The Nord and the Four-Eared Khajiit, About 20 years after Martin's death, as crimes are spreading, a No Options

[haute ecole rider]

I read your post this morning but didn't have time to comment until now.

You have done a wonderful job yet again developing your characters and bringing them to life for us. The confrontation in the tavern is very realistic in the attitudes of many people toward strangers that don't fit their concept of "us". And the tale the Nord told Mara (and us, the readers) finally explains his scars, and that is a wonderful reveal of his character.

I truly enjoyed this chapter.

[mALX]

You have a tremendous ability to bring out the emotions in the reader with your story - Awesome Write!

Thanks so much mALX. I'm glad I'm not the only touched by my writing... Sometimes I'll have to stop writing sad parts in my fanfics because it saddens me so much, but I never know if it's just because I'm attatched to the characters or if it really is good emotion.

I'm attached to your characters too, I don't think it's possible to read this and not become attached, especially to Four Ears !!!

[Remko]

I agree with the ladies. Wonderful characterisation I can really see the nearly feral Khajiit in Mara.

[sford564]

Okay, this chapter is more fluff than anything else, but I wanted to show more of them together. The idea was actually inspired by a picture I saw a long time ago of an actor who was strong enough to let the actress he had just starred with sit on and stand on his arm... I always thought that was cool...

haute ecole rider: Thanks. I’m glad you liked the part explaining his scars. I figured I had to explain those, but I wanted him to be able to tell the story. It would be easier for him to talk about something so traumatic to Mara, because she also went through episodes of hardships and torture in her life. Also, I thought that if he actually did tell her, it would be something that would help her understand and like him more.
Remko, thanks. I fear poor Mara is always going to have her feral Khajiit moments.
mALX, hehe, I’m glad you like Four Ears. She’s the most unusual character I’ve ever written..but my favorite.


Chapter 15: Playing in the Snow

Falkreath was a cold and barren looking place. To the Nord, this hard land and way of life seemed just fine – he was used to hardships and he loved the solitude. Also, it was in his blood to be immune to such low temperatures. His thick skin and many furs kept him warm and happy, but the poor thin-skinned, petite Bosmer-Khajiit couldn’t stand the cold.

She wore her two dresses over her pants and shirt, and then wore her cloak, his cloak, and an extra shirt of his, but she still shivered uncontrollably.

“Mara cold,” she cried.

“It’s Skyrim.”

“It’s cold.”

“No, it’s Skyrim.”

“Skyrim cold. Mara hate Skyrim. Sun hate Skyrim. Run from Skyrim.”

The Nord just laughed.

“Mara cold!” she cried again.

“Then maybe you should walk – it will make you warm.”

“Mara no want to walk,” she whined. “Mara get colder. Get snow in feet. Freeze legs. Then Mara freeze – die in cold.”

The Nord sighed. “Hold on for a second,” he told her. He climbed onto the horse beside her and, wrapping her up in his arms, told her, “Here this will keep you warmer.”

They rode on like that for the next few days and nights. Mara slept in the Nord’s arms whenever she was tired, and, even if she wasn’t sleeping, she usual was in his arms to keep her little body warm. She hated all the snow, so when she wasn’t riding on the horse or sleeping in his arms, she would climb onto his back so that he could carry her through it.

It soon became a great source of entertainment for her during the long cold days to bother him. She’d pull and tug on his hair until he became mightily annoyed. She’d blow on his ears and even occasionally lick them just to make him holler at her. She’d laugh so hard that she’d nearly fall off him. Every time she became too restless, he’d drop her into the snow and then stop her from getting onto the horse. She’d jump and cringe and whine so much that she’d soon promise not to bother him again as long as he got her out of the horrible snow. He did, of course, but it would be no more than thirty minutes later that she started more trouble.


One time when he had knocked her into the snow, she jumped up immediately and grabbed onto his arm, lifting herself off the ground. He threw his arm to side hoping to knock her off, but she not only managed to stay on, but also to climb up onto it.

He would have tossed her into the snow again, if she had not declared with excitement that he was able to hold her up with his arm.

“Of course,” he told her. “You’re really small, but I’m afraid –”

“No!” she cried. “Mara see how long Nord keep on arm.” She giggled a little and bounced up and down to see if his arm would give out under her weight. It did not. He walked along, his arm extended and the little Four-eared Khajiit sitting on it, laughing.

“Mara see if can kneel on arm. No drop Mara,” she told him. Leaning her body against his neck for support, she carefully knelt down on his arm. Giggling with glee, she bounced up and down on his outstretched arm.

“Mara stand!” she told him. Once again using the Nord, who sighed profusely but smiled secretly, to keep herself balanced, she stood on his arm. If she was not a very agile, careful creature, she would have fallen as he trudged through the thick snow. But she was very careful and was soon standing on his outstretched arm.

“Haha! Mara fly! Mara fly!” she cried, waving her arms about. She was so excited that she lost balance and fell. Squealing, she quickly jumped up and climbed onto the Nord’s back.

“Nasty snow! Go in Mara’s shirt.”

“Well then maybe Mara shouldn’t play around.”

“Nord really strong. Hold Mara on one arm. Nord hold Mara on hand?”

“Probably, but you’d have to stay really still.”

“Mara stay still if Nord lift up in one hand.”

“Okay then, get off.”

“What?! No!”

“Get off,” he instructed pushing her off with his shoulders.

Turning around toward her, he put his hand in front of her to let her know she couldn’t climb on him. Squatting in the snow, he had her stand on his knees. “Feet together,” He instructed. “That’s right. On this leg. Okay, now stand on my hand. I’m going to lift you – stay completely still.”

