Alda'hirakam ghar Ara; Chapter 23

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    A pair of Skaal hunters - a muscular man with brown-grayish hair, Selgaard, and the other with blue eyes, Arek - eyed them. The brown haired hunter grunted. “So, you haven’t seen the godless savage whose killing our people without mercy?” He gave them a hard glance. They were near the village and they had enough trouble in there already. And, now this killer on the loose… The days were grimmer than before.

    A godless savage? Ciel’nn felt a pang of guilt, but he focused to keep his face in check. It was difficult because the big man eyed him. I won’t be intimidated. He was afraid that his partner would say honestly how things were and that would be the end of their journey. That would make the young mer greatly upset.

    The cold wind shifted as they stared each other, without uttering a word.

    “A savage, eh There’s one on the loose?” Teldryn finally spoke, rubbing his chin. “Can’t say we have. Only reavers so far. Could be one of them.” His eyes was fixed on the muscular hunter. If the hunters decided to fight them - that’d be a problem. He had no doubts that Ciel’nn would be able to handle the skinny hunter, but the one called Selgaard would be an issue. “We’re looking for a Telvanni woman. Have you seen her, in rich looking clothes?”

    Ciel’nn took a deep breath inward. Teldryn..

    Selgaard shifted, grunting. “Ain’t been a lone woman around these parts. We’ll be on our way. Got bodies to find so their souls find the All-Maker.” He eyed the young mer and frowned. “Why is your friend fidgeting like he’s hiding something?”

    “Too much Sujamma last night. Gives him headaches from Oblivion.” Teldryn shot a frowned glance at his partner. “It’s the damned cold. Poor thing isn’t used to it yet.”

    The hunters laughed. “Poor lad indeed, and it’s only getting colder.” Arek spoke for the first time at the meeting. They left the two mer behind, still chuckling.

    Too much Sujamma, eh? Ciel’nn slowly relaxed as the hunters disappeared from his view and turned to the older mer. He wanted to say something, only the words didn’t come out. The older mer hadn’t given him out. He’d had others who had protected him and died in the process. Azura, keep Teldryn safe. I don’t want to lose him. That was what he feared. A touch on his shoulder made the younger mer aware of the world. His eyes found Teldryn’s deep red eyes.

    His partner’s look was a mix of fright and worry, but in that gaze was something else that the older mer couldn’t pin point yet. Teldryn’s own gaze was rough, but his voice was softer. “I could have handed you to them, but Ciel’nn… I’m not a saint.” He gently brushed a stray hair behind the young mer’s ear. “And, I have no intention to give you away.” The older mer added with finality. “We’ll figure something out about your…  state.”

    Ciel’nn listened to his partner and hung on the words he heard. He was speechless, so instead of speaking he leaned closer and wrapped his arms around the older mer. “I know you’re certainly not a saint, Teldryn.” The young mer whispered. Neither of them were that Ciel’nn knew. He never had been nor ever would be. The older mer’s arm held him close before his partner shifted. “We should keep moving before we freeze out here.”

    They picked a covered place for camping which was near the waterfall of Headwaters of Harstrad. Teldryn prepared the fire place and the tent while Ciel’nn had made his way to the cavern to dip the taproots into the water. He had reassured the older mer that he was able to do it alone. Once the tent was up, Teldryn sat down on a fur bedroll and waited. If he’s not coming back soon, I’ll go after him.

    A loud splash of water caught the older mer’s attention and he stood up from his bedroll. Outside he witnessed the taproots that were rolling down the hill and Mr.Pincers skidding after them.  A moment later, the young mer came running after them. Had he dropped them? He frowned as his eyes caught something else. He took a stride to grab the taproots before they rolled into the campfire. “You’re wet.” The older mer noted once  he secured the taproots into his backpack.

    The young mer stopped right in front of the campfire and fell on his knees, hugging himself. “Is it still coming?” He asked his teeth clacking together. “What’s coming?” Ciel’nn heard his partner asking. “The Spriggan Matron!” he nearly shouted. “I’m freezing! We need to go to the Thirsk Mead Hall.” Ciel’nn had been careful, but of course the Spriggan had seen him. He then had ran away with the soaked taproots, but had tripped over a root and got himself soaked as well. The young mer was less than amused at this unfortunate event.

