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The Forsworn Retribution	By : Samson Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Skyrim Views: 60892 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 3
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Sheep In Wolf's Clothing

The Forsworn Retribution
Part VII - "Unsung Heroes"
By: Jesse Racine AKA Samson
Original Date Written: November 25, 2014

Mere moments after their secret tryst, Sabrina walked out past Maximus and Gabriella, letting Maximus know she’d be gone for a short while - no telling where the supply packs had ended up, after all, and the corpses needed to be moved into the cave, as well. When she came back, everyone was ready to march, with Anya under close watch by Gabriella and Bunny. Clearly hoping her work would please him, Sabrina smiled at Maximus and held up two supply packs: one his, the other clearly belonging to the Thalmor agents, judging by the burgundy leather. She had even found his sword, for him.

After Sabrina dressed herself, she dragged the corpses of the Thalmor agents into the cave, burning them beyond recognition while the others waited outside. Then, under the cover of darkness, the group made their way back in the direction of Markarth. Despite Maximus’ enfeebled state, they managed to cover a little over nine miles before they sought shelter. There, after eating their first decent meal in days, Maximus and Anya had a little heart-to-heart about the predicament facing them both...

“...So. Anya.” Maximus coolly remarked, turning his head in her direction as well as he could. Anya simply raised an eyebrow at him, watching him enjoy a therapeutic massage from Svetlana, Sabrina, and Bunny, the three women trying their best to give him anodyne. Given that he was torturously sore and stiff from head to toe, something the march they had just undergone had only exacerbated, they took it upon themselves to massage every inch of his body and loosen him back up. To that end, he sat upright without his scalemail vest, enjoying their rather thorough approach to remedying his pain.

Bunny and Svetlana were at his sides, carefully massaging and stroking his arms, trying not to admire his muscles too much in the process. Sabrina, meanwhile, sat on her knees close behind him, massaging his back with both hands. Thankfully, the three of them had already helped to loosen up his shoulders, something Sabrina had christened with a tender kiss to the nape of his neck. Gabriella, meanwhile, stood watch over Anya, who had already been forced to strip back out of her armour for the night. The golden Altmer stood in little besides a black pair of underwear, begrudgingly showing off a great deal of her silky skin to her captors.

With the subtlest hint of venom, Anya answered “Yes, Maximus?” Despite being in the process of receiving an admittedly enjoyable and quite relaxing rub down, Maximus’ expression was nothing less than stony as he stared at the Altmer. He didn’t waste time beating around the bush. “We both face a problem, back in Markarth. To be honest, I’m glad my issue is now your’s, too. Means we’ll both have to figure out a way to fix it.” “Call it divine justice.” Gabriella quickly remarked, staring daggers at Anya. Anya briefly tilted her head back, a little. Looking towards the ceiling, she took in a little breath through her nose, sighing it out as she crossed her arms over her chest.

She took a step back, leaning against the cave wall behind her. Her eyes going to the floor, she briefly collected her thoughts before saying “...Your Imperial friend bringing the corpses into the cave and burning them was a nice touch. They’ll still be found, make no mistake. A child could find them. However, I might be able to claim that we were attacked by a horde of Falmer, and that they captured anyone they didn’t outright kill. I could say that the only reason I survived was because they thought they had killed me, thus leaving me behind. Still...When the bodies are found, and eventually they will be, the question might be raised as to why there’s a corpse missing...Namely, your’s, Maximus. If I go with that story, you won’t ever be able to go back to Markarth. If news of you reaches Ondolemar, it’ll expose the whole story as a lie.”

“He could just say he escaped from captivity, with our help, if need be.” Anya glanced upwards for a split-second before turning her head towards Gabriella. Matter-of-factly, she replied “How many people do you know of, Dunmer, that have escaped Falmer captivity? Few to none, I’m sure.” Before Gabriella could snap back, Sabrina looked over at Anya, inquisitively asking “Suppose Maximus was seen in Markarth, but that nobody clued in to the fact that there’s a body missing from the remains. What would Ondolemar do?” Anya looked over, arching her eyebrows as she commented “How sloppy do you think the Thalmor are? They know how many people were sent-”

“Answer the question.” Sabrina cut in, her brow furrowing. Anya gave a subtle sigh, her shoulders lightly slouching. Slowly, as if she resented having to even consider such an implausible scenario, she said “In that case, Ondolemar would simply order for Maximus’ arrest. He likely wouldn’t risk a second issue, and would simply interrogate Maximus inside the city limits.” “So, either way, Markarth is a no-go city for Max.” Sabrina commented, earning a nod from Anya. Maximus raised his eyebrows as well as his chin, taking in a breath as he matter-of-factly commented “Well, unfortunately for us both, that’s not an option, for me. I have business that’ll be keeping me in the Reach for the foreseeable future. I might need to stop by Markarth, from time to time.”

Anya briefly furrowed her brow, giving the mildest shake with her head out of pure confusion. “What? What do you mean? Why? What could be so important-” “Didn’t do your research, Anya?” Gabriella testily jabbed, between clenching jaws. Anya gave Gabriella a dirty look, only looking away when Maximus decided to answer her. In a rather simple understatement, he said “I have business with the Forsworn.” Anya’s eyes shifted to Bunny, prompting Maximus to add “Bunny’s the exception. She’s exempt, for a variety of reasons.” Bunny smiled a little, glancing up to his face, still massaging his arm over her lap.

Anya looked back over, slowly tilting her head to the side. Taking her time, she remarked “The way you say that, I can’t help but get the feeling you want revenge for something. What, if I may be so bold as to ask, would give an Imperial like you cause for a grudge against the natives?” Maximus raised his eyebrows as he quipped “I don’t like their gods.” None of Maximus’ lady friends could resist smiling. Anya, meanwhile, simply rolled her jaw around before clenching. Maximus quickly added “Speaking of which, did you ever pay a visit to my parents? You mentioned them, before all of this. You know who they are, don’t you?”

