Disembarking from the ship that brought her from the Summerset Isles, Niyleen couldn’t believe that she was home. It was the same sky, the same smells that she’d smelled many times before, but the drab look of Skyrim that once seemed distant now left her with a shaky feeling. “It all seems so different now…”

“Are you sure that you don’t want to rest for a few days,” Trineiya asked as she also disembarked. She walked over to Niyleen and frowned. “Listen, I know you want to get back to your home as soon as possible, but all of this back to back travel—”

Niyleen suddenly bowed, an act that startled the Altmer. “Thank you for everything you did for me Trineiya, but I’ve been away for way too long.” Niyleen looked towards the southeast with a deep longing in her eyes. “All I want to do now is see my sister’s bright face and hear Carciel’s voice.”

 

“I understand. Take care Redguard.”

“You too Inquisitor.”

Parting, Niyleen started off toward Whiterun Hold. The trek was a familiar one as she’d often go from Whiterun to Solitude on mercenary work. However, soon Niyleen realized what Trineiya was talking about. Shortly after getting to Dragon Bridge a heavy wave of fatigue hit Niyleen that made her almost not want to continue on.

 

“Naal faal Rah, Trineiya was right. I feel like draaf,” Niyleen said as she had to stop from exhaustion.

Are… are you feeling alright?

 

“Me? I’m flogah,” Niyleen said as she sat down. “I mean, like I said I feel like draaf and some things just seem… off. But my head’s clear and I just feel refreshed mentally.” Niyleen smiled. “Heehee, is the big bad Nega actually caring about me? Grik fask!”

 

S-softy? I’m no—you know what, nevermind.

 

After resting up for a couple of minutes, Niyleen decided to take it easy and slow her pace. It took her a bit longer than she had planned, but when Dragonsreach was finally within her sights, Niyleen took a deep breath and did an exaggerated stretch. “Aaaaaaaah… Now there’s the view I was longing for… Although the scenery itself seems to be lacking. Aren’t there supposed to be spires throughout the landscape?”

 

Spires?

 

“Yeah,” Niyleen said frowning. “Saak ved spires that most wouldn’t dare approach. Haa… Get with it Nega.”

 

We’re going to have to talk later.

“Whatever. All I know is that I’m finally hom—”

“Hold there Redguard!” a voice called out from behind her interrupting her thoughts. “Are you Niyleen Flame-Child?”

Niyleen sighed. It had been some time since someone had been bold enough to go after her bounty, and quite frankly she had hoped it would stay that way. (Here we go again…) She jumped off the log she’d climbed up on and saw the bounty hunter staring her down. He looked a bit weak in the knees, probably a rookie. “Halfling, and aye. I am she.”

 

 

“By the power of the Jarl of Haafingar, I’m here to take you in for your crimes against—”

(Definitely a rookie.) Niyleen rolled her eyes. Even if her bounty was an older one, Haafingar’s Jarl seemed to not think highly of her. “Listen melon nose, I don’t have time for this so run along now before I make you shit your pants. Okay?”

Niyleen turned from him and began to walk away, but upon hearing the bounty hunter’s steps and his battle cry behind her she stopped and kicked him square in the chest. Making the man fall to his knees.

 

Walking over to his crumpled body, she sighed again. “See, now you’re making me choose between being a liar or not. “ She smiled mischievously at him. “But it’s not that hard of a choice to be honest. So how should I—What’s that smell?” She looked at the bounty hunter who was shaking in his boots and began laughing. “No way! No freaking way! How did a chicken shit like you who shits his pants get assigned to tailing me? First milkdrinkers, now chicken shits. What’s next? Flowergirls masked as wanna-be adventurers?”

 

 

“I didn’t know you were like that,” said a quiet voice from behind Niyleen.

Niyleen knew that voice. It was a voice that had haunted her for nights on end. With everything happening she’d never imagined that she’d meet this Nord so soon. In fact, there had been times where she wasn’t sure whether or not their altercation had been but a terrible dream. Yet here she was. “Like what exactly?”

“I-I mean, I just thought… I didn’t know that you liked to bully the weak.”