    “I think it went back to the cave, Ciel’nn.” Teldryn replied after he had eyed the hill. “And, you’ll be frozen solid if we even attempt to go the Hall.” He said in a low tone. “No, we camp over here and get you warm. Here’s what I’m suggesting.” The older mer had his partner to remove his gear and changed clothes, then bundled him up in warm furs while Ciel’nn whined about his hair in a ruin and the cold.

    Holding a warm tea cup in his hands, Ciel’nn watched the blinking stars in the sky. It was a miracle that the ash fall hadn’t covered the whole sky on Solstheim. It reminded him how he used to watch the stars with Ce’vale when he was younger. “I think it’s better if we sleep in the same bedroll to keep you warm over the night.” He heard Teldryn suggesting.  The young mer bit his lower lip that his smirk wouldn’t spread. Of course, we’d have clothes on, but to sleep so close to him… He took another sip of tea to buy thinking time.

    “We’ll put your bedroll under mine, so the ground cold won’t be so harsh.” Teldryn said glancing at his partner. “Is this alright for you?” Why am I even asking? I know for sure he’d like that. Still, the older mer kept his expression smirk-less.

    The young mer looked to his partner with a smirk. “How I can refuse such  an offer?” He said in a sweet tone. It could have been the shadows playing on the older mer’s face, but Ciel’nn thought he saw something else. Had he finally made a crack on that cool surface that Teldryn kept almost all the time? He shrugged internally as he wasn’t sure, but something had changed. Yes, Teldryn. I’ll get through that cool barrier of yours. Just wait.

    Before Ciel’nn fell asleep, he did a few mental notes on Teldryn. He found his partner’s scent was a mix of a Dres cologne that wasn’t very strong, but pleasant and a traveled mer. In between he found the older mer’s own scent that made him bite his lower lip. His partner slept behind him, his arm over him, pulling close to him, and Ciel’nn wasn’t cold anymore. The warmth made him sleepy. Azura watch over us.

    They had eaten a few of grilled ash hopper legs and drank honey tea in the chilly morning wind. Ciel’nn held the tea cup in his left hand while frowning at his hair as he touched it. “It’s damned rough and coarse!” he ranted. “I need to go and wash it.” He eyed the stream nearby. It should be enough. The young mer didn’t want to go anywhere before his hair was fixed.

    “Where would you wash it? The water is cold here.” Teldryn asked before taking a bite from his piece of ash hopper leg. It was delicious. They still hadn’t seen a mudcrab, but maybe somewhere further north and at the beach line. He could only guess. “That stream. It’s enough. It has to be. I’m not going anywhere before my hair is properly done.” The older mer heard from his partner. It made him amused. During his travels, Teldryn was used to going with rough hair as long as he had the processed troll fat. Come to look at it, we’re not that different. “Alright, I’ll start packing, then.”

    Grabbing a small box of mixed dried lavender and nightshade, an empty bottle a worn but soft towel from his backpack, Ciel’nn knelt next to the cold stream. He filled the bottle with the stream water first, then put the pieces of dried lavender into it. Ciel’nn closed the bottle with a cork cap and shook it strongly. He felt his partner’s gaze was on his back, but focusing on his hair. It took a few moments before the young mer was done and he grabbed the towel and walked back to their small camp.



    Still not a sign of Varona. I’m beginning to believe the ash had swallowed her.

    The two mer had decided to go back a different route as they sought for Varona. Teldryn had a thought that she might had gone to Raven Rock, or there was a chance she’d gone back to Tel Mithryn. “We’ve done our best to look for her, Ciel’nn.” The older mer said. “If she doesn’t want to be found…” He glanced at his partner, who seemingly was frowning.

    Ciel’nn sighed as he eyed their surroundings. He’d wanted to help Talvas, but the whole search had been fruitless. The woman was nowhere to be seen. Still, he couldn’t help it, but feel a little hopeless like he had been when Celani was killed before his eyes. “Maybe you’re right. Let’s head back to— “

    “Hiss!” The Dwemer spider let out a hot and urgent hiss and surged toward a ruined house that was down the hill. Ciel’nn looked to the older mer and rushed after it. “What is it?”