Anya’s mouth hung open, a crack, as she drew in a long, deep breath. Exhaling her words, she flatly said “I do. I was pointed towards them, and I eventually visited them during my investigation.” Maximus’ eyes slowly began to turn dark. Slowly, he commented “Now, if I were you, I’d be very careful about how I answer the next question, considering they’re our next destination. Did you give them the same sort of hospitality that you gave me?” Anya simply raised her eyebrows, nonchalantly saying “No, Max, I didn’t mark them as heretics, nor did I tell Ondolemar about them. They were in my report, obviously, but with that now scattered to the winds, it’s highly unlikely any Justiciars will be knocking on their door, any time soon.”

“Is that so? For some reason, I’m honestly surprised. We’ll see soon enough if you did, though.” Maximus remarked. Sabrina, her hands lingering on either side of his ribs, asked “We’re going to see your parents, Max?...All of us?” Raising an eyebrow, a half-smile growing on his face, Maximus turned his head to the side, barely looking at her from over his shoulder. “Oh, that’s right, eh? You’re the only one who hasn’t met my parents, yet. Well, if you promise to behave, you’ll get your chance, soon enough. I haven’t sent them word in ages, they’re probably worried half to death.” Sabrina smiled. Slipping her arms around him, she spaced apart her fingers as she touched his chest, pressing her face into his hair as she hugged him tight.

Anya rolled her eyes, but resisted the urge to make a comment. Sabrina gave the back of his neck a kiss as she released him, softly saying “Thanks. I won’t embarrass you, I promise.” Maximus didn’t reply, trying not to grunt when she resumed her massaging, moving on to a particularly sore area beneath his right arm. She had better not embarrass him. If she couldn’t keep her meat down during the visit, she could expect being booted to the curb. No way was he going to deal with that kind of talk from Hanse or Gertrude. Who he chose to keep in his company was really none of their business, especially not when they were such a powerful member of his mercenary team. Speaking of which...His eyes shifted to Gabriella. The two of them had better not start up about him being friendly with a Dunmer, again...

With the group taking their time, partly to plan their next move and partly to keep from undoing Maximus’ ongoing recovery effort, the trek to his parents’ home took the better part of a week. Along the way, the group took every opportunity to afford themselves the smaller luxuries of life on the road: bathing together at every opportunity, washing their clothes at least twice a day, and eating hot meals over roaring bonfires. As well, Maximus spent each night with a different girl, pulling them aside before veritably fucking their brains out. When he wasn’t tickling Gabriella’s tonsils with his man meat, he was plastering Svetlana’s grin with his baby batter. When he wasn’t sitting “Tiger” over his pole and watching her cry into a cunt-shattering orgasm, he was bending fang-face over and bumping her bodacious bubble butt until she was calling him daddy. Life was good, again.

Anya, he noticed, was quite quiet during the trip. Suited him just fine, truth be told - the less that came out of her mouth, the less potential for something pissing him off. Still, after a couple of days on the road, he became curious enough to pull her aside and ask her a question that had been lingering on his mind: she didn’t really enjoy being a part of the Thalmor, did she? “No,” she answered, “I don’t, and I never have.” When he asked why, she simply parroted something she had once said to him: “You have no idea what it’s like, being in the Thalmor.” Would she prefer, then, if she had a way out, instead of needing to report back to Ondolemar? “More than anything,” she admitted, looking intently into his eyes.

He told her he’d make sure to keep that in mind...

Finally, after days on the road, the little wooden cottage of Maximus’ childhood home came into view up the hill. Warm candlelight was glowing through a couple of the windows, beckoning the six of them closer with the promise of warmth, comfort, and most importantly of all, food. Their supplies had ran out two days prior, and although Bunny had fashioned some makeshift arrows from branches, stones, and twine, she had had some difficulty finding deer on the trail. No matter, Maximus had assured them. His parents would no doubt put out a spread upon his return, if only to have an excuse to make small talk with his team.

As they walked up the moonlit path towards the small farm, Maximus looked over his shoulder at the rest of them, quietly ordering “Everyone keep quiet, just let me do the talking. Especially you, Anya, not a damn word outta you.” Just a little wearily, Anya monotonously replied “My lips are sealed.” Maximus raised an eyebrow, eyes half-closed as he turned his head back around. He strode up to the front porch, stepping up on to the wooden platform, already drawing in a breath. As he reached out for the door, ready to call out and announce his arrival, someone suddenly yanked at it from within, throwing it open in a huff. “Where in Ysmir’s name have you been, Maximus?! We were worried sick! You said you’d regularly send us word! Did you know some Thalmor wench came around here, asking questions about you?! What have you been get...?”

Gertrude, face bright red with agitation, trailed off when she realized he wasn’t alone. Her eyes darted from face to face, her expression quickly lightening out of surprise. Maximus, beginning to smirk, pointed a thumb over his shoulder at Anya. “You mean, that Thalmor wench?” When Svetlana gave a snicker, Anya’s jaw tightened. The aging Nord woman raised her eyebrows high, her head slowly tilting back. Quietly, she asked “...Just what’s going on here, Maximus? Is everything alright?” Maximus grinned, glancing back at Anya before he said “Oh, everything’s just peachy, don’t you worry. The whole questioning thing was, eh...Just a little misunderstanding. We’re still working it out, the two of us.”