Her two little feet stood perfectly still on his open palm and he slowly lifted his hand off his knees and out to the side.

“Oh! Oh!” Mara cried with delight.

“Careful. Stay still.” He slowly rose from his knees.

Mara was completely delighted. Realizing that she wasn’t going to be able to stay still as she was too excited, she jumped off his hand and quickly climbed onto him, clinging to his neck as she kissed his face all over.

“Nord strong!” she declared. “And handsome. Handsome and strong.”

The Nord pushed away from her. “Don’t lie,” he instructed. “And get off.”

Mara just shook her head and continued to kiss him. The Nord lifted her off him and put her back on the horse. “We need to keep going,” he told her.

“Why?”

“Your mother is waiting for you.”

This put Mara in a more serious mood, but she still looked over longingly at the Nord – who tried to avoid her gaze – and later had him carry her on his outstretched arm, much to her delight.

This post has been edited by sford564: Oct 8 2010, 08:08 PM

[mALX]

One of my fave chapters, the playfulness of Four Ears in spite of all she's been through - And in spite of his gruffness, Nord was tickled by her enjoyment! - I love this chapter!

This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 8 2010, 08:13 PM

[sford564]

Chapter 16: Igor’s Inn


The Nord didn’t bother trying to hide his head from the people of Falkreath. Even if he wanted to, Mara had his cloak, so he could not.

The people of Falkreath were built very much like the Nord, though their hair was fair and their eyes were bright. No one seemed to notice or care that the Nord was there, and when they saw the Four-eared Khajiit with him, they only scoffed and shook their head knowingly.

“Why people no scared of Mara?” she asked.

“Because they’ve already accepted me. If they can get over the shock of something like my face, four ears is no big deal. Anyway, Igor probably already told everyone I was trying to find you.”

“They know Mara because of four ears?”

“Yes.”

The couple rode on to a little inn in the middle of Falkreath named, “Igor’s Inn.” It was around midday, so a lot of the townsfolk were in the inn. Most people were eating, but some were gambling in a corner, while another was singing boisterously, receiving many cheers. One man was dancing to the song, his legs flying high in the air in some sort of dance that Mara had never seen before.

No one seemed to even notice them at first, and Mara gazed in wonder at the sights, sounds and smells in front of her. “The Nords drink a lot,” the Nord whispered to her. “They love the cold, so will laugh if you say you hate it. Don’t mind them. They love to fight and don’t mean any harm by their loud noise and heavy drink.”

The Four-eared Khajiit nodded but continued to gaze at the thick men and women in front of her. They were all so tall and fair and thick. She felt so small and weak among them.

Clinging onto the Nord’s hand, she whispered, “What Nord do here?”

As if to answer her question, a man from behind the counter called out to them, “Svein! Svein Leifegil!”

Mara was momentarily confused, for she had completely forgotten what the Nord’s real name was. The man behind the counter, Igor, waved for them to come closer, so they did. Sitting on a counter stool and signaling Mara with his eyes to do the same, the Nord asked, “How is Jo Dar? When have you last seen her?”

“A simple ‘hello’ would be better!” Igor reprimanded. “And this is her?! You’ve found Jo Dar’s daughter? Well take your hood off, girl! Let me see your face.”

Looking up at the Nord to see if it was all right, Mara slipped her cloak off. Igor surveyed her up and down, and finally told the Nord, “She’s a little thing, isn’t she? Much smaller than her mother. What’s your name, child?”

“Mara.”

“Mara! Excellent. You’re just in time Mara. Your poor dear mother is still alive. Why, I just got back this very afternoon from seeing her, so you’re just in time. You two are leaving tonight, right? Or are you staying overnight?”

“We’re leaving,” the Nord told him. “How is she? Is she…in much pain?”

“Complete agony. The gods are keeping her alive till she sees her girl. There’s no way anyone else could live in so much pain. Especially as she’s a Khajiit and doesn’t have the strength of we Nords.”

As Igor spoke, he noticed that he was being observed: the Four-eared Khajiit tilted her head back and forth to examine him.

“Well?” He asked her at length, a twinkle in his eyes, “Am I handsome?”

“No.”

“Mara!”

Igor burst into laughter as Mara looked up at the Nord questioningly.

“What?” she asked him.

“That wasn’t very nice.”

“Nord tell Mara tell truth.”

“Ohhh-ho-ho,” Igor mockingly scolded. “Soooo, who does Mara find handsome? There’s some lucky Khajiit, right?”

Mara shivered at the thought. “Mara no like Khajiit.” Biting her lip, she asked, “Can Mara talk to other Nord without beating? Other Nord no make fun of Four Ears?”

“Your four ears?” Igor asked. “Why would I make fun of them? They’re kinda cute. I’ve never seen a woman with four ears before,” he winked at her flirtatiously. “So, there’s no Khajiit for you, eh?”

“Mara hate Khajiit.”

Igor gasped in exaggerated shock. “Argonian?”

“Scary.”

“Orc?” Mara cringed, so, laughing, he asked, “How about a Breton?”

“Breton handsome.”

“Do you have a husband or are you still single?”

“Mara no have husband. But soon.”

“Oh?”

“Mara marry Nord.”

The Nord blushed and cringed visibly, but Igor didn’t even notice. “Oh? What lucky Nord would that be? You’re not talking about old Igor are you?”

“What Igor?”

“I’m Igor!”

“Oh… No, Mara marry Nord.”

“I am a Nord.”

“No, Mara marry Nord.”

