Chapter 5: Dèjá vu
"Sigrid! We have company!" Alvor yelled, entering the house.
A sweet voice came from the cellar, "Just a minute, honey."
We stood around the table, and soon, the third most beautiful woman I had ever seen showed up. Her curves were visible with the help of the tight red apron she wore on top of the long-sleeved beige tunic.
The red hair let free added to her charm, and rosy red lips and her oval face made me skip a heartbeat.
As my eyes laid on her, I knew I wanted to have her; the instinct I found familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Our eyes locked for a moment, and as if time had stopped, we stared at each other for a while.
I wanted to rip those clothes off of her and have her right here and at this moment, and as if she saw the hunger in my eyes, she looked away and walked past me.
I followed her with my gaze, my eyes tracing the curve of her back, the way her hips swayed, the way her fingers gripped the edge of her apron as if trying to steady herself. What the hell am I thinking? I clenched my fists and exhaled sharply, forcing myself to focus.
"Hadvar! We've been so worried about you!" Sigrid said to Hadvar, "Come on, you five must be hungry." She glanced at all of us, her eyes lingering on me for a moment longer.
Elenwen opened her mouth to protest, not wanting to eat anything from the human. "I respectfully decline your offer—" I interjected, placing my hand on her back.
"Oh no, don't take her words seriously, she just doesn't have a taste for Skyrim's food," I said with a smile, my eyes stuck on Sigrid.
I pushed Elenwen down on a chair, and she unwillingly sat down. I leaned into her ear, "Help me a little," I whispered into her ear. Elenwen's eyes squinted before a smirk appeared on her face. 'You're a strange one, Darius,' she mused. 'Fine, I guess I could do that,' her curiosity about how I could be controlled had peaked.
"I apologize," Elenwen said to Sigrid, "But Darius here might know a thing or two about Altmer drinks. Could you allow him access to your cellar?" Elenwen said, giving me a sheepish smile.
Sigrid paused for a second, hesitant, but pulled through seeing everyone's attention was on her, "F-Follow me," She said turning her rack to me, and began to walk down the stairs.
'What the hell is going on?' Sonia thought, sitting across from the table, eyeing the two of us, 'The lie is going too far.' Hadvar and Sonia shook their head while Lokir was waiting for the food to arrive.
Downstairs:
The cellar was dimly lit, the air cool with the scent of dried herbs and aged wood. Sigrid and I stood behind a counter, the space feeling much smaller that it was. She kept a few steps away from me, though I could see the flicker of curiosity and wariness in her gaze.
I pulled off my helmet, shaking my hair loose. She stared at my face with a slight blush on her face. I put the helmet on the edge of the counter.
"I didn't get your name," Sigrid asked.
"Darius,"
***
I was making a drink I had dubbed Auriel's kiss, having found all the ingredients needed in the cellar.
Taking the lightly chilled Alto wine, I poured it into a cup and mixed in a spoon of honey, watching the golden liquid swirl before adding a bit of lavender. I muddled the Snowberries into the mixture, the scent thick and rich in the air between us.
"So," Sigrid started, her voice melodic and soft, "Where did you meet Hadvar?" She asked.
"In Helgen," I replied, my focus shifting between the drink and the growing tension.
"Do you work with him?" She asked, eyeing my Imperial armor.
"No, I was about to be executed, but then I was found innocent." I told her and stopped stirring the drink, which needed a bit of rest, and turned to her fully.
She opened her mouth to say something, but I interrupted, "Do you have the Frost Mirriam?" I asked her.
She nodded quickly, putting our conversation aside. She walked deeper into the cellar, to a high shelf, and above her were the Frost Mirriam branches hanging from the side to dry.
She reached up, stretching her arm, her body lengthening as she tried to grasp the herb. My eyes traced the smooth lines of her exposed neck, the way the fabric of her dress tightened against her figure. She tried again, rising onto her toes, but she was just shy of reaching it.
I stepped forward, pressing close behind her, the heat of my body colliding with hers. "Let me," I said, my voice closer to her ear than I intended
She stilled for a fraction of a second. "S- Sure," she stuttered and tried to step aside, but I stepped closer, effortlessly plucking the Frost Mirriam, our bodies pressed together. I had become her prison.
Her breath quickened. "I-I can't do this," she said, her voice soft and heaving. "I-I'm spoken for," she muttered.
"I can," I whispered into her ear.
I placed my hand on her shoulder, and she shuddered at the touch and squirmed, trying to free herself from my grasp. "Darius—this isn't right."
I leaned into her neck, placed the herb on the shelf space, crushed a bit of it in my hand, and brushed my laced fingers on her nape, inhaling the smell of the herb mixed in with hers. "Step back," she insisted, twisting and turning.
She managed to slip free, spinning to face me, eyes flashing with defiance even as uncertainty wavered beneath the surface
Before she could run upstairs or call for Alvor, I seized her wrist and pressed her against the wall. "Please," she pleaded, breathless, but I silenced her the only way I could—I crushed my lips against hers.
She resisted at first, her hands pushing weakly against my chest. But then, for a second, something shifted. Her lips, soft and warm, moved against mine, her hesitation melting just enough for the moment to consume us.
Then—
"Mama?"
The small, uncertain voice cut through the quiet cellar like a blade.
***
Dorthe ran downstairs after calling for her mother. She saw me standing behind the counter, stirring the drink. "Hey there, sweetheart," I said in a low voice with a smile.
"H-hi," She said, her eyes wary like her mother's, who stood still, facing the shelf, too embarrassed to look at her daughter.
Dorthe's eyes landed on her back, and she ran to her, hugging her from behind. Sigrid's muscles tensed at the feeling, Deja vu.
"Mama, Papa is calling for you," Dorthe said.
Sigrid slowly turned around and opened her mouth to say something. "The drinks are ready, " I interjected.
***
Upstairs:
I was leaning against the wooden railing next to the cellar's stairs as there were only six chairs. Sigrid stood across from me, behind Alvor, in her husband's protection. Elenwen's eyes flickered between me and Sigrid, a little disappointed.
Elenwen stared at the little child, Dorthe, sitting opposite to her, This little shit she sighed, Well, this is enough information
Hadvar sat next to Alvor, while Sonia and Lokir sat in front of me, their backs facing me.
Sigrid's attention was set on me as was mine on her, but her ears picked up something horrid, and she looked down at Hadvar's back.
"Mara's mercy! A dragon?" She said, surprise and fear visible on her face.
Alvor sighed, rubbing his face. Hadvar turned to Sigrid, "Aye. A dragon." His voice carried the weight of what he had seen. "It destroyed Helgen in minutes. No warning, no mercy."
Alvor ran a hand down his beard. "Divines…" He looked at his wife, then at Hadvar. "You're sure about this?"
Hadvar nodded grimly. "I wouldn't be here if I weren't."
Sigrid went to Dorthe's side, her motherly instincts taking over. "We have to warn someone! Jar Balgruuf—"
"We will," Hadvar assured her. "But Darius needs rest first."
I raised an eyebrow, hearing my name. "Rest?"
Alvor folded his arms. "Aye. You've been through the Nine Hells and back. Running to Whiterun today won't do anyone any good." He glanced at Hadvar, who nodded in agreement.
"Why do you guys think I will be doing this?" I asked.
.
.
.
***
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