Greenie
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The Navigator and the Shield
By Lemons, Stormy, and Greenie
Late afternoon, 19th Sun’s Height
Falkreath
Ivy had been infirm for most of the day, a headache weighing her down. The feeling was familiar, like all of the spinning she could do and achieve without feeling dizzy would hit her at once and her surroundings would whoosh in endless circles. A nagging feeling that ran the length of her spine and into each limb like a hot poison.
Eventually what had been festering was birthed from inside of a shell, an image, a sound, a smell. Just a split second for her to make sense and find the message within. From the birth came instant relief - like sinking into a hot bath on a cold day. The vertigo had gone and she lifted her head from her pillow, mulling over it… What do you mean? she asked herself, looking up through the split ceiling of the tent - up at the sky as it was beginning to grow darker. The hum of sunset rolling through.
Her bare feet worked the rain-kissed grass beneath her as she let her senses carry her to where she needed to be - intuition pulling her in a hard direction. The Dunmer wasn’t able to leave - to venture beyond Falkreath and into the wild. As tough as she was emotionally, she wouldn’t fare well against any real foes. Not alone, definitely not alone. She had to find someone, and convince them that she wasn’t… well, that she wasn’t what people usually thought she was. Crazy.
She needed someone who could read the sky, and someone who could hold back fire.
The time for pacing was over, and she set off into the town centre, the new guests had all but settled in, and she could distinctly remember that at least one of them was shiny in the way that she needed them to be.
“Hey! Hey there, hello!” she called out after several minutes of flouncing around the town - her red hair tied in a bouffant and long, heavy plait. The woman in question had been just moving around. Without warning, Ivy slipped her own arm through the woman’s elbow so they were linked together - she didn’t want her to escape. Ivy recognised her as one of the new arrivals to Falkreath, and she looked to be either a Redguard or an Imperial… Maybe both. In any case, Ivy smiled up at her. “Good morning, I need your help.”
Sirine blinked. Four months previously she would have probably elbowed whoever took hold of her so easily and taught them a lesson, but her time in Scorpion' Song had made her immune to that sort of thing. Still, she was surprised to see the exotic Dunmer woman, the one who had put on such a performance, to come and seek her out. Though the group had spent a long time together, she still felt like a stranger among them for the most part- she could only imagine what was probably going in Zaveed's mind when people interacted with him. Still, they had to try- she had to try. For all their sakes.
"Hello, good morning," she repeated. What was her name again? Ivy? She wasn't sure if that was simply a nickname or perhaps the woman's actual name, but that would have to do for now. A careful smile now set on her lips, Sirine gave the lady a nod. "You're Ivy, yes? I am Sirine. What sort of help do you think I would be able to offer?" Did this woman know her from somewhere, or was it just a hunch on her part that she could help with... whatever?
“I was hoping you might be able to help me find someone,” Ivy replied, her arm linked to Sirine, but her big red eyes tracing the sights in front of them, moving from left to right - then up and down. “I’m looking for an armoured man… Traveled here with you!” Then her head turned, and she looked Sirine in her eyes - having ignored the question of her name to jump straight into things. “It’s very important,” there was a frailty in her voice that wasn’t normally in her throat - but it gave her a croak that gave a clue as to the woman’s true age to someone with an astute ear.
“You see, Sirine - I have some tasks for you and your group and this one, this one requires a shield.” The Dunmer said, walking on - pulling Sirine with her. “A very timely task… Maybe the most important of all…” That made her stop, and she glanced at Sirine again - her flurry of movements and words slowing as she realised that she had been acting like an excited child, as opposed to a composed and mature woman. “Let’s just find the Shield, and I’ll explain everything.”
Unable to keep herself from raising her eyebrow, Sirine couldn't help but feel a little taken aback and more than a little confounded at the way ths woman spoke and acted. "Find someone?" It seemed rather odd to her that she would be the one asked for such a task. Why not Megana who seemed to know everyone and their pets? Or someone else more familiar with the group? Well perhaps this woman did not know the divide that still seemed to linger. Yes, that had to be it...
Mentally, she chided herself, knowing that she herself with those sorts of thought was part of the problem.
"Let me think," she decided to reply, holding up her free hand. "That is, of who you might be searching for." Whatever this woman wanted had her a little intrigued, but she really did have to pause and wrack her mind a little. 'Armoured man' immediately had her thinking of Gregor, but the 'shield' caught her off guard, though it was not too long before she figured out who Ivy the Dunmer might be talking about. "Ah, I think you mean the Imperial man, Gaius? I... hm, well I can surely help you find him if that's what you wish." Even if she hadn't really interacted with the man, she knew what he looked like and recognized his voice and mannerisms.
"Gaius…?" Ivy said, closing her eyes and letting his name sit on her tongue as she drew the word out. "Gaius…" she said again. The Dunmer reached out a hand, as if gently grasping at the air to find him, before opening her eyes. "Sirine, my sweet," she began, opening her eyes. "I will trust you to help us find him. Maybe let's see where we find ourselves…" she said hurriedly, turning them on the spot in a certain direction, toward the tents. "If we walk here…" then they were off - Ivy resuming an arm in arm way of walking with Sirine.
Like a child being towed, Sirine allowed herself to be led, though she made the effort to walk side by side with the Dunmer woman. Frankly, half of her wished to laugh out loud at how preposterous this all seemed, but she recognized the determination in this woman’s actions, and at the least of it, she knew that there was no harm or malintent in her. “I haven’t actually conversed with him much,” she mentioned, even though she knew fairly well that wouldn’t deter her. “He has the look of a soldier. We found him in a prison in the Alik’r Desert.” It seemed like ages ago when she had fearlessly made her way into that place with only a single thought in her mind: Save Bakih.
“Perhaps I’m simply projecting, but he seems the sort who may want some quiet… perhaps he’s chosen to rest somewhere further away from the cluster of the tents?” It was a thought at least.
"Dilly dally, shilly shally. Absolutely not!" Ivy replied with a laugh and a dismissive shake of her hand. "In the prison? Locked up was he? In that case he most likely wants to make up for lost time and get down to something important!" There was a touch of strain in Ivy's voice, as if the weight of the task was pressing on her shoulders.