“Oh! Oh, you mean Svein.”

“Svein? Svein ugly. Mara like ‘Nord’.”

Glancing disapprovingly at the Nord, Igor told him, “I thought ‘Nord’ was supposed to find the pretty little Khajiit for her mother…”

Blushing greatly, the Nord told him, “The ‘Nord’ did find her for her mother. He has not and will not touch Mara.”

Igor looked him over suspiciously for a little while before continuing to flirt with Mara. Mara didn’t even realize what he was doing, but was half fearful that he would turn around and attack her and half overjoyed that someone else was also treating her nicely.

The Nord and Mara were given some soup, bread and wine, and as Mara slowly ate and drank hers, talking and laughing all the while, the Nord looked on at her and his friend.

How dare Igor be mad at him if he and Mara fell in love along the way? How could he flirt with her in front of his very face when he thinks that they are a couple? Doesn’t he see that she doesn’t understand what he’s doing? Doesn’t he see how naive and innocent she is? Until just a few days ago, most men only laughed at her and made fun of her. How confused was she going to be now? She shouldn’t think that men flirting with her was normal because though Igor was a harmless, nice flirt, there were many men who were not. There were many men who thought that if a woman accepted their attentions, they could do anything they wanted with the woman. Would she let them, not knowing what they were doing?

The Nord’s brow creased and the spoon in his hand began to take a different form as he continued thinking.

Igor, meanwhile, was laughing at the fact that Mara didn’t like snow.

“Mara get buried. Up to here,” she continued talking, as she showed him how high the snow came up to her. “Nord have to carry.”

“Svein carries you?”

“On back, so Mara no get cold. And on arm. Nord very strong. Mara can stand in hands.”

“I see…” Igor said, his voice laced with concern. “Does he carry you around a lot?”

“Only when Mara no walk in snow. Small snow is good. And then, Nord carry Mara while sleep. Must walk Nord says. Get to cold place soon. Walk all day and night to see mother Two Ears.”

“Ah…” Igor seemed a little relieved.

“No stay in villages either. Keep walking. But Nord buy Mara nice stuff in village.”

“Like?”

“Food. Mara love food.”

“How can you? You’re as skinny as a deer carcass the wolves have got at. You’re nothing but bones.”

Mara took this as a scolding, and muttered, “Sorry.”

“Don’t be! It’s not your fault. Doesn’t Svein feed you anything?”

“Nord feed Mara all time. Won’t eat unless Mara eat.”

“So what do you like to eat the most?”

“Fruits. Fruits sweet.”

“So you like sweet stuff, eh? Have you ever had any of Igor’s special pie?”

“Pie? What pie?”

“What’s pie? Oh-ho, Mara, where have you been living all your life?”

“Cage.”

“What?” he asked, caught off guard.

“She was kept by slavers,” the Nord told him quietly. “They called her ‘Four Ears’, and kept her in a cage as part of their traveling show.”

“Oh… Oh….” Igor muttered silently. Glancing up at the Nord he mouthed, “Must tell me later…” Then he smiled at Mara as if she had said nothing amiss and told her, “You, young miss, are going to get a rare treat indeed.”

He took away her empty plate and bowl and brought her a slice of pie. The Nord slipped a fork to her so that she knew how to eat it, and she was soon singing a chorus of “Ohhh,” “Ahhh” and “Mmmm”s. Igor gave her a couple other pieces, as she liked the first so much. It delighted him to see how much his food was appreciated.

After that Mara couldn’t help noticing a vase that he had bought from the Imperial City. As she took such a fancy to it, Igor told her to take it. Mara was jumping up and down for joy – literally.

The Nord, by this time fuming, though for what reason he did not quite know, asked Igor if he had a room for them. As Igor did, the Nord sent Mara up to sleep for an hour or two before they set off again.

While she slept the Nord told Igor of his travels, where Mara came from, the abuse she endured, and how he rescued her.

[mALX]

Nord jealous of Igor, ROFL !!!! I love how natural Four Ears is with Igor...and Nord feeling the first pangs of jealousy !!! Awesome chapter !!

[Rachel the Breton]

Good stuff! I admit, I too cheated on fanfiction.net ... but I will keep reading here. This is a good story. I love the characters...the Khajiit is a great balance of frightened feline and human, feral and yet tame creature...

Good writing!!

[sford564]

Chapter 17: Jo Dar

They set out again after an hour or two. Mara, still tired, didn’t even wake when the Nord came into her room, lifted her off her bed and took her from the noisy inn to the stables. She shivered a little in her sleep, so he wrapped her up tighter in his arms and rode off toward Whiterun.

The temple at Whiterun was about the same size of Igor’s Inn, but so beautiful! There were statues, fine carvings, and golden objects everywhere, and the Nord had to remind Mara once more that she was not allowed to steal. Although this disappointed her a little, she agreed and obeyed. She did not obey, though, when he told her that she wasn’t supposed to run her fingers across every statue and banner that caught her eye.

The monks brought the two of them into a dimly lit room. There was a roaring fire in one corner, but there were no windows or candles, so it looked rather dark.

It took Mara’s eyes a couple seconds to adjust, and when they did, she saw the dying Khajiit lying on the hard-looking sick bed. Her breaths were deep, hoarse and painful, each one sounding as if it were the last, but one more continually coming after it.

Mara slowly walked up to the bed and examined the Khajiit. It was a real Khajiit, not a half-breed like she was.

“Who are you? You are Jo Dar? Jo Dar mother?” she whispered as she looked down at the dying creature.

