Chapter Seventy Two

Dawn was quiet for the first time in many months in the town of Raven Rock. The only noise the coming and going of the waves against the wharf. The earth stone stood proud against the horizon, without the oppression of Miraak’s strange constructions. A thin mist was crawling in from the sea of ghosts. Inigo watched the guards making their rounds, wondering how they could stand to wear such ridged looking gear, He stretched before heading back to the tavern, his mind set on having something for breakfast. Though, he had to admit that he was  growing tired of ash yams. He scanned the room as he entered, shaking his head when he did not see his friends. A grin crossed his face as he geared up for a long wait.

“Dúisigh.”

Gaeolin rolled over, grumbling at the attempt to be woken. Faendal grinned, poking him in The side. “Dúisigh, le do thail. Airím uaim thú.” (Wake up, please. I miss you.)

Gaeolin finally sat up, his hands covering his face as he yawned. He smiled at Faendal. “Maidin mhaith.” (Good Morning.)

“Did you sleep alright? This bed isn’t exactly big enough for both of us.” Faendal climbed into the space Gaeolin had been lying in, happy to have enough room to sit properly.  “We should have asked for a larger one before we called it a night.”

“You and I both know it was not just me who rushed through the thinking part of yesterday.” He smirked. “Ba tusa a bhí ag iarraidh a bheith le chéile.” (You were trying to be together.) 

Faendal pushed him off the bed, laughing at the expression he received. “Maybe. Anyway, we should probably wake up now. I’m sure Inigo is already bored to death. Either that, or already getting himself into mischief.”

Gaeolin grabbed his clothes, leaning against the wall for support. He stood for a moment after putting on his breeches, staring at Faendal. His skin reflected the candle light at the  bedside. “What?”

Gaeolin’s expression was soft. “You’re beautiful.”

Faendal flushed, “Stop it. I’m nothing special.”

“You are to me.” He walked to the bed, sitting in front of his lover, “Ever since you… asked me  back at Lakeview, I’ve thought about how much courage that must have taken. You presented yourself as below me. I have no idea why you think that way. I have never been your better, Faendal, I don’t think that’s possible for me. “

“It wasn’t about that.”

“Then why did you perform pléadáil?”

Faendal lay back, his blanket left behind in his lap. “Because I knew that if we were back in Valenwood, the Tree Thanes would ostracize us for this.” He looked to Gaeolin with a shake of the head. “I burnt my bridges with Valenwood long ago. I’ve never felt the desire to go back. I wasn’t sure about you. I kept my feelings to myself because I didn’t want to keep you from a place you might still consider home. So when I finally realized that I couldn’t keep it to  myself anymore,” He sat up again, taking Gaeolin by the hand, “I felt like I should apologize at the same time.” 

Gaeolin gripped his hand tighter, “Ní coir a bheith i ngrá.” (Being in love is not a crime.)

Faendal smiled. “Not here, or in Skyrim. Not to say that our neighbors will be completely welcoming, but at least we won’t have to hide in the swamps.”

Gaeolin mocked a disgusted face. “Yeah, I don’t feel like being Greenshade leech food.” The pair kissed, finishing their preparations for the day before entering the main room of the Retching Netch.

Inigo peaked up when he saw them coming to his table. He offered a cheeky grin. “I was beginning to think you would stay in bed all day.” He looked particularly impish. “Rough night?”

Faendal shot Gaeolin a knowing look, “By your standards, maybe.”

Gaeolin wasted no time in starting his drink. If he were going to be embarrassed, he wanted to forget about it by tomorrow. “Has there been any news from Auroth?”

“Not so far,” Inigo took the hint, “From what the guards have said, the last anyone saw of him was as he left for the wizard’s tower. According to the Councilor, Neloth has not been known as one to entertain guests for very long. I think we should go and check to see if Auroth is okay.”

“You think we should be worried?”

“Not really, but the fact that he hasn’t sent word back on his findings could be reason enough to assume they need help. It was really a bad idea to send him alone anyway.” He scowled. “Mages are notorious for getting caught up in their work, I would bet three sweet rolls they are too busy getting off topic to have found anything useful.”

