Dragonborn Rising Ch. 08

The third room was a simple test. Pull a couple of chains, extinguish the flames, darkness restored. The fourth test was where I had to take a choice of path. Both were difficult, and I eventually took the right path, where I had to time my run to avoid swinging axes and spears that would have skewered me. It took a light step, speed and a dive over a pressure plate to get through safely.

Whoever designed these tests should be found and made to do it themselves.

There was nowhere else to go at the end except to drop down into what looked like a dry well. I could see a pile of bones at the bottom, so figured the poor bastard had dropped down and slowly starved to death, but with no other option, I dropped down. After a few minutes, I thought I'd made one hell of a bad decision, but as quickly as I thought that, the well disappeared, nothing more than an illusion, as I found myself dropped into what appeared to be a shrine. Taking the Skeleton Key from my pocket, it had a glow, and stepping forward, I inserted it into the lock.

I stepped back, briefly blinded by bright light, and it was then that Nightingale herself appeared in front of me. She gave a long speech, suggesting I was now her 'Champion', which sounded good, but she also suggested that the luck that had deserted the Guild would return, and that our hands would once again be guided by the forces at her disposal. It ended with a subtle suggestion, if not warning, for the Key not to be stolen again. And as quickly as she had appeared, she disappeared.

Karliah must have realised that I'd returned the Key, as she appeared at my side, and it was there that she could enjoy a final goodbye with Gallus. They spoke of the love they had once shared, and hoped to be reunited in the Evergloam once Karliah passed from the world too. After sharing a fond goodbye, Gallus disappeared, though Karliah assured me that he would be waiting for her once her debt was repaid.

With the link restored, there was a portal that led us back to the entrance and exiting out into the bright light, I heard the sigh Karliah gave. Then she turned towards and hugged me, and it was little surprise her entire body shuddered as she wept, I think releasing all the pent up emotions she'd been hiding since I first met her at Snow Veil Sanctum.

"Thank you," she said once she'd expelled all her tears.

"For what?"

"For everything, Ragnar. For helping and believing me. For helping me bring Mercer to justice. Everything you've done allowed me to say goodbye."

"I guess you never got to say it," I said quietly.

"No, and now that I have, I can properly move on with my life."

Lifting her chin with my finger, I asked, "Before we make that leap, you are aware..."

"I am, Ragnar. I'm not expecting you to change. Besides, we'll be busy working, won't we? But it would nice to return to Riften and know you might be there waiting for me."

"Like me, eh?"

"I do."

"Good. As I've already let you know what I think."

We mounted our horses and began our journey back to Riften. We camped halfway between Falkreath and Riften, stopping as the sun began to set, and Karliah proved rather sneaky as she unveiled a bottle of wine that she'd hidden away. We made a series of toasts and a couple of drinks helped us finally relax completely, and Karliah asked me plenty of questions about my previous life. I'm generally an open book, probably not always the best thing considering my line of work, but I'm usually honest about most things.

"You escaped the life. Why did you return?"

"Because I never lost my skills. Even when working with the Fighter's Guild, I could be walking through a crowd and I could pick a dozen marks, knowing exactly what I'd have to do to nick a coin purse, jewellery or anything else I wanted. I never lost the desire. The only reason I stopped was that I was nearly killed, so thought I should change the road I was on."

"There is certainly a thrill to what we do."

"Aye. I enjoyed working as a fighter. I'd happily do it again. But I was raised a thief, I'm bloody good at it, and what I know now is that we're all going to make a lot of coin. But I will be instituting some changes before we get to work."

"What sort of changes?"

"I'll let you know when the time comes. But we're not just going to be about gold and wealth."

Karliah gave me a look, and I think she understood what I might mean. I knew what I meant, as the idea had been in my head since Brynjolf suggested I should be the new Guild Master. I'm sure some might not like the idea, but while I was a thief and warrior at heart, I also tried to do the right thing, as a balance for the things I knew I was doing wrong.

Returning to Riften by early afternoon the next day, Karliah went straight to the Flagon while I made a beeline for Maven's house. She was home and we sat at her dining table as I began to explain everything that happened. She knew about Goldenglow and Honningbew, but knew nothing about anything Mercer had been up to and his complete betrayal of the Guild. That took her completely and utterly by surprise. "I had absolutely no idea he was capable of something like that," she admitted.

