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Dardeh looked out over the plains east of Rorikstead and sighed.\u00a0 He\u2019d seen the carrion birds circling as they\u2019d continued down the road south from the town, but it wasn\u2019t until the low fog had burned off and they\u2019d reached a good vantage point that he\u2019d been able to see the smoldering remnants of the camp.\u00a0 Whether it had been an Imperial or Stormcloak camp he couldn\u2019t tell, and it really didn\u2019t matter; it had been largely destroyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo we go look?\u201d he asked. He wanted to go, but it felt more important to listen to Roggi\u2019s judgment right then. The man put his pride behind him to follow me into battle on Ulfric\u2019s behalf. He had to watch him claim the throne, even though it was unofficial. He had to do things for Ulfric that make me squeamish. But he did it anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Roggi said. \u201cWe can\u2019t do anything for them, and it\u2019s probably loaded with scavengers by now. We did what we needed to do, Dardeh. It\u2019s time to go home now and try to put it behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not certain I can do that,\u201d Dardeh said. \u201cThis I can do, though.\u201d\u00a0 He knelt and raised his arms to the sky.\u00a0 Talos be with the souls of those who died out there. We all were doing what we thought had to be done. Give them peace.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re getting to be downright religious, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stood and grinned at his husband.\u00a0 \u201cWell, maybe.\u201d\u00a0 He grabbed Roggi\u2019s hand and gave it a quick squeeze, then started down the road toward Falkreath Hold once more. \u201cI don\u2019t really know how to explain it, but I\u2019ve talked to spirits, Roggi. Here, and on Solstheim, and in Hammerfell, and in Sovngarde.\u00a0 There\u2019s more to the world than we can see, even on a gorgeous day like this. I feel like I need to put my trust in something. For me that\u2019s always been Talos; I just didn\u2019t feel it all quite as strongly until the past few years.\u201d<\/p>\n He shared a quick glance with Roggi.\u00a0 \u201cI hope that\u2019s not a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smiled at him. \u201cNo. As long as you don\u2019t mind that I\u2019m not quite as devout as you are, it\u2019s fine with me.\u00a0 I\u2019m not as \u2026\u201d he paused for a moment, rubbing his chin. \u201cNeutral, I guess, is the word I\u2019d use for Brynjolf.\u00a0 But I do prefer to trust the things I can see, and feel, and use my hands to change.\u201d<\/p>\n He shrugged. \u201cDar, you\u2019ve had experiences nobody else in the world has had. Even when I was near you I didn\u2019t see some of the things you did. I can\u2019t imagine what that\u2019s like. But you put all of it behind you and did what was best for Skyrim even though we were fighting for Ulfric. I think that gives you the right to worship Talos right here on the road if that\u2019s what you want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Roggi,\u201d Dardeh said. \u201cSo does that mean you won\u2019t be upset with me if I head directly to Falkreath? I want to talk to the new Jarl and see if there\u2019s anything we can do to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi tossed back his head and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cCan we at least, I don\u2019t know \u2013 take a nap first? I\u2019m not as young as you are and I want to rest in my own bed.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh started snickering. Roggi, actually rest in that bed? That would be something new. <\/em>\u00a0No matter what else might be said about Roggi, he was nothing if not enthusiastic about loving his husband often and well.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, sure Roggi.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go home and have a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi poked him in the arm.\u00a0 Dardeh laughed and started jogging down the road toward the slope up to Falkreath.<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n Dengeir of Stuhn had been Jarl before his unsavory and Imperial-supporting nephew, Siddgeir, forced him out.\u00a0 Now he was Jarl again; and in spite of being old and a bit paranoid, he was determined to do his job well as long as he could.<\/p>\n \u201cFor one thing,\u201d he said, \u201cI won\u2019t empty Falkreath\u2019s coffers to buy myself fine clothes and expensive mead! For another, I won\u2019t get mixed up with criminals and other sorts who take advantage of the honest folk for profit.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded. \u201cYou mean like the Thieves Guild?