Companion (Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

Miraak yawned widely as he sat idly by the front door of his home. He was waiting for the Dragonborn to return. It was something he normally did when she left him behind. The intruder that the woman left with him was somewhere on the balcony, napping in warm afternoon light. Miraak barely paid him any heed.

The man resisted the urge to leave and find the woman himself. He understood that she would not like that. Miraak knew he was to stay and so he continued to wait.

Miraak felt it when something seemed to shift inside of him. He frowned and pressed a clawed hand over his heart where the strange feeling began to grow. A moment later, the area erupted in agony. The feral man opened his mouth to scream, but only managed a pitiful cry.

The First Dragonborn collapsed onto the ground and did not move. The house was silent, the only other occupant still sleeping and too deep in that slumber to hear anything amiss.

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The Last Dragonborn sluggishly made her way back to her manor alone, Lydia already having left back for Breezehome. The female warrior was exhausted as her previous night had been full of nightmares that she could not quite recall when she awoke.

As the Dragonborn neared her home in the light of the setting sun, a feeling of anxiousness began to overtake her. Something felt wrong. It was then she noticed that the strange connection with Miraak was not presenting itself. Upon realizing this, the female warrior urged her horse to run.

Had Miraak run away?

Valis was outside the manor, chopping some wood, when the female Dragonborn arrived in a flurry. She leapt off her horse.

"Woah! I see you are in a rush. Something wrong?"

"Miraak is here?" The Dragonborn asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

"Of course! He was sleeping in his room last time I saw him. Looks like he enjoys it quite a bit, I've only seen him in bed since I put him there. I had to pick him up off the floor where he decided his new bed would be yesterday."

"He's been sleeping that long?"

"No, I don't think so. I think he's just been avoiding me and just pretending to sleep when I drop by. Kind of childish if you ask me but that just means I've had no trouble with him." Valis shrugged. "He's fine though. I told you I can handle things. I'm even helping out with some of your chores here."

"... Thank you Valis." The Dragonborn replied, grateful, but also wondering if that was really true. She would have felt him if that was the case. And Miraak never pretended to sleep to avoid people before. The woman quickly put her horse in the barn and removed the saddlebags and tack. She just left them on the ground in her haste to return to the house.

Finally inside her home, the Dragonborn frowned. Something did not seem right. She carefully walked forward, on high alert for any threat. Everything seemed to be in order but she heard no sound from Miraak. She felt a pang of worry but the man had been behaving quite well for months now. He was able to move freely in and out of the house now with little problems. If Miraak left, he would always come back.

The woman continued towards Miraak's room and peeked in. A feeling of relief overtook her as she saw the form on the bed. He was alright. The Dragonborn crept closer, seeing the gentle rise and fall of his chest.

The Last Dragonborn froze when Miraak moved, jerking wildly. He settled down quickly but then blinked his eyes open. He lifted his head and then turned to look at the only other person in the room. The woman noticed the man's eyes were glazed over, looking rather confused.