Finn had always been fond of Darkwater Crossing. It was a nice little settlement, relatively warm as far as Skyrim went, and the people were friendly enough. As she headed to the nearby river, the little girl who spent most of her time making food runs approached, beaming.
“I remember you! You saved Derkeethus, right?” she asked, hurrying to keep up with the Breton.
“That's right. Thank you for remembering,” Finn replied warmly. “Is he fishing again today?”
“He is,” the girl affirmed. “Come on, I'll take you to him.” As they neared the water, the adventurer noticed a neatly folded stack of clothes in the grass. The child cupped her hands around her mouth and called into the water. “Hey, Derkeethus!”
The Argonian burst from the water, completely naked and holding a fish in each hand. When he saw Finn, he at least had the good grace to look a bit embarrassed.
“Ah, Finn! You're...you're here. Hello,” he said bashfully. “Hrefna, be a dear and pass me that towel.” The girl obliged immediately, and Derkeethus wrapped himself up modestly as he left the water. “What brings you here, friend?”
“I need a favor from you, Derkeethus,” Finn replied. “Could we go back to your place, and talk?”
“Of course.” The fisherman scooped up his clothes and led her back towards the buildings, unaware of the favor that was coming.
“So what you mean to tell me,” he said when Finn was done relaying her tale, “is that you and Ulfric Stormcloak have been taking care of three baby dragons?”
“I'd say they're adolescent dragons now, but yes.”
“And now that they're getting big and likely more hungry than before, you want to bring them here to live with me?”
“Ah...yes.”
“...Do you have any idea how insane that is?”
“I have a general idea of it, yes,” the Breton replied, leaning on the table. “Please, Derkeethus? You still owe me a favor.”
“I meant following you on your adventures! I meant helping you fight bandits, or letting you drag me up a mountain to fight a cave-full of wolves! I did not mean risking my house and my limbs to keep your pet dragons safe!” Derkeethus groaned now, shaking his head.
“They're well trained, I promise!” Finn said desperately. “They only attack when they're threatened, and they don't breathe fire indoors!” Well, except for Inkahlok, she thought, but decided not to mention that. The Argonian frowned.
“You know I want to help you, Finn,” he began cautiously. “But do you really expect me to just learn how to take care of dragons? You're the one who raised them, after all.” He sat up straighter now, his confidence building. “So, I have a deal for you. I'll let you keep your dragons here, but on one condition. You stay here as well. I have room for you to be able to sleep comfortably.” Finn nodded slowly, allowing herself to smile.
“...See? I knew you were reliable, Derkeethus!” she said cheerfully. “Alright, you have a deal. I'll come live with you.”
“Just you and the dragons, understood?” Derkeethus replied, his eyes suddenly darkening. He had heard enough of how the Argonians were treated in Windhelm. “I...I'm sure your Jarl is very busy.”
“Probably. I should head back then, get them ready for the trip.” She hurried around the table to give Derkeethus a friendly squeeze. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.” As she headed to the door, she heard her friend chuckle quietly.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
"Something Like Parents" 18/?
Date: 2013-05-26 01:45 pm (UTC)“I remember you! You saved Derkeethus, right?” she asked, hurrying to keep up with the Breton.
“That's right. Thank you for remembering,” Finn replied warmly. “Is he fishing again today?”
“He is,” the girl affirmed. “Come on, I'll take you to him.” As they neared the water, the adventurer noticed a neatly folded stack of clothes in the grass. The child cupped her hands around her mouth and called into the water. “Hey, Derkeethus!”
The Argonian burst from the water, completely naked and holding a fish in each hand. When he saw Finn, he at least had the good grace to look a bit embarrassed.
“Ah, Finn! You're...you're here. Hello,” he said bashfully. “Hrefna, be a dear and pass me that towel.” The girl obliged immediately, and Derkeethus wrapped himself up modestly as he left the water. “What brings you here, friend?”
“I need a favor from you, Derkeethus,” Finn replied. “Could we go back to your place, and talk?”
“Of course.” The fisherman scooped up his clothes and led her back towards the buildings, unaware of the favor that was coming.
“So what you mean to tell me,” he said when Finn was done relaying her tale, “is that you and Ulfric Stormcloak have been taking care of three baby dragons?”
“I'd say they're adolescent dragons now, but yes.”
“And now that they're getting big and likely more hungry than before, you want to bring them here to live with me?”
“Ah...yes.”
“...Do you have any idea how insane that is?”
“I have a general idea of it, yes,” the Breton replied, leaning on the table. “Please, Derkeethus? You still owe me a favor.”
“I meant following you on your adventures! I meant helping you fight bandits, or letting you drag me up a mountain to fight a cave-full of wolves! I did not mean risking my house and my limbs to keep your pet dragons safe!” Derkeethus groaned now, shaking his head.
“They're well trained, I promise!” Finn said desperately. “They only attack when they're threatened, and they don't breathe fire indoors!” Well, except for Inkahlok, she thought, but decided not to mention that. The Argonian frowned.
“You know I want to help you, Finn,” he began cautiously. “But do you really expect me to just learn how to take care of dragons? You're the one who raised them, after all.” He sat up straighter now, his confidence building. “So, I have a deal for you. I'll let you keep your dragons here, but on one condition. You stay here as well. I have room for you to be able to sleep comfortably.” Finn nodded slowly, allowing herself to smile.
“...See? I knew you were reliable, Derkeethus!” she said cheerfully. “Alright, you have a deal. I'll come live with you.”
“Just you and the dragons, understood?” Derkeethus replied, his eyes suddenly darkening. He had heard enough of how the Argonians were treated in Windhelm. “I...I'm sure your Jarl is very busy.”
“Probably. I should head back then, get them ready for the trip.” She hurried around the table to give Derkeethus a friendly squeeze. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.” As she headed to the door, she heard her friend chuckle quietly.
“Just don't make me regret it.”