\u201d he asked, earning himself a poke in the ribs from Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I agree with Riften\u2019s Jarl on that. The real one, I mean, not that Black-Briar woman,\u201d he harrumphed. \u201cI know Ulfric is selfish and power-hungry. But at least he knows us better than some Emperor so far away he might as well be on one of the moons. And since he has to live here, I\u2019m sure Ulfric\u2019s going to do the best he can for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi was seized by a bout of coughing just then and had to leave the room.\u00a0 Dardeh grinned at his retreating back, and then turned back to Dengeir.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there anything I can do for you, or for Falkreath?\u201d<\/p>\n The old man peered at him for a moment and then sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. There is. You may have seen the open grave in our graveyard. Most folk here in town think it\u2019s the work of a corpse thief. The truth is \u2013 less pleasant. It is, or was, the grave of Vighar, my own ancestor.\u00a0 Dead for centuries now. He\u2019s also a vampire. My family was entrusted with keeping him buried, but recently someone stole the wardstone, and Vighar escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk, so you want me to retrieve the wardstone? Is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. It\u2019s too late for that. Vighar must be destroyed. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s gathering others of his kind somewhere in Falkreath, most likely at Bloodlet Throne. Place got cleared out some time ago but the damned vampires keep coming back. He\u2019s a danger to the people and to my family\u2019s reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh frowned.\u00a0 A vampire is not exactly what I was expecting to deal with. But I did offer, and I can\u2019t very well go back on my word.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAlright. I\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n Roggi hissed as they approached the entry to Bloodlet Throne\u2019s old fortress.\u00a0 \u201cBe careful, Dar,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve got a bad feeling about this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well I\u2019m not exactly looking forward to it myself. I had kind of hoped I was done with vampires once Bryn was cured and Andante was gone.\u201d\u00a0 He pushed open the door, looked around the entryway and, finding it empty, crept forward.\u00a0 He heard Roggi\u2019s greatsword slide out of its sheath.\u00a0 At the far side of the entryway was a lighted hall in which air currents were pulling a banner in and out of its position. He heard voices to his left, and found a barred opening overlooking a large room below.<\/p>\n \u201cShe said I\u2019d forget, and usually I do \u2013 but sometimes I still remember their faces. Pleading,\u201d a woman whispered.\u00a0 Dardeh watched her turn, saw the glowing yellow eyes in her face, and fired an arrow that struck her a solid blow.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something out there!\u201d she shouted; and from all sides of the room poured more vampires, and people that he assumed were thralls.\u00a0 He stepped back into the shadows, only then noticing the firepot, suspended from the ceiling over the vampires\u2019 heads.<\/p>\n Damn it, I was too fast on the draw. I should have dropped the firepot on them.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll feed again!\u201d the woman hissed, making her way into the hallway.\u00a0 She spotted Dardeh and her already overly-bright eyes grew large and, at least to his mind, even brighter. \u201cOh, yes!\u201d she cried, rushing toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn you!\u201d Roggi shouted, running forward to take a swing at the vampire.\u00a0 He staggered her, sending her backward into the hallway; but she got her balance back almost instantly and started casting a sickly-looking spell at Roggi that seemed to be drawing the life from him.<\/p>\n In the space of a single breath Dardeh went from a state of battle-readiness to blinding, overwhelming rage.<\/p>\n \u201cYOL- TOOR SHUL!\u201d<\/p>\n The flames leapt from Dardeh without his having thought consciously about Shouting.\u00a0 They enveloped the vampire as well as catching the patches of organic material in and around the ancient stones of the old keep. She cried out and staggered backward once more. Roggi pressed the attack, lifting his massive sword high and slamming it down into the vampire.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi! Are you alright?\u201d He turned Roggi to face him, checking for signs of bite marks, or other injuries.<\/p>\n Roggi nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine. How are you? She was coming for you, Dar, no question about it. I\u2019ve never seen someone look so hungry for something before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor me?\u201d Dardeh frowned, puzzled.\u00a0 \u201cShe was draining you, not me. Are you sure she wasn\u2019t just after you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what you\u2019d think but I was closer to her, Dar. Those eyes were right on you.\u201d\u00a0 Roggi shuddered.