Her journey to Riften was long but not arduous.
It was relaxing, a chance for her to meditate on the energy around her. Ashley spent her time focusing on her spells both fire and healing to help strengthen her bond with the Divines.
Even Alduin and Argis seemed on their best behavior. Suspiciously in her personal opinion.
The fallen Drake was absent for the majority of the journey, only appearing to her in less-than-pure dreams.
Eh, there are worse things.
The Dovahkiin Orion was uncharacteristically brazen in his watchful gaze often staring at her in ways that made heat prickle on her cheeks. A comment or two on their ride through the wilds of the Rift were a tad inappropriate but his smile was bright and the air around him lighter than she saw in the company of others. So perhaps this was the real Orion away from the eyes of those who saw him only as the Dovahkiin.
Nearing the city itself she could see the smoke rising from the light of the setting sun, a small fishing camp lay abandoned along the edge of the river Ashley patted her steed's thick neck and called for her companions to stop. "Before we set foot into Riften I would like to see if I could commune with Nocturne, I don't wish to waltz into the Thieves Guild with no answers. Can we stop here for the night?"
The Dragonborn looked around warily, the wilds of Skyrim were not safe, especially at night. Yet he could not bring himself to deny the priestess her wishes. "Argis get a fire started, I'll hunt."
"Yes, my thane."
Ashley smiled and dismounted her steed giving it a kiss on its velvet snout. "Thank you for taking me this far my friend but I will not need you in the city, I will call for you." She watched the stag snort and bolt for the forest white fur glowing eerily in the moonlight as it faded into the shadows of the trees.
Joining Argis by the fire Ashley set down her bedroll in one of the tents, "Do you need help?"
Argis tossed a few more pieces of wood onto the fire as it crackled to life, "No you do not need to help, you will want for nothing with us lass allow us to take care of you." The tattoo on his cheek seemed to dance in the firelight as the warrior wiped his hands together the movement drawing her eye as his biceps became highlighted with each swipe. The sultry pull of longing filled her senses making her yearn to be lifted by him again, the memories of being pinned to the stable wall made her heart race and she found it hard to swallow. Closing her eyes she focused on breathing.
"Are you alright?"
"I will be fine Argis, perhaps the journey here took a bit out of me." Yes, it was a lie but how was she to tell this cursed man that she wished to be manhandled by him once more when she still recalls his promise of a night of passion. It's truly an odd feeling to fight your body and mind with just your heart alone. Betrayers!
His blue-grey eye watched her keenly, "Stay by the fire light it'll fight off the chill, Orion will be back with our supper, I will keep watching" His wheat hair swayed when he rose back to his full height the heavy sound of his foot falls couldn't distract her from watching the meat of his thighs as he walked to the edge of the fire light hand on his sword watching the black forest.
Taking a deep breath Ashley began to undo her travel braids running her fingers through the locks as she watched the fire dance keeping her mind off of the increasingly salacious thoughts that plagued her.
"Hungry lass?" Orion walked into camp with bloody venison under his arm wrapped in leather. He went to work putting it all in the pot hanging over the fire with a few chopped potatoes and vegetables.
"I'm always hungry," she sighed listening to the sound of sizzling meat. Truly a symphony.
Orion laughed, "Perhaps it is part of your curse, you must always crave to be filled but not in the way you need."
Ashley rolled her eyes and leveled Orion with an unamused look, "Oh haha, yes I'm sure I'm cursed to be eternally hungry while you are all cursed to be lustful."
"They do say sex can be as filling as a meal."Orion snickered to himself.
"Till I crave the flesh of a man I shall never know."
Blue eyes glittered with an unknown emotion as he stirred the stew, tossing in a salt pie and a leak. "Lies do not become you Maldovah."
Looking up he caught her eye his expression serious, "I can smell your arousal."
Sighing heavily Ashley looked down at the flames, "This is not a topic I wish to go over again Dragonborn. I will not take what is not given with full consent."
Collecting the bowls for their meal Orion hummed in response, "Your honorable, more so than many. Truly I know no other that posses of your will for virtue and purity."
Taking the bowl of hot stew and bread Ashley settled by the fire, "Flattery will get you nowhere." Yet why did it make her feel so hollow?
Some time after their meal Ashley rose from her spot by the fire, "I will return, I'm going to meditate and commune with Nocturne."
