Chapter 12

The first thing Jane did when she awoke the next evening was to get up, and despite her empty stomach, the lightheaded feeling, and reeking of death, immediately went to see Bo. He snored quietly, looking peaceful for the first time in days, and one hand rested on his chest. Jane sat down beside the bed and leaned forward, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath, thanking the Gods over and over in her head for not letting him die. She couldn't resist touching him, she needed to feel his warm skin, and, she reached out and gently stroked his forearm. After some time Bo started to stir, he yawned and turned his head towards her. Slowly he opened his eyes, and recognition dawned on his face. He sleepily at her, and reached up to stroke her hair.

"Jane," he whispered.

Jane started to cry, and his smile faltered. He frowned, and gently brushed away her tears away. Jane choked back a sob.

"Don't… ever do that again," she whispered.

"Do what?"

"Run off like that! I thought my heart was going to stop beating while I waited for you to come back to me." She hiccuped, feeling nauseous.

"I'm sorry," he replied. "Orsimer have this ability... to go into a blinding rage. People call it berserk, and any rational thinking is gone. All we see is red, and let our anger consume us for a short amount of time." He sighed, looking up at Jane. "I allowed myself to lose control, forgive me."

"I'm just so happy you're alive Bo, I almost lost you."

Bo grimaced, and pulled Jane forward. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

"I stink," she protested weakly.

"I don't care."

Once he released her Jane covered him with kisses, kissing his cheek and neck, his chest and his arms, and then pulled back. She pointedly avoided his lips so she wouldn't embarrass him, and resisted crushing him to her. Bo's skin tingled pleasantly, while his heart fluttered dangerously fast.

"We haven't eaten in days, are you hungry?"

"Very."

"I'll be back," Jane replied, squeezing his hand. She slowly walked back to the counter where the Nord man stood cleaning a mug.

"Hey, how is he?"

"He's going to be just fine. We are all extremely exhausted, it has been a terrible last couple of days." Jane sighed and sat on the stool.

"You are free to stay here as long as it takes," the man replied, placing the mug down. "I only ask you pay for one night, and the rest is free."

"Oh, thank you so much. We are eternally grateful…"

"Hadring," the man replied, shaking her hand. "You are welcome. I take it you're probably hungry?"

"Very," Jane rubbed her sore tummy. "Bo is too."

"I will send someone with your meals shortly. And I'll draw up a bath for you."

"Thank you." Jane blushed, knowing she smelled like she'd been dragged through a sewer.

Jane returned to Bo, who had managed to pull himself up into a half sitting position, with his head resting on the wall behind him.

"Have you looked yet?"

"No, I don't know if I want to."

Lynn had covered Bo up with the blanket, and he had yet to look underneath to see the damage. Taking a deep breath, he lifted it up and pulled it back, looking down. His privates had been covered with a clean loincloth; he had made sure he was decent before taking the covers off in front of Jane. What he saw underneath grieved him. His left hip was practically missing, there was a deep dip where the troll had taken out a chunk of his flesh, and the top of his hipbone showed. His broken leg was covered with a splint but from what he could see there was a great ugly scar.

"I-I am hideous," he sobbed, staring wide eyes at his ravaged body.

"No!" Jane rushed forward when Bo started to shake, trying not to cry, and pulled his chin towards her.

"You are not hideous! You fought great enemies and lived to tell the tale. These are but proofs of your skills, you should be proud."

A young Nord girl entered with two plates of hot food, and looked taken aback. She quickly placed them down on the table before rushing back out. Jane picked up the plates, and brought them over to the bed, handing Bo his and sitting down beside him. They ate quickly, barely tasting the food for they were both extremely hungry, and finished in a couple minutes. Jane took his plate and stood up. Bo gave her a weak smile, and Jane frowned.

"We're not finished with our conversation, but Hadring had a bath drawn up for me, I need to wash this filth off. Is my armor ruined?"

Bo looked down, he didn't want Jane to convince him he was some sort of hero, but knew she could not stop him."It might be", he replied slowly, "What happened to mine?"

"Lynn had to cut it off of you."

"That's too bad. Hopefully we can purchase some here, for I will not feel comfortable traveling without armor on."

Jane nodded, she could tell Bo was barely containing his emotions. "I will ask him after I have washed."When Jane left him, Bo started to cry, for once allowing the hot tears to spill down his face in anguish at his ruined body.

