"But Kynval is bred for that! If you wanted this whole town gone, he could-"
"But I don't want it gone," the woman interrupted, turning on her heel to enter the town, "It's a long walk to any other city, and as much as I'd enjoy getting rid of some of the people here, I need them for their wares. Doesn't mean I don't trick and flirt to get what I want, however."
"And I thought you had lost that charm!" Sanguine guffawed, following closely behind her, "I was starting to get worried."
"What do you mean?" Adraria questioned, turning her head to look at the disguised Daedric Prince.
"Just because I'm usually stuck in my own realm doesn't mean I don't check up on my Champion and her rightly won prize. I've noticed you both seemed to have hit a plateau in your debauchery, the very thing I stand for! How could I not be concerned?"
"We haven't plateaued. We've just...taken a vacation?" The excuse sounded lame, even to her.
"Pah! Do not lie to me, mortal! I know the difference between a vacation and a retirement, and you're getting closer to quitting than I like."
"We're not quitting," she growled, fists clenched, "We're just focusing on our home right now. Trust me, we're both getting restless being perfect citizens."
"Look, I didn't come here to fight you, my dear. Come, let's have a nice, normal drink, and catch up! We haven't talked in years!"
It wasn't every day that a Daedric Prince came down from his thrown just to "catch up", and there was no way in hell that he'd just come to talk, but Adraria wasn't going to refuse. As long as he didn't get her shit faced to do who knows what, she was sure to have a good time. So she accepted his offer and laid her hand on his outstretched arm, making her way to the Bee and Barb with a very powerful man at her side.
She was hurt. She was injured. She was dead. Kynval would be the one to kill her. She was with that fucking Nord.
These were the thoughts that were rapidly running through the Dremora's head as he marched down the stone path, Greatsword out and pulsing red with his fury to fuel it. Adraria had set out for town in the early morning hours of the day and it was now hours into the night. Sure, she liked to spend time in Riften, especially if there was a little job that Guild wanted her to do, but she had never been missing from his side for this long without him knowing exactly what she was doing. As of right now, she was missing in action and Kynval was livid.
He would never say aloud that he was even remotely worried about her. But by Oblivion, he was. The last time he had been away from her side for this long, she'd been kept as a prisoner by the Thalmor and had been inches from death. His fist tightened around the pommel of his sword and his eyes narrowed. He was going to kill her once he found her.
The journey to the town was nothing more than an angry blur, and soon enough, the Dremora was in front of the gates. Two guards stood at the front, looking rather tired and bored, until they saw the thing coming towards them. He could see the whites of their eyes as they almost bulged out of their heads. Their spears went to point at him shakily, as if to ward him off, but he huffed at them.
"I'm here to find my Master, not to mess with this city. But continue to be in my way, and I will have no regrets eating your flesh."
And just like that the gates opened, and the men gave him a wide birth as he entered, making sure not to be in striking distance of his ominously glowing sword. He could have easily slit their throats, no matter how far they were away from him, but he didn't have time for their deaths. He was only worried-no, furious- at Adraria.
If she was still in this town, which is what he hoped, there was only one place she would be, the only thing that was really open at this hour. The Bee and Barb. The flickering lights from the candles inside showed how warm and welcome it seemed inside, begging you to come in. He could hear the crowds laughter from inside, but he couldn't hear her. His heart froze in his chest, but he kept going. She had to be in there. She had to be.
He threw the doors open, making them crash against the walls and make a sound loud enough to rival the chatter and drunken laughter of the patrons. However, it wasn't enough to disturb most of the customers, that or they were just too drunk to care about an angry Dremora. He did receive some looks, however, and there was one face in the crowd that he did remember on his very few trips here. The mage that had been about the only one who didn't run in fear from him.
"She's upstairs," he sighed without Kynval even having to ask, "with who, I don't know, but she's up there." Kynval didn't acknowledge him in any way, just set to climbing up the old wooden stairs that led the the "Inn" part of the Bee and Barb. As he climbed, the noise from down stairs started to soften and he could hear from the top floor. Adraria's soft giggle rang through his ears and he could breathe again.
But once the worry was gone, the anger came back full force. He stomped on the stairs even harder, giving away that someone was coming, and the chatter stopped.
"Adraria," Kynval growled, not even completely up the stairs yet, but he knew she could hear him.
"Fuck," he heard her curse, could hear the fear in her voice, and that gave him pleasure.
He finally made it to the top floor and was directly in front of the table that his wife and the stranger sat at. Her dark eyes were wide and looking between him and the man cloaked in black, but they were mostly for him. He was about to roar out all of his anger, frustration, and worry, until his eyes took a small glance at the man at the table. It was a quick pass over, a very unimportant look, but he did a double take and his eyes mirrored that of his Master's.
"Sanguine? W-what are you doing here?"
"It's good of you to join us, Kynval!" the man shouted cheerfully, though the smile he gave him was very chilling, "I was just talking to my Champion about how lucky you are to have her. She's such a good influence on you, isn't she?"
"Ah, Kynval... Why are you-?"
"Are you not aware what time it is, human?" the ink skinned demon bit out, trying to calm his temper down, "You've been gone for hours. I could only assume you'd been taken, again."
"I mean, you're not wrong..." she trailed off, giving a pointed look at the Daedric Prince sat next to her, "Sanguine here didn't really give me much of an option when he showed up out of the blue."
"Why does no one appreciate my surprise visits?!" the man exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air, "Out of the kindness of my heart, I allowed you two to stay together, and this is the thanks I get?"
Kynval and Adraria scoffed at the same time.
"Okay, okay, because I lost our bet, but I still could have denied your request!"
"Our word is law, Sanguine, you couldn't have backed out."
"Just because she's your Master doesn't mean you need to side with her all the time," the Prince grumbled. Adraria smirked at the two men.
