Meme Announcements!
Oct. 29th, 2011 12:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skyrimkinkmemeANNOUNCEMENTS: UPDATED 12/16/2017
Happy Holidays, fellow Kinkmemers! I have returned and have no reasonable excuse for my absence except LIFE. I will be working on updating the archives. If anyone sees anything amiss, please let me know.
I am also hoping to find another Mod and an Archivist.
The more dedicated people we have in this Meme the less chance of it dying. I admit that being the sole keeper of the Meme is not great for the fandom. If something were to happen to me, for good, this place would go the way of the Fallout Kink Meme. Let's not let that happen! If anyone would be interested in Modding/Archiving, please drop me a line. Thanks! <3
Why does my spouse want to sell our wedding ring?
Date: 2013-02-10 03:12 pm (UTC)I know it's simply because all merchants in this game put all their possessions up for sale, but it still makes me so damn sad.
That's why I would like a story with a sensible, rational reason why the spouse wants to sell the ring even though he/she really loves the DB. The fluffier the better.
Slash preferred, but het or femslash or fine, too.
Re: Why does my spouse want to sell our wedding ring?
Date: 2013-02-19 06:00 am (UTC)Re: Why does my spouse want to sell our wedding ring?
Date: 2013-02-25 11:55 am (UTC)Re: Why does my spouse want to sell our wedding ring?
Date: 2013-03-13 06:24 am (UTC)Summary: The Dragonborn and his wife have money troubles. But there are some things that are worth too much to sell.
Tags: M!DB, char:Ysolda, kink:angst, relationship:het (Still not so good at this tagging thing. This is only the second fill I've posted. If anyone notices anything I may have missed, please let me know.)
Note: This actually pretty much mirrors my playing of this character a lot. Raven and Ysolda really did have money troubles, and Lakeview Manor was so uninhabitable for such a long while that they were stuck in Whiterun for ages. Silly me for not wanting to "waste" money on Breezehome, when in actuality, any of the Hearthfire manors are waaaaaay more money in the long run.
(Fill starts next post because I'm on a phone and it won't tell me when I've reached the character limit.)
Struggle (1/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 07:30 am (UTC)Ysolda didn't want to sell the ring. Just like she hadn't wanted to part with her favorite books. Just like her husband hadn't wanted to get rid of his Elven crafted sword, with an unusual enchantment that caused the golden blade to light aflame at night. But times were hard, and sacrifices needed to be made. Winter was closing in. They needed to stock up on food before the cold hit, and that required money. Factor in the cost of wood for the fire and a tax hike that was used to rebuild the city after a terrible siege from the Stormcloaks, from which the forces of the Empire barely managed to defend the city and its inhabitants, and things seemed absolutely impossible.
Raven, her husband, had helped defend Whiterun against that siege. He was offered a lovely house in Whiterun as a reward for his valor, as he so fiercely defended the city, its inhabitants, and his good friend, the honorable Jarl Balgruuf. However, Raven had already sunk most of their savings into some land in the Pine Forests surrounding Falkreath, hoping to build there a glorious manor, with a fantastically beautiful view of Lake Ilinalta. They had such high hopes and seemingly unreachable fantasies of watching the sunset on a lovely porch, holding each other close as night fell on a warm summer's evening, drinking the finest wine and making love under the stars.
Struggle (2/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 07:54 am (UTC)It didn't help that the small cabin Raven managed to finish had been destroyed by a dragon attack. No one was more upest by the destruction than he was. He'd built that tiny house single-handedly over the course of six long months. He'd Shouted so loudly upon observing the burning wreckage that it was heard all the way in Whiterun. And he was normally very good at masking his anger. She did not blame him for being so upset. They were past broke and nearing poverty, and all of his hard work, his blood, sweat and tears that went into the house were all for naught.
A month later, after weeks of feeling ill in the mornings and a missed visit of what Raven jokingly called her "Red Rage," Ysolda came home from a visit to the Temple of Kynareth with what should have been good news: She was pregnant. But they barely had enough money to feed themselves, much less sustain an infant. They were so behind on the taxes that they'd had to sell nearly all of their belongings. The strain led to arguments, which led to more strain, which was ultimately too much for Ysolda's body to take. After three weeks of sleepless nights, of missing meals, of working herself too hard for too little money at the inn, Ysolda suffered a miscarriage.
