Fate's Games
(A/N: Second up today. Dialogue isn't exactly accurate, but I'm feeling too lazy to watch a walkthrough of this quest.)
A Stranger's Honor
"Help! Is anyone there?! Help me, please!" he called out into nothingness. He could have sworn he heard someone walking nearby. He moaned in pain, clutching his injury. He would never make it back to town. He would bleed out before he got far. Divines, those bears… He'd never seen creatures so vicious. Something had been controlling them, he knew. He wasn't sure what that something had been. He never wanted to know. He almost laughed at himself. At the rate he was bleeding he never would. The way those beasts had come at them… It hadn't been natural. "Help!" he called out again.
There was a sound behind him and he turned, gasping. Approaching him was a young woman, very pretty, very dark in color. "What happened? Are you alright?" she questioned.
"Thank the gods. I thought I was going to die here. The name's Valdr. My friends and I, we were hunting in the glade when all of a sudden they appeared, two of them, came out of nowhere. They took down Niels before we even knew to run. Ari… they got her just inside the cave. I was the only one who made it. Ugh, I was hit, got it pretty badly. Unless I get a healing potion or something I don't think I'm going to make it," he replied.
"I may know a healing spell," she offered.
"Really?" he hopefully asked.
"Yes, hold still," she replied. Gently she placed her hands on his injury and closed her eyes. He felt the tingling sensation flow through his body and shivered. In a moment she stopped.
"Thank you. I feel much better now; but I can't leave my friends without a proper burial," he said worriedly.
"Don't be foolish. Let me help you," she answered.
ES
To say he was startled would be an understatement. "Really?" he asked in disbelief. "You would risk your life for a stranger's honor?"
"I've lost friends before," she replied sadly, looking down. "No one was there to help me, then. I could never wish that on another. I will go alone. You're still injured."
"No. I could never ask you to risk so much. I will come with you. Lead on," he declared.
She smiled, turning her head to the side. She liked this young man, she determined. He was brave and he was determined. She was worried about him, though. Very much so. "Stay behind me. I'm the Dragonborn, you see," she couldn't help but boast.
"The Dragonborn? Of legend? Lady, this is hardly a task deserving of your services," Valdr exclaimed, eyes widening.
"I won't see others' concerns as beneath me. If they've asked for my help, it's important to them," she replied. "No matter how small the task is, I'll step in."
"You are very noble, lady," Valdr said, eyes filled with admiration. She blushed, looking down. Quickly the two entered the cave.
ES
They paused on seeing Ari's body. Valdr knelt next to it, sadness in his eyes. Softly he brushed the dead woman's hair behind her ear. "Did you love her?" the Dragonborn questioned.
Valdr paused. After a moment he answered, "Once I did. We would have been married… Then we met Niels. He was everything she'd ever wanted. I couldn't hold it against her. He was a good man. He was a very, very good man… He died trying to ensure we escaped alive, ensure she escaped alive. He didn't last long enough, apparently… He was my best friend."
"I'm sorry," she quietly said. They heard a growl up ahead and looked forward.
"A bear. Something controls them. We have to be careful," he warned.
"You think Spriggons are around?" she wondered.
"No. I know they're here. At least one is," Valdr replied. "I've been a hunter for much of my life. I've seen my fair share of the creatures."
"I can imagine," she remarked. He looked over at her and smiled. The two rose and snuck towards the animal. All at once the duo attacked. It roared furiously and began slashing at them. They were quick, though, and soon enough had downed it.
"There's the other!" he exclaimed, pointing out a charging sow.
"Hopefully not pregnant," the Dragonborn remarked. She hated the idea of killing a mother or a cub. They immediately attacked her as well. In moments she was dead. They reached the body of Niels and Valdr looked down on it. He knelt and closed the man's opened eyes. He couldn't bear to look into his dead friend's gaze. He closed his own tightly, willing back tears. "Oh no," the Dragonborn suddenly said.
Valdr looked quickly up. "What is it?" he asked.
"Spriggon," the woman answered, pointing. Valdr looked. His eyes widened and quickly he got to his feet. "Stay back. I have this," she ordered.
"I will fight with you," he answered firmly. Before she could argue, the Spriggon attacked. The two immediately leapt into the battle.
ES
It was done. The two stood looking out over the glade in silence. It was a beautiful place. "Thank you, for your help," Valdr finally said.
"It was the least I could do," she answered.
"You've done far more than you needed to. I asked for help to tend my injury. Not only did you fix it but you came with me and you fought to help me recover the bodies of my friends. I want you to have something," he said. She looked curiously at him. He drew a dagger and offered it to her. "It was a gift to me from Ari. It's brought me nothing but luck. Well, until today. But then again I survived where my friend's didn't. I found help when I was dying. I was able to come back to recover their bodies. If you look at it that way it's lucky as anything."
"Thank you," she replied, touched. "What will you do now?"
"I'll give them a proper burial and head back home when I'm ready," Valdr replied. "Thank you for everything. My door will always be open to you, Dragonborn. If you ever come by Falkreath, feel free to drop in."
"I will. Thank you," she answered, smiling softly at him. "Well, goodbye, I guess."
"For now," Valdr answered, smiling in return. "Good luck on your ventures, milady." Gently, boldly, he leaned forward. He paused a moment but then dropped a soft peck on her forehead. With that he left to return to the bodies. She grinned softly after him.