She lifted her head to the sky, raising a brow at the shade of blue, of the way that the sun was beginning it's descent again. "Also, it's afternoon. Maybe he isn't in the tent. Men have to eat, big man like your friend there - he would probably be looking for something tasty… Meat, probably grilled or smoked… Hmmm?" She stopped walking, and turned her head back to Sirine - oblivious to how her behavior was making the young woman feel. "We might intercept him on his way to the Inn…"
Sirine gave that thought a nod. He had seemed quite eager in the fight against the Centurions and had done quite a bit of damage by himself, and managed to fare better than quite a few of them. Perhaps the older Imperial did have some fire left in him which would be useful for… whatever this woman thought they could accomplish. As they continued to walk, her eyes swerved from person to person, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Imperial. At one point she thought she saw him, but it turned out to be somebody else carrying a shield, a Nord from the looks of it. Not that it was surprising- this was Skyrim. However, it wasn’t long before she did spot the man Ivy was searching for.
“There,” she said quickly, pointing him out to Ivy before raising her voice, calling out for the Imperial soldier. “Gaius?”
The Imperial in question jolted at hearing his name from a voice that, even though he knew the name of its source, was still altogether unfamiliar to him. The long, half-eaten skewer of meat in his hand fell to the ground, and he gave it a cross look before picking it up again, turning to…
“What is it, Sirine? And...Ivy, was it?” He dipped his head politely to her. Now that she wasn’t dressed up, painted, and cavorting across tables and stages, he could see the wrinkles by her eyes that betrayed age that, in an elf, was formidable indeed. It would not do for a soldier of the Imperial legion to disrespect his elders (as long as they didn’t ban the worship of one of his gods).
It was unusual for Sirine to talk to this man at all, but that hardly deterred her- she was quite good at dealing with strangers and he wasn’t one, even if they’d had minimal contact. “I do believe her name is Ivy, yes…” She paused and gave a nod to the Dunmer woman before looking to the Imperial man once more. “She mentioned she was looking for you, it seems she has a task at hand for us, though what exactly I’m yet to learn of the details.” With that said, her dark eyes returned to Ivy, clearly waiting for further clarification.
“Yes, yes,” the Dunmer replied with a wave of her hand - as if introductions were unimportant when time was of the essence. “I’m Ivy, that’s correct.” Her intense red gaze shifted between the two, and she wriggled her fingers almost nervously. “Maybe we should find a quiet place to discuss this…” She scanned the area again, clearly frazzled by something, her eye kept twitching - which wasn’t helping at all in her desire to not look like a madwoman, but then she marched onwards, knowing that curiosity would have them follow as she headed towards a dip on the hill, surrounded by a number of trees, a crater of grass shielded by oak.
The Dunmer perched herself up on a boulder there, waiting for Sirine and Gaius to catch up.
Gaius had spent a great portion of his life as a soldier. There was a great deal of risk in his line of work; risk of death, risk of capture, risk of any number of things. It was nigh-genetically burned into his brain and body to never follow a strange person off from inhabited ground to a place that’s ripe for an ambush. Not unless there was a very good, concrete reason. So it was perhaps a testament to the trials of the past few months that it only took him a few seconds of deliberation to give vent to a sound that was simultaneously a sigh, a grumble, and a grunt of affirmation before turning to Sirine and jerking his head in the direction Ivy had taken. “Well, shall we?”
He didn’t wait for an answer before following, finding her waiting on a boulder, looking for all the world like a statue. “So. We’re in a quiet place. Discuss.”
Should I tell a lie? Would that be easier? she mused to herself in the pregnant pause that hung over Gaius’s words. Or just dress up the truth to be more palatable for them…?.
“Several days ago, we sent out a group to collect supplies,” she began - trying to appear as serious and business-like as she could. Her back straight, ever if she was cross legged on her seat. Her hair catching the sun. It burned brighter. “They have not yet returned from this mission, and those supplies are very important. We need to get them here…” Lying felt awful, she thought. It felt like a horrible taste in her mouth, but one glance at Gaius’s severe expression knew that to speak as herself might bring undue attention to the cause. And if that happened, all would be lost.
Her face scrunched up and she heaved a great sigh. The taste was too awful to bare afterall. “That was a lie,” she confessed, and relaxed her posture. “I…. I need you both to promise me that what I’m going to share will be kept secret, and that you won’t go blabber mouthing to everyone.” Ivy’s eyes then danced between Gaius and Sirine’s, but her expression was no longer that of a confused woman - no, her expression was natural and the red in her eyes was enough to command attention. The energy in their circle shifted too, it became quieter, as if there were a wall around them, bringing them closer.
"I can't speak for Gaius as I don't know him well enough, but I'm not one prone to divulging that which has been told to me in confidence." Sirine had her arms akimbo, fists resting against her sides as she watched Ivy. "What is it that you want us to do, Ivy? I believe I can also speak for Gaius if I say just about nothing could shock us at this point in time."
A nod from Gaius. “I may be a soldier, but I’ve done a bit of wordplay in my day.” He nodded sharply. “Unless keeping it a secret would directly jeopardize those that I’m here to protect, you have my silence assured. So,” he exhaled heavily as he ran his hand down his beard, “what is it?”
“The opposite, in fact, Mr Gaius,” Ivy said, her eyes narrowed as her voice quieted. “Last night I received a vision of sorts,” she confessed, not sitting on the point for all that long. They would either believe her, or they wouldn’t. But the very fact that they had already answered her call, was reassurance to her that they would believe.
“I saw, felt, heard… It’s more of a feeling-” Ivy added, placing an open hand to her chest, “a feeling in here.” There was a grave tone in her voice, and she rubbed her thumb in small circles over her fingertips. “I felt the heartbeat of a horse, I heard a scream and I felt absolute fear and then nothing.” Even sharing the vision - vocalising it, brought back it’s lingering sensation and she squirmed, visibly recoiling - her toes curled. “Something is happening, somewhere beyond these walls. What it is, I do not know - I only know that my heart pulled me to Sirine here, and then to you…” her eyes locked to Gaius and she pushed herself from the rock. “We cannot risk another soul from your group knowing about this - the situation is already balanced on the edge of a knife and to rock it too much… Well, the outcome may well be horrific…” The Dunmer turned her intense gaze to Sirine. “I am asking a lot of the two of you, but something tells me that you’ve both been asked to do stranger things… What say you? Will you investigate this?”