The Khajiit slowly stirred, her breaths painfully hitching at abnormal rates, and her eyes twitching open. Through several gasps she asked, “Whose there?”

“Four Ears here.”

“Is it Mara?”

“Mara here. Mother want Mara here?” She knelt beside the bed, her ears flat against her head and her head bowed, as she waited for the sick Khajiit to answer her.

After several long, drawn out breaths, the Khajiit answered, “Mmm…Mar..Mara?”

Mara looked up. “Mother?” she asked.

“Mmmara…”

“Mother?” Mara repeated. “Nord said mother know Four Ears? Want Four Ears?”

“Mara, my baby…” the Khajiit sighed, slowly bringing her furry hand up to her daughter.

Mara wrapped the dying Khajiit’s hand in hers. “Mother know Mara? No hate Four Ears?”

“Mara…”

“Mother.”

“Mara, I can’t see. Let me touch your face. Let me…Let me touch your ears. Do you have… ffff…four ears?”

“Mara have four ears.”

“Let me…touch them.” Mara slowly brought Jo Dar’s hand up and gently rubbed it all over her face. “What soft skin you have,” the Khajiit told her. Then Mara brought her hand up to her first pair of ears, and over them to her second pair of ears.

“Mother love Four Ears? Even with four ears?”

Tears welled out of the old Khajiit’s dull eyes. “My baby. I’ve found you… After all these years. I looked for you... I needed you.”

“Mother need Mara?”

“I love you, my baby. I love you.”

A fresh stream of tears trickled off Mara’s face as she heard the dying woman’s words. “Mother no leave Mara. Mother stay. Mara want mother.”

Jo Dar’s breaths grew hoarser at these words, and she whispered, “I love you.” She drew her last breath.

Mara looked on at the dead woman in horror. She knew that when the deep, hoarse breaths stopped, the Khajiit was dead. Yet a part of her said Jo Dar might still be alive.

Mara shook her. “Mother, wake up. Mara here. Mother. No leave Mara. Mother? Mother? No go. No leave…”

She burst into tears and clung to the dead Khajiit.

It took the monks and the Nord a long time to get Mara off her mother’s body, but Mara cried and clung onto it, declaring that her mother loved her, and she wouldn’t leave her now that she found her.

The Nord held her tight, almost restraining, in his arms as she cried. The monks gave her a sleeping dose, and the Nord, being exhausted from the long trip, fell asleep in a room next to hers.

Jo Dar was buried in the crypts under the monastery, and the Nord and Mara spent the next week there resting.

[sford564]

Chapter 18: Life after Death

After learning of her past, the monks were very concerned for Mara, and, after a long discussion, they and the Nord decided it would be a good idea to take Mara away from her mother’s grave and the cold snow she hated so much, and bring her to the Imperial City. There she would meet new people and get to see and mingle in society.

If they went to the temple there, the priests and monks would be able to help her. They could teach her enough of the customs and language of their land so that she would not be thought of as a freak.

Hopefully, the Nord figured, he could get her interested in something there. The monks suggested that he bring her to the mage’s guild, and see how she does with magic. She might like it a lot and decide to study it.

He agreed. So they set off.


The Imperial City was big and grand, and Mara had never seen anything like it before. The Nord had to keep a good eye on her, as he was afraid that she’d get lost in the crowd or the temptation of stealing would be too much in a place with so much. He also had to keep an eye on her because one time he lost her as she jumped up onto a tree. Climbing after her, he was just in enough time to see her jump off onto a rooftop. Up she climbed, ignoring his yells, and up he followed, until they had gone to the City’s wall, and looking over the cliff beneath them, she held out her arms to be caught by the wind.

Huffing and puffing, the Nord climbed up beside her. The common sense implanted in him after years of experience told him to get down immediately, but the fear in him wondered how he was going to get back down.

Mara turned around at him, beaming happily.

“You’re in lots of trouble as soon as we get down,” he told her.

She giggled a little, and raising his hand up with hers, did a sort of victory roar. After several more roars and moments of awed silence and observation, Mara looked up at the White Gold Tower. “Mara go there,” she declared.

“That’s the White Gold Tower. It’s part of the castle. No one is allowed up there.”

Though Mara was incredibly disappointed, she did not argue with him. Instead, she just stood there, gazing in wonder.

“Mara, let’s go,” the Nord finally spoke.

“Mara stay all night?”

“Mara, let’s go now.”

Sighing deeply and lingering for several moments, she found a good way down. He followed afterwards, taking much longer and being much more careful.

[sford564]

Chapter 19: Trouble at the Temple

The priests at the new temple listened to the Nord’s story with great interest and agreed to help Mara the best that they could.


It was hard for Mara to be around all those people. She only really trusted the Nord and only liked him and Igor. Most of the priests had stern faces and looked at her almost if she were some sort of demon in their midst.

One time when she was climbing on the beautiful dragon statue in the midst of some broken pillars in a plot next to the temple, they yelled at her so sternly that she was afraid to come near them. The Nord found her on the city wall staring out into the sunset, crying her little yellow eyes out.

“You’re trying to kill me…” he muttered as he looked beneath him at the many rocks and the steep fall. “Why did you run away?”

“Mara afraid.”

“Mara we’ve already been there four days. They haven’t hurt you in anyway so far. Why would you be afraid?”

“Priest yell at Mara.”

“I told you he has a name. What was it again?”

“Claudius.”

“That’s right. Do you know why Father Claudius was so mad? That big statue you were on, do you know what it was?”

“Rock? Dragon rock?”

“Well it was in the shape of a dragon and it was made of rock, but, actually, it was originally a man: our last emperor, Martin. He saved the empire from Lord Dagon nearly twenty years ago.”