"And that's why he is now dead and the Guild will be restored."

She smirked. "So... I take it you are the new Guild Master? I can assume you are from the way you're talking, and the fact it is you here now."

"It's not official yet, but yes, I will be."

"Then we will have a rather close relationship going forward, Ragnar."

"How close, Maven?"

I felt a foot run up my leg and it eventually nestled in my crotch. All she did was look at me in the eyes. "Depends on you really, Ragnar."

I had to be blunt. "You're serious? What about Ingun?"

"What she won't know won't hurt her. I'm a flesh and blood woman. And I think you'll be rather intrigued by some of my desires."

"Are you married?"

"I'm widowed. The men you see in this house are my sons."

"Let me think about it." To be fair, she was simply an older version of Ingun. Seeing them walk side by side in town, they looking remarkably similar. "What I did want to ask about is Riftweald Manor. Now that Mercer is dead, the house will be empty. Can I have it please?"

She laughed. "I don't get to make that choice, Ragnar. It's up to you as Mercer owned the house and land. I gave I all to him, so if you find the deeds somewhere, take them to the jarl and the steward will ensure the place is now in your name. You might have to pay some taxes, but I'm sure you can afford it."

Maven thanked me for informing her of everything that happened, and I headed to Riftweald Manor. The front door was still unlocked, and I headed upstairs, looking for the deeds to the house. It took a little investigating, but I found the deeds and immediately headed to the Keep. I was pointed in the direction of her steward, and after answering a series of questions, explaining that Mercer had left Riften for pastures new, the steward didn't seem to really actually care. I handed over a bag of coin and I received new titles for the house. Riftweald Manor was now mine.

After catching up with Brynjolf and everyone else, letting them know I'd spoken to Maven and sorted everything out, I spent a week getting Riftweald Manor in order. I practically emptied the place out of the furniture Mercer had left behind and bought everything new, making it a real home to live in, as I was not going to spend any more time living down in the cistern. I wanted a more comfortable life when not sleeping on the road. I did brick up the hidden entrance, as I didn't think that was necessary, and made sure all the windows were unlocked so I could let in plenty of fresh air.

I let Haelga know I had my own place, but I sat down and explained the friendship I'd struck up with Karliah. She smiled, mentioning that I'd explained it all before leaving for Irkngthand, so she wasn't offended when I said we had been waiting for me to find a place for us to be intimate for the first time. It probably sounded pathetic when I thanked her for understanding. All she did was kiss my cheek, told me to enjoy myself and that she hoped to be my next guest. I promised she would be a welcome guest more often than not... And that I had Shrine of Dibella waiting for her in a separate room, which had certain features she might enjoy. She knew exactly what I meant, earning the most beautiful of smiles before receiving whispers in my ear of such an erotic nature, I near enough dragged her upstairs.

Karliah was to be my first guest, wandering outside the gates of Riften, back towards Nightingale Hall. She had mentioned that she would now live there instead of the Guild, finding comfort in solitude, though she hoped one or two might eventually join here there. She'd been as busy as I, the bedroom she would call home already full of colour and a feel that suggested she would be rather happy there. What made her happier was the invitation to my house, with an offer of dinner too.

Knocking on the door of my house later that day, I opened it and felt my jaw drop wide. Gone was the Nightingale armour she'd worn since the day we'd met. Instead, she wore a beautiful purple dress, tight to her body, flowing down to just above her ankles. Her raven hair was in a pattern she immediately explained was something all Dunmer women would wear when being courted.

"Courted?" I asked once we'd sat down, eating the meal I'd prepared. I'm not the best cook, but I haven't killed myself yet.

"Well, I haven't just jumped into bed with you, Ragnar. We've got to know each other first. But I am also going to be honest with myself. While I will likely develop feelings as we go along, I will not make the same mistake as I did with Gallus." She held up a hand to halt what I was going to say before reaching across to grab my hand. "We will be intimate, Ragnar, and I hope it will be often, because as I've already told you, I do like you. Quite a bit, to be honest. But we will remain only very good friends. That will suit both of us, yes?"