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I didn\u2019t get scratched, just tired out a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk. Let\u2019s keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh led the way down a short flight of stairs.\u00a0 Then he nearly jumped out of his skin.\u00a0 What he had thought was a statue of a gargoyle roared into life, rushing toward them.\u00a0 He fired one arrow into it and then drew his swords; he and Roggi both laid into it with their blades and made short work of it.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn,\u201d he said. \u201cAlmost scared the hair off my head.\u201d<\/p>\n The passage through the old keep led down, past a bedroom where they dispatched a vampire in Redguard armor, into an area where the elements had made their way in, coating the floors with ice and snow. Around a stone outcropping and up a wooden ramp they crept, to a platform overlooking a large cave. There were more wooden structures in the cave, including ramps leading up to scaffolding and an opening beyond.\u00a0 Figures moved about below.<\/p>\n Dardeh took aim on a seated person \u2013 whether a vampire or a human thrall, he couldn\u2019t tell \u2013 and fired two arrows in quick succession. \u00a0The woman cried out and slumped over onto the floor, dead.\u00a0 The woman standing beside her body looked up and locked gazes with Dardeh.\u00a0 He saw her smile, and saw her large, glistening fangs.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re mine<\/em>,\u201d she called out, rushing forward and up the ramp toward Dardeh, reaching him before he could do more than draw his swords. She cast a spell at him, something he didn\u2019t recognize that had a blue tint and burned.\u00a0 He felt, and heard, the words of Flame Breath erupt from himself once again; and the vampire dropped to one knee only to meet the point of Roggi\u2019s sword.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how it happens,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how what happens, Dar?\u201d Roggi panted, bent slightly as he fought to get his wind back.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how people end up burned and dead at my feet.\u00a0 At least I was aware that I was Shouting, that time, but it\u2019s almost like someone else is controlling me when that happens.\u00a0 The first time, I didn\u2019t even know where it came from.\u00a0 Just\u2026 fire,\u201d he finished, careful not to use the Dovahzul word for fear of setting himself or Roggi alight.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, as long as it works, Dar.\u00a0 I can\u2019t think of a better way to get at these vampires than that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. It\u2019s still \u2026 weird, though.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh shook his head. I can\u2019t describe it to him well enough. How terrifying it is to have all that power just happen and not quite know how.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n They descended into the main cavern just as yet another vampire hurtled toward Dardeh.\u00a0 This time there was no denying it; she was after him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll drink you dry, mortal!\u201d she said, beginning to cast the sickly red life-draining spell Dardeh recognized.\u00a0 He was ready this time, though, with both swords; and he had her down in just a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on!\u201d Roggi shouted from behind Dardeh.\u00a0 Dardeh swung around trying to find what Roggi was after and finally spotted the vampire up along the scaffolding, once again aiming her life-draining magic at him.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave him alone!<\/em>\u201d Dardeh shrieked, barreling up the ramp and laying into the woman as if he were not the Dragonborn, was nobody other than the descendant of Redguard warriors from Hammerfell.\u00a0 She dropped after only two sword strikes.<\/p>\n Roggi chuckled. \u201cWell there. I guess I shouldn\u2019t have worried.\u201d<\/p>\n And then an arrow caught Dardeh in the shoulder, and he found himself crying out in pain.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a horrible wound, but he needed to attend to it right then and there.\u00a0 Roggi snarled and moved up the next ramp.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to enjoy killing you,\u201d the woman replied, firing an ice spike at Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it!\u201d Dardeh cast several healing spells at his own shoulder and then grabbed his swords once more.\u00a0 He darted up the ramp and reached the vampire just as Roggi was sinking down onto one knee.\u00a0 As if from some place other than his own body he heard\u00a0 himself howling in rage, the deep-throated roar he\u2019d used as a young man to intimidate enemies.\u00a0 He sliced upward into the vampire with one sword and brought the other down across her neck, ending her.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d he panted.