"He does if he wants to fuck me," she added, and Kynval was a mixture of proud at her boldness as well as horrified that she would speak like that to his Prince. But she had a way with him, and it only made him laugh like she'd told the world's funniest joke.
"And that's why I chose you, you clever girl you. Not anyone in all of Skyrim who has the charm that you do."
The Imperial threw her hair over her shoulder at the compliment and the lowly servant could only stare at the two of them in bewilderment. This had to be a horrible nightmare, this truly couldn't be happening. Sanguine noticed his horror and sent another look his way, deep with a meaning Kynval didn't understand, but turned to the woman before he could take the time to distinguish it.
"Well, my dear Adraria, I think it is time that we all take leave of this place and head back to where we belong. I hope to see you before more years pass us by."
Adraria bowed her head in respect. "And I, you Sanguine."
She stood from the table and walked to her Dremora's side, her hand brushing his, and it made the man want to grin, though he hid the urge since they were still in front of Sanguine. They said their goodbyes and watched as the darkness of the portal started to consume him. Before the Prince disappeared, his eyes caught Adraria's.
"Oh, and Adraria? Don't forget what we talked about."
That simple remark was enough to make the woman tense next to Kynval and he couldn't help but look back up at his old Master. The man, though wearing a stranger's face, had a very familiar expression and seemed more somber than he had in a long time. The look was enough to convey that the two of them had chatted, but maybe it hadn't been as friendly as Kynval had thought.
And with that, the Prince was gone from their sight.
The two stayed staring at the spot that he had disappeared from for a long, silent moment; Adraria looking pale as a ghost while Kynval could only stand there, confused. When his wife still refused to speak, he moved his hand away from hers and started to take the descent down the stairs.
"We shouldn't walk home right now, it's too dark. Pick a room and I'll pay for it."
The human only nodded her head, not moving an inch as her lover left her side. Her attention was only for the spot in which Sanguine had disappeared. She seemed to go just a tad bit paler.
They'd been in bed together for over an hour now, with neither saying a word to one another, and it had been a very tense and awkward hour of pretending. Adraria was trying her hardest to just fall asleep, hoping to escape the conversation she knew they had to have, at least for just tonight, but she could feel her husband fuming next to her. He'd been getting angrier and angrier every second, and she had to prepare herself before he burst.
Kynval was a mixture of emotions that his mind didn't have time to focus on. His heart still beat erratically in his chest from the worry from her disappearance, but before he could become to obsessed with that, his anger sparked again. Adraria knew how anxious he got when she went into town. How could she just take off like that an not send word of her actions? However, before his annoyance could bubble over, Kynval remembered Sanguine's parting words. And his confusion from that finally broke his silence.
"So, when do you plan on telling me what you and Sanguine talked about?"
"I was thinking never," the raven haired woman replied, back still turned to him, "Never sounded like a pretty good time. Now go to sleep."
"Adraria," the Dremora growled, glaring at the back of her head, willing her to turn to him.
Instead of answering to the threat, Adraria tightly closed her eyes and let out a couple fake snores that she was sure could have passed for bear noises. The Imperial hoped and prayed that the idiot would just get the hint that she didn't want to talk about it, now or ever, and they could just go back home in the morning and forget about it.
But just because Dremora were big and stupid didn't mean they let things like this go. With a deep and Demonic sound, Kynval grabbed the woman's shoulder and yanked her, turning her body to face his own while he sat up properly in the bed.
"This isn't a fucking joke, Adraria, don't treat it like one!"
The woman winced, both from the throbbing ache he'd left on her shoulder and the way he was yelling at her. She ignored both, however, to sit up like him, narrowing her eyes at the ink skinned man in her bed.
"I'm not taking it as a joke. I'm not taking it as anything because it was nothing important."
"You must think me very stupid if you expect me to believe that," Kynval scoffed, "He said only a few words to you and it was enough to render you speechless. You can't tell me that was nothing."
"Can't we just forget about it?" Adraria shouted, throwing her hands up in exasperation, seething as she did so. God, would he just shut up?
"Forget about it? Forget about it?" The man let out a hollow laugh, the humor replaced by malice. "We're not just going to forget about this, not with how it's making you act. You're going to tell me exactly what he said to you."
"By the Nine, it wasn't about you, so what does it matter? The world doesn't revolve around you."
Gods, they were getting so heated. In all their time together, they'd only had a couple of arguments this hot, and not a single one of them had ended well. Kynval would get so furious he'd usually leave her by herself so he could go break or kill the nearest thing that wasn't her. Meanwhile, Adraria fumed quietly, thinking of all the ways she could just send the man back to his world. It seemed that this would be the way this night would end, too, and the thought of it made her eyes prickle with tears.
Kynval moved closer to his wife, surprising her when his large hands cupped her face firmly, moving her so she could look straight into his eyes, which were no longer full of his steaming anger. The Imperial went to speak, but the Dremora stopped her.
"The world doesn't revolve around me, but damn it all, human, my world revolves around you. I live for you, I couldn't even be here without you, idiot. So if someone threatens you or our livelihood, even my own Prince, I'm not going to let it go."
"Kynval, it was only Sanguine-"
"That doesn't reassure me in any way," he sighed, lightly stroking the woman's cheeks. "You don't know him like I do. You're his Champion, hell act as human as he can around you. But he's not. Never forget that. I've been by his side for hundreds of years, and I've seen the things he's done, heard the lies he's told the mortals. If he's done anything to hurt my human-"
Adraria pushed against the Dremora's hands to plant her lips on his own, making him morph his words into a moan as she did so. Kynval didn't waste a second, moving his hands to wrap around her body and bring her back to the bed, tangling themselves in the sheets as well as each other. The deeper the man kissed her, the easier it was for Adraria to let herself and her anger go. She hated how tender the man could be when he wanted to. She sometimes thought he'd finally learned how to play her like a fool, but if he had, she would only play along because she loved it so much. But God damn if she didn't love these moments where she could get lost in his body and words.
