Chapter 35

A group of travelers stood in the marshes on the outskirts of Morthal, as dawn crested over the horizon. A layer of dew still clung to the ground in the chilly spring morning, and their footsteps crunched lightly while they continued to walk. Bo Gro Graul adjusted the strap of his pack and took another step towards the Nordic ruin that lay directly in front of him, his companions following suit. His rich green skin was a stark contrast to the woman's white hand as Jane entwined her fingers with Bo's, a light breeze playing with strands of her long brown hair. She smiled up at her lover, and he returned the gesture, gently squeezing her hand. A look of longing flashed in his deep-set blue eyes.

"Your hair has gotten longer," Jane commented lightly, and Bo ran a hand through his brown locks, noticing for the first time just how long it was.

"Do you like it shorter?" He inquired, and Jane shook her head.

"I like your hair however you want it."

Behind the couple, an older Orsimer scanned the area with his blood red eyes, but a smile crept across his face as Lynne caught up to Nazgurat, her long blond braid flying behind her as she ran.

"I thought I recognized a herb, but I was wrong." She informed him, and Naz pulled her closer, draping a long arm around her strong shoulders.

"Is that Ustengrav?" She called out to Bo after a little while, and the Orsimer shrugged.

"I think so, there's no map marking it for sure, but this is where the Grey Beards said it would be." They reached the round stone entrance to the ruin, and traveled down the spiral staircase.

"Only one way to find out," Naz grunted, and pushed open the stone doors once they had reached the ruin. The group entered inside and began their search for the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller.

"Fuck!" Bo roared, crushing the note in his fist and throwing it at the ground. The enraged Orsimer stomped off and took his frustration out on an already dead Draugr, while Jane reached down and picked up the crumpled note. She skimmed over the handwriting, knowing what it read, and then passed it over to Lynne.

"I don't need anymore trouble, why can't anything go as planned?"

Bo groaned, running a hand across his sweaty forehead. The trip to the end of the ruin had been unbearably long and perilous, filled to the brim with Draugr, undead, spiders and traps alike. Not to mention a word wall, which Bo had reluctantly approached after some soothing words from Jane. Several puzzles had been presented as well, one of which had required Bo's shouting ability to unlock the many metal spikes blocking their path.

It had felt very weird using his shouts, a feeling he felt inside of him that was hard to explain and foreign. The greybeards had told Bo it would take a little while getting used to the new force that stirred inside of him, but Bo doubted he ever would.

"It's okay Bo, we will need to cross through Riverwood on our way back to High Hrothgar anyways, we will go to this stranger and get the horn." Jane walked over to him and laid her hand on his shoulder, and Bo turned to face her.

"You're right," he replied after a moment, and took a deep breath.

Jane smiled, and the group quickly left through the secret tunnel that lead them back to the entrance after a moment of searching for an exit.

It was well past dark when they stopped for camp, which was set up as quickly as possible before everyone collapsed around the hastily built campfire, and Jane started to cook.

"I wonder who took the horn. I think we need to be very careful with this stranger." Lynne drew her knees up and gazed at the flames while she spoke, and Nazgurat nodded in agreement.

"She's right, this person is not to be trusted. How do they know so much?"

"We'll think of a plan," Jane commented, stirring the contents of her cooking pot. "An escape route if things turn sour."

"Great idea," Bo replied, wrapping his arm around her waist. He nuzzled her neck, and Jane laughed, poking him in the ribs so she could begin dishing out the stew. The conversation reduced into comfortable silence while they ate.

"We'll take first watch," Naz told Bo shortly after everyone had finished eating. They were all exhausted from the day's travel through Ustengrav, and Bo didn't protest.

As Bo lay in his bedroll with Jane wrapped tightly in his arm, he felt the familiar stirrings of arousal for his partner. Her body was pressed up against his, and he could feel her perfect breasts against his chest through her thin tunic. Bo let out a shaky sigh, and Jane craned her neck up to look at him in the half dark.

"What's wrong?" She whispered.

"Nothing is wrong, love." Bo replied quietly, kissing her forehead.

"You're a terrible liar, love." Jane bumped her forehead against his chest and Bo laughed.

"I want you," Bo confessed huskily, and a ripple of longing washed over Jane. She felt herself quiver at his voice, and gripped his tunic, her heartbeat racing.

"It has been so long since we… since last…we…"

"I know," Jane replied breathlessly, and she reached up to kiss the Orsimer. His arousal pressed against her thigh and Bo crushed her even tighter against him, returning the kiss with a passion that took Jane's breath away. However after a moment, his thoughts kicked in.

"No," Bo moaned against her lips, and it took all his will to pull himself back from her. His chest heaving while his heartbeat worked overtime.

"Did I do something…?"

"No, Jane…" Bo stroked her hair, trailing his fingers down and across her jaw line. "If I didn't stop myself now, I fear I would not be able to…control myself."

"Oh." Jane blushed, a smile forming on her lips. "You were the only one thinking rationally tonight. I'm afraid I wouldn't have stopped you had you continued."