Hanse’s voice suddenly called out from deeper inside the home. “Gertie, you’re not going to make them stand on the porch all night, are you? Get in here, Maximus. As angry as I am for you not sending any letters, like you said you would, I’m more relieved that you’re alright.” Gertrude’s demeanor swiftly changed, after that comment. Her eyes started to moisten, but she held it together and kept from blubbering. Her tone of voice softening considerably, she remarked “I can never stay mad at you. Come inside, get in out of the cold, all of you. Are you hungry? We’ve already finished dinner, but I could put some more together for you and your friends.” Maximus grinned. “You read our minds, mom.”

“...So, where’s Joric?” Maximus asked, pulling out the last of the extra chairs, setting them around the large dinner table, giving everyone a chance to sit around in the middle of the toasty kitchen. As his lady friends took their seats, flanking him on either side, Hanse said “Your grandfather is away at Whiterun for the time being, selling off the harvest. He’s been worried about you, too. What have you been up to, out there? You’ve collected even more friends, correct me if I’m wrong.” Hanse briefly gestured left and right, motioning towards Gabriella, Svetlana, and Bunny to his right, and Sabrina and Anya to his left.

Maximus smiled, raising his eyebrows as he looked over in either direction. “No, you’re right. Anya, you’ve already met. This, here, is Sabrina. I met her a while back, but she hasn’t had a chance to meet either of you, until now. Her studies on Magicka keep her schedule pretty full.” “A wizard, hm?” Gertrude commented, smiling as she walked by, heading over to check the pot over the nearby fireplace. Sabrina gave a friendly smile of her own, and although it was quite out of her nature to be talkative with strangers, she clearly wanted to make a good first impression on Maximus’ parents. “A Master sorceress, actually. I’ve been studying Magicka for quite some time, now. Trust me, your son is in good hands. I owe him a lot, and the least I could do in return is give his team some Magicka support.”

Sabrina’s hand drifted over under the table, coming over his knee. Maximus didn’t react. He could tell it was already putting his parents’ worries at ease, hearing that he wasn’t trekking around with amateurs during these dangerous times. So long as she didn’t come right out and say that he liked putting his meat in her, Sabrina could keep on being talkative until the crack of dawn, for all he cared. Gabriella was still looking around, taking in the kitchen and lounge combo, when Hanse said something she didn’t register. The room was fairly sized, or at least, it didn’t feel cramped. Somewhere behind her, there was the front door, along with a couple other doorways leading to bedrooms. The kitchen and lounge combo seemed to take up the majority of the home’s space.

The round dinner table, a fairly large piece of furniture, sat in the middle of the room over a collection of fur pelts. Off to the side, there was a surprisingly sophisticated cooking set-up, with a metal rig suspending a big, black pot over a brick fire pit situated beneath a chimney. Several racks were hanging from the ceiling near the fireplace, suspending dried Elves Ear and garlic braids, along with a couple fresh rabbits and fowls. On the far side of the room, there were numerous bookshelves lining the walls, some filled with texts, most filled with jars of cooking spices and preservatives. She blinked, snapping out of her observations when Hanse remarked “...Think I lost her. Maybe your dark elf friend needs sleep, Max.”

She looked over just as Maximus said “Heh heh, maybe. Hey, Gabby, quit daydreaming.” Gabriella subtly shot him a dirty look, but it quickly faded when Gertrude, busy tossing some spices into the stew bubbling over the fire pit, pleasantly said “Oh, is that her name? Gabby? You never gave us her name when you first introduced us, Max.” The girls all looked over at Gabriella. The Dunmer, somewhat uncomfortably, cleared her throat and said “It’s Gabriella, actually. Gabby is just what Max calls me...” Gertrude, smiling, still blissfully unaware of Maximus’ deception, nonchalantly asked “Are you still betrothed to the Nord, there? Svetlana, wasn’t it?” Bunny’s face went blank. Dumbfounded, she flatly commented “Wait, what?”

Svetlana’s face was split by a grin as she seamlessly worked with the lie. Slipping an arm around Gabriella’s shoulders, she pulled the dark elf to her side, Gabriella begrudgingly keeping still. Her head beginning to hang down, her face quickly flushing, she offered not a peep to the contrary as Svetlana cheerfully said “Oh yeah, Gabby and me are still together! Why would I ever even think of leaving this beautiful little thing? Believe me, we turn heads everywhere we go. Nobody expects to see a dark elf and a Nord, together. She gets so flustered when people look at us in the streets, but when we’re alone, she’s never happier. We plan on tying the knot the moment we have enough gold to buy a house, together. Shouldn’t be too long, with Maximus keeping us busy with work.”

Anya slowly started raising an eyebrow up high, looking sidelong at the spectacle. She hadn’t been with Maximus’ team for long, but even she could tell that this act was complete codswallop. Gabriella’s face slowly darkened to an ebon shade, hanging her head down further until her eyes were hidden by her bangs. Hanse, clearly just a little unused to the idea of two women being together, or at least being so open about it, tried not to word his question awkwardly. Raising a hand, briefly scratching at his cheek, he asked “If you don’t mind my prying, miss...When, ah...When did you first figure out that you liked other girls?” Sabrina successfully hid a smile, briefly frowning before sitting back in her chair, crossing her arms beneath her bosom. She daintily crossed her legs under the table, tilting her head to the side as she watched the show unfold. This should be good.

Maximus wasn’t sure how much of Svetlana’s story was true and how much was pure fabrication, but if she was lying, then she was a damn good actress. He knew the priestess held a healthy love for men, so she couldn’t have been telling anything more than a half-truth. A bright look on her face, Svetlana kept hugging Gabriella to her side as she said “Oh, probably around the same time most pups start looking around. It just felt natural, you know? Luckily for me, I found someone who felt the same way, and my fellow priestesses at the Temple of Dibella were very supportive. They showed me what I already knew, really, but it was nice to hear it from so many people...That our love was wonderful, that love knows no borders. None.” Bunny looked over at the two, her lips set in a flat line. She gave a couple blank blinks, then her eyes shifted to Maximus.