    They followed Mr. Pincers to the Ramshackle Trading Post. It had been ruined for a long time by the look of it. Ciel’nn approached it with caution and looked around till he saw a Dunmer woman lying at the corner with a note  above her head. The note was stuck with an arrow. “Well, that happens when they run alone…” He heard his partner saying behind him. Ciel’nn bit his lower lip while he tried to get a sense of the scene.

    “She’d been meeting someone and it turned out bad.” Teldryn muttered while he watched Ciel’nn find a worn blanket and covering Varona with it.  “Don’t think too much of it. These things happen.” I’m sure he’d have seen stuff while traveling in Skyrim, but you never know.

    “I don’t know how I’ll tell Talvas about this.”  Ciel’nn said as he turned to Teldryn. “It reminds me of something of my past, Teldryn. I have no words.” His eyes turned toward the sky. I guess I’d have to tell him about my past.

    “Then let’s head back to Tel Mithryn and report this to the Mage.” The older mer paused a brief moment. “Who knows if he’s figured out the ring’s properties and he has yet to teach you about the runes, remember?” He reached out to put his hand on his partner’s shoulder. “Come. I’ll tell the Mage the news if you can’t.”

    The young mer flashed a smirk. “I remember and I hope he knows what type of ring it is.” Ciel’nn never had any enchanted rings before, so he was excited about it. He looked to his partner, who gave a warm smile to him. “I guess I need to tell you something later tonight.” Ciel’nn added.

    At the apothecary, Elynea was going to take the taproots from the young mer, but Ciel’nn stepped back with a defiant look. “You need to apologize to me first or I’ll do something to these.” It was a high chance that the alchemist would refuse it. He doubted he’d get any recipes from Elynea at this point. It’s not a big loss. I can always experiment on my own.

    The alchemist narrowed her eyes at the young mer. There wouldn’t be a chance she, a Telvanni, apologize to a lesser mer. Yet, Elynea needed the damned taproots. One would go to Master Neloth’s tower, the rest she’d keep herself. “I’m not going to apologize to a lesser person.” She said evenly.

    “Fine, guess you don’t need them so bad then. I’ll just walk out.” Ciel’nn shot back and turned toward the door. Figures, their heads in the clouds. He heard Teldryn giving a chuckle. “These are the nearest taproots around, Telvanni.” And, then they were out of the door.

    They met hopeful looking Talvas at the front yard, waiting for them. He stepped forward as Ciel’nn came down the stairs. “Did… did you see any signs of Varona?” He had missed her and Master Neloth had him for getting the meal and teas - it was very tiring.

    Ciel’nn looked to Teldryn and nodded. Go on, tell him. I can’t tell it.

    Teldryn stepped toward the mage. “We found her dead, lad.”

    Talvas stared at the older mer and collapsed on his knees. All the dreams he had… were gone now. He didn’t have anyone to share his ascendancy to Master of the Tower. It would be… empty and dull. His little dream of an ash castle crumbled in the wind.

    The young mer hugged himself and bit his lower lip, head turned sideways with his eyes closed. He knew all those emotions that the mage was going through.



    I’m sorry, Talvas.

     

     

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Comments

4 Comments   |   Karver the Lorc and 3 others like this.
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  October 30, 2018
    Ciel is all wet and spooning and hair washing so- much- sexual- tension- waaaahh~~


    Once again picking up the story after a few long months. Let's get cracking! Necks and spinal cords!
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  July 18, 2018
    I like the use of scents too. Ciel and Teldryn are getting more intimate. And poor Talvas. :(
  • GailOlm
    GailOlm   ·  June 12, 2018
    I'm continuing to enjoy the small details you include in the story, such as the food and drink they're eating, the scents of the characters, and especially the description of Ciel'nn washing his hair. Little things like that make the characters seem so re...  more
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  June 7, 2018
    We´re cuddling now, are we? Heh. Well, the beginning with the Skaal
    seemed to be one damn guilt trip for Ciel, because that´s the thing with
    "villifying" innit? You seem someone do something you think it´s bad
    and that makes them evil...  more