“Emperor is dragon?”

“Well, he wasn’t exactly a dragon. He just became one.”

“How?”

After explaining the story of the life and death of Emperor Martin, the Nord told her, “Do you remember how important it was for you not to steal?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I want you to put this on your list of important things not to do: don’t climb on things. People think you’re weird when you climb up every wall and statue you come across. Do you understand?”

“Mara not have any fun. Mara never have fun. If no climb then no fun.”

Smiling a little, the Nord told her, “Don’t worry, we’ll find some fun stuff to do.”

“We climb this wall?” Cringing a little, he agreed. “We climb this wall,” she confirmed. “Just Mara and Nord. Look at sky. Talk. No one else bother. Just Mara and Nord.”

But it was not to be just Mara and the Nord. For right away, the priests realized that Mara clung too much to the Nord. Every decision she made had to be confirmed with the Nord: when she ate, when she slept, etc. They had a hard time teaching her when she tried to confirm everything they said via the Nord. It couldn’t be the proper way to write or pronounce something unless he said it was. And she would need his constant approval and admiration for everything she did. If he wasn’t there and couldn’t confirm or admire what she did, she’d fret and fuss and want him around.

The Nord agreed that he slowly had to work himself out of her life in order for her to become an independent woman. First he would tell her to obey Father Claudius, and then he would disappear for a half hour to an hour. If she was good when he came back, he’d congratulate her and listen to all the stuff she was doing: learning to write, learning to cook, learning to clean, learning to draw, learning to sew, etc.

If she was not obeying as she should, he would scold her. This usually made her obey again, and, after cheering her up a bit, he’d leave again.

Thus a few hours turned into half a day and half a day turned into a full day. And a full day turned into a week and then a month, and then a year. In the time he saw her, she learned to read and write. She learned to talk properly: no longer was she ‘Mara’, but ‘I’. The names ‘Four Ears’ and ‘Master’ were forbidden to be used, thus she never said them.

[mALX]

Even on the second read I cried when her mother died. These next chapters Nord begins making huge mistakes (IMO) that I just wanted to kick him for. Never let a monk tell you how to conduct your life, they live in a cloister and know nothing that didn't come from a book!

[sford564]

@ Rachel. Ahhh, good, you had better.
Hmm... didn't even see that comment earlier...
@ mALIX Well, it seems to me that they were both right and wrong... They were right in that she was too dependent on him, yet they made him stay away too long.




Chapter 20: Life without the Each Other

At first Mara thought she would die if the Nord did not come back sooner than a week, but the priests kept her so busy that she got distracted enough to forget about him. Still, though, when he did come back she jumped onto him, clinging, kissing and hugging. After disappearing for a couple more weeks and then a month, though, she soon started to learn to expect and accept his comings and goings.

Her dependence on the Nord soon waned until when he disappeared for an entire year, she did not even remember when he was coming back. In all this time, she learned to stop relying on the Nord for approval and instead looked to the priests for it. She learned to read and write, and so eager was she for praise and approval, that she began to learn old scripts and languages. She mastered everything they gave her and when they taught her some magic, she strove to learn more and more of it.

Her desire took her to join the Mages Guild and then the Arcane University. At first, everywhere she went, her half-breed appearance and four ears made people stare and gawk, but soon she became such a familiar sight in the temple and Arcane University, and she knew and taught herself so much to impress the monks and her teachers, that she became well respected and liked by the elites and scholars of the city.

She had a small gathering following her. Because she was so much better at magic than most of the other mages, she had the smartest and most skilled of them as her personal friends. She also had a big gathering of other ‘misfits’ like herself who followed her. Then she had a gathering of city officials and higher-ups, scholars and thinkers, and priests and monks who appreciated her honesty, wit and education.

When the head of the Mages Guild died and appointed her in his stead, there was no great surprise at the choice. She had worked under him for two years, rising significantly in the group as soon as she entered.


Mara had been in the Imperial City for three years, and the Nord had only been with her for barely one year. He had the priests write to him often to find out what was happening in her life and if she needed him.

The priests would often laugh at how much concern he wrote with regarding her. In fact, his letters were the most entertaining things the men had. They highly anticipated his letters to hear what he had been fretting about now: Has Mara been brushing her teeth? Has she stopped climbing on the ceiling rafters yet? Does she still cry in her sleep? New friend? Don’t let her get too familiar with him. Explain to her that not all men have honorable intentions. I hope you are watching them. You should restrict her time out with him, etc.

There was also a hint of sadness in some of his letters. He’d occasionally confided that he missed her and thought of her often. He confided that he wished he could see her, though he knew that he had to stay away as they discussed. He also confided that her courage at going out into the world shamed him into doing the same, so he traveled across the empire, cloak down, defying all the stares and comments. Still, though, he found no peace; he remained ashamed; he was still a monster in everyone’s eyes.

[sford564]

Chapter 21: Returning to the Imperial City

When the Nord came back to the Imperial City, he found the old leader of the Mages Guild was dead and buried, and Mara was the new leader. They would have an official ceremony to welcome her that evening.

An elderly mage led the Nord to their leader’s chambers, where Mara and a group of fellow mages gathered around a table. Mara, the smallest of the group, sat at the table reading various scrolls and parchments, while the others stood behind her, either talking to each other or looking over her shoulder, whispering stuff to her. All were in black to show the sorrow for the old leader’s death.

“This man claims to be a ‘friend’ of yours, Mara,” the elderly mage introduced the Nord.

