The Elder Scrolls: AKAVIR - Chapter VIII

CHAPTER VIII

"...And he says to the man, "That's not a horker! That's my wife!" Ha ha ha ha ha... Ah... I love that one..."

"...And with a mighty roar, the dragon dove towards the ground, throwing the troll off, and the beast plummeted from the sky!"

"...We're the Children of Skyrim
And we fight all our lives,
And when Sovngarde beckons,
Every one of us dies!"

At sunset, the crew was celebrating its successful arrival to the mysterious continent.  With everyone circled around a roaring fire, they reveled in their accomplishment.  Farkas and Vilkas told stories of glorious battle and daring adventure, Cicero danced and told jokes, and all sang songs of victory in their grand achievement.

"Shor's beard, Aravis!" Vilkas exclaimed as the Dark Elf took one last swig from a bottle of mead.  "You drink like a true Nord!"
"Actually, I'll have you know that I drink like a Daedra!" Aravis proudly corrected, remembering her rollicking time with the Daedric Prince Sanguine.  Her friends broke out in hearty laughter.

As the scene settled down, Aravis noticed Lydia standing by herself at the top of the nearby watchtower.   She excused herself from the circle around the fire and made her way upstairs towards her friend.

Aravis came up to stand beside Lydia who was lost in thought as she mournfully gazed westward towards the vast ocean.

"You're missing all the fun," Aravis said.
"What?  Oh, yeah," Lydia pulled her head from the clouds as she noticed Aravis next to her.  "I'm sorry.  I haven't really been myself lately."
"What's the matter?" a concerned Aravis asked.
"I'm just feeling homesick," Lydia replied with a deep sigh.  "And afraid."
"Afraid?" inquired Aravis, gently taking her friend's hands.  "What for?"
"You know as well as I do that every true Nord's wish is to die in their homeland," answered Lydia.  "We're all just so far from home.  And this is such a strange land.  As ashamed as I am to say it, I'm scared, Aravis. I'm scared."
"There is no shame in that fear," comforted Aravis.  "You know as well as I do that I will never be able to die in my homeland.  The time when I lived in Morrowind was such a short span of my life.  'Home is where the heart is', after all...and my heart is with you, Lydia, my true friend.  I love you."

With those last three words, Lydia was struck with shock, confusion, and great joy along with a light feeling in her stomach, all of which coalesced into the realization that she too felt the same towards Aravis.

"I love you too," Lydia replied in utmost honesty.  "Aravis, my true friend."

They embraced.  In almost perfect synchronization, they slightly parted their lips and kissed softly yet passionately.  For a brief moment that seemed like an eternity to them, they became one, intertwined in each other's consciousnesses, forever swearing to protect each other even beyond their dying days.

Their lips parted, ending the kiss.  They smiled at each other with deep understanding.

"I was mistaken," Lydia said.  "I have no need for fear, when what I have is you."