Short story: Those blue eyes

MagnusBlackmane

So, as someone said there are not enough stories around here, here is something I wrote in about two hours. It's a short story - well more like a snippet - staring my ESO character. My standard dissclaimer: English is not my native language, expect mistakes, suggestion etc. are welcome. So here we go:

===== Those blue eyes... =====

He stared at the dancing flames swayed by the cold, northern wind. Now and then his more sensitive ears picked up the rustle of the dry forest floor caused by whatever night dwelling creatures lived in these woods.

His eyes darted toward one of his fellow companions on this journey. Mahirr was that khajiit’s name was currently busy with polishing his plate armor chest piece, which if he was not mistaken Mahirr had received as a reward for dealing with a pesky bear that prowled the woods around one of their last stops. In his eyes it was an unwieldy piece of junk, but the dull sandy furred warrior would wax poetics about it given the chance. By the moons he was looking forward to going his way when the caravan returned to Rawl’kha. Two months in, and he still sometimes wondered how Taahni had talked him into this madness.

He sighed, he know how she did that of course. When the white furred temptress sashayed into The Waxing Crescent, the gaze of every male khajiit followed her swaying tail and hips. With the bow and swords she made an immediate impression. He remembered laughing silently as his would be companion sent one after another drunk khajiiti running with their tails between their legs. After one of them got hit by a mean right hook and sent sprawling, everyone finally got the message. And everything would be fine and boring, if she hadn’t spotted him. It were probably the fine robes, not something a novice mage could afford to buy.

A sudden and loud rustle to his right sent him on alert, he began moulding magicka and stopped with an annoyed grunt. It was the nord, Fenral they hired as a guide… and to instill some fraction of trust with the locals.

“You’re kind of jumpy tonight my friend!” the blond haired man said as he passed by.

“Dracart has a lot of thoughts on his mind tonight, so-ufff...” he immediately regretted that as the human patted him on his shoulder or rather more like shoved him forward. Those damn northerners had no sense of their strength sometimes.

“Relax until you can,” Fenral said as he sat down by his bag and began to rummage through it. “Tomorrow we will cross into Cyrodill, there will be no time for rest there. Oh wait, it’s your turn for guard duty ain’t it?”

His nose twitched, after almost a month he still wasn’t certain if the nord was trying to be insulting or did that one really had no idea what he was doing…

“This one will be going then. Mahirr, this one will wake you up in four hours,” as an answer he got a grunt of acknowledgment. Dracart closed his eyes in frustration, took a deep breath and stood up. As he walked to the edge of light he took a quick glance at the two other campfires.

Khajiiti caravans were now a rarity, especially ones going as far as Windhelm. They had two wagons now loaded with nord made goods. With the Moons aid they would make it back.

With two quick steps he plunged into the dark woods.

By the time he reached a good spot to spend his watch, his green eyes grew accustomed to the night. A quick look around revealed a fallen tree, that he promptly used as a seat. He leaned his staff against his left shoulder, freeing his hands.

After some time, maybe an hour, something caught his attention. The subtle smell hit him first, a long while before he spotted her.

“Taahni, is that you?”

He got no answer but he did spot her white, striped fur as the female khajiit made her way towards him in silence. To be honest, he was looking forward to not being tied to a caravan yes, but he would miss one khajiit…

She sat down close to him, a bit closer than was the norm. This close Dracart could see she was frowning.

“What’s the matter Taahni?”

“You probably heard what this one found on her scouting trip today. War camps, not a day from here,” her voice was surprisingly soft for an experienced mercenary. “We will have to swift on our paws.”

“Ah, you think our wagons will draw unwanted attention?”, a nod.

“Going through Cyrodill… Dark moons! Ra’Tesh is crazy… As a caravan leader that one should know better.”

“You discussed that with him?”

“He would hear non of it. We’re late as it is.”

Dracart sighed, that much was true. They were all contracted for two months and that date passed yesterday. If it weren’t for the best to stick together and for Ra’Tesh promises of extra pay they would all be going in their separate ways by now. Now he was wondering if it was worth it. He glanced at his silent companion… well allright, partially worth it... If only he had the courage to act.

He took a breath, as he mentally slapped himself. Slowly he put his left hand on her shoulder in a reassuring manner.

“The moons will light our path, as they did until now.”

Those perfect blue eyes turned to look at him. By the moons he was going to make such a fool of himself… He began leaning forward, while they gazes remained locked.

So how Taahni managed to talk him into going with the caravan? She just sat down at his table, put her weapons on its side and asked for the pipe he was smoking with a mug of ale in her hand. After a quick talk it turned out they missed someone well versed in enchanting, capable of appraising magical items. He could do that and he had said as much, one thing lead to another and one slightly drunk and smitten conversation later here he was.

During the two months they became friends.

And now Dracart’s eyes widened when Taahni asaulted his lips when it became clear what he was trying to do.

“Taahni…” he finally breathed out, he was going to say more but she silenced him with a finger across his lips.

“If we are attacked while crossing Cyrodill, we should stick together. Damn Ra’Tesh and the rest. This one would prefer we live, no matter the cost,” the glint in her eye told him enough. She would do what she just announced in that heated whisper, with him or without.

“Agreed,” he hesitated only for a heartbeat.

After a while, as the two of them laid together - bodies touching - in wonderful afterglow, with their clothes tossed aside. Dracart couldn't quite get himself rid of the feeling that a part of him died with that agreement he made with Taahni. He gazed at the pure black, long hair splayed against his chest and those piercing blue eyes.

He smirked despite himself… what a dangerous female he had found...