"Do not go far, stay where we can hear for you," Argis began to sharpen his blade as torch bugs floated around him.
Taking a swig from a bottle of mead Orion watched the smoke from the fire as it rose to the heavens, "If there is an enemy I will smell them coming."
Ashley laughed shaking her head, yeah what good that did for her when Kharjo said that. Nearly mounted by a werewolf no less than a few feet from their camp.
Walking along the edge of the river she looked back at the light of the campfire. The chill of another Skyrim night filled her lungs, lifting her hand to the stars she smiled. She could shake her stress away and get lost in the song of nature. Ashley felt determination fill her heart, her path to follow the will of the divines and bring light back to Skyrim was becoming more and more reachable. She can do this!
Closing her eyes she knelt down taking out the silver amulet she held it in her hands running her fingers over the cold ravens she let herself be swept away into shadow. The sounds of bugs and the lapping of water distorted and changed to the sound of water sloshing against stone and dripping from high cistern walls.
"Nocturne?"
"Yes, child of love."
Ashley gazed up at the statue the sleek birds at her side cawed and thrilled softly. "How do I get your followers to let me in? Why am I entering the cistern?"
"A cursed object lays upon the hall my worshipers, they suffer under its wrath tiring easily it leads them to squabble, I feel a true rage building in their feeble mortal flesh. Should it come to fruition they will spill their own blood and the guild will be no more. I need you to find the cursed object and cleanse it. They will let you in, they have no choice." Leave it to a Daedric lord to speak in absolutes.
"Thank you Nocturne, I will not disappoint."
The disembodied voice hummed in approval, "Take good care of my children champion of love." She laughed in a cold mocking way that only Deadra can while also conveying her trust in the priestess's power. "I look forward to the presence of compassion in a hall of shadows and thievery."
The vision ended and Ashley felt the slip of silver against her fingers opening her eyes quickly she was met with the light of the moon dancing over calm water a dagger to her neck.
"Do not make a sound or I'll slit your throat." The thief spoke hotly into the shell of her ear the press of the blade making her squirm. His leather armor creaked as he took the medallion bringing it closer to inspect. "Nocturne? A fellow worshiper of the night perhaps…you are dressed rather odd for a Thief."
Her chin tilted up as she tried to avoid the Deadric Dagger at her neck, "I am a priestess of Mara, the medallion is a token from Nocturne." She managed to hiss out between panicked breaths. She wanted to call out to her companions, scream for help but mortal fear shook her to her core. "I-I was sent to eradicate a curse?" Of course, her curse wouldn't render this man incapable of harming her…no that would be too easy. She felt the white-hot stab of anger in her heart. The divines must love to laugh at her.
"So she sent you? I expected a college member," The thief did not seem amused nor pleased to see her. "You know…I've heard about you Priestess of Mara."
She swallowed hard looking up at the starry sky trying to will away her tears, "All good things I hope?" shaky and struggling to breathe evenly Ashley fought the painful ball in her throat that threatened to unleash terrified sobs.
The dagger pressed down on her trachea as the thief growled in her ear, "You've managed to seduce some powerful men… Ulfric Stormcloak, Argis the Bulwark, the werewolf brothers of Whiterun, and now if the rumors are true Ondolemar of the Thalmar. Tsk Tsk such a reputation to have for a priestess." He flipped the silver medallion in his hand the metallic twang was echoing in her ear for what seemed like an eternity as she began to panic. "Now you want into the Thieves Guild."
"Then remove everyone…if they see me t-the curse might take effect. I can cleanse the cistern without an audience."
"What curse?"
"Do you think those men fell for me by their own free will?" Ashley felt the bitterness rise like bile on her tongue. "I'm cursed with some stupid love spell…I don't like it I don't want it. J-just don't look me in the eyes…I believe it is based on eye contact."
"The reports claimed you bewitched them with your looks, didn't think they were that literal." The thief huffed and she felt the blade leave her neck, keeping her eyes on the sky she felt a tear roll down her hot cheeks as she tried not to gasp for air and sob uncontrollably. The soft brush of fabric over her eyes scared her so much that she jumped but was tugged back by the blindfold making her fall against the leather-clad chest. "Easy priestess, you're coming with me."
