Most of the assassins were back from their contracts. Festus and Veezara were out on another contract and not expected back for a few weeks, but Babette was here. Not too soon, either. She'd heard some of the talk around Falkreath about a string of mysterious murders and Astrid was acting oddly. She looked… nervous. In the near century they'd known one another, she couldn't recall Astrid being nervous: vicious, savage, seductive, even sometimes rather kind-hearted, but nervous? No.
Why so nervous? The little vampire asked herself. Perhaps… well, if she were honest, she might admit to fostering that emotion… but she wasn't.
"Nessa and Arnbjorn have been gone quite some time," Babette had said.
Astrid had stared at her map, absorbed in whatever secrets it held. "Solitude is a long journey and the contract is difficult." She looked up and narrowed her eyes at the girl. "Why?"
"Oh nothing. It's just…," she giggled playfully, "didn't you mention that Nessa thought Arnbjorn was attractive? Then you kicked him out of your bedroom and he's spent an awfully long time traveling with her. Do you really think your wolf is that steadfast?"
"So? It's Arnbjorn. The man is as faithful as a… stump."
"As bright as, don't you mean?" Babette's eyes shone wickedly.
"Don't insult my husband. I do love him. Wolves mate for life, I might remind you."
"He's only half-wolf, I might remind you!"
There'd been a string of such conversations. Later on Babette took another approach.
"If she's sleeping with your husband, do you think she's forgotten about you?"
Astrid looked up, her patience very frayed. "What are you going on about now?"
"Ha!" Babette laughed. "You haven't forgotten about her, don't pretend you have. If she's sleeping with Arnbjorn who would you be jealous of the most?"
Astrid threw a book at Babette. "Get out of here! Stop… whatever it is you're doing. Go play with your dollies!"
It'd been so worth it. Astrid had done nothing but glare at her ever since. She'd love to push a little more, a little harder, but Astrid might kick her out again if she went too far. She'd learned that lesson long ago. If there was one thing Babette hated, it was being on her own. She'd tried to leave several times, but she just couldn't fit in anywhere. Children were stupid, and adults just wanted to adopt her and then she'd end up killing them. It never worked out.
Once she tried living with other vampires but they were way weird. They had their own vampire guy they practically worshiped. He was mean as hell and every now and then he'd stake someone out on the ground and leave them in the sunlight. No thank you! She had never tried to find another coven of vampires to live with after that, but came back to the Sanctuary after that and had been quite content for many, many years.
The time Astrid had kicked her out, she had lasted two weeks before returning and tearfully begging forgiveness. Astrid was a soft touch when it came to Babette. No matter what happened, the simple fact remained that Babette was Astrid's parent, in a way. They were still close friends, and bound by that bond, even a century later.
~.~.~.~.
The thought wasn't a new one to Astrid, but it was one she'd pushed away every time it bubbled up to the surface. What if Nessa and Arnbjorn were lovers? Well, she'd told Arnbjorn not to expect her to be faithful, why would she expect him to be? But he always had been. Wolves mate for life, he had told her. It was illogical, but the thought of Arnbjorn with someone else sent a sharp pang of anxiety through her. On the other hand, if he were sleeping with Nessa…
Sithis take Babette!
The little vampire had led her into a trap. Now she couldn't help picturing the two of them together: Nessa's pale, slender beauty with Arnbjorn's bulky mass. Ridiculous. The thought of them together unsettled her in more ways than one. It infuriated her, but how could she be angry? She'd rejected Nessa and had thrown Arnbjorn out of their bedroom.
He could smell her.
That thought made her jealous all over again. She was completely scentless since becoming a vampire. It was handy when evading angry villagers or the Vigilant of Stendarr. At least it rendered dogs unable to follow their trails. But Arnbjorn's keen sense of smell would delight in the smell of a woman's arousal. From time to time he'd comment on it.
"Gods, that man is an idiot. That woman is so ready and he has no idea", he had told her a number of times when they'd been in cities.
Even Astrid had appreciated her smell during their short time together. She tried to refocus on her work but her mind kept painting a scene: her big, wolf of a husband and that sweet, girl, trembling on the cusp of womanhood as he impales her. She could hear her cries, the ones she had once caused, and his soft growling in her ear.
Gods!
She slammed her quill to the table and went to the common room. The training dummy took the brunt of her aggression and frustration. Forget it, she willed herself. The session left her panting, but no less edgy. She saw Babette watching her, a secretive grin on her face. There was only one way to get back her equilibrium. She headed up the long corridor to the Sanctuary door and went out, dissolving into the dark of the night. Someone would pay with their life for her restlessness.