A little slowly, Gertrude said “Well, I guess that is true...It’s a little odd to see such an extreme example, though...” Svetlana grinned from ear to ear, letting out a brief laugh before saying “Oh, believe you me, I’ve seen much odder, in the temple. I’ve been trying to serve the gods for a couple years, now, and I got to see some unexpected couples just in Mara’s service, alone. When you serve Dibella, though...Mm...Well, the secrets of the heart are pretty complicated, let’s put it that way. You pretty quickly figure out that people and their desires come in an endless variety of flavours. Luckily, the temple has collected plenty of information about all sorts of things for those who want it. They taught me how to make another woman happy, at least. Isn’t that right, honey?” Svetlana looked at Gabriella, who merely mumbled something under her breath.

Svetlana gave Gabriella a quick kiss to the cheek, giving Hanse an amused look as well as a little wave, dismissing Gabriella’s behaviour. Hanse briefly raised his eyebrows, evidently unable to see through the act. As Gertrude stirred her stew around, she curiously asked “How’s the temple doing, these days? Have you been there, recently?” Svetlana lightly cleared her throat, finally taking her arm from around Gabriella’s shoulders, much to her relief. Her voice taking on a less playful twist, Svetlana sucked her teeth and said “Actually, no, um...I had a slight disagreement with the head priestess, a little while ago. That’s what let me meet Max, actually. In fact, I should’ve checked back in a while ago, but...Well, my work with Max keeps me fairly busy. We aren’t really in Markarth as often as I’d like.”

Looking over at Maximus, she commented “Which makes me think, Max. The next time we stop by Markarth, I might be able to see about us getting a room at the temple, for the night...Unless, you still have your Septims for an inn room?” Hanse and Gertrude both looked over at him, briefly worried that he didn’t have enough gold to support his time away from home. After the future-stabilizing mountain of gold he had given them, they would’ve felt pretty damn guilty if it turned out that he hadn’t left anything for himself. Maximus raised his eyebrows and put their budding concerns at ease, patting his supply bag as he said “The coins weren’t taken, surprisingly. Still, that’d be a bad idea, Lana...” Looking over at Anya, he added “...Unless our friend can work her magic and save everyone some trouble?”

Anya briefly raised her eyebrows, matter-of-factly replying “I’ve made no promises, Maximus. Given my own stake in the matter, you can rest assured I’ll do my best. I’m still thinking over how best to approach this...Delicate matter. There are more than a few possibilities to consider.” Gertrude walked about in the background, beginning to collect a stack of bowls from a nearby bookshelf. Hanse leaned back in his chair, his eyes taking on a cool hint, his teeth subtly going on edge. “Right. Something tells me that this “matter” has something to do with the questions you were asking about my son. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: we’re all well aware of the Empire’s treaty with your people.” Anya took in a breath, a second away from pointing out that being aware of something didn’t necessarily equate to adherence when Maximus interjected.

“I think Anya’s learning the consequences of putting words in other peoples’ mouths...Or, aren’t you?” Anya slightly tilted her head towards him. Slowly, her eyes shifted, locking on him through the corners. A weary look developing on her face, she humourlessly stated “Among other things.” Maximus smirked, simply humming out a “Hm” as he gave a single half-nod. Gertrude began filling each of the bowls she had collected with stew, which quickly got Sabrina to say “Eh, thank you, I appreciate your hospitality, sincerely, but I don’t think I’d be able to fit another mouthful. I had a pretty big meal just before we arrived...The last of our food supplies, in fact.” None of the others gave up the real reason why Sabrina wasn’t interested.

Thankfully, Gertrude didn’t seem to take offence, although she did comment that Sabrina would be missing out on a fantastic stew. Hanse idly remarked “Look at her, Gertie. I don’t think she’s in any danger of wasting away.” He punctuated the comment by giving Maximus a rather obvious eyebrow raise, which only got him smiling like a jackal. One corner of Sabrina’s mouth flickered up in the barest smile, her cheeks turning a tint pink. With the subject broached, Gertrude took it a step further. Handing out filled bowls and utensils, she, very casually, said “So, Max, when are you going to find yourself a woman, eh? Shor’s bones, you can fill a team with them, but you can’t fill a bed? I thought I raised you better than that.”

Each of Maximus’ lady friends reacted a little differently, but to their credit, none of them cracked. Mostly, they were trying not to laugh or let on that, actually, they were all already his lovers. Maximus, too, was able to get through the absurdity, but not without laughing to himself. Trying not to tear up with mirth, he chortled out “Mom, please, I think I can handle myself. I can...I can handle myself, believe me. Don’t you worry about a thing.” Hanse briefly gestured at Svetlana, suggesting “You’ve got a friend in the temple, don’t you think she could see about introducing you to some nice young woman? Surely there are women that come to the temple, looking for help finding men?”

Svetlana grinned, looking over at Maximus. “I sure could. I guess he’s never had the stones to ask, though.” Maximus immediately raised his eyebrows at the teasing. Leaning to the side, he looked over at her, waited a moment, then gave a slow nod. “Don’t have the stones, eh? We’ll see about that, Lana. We’ll just see about that.” Bunny, looking down at her bowl, stuck her fork inside the steaming broth, spearing a big chunk of potato. A little bravely, she said “I wouldn’t mind spending some time with Max...Just the two of us. It’s not easy, though, when there’s so many of us...”