Mara and the others looked up, perplexed at the sight of the huge, cloaked man in front of them, covered entirely in furs. Then recognition shown in Mara’s eyes.

As her friends began whispering, with much distain, “Who is this?”, she jumped from her seat, over the table, and onto the Nord, knocking him onto the floor.

Laughing a little, the Nord pushed himself up. “Mara, you’re going to kill me,” he teased. Mara ignored this, but instead threw his cloak back. She paused for half a second when she saw the scarring: she had forgotten just how bad it was. She rubbed her hand across the deep grooves of flesh for several seconds, then brought her face against his in a passionate kiss. Her arms wrapped around his throat to bring him even closer to her, and, laughing, she kissed all over his face.

The Nord smiled deeply, trying to tell her how happy he was to see her, but unable to talk because of all her kisses. He wanted to tell her that he missed her. He wanted to tell her that he loved her. He wanted to tell her that being apart from her was one of the hardest and most miserable experiences he had to go through in life. He wanted to ask to be a part of her new life. But all of this seemed to fade from his mind as he looked up at the friends behind her.

When she had thrown the cloak off him, they gasped and drew back. But now, seeing their leader and friend kissing and hugging this monster in front of them, their looks of horror and fear turned to disgust and loathing. In some faces, even jealousy.

How could he expect to be part of her life when he scared and disgusted her friends and acquaintances? They had finally accepted her despite her appearance. They had accepted her because she was smart and brilliant. He wasn’t. He was well taught, but had little patience for books or learning. He preferred to be always active, hunting, training, or fighting. Perhaps what they were whispering about him was right. Maybe he was a barbarian. Maybe he didn’t belong with her.

Gently pushing her off him, he slowly rose. She rose also, not quite sure what had made him do that. “I’ve come to see that you are all right and to congratulate you. I will be leaving in a few more days, so I wanted to make sure that you were happy and didn’t need anything.”

His cold attitude made her realize that there were others watching, so, standing up a little straighter, with a friendly yet business-like voice, she answered, “I am fine, thank you. You came all this way to just leave again?”

“Yes. I think… I’m not sure yet.”

Her face softened a little. “Have you had anything to eat yet? Do you have a place to stay the night? We’re having a celebration tonight in my honor. You must come.”

Looking over at the other mages, the Nord began to protest, “I…I…”

“No, you will stay here tonight. I will have a bed and bath prepared for you, so that you may rest for now and join us at the celebration later. Then we must talk.” Turning from him to the older mage who brought him to her, she gave a few instructions and then they both left.

[haute ecole rider]

So now we see the paths of Mara and the Nord begin to diverge.

Will they come back together on the same path or forever travel alone? Only time (and patience on our parts) will tell!

[mALX]

You show the gamut of the lower end of true human spirit in the reactions of the mages to Nord. It is an ugly truth, and you captured it with clean precision.

[sford564]

Chapter 22: Troubled Sleep

The mage brought the Nord to a nice little room and gave him some wine and food. As he ate, a bath was prepared for him. As he bathed, a bed was made for him.

The Nord welcomed a chance to sleep and clear his head. Maybe when he woke up, he’d know what to do.

Sleep came very quickly, though it was not very relaxing. He kept seeing Mara in his dreams. First she was the Mages Guild leader, in her robes of state, tall and proud, and he knelt in front of her, offering her a little ring. Suddenly they were transported back in time to the traveler’s cage when he had first seen her. She stood in the little cage, looking down in horror at him, laughing and jeering people all around her.

“Marry me,” he again asked.

“No…no hurt poor Four Ears,” the noble Mage Leader begged, tears spilling from her eyes.

Again he asked her, this time more threateningly, as he walked outside her cage with a whip. Laughing and snickering came forward from the jeering audience.

“Why would she kiss something like that?” they asked. “He’s a monster,” another voice agreed. “Shhh... I think he’s waking up.” “Don’t worry, this will keep him asleep.”

The Nord felt a sharp bit of pain as more snickering and talking past through his mind, and suddenly he found himself at the altar in Hackdirt. The group of half-naked fanatics seemed to merge into well-dressed mages, and in front of him, towering over him with a boar tusk in her hand, was little Mara. She neither smiled nor frowned as she recited her ritual prayer.

He called out to her, begging her to stop, but she did not. She didn’t even hear his words. He tried to fight back, to run. He couldn’t. He couldn’t even move. She slowly brought the boar tusk down against his face, just under his eyes. He saw blood. He felt pain. He screamed and screamed, struggling to break free.

The mages stopped their work with great wonder as they saw their little leader run through their midst, an elderly mage following after her, calling out to her. The other mages followed the two. They ran to the barracks area, where they were met with a very odd sight: a huge, horrifically scarred Nord ran around the court yard, in a sleep trance with his eyes closed, screaming and crying with so much pain that it sounded as if his soul were being tortured in Oblivion. Two horrified young Mages stood back, afraid to go near him. They had obviously put whatever enchantment it was on him.

“What happened here?” their leader cried, her voice angry and panicked.

“I’m sorry,” was all that a young mage had for his defense.
“He’s a monster! Look at him!” was the other’s.

“What happened?” she again demanded. “What spell have you put him under?”

“It…it was just a joke. He was sleeping so we thought we’d scare him.”

“But we didn’t want him to get up and hurt us, so we…”

“We subdued him so he couldn’t move.”

“He broke through both of our spells, so we put him to sleep, but he’s breaking through that, too.”

“Help us!”

There was silence from the mages as Mara cast a spell on the Nord. His screaming and stumbling ceased as he lost momentary consciousness and lay on the ground.