(But he was after me FIRST!!) Niyleen glared at the would-be bounty hunter who was the cause of all of this and sighed. “Go and tell the rest of your boys that I’m NOT to be trifled with. Next one of you I see is certified dead, you hear me?” The bounty hunter nodded frantically. “What in Oblivion are you still doing here!? Go!”

 

The bounty hunter stumbled away and it took everything the Redguard had for her not to laugh at how pathetic he looked. “Happy now?” Niyleen said as she turned and faced the woman.

 

“I’m sorry. I know it wasn’t really any of my business…” The female Nord frowned. “Why are you so angry with me? Did I do something to you?”

(She simply beat you while you were acting arrogantly. You’re not one to keep grudges like that. So for what reason are you mad at her for? Or maybe you’re made at yourself?) “W-what!? I’m not—!!” She noticed that something looked a bit off about the Nord. “Did you get… slimmer? What in Oblivion happened to you?”

 

The Nord looked away embarrassingly. “I got sick.”

Niyleen laughed. She didn’t know why, but the idea that Nords could get sick from anything not combat related was absurd to her. “Nords get sick? Liar. I’ve never met a sick Nord in my life! You probably just got sick of people calling you a fatty is all.” The Nord mumbled something that Niyleen couldn’t quiet catch. “What’s that? I can’t hear you?”

“I AM NOT FAT!!!”

Niyleen was taken back by the Nord’s sudden outburst. Sure she had been a bit curvaceous before, but she wasn’t fat by any stretch of the word. Niyleen thought that the Nord would have seen that and knew that she was only joking, but perhaps she’d been too presumptuous. “Sorry,” she said sincerely. “I didn’t know that was a touchy subject.”

The Nord averted her gaze and it was sometime before she spoke again. “You’re so strange… you seem to hate me, but then you apologize for being insensitive… Why you were looking for me?”

“What!? No I wasn’t!”

 

“But I heard… that a female Redguard was looking for a Lion.”

Niyleen remembered when she had told her contacts that. She was still hot about losing to the Nord and told them to spread that message around. Niyleen rolled her eyes thinking about how long she had waited to get a response, one that she wasn’t even sure she wanted. “That’s old news, Lion. What’s with you anyway? Are you stalking me?”

“I may be a lion at heart, and people may identify me with one, but it’s not my name. I forgot to properly introduce myself last time. I am Leijona, proud daughter of Rhaegar, Maiden of the Desert and Lion of the Snow.”

“Eh? Rhaegar? I remember stories about him… Savage. Didn’t seem like the type to raise a child though.” Niyleen grinned as she thought of how awkward it must have been for someone of his infamy to raise a child, not to mention a daughter. “And you laughed at my title. So what’s your deal? Since you beat me you’re just going to act familiar with me? Is that it cub?”

 

Leijona frowned again. “I… just don’t get it. It’s like everything I do, or maybe it’s just me being here bothers you.”

(She’s right you know. You’re not angry at her, but with yourself…) A strong urge to punch this girl, for no reason other than to release tension, rose in Niyleen’s gut. “I said it once and I’ll say it again, you are nothing more than ameasuring stick. Don’t get cocky just because you beat me once!”

Niyleen noticed Leijona’s eyes. Her beautiful emerald orbs reflecting her sadness, hurt Niyleen more than she’d ever admit. “I thought you were interesting… I only fought you before because you left me no choice. I also don’t think I ever got to apologize for last time.”

“Stuff it and never appear before me again!” Niyleen started to leave and immediately stopped when an idea came into her head. “You said don’t want to fight? That you only did so because I left you no choice?” Niyleen said as she drew her sword.

 

Leijona shook ferociously her head. “I don’t want this! Why must we always fight?”

 

 

 

“Not always, just this last time. And I’ll even make it sweeter for you. If I lose, I’ll do anything you want. Heck, if you want me to simply be nice to you I’ll be glad to do that. IF you beat me! And I won’t take no for an answer.” Leijona drew her own weapon rather reluctantly and Niyleen smiled. “I take it that you agree with my terms?”