"But…"
"Your companions will be fine, they couldn't even keep you safe I don't think you're better off with them anyway." She was hoisted up and over the shoulder of the thief with a quiet oof. "You know this is my first time stealing a person…"
"Oh…well congratulations I think you're doing a great job." Her arms started to tingle as they were pinched under her weight. But her power of sass knew no limits.
Ashley heard him laugh softly as he began to walk through the brush. The sound of greenery being stepped on and pushed aside became soft background noise to the full symphony of nights in Skyrim. Her captor's breathing was nearly silent even with her weight over his shoulder he did not yield or stumble. She heard the crackle of fire presumably torches, a horse snorted somewhere to her left…what? Is he this bold?
"Don't you thief types normally bring in treasures? But a woman…what are you too short on coin to bed one for gold?" A Riften guard sneered while his fellow laughed loudly next to him.
"I'd watch that look Thief…we may look the other way for your guild but…" There was a pause as she heard boots walk slowly around them, "To steal some priestess for your own pleasures may get you in ill favor of the divines. No matter her beauty."
"No one is immune to the will of the Gods." The other guard warned.
Ashley almost scoffed, how true they were.
Her captor just kept walking using his free arm to push open the wood gates with a subtle exhale. When the heavy doors closed with a wooden rattle he spoke, "You're surprisingly quiet about this. I thought you'd at least call out for aide."
They moved over cobblestone pathways to what she knew to be the main entrance to the graveyard. "You are taking me to where I am supposed to go. I have no qualms with this, despite the rather rude handling of my person. You may be surprised to know that I find this rather more enjoyable than my last visits to the other holds."
"Ah welcome to Riften then Priestess I do hope you find us accommodating." Ashley definitely heard a smile in his voice.
"You are too kind."
The resounding snarl that came from above made her heart seize, the scraping of claws against stone lifted the hairs on the back of her neck.
"Oh gods…" the thief holding her took a step back, "Please tell me you can seduce all werewolves."
"I feel insulted," frowning she heard more scraping and the snap of drool-covered jaws as a heavy weight landed on the stone. "Plus I'm not sure you'll like the outcome of that ending either. Trust me I know I won't. But in all likelihood, I believe I know who this is."
"You paid a werewolf to accompany you to Riften? Are you insane?!"
"The werewolf was free actually as part of a package deal," In her position, she still managed to shrug her shoulders, "Clearly you don't know much about the people around you…" mumbling to herself she felt the thief's slow retreat. "Just put me down." Her feet touched the ground and she felt the slow drag of the Thief's hands on her shoulders as he positioned her to face the wolf while he hid behind her. "Geeze some help you are."
"I've seen one of those beasts kill ten bandits, lass you better not be wrong."
The blindfold was plucked from her head, and Ashley blinked away the shock of having sight once again. They were standing in the courtyard of the temple of Mara. Under the shadows of the archway by the hidden entrance was the werewolf's black fur brisling and lips curled in a snarl. Its form was low as amber eyes flashed from the shadows, the wolf snapped its jaws once again and made one slow step towards them.
"Oh come off it you ass. Change back I don't have time for your wolfy self." Affronted the wolf sat back on its haunches with a huff its ears pinned back as it sneezed giving her a side eye crossing its arms like a petulant child. "Oh excuse me." She put her hands to her chest, "Yes I'm honored to see your wolf form, you look quite handsome indeed." Its tail wagged making heavy thumps on the stone. She saw the magical ripples overtake his form then a very very naked Orion was revealed under blackness and reforming bones. He stood up with a stretch and a lopsided grin. Ashley quickly averted her eyes but not quick enough, the image will forever be seared in her mind. Why does he have a tattoo so close to his groin…and good god the MUSCLES. "Now that…is settled." She held her hand out behind herself. "Blindfold please mr Thief."
"Guild Master?"
Orion was pissed, a residual growl in his chest as he glared at his fellow thief, "Thrynn."
The air was tense making her palms sweat as she toed the dirt and looked everywhere but the two men. "Come Ashley you need into the cistern do you not?" Orion called for her.
"Put some clothes on please."
Laughing Orion watched the woman's face as she focused hard on the stone in front of herself he stepped closer plucking the blindfold out of Thrynn's hand and sliding it over her head. "I'll grab my uniform in the cistern. Now come along, little priestess." He took her hand and led her to the entrance. He could hear Thrynn follow them slowly. "You will not speak of this do you understand?"
