Tale of Irethiel

Part 2

(A/N - Probably longer, I'm gonna bet that these "chapters" aren't going to be consistent in length) 

Irethiel's eyes had just shut, her tense body finally relaxing in the warm sunlight. She welcomed the feeling of the rays soaking her pale skin, not afraid that she might burn. Skyrim didn't have many days of warm sun, the rest of the year brought harsh colds and snow-bitten landscapes. She'd gladly fight on those days. Just not when it was nice out. 

She was finally forced to choose a side in the civil war, even after telling both Tullius and Ulfric that the Thalmor wanted that. They needed Skyrim in chaos so that when they were ready they could take over. This war was stupid, and though she felt like Skyrim should be free, she somehow found herself on Tullius' side. She never was one for politics, and so just did as she was told, making sure there was as little casualties as possible. Even though Ulfric had warned her that his followers wouldn't show mercy just because of who, what, she was, many still bowed to her and gave up on dying. For the moment. They all spoke of the time that would come and that the Dragonborn was going to create her own army, one that would take both the Stormcloaks and the Impirials and crush them.

Fight fire with fire, she thought.

She had no intention to fight the war for them. She'd barely managed to save her skin from Tullius when she refused to execute some soldiers they had captured. She'd managed to hide, for now.

The sound of wings flapping caused her eyes to open, being momentarily blinded by the sun. She sat up, looking around her. She'd definitely heard a dragon... but where?

"Excuse me" She jumped a little, not expecting to see anyone this far from the city of Whiterun. Her body turned slightly, looking up at the stranger.

He had deep red eyes and long ebony black hair, his skin a pale shade. He looked too perfect to be a nord, and the hair colour made her doubt he had any Nordic relation. Perhaps, Imperial..? She snapped out of it when he reached out a hand, offering her help to stand. She graciously took it, standing to come face to face with the stranger. Well. Face to... neck. He was a head taller than her, which she found strange. She was part Altmer, giving her a bit of extra height, and she hadn't seen anyone who wasn't one to be taller than her. Well, apart from full Altmer... but she hadn't seen many outside of solitude. Could it be the angle that they stood at? Was the floor uneven? She looked down at the grass, figuring that the ground was flat where they stood. The man cleared his throat, making his presence once again known to the Dragonborn.

"Is there trouble?" She asked, being used to Tullius sending people all across Skyrim to track her down and bring her back, to only be told she'd need to set out and recover something lost or be rid of more Stormcloaks.

"Not at all" The man said, a brief smile flickering to his lips. "I was just passing by on my way through to Rorikstead, and happened upon you here. I was wondering if you were harmed in some way."

Irethiel looked him up and down. He didn't seem to be a traveler, he had no goods or weapons on him. He was dressed simply in black robes, a little more extravagant to those worn on the Greybeards. Surely he'd have been robbed by now? She wasn't sure what it was, but something was telling her to escort this man to his destination. Was it her curiosity? With her with him, he'd have to talk with her and allow her to know things. Was it because this was her hold? She was thane of Whiterun, and she couldn't on good conscience let the man go alone?

"I was just going that way, actually. Stopped off here for a while. Mind if I come with you?"

"Not at all ..."

"Irethiel."

"Irethiel..." He repeated her name for a moment, his deep voice making her name on the more enchanting. Shivers ran up and down her spine, her dark Nightingale armor suddenly feeling cold. The way he said it, she'd never heard it quite like that. The nords in this place usually stumbled on the last bit, missing out the pronounced I, and making it just thel. It had gotten on her nerves the first few times, but seeing as how it was more a global thing to them, she'd grown used to it.

"And what of your name, traveler?"

"For now, let's leave it with Al." He smiled once more, turning to walk out of the field, only stopping to check that she was following. She was light on her feet, if it weren't for his keen hearing he wouldn't have known she was there at all. This seemed to be going all too well. Something was bound to go wrong.

They talked as they walked, and they walked while they talked. They kept going for what seemed like two hours, seeing the top of the inn at Rorikstead. Irethiel felt like something was off here, perhaps her knowledge of the Alikir's residence in the inn put her off wanting to spend much time, or because it wasn't surrounded by strong walls and plenty of guards. Sure, she could protect herself, but something about being in a protected city made her feel at ease. She didn't always want to help out, but as her title as thane of Whiterun she felt obliged to. Sighing, she looked up at Al, strange how he wouldn't give her his actual name, yet. However she respected that he might not wish to reveal such a thing to a random stranger. It was clear that he wasn't from Whiterun, his clothing and lacking knowledge of her title making it clear. Perhaps he just didn't care that she was thane? Was it bad that she enjoyed the fact that her title wasn't forcing him to act proper, like the others would? On many occasions that had happened, and even more so since she was the Dragonborn.

"Going to the inn, I presume?" She asked, beginning to walk in that direction rather than continue the road.

"Is it bad that I had wished for some kind of hindrance? It's just that I enjoy talking with someone who has such an open mind on many of the subjects here in Keiz- I mean, Skyrim. The nords here sound all the same, with their fighting blindly."

"No, I wished for the same thing. People don't talk to me casually anymore, being Dragonborn and Thane..."

He stood still for a moment, turning his attention to the hill opposite the inn. "Indeed, you'll have to forgive me for that."

She smiled, 'humming in content. She waited for him to turn once more, looking at the back of his head. He turned, greeting her with a smile back.

"You know, since no one really travels recently, it's been lonely on the road... And I don't really do anything that exiting but... I'd really like to have a companion along... And-"

He raised his hand to silence her, his smile leaving as quickly as it had come. "It'd be my pleasure to accompany you in your travels, Dragonborn."