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m\u2026\u00a0 fine\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He gestured with his sword. \u201cBehind you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh whirled to find yet another female vampire rushing toward him.\u00a0 Beside her, a gargoyle roared to life and followed her into the battle.\u00a0\u00a0 He lost track of what was happening, then, his existence reduced to one sword blow after another, just as fast as he could deliver them.\u00a0 At some point Roggi joined him.\u00a0 Finally, he found himself bent over his own knees, pulling for breath as hard as he could.\u00a0 He looked up at Roggi and held up one finger \u2013 just a second<\/em>. \u00a0Roggi nodded, being fully involved in his own attempt to get air.<\/p>\n Eventually they moved forward. The scaffolding led to a dogleg passage into a warren of rooms seemingly cut out of solid ice. There were crafting stations and bookcases, beds and cages, some rooms locked and others open.\u00a0 They explored all of them. It was likely a waste of time, Dardeh thought, but they needed that time to get themselves settled in the event that they found Vighar.<\/p>\n They finally emerged from the ice onto a platform that overlooked the scaffolding they\u2019d come up.\u00a0 Another opening in the ice, at the far side of this platform, led down an icy ramp to a barred gate, its mechanism close at hand on the right side of the tunnel wall.\u00a0 Just beyond the gate was a large chamber; and seated above it, in a throne, was a male vampire.<\/p>\n \u201cGotta be him,\u201d Roggi whispered. \u201cOne male in an entire coven of females. He must be good.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh would have laughed if he hadn\u2019t been carefully drawing his bow and taking aim.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019d know better than I, Roggi,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cPull the chain, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n The bars dropped down into the floor and Dardeh loosed the arrow, followed quickly by a second. They sunk into the vampire\u2019s chitin armor but did not stop him; he and a female companion leapt down onto the floor of the cavern and ran toward Dardeh, Vighar casting his vampiric drain spell.\u00a0 Dardeh ignored that, going for his swords; then a frost spell caught him full in the face and blinded him.\u00a0 He was vaguely aware of Roggi rushing past him.<\/p>\n \u201cYOL- TOOR SHUL!\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh heard, rather than saw, the flames capture the female vampire.\u00a0 He heard Vighar grunt. He cast healing on himself until he was finally able to see again, just in time for two death hounds to rush up the slope toward him.\u00a0 Roggi was attacking Vighar, but the vampire suddenly disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cWatch out for him, Roggi!\u201d Dardeh yelled, making his way slowly through the death hounds.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t hide from me!\u201d Roggi growled, moving into an alcove just beneath the throne.\u00a0 He took a massive swing with his greatsword and connected with Vighar\u2019s gaudy chitin armor, breaking his invisibility.\u00a0 Vighar went down; Dardeh joined Roggi in finishing him off.<\/p>\n Dardeh put an arm around Roggi\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cYou all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine. I\u2019m gonna take advantage of the shrine when we get back to Falkreath, just to be sure, but I\u2019m pretty sure I\u2019m just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh leaned close and kissed Roggi\u2019s cheek. \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi turned and grinned at him.\u00a0 \u201cI love you too, Dar. And I think all these women did, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cYeah. I don\u2019t know why. But it\u2019s like I told you. I\u2019m not a stranger to having them try.\u201d\u00a0 Another barred passage led to a ramp, up to the throne, and to a hallway with a door at its end, light and wind streaming in around the edges.<\/p>\n \u201cI wonder why <\/em>he had all females here. It\u2019s not like they can have children.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d Dardeh said, wrestling with the lock on a chest near the door. \u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re \u2026 dead, Dar. Or undead, anyway. Dead things can\u2019t reproduce.\u201d<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n Jarl Dengeir was delighted \u2013 in his gruff way \u2013 to learn that the vampires had been taken down with no stain on his family\u2019s honor.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there anything else you need, Jarl?\u201d Dardeh asked.\u00a0 I can\u2019t say \u2018my\u2019 Jarl to him. Balgruuf will always be my Jarl, no matter whether he hates me or not. But this is a good man and he will take good care of this city. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, there is room in my court for a Thane,\u201d Dengeir said. \u201cIt\u2019s an honorary position, mostly, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDRAGON!