[SKYRIM]: The Name of Time - Miraak & Female Dragonborn Fanfiction - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

She was withering. Her heart throbbed. Her body ached. Ammra was burnt out both mentally and physically. Her gaze fell at the purple crystal on her hand.
"If I were you, I would stay away from that thing," Miraak spoke. With a single wave from his hand, a spark of fire grew from the cold pile of wood from the previous night's campfire. The spark turned to flame, radiating warmth around them.
Upon exiting the enemies' headquarter, they went to the encampment that Ammra set before. She could not return to Breezehome directly due to her condition.
Ammra look at him who sat across the fire. She would have been dead if it weren't for him. "I'll study this thing. Perhaps, they can be of use, or I could find prevention should the same weapon is used against me."
He did not like the decision that actually harmed herself. "Fool."
She sighed then sadly grinned. "I got that a lot ever since I arrived in this strange place called Skyrim." Ammra craned her head to gaze at the starry sky. "Ironic isn't it? We just want to go home, but Daedric Princes got in our way, making things so difficult."
Miraak remained silent. Even if it was just a mere touch with her skin, he sensed the crystal slowly absorbing her Magica while she was oblivious of it. He was aching to snatch it away from her so when he saw a faint hint that she suffered Magica loss, without uttering a single word, he used his telekinesis magic to take away the crystal from her hand.
"I don't come here to see you torturing yourself, dovahkiin." He told her before she protested.
"You are right. You came this far to save me. Thanks, Miraak." When their eyes met, Ammra turned her head. "For someone who was banished, I really appreciate what you did. Thank you."
"You are not banished. There are more than what you see." She instantly rose her face to look at him. "You can sense the divines, but I can sense the Deadra. If you see what I see, you will know the real truth." Her eyes widened. "I can show you, however, with one condition."
"What could it possibly be?" he gestured her to come closer and sit by his side.
He turned to her, making them face to face. Miraak reached out one hand and gesturing her to do the same. "I command you to rest after this. That's my condition." He answered as he placed her hand on his then look at her in the eyes. "Are we clear?" a burst of warmth filled her chest, making her smile in faint happiness amidst her chaotic emotions.
Ammra nodded. "Yes." Then Miraak put the crystal on their hands and covered it with another hand. In a brief second, Ammra felt her body was pulled backward and forward rapidly at the same time. When she heard her father's voice, her eyes yanked open.
"See what I see." Miraak who stood next to her spoke. The space around them shifted into the same appearance when Ammra was killed.
They re-watched the same scene but this time Ammra could see some red ominous strings that tied both of her father's hands, legs, and head. When she traced the other ends of the strings, she saw Mephala who was controlling him like a puppet. After he killed her wife and daughter, he killed himself, which Ammra didn't know.
She then came to a realization as everything made sense for her. This explained why her loving father became exactly the opposite. From the beginning, Mephala was planning to use her as the source of sorrow to feed on by making Ammra believed the lies.
In the next split second, they returned to their bodies. She was stunned, unable to utter a single word. "You are not banished and never betrayed by him. So, stop being sad!" then he added, "Now keep your end of the bargain!" his words sounded more like a friendly order.
She smiled faintly, captivated by his eyes. "Was this the same Miraak?" she reached out to cup his face with one hand then all in sudden pinched it.
He roared slightly, not expecting what she did. "What was that for?"
"Making sure this is not a dream and you are real." She answered innocently. "I feel my head will explode." she stood to her feet and walked toward her tent.
When Miraak saw her reached out her hand to cast a rune spell to protect the area, he quickly asked in a strong tone," What are you doing?!" she was about to answer but he snapped. "Stop being a fool! I'll handle that." She hesitantly looked at him. "What is it again?" he lowered his tone after seeing her puppy eyes. Ammra shook her head.
She quietly slipped into her bedroll. After some time, she stirred and shifted restlessly. Sometimes she sneezed and shivered. Miraak who had been just sitting by the fire noticed her. "What's wrong?" he asked and Ammra answered with a mumbled voice.
"There are so many things inside my mind. They jump around like naughty hares." She paused. "And it is terribly cold. I want to use fire cloak spell but it is not possible." Ammra curled up, trying to sleep all her thoughts away but suddenly a force pulled her backward until her back met what seemed to be a wall of muscle. She found herself between Miraak's arm. "Umm..."
"This is just to keep you warm." He spoke with his flat tone. "What a shame if dovahkiin die out of cold." The sarcastic words somewhat made her chuckled even if what he did make her heart pounding. She felt her cheeks blushed. "If you have a brain, let it rest."
She remained silent for some moment, letting her heart calm down. She had never been this close to someone else. Something about his breath, his heartbeat, and even his presence felt so right. Perhaps, reassuring was the right word. After all of those emotions turbulence, his presence, and comfort were the best thing she could get. "Right....He went this far for me?"
Ammra did not expect being in that position with him was surprisingly warm and comfortable. "This is not right." Her mind protested. But she could not resist what she felt.
Meanwhile..."What in oblivion am I doing?!" Miraak asked himself.
It was just a brief thought. A swift chance to decide on what to do when seeing Ammra's condition. And all he knew his body made his way by itself. Being the highest Dragon Priest never put him in a position to comfort someone, especially a woman. He cursed himself for the impulsive attitude Ammra had caused him. But, when he noticed her gave in and let herself settled in instantly he was glad by his own decision.
