Fated (Kaidan x female dragonborn)

Chapter Five

June ignored Kaidan's grip around her waist as much as she could. She wanted to accept his offer to ride as he walked, but the thought of how slowly they would reach Whiterun had her overlooking the consequences. And so they trotted down dirt-trodden paths along the river, the morning sun welcoming them into the vast plains of Skyrim. 

"I like the name Frost." Kaidan muttered suddenly, his voice breaking the silence that Juniper much preferred. She could feel his breath brush against the lose, sandy strands of her braided hair that fell over her shoulder to her stomach. 

Her fingers tightening around the reigns of her palomino, she rolled her eyes. "Well perhaps you should go tell the Black-Briars that."

She felt Kaidan's chest vibrate against her back as he chuckled, "What do you mean? In Riften?" a thoughtful silence fell between the pair, ending with "...my oh my Miss Juniper Berry, don't tell me this horse is stolen."

A grin spread wide on Junipers lips, though he couldn't see it. "I was hired to steal him in the first place. In all honesty, I was planning on double crossing the guy who hired me... but then he tried to kill me, claiming I was working with Maven Black-Briar and I was 'the root of all his problems'" Juniper sighed, "what else did I expect from a bard? They are all melodramatic."

Kaidan laughed again in agreement, "Well, where you working with Maven?" 

"She wishes. The day I work with Maven is the day dragons roam the sky again." She scoffed ludicrously. "And for the sake of keeping your head, my name is Juniper. Just Juniper."

The city of Whiterun glimmered in the distance, casting a warm shadow over the plains in response to the rising sun. The grassy sea carpeted the land for miles in shades of yellow and green, crowned by distant, snow-peaked mountains. 

It took another hour to reach the city gates, the time spent with Kaidan drilling Juniper with questions; her family, where she grew up, how she came to Skyrim, why she spent her time hunting bounties. Juniper answered them as generally as she could, or simply lied. 

As far as he was concerned, she told him her Nordic family were alive and well in the neighboring province of Morrowind, she came back to Skyrim because she liked to travel and she spent time decapitating bandits because it payed well, and she had such high moral standards she just couldn't let those damn criminals live another day.

It didn't matter what she told him, because the moment they stepped through those great wooden gates she would never have to see him again.

The familiar streets welcomed them, vibrant and alive as merchants perused the market stools. 

Juniper stopped as they reached the central market square, where the road split towards Dragonsreach or the Bannered Mare tavern. Turning on her heels to face Kaidan, Juniper shot him a pleasing grin. 

"Thank you for your protection in getting me here, you can leave now." Her smile fell as quickly as it formed and she pivoted back away from him, glad to finally be on her own again. 

"Not so fast Juniper Berry, I don't remember agreeing to this. Only you did."

Her fists clenched at her sides as she faced him again, not bothering with the polite smile. "I don't care what you did or didn't agree to, Kaidan," She sneered, "I work alone. I don't do the whole companion thing."

Kaidan's arms folded defensively, in one swift step he towered over her. The attention of his ruby red eyes wholly on her fiery gold ones, a look of determination covered his face so fully Juniper's skin shivered with tiny bumps. 

"I owe you a blood debt, Juniper. You saved my life and my sword, by that fact alone both are yours until that debt is fulfilled. It is not a matter of want or agreement, it is a divine obligation. Allow me to do this for you, and I promise you will not regret it."