\u201d a man Dardeh didn\u2019t recognize roared as he threw open the door to the longhouse.\u00a0 \u201cHELP!\u201d he shrieked, waving at Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Dardeh said, waving Roggi out the door alongside him.<\/p>\n And sure enough, there was a dragon making passes over the length of Falkreath, breathing some sort of poison attack at them \u2013 Dardeh wasn\u2019t familiar with the words of it but he could see well enough the sickly green matter spewing from the creature\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 The dragon seemed not to want to stay airborne. Every few minutes it would land atop one of the nearby rooftops and attack again.<\/p>\n Dardeh stepped out into the open and looked up at the creature as it swooped in for another run.<\/p>\n \u201cJOOR- ZAH FRUL!\u201d<\/p>\n Even if it already wants to be on the rooftops, it will be so distressed by Dragonrend that we\u2019ll have an opening. <\/em><\/p>\n The dragon glowed with blue energies and sank to the roadway in the center of town, screaming in fear and rage.\u00a0 Everyone with a weapon at hand attacked it; Roggi, as usual, ran for the beast\u2019s snout and once more Dardeh fought down the fear that always rose up into his chest at that.\u00a0 He pulled out his swords and attacked with all his considerable might.\u00a0 It seemed to him that the dragon was well in hand when it turned, and snapped at him, and fought its way back into the air.<\/p>\n Dardeh tsk\u2019d.\u00a0 Get down here, you damn fool, and tell me that to my face.<\/em>\u00a0 He Shouted at it once more; this time when it landed they were ready for it, and took it down in only a few moments\u2019 time.<\/p>\n Dardeh stood with his eyes closed, breathing deeply, as the dragon\u2019s soul rushed in to mingle with his.\u00a0 He had to stifle the urge to scream in triumph; it had been a long time since he\u2019d taken a dragon, and the exhilaration of it was almost overwhelming.<\/p>\n \u201cDar,\u201d he heard Roggi murmur next to his ear. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmmm,\u201d he said, nodding.\u00a0 \u201cOne second.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome back to me, Dar,\u201d Roggi said, more urgently; then Dardeh felt Roggi\u2019s hand take his and squeeze hard.<\/p>\n My gods, Roggi, that grip<\/em>.<\/p>\n He opened his eyes and squinted at Roggi\u2019s anxious face.\u00a0 \u201cOw, damn it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Sorry.\u201d\u00a0 Roggi dropped his hand. \u201cI thought you\u2019d gotten lost somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled at him. \u201cNah, I\u2019m ok.\u00a0 It\u2019s just \u2026 exciting. And it\u2019s been a long time since we\u2019ve gotten one.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shook his head and snorted. \u201cI swear you\u2019re an addict, Dar.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to do with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed.\u00a0 Just love me, Roggi. That\u2019s the only thing I need in the world. <\/em><\/p>\n He would have said that aloud, but there was a small crowd of people clustered about the dragon\u2019s skeleton, exclaiming about it being dead, wondering where it had come from, and making awestruck noises about Dardeh being Dragonborn.<\/p>\n One of the city guards stepped up to him and said, \u201cWe all owe you a debt.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t have taken this city without you, sir.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh tilted his head to one side, looking at the man in confusion, and then it dawned on him:\u00a0 the guard was in Stormcloak blues.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, but I didn\u2019t do anything here, not really.\u201d<\/p>\n The guard snorted. \u201cYou took out that damned Imperial general. The story\u2019s everywhere. That\u2019s enough for me. If there\u2019s ever anything you need, well\u2026\u201d he pointed out several others of the guards who were watching them, \u201cyou need only ask.\u201d<\/p>\n A skinny man in laborer\u2019s clothing ran up and tapped Dardeh on the shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cSorry to bother you but there\u2019s been a guy wandering around looking for you.\u00a0 He said he was going to Whiterun, in case you want to go find him.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what he wants, but he was bothering everyone in town looking for the Dragonborn and I figure you must be the guy he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk,\u201d Dardeh said, nodding.\u00a0 \u201cThanks for letting me know.\u201d<\/p>\n The man nodded and turned to leave, but shuddered. \u201cDragons. In town. What next?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh heard a woman clearing her throat just behind him.