When they finally had to pull away from each other for breath, Adraria grinned ad stroked her husband's plump lips.
"I hate you so much." I love you with all I am.
"I hate you even more." I love you more than life itself, silly human.
And then they were back on each other, Kynval's lips bruising Adraria's and pushing her farther back into the bed, pinned between the soft mattress and the Dremora's hard body. Adraria moaned and moved her arms to wrap them around the neck of her lover, clinging to his thick, muscled body. Using his hips, Kynval spread the Imperial woman's legs, forcing his body between her so he could feel the heat of her very center against him, ready for him. He moved one of her legs to his waist and pressed harder against her, making them both moan out.
The way that the woman threw her head back, fanning out her ebony locks while her eyes were closed tight and mouth open in a gasp only reminded him how much he was in love with her. She'd grabbed his heart so securely and made him feel like he'd never felt before. Adraria, knowing full well what he was and what he was capable of, had also given him everything that she was. There wasn't a thing in any world that he would trade for even a second without her. He was such a bad Dremora.
The feeling of a soft hand in his pants pulled his mind away from his own thoughts with a grunt, making him look down. Adraria had snuck between their bodies while he'd been in deep thought and wrapped her hand firmly around his thickening cock. Her grin as she slowly started to stroke him was a wicked one she could have only learned from him.
"Fuck," he whispered, laying his head on her chest.
"I love it when you talk dirty," the woman whispered back, reminiscent of her words from only this morning. Kynval growled at her and pumped himself into her hand, demanding more from her. The Imperial chuckled and continued her strokes while whispering naughty things into his ear to make him harder and hotter.
Her hot breath against his skin and her soft hand was enough to make him tremble and shiver. Their many years together and their very many more intimate nights had taught Adraria all too well the little tricks that made him beg for her. He loved and hated it at the same time because she could spend so much time teasing him and keeping him inches from orgasm.
Kynval soon had to squeeze his eyes tight at the sight of Adraria thoroughly licking her other hand so it could meet it's mate around his dick, the wet hand stroking while the other stayed near his base to tease his balls. He couldn't help but push himself into her hand, the warm, wet feeling only reminding him of her sweet pussy. But her hand could give him an even different pleasure, especially when her slim fingers started to dance around his throbbing dick, her thumb also flicking at the head.
"God damn it," the ink skinned man bit out, reaching behind his wife to grab at the wooden bed frame. Every time that slick hand passed over him and she thumbed the head of his cock, he squeezed the wood tighter, making it creak and groan under his pressure. Adraria looked up at him with her sly smile, proud of the things she could make him do with just her hand.
Kynval continued to thrust slowly, trying to feel every sensation from the pleasure she was giving him, and he stared intently at the woman. Every now and then, the bud of her tongue would poke out to lick her lips, or if she made him moan there was a hitch in her breathing, showing just how much pleasure she was getting from this as well. On a couple of occasions, when she pulled an orgasm from him by mouth or hand, she'd cum with him too.
But he didn't want the night to go on like that. Not when he was sure he only had one go in him this late at night. He needed to hold out, to make her go wild, to show her how much she meant to him. And he could't do that if her hands were trapped around him. So he decided to change it up.
Adraria was having a hard time focusing on Kynval's facial expressions, stroking him, ad trying to hold back her own moans to even noticed when her lover moved his hands from the headboard until he swept her up in his arms. She let out a surprised squeak and quickly let go of him, not wanting to hurt his most sensitive part as he stood them up. The bed sheets fell around them as he stood, holding the dark haired woman in an awkward way. Adraria was about to question what he was planning on doing but he moved her body around him before she had time to guess.
One arm went under each of her thighs, holding her legs open for his body to fit into. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck to hold on, looking down between their bodies to see his actions. With a rumbling sound from deep within his chest, Kynval juggled between holding the woman's body weight and pushing his pants down, freeing his hard, throbbing dick. The man smiled when his lover let out a small gasp at the sight of him, moving a hand to her own underwear. Usually, he'd just tear the fabric from her body, but even now he was too impatient for that. He roughly moved the material to the side and pushed himself into her pussy, sparing no time in spearing her to the very core.
"Kynval!" Adraria shouted, eyes wide. Her fingers wrapped themselves in his disheveled hair, her eyes darting between them to see him buried as deep as he could be inside her. Knowing she liked to watch, the Dremora slowly slid out of her, making a show of it, and watched the pleasure roll through her as he thrust back inside just as slow. He did this a couple more times, feeling her cunt getting wetter and wetter before he couldn't stand it anymore.
He leaned her whole body back, getting the perfect angle, then pierced her again. He hit her very end and pulled out quicker than Adraria could breath his name. His thrust were too quick for her eyes to follow, and she could barely keep them open with how he was hitting all of her spots. Her back arched while she mewled, and she wanted to dig her nails into his chest, but she could't let go. She was midair, with Kynval's strong arms the only thing stopping her decent to the floor. So she held onto his neck, gently pulling on his hair as he growled.
Kynval moved his head down to Adraria's body, his lips and teeth attacking the skin between her bouncing breasts, lapping at the sweet flesh as he fucked her smoothly. The way she bounced on his cock with every thrust was enough to drive him insane and he went faster, harder, forcing her down on him all the way, making him bend inside of her, and it was the sweetest mixture of pleasure and pain. Adraria screamed his name again and again, barely taking a breath between each scream.
