Fate's Games
(A/N: Second up today.)
Priestess and Poor Man
He didn't know what possessed him to tag along with Degaine. Omluag had begged him to stop working himself to death, Hroki had begged him to try something new, and Degaine had said something along the lines of 'Tell you what, I'll bring you on one of my Temple visits. Them Dibella priestesses, my friend, mmm, mmm, mmm. You'll have a ball'. To which he, of course, had scoffed. There was no time to have a social life when you worked the smelter.
"Here we are. Now we need to be very quiet and careful. See, the priestesses are a bunch of man haters. Don't like being admired or praised," Degaine said.
"You mean they don't like hearing lewd and suggestive comments about them and what you'd like to do with them," Hathrasil deadpanned. "I can hardly blame them."
"Easy, friend," Degaine grumbled.
"Didn't you defile a statue of theirs?" Hathrasil asked dubiously.
"I was drunk, okay!" Degaine defended.
"And ask the Dragonborn to steal one of their statues for your personal use?" Hatrasil asked.
"That was… you see I… Ah damn you. You're no fun. Should have left you behind. Loosen up and try to relax," Degaine defended. Hathrasil rolled his eyes but let it go.
ES
They entered the temple silently. Degaine had gone off gods knew where. Hathrasil had determined early on it would be best not to follow him. Instead he stayed looking ahead at the Shrine of Dibella dully. He approached it after a long moment and sat in front of it, just watching in silence. He wasn't one for the Aedra or the Daedra, but didn't mean he didn't respect them. More or less. Give or take. "If you or any of you care, where are you?" he grumbled at it bitterly.
"What are you doing here?" a voice demanded.
Hathrasil didn't look up. "Looking," he answered. "Trying to feel something."
There was no answer a moment. "What are you feeling?" the voice questioned.
"Disturbed," he answered. "I like quiet. Don't like chatter. Not much for talk."
"Is this yours?" the voice asked.
Wonderful, Hathrasil inwardly thought. He turned. A priestess was there, with some others, and between them they were holding an excited, defiant, and pleased with himself looking Degaine. Hathrasil blinked then grunted, nodding affirmatively. "Came here with him. Thought he'd pull something like this." Hathrasil rose and went towards his friend. They shoved Degaine at him. "Get out," he said to the beggar. "Be there in a minute."
"I'm sure you will," Degaine said, nudging him playfully and giving him a look that screamed 'you dog you'. Hathrasil rolled his eyes, shoving him forward. Degaine left.
ES
Hathrasil returned to sitting in front of the Shrine. Been a while since he'd been in any sort of temple. Forgotten how quiet they could be. Kind of liked it. "You aren't welcome here, scum," one of the priestesses said. Hathrasil ignored her. "Get out! This is the Temple of Dibella. Your kind aren't welcome here."
"What kind? Male? Poor? Working Class? Filthy? Disease Ridden?" Hathrasil asked.
"Dibella is a goddess of beauty, not a goddess of… you," another haughtily told him.
"Are you even a man?" a third taunted.
Hathrasil was quiet. Forgot how unwelcoming some of these Temples were. His jaw twitched. He didn't move. Couldn't blame the goddess for how her priestesses acted and thought, he supposed. He also didn't come to be insulted either, though. "Repulsive creature, you are not welcome here," one of the priestesses said.
"Enough!" the one who had first spoken to him shot sharply at the others. "He is no different than any other who wishes to come to Dibella's shrine. You have no place turning him out. He may not be a woman, but if he wishes to pay homage to the goddess, he may. Be gone. All of you." The other priestesses frowned at her and left huffily.
ES
The one who had spoken turned attention back to the man curiously, tilting her head and summing him up. He was very quiet. And very… unemotional. "Thanks," he gruffly said. He offered no more than that.
"It is not our place to determine who is worthy of the goddesses affections and who isn't," she answered. She wondered. Who was this man? He was certainly of a better disposition than his beggar friend.
"Not worthy of anyone's affections. Don't want to be. Not doing me any good," Hathrasil answered.
The priestess was quiet. He was… jaded, she determined. And very hardened against the world. "You are welcome here, stranger. Don't let my fellow priestesses get to you. Should you ever wish to return after the sorry way you've been treated, you need only ask for me and I will allow you entrance."
"Who am I asking for?" he asked.
"Senna," she answered. "And who should I say they are to leave alone?"