"Yes, Guild Master."
Chuckling low Orion leaned close to the priestess's ear with a wolfish grin as he pressed the button to open the hidden entrance, "You should call me master too." He watched the tips of her ears turn pink.
"I liked you better when you pretended the curse didn't affect you."
Laughing he patted her on the head, "It's not so bad when you get used to it." Turning her he put her arms around his neck and hoisted her up, "Hold on tight there will be a slight drop."
Jumping down the hole he landed heavily with the woman in his arms and a smirk on his face as he startled the other Thieves as they milled about the cistern, some looked at his nudity with amusement some with curiosity. None of them commented on the woman in Priestess garb holding onto his naked body. Well, almost no one.
"Well lad, this is…new. Who's the lovely maiden?" Brynjolf called from the desk, Ashley heard him push the wooden chair back and make his way to them. She was lowered till her feet touched the ground. "Put this on you're making the women blush." Something was thrown the slap of a hand on the leather made her jump as Orion patted her on the shoulder. "The lass can stay where she is go change Orion."
Orion walked away and she felt someone in her personal space making her take a step back
"Easy lass let me take that blindfold off you."
"NO!" Ashley jumped back hand holding the blindfold, "Ah…sorry no please don't take it off."
"Suit yourself, lass. What brings you to the heart of the Thieves Guild?"
"She's the one Nocturnes ravens gave us all messages about." Thrynn tossed the raven medallion at Brynjolf. "She's cursed too, I heavily suggest you keep the blindfold on her."
Brynjolf made a noise of understanding she could hear him turn the medallion over in his hands slowly, "Well I'm honored to have the Divine blessed Priestess in our humble home." There were whispers from various other thieves in the cistern, and she could hear the comments on her body it made her eyes roll, yes her robes were rather…scandalous. She can't change magic robes. The divines want her to look like some kind of forest nymph in a porno, it is not a personal choice…she swears. "Easy men no need to make her feel unwelcome." He must have turned away from her to speak to the others because when he spoke next it was too close his breath tickled her neck and chest, "So you're here to break a little curse we have procured?" Rough fingers traced around the edges of her amulet of mara right over the plush tops of her breasts making her suck in a breath and heat rises in her cheeks.
"That she is." Orion's voice echoed in the high ceiling of the cistern, "Brynjolf." There was a subtle warming in his voice that left no room for discussion, this was the only warning he would receive.
The heat that was so close to her left quickly with a low chuckle, "No need to fret lad, I'll let the maiden get to work. Oh, and Delvin wished to speak to you he said it was urgent."
"I will be back maldovah, good luck."
"Right." Ashley breathed out and began to focus on the energy around her feeling for any negative aura. Yes, there was a light miasma around the cistern but she knew that to be just a show from the curse itself meant to draw her attention away from the main source. She followed the pull of dark energy letting her feet guide her around the hall. "It's not in this main room." Moving on she felt the floor rise and fall as she made her way across the center of the cistern and into what was apparently a hallway. Yes! It's here something in this room was the center of this dark aura. Her feet kicked something hard and she yelped, fuck that hurt. Kneeling her hands touched cold metal and she hummed it was in here! "Uh…hello? Can someone help me?" She waited for the sound of footsteps to get closer. "Hi…um I found the source but it seems to be in a locked chest can you open this for me?"
"Of course lass."
She felt her mouth go dry…Brynjolf. Nice to meet another man she had a crush on when she played the game. Too bad he was always busy. And unromanceable. Bastard.
He didn't seem under her curse just flirtatious. Ashley felt goosebumps all over when he crouched next to her the warmth of his body a definite contrast to the cold stone she knelt on. The slide of lock picks echoed in the room and the soft clicks as he worked open the lock. "Is there a reason you're blindfolded lass?" The snap of a lock pick was heard as he pulled out another one.
"Uh…I have a curse of my own."
"Thrynn said as much. I have heard of women saying beauty is a curse. But none quite so literal as you."
"I don't wish to cause such…feelings in others."
Brynjolf laughed as the chest clicked open, "I do not need to look in your eyes to know I wouldn't mind you in my bed." OH oh no…she's blushing. Gods why does he have to sound so casual like asking her if she wants a drink. Ashley felt him take her hand and place what felt like a gemstone in her open palm the malicious energy making her fingers tingle. "Is that what you were looking for? It's just an emerald."
