A/N: So most of this chapter is Salllzy's work. I will admit it, because A.) They write wonderful work, and B.) No way in Oblivion could I write such cute fluff without smut being involved. Because I am me. And evidently I must have smut involved to write anything. Anyway…

Warnings: Mentions of drinking and past death.

Title: Protection Always Has a Price, Dear Brother

Chapter Three: Riverwood Departure

Heri woke inside the amulet and stirred as he sensed the bosmer's unrest. He waited trying to understand the tumult running through his elf. Then he began to notice the sadness flowing through his elfling and grew troubled as to why he cared oh so much if the elf was upset or not. He looked out of the window of the ruby seeing it was dark but dawn was just peeking at the horizon. Dawn in the North was one of the most breathtaking things Heri had missed in his realm of silver, obsidian and twilight.

Dawn one of the most beautiful times of the day, signaling a new day, a new chance. People who had spent the night having a restful sleep would open their eyes to the sheer beauty of the morning sun, yet one person had not been asleep. Forowing had spent the night lying awake as he tried to figure out just what he was going to do next, he knew that Riverwood needed more guards, the giant black dragon had proved that point by destroying Helgen. Then again that place had had well trained Imperial militia there. Still he needed to think about what he was going to do next, he knew that he had to get to Whiterun but what would await him there? He was only a few hours from Riverwood on the road to Whiterun. Yet he was plagued with doubts and uncertainties.

Forowing looked at the mead that was in his hand, he still wasn't sure what he was doing here. Heri's amulet still hung around his neck, and he had yet to take it off, it felt wrong to think to take it off. After all how many people could say that they have the favor of a Deadra? Not very many. The ruby glittered in the light and he wondered just what he would be doing? He was scared and so confused, his mother was dead and his father had been killed before him as had the rest of his family because nearly all of them shared the same views as his father leaving him with no one to ask for guidance, he wished that his mother was still alive so he could ask her.

Forowing stared into the mead that he had been given by Rolof's sister, as if the alcohol held his answers. He wasn't sure what he was doing. One minute he had been running from the Thalmor and the next he had been thrown into a wagon filled with rebels. Then there was the Deadaric prince that was resting inside of the amulet that he wore around his neck, if someone had told him that he would have one of the most powerful creatures in the world helping him he would have laughed at them. But here he was in Skyrim his family dead, slaughtered by the Thalmor because they wouldn't bow to their views a deadra lord in the shiny trinket he wore. Forowing gave a tired sigh and looked at the sky, dawn was fast approaching and he had not slept there had been far too much on his mind for him to sleep even though his body was demanding that he go to sleep. He looked down at the amulet and watched as it glowed for a few seconds.

"What troubles you little one?" Heri asks voice soft but still a shock to the young mer. Who sat straight now, senses on high alert as his instincts warred with the fact a predator sat before him leaning back against a stone boulder. Strangely though, the deadra still looked regal and graceful just sitting. Heri also exuded a kind of danger about him, almost like a silent warning.

Forowing avoided the red eyes that were piercing his entire being, he wasn't sure if he liked the feeling or not. All he knew was should Heri choose to the Deadra could easily kill him, yet for some reason Heri hadn't, in-fact he had gone out of his way to make sure that he was healthy and alive. Something that was strange, after all how many people could say that they had a Deadra looking after them? Forowing would bet his bow that the answer would be only him.

"What do I do now? What awaits us in Whiterun? Will they even send help to Riverwood?" Forowing asks voicing thoughts that had chased each other around in his head since he had arrived. What nord official is going to give a bosmer teenager the time of day? Or if he did, take him seriously.

Forowing glanced at the Deadra who was regally sitting on the wet ground; even sitting you could easily feel the power coming on the lithe body. Forowing looked around him and knew that the area hadn't had any animal activity for some time which meant that there wouldn't be enough food to feed them until they reached Whiterun, while he had been hungry several times in his life it was something that he wanted to avoid at all costs, it reminded him of the days when he was running away from the Thalmor and they were memories that he wanted to avoid. While Forowing was pondering over the lack of animals in the area Heri was watching the young elf, and he was young. Heri could see that he was barely approaching his fortieth summer, if he would guess he was easily in the beginning of thirty summers and for an elf that was still a child. Even by Deadra standards the elf was still a child, something that was not a shock to him, after all Deadra have much longer lives as they were immortal.

