> Quote:Next two weeks are reserved for worrying/procrastinating over exams and the rest of the year after

> that is reserved for Fallout 4. Though there's always a possibility I might loose interest in Fallout.

> However I did play skyrim for roughly 3 weeks straight religiously after it came out so the possibility is low-medium :p.

> Happy holidays ladies and gents.

"What will I do then?"

Aleyn had just woken up an hour ago and as still very slightly drowsy but already deep in thought as she strolled towards her letter drop at Stev's house.

It had been on her mind occasionally, but as her enchanting got better and better and her training at Camedyrs workshop neared its end there was only one thing on her mind.

"Where do I go from here?"

The only thing that really held her to Dvalfgar was blacksmithing, but once that was done she had no reason to stay. She was welcome to stay with the innkeeper family as long as she liked to but she strived for more, she wanted to venture forth and experience the world.

"A goal.."

There were a few things she had been thinking about. The first thing was travel to Keittwel and visit the academy to see if she could find someone to teach her some elemental magic. She didn't know what she wanted to learn quite yet but that didn't matter for the time being, she could always think that through later. Another skill she needed to learn was actual fighting skills, however she had no clue where to start with that. Looking around the city no house stood out as a martial arts school, would it be better to wait until she got to Keitwell?

At that point Aleyn realized she had already subconsciously decided that she would go to Keitwell. She decided to drop the subject for now as she approached Stevs and Brevurths house.

It had already been a week since She had her little discussion with Thess and the status quo with Thess continued just as it used to, however not everything stayed the same..

Aleyn peaked around the corner towards Stevs house,  the young man sat on a pile of firewood as he always did while waiting for his mail.

"It's getting more awkward by the day ..."

Stev was a nice man sure, almost like a perfect gentleman. However when ever Thess was the subject of discussion he can't help but be very inquisitive, more so as their meetings happened. Sometimes to the point of being pushy.

Though could you blame him? If the boyfriend is not worried over his injured girlfriend then how much of a relationship do they actually have?

"Morning Aleyn." Stev smiled as she approached him.

"Morning."

She dug in to her pocket and took out today's delivery and with no hesitation Stev snatched it from her hand with a smile.

His his eagerness was touching.

After a moment of reading his smile weakened and he asked.

"Did.. something happen to Thess? She has been writing a lot less lately."

"Lately?"

"6 days ago, that's when her writing started to differ. She writes a lot less and is more cryptic."

He was counting the days?

"6 days ago.. Can't say there's been any change.." Aleyn went in to thought.

"Unless..."

Stevs head immediately turned to her with full attention.

""Well I guess there's no harm telling him."" Aleyn thought.

"Me and Thess had a little talk about a week ago."

"A talk about your and her 'relationship'." She continued.

Stev turned his head away.

"So you knew?"

"You two aren't hiding it too well."

Stev had a mix of sad and pondering expression on his face, he seemed to be thinking through something very hard.

Soon that expression changed as he faced Aleyn and dropped on his knees.

"Please Aleyn! I understand Thess doesn't want me to know anything or see her, but this is eating me up from the inside..." He pleaded

His eyes were watering as if a dam was about to break behind them.

"I need to know..! I'm sure you can understand my pain.." Stev yelled in tears.

Having the tall dragonkin drop down to her eye level made her feel very out of place, but that didn't compare to how sad the scenario was.

Sadly, his request wasn't that simple.

"I understand.. But there's nothing I can do..."

"Please... Just.." Stev pleaded again.

"I'm sorry Stev."

She had to be calm even if she felt a lot of sympathy for him. Thess's decision might be wrong but it was still her decision.

Aleyn turned her back on the kneeling man. Eager to get on with her day, but she knew this wasn't going to be the end of it. The next time she had to deliver a message it wouldn't be any better than this.

About to walk away but before she got too far she was stopped by Stev.

"Wait..."A hint of anger roared from Stev as he commanded her.

Aleyn sighed. It was getting very frustrating for her to be there.

"Look..."

But before she could finish she felt that hint of anger magnify behind her. A feeling of sudden threat.

In that split second as she began to turn around she was already too late for what was about to come.

A burst of force hit her stomach from the side which blew the air out of her lungs and hurled her through the air only to be stopped by a wall of a neighboring house.

Aleyns eyes shot open as her back came in contact with the wall. She wanted to let out a scream of pain but all she could let out was a painful cough as her lungs were further deflated.

Now leaning on the wall as she hastily grasped for air.

"?!"

Quickly gathering her thoughts she looked at the person who sent her flying. It didn't take much to figure out it was Stev, but what surprise her was what had become of him.

Lightly glowing red eyes on his bulkier head. The scales on his face swelled and periodically glowed as if they were pieces of metal being heated. His already red hair flickered a darker shade of red as it waved in the breeze of the mountain like a campfire. The clothes on him looked a size too small as his muscles swelled under them, but the most menacing thing about him was his his hands and feet which now had their fingers and toes bending in to the form of claws.

