They were both hot and sweaty by the time they headed into the inn for a meal and some mead.
“Phew!” Iddra said, wrinkling her nose, as she brought them their food. “You boys must have been working hard. Best not drive away all the other customers.”
Dardeh laughed. “I know. My Ma would be having a fit. But boy did it feel good to do some plain old work. It’s been too long.”
Roggi smiled. “You’re good at it.” He grabbed his flagon and drained it. “Damn. I was thirsty. I guess Iddra might let me have another,” he said, waving at her and pointing at the flagon.
“Been doing it all my life. Or at least since I was big enough to swing a pick. You might not be able to guess looking at me but I used to be a skinny kid with a squeaky voice.”
Roggi laughed. “You’re right, it’s hard to tell. It’s like I said, we have to be strong to do that work and you’re built for it.”
Dardeh grinned. Ok, this is good, he’s talking about my build. I won’t read anything into it but a guy can dream, right?
“My ma said I was a… how did she put it? Big handsome brute, just like my da. I never knew my da, and I don’t know about the handsome part, but I guess that’s a compliment.”
Roggi didn’t say anything but he grinned at Dardeh. Well at least he didn’t disagree, right?
He sampled his own mead. Mead, Roggi had insisted. Not ale. They didn’t have good Riften mead here but Honningbrew was almost as good. And it was good, too. He was thirsty, too, he realized when he looked in the flagon and saw that he’d emptied it.
Iddra brought two more meads to the table and frowned at Roggi. “You behave, Roggi.”
He grinned and waved her off. “Right, Iddra. I know. I will.”
“Ok,” Dardeh said after she’d walked away, “what was that about? You seem to be behaving as far as I can tell.”
Roggi shrugged, and stared into his flagon. “Eh. I have kind of a, well… weakness when it comes to mead. Too easy to get carried away. I’ve been trying hard to be careful since I got back to Kynesgrove and mostly I’m doing better, but not always.”
Then he looked up and grinned at Dardeh. “Iddra keeps me honest.”
“So Iddra is your…”
Roggi looked startled. “What? No!” He threw back his head and laughed. “Iddra is Kjeld’s wife. She’s just a dear friend and kind of a mother hen when it comes to me, I guess.” His smile faded. “I think she’s seen me at the wrong end of one of these too many times,” and he waggled the flagon.
“So you’re not, uh, married?”
Roggi frowned. “No. Not even attached.” Then he grinned. “Well, there was your sister.”
Dardeh laughed. They had talked about Dagnell a little bit while they were picking malachite out of the ground, and it was clear to Dardeh that Roggi had been in love with her and probably still was. Which was more than a bit uncomfortable to think about for all kinds of reasons.
Roggi started talking about her again. And he talked, and talked, about Dagnell and Whiterun and Riften and the meaderies and everything else, while Dardeh ate and smiled and developed a picture of his sister, and drank the mead that Roggi kept ordering for them in spite of Iddra’s frowns. He was pretty sure that he talked back; he knew he laughed a lot, but mostly he just looked, and listened, and enjoyed. They traded stories about mining; Dardeh told him the tales of his trip through the southern provinces, and about riding in a prisoner’s cart with Ulfric Stormcloak and meeting Alduin the black dragon, and killing the other dragon just up the hill behind the inn they were sitting in. That had gotten a frown from Roggi, but it was the only thing that did; everything else got a chuckle or another story, or another round. Iddra was increasingly cross; but Roggi snapped at her and told her to keep them coming, and she gritted her teeth and did so, until finally she shooed them out of the inn.
“Enough, Roggi. You’ve had enough. And so has Dardeh. Go home and sleep it off.”
Roggi had waved her off. “Yeah, yeah. Goin’ now,” and as soon as she had turned her back he made a face at it, and then grinned at Dardeh. They rose, and lurched their way out of the inn and down the road to Roggi’s house. Dardeh laughed at himself; it had been a long while since he’d had quite so much to drink and it had been longer since he’d had someone to drink it with. Roggi was a lot of fun.
The inside of Roggi’s house was spare, he thought, or at least as far as he could tell it was pretty spare, but it was neat and clean and he laughed at himself trying to light the fire while Roggi rustled around in a locked chest and brought out even more mead.
“Drink up, Dar,” he said. “I know Iddra’s gonna be mad at me, but…” and he shrugged.
Dardeh laughed. “You got a deal. If I can get this fire goin’. My aim s’off,” he giggled, trying to strike a spark and failing two times out of three. “But she’s already mad at you.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I know. I keep it locked up so it takes effort to get it out an’ I hafta think ‘bout it. Been tryin’ to be good but some things jus’ require a good night of drinkin’ and meetin’ your best girl’s brother’s one of those things.”
Dardeh got the fire going and smiled up at him. By Talos he looks good to me. Probably just as well it’s not even an option.
“So she was your bes’ girl, eh?” he said, setting to on his next bottle of mead. I’m going to hate myself tomorrow but it’s been a long time since I’ve had an evening like this.
Roggi sat down on the floor, or rather flopped down on the floor, his back against the end of his bed and his feet stretched out toward the building fire. He smiled. It was a small smile, but a smile nonetheless.