She was in a teeter totter of pain and pleasure. She loved it when all of him was inside her, but unless they were in a certain position, or had done a lot of loosening on her part, it hurt her more than it hurt him. But she didn't want him to stop, never wanted him to stop fucking her. But he always had a way to sense her dilemma. So when his mouth locked around her still covered breast and bit down, sucking and nibbling on her sensitive nipple, she lost herself. Adraria yelled, just yelled, and felt her orgasm take over her, rolling through her body, and she almost lost her balance, but Kynval was there to catch her. He kept himself inside her and held the woman against him as she started to come down from her high, and it was hard not to let go with her. But he wasn't done.
When Adraria came down from her orgasm, she noticed she was lying back in the bed, the Dremora on top of her, though he wasn't moving. His face was buried in her neck, his heavy breathing tickling the skin. Her hands caressed his back, loving the slick sweat that she had caused. She was about to make a smart remark, but the first push deep inside her body made her lose her breath.
There was a mumbled response into her neck, something that Adraria didn't catch before he made her lose herself again, his thrusts slow and deep inside her. He moved like he was getting to know her body again, even though he knew every button to press to get her to moan. The movements were soft, tender, and loving. And then his words mixed in.
He was speaking Daedric. An ancient langue she couldn't even fathom to be able to speak. But he kept mumbling them, guttural words she didn't understand that made her toes curl while he made love to her. Even though Kynval's breath was ragged, he didn't stop speaking. He kissed and bit her neck, but he never stopped talking to her.
The warmth was building in her stomach again, telling her that she was close, and the Dremora could feel it. He moved above her, using his hands to support his weight, and locked eyes with her. Her eyes followed his lips as he spoke to her.
"Ek sou doodmaak vir jou," he spoke, pushing into her again.
"Sterf vir jou." His cock moved over that one spot that made her world tremble and shake. She whispered his name.
"Gaan na die oorlog vir jou." He sheathed himself inside her completely but pushed even harder and she moaned again.
"Maar nou leef ek vir jou." The kiss he planted on her lips ate her noises and muted his own.
"Jy is al wat ek sien." Her nails dug into his skin, her back arched, and she could already feel him inside her, close to filling her.
"Ek is lief vir jou." And then they both broke. Their mouths moved away from one another's so they could scream and Kynval clung to the woman like he'd die if he didn't. Adraria's heart was beating so fast, she was sure the people down stairs could hear, like they'd heard everything they'd just done. Kynval rolled off the woman as to not crush her, but pulled her against him, laying his head on top of hers. It took a long time before their breath came back to them.
"What-what did you say?" she mumbled against his chest. She felt Kynval kiss her head.
"You know."
She didn't know, not really, but with an answer like that, she could only guess, and it made her smile. Gods above, she was deeply in love with this ebony skinned Demon.
"He thinks I'm taking you away from your life of death and chaos," Adraria went on, catching the man's attention, "Sanguine blames the lack of debauchery on me. He thinks I've 'tamed' you. And he's not very happy about it."
She wasn't going to tell him word for word what he had said to her, but this was enough to rid him of the worry. He held her body tighter against him and spoke into her hair.
"If he thinks that you've truly tamed me, then he hasn't seen us fuck."
The joke was enough to make her chuckle and kiss his chest, her fingers drawing patterns into his skin. Kynval agreed with his former master; he'd been tamed, but his life with Adraria was worth it. He didn't give a damn what his Prince thought. But his wife did.
"We just have to show him how wild we really are."
"As much as I liked seeing our wanted posters, I don't want to deal with those bounties again," the Imperial sighed, fighting off sleep.
"I'll think of something. Sleep, human."
Who was she to say no? Adraria's eyes closed, her body warmed by the heat of her husband, and it was enough to let her push her guilt away. Their talk had been much graver than that. But she couldn't tell Kynval, she wouldn't.
Don't forget what we talked about.
"Do you know something I don't?" Adraria asked calmly, though she was panicking deep inside. Was this a threat?
"The fate of you mortals is ever changing, so nothing is set in stone. But I want you to know your options before it's too late. I will have to fight for it, but you've given me reason to, if you so choose."
"And what will happen to me after you win?"
Sanguine gave the woman a soft smile, something so genuine that it surprised her.
"You have gained much of my interest. I will not let you fall into the place of a being less than you. You are my Champion, after all. So, what do you say?"
"Swear on it. That I won't be reduced to a slave to your whims."
"When I win, and I will win, I swear on my very own name and the combined powers of all the Princes that your free-will will forever remain intact."
"Then you have a deal, my Prince."
Adraria bolted awake, sweat covering her half naked body, and her dark eyes scanned the room. Not her room, but the Inn's. They were still here, in this God's forsaken place. All she wanted to do was go home and sleep. Sleep and fuck.
Speaking of, where was her husband?
The small room that they had shared the night before was empty of his dark presence, the bed cold enough to tell her that he hadn't been here in quite a while. Where was that damn Dremora?
She had time to dress back into yesterday's clothes and nibble on some bread one of the workers had brought to her before Kynval made his way back into the room with something in his arms, surprised to see her awake. She gave him a look, demanding he explain himself, and that only made him grin.
"And I thought I'd left you tired enough to sleep for days," he spoke, throwing the package on the bed next to her. Adraria grinned at the man and shook her head.
"No, but we'll have to fool around with that one day. What's this?"
"Why don't you open it and find out?"
With a roll of her eyes, the woman unwound the fabric holding the gift together, opening it to reveal some very worn leather, though it was still in fantastic shape. It looked familiar to her, though she couldn't quite determine why until she completely unfolded it. "My old armor?"
"The armor here in this city is complete shit, no matter what the citizens tell you, so I thought I'd fetch yours."
"I have two questions. Why do I need my armor? And if I need mine, then where is yours?"
With a snap of his fingers, the Daedric warrior stood clothed in his glowing, ebony armor, looking just as he did the moment she'd first seen him. Adraria hid her soft smile behind a smirk.