Sirine didn’t really put much faith in anything, especially not visions, even if she didn’t shun them or say they were false and just figments of her imagination- just because she didn’t trust in something didn’t mean it wasn’t true. She hardly cared for divines or daedric princes, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there, meddling in the lives of mere mortals. Still, how could she simply leave without telling anyone anything, especially on what might be a wild goose chase? “Let me think this over,” she muttered, resting a loose fist against her mouth, eyes narrowed and lowered towards the ground.
“Do you at least know where about this… investigation should take place?” she asked after a moment, raising her eyes to look at Ivy. “An hour from here? A day? Or more perhaps? While I don’t particularly mind heading out, if it’s something that will keep me away for the entirety of the day, I don’t think I’ll be able to leave without telling someone something."
Glancing sidelong at Sirine, Gaius knuckled his eyes. “I’m fine with investigating on something like this; Divines know that there’s been stranger things I’ve been tasked to do in the Legion. But I would like to know what I’m investigating before I start investigating it.” He shrugged helplessly. “The heartbeat of a horse doesn’t tell me much, Ivy. If I’m going to put my trust in you, I need more to go on. Where am I going? East? North? West? Perhaps south, even? What am I looking for? A dead horse? People screaming?”
He gave a little shake of his head, sighing. He wanted to trust Ivy, he really did, but there were so many variables, and so much unknown, that he just couldn’t bring himself to move on such little detail.
The Dunmer brought her thumb to her lips, gently pinching at the skin with her teeth. Trying to make as much sense as she could of her vision. What they wanted to know wasn’t unfair or unreasonable. After a drawn out silence, she eventually spoke. “You follow the Steed,” her heads tilted upwards. “He settles in this direction now…” she mumbled, pointing a hand in the direction of the constellation. “He will guide you to where you need to be,” there was a certainty in her voice - the certainty that she was indeed correct. The energy around her shifted again, as she looked at Gaius and Sirine both.
“As for time… Time is just sand, slipping through the glass until it’s too late, Sirine. We’ve used so much already. Our moments will collide, and you both have to be there, soon. Or it’s too late…” If only Ivy could make them feel, or even see what she had - the urgency might register with them both. But right now, they were looking at a woman telling them to go out into the dark on naught but a hunch. Someone they’d only just met, no less. "I will tell someone, we can't risk you being followed by worried friends…"
Sirine let out a sigh, looking down at the ground, arms crossed over her chest. It was difficult to simply up and leave, to trust this stranger, somebody she knew nothing about… Her lips tightened and she bit down, a niggling reminder poking at her conscience. Hadn’t she decided to trust a complete stranger, and vice versa? Hadn’t fruits been borne from that trust, lovelier than she could have ever dreamed of? Perhaps it was her turn to help someone in need?
Another breath escaped her lips; her hand reached up to lightly grasp the coin around her neck. She nodded. “Very well then. The Steed, hm?” She looked up to the sky, and though it was still too bright to see the constellations, she was more than familiar with following them rather than maps on land. “What do you say, Gaius?”
Gaius dropped his head, taking a deep breath and fiddling with the knife strapped in the small of his back. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be in this,” he picked at the haphazard set of mismatched plates that covered his body, “but if Sirine is up for it, then it’d be a shameful thing if I let her walk out alone.” He nodded sharply. “I’ll come.”
"Alright then…" Ivy said with a relieved sigh, feeling a knot of tension leave her body. "I'm going to fetch you a horse and cart… You're going to need the cart…" she said, pinching her chin thoughtfully as she looked over to the stables. "Take some time to gather what you need -- but be quick about it, you must leave before dark and there isn't much time before then now. And remember, say nothing..."
The Dunmer gave them one last look before she made her way to the horses. A pang of guilt struck her, she knew what was out there, she knew the dangers. Were they ill-prepared by her withholding what she knew. When Ivy was out of sight she cast her gaze on the horizon - the sparse and desolate plains, wartorn and ravaged. They would either make it in time, or die on the way.
All that she had was the faith and hope that they wouldn't.
Insight
A Green Storm Production
18th Sun’s Height, afternoon
It was hard to keep a smile off her face. So far, Megana had been having a rather lovely day. Breakfasting with an old friend, chatting with a new one- what could be better than that? She didn’t think anything, not while she felt so elated. She knew things still had a long way to go before finally returning to what was normal- the holes left by their missing friends could be felt no matter how anyone tried to disguise it or just plain ignore it. However, she knew she had to keep thinking positively, keep seeing what good was still there. Besides… she was still here, and it would take a mammoth dragging her away to keep her from her friends.
Weaving through the tents, her mind busy with thoughts of her companions as well as wondering whether she should eat something now or perhaps later as she was still not completely hungry, the Nord woman nearly missed seeing the Dunmer sitting by a tent, eating something. The only reason Meg hadn’t missed her was due to the red hair that was so unfamiliar, reminding her less of roaring flames now and more of flickering embers.
“G’day!” she greeted, waving a hand as she made her way over. She hadn’t exactly had a chance to talk to Ivy last night, yet still found herself in awe- Meg wanted to know more about this strange, wonderful woman.
"Well hello!" Ivy replied with a smile, her chin pointed upwards as she gave a gentle wave of her hand - jewelry dancing around her slender wrist. "If it isn't Megana the Kind, I am honoured," she added, that same hand rolled in circles as she lowered her head in a graceful bow. "Come and sit! Share that good mood with me…"
"Oh, psh..." Meg couldn't help but chuckle, a hint of rose tinging her cheeks as she heard that epithet that seemed to have caught on among some of the others she had passed by today. It embarrassed her yet at the same time she couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself and the rest of their group- they had done deeds that people only sang of in songs or wrote tales about.