Everyone, even Anya, looked over at Bunny. Gabriella raised her eyebrows, her expression otherwise aloof. Hanse gave the table a little rapping with his fist, then pointed at Maximus. “Look at that, boy. You’ve got a perfectly good young woman right there, and what are you doing about it?” Maximus slowly raised an eyebrow, his eyes going half-closed as he looked over at Bunny. His smirk got even bigger as he remarked “Nothing yet, but the night is still young.” Bunny’s smile grew, her face flushing red as she raised her hunk of potato to her lips, lightly blowing the steam off of it.

After enjoying some pleasant dinner and a couple tankards of mead, the group said their goodbyes, but not before enduring a speech from Gertrude about how Maximus had better not make them worry so much, a third time. After putting half a mile of distance between themselves and the farm, they set up camp in a small field, quickly getting a fire together before calling it a night. Before Sabrina slipped away to find more suitable shelter for herself, she extended an invitation to Maximus, saying he could stay at her den while Anya was taking care of business in Markarth, if he so wished...

“...Thanks, we might just take you up on that. Might have no choice.” Maximus answered, despite the fact that she had worded her invitation exclusively towards him, and not the group. Sabrina smiled, a little. Raising a hand, she briefly wiggled her fingers at him in a muted wave goodbye, then turned around and walked off into the night. Gabriella, kneeling closer to the fire pit than the other four, was busy tossing some branches and grass into the flames as they chatted, maintaining her silence as the day finished winding down. Maximus, meanwhile, sat in a sort of half-circle with Bunny and Svetlana, the two woman relaxing at his sides. Anya, once again stripped to her underwear by the others to discourage her from trying to sneak off, looked over from her nearby position when Maximus called her name.

Maximus casually waved her over, commenting “C’mere, Anya. We need to talk.” Anya simply looked at him for a couple seconds, as if trying to gauge his intentions or mood. Eventually, she stood up from her spot, walked over, and sat down cross-legged in front of him. Gabriella subtly watched Anya from behind, keeping a close eye on the Altmer. Svetlana and Bunny both had rather stoic expressions as Maximus asked “We’re making our way back to Markarth. You know what that means. What’re your plans? I know you don’t really want to go back.”

Anya let out a little sigh, her big, orange eyes dropping from his. Taking in a little breath, she looked back up, and quite curtly answered “No, I don’t.” “Then what are you going to say? You haven’t just ruined Max’s life, you’ve put the rest of us in danger, too. People know we’ve been with him, for a while.” Svetlana stated, her brow beginning to sink. Anya briefly raised her chin, letting out another little sigh. For a moment, she rubbed her hands across her knees. “I know. Some part of me debates even returning to Markarth, but I know I have to. Not just for myself, but for the rest of you, as well. If I simply disappear, it won’t help anyone. If all of us disappear...Well, I have my doubts things would be any better, at least not for any appreciable amount of time.”

Anya closed her eyes, wearily rubbing at her forehead. She explained her whole thought process, holding nothing back, sugarcoating not a single thing. “Some part of me wants to be optimistic and say that if we all just outright disappeared, my compatriots would come to the conclusion we would want them to, and assume that my dead comrades were victims of a Falmer attack, an attack that neither myself nor Maximus managed to survive. Our bodies wouldn’t be accountable simply because the Falmer had taken us underground. The disappearance of the rest of you would then, hopefully, be brushed off as little more than leaves scattering to the winds. If there’s one thing I know about myself, however, it’s that I am not an optimist.”

“If we all just disappear without me reporting to Ondolemar, he’ll simply put two and two together and organize a manhunt. None of us would ever be safe, then. No, I need to make an appearance and report on what happened...What happens after that, I’m still not sure of. I already know what I’ll tell him, however: while en route to Northwatch Keep, we were attacked by Falmer, who killed anyone they didn’t simply paralyze and capture. Only I survived because they ended up paralyzing me into a prone position, and none of them realized I wasn’t a corpse after the battle was over, thus leaving me behind. The only hole in that story is, why would they have left me behind if they assumed I was dead, but dragged off the rest of the corpses?...Everyone is dead, after all.”

“I suppose I can offer the conjecture that they miraculously forgot about me completely, and dragged off the others for food, sport, or...Whatever those abominations do with their captives. As for why they’re left in the first chamber of the cave, charred to a crisp...Maybe they didn’t think to go very far before they had their fun. I can then say I don’t know why there’s a body unaccounted for, but that I assume Maximus suffered a fate even worse than the rest.” Anya dropped her hand, opening her eyes halfway, giving Maximus a tired stare. “...As you can tell, I’m not particularly confident in this for a good reason. The only feasible explanation I can think of isn’t exactly airtight.” Maximus, merely gazing at her with half-closed eyes, prodded her lingering weak spot. “And you have no idea what you want to do, after that? You made it sound like you wanted to leave the Thalmor, earlier.”

Anya straightened her back, raising her head. “I do, but I’m not getting into the reasons why. None of you would understand, anyway. I plan on making my report, then quietly slipping away. Maybe I could make “Anya” disappear...If I desert from the Thalmor, though, they’ll hunt me with the same rabid determination they would a Blades member. Nowhere in Tamriel would be safe, for me...Except, perhaps, Skyrim, so long as it remains only partially welcoming of the Aldmeri Dominion...” “What’s a Blades? Is that a people?” Bunny piped up, glancing at Maximus. Anya glanced upwards, waving dismissively at Bunny. In an unexpectedly casual tone of voice, she said “Nothing important, at least not anymore. They’re just a pack of ghosts that the Thalmor won’t let rest.”

As an afterthought, Anya added “Ulfric Stormcloak, the Jarl of Windhelm, has always been a fairly loud opponent of the White-Gold Concordat. His hold is probably the least friendly place for the Dominion in a land already not at all very welcoming of elves. If there’s one place with the best chance of safety, maybe it’s there...” Maximus derailed her train of thought. His brow beginning to furrow, he callously said “That’s all well and good, Anya, but that doesn’t necessarily help me, or any of my team, for that matter. You might be able to throw suspicion off of them, but not me. Right now, I just want one thing from you. One.” Tilting his head forward, staring up at her, he demanded “Your accusation was empty, wasn’t it?”