"You'll need it because we're going out to ravish a small town."
"Hold up, what did you say? I told you yesterday that we don't need our bounties back."
"Yes, yes human, I heard you," he spoke, waving his hand, "Our quest is sickeningly noble. The town has been overtaken by bandits. The Imperial army is too busy cleaning up the messes from the war to help. So I took up the contract. You can steal from the bandits while I kill them."
That was the sweetest, most blood thirsty thing Kynval had ever said to her. Laughing, Adraria threw the fabric at her husband, blinding him for a moment, and started to unlace the armor.
"If you want to get there before nightfall, I suggest you help me put this armor on."
One quick fuck later, the two had finally managed to get the damned leather on her, though many curses had left their lips. Adraria had worn this armor when she'd been a skinny stick of a girl that was lucky to even find food for her and her servant. Now, she was a fully curved woman, and it was a shock her assets could even fit anymore. But they did, and the way they clung to her like a second skin made Kynval want to rip it off of her.
But they had a quest, and he really did want to finish it before nightfall. The strange bed had caused his back to give him pain. Adraria said it was from old age. He elbowed her in the side, causing her to pout, and then they were on their way.
"Ow, ow woman! That hurts."
"Quit being such a baby. You've been impaled, this can't possibly compare to that pain."
Kynval growled and wanted to push the woman off of him, but knew she was only helping. True, the cut on his face wasn't a major one, mixing in with all his other bruises from his fights today, but that didn't mean having that damn ointment applied to his skin didn't hurt.
"If you weren't so intent on getting that damn circlet, I'd never had gotten this cut in the first place."
"If you're going to complain," Adraria rebuffed, fixing the diamond encrusted circlet on her brow, "You can just go ahead and use your own healing magic. Oh, wait, you can't! Because you used it on me earlier."
Kynval looked away from his wife and crossed his arms across his chest. Yes, he'd used all his magic on healing the woman earlier, but the mix up hadn't been his fault! She had been covered in blood, breathing labored as she killed the last of those damn bandits. He had just assumed the blood was hers... However, she'd just cut the throat of a man seconds before he'd arrived and had been sprayed by his life liquid. Could she really blame him for worrying though? They hadn't fought against such a huge group in such a long time. During the whole fight, he'd barely been able to keep his eyes off of her, making sure she was as safe as she could be in such a blood bath. Sanguine was right, she had tamed him.
"Look, you're all done," the woman said only moments later, sitting back in her own spot. He'd been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't had time to complain. He placed a hand on his now healed cheek and smirked at her in thanks.
"I guess it was worth it, though. You'd look damn good with only that circlet on."
Adraria guffawed and threw her armor's top at him, though he caught it with ease, laying it down next to his own armor.
"My days of fucking you in the woods are over, Demon. I'm a respectable woman. I only scream for my husband where people can hear me," she joked, referring to their adventure the night before, as well as this morning. The looks that they had received... Kynval growled, remembering that damn ginger thief had been there, raising his cup to them and winking at Adraria as they'd left.
"If I had known marrying you would bore our sex life, I would have thought harder."
"Just shut up and put your shirt back on. You're distracting me."
Kynval threw his shirt behind him, not caring where it landed, and laughed at his wife's exasperated sigh. As if to make up for his lack of clothing, she wrapped her own blue robes around her tighter, shivering. The two of them had just gotten back from a dip in the river, where they'd washed their armor of blood and other such deathly things. Now they sat around their makeshift camp, watching the sun slowly go down as they waited for their armor to dry.
Noticing the setting sun, Adraria whispered her ancient words, conjuring a small flame that she blew onto the ground. The fire pit burst with a hot, blue flame before changing to orange. The Imperial smiled triumphantly.
That had been another thing Kynval had been worrying about. There were usually only fighters and archers in a group of bandits, but on rare occasions, there was a mage. This group had had three. Enough to make Adraria freeze when she'd come across them.
There were still times where he woke up to a shivering Adraria whispering curses, reliving her times when she'd been trapped and tortured by that Thalmor bastard. The woman still held a fear of other magic users, but she'd been strong during her battle. Using all the powerful spells she'd learned over the years, some from the Dragonborn himself, she'd killed them all first. Which had almost completely drained her magic.
But they'd made it, alive and mostly well, and they'd even run away with some valuable objects, including the gold and diamond crown his lover now wore. Though that had caused him a nasty gash on his cheek from the original, now deceased owner. But the smile on her face now made up for that. It reminded him of their first spree together, after they had made their deal. She'd been just as happy then.
"If it makes you feel any better, I got something for you too."
Kynval rose his brow in question, motioning her to go on. With a smile, she leaned over to dig around in her bag of goodies, most of their contents still a mystery to him, and watched as she pulled out a long, sheathed dagger. The sheath was nothing much to look at, but Kynval could tell by the jeweled handle that the blade itself would be worth seeing. The woman threw it his way like she had the armor, and he'd caught it just as easily. Unsheathing it, he let out a low whistle of appreciation.
There was a sunset orange jewel placed at the very hilt of the blade, smoothed down so finely it wouldn't annoy the wielder. At the very top of the blade, hidden when inside the sheath, was a rounded piece of onyx that reflected the setting sun's light. And the metal blade itself, which was sharp and very well taken care of, had markings on them, a strange language that he didn't know, but beautiful none the less. A very unique blade indeed.
"Hopefully this dagger isn't as unlucky as the one you won from Dagon."
"You always bring that up! I threw it away, didn't I? Can you at least say thank you? I could probably sell that thing for a small fortune."
"I'm sure we'll be able to live off the millions you'll make off the rest of that junk. Now come here and I'll show you how thankful I am."
"Please, like I'm going to fall for that!" Adraria laughed, throwing her black hair over her shoulder.