The door slid shut with a deep grinding sound. When it had fully closed, Babette finally indulged in one long, wicked giggle.
~.~.~.~
The weather turned unseasonably cold south of Solitude, especially in the mountain passes. There were advantages to such cold weather, the bandits and outlaws that had harassed them on the way north were staying somewhere warm. The disadvantage was… it was damn cold. Nessa and Arnbjorn rode together just to stay warm. Shadowmere didn't mind the weather. He just lowered his head and plowed through whatever came his way.
"Things will get complicated now. Are you ready for this?" he asked her on the last night of their journey before arriving at Sanctuary.
She poked at the fire with a stick, staring pensively into the coals. "Maybe they won't."
His laugh sounded almost like a bark. "Oh, you don't know Astrid as well as I do." He got up from where he had been sitting and sat next to Nessa, sharing a log seat with her. He kissed her lightly on the temple. "Let's go to bed, bit."
Their lovemaking that night was slow and he was very tender with her. This might be the last time they'd be together like this, just the two of them. Perhaps it'd be the last time ever. Despite his growing feelings for Nessa, and hers for him, if Astrid took him back but rejected their proposition, he would give her up. Astrid was still his wife and he would stand by her, always.
She too wondered at his tenderness. Is this goodbye? He'd taken such care with her that last night. She'd never peaked so many times. And now that she was nestled in his massive arms, he was staring into her eyes as if he were imprinting them into his memory. She might have tried to get him to express what he was thinking, but the one time she'd done it he had run from her. It was a guessing game, trying to figure out what Arnbjorn was thinking and feeling.
His fingers traced down her jaw and pulled her mouth to his in another tender kiss. No, this was decidedly strange. It made her sad that the next day would change all this. So odd to think that when they'd left Sanctuary she'd been so sad over losing Astrid. The last few days she'd been trying to remember what it had been like with her. That first time, when Astrid had shown her the pleasures her body could give her, came back with a rush. Weeks ago she never would have imagined herself in this position with Arnbjorn. She had been so absolutely enthralled with Astrid that she couldn't have even looked at him. But it had been him that had saved her from his own wife. Or rather, Arnbjorn saved her from herself. She would have gladly let Astrid suck her dry and Astrid had been just as much ensnared in that desire as she was.
It would get complicated now. Arnbjorn was right. She settled into his arms and fell asleep, dreaming of someday knowing an uncomplicated love.
~.~.~.~
Homecoming: the word is usually one that makes a heart jump with gladness, not race with worry. But the looks exchanged by Nessa and Arnbjorn, just before she murmured the passphrase, were anything but joyful. They walked, single file, down the long corridor and stepped into the common room together.
They were both still bundled in snow-dusted furs. Nessa's cheeks and nose were apple red from the cold. Perhaps it was the length of time she'd been gone, but she looked older to Astrid. She didn't seem quite like the unsure, slightly gawky teenager that left. Of course, it was bound to happen in this line of work. Assassination was corrosive. It would quickly etch away youth and innocence. She also didn't look as miserable as she had when she left, but then that was shortly after Astrid had spurned her affections, for her own good, of course.
"Welcome home, my husband," she said. She nodded to Nessa. "And to you too, Nessa. How fare your targets?"
"Dead. Both of them," Nessa said. Does she know? She glanced at Arnbjorn and he returned her look. "It went… well."
That glance spoke volumes to Astrid. There was something in her eyes when she looked at him, a softness that she'd seen before, but for her. Babette was right. There was something between them. She felt a surge of anger, then confusion. What am I supposed to do with this now? She glared at Arnbjorn a moment than turned her attention to Nessa.
"Unpack," she said, "rest a little. We'll talk later." Turning to her husband she said, tersely, "Come with me."
And so it begins, Arnbjorn thought as he followed his wife back to her office. He paused for just a moment to see Nessa sneaking another look at him. He winked at her. Courage, bit, he tried to convey to her.
Nessa passed through the main room and nearly fell when Babette ran to her and hugged her hips. "You're back! I'm so glad. It was terribly boring here. Let's go to your room and you can tell me everything. Simply everything!"
"Maybe later, Babette," Nessa said giving the girl a brief hug. "I need to settle in first."
Babette followed her to her room chatting the entire time. Nessa wasn't even sure what she said, she was thinking about Astrid and Arnbjorn and wondering what was happening. Somehow—she didn't know how—she was certain Astrid knew.