Anya immediately replied “I had evidence that suggested-” Svetlana coldly snapped “Suggested, but not proved. Isn’t that right, elf?” Anya went silent. Although her strong posture remained, she avoided making eye contact with Maximus for a long, uncomfortable period of time. After close to a minute of nothing but the fire crackling, Anya finally looked back up to his eyes, quietly admitting “...I had documented links. Ties to people and recorded behaviour that made you a likely heretic.” Maximus’ jaw briefly clenched. Staring right through her, he demanded “But you didn’t have any actual proof, did you? Nothing concrete and irrefutable, nothing that said, yes, I am for sure violating your little treaty. All you had was your word against mine?”

Anya blinked a couple times, in rapid succession. The strength in her eyes was waning. Softly, she said “...In the Thalmor, that’s all it takes. A mere suggestion. The proof can come later...Much, much later.” One hand slid up from her knee, going to her thigh. The other went up to the side of her face, Anya brushing some bangs behind an ear. In an even quieter, almost self-pitying voice, she offered “That’s one of the reasons why I even want to leave, in the first place...I never said I was proud of what I did.” Maximus slowly leaned back, a little, his aggressiveness visibly dialling down. Anya looked back into his eyes.

The strength in her voice returning, she added “...But, to be fair, you’ve never actually denied believing in Talos, have you, Maximus?” Maximus’ expression never faltered, never cracked. “I don’t believe any man should be killed for what he thinks, Anya. You, more than anyone, should understand what I mean by that.” Anya kept looking into his eyes, for a couple seconds, before looking away. Oh, she knew what he meant, alright. It was a tough pill to swallow, thinking that her pedestal hadn’t been so high, after all. Maximus let her stew on that thought for a few moments, then nodded off to the side. “...Try to get some sleep. We’ll be moving, again, as soon as dawn breaks.”

Anya quietly complied, standing back up and walking back over to her previous spot, not far from the fire. Changing the subject to something a little more pleasant, Maximus looked over at Svetlana with a curious look on his face. “Lana, I’ve wanted to ask, ever since we left. That little song and dance you put on for my parents, just how much of that was true?” Bunny leaned over, looking past Maximus to the priestess. Her eyes wide, she chimed in “Yeah, I think I’d like to know, too.” Svetlana grinned from ear to ear, bubbling with laughter as she said “Well, sorry! Did you want me to give up the truth? Didn’t you once tell me that your parents don’t really like elves?”

“It was bad enough the first time around, you little n’wah. I didn’t need that humiliation for a second time.” Gabriella muttered, looking over at Svetlana with a wholly unimpressed look on her face. Svetlana gave her a dismissive wave, remarking “Heh, fine! Next time it comes up, I’ll tell them the truth: you open your legs for Max like a loose door swinging in the breeze!” Maximus gave a laugh, but Gabriella was far from amused. Ignoring a rude gesture from the other woman, Svetlana looked over at Maximus, smiling cheerily. “I meant everything I said about the temple, that wasn’t just some fluff to back up your little lie. I really do believe in the mysteries of the heart.”

Everyone, even Anya, calmly watched Svetlana. Gazing into the fire, she candidly said “The teachings of Mara and Dibella are very close, I’ve found. I don’t think you can have one without the other, or any one Divine without any of the others, for that matter. Mara teaches us that love is one of the best things about living. She teaches us that we all need love, and that giving it, and then receiving it, makes life so much richer. I completely, totally agree, and I’ve been looking for that ever since I was a little girl. If love weren’t so beautiful, would my parents have stayed together, when they first met? But, Dibella...She teaches the richer complexities of love. She teaches how two radically different people can come together not just emotionally, but physically, as well. When all the walls come down...It’s beautiful.” “When all the walls come down?” Bunny repeated, her face going a little confused.

Svetlana briefly looked over, nodding with a smile. “Emotional walls. Mara says that love knows no boundaries. Dibella says the physical aspect of love is beautiful, and a fulfilling part of life. It’s common knowledge that love leads to sex...And, although admitting it might make us feel dirty, fantastic sex does, in fact, deepen feelings of love. They naturally complement each other. I don’t know...I went to Mara because I believe in love, and want it, for myself. Maybe I went to Dibella right after, instead of one of the other Divines, because I wanted to better understand the secrets of the bedroom. It was always so satisfying, giving a couple advice on how to spice up their private time...And then seeing the adoration in their eyes, the next day.”

Smiling confidently, Svetlana looked over at Maximus, bringing a hand over to his thigh. “I guess it won’t be any big surprise, saying that I’ve been practicing the Dibellan Arts with the lot of you, ever since we met. That mutual vulnerability brings out trust, tenderness, the foundations for any real connection. Some things that make sex great, people don’t often just figure out on their own...Just like, sometimes, Mara’s teachings don’t dawn on people until the moment they least expect it. I believe in the Divines with all my heart, and sometimes, they surprise you. Don’t you think?” Maximus didn’t say anything, simply blinking. Svetlana kept looking into his eyes, giving him a sweet smile. The camp descended into silence. Only the comforting crackles of the fire saw the need to speak out.

When morning came, the group made their way to Sabrina’s den. There, Maximus sent Anya off, alone, to Markarth. The others were surprised by this move, despite the fact that Anya had made it clear that she was just as much in danger as the rest of them. Even more surprising was when Maximus told her the group would be staying in the cave for a little while, perhaps a day or two. If she intended to betray them, this would’ve made for a perfect opportunity.