Then Kynval would go to her. With a smirk, the Dremora started to get up, licking his lips as he did so.
That was when the arrow flew through the air and pierced Adraria in her right shoulder.
"Adraria!" Kynval yelled while the woman cried out in pain, her hand going straight to the wound. Her other hand motioned for Kynval to stop. Right, he needed to check the area, see where that arrow had come from. His armor, still wet, appeared on his form, and he let out an animalistic growl.
"Show yourselves, cowards, and face your swift death!"
As Kynval checked around them, hiding her body behind his armored one, Adraria pulled out the glass arrow carefully, making sure not to break it and leave shards in the wound. Her hand went to stop the blood flow as well as heal, and she cursed. She'd have enough to halfway heal this, but that would be it. She wouldn't be able to defend them with magic.
It was only after Adraria's magic finally ran out that the culprits showed themselves. Both their eyes widened when they saw the robed assailants. Bandits and necromancers they expected, but them?
"Vigilants of Stendarr," Kynval hissed, raising his sword up higher
"Stendarr's Mercy be upon you, for the Vigil had none to spare," the leader, a thin dark elf, responded, putting his bow behind his back and coming out with his own blade.
"Begone, you damned vultures. We have no quarrel with you," Adraria shouted, standing up though still behind Kynval.
The other three laughed at her threat, their hands covered in the glow of magic. "We flee not in the presence of an abomination. We are here to clear Skyrim of your kind."
"Then you obviously don't know how Daedra work! Killing them in our world only sends them back to theirs. There is no stopping them from coming back."
"However, if you want to step into my world, I will gladly battle you in my death lands," Kynval taunted smirking at them all. The very mention of such and invitation sent them all a step back, offended. Only the leader stood proud and strong.
"We will not fall to your threats. Lady, though you have lain with such a demon, we will spare your life if you run now."
Even though Kynval knew that it was a lie, that the moment she even took a step they would yell "The Mercy of Stendarr does not extend to Daedra worshipers!" and try and kill her, he wished she would run. He knew she was likely out of magic, or at least enough that could bare anything useful, and she was not a good fighter without her spells. She had him for that, but even he had a hard time against Stendarr's people.
Adraria shook her head and stood next to Kynval, grabbing the blade that she'd just given to her husband, brandishing it against her foes. The dark elf nodded his head, like he was impressed by her decision, and with another nod, motioned his people to attack.
The first one fell easily to Kynval's blade, the Dremora cutting the Nord in half before he could finish his battle cry. But his element of surprising speed only worked for one. The rest tread carefully, staying out of the reach of his sword while he swung. They tried to call forth their magic, but they had to dodge him or be killed, so it seemed to be a dance against one another.
Adraria surprised another one by sending a bolt of lightning to the Imperial, who dropped her weapon as her body seized. But it wasn't a killing blow. At least not that bolt. But if she could just get her magic up a little more, she was sure she could summon a small storm to strike the woman down.
Kynval took the chance Adraria had given him and went for the weak link, but she was protected by the other two. The Servants bare a couple cuts from his blade, but it was worth the safety of their comrade. He had to give it to them, they were a good team. It was a shame they'd picked the wrong people to mess with.
The tingling sensation of Adraria's magic had the woman antsy. She needed to help Kynval or they' both be doomed, but her magic just refused to come back quick enough. She would have to deal with what little she had. The words began to flow from her lips, turning the tingling into a crackling of lightning, charging up her power.
But that power stopped as a blade forced its way through her lower chest, her blue robes stained red as blood exploded from her chest. A fifth member. There had been a fifth member hiding in the brush. A quieted scream left the Imperial's mouth when the blade was then ripped from her body and she lost all control, falling to the ground.
The scream reached Kynal's ear and he whipped around, no longer worrying about the members in front of him, but to his wife. And the sight of her falling to the ground made his eyes go wide. There was so much blood covering her chest, and this time he knew it was hers from the wound that continued to pour the red liquid. He wanted to run to her, to kill the new elf that dare lay his sword upon her, but the other three took this time to attack at once, thinking they could catch them off guard. But he'd lived too long to fall for something like that.
With one arm he used all his power to punch the Imperial away, throwing her into a tree with a sickening crack as her neck broke. Next, he deflected the leader's blade with his own. In the same movement, he shoved the Redguard's away from him, which led right into the neck of the elf's. Once he was out of the picture, Kynval was able to use his own sword to decapitate the scared Redguard. It was all over in a single moment. He turned his back away from them before either of their bodies hit the floor.
The fifth man barely had time since he stabbed the human to move and had only watched with wide eyes as the Dremora easily killed his friends. He wasn't going to become one of them, so he ran, ran as fast as he could back into the brush.
As best he could, Kynval threw his sword, watching as it and the man disappeared into the forest. He heard the meaty sound of his sword hitting its mark and the body falling to the ground, but it didn't fill him with pride like it usually would have. Instead, he rushed to his wife's side and picked her up. She let out a painful cry that broke the man, but he cradled her body in his eyes.
"Adraria, Adraria can you hear me? Open your eyes, lover."
She mumbled something and hissed when Kynval intertwined their hands to press against the wound. Gods, he could see her insides through the hole. Tears leaked from her eyes from the pain but she still tried to speak.
"Hush, human! Save your strength. I'll have to carry you back to town, it's not that far-"
"Our house..."
"Adraria, our house is too far away, we won't make it."
The Imperial finally opened her eyes, though they were still filled with so much pain, and she opened her blood filled mouth again. "Won't finish... house..."
"Shut up, shut up. We're almost done with it," the Dremora growled, picking her up carefully. He started to run, run as fast as he could, but each step made the woman cry out. It hurt his heart, but she'd forgive him once they got to the town. Oblivion, he didn't care if she never talked to him again, as long as she was okay that's all that mattered. The town wasn't too far away, they would make it.