"Thankies, I shall!" Wiping at the heat on her face with the back of her hand, she settled down just a little away from Ivy, sitting cross legged. "It's uhm, it's good t'see you again. I'm guessin' you've been here long?"
The Dunmer's head tilted to the side and her crimson eyes narrowed. "You know… I don't really know exactly how long, a month at least," she chuckled, biting into a strawberry. "Let me think… Well when I arrived the Mage had fled and made way for the Shadow, and now we see in the stars the Apprentice… So yes, a month or so," she smiled, offering a strawberry to the young woman.
"When you live as many years as I have, time becomes… Well, you view it quite differently I suppose." Ivy said with an air of maturity, and yet her smile so full of youth and her eyes sparkled with zest. "Now, my dear darling Calen's song, from what I heard you have been travelling with them for some time, hmm?"
There was a look of extreme confusion that passes over Meg's face as she took the strawberry offered to her, mentally repeating what Ivy had said, or at least trying to while she took a bite of the small red fruit. "Ah!" she finally exclaimed once she had chewed and swallowed. "Now I know whatchu were talkin' about…" She paused in her words, wondering how old the Dunmer woman was. She knew Mer aged differently than men did, but was in by much?
"Oh yeah," she added, nodding as she finished off the rest of the strawberry, playing with the leaf she had plucked off the top. "I mean, it's been since..." She tried to remember the date, forehead scrunched in concentration before smoothing over as she waved it off. "... months, outside've Skyrim. Cyrodiil an' Hammerfell. A bunch've us met in the mountains, Skingrad… Gilane. An' now we're back home. Well, my home. Ah, well, home of the Nords I s'pose. I was born in Riverwood."
"Oh! I've been there a number of times. What a quaint place," Ivy said with a wide smile, thinking fondly of it. "I've heard a lot about Gilane. Well, from your friends… That you were there. You all seem to speak of it…" Ivy's eyes slowly until they were closed, and she took in a deep breath of the clear, Skyrim air. "And now you're home once more, what is next?"
"We do talk lots 'bout there, don' we?" Meg looked a little embarrassed. "Guess it's 'cause so much seemed t'have happened there.. life changin' really." She chewed momentarily on her lip before shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders. "I dunno... I mean I'm home but I can't just stay put, y'know? I promised I'd stay an' help my friends stop the Dwemer... so this is just really a small break before goin' off an' doing whatever we gotta do next."
“Ah!” Ivy replied with closed eyes, “and what is it you’d like to do Megana the Kind, while you’re here?” the Dunmer asked inquisitively, partly to make polite conversation, and an equal part of simple curiosity and a desire to continue learning about her new friends.
"I'm not too sure, t'be honest," Meg replied with a small shrug. Falkreath seemed like a haven among a nightmare, but was it really alright for her to stay here too long while they had a task at hand? The truth was that right now, with their group having lost three friends, it was hard to know what she had to do.
Well, we've only been here a li'l bit, no need t'get all up in arms 'bout' it.
"I think maybe I'm just gonna wander here an' there an' see what comes t'me," she finally replied, eyeing the Dunmer. "What 'bout you?" It wasn't too rare to see Dunmer in Skyrim, at least not for Meg who had met all sorts of people during her childhood, but she too was curious how and why Ivy had ended up here. "How’d you end up in Falkreath?"
“Just wander and see, huh?” Ivy asked, blinking in Meg’s direction. She brought her thumb to her lower lip and pressed at it. “Really… that’s how I found myself here! I just wandered and chased the stars. Truthfully I think I was sent here by someone, or something… I followed an idea, a dream…” Her eyes narrowed and looked like flickering embers. “But who can say for sure? All I know is I’m glad I did - because how else would I have gotten to meet Megana the Kind!” She grinned, taking another strawberry and eating it - stalk and all.
“I think that you’re very special Meg, never lose that which makes you, well, you!” Ivy added, giving the young Nord a cheerful smile.
“Oh… there ain’ nothin’ too special ‘bout me,” Meg hastily replied, feeling a little embarrassed at the compliment. “There’re other really nice folk around, an’ I probably wouldn’ be as I am now if it weren’ for them.” She smiled, though there was a hint of sadness there. “A couple of them aren’ here, an’ I dunno if I’m even going to see them again…” Her voice trailed as she continued to fiddle with the leaf from the strawberry top, turning it this way and that. “Brynja, Fjolte… they’re Nords like me. Brynja we lost in Gilane. Fjolte was gone when I got back with Zaveed.” She let out a big, loud sigh before attempting a proper smile. “But he’s with his family, an’ that’s a good thing, eh? I kinda hope I can find my family too, once all of this is done an’ over with.”
Ivy tilted her head at that, and placed a hand down on the grass beside her. “Your family? Well of course,” she blinked happily - trying to picture just where Meg came from, what kind of relatives she had. A big family, most likely. A big family indeed. Ivy blinked again, “how long has it been since you saw your family?”
“It’s been…” Meg rubbed the back of her head as she tried to think over that. “More than a few months for sure, feels like years though. I left ‘em before all this started, in Whiterun.” Her mouth pulled to the side in contemplation, wondering how they must be, but then she hastily forced herself to smile. She didn’t want to see dark and gloomy around this friendly woman. “My ma went off t’Sovngarde when I was a li’l kid, so I grew up with my Pa. We moved aroun’ some but ended up in Whiterun… I have a step-ma an’ a kid brother, Sylven.” She wondered if he grew at since she had seen him.
“Pa used t’be a soldier in the Imperial army b’fore he came over t’Skyrim an’ met Ma,” she continued. “I’m pretty damn sure they must’ve gotten outta Whiterun fine.” Stendarr, make my wish be true, please.
“Maybe they made it here!” Ivy suggested with a smile, leaning closer to Meg. “Lots of families fled and found themselves here…” her eyes narrowed and she glanced around, leaning closer still to whisper in Meg’s ear; “lots of cheeky children running around…” Then she giggled.
