Her expression softened for a moment before she regained her composure and raised a dark eyebrow. “You are sorry? What are you sorry for?”
Ghorbash realised she would not make this easy for him. Instead of protesting, he knew he would have to play her little game. “I am sorry for doubting you. I do not truly believe that you would be dishonest and lay with another man.” She let herself soften a bit and her thumb began stroking his skin gently. “However, I do feel as though you should.”
Her thumb stilled and she stared, an expression of horror on her face. “Ghorbash, I – ”
“But I do not want you to.” He gripped her hand tighter. “As much as I feel as though you deserve another man – a better, more handsome one, one of your own kind – I could not bear it if you were to tell me to leave.”
To his surprise, she laughed and shook her head. “You believe that I deserve another man? A Nord man?” She gestured to the door. “A man like the one you have just thrown outside for making a lewd comment towards me? You think I deserve that?”
He growled at the thought. “Of course not. I meant a kind man, one that will protect you and defend your honour and care for you – ”
“Like you do?” She said, tilting her head to the side.
He fell silent. It was true; he did do all of those things. He hadn’t thought of that. And now he found he had no response, especially when she raised her eyebrows and her mouth quirked into a smile.
“You see now? Your argument makes no sense! Why would search for something else when I already have what I want most?”
Again, he had no response. She just laughed and shook her head. Eventually, he spoke:
“You are not concerned about what people would say if they knew we were...” He trailed off awkwardly.
“Together?” She finished for him. He nodded. “No, of course not. It is not anyone else’s business whether we are together or not and if they do approach me about it with any concerns – which I doubt they will – then I will remind them that I’m the dragonborn and I can bloody well do what I like.”
He laughed and she grinned. Once he had sobered, he asked once more, “But are you certain? This town is your home and if people here took issue – ”
He was cut off by her lips colliding with his. He tensed at first, conscious that the others in the inn had fallen quiet and he was sure they were watching them. But when her teeth pulled gently at his bottom lip, he growled and pulled her closer, making her squeal against his mouth.
Ghorbash wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, lips together and limbs entwined as they sat on the bench by the fire. When they finally stopped to take breath, he noticed that the other customers were indeed watching them; some hid it well, glancing furtively over their tankards, while others openly watched, apparently fascinated at the prospect of a Nord woman and Orc male.
However, Endra didn’t seem to notice and moved to kiss him again but he halted her reluctantly. She glanced around and said, “Ah. Right, I see.” Then she stood suddenly. “Thank you, Hulda. It’s been a lovely evening. Good night everyone.”
And with that, she pulled on Ghorbash’s hand, urging him to his feet, and she led him through the quiet inn and out of the door.
F!DB/Ghorbash: "Bravery" 5/?
Her expression softened for a moment before she regained her composure and raised a dark eyebrow. “You are sorry? What are you sorry for?”
Ghorbash realised she would not make this easy for him. Instead of protesting, he knew he would have to play her little game. “I am sorry for doubting you. I do not truly believe that you would be dishonest and lay with another man.” She let herself soften a bit and her thumb began stroking his skin gently. “However, I do feel as though you should.”
Her thumb stilled and she stared, an expression of horror on her face. “Ghorbash, I – ”
“But I do not want you to.” He gripped her hand tighter. “As much as I feel as though you deserve another man – a better, more handsome one, one of your own kind – I could not bear it if you were to tell me to leave.”
To his surprise, she laughed and shook her head. “You believe that I deserve another man? A Nord man?” She gestured to the door. “A man like the one you have just thrown outside for making a lewd comment towards me? You think I deserve that?”
He growled at the thought. “Of course not. I meant a kind man, one that will protect you and defend your honour and care for you – ”
“Like you do?” She said, tilting her head to the side.
He fell silent. It was true; he did do all of those things. He hadn’t thought of that. And now he found he had no response, especially when she raised her eyebrows and her mouth quirked into a smile.
“You see now? Your argument makes no sense! Why would search for something else when I already have what I want most?”
Again, he had no response. She just laughed and shook her head. Eventually, he spoke:
“You are not concerned about what people would say if they knew we were...” He trailed off awkwardly.
“Together?” She finished for him. He nodded. “No, of course not. It is not anyone else’s business whether we are together or not and if they do approach me about it with any concerns – which I doubt they will – then I will remind them that I’m the dragonborn and I can bloody well do what I like.”
He laughed and she grinned. Once he had sobered, he asked once more, “But are you certain? This town is your home and if people here took issue – ”
He was cut off by her lips colliding with his. He tensed at first, conscious that the others in the inn had fallen quiet and he was sure they were watching them. But when her teeth pulled gently at his bottom lip, he growled and pulled her closer, making her squeal against his mouth.
Ghorbash wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, lips together and limbs entwined as they sat on the bench by the fire. When they finally stopped to take breath, he noticed that the other customers were indeed watching them; some hid it well, glancing furtively over their tankards, while others openly watched, apparently fascinated at the prospect of a Nord woman and Orc male.
However, Endra didn’t seem to notice and moved to kiss him again but he halted her reluctantly. She glanced around and said, “Ah. Right, I see.” Then she stood suddenly. “Thank you, Hulda. It’s been a lovely evening. Good night everyone.”
And with that, she pulled on Ghorbash’s hand, urging him to his feet, and she led him through the quiet inn and out of the door.