She smiled softly unable to see his eyes light up at the pull of her rose-petal lips or how he leaned closer to breathe in her fresh scent like it was the cleanest air he'd breathed in years. "I can feel the curse in this stone, thank you for getting it out for me." She held the cold jewel to her chest looking over at where she assumed Brynjolf to be. The light pressure made the swell of her chest puff out slightly as a lock of her nut-brown hair slid slowly over a partly covered shoulder.
Brynjolf watched each movement with rapt attention, this young maiden was such a delicate beauty the likes of which he had never seen in all of Skyrim. "May I watch you purify it?"
Her cheeks reddened and a pink tongue came out darting over her lower lip, "Oh…sure." She straightened her posture and held the stone in her palm like an offering focusing on the well of power within her, willing it to fill the stones. Searching for the woven curse and unthreading it from the realm of existence. Each pull against the curse made her shudder and her breathing got heavy the damn thing was stubborn. "It's a rather old curse, quite comfortable in its little home." Stubborn or not she will cleanse this damn rock.
"Does that mean you cannot break it?" Brynjolf watched the glow of soft light coming from the tips of her fingers and pulsate into the emerald. Thin white lines began to form around them on the stone floor just as quickly as they appeared they were gone. The air around them felt like a spring breeze had filled the cistern.
Smiling brilliantly she held the stone up, "I just did." Her voice was soft and her hands shook as she held the now completely harmless emerald in her palm. It was clean no hint of malice within, this gig might just be working out for her.
"I feel honored you let me witness that, it's not every day you see such raw divine power." Brynjolf sounded starstruck.
"A gift and a curse." She felt a hand gently ease her to stand.
"The Divines do have a cruel sense of humor. Although I do have to question the validity of your curse. Surely just looking into the eyes of another cannot make them drawn to you no more than just gazing upon your body?"
There he goes again…"Ah, it's more than that. If only they just saw me as beautiful I guess my job would be much more…simple. But it arises such a carnal desire the likes which is frightening and captivates their mind and body. I dare not subject another to its clutches."
"Are you not aware that your body alone stirs carnal desires? The supple curve of your rear and wide child-bearing hips need no explanation." His voice lit up her right ear as he let his fingers brush over the smooth skin of her clavicle and trailed up her neck, Ashley swallowed hard. "Or shall I sing praise for the creamy swell of your bosom that begs to be lavished with gems and gold. Or perhaps a bite or two…" Her cheeks felt like fire and ice. Cursing the blindfold she felt all these sensations tenfold. The paths his fingers made were covered in goose flesh. Ashley found herself hyper-focused on all sensations. She could FEEL him lean close to her lips, "I'm merely curious that this curse of yours holds no candle to your own allure."
Ashley clutched her amulet and took a deep breath, "Brynjolf please take me back to Orion." Gods her own voice sounded so foreign, so breathy and shaken. His words had no right to have such a reaction on her.
He chuckled running his fingers down her cheek, "Are you not a priestess of Mother Mara, the goddess of love and fertility?" Hot lips grazed her neck and she gasped. "I only wish to receive her blessings." Brynjolf smiled against her neck his hands encircled her waist letting deft fingertips press into the soft meat of her hips pulling the flustered woman flush against his body, "You need only ask me and I will be yours for the night lass." Exhaling against her skin he squeezed her hips, "Gods any night would be more than a simple thief deserves." Pulling back he looked at her crimson cheeks and rose petal lips, "Think on it priestess," A hot hand pressed to her back and slowly began to guide her across the room. And out into the main body of the cistern.
"I felt her break the curse." Orion spoke as his footfalls became louder till she felt the familiar presence of the Dragonborn in front of her. "How do you feel Ashley?"
"Exhausted."
Amused Orion looked at the Priestess she did look out of sorts, she must have used a lot of magic again. Silly girl. "Let us take our leave then. I paid for a bed for you in the Bee and Barb."
A small smile graced her lips as she turned her head to speak to the members of the Thieves Guild, "Thank you all for allowing me to aid your guild. Mara's blessings to you all children of night."
"I assure you lass the pleasure was all ours."