"You- you think?" Meg turned to look Ivy straight in the face, trying to find something that told her that maybe what she was saying was the absolute truth. "My brother, he's..." Meg's voice wavered to a stop, realizing that she honestly did not know much about her little brother. When she had gone on her own adventures, he had been a baby, barely able to sit by himself. Her infrequent visits home showed her a different sibling that the one she had seen previously.
"I hope he's one of those children," she admitted, eyes shifting away from the Dunmer's visage so that she was looking at the ground. "I know I should have the hope that they'd be aroun', it's just kinda scary t'think maybe it might not be like tha, y'know? Kinda buildin' up hope an' then havin' it not be true is kinda scary..." She felt sheepish even as she said it, shaking her head.. "I shouldn' be saying stuff like that..."
Sensing Meg’s upset, Ivy wrapped her arms around the young woman and gave her a comforting squeeze. “You can say whatever you like to me, if it’s in your heart you have to say it,” she smiled, pulling out of the hug to meet Meg’s eyes. “There’s all kinds of children, like I said… One in particular that I found once in my tent looking through my things!” she huffed, but with no ill-intent. “Cheeky of him, but I let him keep a bracelet or two,” she giggled again, her voice quieting to a hush.
“A lot of families camped over there-” Ivy said, pointing a long finger in the opposite direction, towards the other side of Falkreath. “Of course, some of them are in the inns too… But most over there,” Her ruby red eyes caught Meg’s again, and she gave the woman’s arm a nudge. “You should go, and if you’re scared then maybe take a friend.”
Green eyes following in the direction Ivy pointed, Meg took in a deep breath, held it in for a few seconds before slowly breathing out. She then nodded, allowing some confidence to creep within her, even if it was simply borrowed for the time being. The day had gone well, what with meeting Daro'Vasora and Do'Karth.
"You're right," she replied, smiling at Ivy- this time it was a natural one that wasn't partially forced or tinged with any other emotion. She reached out and took hold of Ivy's hand, squeezing it. "Thank you. I'mma do what you said." Letting go of the woman's hand, she got to her feet. She could do this, she owed her father that much.
Besides... "Vaba do'shurh do."
It is good to be brave.
17th Sun's Dawn
Daggerfall, High Rock
They were an odd pair to be sure. A Khajiit and a wolf, walking side by side as if it were the most natural thing in the world, ignoring the looks of surprise and even fear that were sent their way from those passing by or those who worked by the docks. For his part, the Khajiit man didn't seem too intimidating. Dressed in an unassuming plain brown shirt and a pair of dark trousers, it would have been quite possible to assume he was simply a sailor like many of the rest. An open and friendly look on his face, his ears twitched whilst stormy grey eyes swerved this way and that, not pausing for a moment as he allowed himself to take in the many sights on his way to the ship. It wasn't S'Kandar's first time on the cusp of a sea voyage, but it had been a while since he had actually traveled by sea.
As for the wolf, it would be her first journey on a seafaring vessel. Much like the Khajiit man, she too was in fact not too intimidating if one could get past the fact that she was not your average canine friend. Her fur was a mixture of grey and white with darker tones of brown and black. Her tail whipped in the air, tongue lolling as she too seemed to take in the sight, sounds and smells. S'Kandar had been a little worried than the unfamiliarity of the Daggerfall as well as the scent and sight of the waves may put off Jashi, but it seemed he had been wrong and she was as eager as he was to head on this journey.
"S'Kandar is very proud of you! To think this one was worried you would find this whole experience daunting and unpleasant. Jashi continues to surprise him." S'kandar gave the wolf a grin, reaching down to pet her head and scratch her ears, though the chance of that was stolen away by her affection as she licked at his hand, causing the Khajiit man to break into a laugh. "Yes, yes, this one loves you as well, though a wet hand may not be appealing to those who wish to shake S'Kandar's hand." He effectively ignored his own words however, kneeling down right in the middle of the pathway, scratching the scruff around her neck. "If you like it here, this one's certain you will enjoy Anvil as well."
The thought of that final destination calmed his grin into a smaller, almost somber smile, and S'Kandar finally rose to his feet once more. He gave his wolf companion one last pat on her head and started forward once more, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of... her. Two years may have passed since that day, and the pain may have soften to a manageable hurt, but it did not mean he could ever forget his mentor, his teacher. He needn't have to close his eyes to be able to recall how she looked, so much smaller than he was. Her eyes had always reminded him of the night sky, and her lips as soft as a rose petal, yet fierce when the time to fight dawned upon them. How often had he wished to press his lips against hers? How many times had he forced himself to keep his fingers away from the long, black hair that had flowed down her back like the rivers of Skyrim?
A shaky breath left his lips, and the Khajiit man came to a stop yet again, curling his right hand into a fist and pressing it against his forehead, grey eyes shut tightly, ears flattening to the side. His tail which had previously been swaying peacefully was now rather low and almost perfectly still.
S'Kandar must stop with these thoughts, he chastised himself. He will not fail again. Not ever.
He took a deep breath, allowing it to fill him, and then slowly breathed out, relaxing his shoulders as he did. A few calming breaths later, he lowered his head and opened his eyes at last. Almost immediately his eyes fell on Jashi, who was looking up at him in an almost concerned manner.
"This one apologizes," he mumbled, feeling a little guilty. "Don't worry, S'Kandar was just a little... caught in the past. He will be fine."
With that said, the Khajiit man forced himself to stand tall, pushing his shoulders back and lifting his head, focusing on the vessel only a few more paces away. Anvil was still days away, first they had the sea voyage to contend with; he couldn't help but wonder who else would be travelling with them. Hopefully people with pleasant dispositions. It would be a very long and tedious journey if they proved otherwise. S'Kandar didn't want to think the worst of people he hadn't even met yet, he was just being cautious.
Just be as friendly as this one is with most everyone, he thought to himself as he made his way up the gangplank, and all shall be fine. That formula had yet to fail.
Just as long as no one was rude to Jashi.
