Chapter Sixteen

Erik, Alinja and Meeko decided to stay the night at Kynesgrove's inn, Braidwood and meet Delphine in Riverwood, the next day. Meeko slept outside their room, while Erik and Alinja were able to sleep on a bed once more.

"It's nice to have a break every now and then." Alinja said, slipping out of her armour leaving her dressed in a soft fabric tunic.

"You're right," Erik replied. He gazed at the Nord woman. "You…you were really great today. You fought like a true Dragonborn." He shifted closer to her. "Every time you…devour…a dragon's soul, you look…so beautiful."

"Erik…" Alinja gingerly touched his bare chest.

We wrapped his arms around her, gently. "You've grown so much. I'm so proud of you."

"I couldn't do it without you."

"Well, the way you handled that last fight, I'm pretty sure you could." Erik lightly kissed the top of her head.

"Erik," Alinja looked up at him.

"I'm teasing you," he added, smiling.

"Yeah because—"

"We're in this together." They said in unison.

"Exactly." Alinja planted a quick kiss on his lips and pulled away to get ready for sleep, but Erik pulled her back. "Eri—"

Before she could respond, Erik pressed his lips against hers, lovingly. He held her close and slipped his tongue past her lips.

"Amn!" The sudden intimacy took her by surprise.

He pulled away slightly to look directly into her eyes and brush a few strands of loose hair back behind her ear before continuing to assault her lips. Stepping forward a little, Alinja stepped back and felt the edge of the bed behind her knees. She suddenly lost her balance and they fell onto it. Erik moved from lips to her neck, grazing his teeth on her sensitive skin. She tried to keep her mouth shut so she wouldn't make any more embarrassing noises, but the sensation of his lips, teeth and tongue on her neck…she couldn't stop the small groans and moans from escaping her mouth. Erik's hand moved slowly down her waist and past her hips. He continued to her bare thigh and stroked back up, lifting her tunic as he moved.

"E-Erik!" Alinja caught his hand before he could lift her clothes off her.

"What is it?" Erik pulled away and looked down on her.

"I-I…" Alinja's cheeks flushed. "I'm just not…"

"Oh," Erik rolled off her. "I'm sorry."

"No…I didn't mean…"

"No, its fine." Erik stood and walked around the other side of the bed. But he looked everything but fine.

"Erik…"

"I'm fine." He said hastily. "Sorry. No, really. It's okay. I'm sorry, if I rushed you."

Alinja watched as he lay down on the bed with his back to her. She felt foolish to become so flustered. All she could do was lay down next to him, though she felt too embarrassed to sleep too close to him, and she could feel that he was upset, so she lay there on the opposite side of the bed, staring up at the ceiling, feeling foolish.

As morning came around, they decided to take the carriage to Whiterun. Alinja sat across from Erik and Meeko sat on the floor of the wagon. Erik avoided looking her in the eye and kept his gaze cast down. They refrained from talking to each other for the entire ride to Whiterun. By the time they arrived, the sun was high in the sky and the heat of the hinterlands rose from the ground.

Finally as they were striding down the path to Riverwood, Alinja spoke up. "Erik, I think we should talk about…"

"I'd rather not." He interrupted.

"You haven't looked at me since last night." She pressed. "I'm sorry if I—"

"Look," he turned and finally looked her in the eye. "It was just a little embarrassing, but I'm fine now."

Alinja's face twisted sympathetically. "I'm sorry." Was all she could say.

Just as they were about to continue on, a large Sabre Cat bounded out of the bushes, savagely growing. This Cat was larger than ones they've fought before. Large dark brown stripes streaked across its back, running like rivers through its tawny fur. Its bright yellow eyes bore into its prey, sending shivers down her spine. Before Erik could even draw his sword, however, Alinja gripped the hilt of hers and swung once across the Sabre's neck and stabbed twice at its head. The Cat died in surprise, not expecting its prey to put up such a fantastic fight.

"Didn't even need to draw your sword for that one!" Alinja joked, trying to make Erik feel better.

"Hm." Erik muttered.

Alinja's face dropped. She didn't know how to deal with him when he was like this. In fact it seemed to be more of a male thing. When they got like this, she didn't know whether she should comfort them, or leave them be.