“You didn’t exactly give me a choice,” Leijona said somberly.

Niyleen took a deep calming breath, she wanted this but somewhere deep down she knew that this wasn’t right—didn’t feel right. Before she could shake this feeling her body was already headed into the battle with the Nord. Coming off of Ruby, Leijona felt like an entirely different animal. Ruby reminded Niyleen of herself but more reckless and loose with her life, Leijona however was a mass of power and with her recent weight loss way faster than before. Niyleen couldn’t simply dodge the Nord’s attacks with minimal effort because the sheer force of Leijona’s attacks were throwing the Halfling off balance; as Niyleen learned when she almost got her head knocked off after trying that once.

The fight waged for quite some time with Leijona on constant offense, but Niyleen wasn’t losing ground. She landed landing a few glancing cuts on the Nord, but nothing significant. It wasn’t long before Niyleen knew that this would end up being a battle of attrition more than anything.

An hour had passed and neither woman was slowing. It was a completely different battle than last time. Niyleen was sharp, precise and pulled out every trick she had, where as each of Leijona’s swings seemed like they could be the deciding one. Neither woman was taking any gambles with this one, which ended up drawing this out even longer.

 

Are you two fucking serious!? Nega said after hour three had of their bout had ended. Just use your fucking flames, and scorch this bitch!

 

(Stiil! Dus!) Niyleen finally gave up her strategy and finally went on the offensive. This sudden change in the Redguard’s fighting paradigm caused Leijona to hesitate just enough for Niyleen to catch her with a swift kick to the side of the head, disorienting the Nord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Shit…” (Nunon med us, that’s not enough.) Niyleen thought. Even thought there was clearly an effect where there wasn’t one last time, Niyleen was still upset that the Nord maintained her consciousness.

 

Go! Go now! Finish this while she’s dazed!

Niyleen ignored Nega and waited until Leijona seemed a bit more stable. Throwing off her shoulder pieces, Leijona looked at Niyleen quizzically. “Why didn’t you press your advantage?” she asked sincerely.

 

The Lion’s puzzled look had Niyleen questioning herself again. (What are you doing? Why are you even fighting her?) Niyleen shook these thoughts from her head. “I-I don’t know… you seemed to disapprove of me bullying the weak,”Niyleen said awkwardly. “So I didn’t. You got a problem with that?”

Niyleen didn’t know what she expected, but when Leijona smiled at her, she all but lost the will to fight. “Thanks.”

It was simple and honest. Pure, powerful, albeit a bit awkward. That one word said it all and finally encapsulated Leijona for Niyleen. That voice gnawing at her had been right. Niyleen wasn’t mad at this girl, she was mad because her pride had gotten hurt, something Leijona probably didn’t know or care about… but not in a bad way.

Niyleen nodded and resumed the fight, only this time she went on the offensive. Each strike thrown met Leijona’s insane guard, and although Leijona was still suffering the effects of that kick, Niyleen wasn’t able to break through. This soon Niyleen began to lose the feeling in her right arm. After a few minutes of this, Niyleen had to stop and catch her breath.

 

 

 

(She’s a fucking gol vund!! This is her in a weakened state?)

 

…Should have finished her when you had the—

 

When she goes for another overhead attack, go for her chest. Use one of Eolri’s special attacks.

(S-Second!?) The sudden extra voice in her head made her stop in her tracks and take an inhumanly wicked blow from Leijona that sent her flying. As she struggled to get up, a thought began to gnaw at her again. (Why do you still fight? Just stay down. Lose. And enjoy her company, you know you’d like that. Heck, she could even join your cause and fight with you against the Daedric—)

 

 

 

 

(NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID! I will NOT get her involved in my mess! Never again is anyone going to die because of me…)Niyleen glanced over towards Leijona who seemed to be waiting for something. “Why aren’t you attacking? It’s not over yet, I’m still able to fight!”

“I know,” Leijona said with a brilliant smile. “But I’m just returning the favor. N-not saying that you’re weak or anything!!!”