It was different from the time when Sanguine made her drunk. She was sane now. And to be so close in such a condition was quite of a new experience for them.
"I just feel happy to know the truth. But I am also sad and confused and relieved." She finally spoke "It is like Odahviing brought me up to the sky and suddenly smashed me down to the ground and suddenly take me up again with his jaw before smashing me again. In my world we called it roller-coaster."
"Hi los tinvaaken, dovahkiin." Ammra quickly rolled around to see him in amazement. It was the first time she heard him talking in dragon tongue. "What?"
"What does it mean?"
"It means, go to sleep!" he said. Ammra pouted for she knew he was lying. Miraak gave his proud smirk. "It means you are talkative." She just showed her grin.
Sorrow and relief might have torn her heart to pieces, but his presence helped Ammra allow herself to get more comfortable. She inquired him about the dragon in past. Miraak answered her every question—including the silly and unthinkable ones. He was happy to see her getting distracted from her pain even just for a while.
"Now I understand why you prefer riding a dragon to a horse," Ammra muttered.
"We have that dov part inside. Inevitably, Dragonborn and dragon have a lot in common." He noticed Ammra yawning. "Are you satisfied now? I have answered all of your questions."
"Yes, senior." She teased. His heart skipped a beat when he felt Ammra snuggled herself closer, curling up like a puppy. "You are the worst hostage ever." She mumbled.
"It is because I have a terrible abductor. You never talked about fighting back but why did suddenly you come to their lair alone?"
"Perhaps it is because of the beast blood." She replied. "Almost full moon." Miraak noticed how she fidgeting his robe fabric. "And I just grew tired being hunted. So, I hunt them down instead."
"Sounds crazy and foolish at the same time."
"Kinda annoying to remember what they did to the innocent people...and" sheepishly she added, "...and to you." She paused. "If they did it cleanly without hurting others, I might ignore them." Miraak almost jumped in excitement to know her motive was to avenge him but he kept his cool.
"Next time if you plan to do the same thing, just tell me."
"Why? You will come to rescue me like a hero?" she teased.
"No. I will bring some wine and watch the show." Ammra chuckled "I want to know why you keep your purpose of this project a secret?"
Sheepishly she replied, "It...it was so...uncommon and not really...nord. I mean, most people attempt to find glory, power or such a thing. If I was being honest...I just thought it would be embarrassing." She saw how he smirked. "Especially to someone like you. I was so sure you would think my plan was ridiculous...so I lied." He couldn't believe her only reason was only that she was too embarrassed, to tell the truth. How innocent!
"If all this time you believed that your father killed you. Then why insist on returning?"
"I...don't know. I just felt, I don't belong here...and perhaps, going home is the best decision. I am planning to set the return time before the incident so I can prevent it from happening." She then added. "Besides I also promised you 'The Only Dragonborn' title." Miraak remained silent. He felt his jaw tightened. "My place is not in Skyrim. I don't know how long I can stay strong to carry this Dragonborn title. I hate fighting...but violence is a common language in Skyrim. I don't belong here."
They remained silent for some time until he muttered," Mey Kiir. How silly of you,"
If it was the time when he was worshipped, such soft honesty would be considered as weakness. And weakness deserved to be eliminated. However, hearing her confessing her insecurities making him felt the warmth. It is like a welcoming sign that by telling him, he was connected to her in some way, more than what they were before. Finally, she opened up.
Ammra just gave a sad faint smile. After letting out a long sigh, she landed her forehead on his chest, which he really liked. "Was it true, Miraak? The reason why you came to save me." She paused. "You...cared?" she restated in a disbelief tone.
"Yes." He firmly replied which made her face reddened and burning. He slightly gasped as he felt Ammra pressed her face on his chest while gently hitting him.
"You know you are not supposed to be like that. I am your enemy. And we are not supposed to be this close." She mumbled. "But you are an ancient living relic, so perhaps what we are doing now is nothing but a mere survival way. Right?"
"No, it's more than that," he answered and he could feel she gripped his robe. Burying her face. He knew her pattern already— Ammra was doing that when she was extremely embarrassed. "Rest, dovahkiin." he added.
Her heart almost jumped out of her body when she felt Miraak gently kissed her forehead then rested his chin on her head. His fingers ran through her hair. His touch. His warmth. His heartbeat. Ammra's beast blood sensed everything vividly and wanted him. Not as a meal, but as something else. It was more like something precious. "Damn! What's happening?!" she screamed internally.
After a long silence, she spoke again half asleep. "Miraak..." he answered in a low hum. "Do you want to return to Apocrypha?" there was another long paused again. Ammra closed her eyes, started to think she had asked a stupid question. "Of course, he does. He wants power from Hermaeus Mora. Well...at least he kept his promise and did not betray me...yet?" before she gave in to that thought, between her consciousness and drowsiness, Ammra heard 'No' from him.
Then she smiled even though she did not know why.
Ammra did not expect she could sleep eventually, totally forgot that he was one of the potential enemies that could kill her. So many things happened in a day. She was either too tired to keep her guard up or she too relieved to give a damn about everything. All she knew was, what he did felt so right.
Miraak enjoyed the moment when she fell to sleep. It was the only moment when she was tame and calm. He also noticed how the battle had worn her out, so Miraak hope by doing this, she would recover soon. "How troublesome." He thought
That night, Miraak decided to choose his own plan instead of following Hermaues Mora.