Daggerfall, High Rock
They were an odd pair to be sure. A Khajiit and a wolf, walking side by side as if it were the most natural thing in the world, ignoring the looks of surprise and even fear that were sent their way from those passing by or those who worked by the docks. For his part, the Khajiit man didn't seem too intimidating. Dressed in an unassuming plain brown shirt and a pair of dark trousers, it would have been quite possible to assume he was simply a sailor like many of the rest. An open and friendly look on his face, his ears twitched whilst stormy grey eyes swerved this way and that, not pausing for a moment as he allowed himself to take in the many sights on his way to the ship. It wasn't S'Kandar's first time on the cusp of a sea voyage, but it had been a while since he had actually traveled by sea.
As for the wolf, it would be her first journey on a seafaring vessel. Much like the Khajiit man, she too was in fact not too intimidating if one could get past the fact that she was not your average canine friend. Her fur was a mixture of grey and white with darker tones of brown and black. Her tail whipped in the air, tongue lolling as she too seemed to take in the sight, sounds and smells. S'Kandar had been a little worried than the unfamiliarity of the Daggerfall as well as the scent and sight of the waves may put off Jashi, but it seemed he had been wrong and she was as eager as he was to head on this journey.
"S'Kandar is very proud of you! To think this one was worried you would find this whole experience daunting and unpleasant. Jashi continues to surprise him." S'kandar gave the wolf a grin, reaching down to pet her head and scratch her ears, though the chance of that was stolen away by her affection as she licked at his hand, causing the Khajiit man to break into a laugh. "Yes, yes, this one loves you as well, though a wet hand may not be appealing to those who wish to shake S'Kandar's hand." He effectively ignored his own words however, kneeling down right in the middle of the pathway, scratching the scruff around her neck. "If you like it here, this one's certain you will enjoy Anvil as well."
The thought of that final destination calmed his grin into a smaller, almost somber smile, and S'Kandar finally rose to his feet once more. He gave his wolf companion one last pat on her head and started forward once more, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of... her. Two years may have passed since that day, and the pain may have soften to a manageable hurt, but it did not mean he could ever forget his mentor, his teacher. He needn't have to close his eyes to be able to recall how she looked, so much smaller than he was. Her eyes had always reminded him of the night sky, and her lips as soft as a rose petal, yet fierce when the time to fight dawned upon them. How often had he wished to press his lips against hers? How many times had he forced himself to keep his fingers away from the long, black hair that had flowed down her back like the rivers of Skyrim?
A shaky breath left his lips, and the Khajiit man came to a stop yet again, curling his right hand into a fist and pressing it against his forehead, grey eyes shut tightly, ears flattening to the side. His tail which had previously been swaying peacefully was now rather low and almost perfectly still.
S'Kandar must stop with these thoughts, he chastised himself. He will not fail again. Not ever.
He took a deep breath, allowing it to fill him, and then slowly breathed out, relaxing his shoulders as he did. A few calming breaths later, he lowered his head and opened his eyes at last. Almost immediately his eyes fell on Jashi, who was looking up at him in an almost concerned manner.
"This one apologizes," he mumbled, feeling a little guilty. "Don't worry, S'Kandar was just a little... caught in the past. He will be fine."
With that said, the Khajiit man forced himself to stand tall, pushing his shoulders back and lifting his head, focusing on the vessel only a few more paces away. Anvil was still days away, first they had the sea voyage to contend with; he couldn't help but wonder who else would be travelling with them. Hopefully people with pleasant dispositions. It would be a very long and tedious journey if they proved otherwise. S'Kandar didn't want to think the worst of people he hadn't even met yet, he was just being cautious.
Just be as friendly as this one is with most everyone, he thought to himself as he made his way up the gangplank, and all shall be fine. That formula had yet to fail.
Just as long as no one was rude to Jashi.
Here's my sheet ^_^
Shedding Scars
Dervs and Greenie
17th Sun’s Height, night
The sounds of happiness and joviality may have been dimmed once Sirine had stepped outside of Dead Man's Drink, but it was still enough for Sirine to make her way behind the building, not caring that the night's air brought a chill that she wasn't used to. Wrapping her cloak around herself tightly, the Imperial Redguard sat herself down on the smaller back porch, knees pulled up under her chin to preserve the warmth she'd gathered from indoors. She stared out in the darkness, being able to make out silhouettes of trees in the distance, beyond which she was told lay a rather auspicious and revered cemetery. Common sense told her it would make much more sense to head back in rather than stare out at more or less nothingness, or seek the comfort of anywhere that had four walls and protected her from the elements. Her heart was stubborn though and she wanted to feel the wind in her hair.
Since when had she become so sentimental? Broody perhaps, but this was different. She had felt a sort of relief when they had reached Falkreath after the second day of travel; seeing the look on Daro'Vasora's face when she discovered her sister was alive and well had reminded Sirine of herself when she had found Bakih and rescued him from the filthy dwemer necromancer. She had been genuinely happy for her companions, despite knowing there was still some sort of invisible barrier between her and them. However, all that positiveness was tinged without knowing where Zaveed and Meg were, or if they were even alive.
A lump in her throat, Sirine reached out and gripped the bottle she had brought with her, taking a swig of the diluted alcohol within. There was no happy feeling from it, and a small voice in her head asked why she even bothered, but she squashed that thought immediately. She couldn't lose her wits here, not when she was alone all over again. Sighing softly, she set the bottle to the side and pressed her face against the arm that was now resting upon her knees. Here she was, former captain of a pirate ship, a killer and a thief, acting like a heartbroken girl. And yet she didn't feel any shame from it, only regret that she hadn't told him how she felt days before the group was attacked.
“Sirine?” Zaveed called out, walking around the building, eyes searching at a frantic pace. Sevari had told him that Sirine was fine and she was with them still, and that she had stepped outside not long before Zaveed had arrived with Megana. Excusing himself, he had hurried to find his lover, finding her at the dark end of the porch, away from prying eyes. He let out a sudden sigh of relief and headed towards her, suddenly dropping to his knees and wrapping his arms around her. “I’ve bloody well missed you. What are you doing out here?” he asked, before chiding himself. “Are… are you doing okay? I am sorry I made you worry.”