Struggle (3/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 08:20 am (UTC)All of this led to a very painful choice. The ring was the only thing left of value that Ysolda had to give. And yet it held more value than any amount of gold could match. As she held the ring in her hands she tore her mind apart as she argued with herself over how much good selling it would do. A part of her felt that selling it would rip out a part of her very soul, and seal the fate of their marriage, damning it to ruin. She didn't have much more time to argue when the door to her tiny cabin suddenly flew open, startling her. Lydia stood there, looking pale, as if she'd seen some unspeakable horror.
"Ysolda! The Temple- Danica sent for you- R-Raven-" She was shaking so terribly she couldn't form a coherent sentence. For Lydia, usually so calm and composed even in the most dire situations, to unravel like this meant something was terribly wrong. Ysolda fetched a tankard of water, handing it to her.
"Calm down," Ysolda said, but her voice quaked, too. She knew something was wrong. "Relax. What's wrong with Raven?" Lydia took the tankard and gulped it down, and then she spoke three words that Ysolda never imagined she would hear.
"Raven is dying."
Struggle (4/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 09:08 am (UTC)Raven was sequestered in a room away from the main area of the temple, and a temple priest led Ysolda there hastily. She could hear pained moans from an injured Legion soldier and cries from a poor farmer's wife who was stricken with an awful fever, but Ysolda tuned them out. She needed to see Raven.
Upon entering the room, Ysolda saw Raven laying on a bed, wounds on his chest and abdomen bandaged but staining the white cloth strips red, and bandages covered his right eye. One of his many friends and traveling companions, a mage named Marcurio whom he'd met in Riften, sat at his bedside. He stood as she entered and moved to offer her a comforting hug, which she accepted gratefully.
"I got him here as fast as I could." He said quickly. Upon looking at Marcurio, Ysolda noted his robes were torn and he also had wounds bandaged, though not as severe as her husbands. She looked from Marcurio to Raven, and moved to his side, a shaking hand gently caressing his left cheek, which wasn't obscured by bandages.
"Stendaar's mercy," she breathed, tears springing to her eyes. "What happened to him!" She exclaimed as she tried very hard to keep herself from breaking down.
"On our way back to Whiterun, we were attacked..." Marcurio gulped, his throat drying as he remembered the events of the past few hours. "We were attacked by a werewolf." Ysolda gasped, a choked sob threatening to escape, but she restrained it. Marcurio cleared his throat, then continued to speak. "It went for me first, but Raven jumped in front of it and took most of the attack. I barely managed to kill the beast before it killed him. I did my best to heal his wounds, but...There was so much blood. I thought I'd lose him on the way here." The door to the room reopened, and in stepped Danica Pure-Spring, looking grave.
"If you had gotten here any later, we probably would have lost him. Kynareth's protection can only last so long." She gently placed a hand on Ysolda's, which rested on Raven's cheek. "I'm so sorry we didn't send for you sooner. But after all you've been through recently, seeing him in such a state as he was before I was able to tend to him would surely have been too much for anyone as close to him as you to bear."
"Will he be alright?" Ysolda asked, tears beginning to fall though she tried her damnedest to hold them in.
"I believe so, but his recovery will be slow. I did my best, but I couldn't repair all of the damage. He will most certainly lose his right eye." Danica bowed her head. "I shall leave you a moment in peace. Sir Marcurio, was it?" She turned to Marcurio, who merely nodded. "Let us give them a moment alone." She led Marcurio out of the room, leaving only the unconcious Raven, Ysolda, and Ysolda's seemingly unending grief.
Struggle (5/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 09:50 am (UTC)"Why is this happening to us?" She asked after clearing her throat, looking up at the ceiling as if the Divines would give her an answer. "What have we done to deserve this?" Her voice lowered into a shaking whisper, and she turned her gaze to Raven once more.