Guided to the wood ladder Orion took her blindfold off so she could climb on her own. She pulled the metal chain activating the hidden door as Orion climbed up. It was well into the night the true cold had settled into the streets of Rifted blanketing the stone with a layer of mist.
"Maldovah." The Dragonborn called behind himself as they walked through the sleepy tavern and up the stairs.
"Yes, Orion?"
He turned and opened a door to a one-bed room motioning for her to enter the door closing silently behind them. The room seemed to have shrunk in size, and the larger frame of the Nord before her made her back up towards the bed, " I heard Brynjolf's not-so-subtle offering to bed you, I told you others would be drawn to you despite your curse." His lips pulled into a smile, "I'm surprised you did not take him up on his offer after all his words had such a delicious effect on you."
Ashley blushed and looked away, "I don't wish to speak about it."
"No, but I do." Orion leaned against the door looking down at the priestess with an unreadable expression. "You allowed him to touch you." Ashley opened her mouth to argue but closed it just as quick with a frown. She was caught. "You never once told him to stop." His voice was taking on a low growl, "I heard each little gasp and moan you made as he lavished you with his honeyed words." His words were spat like a curse on his tongue.
Ashley looked at him embarrassment clearly written on her face, "Orion what are you getting at?"
"I want you to want me!" He pushed away from the door stalking up to her with eyes of molten metal, "Yet I am denied the slightest hint of affection, I took your refusal with my pride shattered because I had wronged you in the past I felt like I deserved it." His words were snarled with a deep growl in his chest he placed a hand on her cheek the other tangling in her soft brown locks. "But I cannot always be the hero in the stories they wrote about me." With that, he descended on her exhaling aggressively through his nose as his tongue delved into her mouth tasting pure pleasure on her lips.
Squeaking in shock Ashley grabbed his wrist as he brought her close, his anger startled her but his passion made her see stars. Gods kissing the Dragonborn was exhilarating as it was rough, his taste blossomed in her mouth like a siren call. He was hot like the burn of whisky but smooth like caramel. A delicious autumn treat. Her mind wandered as she tentatively ran her tongue along his, Dragons must taste spicy and Wolves must be sweet. Huh, more food for thought she supposed.
"You're not thinking of me." He warned biting her plush lower lip getting a whine from the woman as the hand in her hair slid to her throat squeezing as he pushed her against the side table making the trinkets clatter as some fell to the floor. Her back smarted from the unyielding wood and her vision was spotty from the lack of blood flow to her brain. Yet pleasurable bolts of electricity raked her nerves she could focus on nothing else but the hot roll of his tongue over hers, drool rolled down the side of her mouth as she was worked into submission, Orion pulled back abruptly with a growl he used his grip on her neck to push her onto the bed. He searched her face for any signs of fear but all he saw were red kiss-bitten lips glossed with their saliva and unfocused lust-filled eyes. "Sweet dreams Ashley." With that Orion left leaving her on the bed haphazardly staring at the ceiling and feeling way too many things at once.
"Oh my…" she rolled over in bed and forced herself to sleep. Only to dream of things she really shouldn't like red eyes locked with her own in the dreamscape moving in tandem.
Ashley awoke with a jolt her body felt like fire her skin still feeling the phantom touches of her dream much to her horror.
"Don't look so shaken I quite liked THAT dream. You impressed me with your imagination I didn't know you could bend like that." Alduin purred from his seat at the foot of her bed. "It's flattering that I am the one to grace such sinful dreams."
"I'm sure you are a dream demon and I have no choice."
The dragon only smiled.
"Alright…keep your secrets." Rising from the bed she stretched with a groan.
Red eyes raked her form with a hunger she was all too familiar with, "The Temple of Mara calls you."
I guess there really is no rest for the wicked.
Ashley made her way into the alter walking directly to the shrine of Mara looking at the brass statue glowing in the firelight. Running her fingers over the open palm she looked at the goddess statue with tearful eyes, "I'm trying my best…but how can I carry on your will knowing the torment I put them through?" She whispered to the empty hall. The statue was warm and oddly comforting, steeling her nerves Ashley closed her eyes, "What will you have me do now?"
Blinding snow filled her mind's eye, a stone tower, and a chalice, then a scroll sitting on a table glowing in golden light.
Stendarr's Beacon.
Alright, bet.