If the sound of his voice hadn't jerked her out of her stupor, feeling the sudden warmth of the hug certainly did. Sirine was still for a second before lifting her head and looking at the man holding her. "Zaveed?" Her voice cracked, eyes welling up and freely dripping as she took in his sight. It was him, he was here, he was truly alive and well. "I was- I thought-" She didn't continue, turning instead and slipping her arms around his waist, holding him tightly. Her shoulders shook, unable to contain the welling emotion that burst out of her.
"I missed you too," she finally added when she was certain her voice wouldn't break again. "I was so... scared those centurions got you and Meg." She pulled one arm back, resting it against him so that she could touch the side of his face. He truly was there.
He shook his head, no. “We didn’t even know about all of that until Sevari just told us now. I am sorry I wasn’t there for you… something else got Megana and I.” he placed a hand over hers on his cheek, kissing her wrist.
“The forests around here are dangerous, it seems. There’s some kind of dwemer agents in the forests that have sleep poisons and camouflage that captured us. Their leader looked like a researcher… she took some of my blood and tissues.” Zaveed explained, a perturbed glint in his eyes. “Be sure to buy Megana a drink, will you? She’s the reason I’m here and not in Markarth.”
"Damn them," she muttered, her still wet eyes narrowing at the thought that the two had been manhandled in such a fashion. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, reminding herself that there was no need for immediate anger, not when they were alive and well. "I will, promise. I'm just glad neither of you were alone." There were so many questions afloat in her mind, but all of them weren't as pressing as Zaveed's presence.
"I never realized two days could feel like a decade," she said quietly, blinking away the remaining tears. "I was relieved when we finally reached this place, Falkreath, but now I'm truly at ease." Loosening her hold on him, she brought her other hand up to frame his face before leaning in, pressing her lips against his for a small moment. At last her smile seemed to have returned.
Zaveed wiped Sirine’s tears with his thumb. “I’m… sorry you felt that way. I’d been so busy trying to survive, and Megana and I had a lot of ground to cover. It was hard to think of much else, but I knew I’d see you before long. I am so sorry I made you worry, it was never my intention. I’m used to being on my own, I am still coming to terms that there’s someone who waits for me at the end of the day.” he admitted with a slight shake of his head. “You should know it’s going to take more than a few ill-tempered Dwarves to keep me from you.”
That brought out a hint of laughter from Sirine. "Yes, I probably should have known better." She looked down at her lap, contemplating for a second before looking up and speaking again. "You don't have to be sorry or apologize, Zaveed. Worry is just something that happens when you care about someone. I'm sure if I was missing, you would feel the same. I'm just happy we're both safe and sound and I get to see your handsome face again." Hoping to lighten the mood, she gave him a wink.
"Here, have something to drink... I'd say it's something of our tradition now, hm?" She reached out and took hold of the bottle, settling it on his lap in offering.
“Ah, you know me so well.” Zaveed grinned, taking the bottle gratefully, holding aloft in a cheers. He put the rim to his lips, not bothering to ask what it was going to be, and when the liquid hit his pallet, it was not exactly what he was expecting; it just tasted like slightly bitter and fruity water.
“Diluted?” he asked, perplexed. “I didn’t think Nords believed in such things…” he joked, before looking to Sirine curiously. “Is this a little quirk of yours I didn’t know about, or maybe you just wanted some water?”
"Ah, sorry," Sirine replied quickly, seeming a little sheepish. "I should have gotten you something from inside..." She paused at his question, biting down on her lip in an uncertain fashion, unsure of what to say.
"I don't normally drink," she finally admitted, eyeing Zaveed. "I like to keep my wits about me, but drinking only water doesn't make a good impression. At least that was what I felt when I first... well, started on the unsavoury path of piracy. Impressions are what take you far in the world- a girl who couldn't even handle a few drinks? Who would respect her?" A quick exhalation of breath, and she continued. "I couldn't drink though... not after what had happened. I just-" She forced herself to stop, shaking her her. "Sorry."
The Khajiit set the bottle down gently, pulling Sirine into himself. “There is nothing to be sorry for.” Zaveed replied gently. There was still so much they didn’t know about each other, the scars they carried with each of them. “When you’re ready to talk about it, I will be here for you. If you want, I’ll set the bottle down when you’re around. I don’t want you to feel pressured, or to feel you have to act around me. I helped you escape a terrible life, and I do not wish to make you feel as if you are marching steadily into another because I am too arrogant to listen.”
Sirine leaned against the khajiit, nodding slightly, allowing herself to feel comforted by the warmth he emitted. "You've done anything but," she replied, feeling a little composed after hearing his understanding words. "I don't want you to stop anything... I-" She looked up him and gave him a small smile. "I feel I can drink when you're there, because I trust you, Zaveed. I know you won't take advantage of me even if I'm inebriated and out of my senses." She hesitated slightly before strengthening her will, reminding herself that the man who held her had always been completely open about himself, the good and the bad. He deserved the same honesty from her.
"The last time I drank too much, I woke up with these scars, ripped clothes and in a lot of pain." She lifted her hands, and though she couldn't clearly see the dark marks around her wrists, she was quite sure Zaveed could. "Things had been steadily... going from bad to worse for me and Bakih after my older brothers betrayed us and ruined any attempt at the two of us getting back on our feet, but being... taken by those pigs broke me." She herself was amazed at how calm she sounded as she told him her darkest secret. Perhaps it was the relief of finally telling someone? She didn't know. "I thought that man in the tavern was offering me a chance to work on his ship, but clearly I had been wrong. I'd decided from that day onward that the world was a bitter place that only took from me, so I would take back what I could."
“Bastards.” Zaveed’s teeth grit together, knowing all too well the invasive and haunting experience Sirine was speaking of firsthand. He saw her scars, and now he knew the story, they took on an entirely new meaning. “Had I known you then, I would have stopped at nothing until every single bastard had paid with blood for what they had done… I would have staked them down at low tide and let the sea decide their fate.” he growled, intaking a heavy sigh before composing himself somewhat. She didn’t need vengeance; it was too late for that. She needed comfort and support, to know that she would never suffer like that again.