"Can you hear me, Love?" She asked softly, looking for any change in his condition, any sign that her voice could reach him. She found nothing. "I love you so much, and...Oh, Mara, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for pushing you away when you only wanted to help me. I...I was so selfish, I couldn't see that you were grieving, too. Please, forgive me. Wake up, please, and let me know you'll be okay." Tears continued to fall, and she let go of his hand to wipe her eyes, before gently trailing her fingers through his long, messy jet-black hair.
As she stared at him she noticed a faint shine, a glitter of metal around his neck. Upon closer inspection she saw it was a gold chain, ducking under his torn cloth shirt. She'd never noticed it before. Curiosity overcame her as she gently pulled the collar of the shirt down, and reached in, grasping something small and metallic. She delicately pulled it free from its hiding spot. It was Raven's own wedding band, her ring's unique twin, on a golden chain. It rested near his heart before she uncovered it. And that was when she finally broke down, sobbing into his chest, letting all of her pain flow freely.
Note from Author!Anon
Date: 2013-03-13 09:59 am (UTC)Additional tags so far (because I'm a ninny and I'm horrible at tagging): char:Lydia, char:Marcurio, char:Danica Pure-Spring
Again, if I'm missing anything or someone wants to suggest a tag, feel free to let me know. :) Also, I hate smartphones that really are quite stupid. Darn phone reset itself a grand total of five times while I was trying to write part five. :/
Struggle (6/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 08:06 pm (UTC)----------------------
It took a full twenty minutes for Ysolda to calm down and stop crying. By the end of her fit, she was exhausted, and her voice was slightly hoarse, her throat aching a bit, dried tear tracks on her face. Needless to say, she did not look her best, nor did she feel her best. Once she had calmed herself down, she gently slipped Raven's ring back underneath his shirt, being careful to make sure it rested over his heart. She then reached into a small satchel on her side and took out her ring, staring at it. And then, she put it back on her finger, and all was right with the world again.
Well, almost. There was still the matter of Raven's recovery. A rational part of her mind also reminded her of their taxes, and she nearly screamed at herself. Thrice-damn the taxes, her husband was more important. If they lost their tiny cabin they called a home tonight, she wouldn't care as long as she knew he was safe. There were more important things in life than money, and some things were worth far more than anyone would be willing to pay in gold. And it only took her husband's near-death experience to remind Ysolda of that simple fact.
She wiped her face clean, and leaned down to gently kiss his unbandaged cheek, a hand caressing the high Altmer cheekbones he so despised, before moving to the dark hair he'd inherited from his Imperial mother, whom he'd never had the privilege to know.
"Raven, I'm going to be gone for a little while. I'm going to go to Solitude to pray to the Divines. After that...I'll find the shrine of Talos, and pray to him, too. I know, as a fellow Dragonborn, he'll see you to a full recovery. I don't know how long it will take. I'll have Lydia stay to make sure you're alright. I'll ask Marcurio to go with me. I know you've taken him to Solitude before, and even if he doesn't know where the shrine of Talos is, we'll manage." She paused briefly, thinking of what else she could say. "I love you." That was all she needed to say. If he could hear her, he surely knew how much gravity those three simple words held.
She exited the room to find both Lydia and Marcurio waiting for her. She forced herself to smile at them. She'd cried out all of her sadness and anger and pain, and now she just felt...Well, empty. She needed to fill herself up again. Perhaps a journey away from Whiterun and its struggles would help.
"Marcurio," She began. "I'd like you to come to Solitude with me, if that's alright. I'd like to pray at the Temple of the Divines there."
"Of course." Marcurio nodded in agreement. "It's a long way to travel, though."
"I know. I have a bit of gold stashed away for an emergency fund. I think this counts as an emergency." She looked back at the closed door that led to where Raven slumbered. She then turned to Lydia. "Could you stay here with him? I can give you a key to the house, if you'd like. If anything changes, anything at all, send word."
"Don't worry," Lydia assured her. "I'll make sure he's taken care of." Ysolda now smiled a genuine smile, for the first time in a long while. Perhaps things were beginning to look up.
Struggle (7a/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 09:38 pm (UTC)"I just remembered something." Marcurio said as they left the Temple. "Raven was supposed to do a favor for the Jarl here, Elisif."
