Fate's Games

(A/N: First up today. Sorry for the delay. I've been busy with life and other stories. Now for one of the most unrecognized characters in the game, I must say, but I've become quite fond of the courier who brings you messages. Besides, they're actually pretty good at fighting. A courier took down either an ice wolf or a sabre cat in two or three hits with a common iron dagger, once. Not sure if that was freak luck or not, but it was certainly something to see. I couldn't believe it. I don't usually name characters in this, but the reference to the books Beggar, Thief, and Warrior was too easy to pass up.)

Courier's Protector

He was easy to miss. She certainly never thought twice about him. He brought her messages, letters and notes mostly, and then raced off without so much as a goodbye. Sometimes they had something of a conversation, but it was usually short and sweet, discussing the sender. She wasn't sure, really, what sparked it. Perhaps it was the constant surprise she got when seeing him. Perhaps she connected the anticipation of reading what was inside a letter with his arrival. Again, she wasn't sure. She was only aware that, as time went on, she came to anticipate his visits more and more. Soon it wasn't even the mail he would bring; it was the thought of just seeing him walk by her on the way to a delivery.

She wondered… Did the courier have a name? If so what was it? How many places had he travelled to and seen? She'd met him even in Soltheim. Where else had he been? What stories did he have to tell? How had the lucky man survived so long when Skyrim was so filled with the threats of soldiers, rogue mages, monsters, wild beasts, and more? It boggled the mind. Until, that is, she'd seen him take down a sabre cat in about three strikes with a common iron dagger. So he was a skilled knife wielder. More questions arose. Where had he learned to fight? How long had he been training with a knife? What was the closest he had ever been to death?

ES

They were slashing and cutting at the dragon that had appeared from out of nowhere as he'd been delivering a message to her. They fought it together. It was only seconds before it was down, but the thrill of it still coursed through their veins. "We've done it, we've done it!" the courier exclaimed in excitement, taking her arms enthusiastically as he grinned. "We, alone, together, we took down a dragon! Dragonborn, to fight alongside you is my greatest honor! Forgive me for this, but I can't help myself."

Before she could even react he had pulled her close and taken her lips eagerly. He pulled away beaming. She stared at him, her lips parted. Without so much as a goodbye, which was as per usual, he ran by her practically glowing with excitement. She suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to protect him as if she were some animal guarding its own private treasure. She didn't know why. He wasn't particularly attractive, she didn't even know his name, but she wanted to possess him, her own messenger. Part of her wanted to follow him, but she had a job to do. She walked in the opposite direction.

ES

The next time she saw him was two weeks later. As she was boarding a boat he intercepted her. Running up to the woman, clambering quickly on board, he said breathlessly, "I've got something for you. Let's see. Ah, here we are. Don't know who sent it but he said he was a friend of yours."

She was more than a little amused, and flattered, to hear a twinge of jealousy in his voice. "Thank you, courier," she replied, taking it. She opened it and read through. Her eyes lit up in intrigue. "A source of power, hmm? This is a boat ride that'll have to wait, then." She saw him starting to run off and quickly, before she could think it through, called, "Courier, aren't you going to help me down?"

He paused curiously and looked back, confused. His eyes suddenly lit up as he caught on. "Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, milady. I don't know what came over me. Usually I'm very good about holding doors for others or helping women from horses and such," he replied, for the first time in all the time she'd known him—or rather seen him—blushing. He held out his hand for hers, smiling nervously. "I-I'm sorry, again. It's just that I have so many deliveries…"

He stopped talking when she put her hand in his and gave him a sweet smile. He blushed and looked quickly down, clearing his throat. He reached up and took her around the waist, lifting her off of the boat. "Thank you, courier," she said. "What's your name, young man?"

"My-my name?" he asked. "Oh! Oh, yes, my name. It's, uh, Elsaf."

"After the character in the books Begger, Thief, and Warrior," she remarked. How fitting. He certainly ran enough to do that name justice. He smiled at her and nodded.

"Then I'll see you around," she remarked.

"Me? Why would you want to see me? I mean I'm no hero, and I'm certainly not a fighter or a warrior. I'm just a common messenger," he answered, confused.

"Curiosity. I'd like to know about all the places you've gone, all the adventures, no matter how small, you've had," she stated.

"W-well there was that time I was kidnapped by some rogue mages," he remarked, smirking at the memory. "It was a miracle I got out of there before they turned me into some kind of experiment, but you see they hadn't bound my wrists and ankles very well. It was easy to get out, and even easier to run away. And then there was…"

"Courier, how about you discuss it with me on our travels. Where is your next delivery?" she asked.

He blinked at her blankly then caught on and blushed deeply. She wanted to come with him. "Uh, an orc Stronghold, somewhere on the other side of Skyrim. It'll be a few days journey on foot, though," he answered. "You might not want…"

"If I didn't want, I wouldn't have offered to come," she replied. "Besides, I'm starting to feel very protective of you."

"And I of you," he replied. "No, wait, I mean…!" he began, alarmed at what he'd just said.

She suddenly placed a finger against his lips. She smirked softly and said, "Don't ruin it. Let's get a move on. It's a long journey." He blinked blankly then grinned at her, beaming once more. He took her hand timidly, shyly, and led her down the road. She laughed obligingly.