Bo's eyes widened, his erection painful against the confines of his breeches, but he forced himself to take deep breaths, and instead focused on stroking Jane's hair. Jane also calmed her breathing, trying not to let her thoughts wander into dangerous and lust filled territory. They could not do anything while in the company of others, and thinking about it would only make her longing worse. Eventually they both calmed down enough to fall into a deep sleep until it was their time to take watch.

The group encountered their first dragon a few days after leaving Ustengrav. It was something they had all been dreading, but at the same time everyone knew it was only a matter of time before they'd have to deal with the creatures on a regular basis. Nazgurat spotted the flying beast first, pointing it out in the distance as it swooped gracefully in the air near a cluster of trees. Jane was terrified, as she was nervous about Bo as well, and she tried not to shake in her boots while they crouched together, thinking up a quick plan on how to deal with the Dragon. They continued to walk for quite some time, their eyes never leaving the sky, until the Dragon spotted the group and flew in their direction, a great roar echoing from above as it advanced with a spout of fire.

The group dispersed to avoid the deadly flames, and Jane rolled to the ground before scrambling to stand back up. Her limbs drew tightly to her body as fear set it, and she dumbly gripped her bow while the rest began their attack on the scaled beast. Bo and Nazgurat attacked with swords as soon as it landed, while Lynne blasted the Dragon from behind with her most powerful frost spells. Everyone was careful to avoid it's flames, and when it rose back into the sky they were reduced to firing arrows and waiting for the beast to land before they could rush forward and continue their assault. From the colouring of its body Jane concluded it was a weaker Dragon, and was grateful their first dragon on their own had not been something worse, like an elder dragon. She weakly lifted her bow and fired arrows against its thick scales, barely sinking any of the points into the flesh beneath it. But her help was barely needed, as Bo shouted at the beast and before it could take flight, leapt onto it's head and ran his sword through the Dragons skull, and it collapsed on the ground with a great thud.

Jane slowly reached the group as they crowded around the dragon's corpse, watching as it burst into flames and was absorbed by Bo, who did not struggle.

For the rest of the afternoon Jane traveled in silence, unable to warm to Bo's attempts at cheering her up, for she felt ashamed at her weakness. She followed a little ways behind the group, the bow on her back a reminder that she was no warrior, no strong fighting woman like Lynne. Jane could not shake the feeling of uselessness, and she almost refused to walk away from camp that evening to speak with Bo, who had grown concerned.

"What is weighing heavily on your mind?" Bo asked softly, taking her hand in his.

"It's nothing," Jane mumbled, "stupid stuff."

"Nothing is stupid Jane. You once told me it was okay that I felt jealousy towards Ahmon, and that it wasn't stupid I had felt that way. Whatever you're feeling has a good reason. I've never seen you so down."

Bo reached up to cup Jane's cheek, and the woman bit her lip.

"I feel…" She began, and bit back a sob. "I feel so useless."

"What? You are not useless!" Bo protested, his forehead scrunching in confusion.

"I can't fight like any of you guys! You learned from a young age, have incredible skills, and I barely know the basics; just what you have all taught me."

"Jane…"

"Don't try to convince me otherwise Bo, you know it's true."

"You're wrong Jane."

"Yeah? I'm interested to hear your persuasion."

Bo sighed. "You're a stubborn woman," he replied with a chuckle, and then his voice grew serious. "I know that you're judging your worth by how well you can fight, but you need to give yourself the benefit of the doubt. It is true that I and the others have years of experience on you, but that shouldn't hinder you Jane. You have so much to offer, what you did learn, you learned more quickly than I could have imagined! These things take time love," Bo leaned forward and gently kissed her lips, "Don't beat yourself up over it."

Jane bowed her head, letting Bo's words soak in.

"But until I can get good enough, I am useless. I can barely take down a Draugr on my own."

"How long have you felt this way?" Bo asked, and Jane mumbled that it has been a while.

"I wish you had told me your feelings sooner."

"Why?"

"So I could have stopped your ill thoughts from festering. Jane, listen to me." Bo gripped her arms, his eyes piercing into his, and Jane's heart skipped a beat.

"I would not be where I am today without you. Fighting skills can be improved, but personality is far more difficult. You're the most beautiful person in the world Jane, your spirit is so caring and loving, and that's more important than any knowledge with magic or sword fighting."

Jane opened her mouth to speak but was cut off. "Furthermore," he continued, "You are good at archery, and I truly mean that. Your intelligence is such a blessing, and is definitely not useless. I could go on for ages about just how important you are to all of us. Please believe me."

Jane was silent for a moment, and then tears trickled down her cheeks. Bo gathered her in his arms and was silent while she cried against his chest. When her tears had subsided, Jane sat back and Bo wiped her tears away, smiling softly at her.

"Thank you," Jane whispered, and that was all she needed to say. For a while they lay in the grass and watched the stars.

I didn't think I could love Bo anymore than I do. He proved me wrong tonight, Jane thought to herself, as she turned her head to look over at the Orsimer. What an amazing person he continues to be, here he has comforted me just like I have comforted him.

The rest of the night passed just as peacefully, which was something they all needed. Jane knew it was only a matter of time before the going got tough, and she wanted Bo to be as happy as possible.

"I love you Bo."

"I love you Jane. You can confide with me, I hope you know that."