Dragonborn Rising Ch. 21

We split up not far from Solitude, agreeing to take different routes back south. I headed south and west towards Windhelm before deciding to turn south, while Veezara would head far to the west before heading to Falkreath. Gabriella would take the most direct route. It was the safest thing we could do, and I had little doubt the news of the assassination would spread like wildfire across Skyrim. Astrid would probably know before I returned, or at least Gabriella would let her know.

Returning to Falkreath took longer than the journey to Solitude as I took my time. I didn't think I was being tracked, and I was sure I hadn't been noticed, but I wanted to be sure. I certainly didn't want to lead the army near the Sanctuary. It was three days before I walked in, Astrid leaping into my arms upon seeing me, suggesting she was rather pleased by how everything happened.

"The news is everywhere! Vittoria Vici, the Emperor's cousin, butchered at her own wedding! Well done! Let's see his eminence try to ignore this."

"So I did a good job?"

"Good job?" she laughed, returning to her position at the table, "With Vici's murder, you've started us down a path the Dark Brotherhood hasn't travelled in centuries. The assassination of an Emperor."

"And I believe you mentioned something about a bonus?"

"I remember. What would you like?" I gave her a look she would know rather well. "You're rather simple at times, Ragnar. Not that I'm complaining. And it's something I want too. You don't want anything else?"

"Just you, Astrid."

Walking around the table, she leaned against me as we kissed. "How would you like to tie me to the bed first? Just my wrists, as we would both like my legs free to do certain things, then my body is yours for whatever you want to do with."

"You have leather strips?"

"Of course."

"And a bottle of oil?"

"And what would you like to do with that, Ragnar?"

"Cover you in it first. Perhaps give you a bit of a fondle." I paused, before leaning forward to whisper into her ear, "Then absolutely pound your arse."

"And my pussy?" she breathed in my ear in return.

"Oh, that will get plenty of attention first."

"Now?"

"If you want."

Wrapping her arms around the back of my neck, she said, "Can you tell me all about it while you fuck me?"

"Turns you on, doesn't it?"

"It does when you're involved. You're a gifted killer, Ragnar. I want to work by your side soon. We can kill together, then we can fuck afterwards."

"Most people would be horrified by that."

"And you?"

"The adrenaline of the kill would lead to me ripping off your clothes and taking you hard and fast."

We waited a while as I reported to everyone else the success, Gabriella having been kind enough to let me spread the news. Just like Astrid, they knew what it meant for the Brotherhood, and I think their opinion of me was certainly elevated because of it. I'd been of the opinion that they thought I was little more than Astrid's lapdog. I didn't really care if they thought that or not, but I'd certainly proven to be an effective killer. I did thank Babette for her suggestion, and it was always a little awkward to remember she was a centuries old vampire instead of a little girl.

I wasn't particularly close to any of the other members of the Brotherhood, and that meant I didn't share too many personal details. Only Astrid knew everything about me. I would share things with others, such as I was an orphan and was from Cyrodiil, but regarding my current circumstances, it was none of their business, though they all knew I kept a home somewhere away from Falkreath.

Still, despite not being close, I wanted to know them in return. I did ask Babette about being a vampire and never growing old. She recognised the reason for my question but, considering her profession, didn't mind being a 'forever child'. Considering my viewpoint on vampires had always been negative, she was the first friendly vampire I'd met. I doubt I'd meet many more. I had little to do with Festus, as he'd made his opinion about the Night Mother and leadership of Astrid quite clear, left wondering when, not if, I would have to deal with him. Most of the others were ambivalent at best, their allegiance to Astrid first and foremost. Even Gabriella had changed her mind slightly.

Nazir liked a drink, and I ended up spending a couple of hours with him, downing a couple of tankards, regaling each other with stories. It wasn't a secret that I worked for the Thieves Guild, and he was impressed at how quickly I had risen to leadership of the organisation. I suggested I was no longer involved in the day to day operations, but I still took a monthly cut of coin as they all recognised my position, considering I was the one who'd eliminated Mercer Frey and helped restore the Guild to its former glory. He had a very long list of kills, all over Tamriel. Given his humorous, even friendly demeanour, it was hard to remember that there was a cold hearted killer underneath the pleasant, joking exterior.