"For now we travel to Whiterun, I may not care for mortals but it is clear that you will keep your word." Heri knew the bosmer would go, the elf had asked what would happen once there, not if he should go. Such a noble spirit, so young and naïve, so damned innocent and yet so very, very sad. So like what he used to be, before becoming Heri. Family dead at the hands of war, then a shining light of hope had come only to latter betray him.

Forowing watched as the Deadra scrunched up his nose, it was very clear what he thought about helping mortals, which begged the question why was he helping him? But Forowing had the feeling he wouldn't get an answer to his question no matter how hard he tried and it wasn't just because he reminded the Deadra of Tiber Septim, Forowing looked at the Deadra and asked.

"How do you know Talos?" Forowing was curious as to why the deadra cared if a divine was scratched from memory. The moment the words left his lips he regretted them. The deadra's response was swift and not favorable.

Heri tensed and his red eyes flashed in warning, he knew that he had made a mistake by ever mentioning the other and he knew deep down he had never really gotten over the hurt that Tiber had caused. Yet there was no law from stopping them from being together, there was no rule saying that Gods and Deadra couldn't court each other. Yet once Tiber had become Talos he had broken things between them, it had left a bitter taste in his mouth and wounds so deep that Heri knew they would never really heal. How could they?

"He ascended when I did." Heri bit out the bitterness creeping into his words but they were sharp and final. That was a door slammed shut to his mortal companion. The unblemished and oh so mighty hero god would never allow his name to be tarnished by the rumor a dunmer ascended to demonic power had been his lover. Yet Heri wondered if he were to give the forgotten history if Tiber would come to him and battle him for his transgressions. No, the divines were cowards. They were too weak to as fully influence Nirn as The Deadra could.

Forowing fell quiet, something was telling him to be very careful and he listened to it. He had no idea what was telling him to be careful but he had the feeling that the question he had just asked was far across a line, a line he hadn't even seen. He turned away a moment. But he was still alive so that had to be a good thing didn't it? Forowing turned around and noticed that Heri was gone, he wasn't going to question the Deadra but still just where had the other gone? Forowing sighed and closed his eyes, maybe a nap would do him some good. Questions he had were only going to be answered with time. He laid down on the bed roll he pulled from his bag and passed out.

Heri flew above the land, it was strange being here after so long. He had long since given up hope that mortals could have some redeemable qualities, and yet here he was travelling with one. Whether the elf was like Tiber or not remained to be seen, yet from what he had saw so far the elf was like Tiber in some ways, he only hoped that whoever captured the elf's heart didn't end up with a broken heart like he did with Talos. Even now after all of this time it still hurt to think about him, a man who had broken his heart, a God who had nearly destroyed him. Red eyes narrowed as he spotted an Elk that was grazing on some grass, the elf would need some more food than the loaf of bread and few apples that he had. With a vicious grin Heri dove towards the Elk, despite his doubts he had the feeling that things would be fine. When Heri got back with his prey over his shoulder his lips twitched upwards, it seemed as if sleep had finally won out and the elf was sleeping, which was a good thing. Even Deadra needed sleep no matter what people thought, they even needed to eat as well it may not be as often as the mortals but they still needed to eat while they were on Nirn hence why they didn't come to Nirn very often. That and mortals have this habit of trying to kill them.

Heri snorted as if they could harm them, sure a divine could but not a mortal. Unless they were blessed by a divine then they could easily harm a Deadra but the divines rarely if ever blessed a mortal and Heri thought that it was a good thing, after all they seemed to think that they could take on anything without divine intervention. To think what would happen with it. Red eyes softened as Heri looked at the sleeping elf, for some reason every fiber of his being was telling him to protect the young elf, that he would bring happiness. Heri sighed when he saw that the elf was shivering, placing the Elk down onto the ground he gently picked the elf up and wrapped him in his wings, his lips twitched as he felt the elf snuggle into him.

Yes, Heri thinks, perhaps I have been too quick to judge. Slowly the Deadra falls into a light slumber. He would wake up if danger was near, though only a mortal would be unwise enough to approach the cocoon of feathers they appeared to be. Animals would sense the power and steer clear. Kynreth had blessed her beasts with functional brains. Mara however, her children's intelligence was debatable. Heri feel asleep with a slightly wicked amused half smile on his lips.

A/N: So yay more bipolar deadra lord. And the young Dragonborn who has no idea what he is quite yet.