Clearing her throat, she sheathed her weapon. "We should…uh…move on?"

"Hm." Erik grunted an agreement.

When they got to Riverwood, they entered the Sleeping Giant Inn. Delphine was waiting for them, standing impatiently against a wall.

"Finally, you're here." She sighed. "Follow me." When Erik and Meeko went to follow two she stopped at stared at them. "Just the Dragonborn."

Erik stared her down and for a moment, Alinja thought he would violently retaliate against Delphine, though to her relief, he just nodded and looked away, calling Meeko to a table and sitting down.

Alinja looked at him sadly before following Delphine down the stairs to her secret room.

Delphine leisurely strode over to the table in the centre of the room and placed her hands on it, looking up at Alinja.

"I've figured out how we're going to get into the Thalmor Embassy." She said with a determined expression.

"You're not coming?" Alinja knew that the Thalmor wanted to kill the Breton, but she didn't think she would be able to go without her knowledge.

"That would be a bad idea." Delphine replied. "I'd be too likely to attract the wrong kind of attention. But they don't know you at all, yet."

Alinja cracked her knuckles with anticipation. "So what's your plan? How do I infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy?"

"The Thalmor ambassador, Elenwen," Delphine scowled slightly at the name, "regularly throws parties where the rich and connected cosy up to the Thalmor. I can get you into one of those parties. Once you're inside the Embassy, you could get away and find Elenwen's secret files. I have a contact inside the Embassy. He's not up for this kind of high-risk mission, but he can help you. His name is Malborn. Wood elf, plenty of reason to hate the Thalmor. You can trust him." Standing up straight, Delphine stretched her back. "I'll get word for him to meet you in Solitude at the Winking Skeever Inn. While you're doing that, I'll work on getting you an invitation to Elenwen's little party. Meet me at the Solitude stables after you've arranged things with Malborn."

Alinja nodded and was about to turn to leave when Delphine called to her.

"Oh, and Dragonborn," Alinja turned to look at her, "it wouldn't be a good idea for you to have…followers. I will only be able to get one invitation. Best to tell him soon."

"Erik and Meeko go where I go." Alinja said firmly.

"Well, not this time, Dragonborn." Delphine stared her in the eye. "There isn't anything I can do about it, and frankly there isn't anything you can do either."

"Then it looks like no one will be infiltrating the Embassy then." She turned her nose up stubbornly.

"Dragonborn," Alinja looked at the Breton, suddenly alerted by the sternness in her voice, "this must be done if we are to find out a way to protect Skyrim and possibly all of Tamriel! You cannot be childish and stubborn now just because your friends can't come with you."

"He's more than a friend though!" Alinja cried. Her heart was beating. Erik was…more than a friend. He was her love. She had decided. She loved him. There wasn't a man alive that could compare to his unique traits. Everything from his warm, bearded smile to the way he would exhale into her ear as he embraced her. She loved his companionship, but treasured his heart that beat in sync with her own. She valued the moments in the middle of the night when she would wake, he would be there, sleeping soundly next to her and cherished the way his nose would twitch and his eyes fluttered underneath his lids as he dreamt. So Erik was...is…. "he's more than a friend…"

"I understand that, Dragonborn," Delphine said, sympathetically, "but it will only be this one time that he cannot accompany you. You must tolerate this one mission without him, and then you can share many memories whilst doing other quests for Skyrim."

Alinja cast her watery gaze down, embarrassed that she let her feeling pour out so dramatically. "I'm…sorry."

"Don't be," Delphine replied gently. "He obviously means a lot to you. But please, do this for Skyrim. For Tamriel…for him."

Alinja's eyes rose to meet the Breton's, feeling a new sense of duty. "For…him?"

"For him."

She thought for a moment, a determined expression crossing her face. "Okay. I'll do it for him. And Meeko. And Mralki…for everyone back home. I will save Skyrim. I will protect it. These dragons ain't got nothing on me!"

Delphine beamed, proudly. "Alright, Dragonborn. I'll meet you after you've met with Malborn. Let us hurry."

*Dedicated to the readers that have read up this far in this book. Thank you for sticking with it!*