"Then we should probably let her know what's happened." Ysolda said. "Where does Elisif stay?"
"The Blue Palace," Marcurio answered. "It's not far from here. Follow me." He lead her down the street, past a strange beggar who seemed to be ranting about something, and into a courtyard that looked somewhat untended. The Blue Palace was large and had a sense of foreboding, as if some dark secret was hidden there. They entered and asked for an audience, and waited patiently until Jarl Elisif could see them.
Jarl Elisif the Fair, Ysolda thought, was far more than fair. In fact, she was quite beautiful, and very young for a Queen. Despite being so young, she had the burdens of a large hold to run on top of dealing with her husband's recent death. She looked as if she hadn't slept well, and Ysolda understood her plight. If Raven had not survived his encounter with a werewolf, Ysolda didn't know what she would do.
"My name is Ysolda, and I hail from Whiterun." Ysolda dropped to a knee, as did Marcurio. Elisif smiled.
"Please, you don't need to do that. You're Raven's wife, correct? He speaks very highly of you. But what brings you to Solitude? It's so far from Whiterun."
"Raven brings me here." Ysolda answered. "He's...Currently incapacitated at the Temple of Kynareth, in Whiterun. He was attacked by a werewolf on his way back to the city. He..." She paused, composing herself. It was still difficult to talk about, despite Danica's assurance that Raven would recover. "He nearly died." As Ysolda looked into Elisif's eyes, she saw a kind of sympathy only a wife could give. Elisif had lost her husband, and she didn't wish it on anyone else. She knew how Ysolda felt, and more.
"I'm so sorry. But, at least he is alive. Is there word on his recovery?" Elisif asked delicately.
"As of right now, no. But Danica Pure-Spring, the priestess of Kynareth, is confident he will make a full recovery. That is why I'm here, in Solitude. He will recover, but it will take a lot of time. I came here to pray to the Divines, in the hopes that they will help him-" She paused. "Help us. I hate to sound selfish, but I need just as much strength as he does right now." Elisif gave her a sad, knowing smile.
"And I'm going to guess that when you came to the Temple, you were disappointed that one God was missing." At Ysolda's shocked look, she let out a small, sad chuckle. "I know how you feel. The worship of Talos may be banned by the Empire, but in the hearts of all Nords, he is still one of our Gods. When Torygg died, I prayed to all of the Divines...Except for Talos." She paused, looking away briefly, as if to compose herself. Ysolda swore she saw tears glittering in Elisif's eyes. "I know of one Shrine. It's in the plains just northeast of Whiterun, in fact. I...But, if you go there, may I ask you a favor?"
"Of course." Ysolda nodded firmly. "What can I do for you, my Jarl?"
"As we all know, Talos is, in essence, a God of war. However, he was also capable of much compassion in his life. Torygg owned a war horn that was very precious to him, passed down by his father, from his father, and so forth. When I prayed to the Divines, I left offerings for each. But, I saved this for Talos." She reached behind her throne, and found a cloth bundle. Ysolda accepted it, and she pulled the cloth away to reveal a beautiful, golden horn, jewel-encrusted and weary with time.
"Please, take this." Elisif asked. "Take this to Talos,. Pray for his blessing."
Struggle (7b/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 09:55 pm (UTC)"As a wife, I know your grief. And knowing Raven, if anything ever happened to you or anyone else he cares for, he would pray to Talos, too. I believe Talos still mourns for all of his fallen sons, even if they're not Nords, or have forsaken him. Torygg held his belief in Talos close to his heart, as well. He and I both believed that one day, we will push the Thalmor away, and Talos will return to his former glory. Until then, we merely need to bide our time. But I want Talos to know we haven't forgotten him. And we will not use his name for murder." She paused, realizing she spoke too much. Her voice burned with hatred for her husband's murderer. "My apologies. My emotions sometimes get the better of me when I speak of such things. Thank you for accepting my favor, and let Raven know, when he wakes, I will reward you both accordingly. You and your husband are doing more for me, and for the people of Solitude, than anyone can possibly realize. You have my gratitude, and my prayers. I hope Raven makes a full recovery very soon."