But, perhaps that was Maximus’ intention. Tests of trust weren’t uncommon for him, the others had figured out. Anya was rather muted in her acceptance of the order. She was a soldier - she knew what she needed to do, and she was prepared to face it through to the end, however unpleasantly it may turn out. The only thing she said in response was that she would try to leave the city that coming night, in order to return to him. If she didn’t arrive by sunrise at the very latest, he shouldn’t wait up. Then, she was off...

“...Sabrina should be asleep around this time, right?” Bunny asked, looking at Maximus in the glow of Svetlana’s Candlelight. Carefully walking down the slope in the cave passage, Maximus muttered out “I would think so, so try to keep the noise down. Last thing I need is for her waking up after an hour’s worth of sleep and being all cranky, with me.” He let out a little chuckle. With a smirk, he added “Granted, I’d just adjust her attitude, but still. The less hassle, the better.” His lady friends kept their silence, at least until they walked into the actual chamber of Sabrina’s cramped little home. Then, Maximus felt a hand take him by the elbow, just lightly grabbing for his attention.

He stopped walking and turned to the side, raising an eyebrow at Gabriella. She slowly let go of his arm, her brow barely furrowed, her lips set in a hard line. Looking deep into his eyes, she quietly muttered out “Do you really think it’s a good idea to stay here, Max? I, for one, don’t trust Anya. I don’t see how you can, either, after what she did to you.” Maximus simply raised his eyebrow further, retorting “I don’t.” Svetlana and Bunny turned around, watching the two. Gabriella went further, asking “Then, why are we planning on staying here with Anya off the leash, heading off most likely to turn us in to save her own hide? You think the Thalmor wouldn’t storm this place in force?”

Maximus turned towards her, completely. His brow was beginning to sink, yet his tone remained low. “Because I know, and more importantly Anya knows, that turning us in would get her killed faster than you can say “traitor.” I’m almost a non-issue, in this situation. If the Thalmor figured out what really happened, their number one priority would be Anya, and with her thin skin, she’d crack under interrogation pretty damn quick. After that, all sorts of nastiness would come out, including her little fetish for Imperials, prisoners, heretics, or all of the above. The torture she’d undergo would make what they’d do to us look like a slap on the wrist, no doubt. It’s in her best interest to save our asses, along with her own.”

Gabriella was about to argue further when she blinked, gave a quick little shake with her head, and curiously repeated “Fetish for Imperials? What’re you talking about?” He started to grin, trying not to crack up as he said “You ever seen a High Elf throat a foot-long sausage with a smile?” Gabriella’s face went blank with incredulity. Her eyes shifted to Bunny when the little Breton smiled sheepishly, chiming in “It’s true, I saw it myself. She took him aside, and kinda...Went to town.” Gabriella quickly began to frown, her eyes darting back to Maximus. He shrugged, still grinning as he commented “Hey, I was in no position to stop her. She had a tickle in her throat, what was I gonna do?”

Gabriella reached up and gave him a little smack on the chest, then stomped off deeper into the cave. Maximus chuckled and watched her go, giving her an indifferent waving off. Svetlana smiled and said “I’ll go check on Sabrina, see if she’s asleep.” Maximus watched her go, for a moment, as he walked over to Sabrina’s circular table, his pack making not a sound as he set it over the red velvet tablecloth. He idly noticed Sabrina had a big, black book sitting open in front of her regal wooden chair, but before he could indulge his budding curiosity and take a look at her reading material, Bunny stepped closer to him. With a hint of concern in her voice, she said “Max? Um, listen, there’s something I think you should know. I think someone might’ve been following us, after Northwatch...And I think I know who it was.”

Maximus’ eyes immediately flashed with anger. “Someone was...Why in Oblivion didn’t you say something, earlier?” Bunny timidly arched her eyebrows, raising her hands up in front of her stomach, nervously wringing and fiddling her fingers. “Because they never stopped following us, they were on our tail every step of the way! I didn’t know how many of them there were, and if I tried telling you about it, they might’ve figured it out! I just wanted to keep us safe!” He took a step towards her, hastily asking “Do you think they know where we are, right now?” Bunny nodded, looking up at him with her big, clear eyes. “I think so, they followed us from your parents’ house, anyway. I’ve felt like I was being watched ever since you were taken by the Thalmor, but...It’s not elves. They were in the hills, always.”

“Forsworn.” Maximus uttered, his eyes hardening. Bunny gave a little nod. Taking a little step towards him, she glanced downwards, then looked back up into his eyes. “Max, listen...I, um...Have a little confession, to make. You remember that other Forsworn girl you scared off, way back when? The one I was alone with?” Maximus needed a moment to recall the instance, but eventually, he gave a nod. Bunny’s jaw subtly clenched, her eyes sharpening before she sighed out “That was my sister...My actual blood sister, not just another Forsworn girl in the tribe. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that. Her name’s Straight Arrow, but most people just call her Straight...She took the damn name just to mess with me. She’s not even an archer, for crying out loud.”

Bunny’s eyes drifted off to the side in a moody glare, her lower lip beginning to pout. “She came to me because she wanted me to go back to the family...No idea why, no reason to find out.” Maximus’ face was already turning bored. Eyes briefly drifting off up and off to the side, he remarked “Why are you telling me this, after all this time? You think she was the one following us?” Bunny’s eyes lightened back up. She looked up to him, giving a nod. “The scary thing is, I don’t know why. The last time I saw her, I did what I thought you would do, and stood up to her. Then, you scared her off pretty good...If she’s the one following us, I don’t think it’s just to talk to me. I could be wrong, but...I don’t think so.”