“Yeah. She was. Problem is she’s Bryn’s bes’ girl too an’ she married him. I’d’ve asked her if I hadn’ been such a fool, but I got up on my high horse ‘bout their line of work and he got’er first.” He looked at Dardeh and winked. “How ‘bout you? You got a woman?”
Dardeh was startled for just a moment and then cackled. “No, not me.”
“No? So when you gonna get yourself one then?”
Dardeh snickered. “Eh, prob’ly never, Roggi.” Of all the questions he could ask me. “Unless you count my housecarl. But she’s jus’ my housecarl.”
Roggi waggled his eyebrows at Dardeh.
Dardeh laughed. “I’m serious. She takes care of the house an’ my daughter, and tha’s it. I ‘dopted a little girl since the firs’ time you saw me. So they try to keep me in line, the two of ‘em.”
“So she’s ugly, then?” Roggi said, looking mischievous.
Dardeh poked him. “No, she’s not. She’s gorgeous. But iss not like that, I swear.”
Roggi laughed, and then started talking again, in between pulls on his mead, and his words got sloppier and sadder as they went. Dardeh just watched him. Here is a man, he thought, who isn’t drinking for the fun of it. He’s drinking to escape. And he’s done it before.
On the other hand, Dardeh was drinking for the fun of it and wishing he wasn’t; because the more he drank the better Roggi looked to him. And he didn’t want to inadvertently do something to anger Roggi or jeopardize what looked like it might turn into a real friendship.
So he took a deep breath and spoke. Best get the hard part out of the way now.
“So you sure you won’ take me there to meet ‘er?”
Roggi shook his head. “No, Dar. I need to stay clear of Riften. Y’see these last few months well, we kinda…” He trailed off, chewing on the inside of his lip.
Dardeh stared at him for a few moments and then realized what he was hinting at. “Oh wait, you’re still, the two of you….”
He’s sleeping with my sister. My married sister. By the Nine.
“Yep,” Roggi said, frowning. “Sometimes. We know issnot right but Dar, your sister, she’s special an’ I’m … ” He trailed off, looking miserable.
Dardeh sighed. I suppose I should be angry or outraged or something but how can I say anything about this? I wouldn’t even be here if not for the same kind of situation. It’s not my place to pass judgment. I guess it runs in the family.
“Well I guess we’re all special in this cart,” he murmured, and sighed. “Tha’still doesn’t tell me why you won’ go there with me. Iss not like you can, I dunno, get together with a big brute Dragonborn sittin’ in between you.”
Roggi laughed. “No, iss not that, it’s Bryn. He’s my friend, Dar, and I just can’ face ‘im right now. Can’t believe what I’ve done to ‘im, an’ I hate all of it. An’ I’m not exac’ly a fan of what he does for a livin’.”
“Oh yeah? You said tha’ more than once. Wha’s it that he does?”
“Oh he’s at the top of the Thieves Guild, nothin’ special.”
Dardeh stared, and set his bottle onto the floor very carefully, trying to make sure he set it down upright so that he wouldn’t spill it, and not entirely sure he could accomplish that.
“Thieves Guild? Really? As in … the group ev’ry single person I ran across down there was complainin’ about?”
“Yep. The same,” Roggi said, tipping his bottle up and frowning when he realized it was empty. “So’s your sister, actually.” He pulled himself slowly up onto the edge of the bed and reached over it, into the chest, for another pair of bottles.
“No, I’m set,” Dardeh told him. “If I drink any more I’ll wish I hadn’.”
Roggi grinned. “Well iss never enough for me so,” and opened another for himself.
Dardeh sat there watching him.
“My sister’s in the Thieves Guild.”
“Oh not just that, Dar. She runs it.”
“You’re kiddin’.” Tell me he’s kidding and I’m not blood related to the head of the Thieves Guild.
“No. I’m not. And tha’s why I won’t go to Riften with you,” he said, listing to the side a bit. He uprighted himself and laughed. Then he frowned. “Iddra’s gonna be so mad at me.” He laughed again, a short, bitter-sounding burst of a laugh.
“Not if you come with me to High Hrothgar,” Dardeh told him. What am I saying? I don’t want to let him out of my sight but –
Roggi’s eyes got huge.
“I know I’m drunk but did you just say High … Hrothgar?”
Dardeh smiled at him. “Yeah I did.” Then he explained what was going on, and what had to happen. “And I don’ wanna do it alone, Roggi. I’m scared, truth be told.”
“The Dragonborn says he’s scared. Tha’s somethin’.”
“Yeah, well, iss also the truth.” I’m terrified. I’ve had people, dead people, talking to me in my sleep. I seem to be getting better and better at killing people and I don’t even like killing. And I have to go back in time and hope it helps me defeat the first of the dragons? Damn straight I’m scared. Please come with me. If I die at least I won’t have been alone at the end.
Roggi smiled. “Yeah, I’ll come with you. Travel with th’ Dragonborn? Of course I will, Dar.” He laughed. “I hope you don’ mind if I call you Dar. I don’ think I can get my mouth t’ say your whole name right now.”