 

“Hahahaaa… This Nord…” (Are all Nord women so… vilokaal? Gods…)

 

Vilokaal?! You’re in the middle of a fight and you think she’s vilokaal!? That’s it! I’m going to take contr—

 

Do as I said, and this will all be over.

 

Niyleen shook her head and struggled to stay in control as Nega began to forcibly try and take over.

Although she didn’t know the source, Leijona could visibly see the agony gripping Niyleen. Rather than just watch it unfold, Leijona walked over to Niyleen and raised her weapon over her head. “I don’t know what’s happening to you, but I’ll end your suffering.”

 

NOW!!!

 

As Leijona swung her massive weapon down to strike, Nega relinquished her hold and Niyleen quickly scrambled to her feet and before Leijona had time to react could blink, delivered an array of slashes across the Nord’s chest. Turning, she saw Leijona frozen with a look of fear on her face.

“I-I can’t move!! What… what did you do to me!?!”

(I feel kind of bad. It kind of seems like I tricked her…) Even so, Niyleen smiled knowing that she’d wrapped this fight up. “Nothing.” (Fah getiid.)

Niyleen then frowned as she realized she’d forgotten which move she had just used. (Was it ‘Ravager Style Secret Technique Number 568: Hurricane of the Daedra Slayer?’ Or maybe ‘Ravager Style Secret Technique Number 42: Lysada’s Insane Dance of the Whirling Cyclone?’) “AAAAARGH!! Dammit Eolri! All of these stupid moves are basically the same! “

 

Niyleen…/Niyleen…

Niyleen thought a bit harder, and finally it came to her. “Oh right! Hah, how’d I ever forget this one?” She sheathed her sword. “Ravager Style Secret Technique Number 991: Niyleen Special: Child of the Flame’s Tempest! Maximum—”

Suddenly Niyleen was gripped by the throat viciously. “Haa… ha…. I-I don’t know what… foul spell you cast upon me Niyleen,” Leijona said her eyes filled with rage. She yanked Niyleen off the ground. “But this ends now!”

 

(She’s right you know. Just let her end this…) Niyleen smirked, and she saw Leijona’s eye twitch from anger. (Even if I don’t mean to, zu'u nis hiif nuz yormud ek.)

 

Tease her? Los hi tir do hin hah? End her! Fucking END HER NOW!!!

Niyleen’s provocation backfired as the Nord simply increased her grip on Niyleen’s throat. For someone who was so averse to fighting her, Leijona didn’t seem to have a problem using her full strength regardless. Just before she was about to pass out, Niyleen was able to mutter, “…Inferno.”

 

Immediately, Leijona dropped Niyleen as the effects of Niyleen’s attack began to wreck her body; causing her to collapse from the pain.

 

 

Fucking finally… You ever do anything that dumb again and I PROMISE you that I’ll take the reins and never let go!

 

(Are you satisfied?) “Yeah…” Niyleen looked at the sky above and her mind seemed to fall under the Calm effect as she peered into the calm endless sea of blue.

 

‘Yeah?’ What do you mean ‘yeah?!‘ And you won! Why aren’t you excited about this like you should be!

 

Niyleen tried to move but every muscle in her body screamed at her for doing so. “This… is a win?” She closed her eyes as she realized she couldn’t stop the smile from appearing on her face. “I know how wins feel, be they hard earned or shallow. This… this isn’t a win.”

 

Then I’d like to know what in Oblivion this was because if you just wasted over three hours fighting for nothing—

 

It wasn’t for nothing, right Niyleen?

 

“This fight… Felt like a release, a resolution. You could even say that it was a continuation of what happened on the Summerset Isles.”

Fos ko lein!?! There’s no trauma with her! You weren’t afraid of her or any barbarian like Nords!

 

Niyleen shook her head. “No, but I feel at ease now… At peace with the results of both this fight and the last…” She heard Leijona’s rough breathing as she began to stir, and glanced towards her. “Had a good nap, Cub?”

“Whatever you did… don’t do it again,” Leijona said as she got to a seated position. “Are you lonely?”

“W-what!? Why’d you ask such a stupid thing!?”