Maximus gave her a severe stare, the icy look in his eyes eventually prompting her to look away. He was a little flattered that she had looked up to him for an example, but still, he wasn’t pleased. Eventually, he flatly said “...You should’ve told me sooner, Bunny. This isn’t the sort of thing you put off. You couldn’t have told me at my parents’ house?” Bunny couldn’t manage eye contact, her chin briefly quivering as she mumbled “...I didn’t think about it, at the time...I’m sorry...Please, don’t be mad...” Maximus just sighed, walking past her. Just as he was pulling out Sabrina’s little throne-like chair, he heard Svetlana say something, on the other side of the cave chamber. Abruptly, a fire burst into life in Sabrina’s natural fireplace, filling much of the area with a warm red glow.

Maximus and Bunny both looked over as bare feet came patting towards them. “If you were trying to stay quiet...Haww...You didn’t manage it.” Sabrina sleepily mumbled, rubbing at her eyes as she came walking towards them. She was, a little surprisingly, dressed only in her panties, otherwise in the buff and proud of it. Maybe it was because she became lazy when she was home, maybe it was because she was too damn annoyed to get dressed after having her sleep interrupted, but whatever the case was, she was jiggling, swaying, and bulging without a care for who saw her. She gave a big yawn, then absentmindedly added “Aww...Hah...Did you have any trouble on the way, while I was gone?...No?...Okay, good...”

Maximus smiled and sat down in her chair, eyeing her up and down as she came over. Sabrina briefly ran a hand through her hair, leaning over and giving Maximus a kiss hello halfway through her words. “Since Anya isn’t here, I...Mm...Suppose you’ve sent her off to Markarth?” Svetlana walked over from behind a bookshelf in time to see Sabrina turn herself around, casually parking her giant, gelatinous ass in Maximus’ lap. He immediately developed a hungry smile as the Anal Queen took her rightful throne over his crotch, loving the way her thick cheeks squished against his thighs under her weight. Sabrina, looking quite pleased with herself, pulled closer the book she had left open as she listened to him.

“I did. The lot of us are going to be staying here, for a day or two. I’m not sure what the hospitality of a vampire is like...I’m sure you don’t keep any food or drink, after all...But while Anya is taking care of business, we’ll find out.” Svetlana and Bunny both looked at the two with a mixture of jealousy and desire, watching them get a little physical with no apparent regard for the others. Sabrina looked over her shoulder with a smile, holding back a chortle as she remarked “I’ll have you know that I’m a very gracious host, Max. I did extend to you an invitation, didn’t I? I need to ask, though...Do you really think it’s wise, letting Anya go like that? Don’t you think you should’ve sent one of us after her, to keep an eye on her?”

“Ya know, we really oughta get you a bra.” Maximus commented out of the blue, utterly ignoring her question. Sabrina’s expression briefly went blank before she started to get flustered. “What? A b-bra? Me?” She squeaked, arching her eyebrows. Maximus grinned. Svetlana swallowed some excess saliva, a droplet of sweat rolling down the side of her reddening face. She swore to herself, if she didn’t get to see Max push Sabrina over her table and spear her ass, her life would never be complete. Bunny must’ve been thinking the same thing, considering the way her hands rather conspicuously brushed close to her crotch. Like the little masochist she was, she must’ve loved being ignored, made to watch Maximus get close to another girl.

Gabriella suddenly stepped out from between two bookshelves, quickly remarking in a flat tone “Sabrina, you remember that thing you asked for my help with, a few days ago? Don’t you think now would be the perfect time for that?” Maximus narrowed an eye, looking over with a sly smile. Oh, don’t think you’re clever, dagger-ears. You’re quite transparent. Sabrina’s face slowly lost it’s colour as she swiftly turned her head over, raising her eyebrows. “Um...To be honest, Gabby, I’m absolutely exhausted...I’d like to fall back asleep soon, if I can, but...Yes, please, I’d still love the help.” Svetlana raised an eyebrow, glancing at Gabriella. “Help with what?” She asked.

“Nothing!” Sabrina snapped, a frown blasting into life across her face. Svetlana chuckled disbelievingly, openly surprised by Sabrina’s unexpected shift in tone. Sabrina promptly stood up, walked over to Gabriella, and disappeared between two thick bookshelves. Svetlana raised an eyebrow, remarking under her breath that Sabrina really needed more sleep. Bunny chuckled, but Maximus just smiled.

(Author's Note - Heya, powered through a little chapter for you guys^_^. This chapter was mostly just showing how the team wound down after Maximus’ treatment at the hands of the Thalmor, giving everyone a chance to relax and catch their breath. So, we got to hang out with Maximus and the others, follow them as they recuperated, thought out how they’d deal with the potential consequences of freeing Maximus, and, of course, had wild sex...Behind the scenes, hoh hoh:D. Gabby’s a jealous little elf!

The next chapter, which will hopefully be dominated entirely by the orgy scene provided I don’t fuck it up or burn out, might also plant the seeds for the next plot point for the story to go in. If not, the chapter after. The orgy, as I’ve said before, will (should) focus quite a bit on Sabrina, with Maximus deciding it’s time to drain the vampire and fix that lil’ ol’ blue balls problem he’s been giving her, the last long while. I guess he’s finally gotten his fix of sexually frustrating her, heh heh. As well, since some people have been vocal about liking Anya, she might be getting a little more attention than I originally thought:o. I don’t know, I’m pretty tired right now, it’s hard to think=,=”.

No flippin’ idea what the next sex scene will beD:. I’m cramming a metric fuck-ton of ideas into this next orgy, so as long as I don’t burn out and stop doing detailed scenes, it should be a long chapter. I guess I’ll have to look back at what other scenarios I asked for votes on, to see what the next scene should be...Unless anyone has anything new that they’d like to suggest:o? Hope you enjoyed, and I’ll see you in the next one:).)
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The Forsworn Retribution