"So tell me about the kill, sister! Did you seduce them?" Babette asked.
"What?" She looked up from the pile of dirty clothes she'd unloaded on the bed.
"You're not paying attention! You seem rather… preoccupied." Babette's cheeks dimpled. "Something on your mind, perhaps? Confession is good for the soul, the priests say."
"No! I... I'm just tired. It was a long journey. If you don't mind, I'd like to rest."
Babette stood up and placed her fists on her hips, her eyes flashing. "You used to be so much fun! I thought we were friends!"
Suddenly Nessa's temper flared. "Babette, I really don't have the patience for this right now." She drew herself up and towered over the child-vampire. It was hard to remember that Babette was older, much older, than she was especially when she acted like this. She threw open the door to her room and stood there, waiting for Babette to leave.
Babette burst into tears. "I hate you, Nessa! You're mean!" she cried and ran from the room. After she rounded a corner she burst into laughter. Nessa still didn't know half her tricks and theatrics. She would have to make a bet with Gabrielle that Nessa would come to her and apologize and perhaps even spill a few secrets.
All Nessa wanted was to fit in somewhere and feel like a part of something. Growing up without a family had made finding one as an adult more important. Are all families this difficult? She'd go after Babette later and apologize, but for now she'd finally won some time alone to get cleaned up and rest. She closed the door and shut everything else out for a while.
~o~o~o~
"Well, tell me about it husband," Astrid said when they were finally alone. She didn't ask for exactly what she wanted to be filled in on; she'd leave it up to him. Perhaps he would spill it voluntarily.
"It went well. We killed the Captain in Rorikstead and Liore in Solitude. Nessa did it the way you wanted. Which brings me to the next topic: No more of this seduction nonsense. It took a terrible toll on her and it was completely unnecessary."
Astrid watched him coolly. He was certainly rather exercised over that. "I have to ask myself, dear husband, why you would concern yourself over the way she kills her targets?"
He growled quietly and shot her a glare. "All of a sudden you seem keen on reminding me of our marital status, when just a few weeks ago you kicked me out of our bedroom."
She inhaled quickly, as if she'd been punched. Walking around him she eyed him warily. "You're changing the subject. Why this concern over her? You couldn't give a rat's ass if we asked an assassin to lick the boots of a target if it gets the job done. Now all of a sudden you don't want to see one of my assassins fulfill a contract in some particular way." She stopped circling Arnbjorn and looked at him challengingly. "This is most curious."
He turned to face her as she circled him. He knew her well enough to know she was suspicious, but he also knew she enjoyed games like this. She wanted to trap him into a confession, but, by the empty space between Sithis's legs, he wasn't going to play her game. "Because I happen to like the girl, and yes, I had her."
It was gratifying to watch his wife freeze in place, for once taken by surprise. Her mouth gaped open a moment. She hadn't expected an admission to come that easily. Even though she'd been preparing herself for it since she saw them, she still wasn't ready for it. Arnbjorn unfaithful?
"She seduced you?" she said. No, that didn't sound right. She wouldn't have, she was still enthralled.
"No. I seduced her."
She shook her head. "No. You? What are you trying to pull, Arnbjorn? You've never even seduced me."
He shrugged. "I'm not stupid, Astrid. I never needed to seduce you. You always took what you wanted."
"True." She was hurt, and a little angry, but he had a point: she had thrown both of them out. It made sense that they sought comfort in one another. "Is this how you feel when I've had lovers?"
"How should I know? You warned me you wouldn't be faithful, but I married you anyway. I'm the one that lied," he said. "I told you I would be faithful, always."
She sat down on their bed and put her chin in her hand, resting an elbow on the knee. "Do you love her? Should we just end our marriage? I can't imagine you'd do this for someone you didn't love."
Arnbjorn sat down beside her on the bed and wrapped an arm around her. "I did do it for someone I love. For you."
"What?" Arnbjorn was losing his wits. He seduces a girl and says he did it for me? "Arn, what in the void…"
"Shut up," he growled. "Let me talk."
"Talk." She looked at him suspiciously.
"What happened between you and Nessa left you both miserable…"
"So, what, you fucked her to cheer her up?" She folded her arms and pulled away from him.
"I said, let me talk," he growled.
She sighed but remained quiet.
"I knew the reason you kicked me out was because you were hurting. You loved her and you couldn't have her, so you took it out on me." He ignored her frown and went on. "I don't pretend to understand why; maybe it was just easier to shut love out of your life entirely." He shrugged. "Nessa was ready to die. I ran into her in the forest, she begged me to kill her."