"Love you," the Imperial slurred, freezing Kynval's blood, "I love you."
"I know, you idiot. I've always known that! Now please, save your strength."
The feeling of her blood soaked hands slipping from his brought the Dremora to a dead stop, watching with wide eyes as she used what strength she had left to bring her hands to his dark face, marking his skin with her blood.
"Sorry. So sorry. Love you. I love you."
Her hand started to slip from his face, but he held one there, pressed it firmly against him while her eyes went in and out of focus. "Don't do this. Don't you dare do this to me!"
"Kynval," she cried, eyes shutting, body growing heavier in his, making him fall to his knees to the ground, "Kynval, please..."
"I love you, I love you!" the Dremora shouted, "I've always loved you, Adraria. There's not a thing in this world that I love more than you!"
"Ek is lief vir jou," she breathed, so quietly and so slowly, but the man heard. Heard her proclaim her love in his own language, while he had been too much of a coward to say it in hers.
"I love you, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I never said it before but I love you."
"Sor..."
The pain left her face then, her agony slowly dissipating as the life left her body cold, so cold in Kynval's arms. Her hand fell from his with a heavy thump on her own bloodied chest and the ink skinned man screamed. He clutched her to him, grabbing her face and bringing it to his.
"You can't do this! We made a deal, Adraria! I was to be with you forever! This isn't forever." He shook her body, but there was no response. "By Oblivion, answer me!"
But there was no answer to be found. She was gone, her life had left him, and he sat by himself in the newly dark world, holding the only thing that had ever meant anything to him. It was impossible for Dremora to cry, because they were never supposed to feel anguish like this, but Kynval wanted to. Wanted to cover both their bodies in his tears. Instead, he screamed, screamed long and hard before dry sobs left his mouth.
"I love you, I love you. I should have said it before, said it more often, said it so you could understand. I love you, I love you, I love you..."
Kynval sat there for a long time, repeating a mantra of those three little words. He kept going until his voice started to leave him, but even then, he whispered the words to the cold body in his arms. She would come back to him, she always did.
This time, she never came back.
He buried her body in the front of their home, next to the steps where she would always watch him in the morning while she drank her tea with a hidden smirk. For the first couple days, he would always look back to the steps, waiting for her to come out and greet him with a crude comment. He was only met with the silence on the wind.
He finished their home two weeks after her death. It gleamed in the morning sunlight, standing tall and proud in the little meadow in the woods. But on the inside, it was barren of anything to give it life, to give it a true personality. Adraria had wanted to do that.
"A lot of this house was built by me, you know! I just decided that I'd let you finish the building part while I worked on the decorating. We can't just be surrounded by wood and stone, you know."
But now she was gone, and the house was cursed to forever be lifeless. He couldn't stand to be there by himself anymore. It held too many memories with her. So he left, with his armor, sword, and gifted dagger as his only possessions. Where he was supposed to stay now, he wasn't sure, because everywhere he turned, he heard her laugh, heard her whispered words in the wind. It was enough to drive a man mad.
It was three weeks after her death that Sanguine finally found him. Not that it was hard, he hadn't strayed far from the Rift. He should have seen it coming, really; one of Sanguine's best warriors was now free from "imprisonment", he should have come back home when the mortal had fallen. However, Kynval didn't have a true home anymore. His home had once been Oblivion, but that was before Adraria. They had started a home, but it was nothing without her. Now, he didn't know where he belonged.
"Really, Kynval, this is truly pathetic," he Prince had started, startling the Dremora, "It's been almost a month. What exactly are you still doing in the mortal world?"
Kynval growled and turned away from the man, stomping away. How dare he show up and ask that kind of question, especially dressed in a small woman's skin! A pale woman with long, dark hair. Kynval's heart throbbed in his chest.
"You need to learn to live and let go. She was mortal, you had to know this was coming at some point. I let you carry on with this charade of love for long enough so you could get some action, but I never thought you'd be this heartbroken over it!"
"Sanguine," the man growled, narrowing his eyes at the small female, fists balled.
"Honestly, another pretty little thing will come along to catch your attention and you'll forget all about her!"
"She was your Champion!" Kynval roared, rushing at the disguised immortal, grabbing the "little girl" by the collar of her dress, "How can you talk about her like that? She obviously meant something to you if you bestowed my staff to her. So why are you speaking about her like this?!"
"To get that kind of reaction!" the girl laughed, making his warrior drop him to the ground and send shivers down his spine, "I've been watching you, and you've been stuck. You needed me to get you out of your agony, even if it means this kind of fury."
The face of the small woman suddenly turned serious, her eyes no longer human. "You need to come back, Kynval."
"How am I supposed to forget her, Sanguine?" Kynval shouted, throwing his arms up, "What do I do without the only thing that ever meant anything to me?"
"You don't," the body shrugged, "You don't forget. She was my Champion of choice, and she was always destined for better things, even after death. But your place is by my side. We'll mourn her together. We have plenty of time for it."
Sanguine opened a portal and stepped inside, letting the dark tendrils wrap around his shapely legs. He held out a gentle hand to Kynval, waiting. A silent moment passed between them, but the man grabbed his hand, stepping into the portal as the blackness started to take him.
With a deep breath, he looked around at the autumn forest that he thought had been home. He never wanted to see this place again.
When Kynval opened his eyes, he'd expected to see Oblivion with the welcoming of his brothers and sisters. But he stood in the Bee and Barb with the Prince. He was confused for only a moment until he saw who was sitting at the table where the rooms were.
"Sanguine, what in Oblivion is this?!" Kynval demanded, though he couldn't tear his eyes from the sight in front of him. There sat Adraria of the past, where she was having a conversation with Sanguine from the past as well.