Jane reached her room, a steaming tub of water stood in the middle of the room. Jane removed her cloak and looked at it, it had managed to stay relatively clean, probably because it had been beneath her while she scrambled like a coward from her enemy. She deemed it salvageable, and placed it down on the table. She stripped off her armor and inspected it as well, which was covered in so much blood it had soaked through onto her skin. Shuddering, Jane quickly removed her underclothes and slipped into the tub, reveling in the warmth. She soaked for quite some time, and then took the cloth and soap that had been left for her and scrubbed her body and hair for a long time, not stopping until she was perfectly satisfied that she was clean. Standing up, she shuddered when she saw how red the water had turned, and climbed out. Grabbing a towel she wrapped one around her body and the other she used to dry her hair. It had gotten a little longer since her arrival in Skyrim; it was around an inch past her shoulder. She wondered curiously if hair grew faster in this place, yawning quietly.

Changing into a clean set of clothes, Jane slipped her soft boots on, and then left to go see how the others were doing. She had to ask Hadring which rooms they were staying in, and once she reached Nazgurat's room she knocked and waited for a reply.

"Enter," came his low voice, muffled by the door. Pushing it open Jane stepped inside to find the Orsimer sitting up in his bed, wearing a fresh pair of breeches and long sleeved tunic. His head lay casually against the wall and he held a bottle of mead in his hand.

"Hey," she greeted, "how are you feeling?"

"Better," he grunted, taking a drink with his free arm, while his other was wrapped in a splint and hung uselessly at his side.

"I wanted to thank you… for everything you did. Bo surely would have died without yours and Ahmon's help."

"It's nothing," he replied gruffly, looking away.

"I wanted to let you know," Jane continued, "that… I greatly admire Orsimer. In case you felt like my gratefulness was only due to your help, which is not true. I know how other people treat your kind, and I disagree with them. Bo means everything to me, and I've only known him for a couple weeks."

Nazgurat looked back at her, fixing her with his intense red stare. His red eyes glittered in the candlelight, and for a moment Jane thought he would blow her off.

"Thank you, I appreciate your kindness." His voice was much softer, and his shoulders relaxed.

"Will you be staying here?" She asked.

"For a while, yes. I am tired, it has been a long time since I last had a good rest, and that fight has drained me."

"Good," Jane grinned, "I think Bo will be happy to hear that, he wishes to speak with you sometime."

"Is he well? I wish to speak with him also."

"You can go see him now, if he isn't sleeping."

Nazgurat stood up and walked up to Jane. Up close, Jane could see his features more clearly. The last couple of days had passed by in a blur, and faces were the last thing on her mind, which had all been covered in dirt and blood. But now that he was clean she noticed he was a handsome Orc once you got over his eye color. He had dark brown hair that currently hung loose around his shoulders, and thick brown facial hair that had been recently trimmed. Light wrinkles around his eyes and mouth told her Nazgurat was a little older, perhaps thirty or so. He towered over Jane as well, and had a nice and well-defined jaw line. A few light scars brushed his cheek.

Suddenly the burly Orc leaned in and hugged Jane, crushing her briefly to his solid chest.

"You were very brave back there, an admirable quality."

"Thank you Nazgurat," Jane hugged him back, humbled. The Orsimer let go of her, and he left the room.

Jane made her way to Ahmon's room, knocking quietly.

"Come in," Ahmon called out, and Jane opened the door to find Ahmon sitting at a small table with a plate of dinner and a mug of ale.

"Hey Ahmon," Jane greeted warmly. She liked the young Nord; she figured he was maybe eighteen years old at the most. "How are you feeling?"

"Quite better," he replied, offering her a seat. "Just extremely exhausted."

"I know how you feel," Jane replied, sitting down beside him. "We all feel the same."

"And how are you? Is Bo Gro Graul alright?"

"Bo is well, his body is healing but it will be a while before he is back to normal strength. I am good, just… very shaken by everything that happened."

"Aye, I am very upset about my caravan. And what happened to Bo was very unfortunate."

Jane nodded, looking down at her hands.

"What exactly do you do, Ahmon?"

"I export purchases from our farm to the other major cities. My family has been doing this for many generations, it's a good little business, if not a little dangerous when on the road."