Gaeolin shook his head, trying not to laugh out loud at what was probably a very serious theory on the part of his companion. “You’re right. In any case, if they do have a lead, we can better get to the bottom of things with all of us together.” Faendal stood, starting for the door. “Cá bhfuil tú ag dul?” (Where are you going?)

“Is gá dom bogha. ” (I need a bow.)

Gaeolin stood, making his way to Faendal in no more than eight steps. “Fan…” (Wait.) Faendal sent puzzled gaze. “Ní féidir leat teacht linn. ” (You can’t come with us.)

His partner looked hurt. “How can you say that, after all that we’ve been through in the past month?”

Gaeolin took him into an embrace, “How can I not? I almost lost once once, and I hadn’t gotten the chance to show you how much you meant to me. The possibility of losing you again… is too much.”

“But I want to help you!” He pulled himself free, “I’ve seen the sort of people you’ re up against. And I know that they are nothing compared to what is still ahead of you. Can you look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t be stronger if I joined you?”

“I won’t even try to lie like that. I know you would make our party stronger.”

“Then let me support you.” They didn’t speak for a while. “An cuimhin leat nuair a d’inis tú dom faoi? (Do you remember when you told me about it?) Woodhearth?” Gaeolin nodded that he did. “The look on your face when you shared that with me… I don’t want you to feel that hopeless again. If I ‘m not with you, I can’t help you. Please don’t tell me I can’t give you everything.”

Gaeolin sighed, resting his forehead on Faendal’s. “Fine. I couldn’t make you leave if I tried.” Faendal nodded his thanks, heading off to the blacksmith to check about a weapon.

“I wish you two wouldn’t talk like that in front of me, ” Inigo pouted, “how will I know if I should be offended when you make a joke about me?”

“You know we wouldn’t do that.”

Inigo shrugged. “Fair enough. I still wish I could understand Bosmeri. It sounds like a fascinating language.” He made a face. “Though a little guttural at times.”

“Our people used to be cannibals. Try to cut us some slack in the linguistic department.”

Inigo chuckled to himself. “I know, My ancestors lived next door. Come, My friend. We should see what supplies we can gather for our journey. I’d like to see if we can find a grocer that doesn’t have ash yams.”

The sun was high above them as they left Raven Pock. As if it was aware of the travelers, the ash rose up in mighty swirls of choking dust. All had to cover their faces to breathe. 

Gaeolin led the way, a rope leading back from his waist to connect to Faendal, and from him trailing back to loop around Inigo. None of them could see very far ahead. The tethers gave them some small means of staying together. Gaeolin tripped over a stone that was buried in the ash. He landed in the dirt, his arm scraping a bit of dead wood that stuck up from the soil. “Damn!” He glanced at the wound, blood trickling down his arm. Faendal and Inigo joined him, kneeling to check on him.

“Are you okay, my friend?” Inigo had to scream against the wind to make himself heard.

“We should try to find some shelter. It’s too dangerous to travel like this.”

“There isn’t anything for quite some time.” He replied, “The nearest place I can remember is the old Imperial fort, but the Guard Captain said it’s been abandoned for centuries. Hardly a welcoming place…”

“Less so than choking in the ash wastes?”” Faendal quipped. “The fort sounds like our best option to rest. If we push on like this, we could lose our way. “

There was truth in their advice, He looked around, squinting to see if he could make out any landmarks. Nothing stood out to him. There were the trunks of the dead trees, but that seemed to be a staple for the southern side of the island. There was a strange rock formation to his left, but was that the one he had passed on his way to Miraak’s temple, or a different formation altogether? “Let’s head a little to the north. With the wind traveling south, at the least, we might find our way out of the storm.”

Gaeolin remembered a similar storm having troubled him that first day they had went their separate ways. If Auroth had gotten caught in it, maybe he had gotten lost in the wastes. He pushed the thought from his mind, trying to remind himself that Auroth had proven himself to be more than capable of taking care of himself. Maybe so… But that kind of cockiness could get anyone into trouble.