"Thank you, Elisif." Ysolda bowed. "I am honored to do this for you. As a wife, I know for certain that Torygg is proud of you, and your strength. But remember, it's alright to crumble once in a while." Elisif gave her a knowing smile, and once more, tears glittered in her eyes.
"Thank you. It's nice to find someone who still understands such things."
Ysolda and Marcurio were treated to lunch with Elisif, and Ysolda began to think of her as far more than a Jarl, more than the future High Queen of Skyrim. Ysolda began to consider her a friend. When they left Solitude, Elisif insisted on seeing them off. She'd marked on the worn map Ysolda carried, which belonged to Raven, the location of the shrine.
"Be safe." She said. "The Thalmor are heavily patrolling the area around Whiterun, looking for any Stormcloak soldiers left behind in the siege. If you encounter them, no matter what they say or do to you, do not give them the luxury of seeing every emotion you carry. They don't only search for Talos worshipers. They search out anyone they deem "unfit." And they judge who is unfit by their own terms."
"I understand," Ysolda gently held Elisif's hand, grateful for her warning. "I'm confident we will be alright, as long as the Divines will it." They said their goodbyes, and Ysolda and Marcurio departed on horseback, the beautiful stallions paid for by Elisif, who insisted that Ysolda and Marcurio accept these gifts, at least for the duration of their journey. Elisif was nothing if not generous, and Ysolda believed she was truly worthy of being called the High Queen.
The journey back to Whiterun was more eventful than the journey to Solitude, especially when they took to the plains. Sabre Cats had made the plains their hunting grounds, and they'd had many close calls. Marcurio defended Ysolda fiercely, not only out of responsibility, but out of friendship. Raven was a good friend to him, and in time, Ysolda became one as well. If he failed Ysolda as, in his mind, he failed Raven, Marcurio could never forgive himself.
Eventually they decided to rest their horses and continue to the shrine on foot. They didn't wish to be found by anything, and the horses were quite noisy. As they began to hike the hills toward the shrine, Ysolda saw something she prayed she wouldn't see during the entire trip: A Thalmor patrol.
Struggle (7c/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 10:20 pm (UTC)"Please, let us pass." Ysolda spoke. "My sister lives just over these hills, and she's very ill. I must see her."
"A likely story," The Justiciar stepped forward, blocking Ysolda's way. "Does this sister of yours happen to be a worshiper of Talos?" He sneered. "Living so close to a shrine of Talos, she must be."
"She is not." Ysolda answered firmly. "She is merely a poor farmer." Ysolda thought her story would be a good one, but the Justiciar's eyes seemed to pry into her soul. It was as if he somehow knew she was lying. She didn't like the way his guards looked at her, either. But she needed to stand strong, for Raven, if for no one else.
"You know," The Justiciar's sneer turned to a smirk once more. "We just came from over those hills, and we saw no cabins or farmland." Shit, Ysolda thought. They really did know that she was lying.
"She's in a grove of trees, very secluded. You likely would not have seen it." The implication that the Thalmor were not paying attention to their surroundings seemed to anger them, and the Justiciar fiercely grabbed her chin. She winced, his bony fingers digging into her skin.
"I think you're lying. Do you know what we Thalmor do to liars, and heathens?" He asked.
"Let go of her!" Marcurio snarled, a hand beginning to crackle with lightning. The Elven guards drew their blades.
"Marcurio, stop!" Ysolda said firmly, though her voice shook with her body. "It's all right. I did not mean any insult in my words." The Justiciar held her there for a moment longer, staring into her eyes, searching for anything that would give him enough cause to arrest her.
"Hmph. Just remember, girl, that the Thalmor are always watching." His voice lowered, the smirk soon returning as he looked over her body. "And we have ways of finding out what you really are." He let go of her, signaling his guards to sheathe their weapons and follow him, leaving Ysolda and Marcurio alone in the wilderness.
"If Raven were here," Marcurio muttered. "He would've slit that bastard's throat." He moved to Ysolda. "Did he hurt you?" He asked, genuinely concerned. Ysolda shook her head.