"Actually, it would. I'm glad you said it though."

Finishing dinner, on which I received a rather nice compliment, not that it was much to cook - meat, potato, vegetables - we retired to my sitting room, where a fire was burning and I'd bought a nice lounge where we could relax in front of it, enjoying another bottle of wine. It took all of five minutes for us to be making out. I have no doubt we desired each other completely, but I could sense we were taking our time. I didn't want to rush it with Karliah, and while I think part of wanted me to simply pick her up, dump her on my bed and just ravish her, she was enjoying the fact I just wanted to kiss her, in between sips of wine and occasional conversation.

I waited for her to suggest we head to the bedroom. Once she did, I took her by the hand and led her upstairs. I received more compliments for the decoration, ensuring that there was a fusion of Dibella, though most of that was in another room for when Haelga visited, and also a hint of Nocturnal, primarily with the colours I used.

"You have nice taste, Ragnar," Karliah stated as we stood at the foot of the bed.

"Well, I now worship an aedra and have submitted to a daedra."

"Aedra?"

"Dibella! I thought that would have been obvious."

"So your other woman...?"

"Takes her Dibellan worship very seriously!"

She turned towards me as she laughed for a moment, wrapping her arms around my neck as I rested mine on her lower back. "So what about me, Ragnar?" she asked softly.

I sensed a trap, so asked, "How do you mean?"

"Well, be honest. Do you love this other woman?"

I nodded. "In a way, I do. I know that must sound..."

She shut me up by placing a hand over my mouth. "I understand. You enjoy the relationship you've built with her?" I nodded silently. "But you also enjoy the time you spend together, not just physically?"

"Yes."

"Well, as I said on the way back from the Sepulcher, is that we will be friends, close friends, who may also occasionally... Well, more than occasionally have sex. Is that what you would like?"

"Definitely."

"So would I."

The kiss we shared next was a sigh of things to come, and I wasted no time taking off her dress, leaving her in just an exquisite pair of bra and panties, once she'd kicked off her shoes, standing around four inches shorter than me. Taking great delight in undressing me, her hands definitely wandered over my body, running a couple of fingers over the scars remaining after what happened at Snow Veil Sanctum.

"I'm sorry," she whispered before kissed both of them.

"Nothing to be sorry for. The fault was Mercer's."

Once I was naked, she stood back to appreciate my physique. I could see it excited her, and once her eyes fell to my now rather erect cock, there was the usual quiet exclamation of, "Oh my!"

Pulling her towards me, I kissed her again as my hands moved to undo her bra. I'd undone enough of those over the years that I could do it once handed, taking a moment to look at her breasts. They were small, but absolute perfect for her, a hand immediately moving to them and her very hard nipple. Running a hand down her flat, toned stomach, I ran my hand under her panties towards her pussy, unsurprised to feel she was very, very wet already. She helped me by lowering her panties and flinging those somewhere with a foot.

"Play with me," she whispered, breaking our kiss for a moment.

"Lie down?"

She smirked. "No, make me cum standing."

"You're confident that's going to happen."

"Ragnar, first of all, it's you. I mean, look at you. No wonder I've heard rumours of all these women wanting to be with you. Second of all, it's been twenty-five years. Just knowing you're going to touch me will be enough."

She wasn't lying, as after briefing teasing her entrance, I slid a couple of fingers inside her. It was a little awkward, but Karliah lifted a leg and wrapped around me, able to balance on just one as I fucked her with my fingers. "Told you," she whispered before resuming our kiss.

It took all of five minutes before she had to break the kiss and held onto me tight, her breathing suggesting she was already very excited. I eventually had to pick her up and carry her to the bed, where after laying her down, I crouched and used my mouth on her instead. She cried out loudly when she felt my tongue on her for the first time, a hand immediately grabbing my hair to hold me in placed, noticing her legs spread wide so I had full access to her.

Her orgasm arrived very quickly, far quicker than I expected. She was loud as she cried out my name, and begged for me to continue. I'm fairly sure she was crying as she did, though assured me it was simply the sheer relief of having finally had someone else make her cum after all these years. So I quite happily kept eating her out until she had a second one, that one arriving a little later. Once she'd come down from a second high, she let go of my hair and asked me to stop for the moment. So I kissed up her body, enjoying the feeling of her skin against my lips. She shuffled back so I could hover above her.