It was only when everyone else had gone to bed that I returned to Astrid. We'd purposely avoided each other all day, even sitting at opposite ends of the table during dinner. Closing the door behind me, she rose from her position of the bed to meet me, the kiss we shared first rather soft and tender. Though I think we wanted to fall into bed rather quickly, we spent plenty of time undressing each other, barely able to stop kissing and caressing each other as we did so. Once we were both naked, she fell to her knees. "I'll get you off so you last longer, Ragnar, then you can tie me up."

"Still want that?"

She stood up and moved my hand to her sex. "I've been thinking about what you could do to me while tied up all day. Just remember that I'm not Haelga. She has some rather unique tastes. I just want to be tied up."

Sitting down on her knees again, she made love to my cock with her mouth, her tongue doing some rather nice things that sent shivers up and down my spine. Her eyes were wide, full of love, desire and devotion, or at least that's what I thought. She loved going down on me, as she knew I loved returning the favour even more. I'd been thinking about it all day too, finding my mind wander even when chatting with the others, so I knew I wouldn't last long.

"Swallow or face?" I wondered.

Taking my cock from her mouth, she asked, "What do you think, Ragnar?"

She proved what she wanted by swallowing my length, grabbing one of my hands to hold her head in place for a few moments. Grabbing her hair, albeit gently, I started to slowly thrust into my mouth, just a few times, before letting her resume control. Once her head was bobbing up and down rather quickly, there was no chance I was going to last too much longer. I warned her, though that was only to be polite, so when I did finish in her mouth, it didn't catch her by complete surprise.

It was another wonderful climax. Well, to be fair, I think it's difficult to have a bad orgasm, but the excitement of the day, and what we were about to do, certainly made it feel a lot better. Once I was empty, Astrid sat back on her knees, looked up at me and opened her mouth. She then closed it, winked and noticeably swallowed. Dragging me down to my knees, she hugged me as she whispered, "I'll do that for you all the time, Ragnar."

I surprised her by kissing her. If she was willing to swallow it, I could handle lingering aftertaste as I just wanted to kiss her. Standing up and taking her with me, I laid her down on the bed. She ran her hands down her body as she spread her legs, giving herself a fondle, as I grabbed the leather strips. Tying her wrists to each bedpost wasn't particularly difficult, making sure they were tight but wouldn't cut off blood flow. "Well, I'm now vulnerable, Ragnar. What are you going to do?"

Hovering over her, I gave her a soft kiss first. "I love you," I said softly.

The smile returned was incredibly sweet, lighting up her eyes. "I wish I'd met you years ago. Maybe..."

"Years ago, I'd have been too young. But there is the future, at least."

I kissed her again before moving down, leaving a mark on her neck, whispering into her ear that she was now mine. "Always," she breathed as I moved down, focusing on this magnificent breasts of hers. Just lavishing attention on those increased her excitement, feeling her body rise up, pressing into mine, moving a hand down her body to fondle her sex. Not wanting to delay too long, I slid a finger inside her, hearing her gasp when I did before she breathed my name.

Kissing down her body, I removed my finger as I kissed towards her sex but avoided it, kissing down each of her thighs before moving back up, just gazing at her glistening pussy. I breathed on it, and even that caused a shudder up her body. "You're a tease."

"I could leave you here right now like this." She groaned, no doubt horrified at the thought. So I made her happy by licking up her slit, and that earned a grateful moan.

Lifting my head to meet her eyes, I smiled at her before I simply buried my face. The next ten minutes or so was filled with plenty of filthy language and no doubt everyone would have heard her, and she was rather descriptive at what I was doing and how good it felt. And, despite being tied up, she was still a little bossy. I didn't mind, as she was telling me what she liked, and that assured she was going to cum.

Which she did, for the first time, not long later. And I kept on going, changing position slightly, bending her body so I was on my knees, and I could look down into her eyes as I continued to eat her out. "Oh, I like this position, Ragnar. I can see your eyes. Help me cum again."

That wasn't particularly difficult, as I had her knees almost beside her head. I was now rock hard, and she could feel it press into her back. "Want to fuck me like this?"