Again Mara cast anther spell and this time the Nord opened his eyes. His breathing was heavy as he looked up at all the mages above him. Mara fell to her knees beside him, causing the Nord to instinctively cover his face.

Realizing that he was still panicked from whatever trance or spell they had put him in, she did not try to touch him.

The Nord, still covering his face, quickly slipped away from Mara and ran out of the courtyard, out of the mages’ complex and into the city.

He ran for such a long time that he didn’t even realize where he was going. He had made his way around the city several times before he paused by the city gate. But he didn’t want to leave just yet. Climbing from rooftop to rooftop until he found his and Mara’s old way of getting up onto the wall, he surveyed the sunset and scenery before him.

Reliving the horrors and pain of the Hackdirt ritual was too much for him, and he hid his face in his hands and cried bitter tears.

Yes it was just a dream, but it was worse when he thought that Mara – sweet little, scary Mara, half tamed and half feral Mara – would do something like that. When they first met, how many times had she threatened him? But she never took up her promise. And then before he had to leave her, how sweet had she been to him? How many times had she kissed him and told him that she loved him? How many times did she promise to marry him? Yet none of it was to be.

Fresh tears fell from his eyes. When he left for a month, she stayed up here on this very wall, every night until he came back. But then, when he left for a year, she did not spend one night waiting for him up there. She was willing to let him go. She was happy without him.
Wasn’t that what he had hoped for? Why did it cause him so much pain knowing that she was loved, respected and happy without him?

A selfish, evil side wanted to go back in time to when she was scared and socially inept, but his. What if he had, against everything he knew to be right, married her as she wanted? What if he had never taken her to the priests to be educated? She would be unhappy? Yes – no one but he would have loved her. They would have nowhere to go but Skyrim, which she hated. No matter how much joy it would be to have her, if she wasn’t happy, there was no point in anything else.

The Nord closed his eyes and let the salt water run through the many channels on his face, stinging his flesh.

[mALX]

You catch human emotion as well as you do feline - but I could just kick Nord for this chapter, he isn't thinking about who she is, just what he has endured. ARGH !!! Lol.

[sford564]

Chapter 23: The Mages’ Celebration

A mage informed Mara that the Nord was back at their compound, and that he was gathering up his supplies to head out.

Mara quickly left the party and went to his chambers, just as he had gathered the last of his belongings. “You are leaving?” she asked him, blocking the doorway with her little frame.

“Yes.”

“Just like that? You barely even said hello, and now you’re leaving? Where are you going? When will I see you again?”

“I’m going back up north to my home. I don’t think we’ll see each other again.”

Pain shot through her face. “…Why?”

“Because I don’t belong here.”

“Where? The Mages Guild? There are plenty of other houses and inns around town. You can rent a room and we can talk again, just like old times. We can catch up on everything. Why did you never write to me?”

“Why didn’t you write to me?”

Flustered a little, Mara explained, “I didn’t know where you were going; all the letters I sent were sent back because no one could find you. Anyway, with the way you just up and left, I didn’t think you wanted me to write.”

“You’re right – I didn’t want you to.”

“Why not?!”

“Because you were happy living the life you should have. And I don’t belong in it.”

“Why not? Because you don’t know magic? I can teach you.”

“Look at me!” he exclaimed. “Look at me! I’m a monster – a freak. That’s why your friends hurt me earlier. Because they didn’t want me here. Because they didn’t want me near you. Don’t you see? Just by being your friend I taint you. If we are seen together, people will start thinking of you again as a freak. It will be ‘Four Ears and the Nord monster’.”

Mara cringed when she heard the long forgotten name. “I… No, my friends wouldn’t betray me like that.”

“Wouldn’t they now? I was raised in the Blades fortresses. I lived with them, I laughed with them, I ate with them, I hunted with them, I slept with them, I did everything with them. I was a part of their family, and then this happened –” he pointed to his face, “and suddenly no one wanted to see me again. They wouldn’t even look at me, Mara. They wouldn’t even look at me. They sent me away.”

Mara was silent for several seconds. “I love you,” she finally whispered.

“You shouldn’t.”

“Why not?!”

“Because I am not good for you.”

“Then who is? Huh? Who is? Marry me, Svein. I don’t care what people think. I’m still a bit of a monster in many people’s eyes. I don’t care. We can be monsters together.”

“No…that’s…I…” He was silent for several seconds before he finally said, “I’m leaving tonight. I will stay for your party if you will let me – I would like to see you smile and dance as Head of the Mages Guild – as someone important as I knew you could be – but then I have to leave.”

“Yes. Yes, you may come to the party. I already invited you. But we’re missing it now.”

He dropped his bags and followed her to the main hall where everyone had gathered. There was a large commotion, with lots of dancing, drinking and eating going on. Some mages were too excited to wait to display their magic until after the dancing, when there would be a big display of everyone’s talent, so a sudden explosion of color and noise was emitted in the air every now or then. Sometimes the illusion of a large, frightful creature entered the dance floor, and with great excitement and laughter from the on lookers, it would dance with its creator until he or she was finished with it.

Mara sat down at the table opposite of the Nord. She saw behind her in her glass of wine all of the excitement going on. The mages split into two groups – one of all males and the other of all females – to participate in a dance competition. It was the girls turn now to dance, and what a dance they did, too! Shiny dresses and ribbons, illusion clones of themselves, giant clouds of colored smoke rising from the ground…it was a grand and beautiful sight.

But the Nord didn’t notice. Or at least he didn’t show that he noticed. He looked into space, as if were preoccupied with some distressing thought.