"Thank you for coming to my defense. But, remember what Elisif said. They were looking for any reason to take us captive. But when you treat them with respect, and don't lash out, there's nothing they can do to you." She looked over the hills, and she could see the cave where the shrine should be. "Let's go. It's not much further now."
They arrived at the shrine with no further interruption. She knelt before the statue of Talos, and looked up at his face as she delicately placed Torygg’s Horn in front of the shrine.
"I give to you a tribute from Jarl Elisif the Fair," she began her prayer. "Please watch over her husband, High King Torygg, and protect his people and Elisif as if they were your own children." She reached into a satchel on her hip, and removed twenty septims. She then removed her wedding ring, to Marcurio's surprise.
"What are you-" She hushed him, and he stepped back, giving her peace.
"This is from me. Ysolda, of Whiterun. Wife of Raven, the Dragonborn." She placed the ring and the gold in a small silver dish before the shrine. "I know it’s not much, but I hope this offering can show you how much I care for my husband. We have been troubled recently. I was going to sell this ring in an attempt to fix the problems we've been having." Marcurio let out a small gasp at that revelation.
"Raven's undying loyalty to me, and to his friends, reminded me that some things are worth more than gold. If I should give this ring to anyone, it should be given in tribute to a Divine, because the Divines are the only beings that can know the worth of something that is priceless. Please accept my tribute, and watch over Raven. As a fellow Dragonborn, he needs your guidance and favor now more than ever. Please, guide him to a full and speedy recovery, and give me the strength to handle whatever struggles may come our way."
Struggle (8/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 10:34 pm (UTC)They left the shrine and traveled back to Whiterun. It was night by the time they arrived, and Marcurio decided to head to the inn. Rather than head home, Ysolda entered the Temple of Kynareth, and went down into Raven's room. She sat by his bedside, and gently held his hand. She smiled sadly at him.
"I prayed to the Divines," She said. "For your recovery. Even Talos. I think they heard me. And don't worry about that favor Jarl Elisif wanted you to do for her. I took care of it. I can see why you speak so highly of her. She's a very wonderful woman." Ysolda closed her eyes, tears springing to them again. "She's inspired me, you know. To go through so much, so young, and yet stand as strong and fair as never before...I can only hope that I can be as strong as she is. No matter what happens to us, I will never give up on you. Just promise me this...Don't ever leave me. And...If anything ever happens to me, don't ever give up. I never want to see you fall. I-" She paused, feeling a twitch in Raven's hand. She gasped, and slowly, his good eye opened, revealing an iris the color of molten gold. Raven's vision blurred, and he could barely make out Ysolda's figure, but he knew it was her. He forced a weak smile.
"Mm...Have I died...and gone to Sovngarde?" He asked, then he chuckled, coughing a bit. "No, no...I must be in Aetherius. And you must be Mara. Or maybe Kynareth? No one told me...That the Divines were as beautiful as my wife." Tears sprang to Ysolda's eyes, but these were happy tears. She embraced him tightly, but not too tight.
"Raven!" She cried, and he weakly embraced her in return. "The Divines...They heard my prayers." She sobbed into his chest. He held her for a few moments, before noticing that her ring wasn't present on her hand.
"Ysolda," He began. "Your ring, it's..." He paused. She looked into his eye, and sighed.
"...I didn't have anything left to offer Talos, so...I offered my ring, as a tribute to my loyalty. Only a Divine can know the worth of something that is priceless." Raven looked surprised, not angry as Ysolda thought he might be. Then, he smiled.
"I didn't know you cared so much. That shows me what I know, hm?" He slowly sat up, grimacing as pain spread through his body from the wounds on his chest. "Ugh. Damn wolves...Marcurio, is he...?"
"He's fine." She gently placed a hand on his chest, urging him to lie back down. "And he's grateful. You still need to rest, love. The world won't burn if you lay in bed for a few days."
"It might." He chuckled faintly. "But I know better than to argue with you. I'll stay here, but only if you stay with me." She smiled brightly, resting her head on his chest.
"I wouldn't dream of leaving you."
Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-13 10:46 pm (UTC)It took another few weeks for said wounds to heal, but he recovered faster and better than many of the Temple's other patients. Ysolda believed it was the blessing of Talos more than anyone else that helped Raven recover. He had not lost his right eye, as Danica predicted, but he was blind and had a long scar stretching from his forehead to just below his cheekbone, over the silver orb. He bore new scars on his chest, abdomen, and arms. It didn't seem to faze him.
He spent more time at home, and things were better as the gifts his friends had given them were mostly gifts of gold. Soon, they were out of debt and had enough food to last them the winter months. Raven decided to abandon the manor by the Lake Ilinalta for now, and instead, he saved up for the house Balgruuf offered him when he defended the city from the Stormcloaks. It was still a long way away, but they were no longer struggling.
When the first snows fell that winter, Ysolda visited the market and was approached by a Courier.
"Are you Ysolda?" He asked, and Ysolda nodded. "Got something I'm supposed to deliver. Your hands only." The young man greeted, fishing a small package out of his pack. "Just this package."
"Oh?" Ysolda accepted it, confused. "Who sent it?" She asked, and the young man merely shrugged.
"Don't know. It sort of just appeared in my pack one day, addressed to an Ysolda of Whiterun." He checked his pack again, finding nothing else for her. "Looks like that's it. Got to go." She tipped him, and he left. She returned home, curiosity gnawing at her until she sat at the kitchen table and opened it. Inside was a tiny wooden box, and inside the box was Ysolda's wedding ring, with a letter. She opened the letter, and it simply read:
"Some things are worth even more than a Divine can provide. Never lose hope."
Re: Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-15 05:02 am (UTC)Re: Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-16 08:03 pm (UTC)Somehow, an idea popped into my head when I read that last sentence. Was it the Thalmor Justiciar who sent the ring back? That would be... amazing :D If for ONCE a Thalmor did something good. If a prayer for a sick/dying husband moved one of them to do something nice. Just once.
Re: Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-17 08:56 am (UTC)This is... so much more than I expected.
When I posted this prompt I didn't think I would get more than a small mini-fill in response...
This is wonderful. I loved how far Ysolda is willing to go for her husband and how strong she can become for his sake.
I think you just convinced me to marry her on my next playthrough.
Re: Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-21 10:27 pm (UTC)I don't normally read het, but I was insomniac and desperate for anything new to read... and I'm so glad I did read this! It's really adorable. I blubbed my eyes out, and it was what I needed. Thank you!
And I love the ambiguity of the ending... Who did send the ring back? We'll never know!
Re: Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-24 06:33 am (UTC)Actually, it was Marcurio who sent the ring back, purposely leaving it ambiguous so that Ysolda would believe that Talos really did answer her prayers. ;) I like the idea about the Thalmor agent, though it wouldn'tve fit since Raven's gone out of his way to make the Thalmor hate his guts. Only one I can see doing anything remotely nice is Ondolemar, and that's only because Dyce!Anon made me think that he's maybe not such a bad guy.
OP, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And of course I'm glad everyone who read it enjoyed it. :) Thanks again for the comments.
Re: Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-24 06:44 am (UTC)Actually, it was Marcurio who sent the ring back, purposely leaving it ambiguous so that Ysolda would believe that Talos really did answer her prayers. ;) I like the idea about the Thalmor agent, though it wouldn'tve fit since Raven's gone out of his way to make the Thalmor hate his guts. Only one I can see doing anything remotely nice is Ondolemar, and that's only because Dyce!Anon made me think that he's maybe not such a bad guy.
OP, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And of course I'm glad everyone who read it enjoyed it. :) Thanks again for the comments.
Re: Struggle (9/9)
Date: 2013-03-24 07:00 am (UTC)Actually, it was Marcurio who sent the ring back, purposely leaving it ambiguous so that Ysolda would believe that Talos really did answer her prayers. ;) I like the idea about the Thalmor agent, though it wouldn'tve fit since Raven's gone out of his way to make the Thalmor hate his guts. Only one I can see doing anything remotely nice is Ondolemar, and that's only because Dyce!Anon made me think that he's maybe not such a bad guy.
OP, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And of course I'm glad everyone who read it enjoyed it. :) Thanks again for the comments.