\u00a0 \u201cExcuse me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n He turned to find himself gazing at one of the most amazing faces he\u2019d ever seen. It was a Redguard woman. She was tiny \u2013 shorter even than Sayma, and a good bit shorter than he was himself – dressed in steel armor but with a traditional Redguard headdress, and bearing a scimitar.\u00a0 Her skin was much darker than his; she had deep black eye makeup and wore war paint of pale blue, or maybe grey \u2013 the day was waning enough that he couldn\u2019t tell, in that light.\u00a0 She was stunning; and he found himself exhaling in awe.<\/p>\n \u201cHello?\u201d he said, smiling at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, my Thane,\u201d she said. \u201cOr should I call you Dragonborn?\u00a0 I am Rayya, and Jarl Dengeir has assigned me to be your housecarl.\u00a0 I shall be your sword and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy shield,\u201d Dardeh said, smiling at her. \u201cYes, I\u2019m familiar.\u00a0 So I\u2019m a Thane now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Rayya said. \u201cHe was just about to tell you that when the\u2026\u201d she turned and pointed at the huge skeleton behind them.\u00a0 She shuddered, and then turned back to face Dardeh.<\/p>\n He had never had anyone look at him the way Rayya did, her eyes wide, and deep, and endlessly fascinating.\u00a0 Not even Roggi, when he\u2019d first watched him consume a dragon\u2019s soul, had looked at him this way, as though he was some sort of godlike being. They stood in the street, just gazing at each other for what seemed like an eternity.<\/p>\n Is this what Miraak felt like, with people worshipping him? <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, Dar? Are we ready to go home now, or\u2026?\u201d\u00a0 Roggi\u2019s voice broke Dardeh\u2019s reverie and he almost jumped.\u00a0 He felt his cheeks flush, almost as though he\u2019d been caught doing something very wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi. Uh, this is Rayya.\u00a0 It seems that we have a new housecarl. Rayya,\u201d he continued, turning back to her and breaking out into another hopeless smile, \u201cthis is Roggi Knot-Beard, my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n He watched the light in Rayya\u2019s eyes change; and when he glanced back at Roggi he could see Roggi relax. Yes. Once again this has been taken care of. It\u2019s always a difficult moment. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGood to meet you, Rayya,\u201d Roggi said, taking Rayya\u2019s extended hand and shaking it.\u00a0 \u201cAs it happens we have a really nice room in our house that you might enjoy.\u00a0 And \u2026\u201d he looked at Dardeh and grinned, his eyes twinkling, \u201ca couple of daughters that you may or may not feel the same way about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I am sure that I will enjoy being around them, my lord,\u201d Rayya said.<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s mouth fell open for just a moment; then he burst into peals of laughter.\u00a0 \u201cMy lord!\u201d he snickered. \u201cI don\u2019t believe I\u2019ve ever been called that before, and I\u2019ve been called a great many things. Some of them were even flattering.\u00a0 No lord here, Rayya. I\u2019m just a miner.\u00a0 My name\u2019s Roggi.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh started snickering as well, and motioned to Rayya to follow.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a good long way to the house still and it\u2019s getting dark.\u00a0 Roggi Knot-Beard, \u2018just a miner,\u2019\u201d he snickered. \u201cI\u2019ll have you know, Rayya, that among his many other talents Roggi is one of the best dragon fighters in Tamriel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell it\u2019s not like there are that many of us, Dar,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n Rayya looked back and forth between the two of them, seeming confused for just a moment, and then grinned. \u201cWell perhaps I\u2019ll come help you slay a dragon some day. I\u2019m pretty good with my swords as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve no doubt of it,\u201d Dardeh said, smiling over her head at Roggi. \u201cMy sister is pretty good with hers as well. You full-blooded Redguard women are fierce.\u201d<\/p>\n That started the inevitable chatter as they all got to know each other on the way back to Mammoth Manor.\u00a0 They showed Rayya the large downstairs room where Lydia had once stayed, and she smiled and agreed to stay there. They explained that their daughters were currently in Riften, but that they\u2019d be fetching them back home now that the war was over; and would she be willing to stay with them?\u00a0 Yes, she told them. Of course.<\/p>\n And finally it was the end of the day.\u00a0 Roggi went upstairs first, and Dardeh found himself standing at the foot of the stairs, with Rayya gazing at him again. He wasn\u2019t certain what he saw in her eyes this time. He was afraid that he knew, and hoped he wouldn\u2019t have to have the Talk with her; but regardless, whatever emotion she was feeling was clearly intense.