He glanced over at her dubiously. Pretty thing, he determined. Guessed that was why she was part of this Temple, the shallow… Never mind. "Poor men don't have names," he answered, shrugging. She started but didn't push. Instead she nodded and left him alone for now. Hathrasil blinked at the Shrine of Dibella which seemed to glow ever so slightly. "You love taunting me, don't you?" he asked it. He rose and left without another word.
ES
It wasn't until a week or two later that he bothered returning to that place. This time without Degaine. He entered silently. "Get out! We had enough problems yesterday, it's not happening today! Get out!" one of the priestesses who noticed him commanded. Hathrasil paused. He was silent. He grunted after a moment then turned to leave. A hand was suddenly and lightly on his shoulder. He paused, glancing over. Senna.
"This is the one I told you about," Senna said to the one who had sent him away, removing her hand from him. "Leave him be. I trust he'll cause us no trouble." The other looked ready to protest but then decided the better of it. She nodded, leaving. Senna nodded to him. He noted she wore an amulet of Mara.
"Mara's amulet around the neck of a Dibella priestess. Interesting," Hathrasil remarked.
Senna frowned coldly at him. "What do you think of Dibella's priestesses, hmm? Do you believe all of us are whores? Do you think we give ourselves out to any stranger who desires to feel the power of Dibella?" she demanded.
Hathrasil shrugged. "Never thought much about them until now," he answered. "Don't pay much attention to rituals, rites… Wasn't the deity you serve so much as the fact you're a priestess that threw me."
Senna tilted her head. "You must be the only one in this cursed city who doesn't think us harlots," she remarked.
"Used to people judging me because of what I am. Choose not to do it to others," he replied, going to the shrine. He activated it and felt its blessing. He nodded and left without a word further, Senna watching curiously after him.
ES
For the tenth time that day she found herself looking at the Shrine of Dibella. She wasn't sure why suddenly she found herself losing focus, when she looked at it, and slipping into daydreams and questions. Who was the man who was coming regularly now, the poor one from the Warrens? He was very quiet. He never spoke unless spoken to and the most he offered any of them was a nod or grunt of acknowledgement. He didn't come often. Only once every week or two. He stayed no longer than five minutes—ten if he seemed particularly distressed or bothered—and always left without another word after getting Dibella's blessing.
The door to the temple opened. She didn't need to turn to know who it was. "What is your name?" she asked without turning from the shrine.
The footsteps stopped. She almost expected to hear him leave again. "Poor men have no names," he answered.
"What is your name?" she repeated.
"Doesn't matter," he answered.
"What is your name?" she asked again.
He was silent this time. Silent for a good long moment. Suddenly she heard him walking towards her. She didn't move. He came alongside her, gazing at the shrine quietly. Would he not speak again, she wondered? Well if he didn't neither would she. Sure enough neither of them talked and neither of them moved or turned their gazes away from the shrine… He stayed an hour today at her side…
ES
She was watching the statue again. He came again. His visits had become more regular. Twice every week now. There was no reason for it. Other than he was curious. They had stayed in silence since the day she'd asked him his name, just looking at the statue and neither feeling obligated to talk. He moved to her side. They stayed silent, as always, neither showing any interest in the other.
"Hathrasil," he suddenly said.
"Is that your name?" she asked. He grunted in reply. She looked down. One mystery cleared up, at least.
"You know how to heal the sick?" he asked.
"To an extent," she answered.
"Hmm…" he mused. "What extent?"
She looked over at him curiously. "There is someone important to you who is ailing," she deduced. He said nothing. Neither did she.
"He's getting worse. Nothing helps him," Hathrasil said, at the closing of an hour. "Hoped there was a chance… But there's a woman too, another friend. Ataxia, maybe Rickets. You capable of treating that?"
"To an extent," Senna answered.
"The price?" Hathrasil questioned. She said nothing. He grunted and left without a word, leaving her to her thoughts.