 

“Well… you were talking to yourself so I just assumed…”

Niyleen could feel her cheeks burning as she couldn’t bear to look at Leijona. “O-o-o-oh, t-that!? I… I’m n-not lonely, got it!” Niyleen struggled to a seated position herself. When she composed herself, she smirked at the Nord. “That tone… You keep talking to me like we’re friends. Even after I beat you.”

Leijona’s face reddened. “T-there’s NO WAY you’re counting that as a win!” The Nord then averted her eyes “I shouldn’t have lost.“ She admitted. "I… You… you just shocked me is all.” Niyleen blinked, stunned by the lioness’s sudden bashfulness, and then let out a laugh that made Leijona turn ever redder. “W-what? I can’t get caught off guard every once in a while?”

 

Niyleen rolled her eyes playfully. “Again, you’re talking to me like we’re friends.”

 

“But—”

 

Niyleen, got to her feet albeit uneasily. “Heh, I’ll admit that I didn’t win, but you didn’t beat me either.”

Leijona stood beside her. “So a draw?”

 

“No contest,” Niyleen said shaking her head. “This one just didn’t count.”

Leijona’s eyes darted to Niyleen. “What!?! So we have to fight again?”

 

Niyleen laughed startling the Nord. “There’s no way I’m fighting a damn wall like you again. You’re too much, Lei. Far too much. Maybe the old me might have wanted a rematch, but the current me doesn’t have a death wish. Besides, I’ve no reason to fight you anymore.”

 

“So… what now? Are we simply strangers to each other?”

Niyleen stretched a bit as she walked in front of the Nord. “No way! But to put a name on what we are, no idea. Also, I promise not to come at you like that again… As long as you tell me what really made you change so dramatically.”

“Oh!” Niyleen took a peek at the Nord who seemed a bit excited to share a tale. “You see, I was in the middle of training. I decided to do some heavy training for four days straight. On the third day, I came down with Bone Break Fever after deciding to tackle a bear den without my weapons. I should have just rested for the fourth day, but I pushed on.”

 

Niyleen smirked. “Heh, stubborn Nord.” As the Nord talked, Niyleen noticed that she sounded a bit comfortable and made some awkward movements here and there, but at the same time she seemed really enthusiastic about talking about her past. And now that she wasn’t trying to beat the Nord’s head in, there was something about her voice that made her crave to listen to her speak.

 

Leijona shrugged. “I guess you could say that. Anyway, although I felt sluggish I cleared out an ancient ruin up until the last chamber. Then I came face to face with a Dragon Priest, a trio of vampires, and a hoard of Draugr.”

“Sounds nasty.”

 

Leijona nodded. “It was. I ended up catching the Rattles from the Draugr and I was lucky to not catch Sang… Sangu… Sangui—”

 

“Sanguinare Vampiris?” Niyleen guessed. (The same disease that that bitch Teresa gave to Lucari…)
“Yeah, that one! I was lucky I didn’t catch that from the vampires. I would have been okay with a potion and some rest from Bone Break Fever and the Rattles, but the Dragon Priest placed a curse on me that drained my stamina and started to eat away at my fat and muscles. Luckily I was able to get to a healer before I was all skin and bones. But even though my life is no longer at risk, that curse is still active and is why I look… like this.”

(I don’t know why she’s so upset? Sure she doesn’t look like a sex goddess now, but she’s still plenty cute, and even more so tough.) “Haa… Well you’re definitely faster and your power doesn’t seem to have waned, but I guess if my body was forcibly changed I’d have issue with it to an extent.” Niyleen said trying to put herself in Leijona’s shoes. “Anyway, thanks for sharing that with me Lei. I can honestly say that I’m glad I saw you again, but I’ve got to get going. Vonok Leijona. Aal faal Stahdim dein hi fen erei mu grind ontzos. See you around. Maybe I’ll have a great tale to share.”

Leijona’s eyes widened and she beamed with happiness. “Lei… It’s a bit strange but not too bad… And yes, hopefully sooner rather than later!”

Niyleen nodded and with an extra spring in her step continued on towards the lair.