"One more with my mouth."

That arrived rather quickly, her body now in quite a ball, wondering if she was getting sore. I barely let her recover, continuing to eat her out, before she asked me to fuck her. Keeping her in the same position, I wasted no time sliding my cock inside her and just immediately pounding her. Holding the headboard, she just kept her legs spread wide, able to look each other in the eyes as I fucked her.

"I'm going to cum again really quickly," she breathed.

"I'll stop once you do and get you ready."

She wrapped her legs around me, just enough so she could lock her ankles. But the position got a little difficult for me first, so after a readjustment, I had her calves by my shoulder, continuing to slam my cock into her. I loved to watch her face when doing it. The smile was one of complete happiness. She'd gone so long without having a man make love or fuck her that she appreciated it every time it happened. She loves it soft and tender. But she also loved it when I just pounded her relentlessly.

Once she came again, I felt the urge as well. I didn't let her know, so when I blasted inside her, she pulled the restraints, as I knew she wanted to hold me afterwards. She always did. Instead, I rested on a forearm, my cock still hard and buried inside her, her legs now rested alongside my body, leaning down to kiss her. "I wasn't expecting that," she said quietly.

"Neither was I."

"Ragnar, can I ask a question since that just happened?"

"Sure."

"Would you ever want... I mean, I know..." She sighed. "There's no way to ask this question..."

"You want a child?"

"I've been thinking about it. We take lives constantly. To know I had life growing inside me..."

"Why don't we discuss then when you're not tied up?" I was rather content with how the night had gone, so I immediately untied her. She looked ready to question, as she knew we'd discussed doing something else, then I guess understood why. She immediately cuddled into me as we lay side by side. "You're serious?" I asked.

Feeling her fingers trail up and down my back, she said quietly, "Since I met you, I've wondered if I want to keep doing this. Maybe I can go with you to Riften once we complete the big mission."

"And do what?"

"Raise a family with you, Ragnar." I remained silent, as the last time I'd planned that, my wife was murdered, and I never got to meet my child. "Do you not like the idea?"

"I love it."

"But?"

"I can't marry again. We can have children, but I can't do it..." I grabbed one of her hands and laid it against my chest. "I love you, Astrid, I truly do. But somewhere in here, I will always..."

"I know, Ragnar. And, remember, I'm still technically married myself. Only when Arnbjorn is dead can I even consider it. But we can still have children. The question is, do you want them too?"

"I'd love it. You're ready to be a mother?"

She kissed me softly before replying, "Only if you're ready to be a father."

"I will be once we've finished this job. Are you sure you're ready to walk away?"

"The Night Mother has returned, Ragnar. I know my authority will eventually wane. So, as long as they agree to let me leave and live in peace, then I will just go with you."

I lifted her chin with a finger. "One thing, Astrid. I will remain with Haelga, at the very least, particularly if we do stay in Riften. I can't hurt her again by ending our relationship."

"That's okay, Ragnar. You're with her now. You can be with her forever like me."

We sealed the agreement with lovemaking, Astrid pushing me onto my back as she lay on top of me first, simply looking at me as her fingers stroked my hair, my hands running up and down the soft skin on her back. I sometimes had to pinch myself at the thought this beautiful, athletic, yet incredibly dangerous woman was so obviously in love with me. I had wondered if I'd ever love again after Muiri. Part of me hadn't wanted to, in case it happened again. But I couldn't deny the feelings I felt for her, as much as those same feelings I had for Haelga I'd simply locked away while I was devoted to Muiri.

We waited at least a week before discussing the next step on the road to killing the Emperor. Gabriella joined us as we planned, as she had performed some reconnaissance on her return to the Sanctuary, and had been out and about since. It was quite simple, really. Travel to Dragon Bridge, where the Penitus Oculatus were stationed, no doubt preparing for the arrival of the Emperor, news having already spread that he would be travelling to Skyrim for the funeral of his niece, and it was rumoured he was now going to personally take control of the war against the Stormcloaks, many believing Ulfric was responsible for her death. That suited the Brotherhood just fine.