<\/p>\n \u201cDar. Come on,\u201d Roggi called from the top of the stairs.\u00a0 Dardeh looked up at him and nodded, then smiled at Rayya.<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Rayya. I hope you sleep well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, my Thane,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cNow look. We have to get this straight right away.\u00a0 I was Thane in Whiterun before the war and my housecarl there got told the same thing.\u00a0 My name is Dardeh. That\u2019s all. No Thane-ing, no Dragonborn-ing. OK?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, my lord,\u201d Rayya said, nodding.<\/p>\n Dardeh threw up his hands and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t win.\u00a0 Goodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi had disappeared into the bedroom by the time Dardeh reached the top of the stairs. Dardeh was well on the way to unfastening his armor when he reached the doorway; and then he stopped short.<\/p>\n Roggi was sitting on the side of the bed, his head buried in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi? You ok?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Dar, I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh dropped his armor on the floor and heard Roggi hiss.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help but grin; Roggi hated messes in the house and particularly in the bedroom.\u00a0 He kicked off his boots and went to sit down beside Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi heaved a great, shuddering sigh.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to leave me. For a woman<\/em>. I suppose there\u2019s a certain irony to it, especially having just fought in Ulfric\u2019s war, but I\u2019m not finding it very amusing.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh. So that\u2019s what this is.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cShe is stunning, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi nodded. \u201cI saw the way she looked at you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, so did I.\u00a0 It was really something, wasn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi hissed again. \u201cDo you really<\/em> have to rub it in, Dar? Wasn\u2019t it bad enough that you had an entire keep full of women after you earlier today?\u201d He turned to look at Dardeh; and Dardeh immediately regretted having tried to tease his husband.\u00a0 Roggi\u2019s eyes were as forlorn as they\u2019d been the day he\u2019d returned from Sovngarde to find Roggi ready to give up.<\/p>\n Dardeh took Roggi\u2019s hands in his and turned him to make certain he had Roggi\u2019s full attention.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi. There\u2019s nothing in this world that can take me from you. Not a thing. Especially not a woman, or a vampire. You\u2019re my husband. I love you. Now and forever, Roggi.\u00a0 Now, and forever. Listen. It was<\/em> a little overwhelming to have her looking at me like that. Not even Lydia was so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smiled, just a little bit. \u201cObvious?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I really didn\u2019t know what to do aside from stare back at her. She\u2019s gorgeous. But when are you ever going to believe me?\u00a0 You\u2019re the only one for me. I don\u2019t want anyone else. No man, no woman. Just you. Since the moment I first laid eyes on you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure, Dar?\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know why I\u2019m always asking you this. You\u2019ve told me so many times.\u00a0 But I never feel like I\u2019m good enough for you, Dardeh. Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs sure as I am that the moons rise over the lake at night, Roggi. I\u2019d fight the High King of Skyrim for you if I had to. It always amazes me that you\u2019re with me, to be honest. You could have anyone in the world.\u201d\u00a0 He rolled across the bed and made a show of stretching out on his back, with his hands crossed under his head.\u00a0 He watched Roggi\u2019s eyes scan him and begin to sparkle, and chuckled. \u201cNow get out of that armor and let\u2019s get some rest. Tomorrow we can figure out what\u2019s next, including getting the children.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi grinned at him and snickered as he shrugged out of his armor. \u201cSure, Dar. Rest sounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh looked out over the plains east of Rorikstead and sighed.\u00a0 He\u2019d seen the carrion birds circling as they\u2019d continued down the road south from the town, but it wasn\u2019t until the low fog had burned off and they\u2019d reached a good vantage point that he\u2019d been able to see the smoldering remnants of the … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4-3-3-2.png\")
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<\/p>\nPart III: Complications<\/a><\/div>\nPrevious<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"