ES
Hathrasil entered the Warrens, exhausted. Omluag had taken a turn for the worse. He couldn't have worked today if the world had depended on it. Would have ended up dead. Work of two men in one day's time for no extra pay. He could hardly move. He looked up and started, eyes widening. Kneeling next to Cairine was Senna! Garvey was watching uneasily and suspiciously. Senna was examining her carefully and pursing her lips. Hathrasil could only blink and stare in shock. "Close your eyes," Senna soothed. Cairine nodded, closing them. Senna looked grim. She cast a spell over Cairine. Cairine let out a relieved sigh as if a great amount of pain had just been ended. Senna cast another spell. Cairine's breathing became slow and steady, her skin regaining some color. Senna rose, dusting off her hands. "Ataxia for sure, and a touch of the Rickets, but I dealt with most of it. She should recover from Rickets. Ataxia is a little iffier… But there was something else about her. Something off. Something I don't trust. Keep an eye on her. I don't think it's fatal, but… It's something."
"Thank you," Garvey said with a sigh. "How much do I owe?"
"Nothing," Senna answered. "Just keep a watch on her. You're doing a good thing for Cairine. She would have died a long time ago if not for you." Garvey nodded. "Omluag… He's another story…"
"What do you mean?" Hathrasil immediately questioned at the same time as Garvey.
Senna and Garvey looked quickly over at him, surprised. Senna felt a faint flush. Luckily it was hidden in the dark. Garvey nodded a greeting. "You sent her," he said.
"I sent no one," Hathrasil said.
"I came of my own accord," Senna confirmed to Garvey. She turned back to Hathrasil. "Omluag's condition… I don't want to assume without knowing for sure…"
"What do you suspect?" Garvey questioned.
Senna looked over at him gravely. "Something that can't be treated by normal means. I suspect… I suspect a cancer or a sort of deadly lung disease. It may not be either and be something completely new, but… Whatever it is, it isn't good. I'm no doctor, not even a very good healer, but if I were to give a prognosis… He won't last another year if this thing isn't treated, except the only healers who would know what it was or how to treat it are far away and the trip is dangerous and expensive. The treatments potentially even more so… I'm sorry… Nothing can be for him. At least not from me or my fellow priestesses."
Hathrasil felt his heart drop. Garvey was silent. He looked away. Hathrasil left the Warrens quickly. Very quickly. Concern came to Garvey's eyes. "Hathrasil!" he called.
"I'll get him," Senna assured, setting off after the man.
ES
Hathrasil couldn't remember moving this fast for a long time. He stormed swiftly through the city and left through the gates without even acknowledging the guards calling out to him. He went directly to the waterfall and stopped, looking out over the view and raging within himself… And weeping the same. Never outwardly. Never… Never… He felt tears burning his eyes… Tears. When had he last felt tears? His mouth quivered and he shook his head, closing his eyes tightly. None of this. Not now. "You wanted answers," a voice said. Senna. "I'm sorry they couldn't be the ones you hoped for."
Hathrasil opened his eyes slowly. He turned to her. After a moment he nodded. "Guess I should thank you for coming. For not charging for the service either. Thanks," he said.
He was trying to change the subject. "You're welcome," she answered. Hathrasil turned again to look out at the view. He was silent. She didn't move to leave. He wanted to be alone, though, so she wouldn't approach either. She would just be.
"You ever lost someone close to you?" he asked.
Senna bowed her head. "Who hasn't in these times?" she asked.
He nodded. "Kid's like a brother to me," he remarked. "Just… trying to wrap my head around it…"
She was quiet. She wanted to assure him Omluag had a chance… Except he didn't… Not when the treatments were so much. He couldn't hope to afford them… It was sad… If she could change things… She sighed. "I'm sorry," she said.
"That's not gonna save him," Hathrasil replied.
"I know," she answered. "But it's something." He looked back at her. She was pretty, he determined… He saw why Dibella had approved of her.
"Thank you," he said again. It was all he could do to express his gratefulness to her. "I wish there was something more I could give you or something I could do… As it is, well, enough said."
"It's alright," she said.
"You're… good," he remarked. "A good, ah hem, woman." She smiled at him, amused. "Gonna make some guy pretty damn happy one day." Kind of wished… Well, once upon a time said man would have gladly been him, but he wasn't looking. Not anymore. Never had really seriously done so.
"I've done so for you already," she said. He started and felt a flush creep up. He awkwardly cleared his throat and said nothing. She giggled softly and turned to leave. "I hope you'll return that favor someday," she added as an afterthought. "I have no plans to go anywhere." He looked after her. She didn't turn back. He blinked as she disappeared into the city. She was… He approved. He felt a smirk pulling at his mouth. Quickly he hid it away and turned back to look over the view.