"How old are you? Forgive me but you look so young."

"Nineteen," he replied, smiling. "I am the youngest of my siblings. You look to be the same age if not younger."

"I'm actually twenty two," Jane chuckled, and casually studied his features as well. She knew it was the artist in her; she loved to draw faces back home, and had a bad habit of staring at people. He had a smooth face, pale skin, and average features. His shoulder length blond hair had been scrubbed clean of all the blood and he wore a fresh set of clothes. His eyes were the color of mead; just a tad shade darker and she could see the signs of stubble on his chin.

"Jane."

Jane looked up to see Lynne standing in the doorway. She smiled and stood up, excusing herself from Ahmon and bidding him goodnight.

"Oh, that reminds me. Don't leave just yet, we can stay here as long as we need without pay, so rest my friend." Ahmon nodded, smiling.

Jane followed Lynne to her bedroom, was invited in, and the door was shut behind her.

"Is something wrong?" Jane asked, worried. "Is Bo alright?"

"Yes, yes, Bo is just fine, that's not why I wanted to talk to you."

"What's wrong?"

"Something's not necessarily wrong, per say, I just…"

Lynne trailed off, looking away. She rubbed her neck nervously and then looked back at Jane.

"I was just wondering who the other Orsimer is… what you know about him." The last part was spoken as a whisper, and Lynne's face flushed a bright pink.

"Do you… like him?" Jane started to smile.

"No! I mean… I don't know. I guess I'm just curious, really. Bo sort of opened my eyes. What am I saying?" Lynne shook her head, laughing. "I've seen him once in my whole life and I'm acting like an idiot."

"No, that is wonderful Lynne!" Jane rushed forward and grabbed the Nord's shoulders. "I bet he will like you too! attraction can happen in an instant, you're not an idiot"

Lynne groaned, allowing her to be steered to the bed and the two sat down. Jane told her all she knew about the moody Nazgurat, and Lynne found herself wanting to talk to him.

"He is staying for a little while at least, that will give you a chance to get to know him."

Lynne sighed and rubbed her aching temples. "Like I said, I don't know what I feel. Just keep this between us, okay?"

"Of course," Jane replied happily. "As long as you tell me all about your time with him, I bet you two will get along great!"

Lynne snorted, but made no comment. The two women chatted for a little while, about nothing of grave importance, and then Jane excused herself, for she felt drowsy. She headed back down to Bo's room and knocked, hearing voices from inside.

"Come in," Bo called.

Jane entered to see Bo still sitting up in his bed, and Nazgurat sat on a chair beside him.

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Of course not, we were just talking about Orc things." Nazgurat chuckled, looking to be in considerably higher spirits, and Jane came to sit down at the edge of the bed.

"Oh? What sort of Orc things?"

"Just our growing up in strongholds. Nazgurat lived in Mor Kazgur."

"That's wonderful, I hope you will show me your birthplace one day Bo. They sound so… kin oriented."

"Orsimer strongholds endure because every member works together with one another, we all do our parts," Nazgurat replied, and Bo nodded.

"Well, brother," Nazgurat continued, "You need your rest. And I too feel the lull of sleep calling me. Goodnight, both of you."

Nazgurat rose from his seat and restored the chair back to the table. Bo and Jane replied their goodnight and then the Orsimer left, closing the door behind him.

"It is nice to see you enjoying conversation with kin." Jane commented, shifting closer. Bo reached over and rested his arm in her lap, and Jane fondly stroked his hand.

"Yes, it is good. I like him. He is an honorable man, and I am honored to have fought alongside him."

"I like him too," Jane replied. "At first he was rather rough when he spoke to me. But tonight when I went to see how he was feeling, he was kinder, and I appreciated that."

Bo smiled, and tried to suppress a yawn.

"You need your rest," Jane whispered, reaching up to stroke his cheek.

"Stay with me tonight, please?" He asked, staring back at her. Bo didn't wish to be parted from Jane.

Nodding, Jane stood up and helped Bo shift to the right of the bed, and then lay down beside him and rested her head on his chest, taking care not to get too close to his hip.

Bo sighed contentedly, wrapping his arms around the girl and breathing in her sweet soapy scent.

"I am lucky to be alive today, and to be spending my time with you."

Jane turned her head and reached up to kiss the base of his neck.

"So am I Bo, So am I."