Dardeh cackled. “It gets better. My da’s name ‘parently was Dadarh. My mother had some sick sense of humor ‘cause if I was gonna use my Redguard name I’d be,” and he stopped for a breath, “Dardeh at-Dadarh. Jus’ try sayin’ that a few times.” He giggled. “But I’m Nord, s’far as I’m concerned.”
Roggi smiled. “I won’ even ‘tempt it right now. And I like it tha’ you’re Nord. I’ve seen Nords with better tans than yours,” he snickered.
“Yeah but not this hair, I bet,” Dardeh said, running his hand over his messy braids.
“True ‘nough. Hey, can … you help me get up? I think I need to get onto tha’ bed or I’ll be sleepin’ on the floor.”
“Sure,” Dardeh said, struggling to his feet and helping Roggi up. Neither of them was especially steady and they both giggled like boys as they maneuvered him onto the bed.
Roggi patted the other side of the bed. “Hop in,” he said. “I won’ bite. I’m gonna be out cold in ‘bout five minutes.”
Dardeh couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Uh…” If you knew what I was feeling right now you’d never make that suggestion. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted something so much.
“No I’m serious. You’re not ‘n any shape to go back to th’ inn anyway an’ there’s room.” There was, too; Roggi had a double bed that took up half his living area and would have room to spare even with two miners on it. “Climb ‘board.”
“Ok,” Dardeh said hesitantly. He sat on the side of the bed and, at great length, wrestled his boots off, then slid under the covers. His heart was threatening to beat its way out of his chest. He turned to look at Roggi and heard a snore.
He giggled. Roggi wasn’t kidding, was he. Out cold.
____
The next morning they were both groaning, and grinning sheepish grins at each other.
“Well,” Roggi said, “I don’t know how much I told you last night but I hope you’ll forgive me for…whatever it was.”
Dardeh laughed. “Don’t worry about it. Just get yourself ready and you can make it up to me on the road.”
“All right. I probably should apologize to Iddra before we go, but I fear the wrath,” he snickered. “I do need to talk to Kjeld. I’ll just… ask him to apologize for me. That always goes well.” He grinned and reached for the door handle. “Come meet me outside the mine in a few minutes.”
Dardeh got into his heavy mail and sighed. It was good armor, but it weighed a lot. Carrying himself and it up the mountain was at least as much effort as mining a vein of malachite, and his head hurt. He wasn’t looking forward to the climb.
He approached the mine just as Roggi emerged, and had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping. There was no more slightly-bedraggled miner. Roggi was in a set of clothing that looked warm and solid, with a substantial bandolier and bracers. It looks like a wealthy man’s clothes, he thought, and I don’t think Roggi is a wealthy man. But he sure looks good in it.
“Is that going to be enough?” he said, pointing at the clothing but admiring the greatsword slung over Roggi’s back.
He looked for the grin he’d come to expect from Roggi, but instead the man’s face was dead serious.
“It’s lined,” he said, tapping on the one obvious metal plate at his hip. “And I’m good with this thing,” he added without the slightest hint of bragging, nodding backwards toward his sword, “and a bow. Let’s get going.”
He turned toward the west and started walking down the path from the mine. Dardeh stood there, staring in amazement for just a moment. So he’s not just a miner. I guess I should have known that from when I saw him with Dagnell, but he seems different this time.
They were about halfway across the volcanic tundra when Roggi spoke.
“I can’t get over it. Here I am travelling with the Dragonborn.”
Dardeh snorted. “Don’t make such a big deal about it, Roggi. I’m just a guy. You watched me mine. That’s what I’m good at.”
“But I heard you Shout. I only know one other person who is supposed to be able to do that, and I never heard him do it.”
“Oh?” Dardeh glanced at him, grinning. “You know Ulfric, then?”
“Yeah,” Roggi said. He wasn’t smiling. “And I never heard him Shout. He’s not Dragonborn.” He glanced at Dardeh. “I was a Stormcloak, for a time.”
Well, well. It gets more intriguing by the moment. He knows Ulfric?
“Well, don’t get too impressed. It’s all just a bunch of noise. And, ok, a little bit of fire, and some frost. Stuff like that. Unfortunately, it seems as though I’m the only one who can deal with this particular mess and if I don’t, we’re all going to regret it. So I’m glad you’re with me. I need to get up to the top safely and I’m not sure I can do it alone.”
He desperately wanted to see Roggi smile again, and he didn’t understand what was wrong. Just as he was about to say something, a wolf came barreling up the hillside toward them. Roggi drew his sword and calmly sliced the beast in half.
Dardeh stopped and looked at Roggi, and suddenly, for no reason at all, everything seemed funny to him.
“My hero,” he said, trying hard not to grin.
Roggi stopped and stared at him, looking stern, maybe even a bit annoyed. But the tiny smile playing about on Dardeh’s mouth would not be denied. He was travelling with Roggi, and he couldn’t imagine too many finer things right then.
“I can’t wait to show you a dragon,” he said, trying and likely failing to look serious.
Roggi stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.
And they continued on toward the foot of the mountain.