“You told me that I would never be able to climb to the top of the White Gold Tower,” she finally spoke, her soft voice even softer as she continued to stare at him. “I went to the High Chancellor and begged him to let me, and he did.”

The Nord looked up. His eyes narrowed as the colorful magic disappeared, leaving the room much darker now. His square jaw set in a petulant form and his forehead tightened with aggregation, he leaned forward on the table, pushing his weight onto his elbows. Mara swallowed deeply. He had bulked up since last year. She didn’t know why she hadn’t noticed it before, but he had added a few more inches to his shoulders and arms. She didn’t think that was possible.

Everything he did seemed intimidating, especially to a frail little Khajiit such as she. And the way he leaned over toward her and the face he gave her was very intimidating…and yet, she knew that he’d never hurt her. So what was this she was feeling?

“You didn’t really?” he asked, his deep voice laced with surprise and annoyance. “Mara…” He sighed heavily. “Mara, what did the High Chancellor say when you asked him that?”

For three years she lived in the Imperial City, so now she began to recognize accents, and his was a deep one. She ignored this thought for the time being, and answered, “He laughed. I told him how I would wait for you on the city wall, but the tower was much higher. I told him that I really wanted to see the world from way up there, so he let me. He’s at my party tonight if you want me to introduce you to him.”

“No! No!” the Nord quickly assured her. “I told you, I don’t want to embarrass you tonight.”

“Eat something,” she whispered.

“Huh?”

“Eat something. You need to eat something.”

The Nord frowned, but, at the sight and sudden recognition of all the smells around him, he nodded. He reached his massive arm across the table and stabbed into a fat piece of red meat.

He didn’t look up, but he could feel her eyes on him watching him intently. He didn’t like it. Was she mad at him? Did she want him to leave right now? He didn’t want to look up at her, in case there was hate or betrayal in her eyes. How could he face that? Was it not bad enough that his heart felt as if it were about to tear free from his chest? How then could he survive the pain of having someone he loved so much be angry at him? Worse – hate him.

He nervously tore at the steak in front of him, shoving all fat and gristle to one side to leave the perfect, juicy meat at the other.

He cut the piece of pure meat into fourths, shoving one of those fourths into his mouth, and then immediately downing half a glass of red wine.

If he were not so busy tearing at the food in front of him to him to vent his frustration and confusion, he would have seen that the look he was getting was not one of anger or betrayal, but of a weird mix of love, lust…and, something else. There was almost a hunter’s look in the Khajiit’s eyes. The pupils of her eyes slowly began to thin; her ears began to fall to the side of her head; her tail twitched anxiously; and her body tensed.

He didn’t see any of this as he put the wine glass down, a little steak juice and red wine dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Mara pounced onto him from across the table, knocking him off his chair and onto the ground. She pinned his shoulders to the floor and licked the bloody wine off the side of his lips.

A soft purr emitted from somewhere in her chest as she looked down at her prey.

“M…Mara! W,what are you doing? There’s people around…I…”

“Marry me.”

“What?!”

“Marry me. You promised that you’d marry me when I saw more of the world and understood it. Well I have. And I do. Now marry me,” she demanded as she pushed her body weight against his shoulders.

“But Mara…I…Mara, get off me now. You’re making a scene.”

“No one can see us.”

“Get off or I’ll push you off.”

“Marry me or I’ll make you.”

Slightly amused, he asked, “How?”

In response the four-eared mage, pinning him to the ground with more vigor, pressed her lips against his in sloppy, yet domineering kiss.

Gasping a little to catch his breath, and sighing heavily, he whispered, “Mara, don’t do this to me. I love you too much.”

“Then marry me.”

“Don’t you see, if I married you, people would think of us as freaks. Our children would come out as freaks.”

“No. We’d have beautiful, hairy children. Some with beautiful yellow eyes and beautiful yellow hair, and some with scary, thin, black eyes and thick black fur. Some might even have four ears like me.”

Mara kissed him again, and pulling on his shoulders for him to sit up, sat cross-legged in his long legs. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered, “Marry Mara? Poor, poor Mara.”

“I...But, I…” The Nord thought of one hundred and one reasons all at once, many of which he had already told her. He finally picked one: “We’d need to have a priest. There’s no priests here.”

“Yes there is. Father Claudius is here. So are most of the other Brothers.”

“And then…You don’t have any dress.”

“I don’t mind being married in my Mages Robes. It’s a sign of honor.”

“I don’t have a ring.”

“You can buy me one later.”

“But…”

“But?”

“I haven’t asked you to marry me yet.”

“So?”

“So come on…” Suddenly his voice was full of authority and determination.

He rose and helped her to her feet. He led her to the middle of the great hall, where everyone stopped dancing to part for them.

There was quiet whispering as the Nord fell to his knees before the Four-eared Khajiit, and taking his family ring of his hand, offered it to her.

His proposal was short and simple. It was the only way he knew how to do things. “I love you, Mara. I am unworthy of you, but I love you nonetheless. Be my wife?”

Giggling, Mara slipped the big ring on her thumb.

The giant Nord, scarred and haggard, knelt at the feet of the noble little Four-eared Khajiit, taking her tiny hand in his and kissing it front and back, as a group of colorful spectators watched on in amazement at the odd couple.

THE END

[haute ecole rider]

Aww!

I thought you rushed things a little in the middle when Mara was on her own in the Imperial City learning the mages' art. But the ending more than made up for it!

So love triumphs again. After watching a bunch of tragic romances where the couple never gets together to live happily ever after, it was good to have a positive ending!