"Maybe you should have," she said. "Maybe I should have," she added. "I never expected her to sleep with my husband."
"It was my idea, Astrid."
She stood up from the bed and stared at him, shaking her head. "All right, so you've said, but why? Is this just to get back at me?"
"No. To get you back. You're a miserable bitch when you can't get what you want…"
Her frown turned into a scowl. "You dare!" Her hands clenched into fists.
"You are and you know it. But I thought of a way out. A way you could have the girl and not kill her too. If you drink from her, you won't be able to stop, but if I'm there, I can stop you. The three of us together, Astrid." He got up from the bed and took her hands in his. "I went to Solitude with her to see if I could like her enough to see it through."
Her look went from fury to astonishment. "You're proposing that we three… sleep together?" She paused a moment then shook her head. "So, I take it you decided you like her enough to sleep with her."
"I like her fine." He pulled Astrid close to him and held her gently against his chest.
He couldn't see it, but her brow furrowed again. Arnbjorn was rarely gentle like this. He'd changed. Was Nessa responsible for this? She pulled away from him.
"Do you love her?" she asked.
"Do you?" he countered.
Astrid had lived for nearly two months trying to put such thoughts behind her, now it was all being resurrected and shoved back into her face. She still remembered the sweet seduction and the tender feelings she'd had for the girl. Was it truly love? She didn't know now.
"Maybe," she said. "I might have. I don't know." She crossed her arms and stared into her husband's face, looking for truth. "Do you?"
A single eyebrow slid up and he smiled wolfishly. "Maybe. I'm not sure. What I do know is that I love you, and if this brings you back to me, then there's no question that I did the right thing by breaking my vow to you."
Such admissions from Arnbjorn were rare. He hated talking about feelings, love, and all that. They were a pretty good match that way, Astrid didn't like it much either. So, he was proposing that the three of them be "together", whatever that meant.
There was some merit in the proposition; it wasn't anything she'd tried in the century of her existence. It would be interesting. She snorted out loud thinking how Babette would be pleased by such a scandalous arrangement. She paced back and forth across the room thinking about it.
"She agreed to this?" she asked.
Arnbjorn blinked and nodded slowly. "She never would have slept with me if I hadn't presented this as an option to getting you back."
"Does she love you?" she asked.
Arnbjorn considered it a moment. Did she? He remembered that night she seemed so happy and content in his arms. Neither one of them had been thinking of Astrid. "Are you happy?" she'd asked him.
"I don't know," he said. That might be a lie, he knew, just like his answer about whether he loved her or not. It didn't matter, Astrid would always come first, whatever his feelings for tidbit. "Tell me," he said, pausing and running a hand nervously through his hair. "Do you love me still?"
She was trapped. She'd pushed away all the tender feelings she had for anyone. Now Arnbjorn and Nessa were ganging up on her, trying to drag her back into that emotional morass. Should I? Perhaps it was better to stay aloof and run her guild. Let Arnbjorn have Nessa for as long as she held his interest.
Never. The thought of losing her wolf to another decided it for her.
"I love you, Arnbjorn." She reached out and brushed his cheek with her fingers. "Always," she said quietly. "We'll try it. I'm not promising anything, but I'll try it."
He moved in closer and bent to kiss her gently. "Good. Pushing us away solves nothing." He trailed kisses down her throat and they toppled together onto the bed.
~o~o~o~
Nessa unpacked, washed up, sharpened her blades and cleaned her armor. When all was in order, she paced the length of her small room. What would happen now? Would Arnbjorn just abandon her for his wife? She pictured them together and she was speared with jealousy. Had this whole thing been for nothing? Had she recovered from her loss of Astrid only to lose Arnbjorn now?
Walking the length if her room over and over, exhaustion finally defeated anxiety. She lay down and slept. A myriad of troubling dreams plagued her rest. Dragons, executioners, Ulfric's sad eyes, and all the people she'd murdered paraded through her dreams.
"Be at peace, my daughter," a woman with midnight hair whispered to her.
The troubling dreams ceased and she slept deep and long.
~o~o~o~
Notes: Thank you TheOtherLachance, Leonidas Raistlin Knowitall, Zevgirl, Biff McLaughlin, .x, Procastination Possum, Carrp, Skiota, EllaBea, Steffii07, Rayven Feather, Heiwako, Cheesehead8707 for the reviews. It was an early Christmas present for me!
Now that they're out of Solitude the writing is coming along faster. This is the first chapter I've posted with less than 2-3 weeks since the prior one (in a long time). Yay!