Once at Dragon Bridge, I was to locate the whereabouts of Gaius Maro, the son of Commander Maro, leader of the Penitus Oculatus, stealing his schedule so I could track him down. The easiest way to take care of him would be to wait in a certain city and kill him there. I could do the job on the open road, but they suggested he would have bodyguards and it would be likely that he'd travel by horseback. Once he was dead, I was to plant evidence on him, implicating him in a plot to kill the Emperor. The embarrassment it will cause Commander Maro would result in his resignation and leave the Emperor exposed.

"Once I do this, I won't be heading straight back. I'll lay low in Riften for a while and head back here afterwards, unless you want to come to me," I told Astrid in bed later that night.

"Just don't get caught, Ragnar. We don't have the influence to spring you free." She paused, obviously thinking, before adding, "Although your friends at the Guild..."

"I'd rather not involve them in our business."

"I understand. So what I said originally means even more. Don't get caught."

"I'll do my best. I think getting him on the open road would be best. Kill him, leave his body out in the open, and make sure I leave more than just the letter implicating him. Ensure his and his father's reputation both lie in tatters."

"Where will you do it?"

"As far away from here as possible, so on the road leading out of Markarth. Do it in the right location and they'll think it was a Forsworn attack."

In the end, I didn't bother heading to Dragon Bridge to get his schedule. I'd learned enough over the years that I could figure out who he was while I was in Markarth. I spent five nights there waiting for his arrival, tracking him around the city as she spoke with the commander of the local garrison. Whether the Emperor would ever visit the city or not, I didn't know, but they spent a few hours viewing defences and the surrounding region, and I knew both would be concerned about the Forsworn.

The best news for me was that he travelled alone, out of uniform and near enough incognito. Perfect news, and I headed out early one morning in preparation for him to come riding by, knowing he would be heading east to Falkreath. I rode at least a couple of hours out of Markarth to lie in wait. I wasn't going to put an arrow into his chest. I was going to gut him, make it personal, then leave everything required to ensure his name was ruined.

Perching myself at the top of a hill, I watched his horse slowly trot along, eventually heading up the incline, where the horse slowed to a walk. When he was no more than twenty metres away, I moved out of cover and he brought the horse to halt. "Get out of the way!" he ordered.

With shield already in hand, I simply unsheathed my sword. He now had a choice. He could have chosen to try and ride into me, but I would just aim for the saddle straps, ensuring he'd hit the ground hard. Or he could dismount, arm himself, and face me. He probably took me for little more than a bandit. I hope he did, as that would make him confident enough to dismount, believing I'd be an easy kill.

I couldn't help smile as he dismounted. I even allowed him the opportunity to arm himself. "You know who I am?" he wondered.

"I do."

"And yet you choose to do this? Why?"

"There are reasons. And for those very reasons, you must die."

"Then you are a fool. I am a trained soldier of the Penitus Oculatus."

"I know exactly who you are, Gaius Maro."

The eyes narrowed, and I believe in that moment, he knew why I was there, and knew why he had to die. "For the Emperor!" he cried, and without hesitation, charged forward.

He might have been a trained soldier. He may have been close to the Emperor. He may have been the son of the commander himself. But he made two mistakes. One, he underestimated me. And, two, I had the higher ground. Whenever I found myself in a duel, I lived by the rule of ending it as quickly as possible. Only when I fought with the Fighter's Guild did I worry about things like honour. I'd done enough since arriving in Skyrim that honour mattered little anymore. All that mattered was my survival. If I could fight clean, fair enough. But I had no problem fighting dirty, using every trick in the book to ensure my opponent died.

Maro fought well, I'll give him that. He was a trained soldier and had talent. But, as I said, he underestimated me. I had years fighting for the Fighter's Guild. And I'd spent more than enough time fighting for my life. I'd looked death in the eyes and laughed in his face more than once. Maro didn't stand a chance.

Once I'd disarmed him, I put my sword straight through his chest, making sure his death was quick. I could give him that, at least. Putting my sword in the rump of his horse, that took off, leaving his body alone on the road. From my hidden horse I took the incriminating letter and a couple of other items that would leave those who found him in little doubt that he'd been killed due to his Stormcloak sympathies. His father would have to resign immediately.