"You needed to see this. Or hear, rather, but I thought you would enjoy seeing her as well."
Kynval shook his head. "She told me what you talked about, I don't need this."
"Oh, but she didn't my boy! I told her to keep our conversation a secret. She told you half truths." Sanguine waved his small hands around, dispelling the topic, "But that doesn't matter, just listen!"
The sound of their voices cut into the Dremora's ear and the sound of his wife's voice made him want to weep. By Oblivion, he missed her so much. What kind of torture was his master trying to put him through?
"If that's what you do to heroes, I don't even want to know what would happen to me!" Adraria exclaimed, her face full of fury, "why would you even suggest something like that to me?"
"You didn't let me get to the good part!" past Sanguine exclaimed, throwing up his hands, "Yes, I have a lot of loyal followers who do my bidding when asked, but a man gets tired of that after 300 years. I want something different. I want a friend by my side, someone I can create stories with for the next 300 years! But to do that, I'll have to fight hard for you. Dagon expects you, but since I had hold of you first, I get claim. However, he's a tricky one. I won't put my dignity on the line unless I have your complete cooperation." There was a long, pregnant pause between them before the human spoke again.
"Do you know something I don't?" Adraria asked calmly, though Kynval knew her well enough to know she was conflicted.
"The fate of you mortals is ever changing, so nothing is set in stone. But I want you to know your options before it's too late. I will have to fight for it, but you've given me reason to, if you so choose."
"And what will happen to me after you win?"
Sanguine gave the woman a soft smile, a genuine smile that Kynval had never seen him give before, even to his other Champions.
"You have gained much of my interest. I will not let you fall into the place of a being less than you. You are my Champion, after all. So, what do you say?"
"Swear on it. That I won't be reduced to a slave to your whims," Adraria demanded, her face set in that stubborn stone of hers.
"When I win, and I will win, I swear on my very own name and the combined powers of all the Princes that your free-will will forever remain intact."
"Then you have a deal, my Prince," they shook hands over the table, their eyes locked, "I give you my soul, for now until eternity."
"No, that's... that's not possible," Kynval whispered, barely noticing as the darkness started to take him again, "That would mean.."
"I assure you, my son, it is very possible. A lot of work, but very, very possible," the present Sanguine laughed, hiding somewhere in the dark.
When he opened his eyes next, he was truly back in Oblivion, though the usual banter of his kin was not bombarding his ear. The only thing he heard was a soft gasp behind him. Whipping around, his eyes met with the thing he most truly wanted to see. And Gods, was she beautiful.
"Kynval," Adraria whispered, hand going to cover her mouth as happy tears leaked from her eyes.
"I tried to get the younger one," Sanguine said, back in his true form, "but Dagon said that I had to have her when she 'swore her loyalty to me'. But it doesn't look like you mind."
The two stood apart, staring at each other from so far away. Adraria had told herself that she would welcome him home with some smart remark, something to get a rise out of him, but that had been three weeks ago. Now she could only stand there, almost sobbing, as the love of her life looked at her, his heartbreak evident in his eyes. She just wanted to wrap herself around his body.
Kynval could only gape at the very real woman in front of him. He wanted it to be real, hoped to every Prince and God that it was real. Sanguine would be only too cruel if this was some sick joke. Still, there was so much hope in his heart.
Sanguine looked back and forth between the two, watching them watch each other, and pouted, folding his arms across his chest.
"For fuck's sake, would you two kiss or fuck already? I expected a scene and I damn well better get one."
That was all the prompting Kynval needed. He ran at Adraria, watching as she opened her arms with a wet laugh, and grabbed her around the waist. She was real, by everything damned and holy combined, she was real! He wasted no time crashing his lips against hers, taking in her taste and groaning at the missed and familiar taste. This wasn't something that Sanguine could just recreate, this was her.
"I thought I'd lost you forever," Adraria said between her kisses, barely audible with how hard her husband was kissing her, "Thank Sanguine I have you again."
"I love you," was the first thing Kynval said, pulling away from her to stare into her dark eyes, "I love you. I'll never let you leave my side without knowing that. I love you."
Adraria stroked the Dremora's cheek, tears still falling down her own, and nodded her head. "I love you more than words can say."
Ek sou doodmaak vir jou. "I would kill for you," Kynval started, pressing a kiss against her head.
Sterf vir jou. "Die for you." He kissed her forehead.
Gaan na die oorlog vir jou. "Go to war for you." His lips tickled against her ear.
Maar nou leef ek vir jou. "But now I live for you," he sighed, holding her closer to feel her heart beat against his chest.
Jy is al wat ek sien. "You are all I see," he finished, placing a gentle kiss on her soft lips. Adraria wept into the kiss and held him closer. She'd never let him go again.
"Ek is lief vir jou," the Imperial whimpered, not caring that her new lord and master was watching them with a smirk. Kynval beamed and kissed her. When they both finally parted, he traced her lips with his fingertips.
"I love you, too."
Sanguine had a way of seeing into the future, at least the future of his own warriors and followers. He knew he was going to live to regret letting them stay together like this, only because they'd use that lovey dovey shit to drag his reputation through the mud, but they'd help him achieve things greater than he'd ever imagine. And soon, their own life together would change, become more than just the two of them. But for now, he'd let them live in the moment.
Sanguine's eyes widened in surprise.
"Woah, woah! When I said fuck, I didn't actually mean it. Oh, get a ROOM you two!"
A/N: Hours and hours and hoooours later, I finally finished this thing! I feel it's maybe a bit rushed, probably just because I wanted to get it done, but it covered everything I wanted it to cover, so I'm happy with it. I hope you guys are too, since everyone wanted a sequel. I might even have another chapter in me for these two.
Please, enjoy the story and tell me what you thought!
-Jaquie