“Nobody broke you, Sirine. Look at how proudly you stand now, how willing you were to act when the opportunity presented itself.” He took her gently by the head and brought their brows together. “You risked everything to save Bakih, knowing how much danger it would present to you, and you didn’t question it. You chose to trust me and help me when you had no reason to believe I was going to honour you; those aren’t the actions of a broken or weak woman, they’re those of the woman I feel can help me find a better tomorrow and does not balk at the things I have done.”
He kissed her brow, smiling. “Damaged does not mean broken.” he said again.
Sirine let out a soft chuckle, closing her eyes and nodding. "Those words are magic to my ears," she admitted. "Perhaps I'm just turning into a sentimental softhearted lass?" It was a joke, but she truly appreciated his support, and with his knowing that part of her past, she felt as if yet another invisible weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Threading an arm around his waist once more, Sirine reached under her cloak with her free hand to pull the septim from underneath so that it lay above the dark material, glinting in the dim light provided from a dying lantern by the door. "This was enough for me to realize you weren't like the many others." Her mouth curved upward into a soft grin as she gently nudged him with her head, thereafter nestling under his chin with a content sigh, enjoying the sound of each heartbeat, the feel of every breath he took. It was such a contrast from the hard pirate most people saw on a daily basis, but the truth was she was not that person when Zaveed was there- she was simply Sirine. "I am wholly happy you took my spot that day."
“No, you aren’t getting soft; I’m just sharpening a blade. Nothing soft about you.” Zaveed grinned, chuckling. “It was a rather clever spot for me to decide to die in, wasn’t it? I knew you’d find me, obviously. Captain Greywake always has an escape plan.” he teased, feeling lighter knowing both were safe and sound… and that Sirine had felt so strongly about his absence. It just affirmed that they were making the right choice.
"Ahh... so it was all planned then, was it? You were just waiting to woo me, were you?" Sirine smirked at him, reaching up with her finger to gently poke his nose with the tip. "You know, Sevari once mention something about me being swept off my feet but I quite like to think I'm doing the sweeping." She winked. "I had my nets all ready there to catch you." She chuckled as well, thinking of that fun filled night where she had managed to pull the brooding Ohmes-raht out of his chair to dance whilst Zaveed and Maj chatted away. It had been a fun and almost familiar experience.
"Did you ever think you would end up someplace like here, Zaveed?" she asked after a moment. "I certainly hadn't... I never even travelled that far into Hammerfell, truth be told. It’s a little funny, but I’m neither used to extreme heat or the extreme cold. I don’t think I want to be here where the snow begins to fall, no matter how much the Nords in our party seem at glee about it."
“Tell you, and ruin the air of mystery?” Zaveed grinned. “Perhaps you were the one with the plan all along, it’s always a pleasant change of pace when one is surprised for a change.”
He thought about her second prompt, shaking his head. “Goodness, no. The seas up here are filled with ice and biting cold, the food tastes like crap, and you have to wear entirely too many layers to be comfortable. This wasn’t a place I ever decided to come on my own volition, and hopefully when this is all said and done, hopefully the last. I’m quite fond of waters that are warm to the touch, that people would pay good sums of gold to visit. I’ve seen a good chunk of the world, I think I know where suits my tastes… somewhere where wine flows freely and the rains do not chill you to the bone.”
"It seems the mead's flowing freely today," Sirine pointed out, though it was with a nod and chuckle. "Warm waters, hm?" The chuckle quieted to a knowing smile. "That is something I can agree with- I expect the waters here are always cold to the touch whether it is winter or not. Not at all like the waters near Gilane or Anvil." She closed her eyes and her smile widened. "I can see it all here." She tapped the side of her head before continuing. "Golden white sands, blue green waters, white clouds in the sky."
Opening her eyes, Sirine reached out to take his hand in hers. "When this is all over, what do you say we sail that way? It would be nice to visit once more..." Who knew, perhaps her mother was still alive and residing in her Anvil home.
“I’ll admit to a certain fondness for the Gold Coast, and the Southern shores of Hammerfell.” Zaveed said, entwining his fingers around Sirine’s. “I think that sounds to be a lovely plan, Sirine. We’ll find somewhere quiet to let the war pass us by and listen to the songbirds and the waves kissing the shore. After all of this, I think I’d like to try a life that doesn’t involve fighting any longer. It’s time to give peace a chance.”
"You paint a pretty picture," Sirine replied, smiling as she looked at their hands together, feeling a warm glow within. "You mentioned the other night about finding that young boy inside? Well, maybe I can find that Sirine inside me as well. Maybe we can finally live a life we weren't forced into, but one we choose, one where we better ourselves and become..." She paused as she searched for the words. "Better versions us, or even the best if that’s possible." Her grip on his hand tightened a little as she lifted it and pressed a lingering kiss to his knuckles.
He raised her knuckles to his lips, offering the slightest impression of a kiss and an inviting smile, returning the gesture before kissing Sirine on the lips. “With you, my dear, anything is possible. First we need to earn that future, and then we do whatever it is our hearts tell us to do. But it’s cold out on this patio on our lonesome, why don’t we join in the festivities? The fire looks fine… and so does that dancer.” he said with a mischievous wink. “Think I could convince you to try something like that on?”
"For you, my dear, anything is possible." Sirine cheekily returned his words to him. "I'm unsure if I'm as flexible as she is, but perhaps that is simply something you can help me work on, hmm?" She raised an eyebrow at him, implications many before ending with a wink. "For now though, yes, the fire sounds good." Her eyes softened as she continued to gaze at him. "Perhaps we'll have a drink or two as well."
“One or two.” he agreed with a reassuring smile, standing up and offering a hand for her to get to her feet. “Come now, a party awaits, and personally I’d love to forget the feeling of being jabbed by pine needles every time I’ve gone to sleep for weeks for a few hours.”
"I trust my arms are a better alternative," Sirine replied with a chuckle as she allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. Hugging his arm close to herself, she led the way back to the door. If he was there, there really was nothing for her to worry about.
*peeks*
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