"Gods, Ragnar, where did you..."

"Lots of practice."

"I think I should return the favour."

I couldn't help smile as I leaned down to her ear. "I only want my cock one place tonight, Karliah."

Reaching down between us, I felt her rather delicate hand grasp my length. "Ragnar, I can't get my hand around it," she whispered.

"Maybe you just small hands?"

That made her giggle. "Well, small hands get into tight places."

She positioned me at her entrance before removing her hand, wrapping her arms around my neck. Ever so slowly, I pushed forward to enter her. Gods, was she ever so tight. My face must have been a picture as she said, "So I feel good, yes?"

"Wait until I'm all the way inside you, then I'll ask the same question."

Her arms tightened around me the more I inserted, almost feeling her stretch to accommodate me. She breathed my name more than once, desperate to kiss me. By the time our groins touched, her face was one of utter bliss. I'm sure I look rather pleased myself. She asked me not to move for a few moments, stating she simply wanted to enjoy the thrill of having a man inside her once again. To be honest, I could have stayed like that most of the night. I'm not sure if all Dunmer were the same, but the two I'd been with had the tightest pussies around.

I slowly started to move, and she asked me immediately not to do it too hard. To be honest, I didn't need to. The feel of sliding inside that tight, wet pussy of hers was going to be more than enough to get me off, letting her know I probably wasn't going to last long at all. She didn't mind whatsoever, hoping this would simply be the first of many times we would make love that night.

Feeling those lithe legs of hers wrap around me almost set me off. It changed the angle of how I entered her, and she cried out. I thought I hurt her, but she said it simply felt even better, before she kissed me deeply again, the sort of kiss that would only ever make me harder.

Breaking the kiss, she pulled my head gently next to hers. "You feel wonderful, Ragnar. Why have I waited so long?"

"I didn't mind, Karliah. You know that."

"Good things come to those who wait, right?" It felt like only five minutes, perhaps it was longer, but I eventually had to warn her I was about to cum. She heard the hidden question in the statement, and gave me no indication that I was finishing anywhere except inside her. "I've prepared," she admitted, "I have more than enough potions."

As I neared climax, I upped the tempo more and she still thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was nothing like the hard fucking I did with Haelga. I don't think Karliah could handle that... yet, if she was ever interested. But it was still a heavenly climax as I buried myself a final time, and she held onto me for a while, her hands stroking my back as I recovered.

After a quick clean up, we lay together, our heads now on the soft pillows, Karliah cuddling into my side, an arm of mine wrapped around hers. "This is going to sound like a stupid question, but can you get pregnant? I mean, you said you're older than me, quite a bit older..."

She shrugged. "I'm not sure, to be honest, but I'd rather not take that chance."

"Sensible, but I was just curious."

She had offered to blow me earlier, and she was still tempted, as she quickly kissed me again, before moving down my body. Once down near my groin, my cock was already starting to harden, and it was near enough at full mast one she had her mouth around it. I'll be honest, she obviously hadn't given a blowjob in a while, but she was desperate to please me, knowing the one thing many loved was that she should maintain eye contact. I couldn't help smile as I watched her head bob up and down.

I'm not sure if she was waiting for me to cum in her mouth or not, but I eventually gestured for her stop and instead straddle me. She didn't sit straight down on my cock, instead laying it flat against me and running her pussy along it. That gave me the perfect opportunity to look at her body. There were a few scars, as expected, but she was near enough flawless.

"You think I'm beautiful?" she asked, sounding a little unsure.

"Gods yes. Never had a Dunmer like you before."

"How many have you had?"

"Three before you." I pulled her down for a moment to whisper in her ear, "But your pussy is by far the best."

That made her laugh before she sat back up, continuing to rub herself along my length. I'm sure it was teasing herself as much as it did me, but I could have watched that body of hers all night doing it. But I think it eventually got too much for her, as she finally sat up, grabbed my cock, and placed it at her entrance. I usually loved to watch my cock disappear inside a woman, but for once I watched her face. Gods, her face lit up as she slowly took my length, crying out rather loudly at times as she adjusted to my size again.