"Savage." That's what Aleyn thought.

He was currently standing still in a kicking pose. Looking like a statue as he stayed motionless for a moment until he lowered his foot back and looked straight towards her.

He grimaced and exhaled a tuft of vapor before moving towards her.

Aleyn flinched and tried to stand up, but before her aching body could do so the sound of shattering floor tiles was already in front of her and her throat was grabbed.

There was nothing she could do to resist as Stev dragged her against the wall and lifted her up in the air. She tried taking a hold of his arm with both of her hands but all she could do was try and hang on as her breathing became heavier and heavier.

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Stev pulled his head closer towards hers.

"I.. want... ANSWERS!" He yelled.

He tightened his grasp on her throat.

"Why won't she tell me!! Why can't I see her!! Why is she avoiding me?! Why why whyy!!" He fumed hysterically.

"What happened to her...." Stev raged and shed a single tear as he stared Aleyn down.

She couldn't answer him not to mention breath, but it didn't look like Stev was in any state to realize this. Her neck was being shattered, or so it felt. If she had any way of surviving this she needed to get free and fast.

With the little breath she had left she concentrated on her right arm and struck down on Stevs hold, disrupting him if just the tiniest amount but enough for her to slip out and drop down.

Stev was caught in a daze against the momentary resistance but as soon as he snapped out of it he launched his hand towards Aleyns head as if to penetrate it in anger.

Closing in, his hand was ready to pierce her and end her life not caring anymore if she had the answers he was looking for.

"*cough* She was.." Aleyn said with her raspy voice

Hearing the three words Stevs whole visage glowed as his scales and hair flared once and he froze.

He heard the words, he saw the movement of Aleyns mouth. All of them registered, but the meaning escaped him.

Frozen and clueless Stev just stared at the dwarf girl now gasping for air as she rubbed her neck.

"After her performance... Probably not that long after it..." Aleyn muttered.

"I walked down the street towards my inn.... before my curiosity got the best of me..." She continued as she tried fixing her throat.

"I followed a trail of clothing in to an Alleyway..... where I started hearing noises....."

Stev still listened quietly but held his angry form.

"At first I thought it was mutual.... but when I saw how motionless she was...."

Stevs eyes bulged as he started to catch the picture..

"After I clubbed the man I finally saw her.... her condition was...."

As her story progressed forward Stevs form began to change.

First his legs and arms started to shrink from their light swelling and returned to their normal human like form, then the colour of his scales began to cool off and his whole form periodically shrunk. Lastly his eyes and hair returned to how they used to be.

"We wrapped her up.. and carried her home.."

Stev dropped to his knees lifelessly and stared at the ground.

Aleyn now having recovered her breath continued on.

"Just a week ago I asked her the same questions you did."

Stev turned his eyes towards Aleyn.

"Why would you not want the support of your boyfriend? Shouldn't you tell him at least?"

"Her answer was pretty petty in my opinion." She sighed.

She explained exactly what Thess had said. How she didn't want him to see her scars or hear how she had been defiled in case he would lose interest in her.

It might have been a mistake though as Stev appearance swelled again and his sad face turned morbidly angry. Aleyn braced herself for what was about to come., but it wasn't her he chose to hurt.

Sounds of rock being smashed was all she heard before Stevs yell almost deafened her.

" YOU IDIOT!!" Stev yelled.

His fist was buried in to the ground tiles, he looked angry but he had not transformed completely to what ever that form was.

Stev pulled his hand out of the ground and surprisingly his hand was completely fine.

He placed his hands on his knees and took deep long breaths. He sat calmly for at least a minute as he took air in and exhaled it in equal breaths. Every cycle seemed to change him, as if he was transforming in to a calmer person just by breathing.

Having calmed down Stev rose up from the ground and brushed off the dust from his clothes before looking at Aleyn with some regret. She had not gone anywhere, she wasn't in any condition to move long distances.

"We have some ointments and salves. I'll carry you inside." Stev declared.

He was about to grab Aleyn but she brushed his hands away.

"No, no you wont... I'll walk." Aleyn said with slight spitefulness.

The notion was upsetting, but he ultimately conceded the argument. It was already a surprise that she was willing to get in to a closed space with him after what he had done to her.

With slight limp in her steps Aleyn made her way towards the front door of the house while Stev followed behind her.

Inside the house Aleyn laid down on the comfy rug, her back was killing her not to mention her lungs and throat were screaming after the abuse they had to go through. Meanwhile on the opposite side of the room Stev was digging through a chest.

It didn't take long for him to find what he was looking for and in a moment he brought Aleyn some jars, flasks and even some bandages.

"Any wounds?" He asked.

"None."

"Does it hurt anywhere?" He asked again.

Aleyn let out a hoarse cough.

"Back and throat."

Stev gave a frown and dug in to a one of the jars he brought and pulled out some leafs from inside and handed them to Aleyn.

"Chew on these, it'll help with the cough."

A bundle of small Oval shaped green leafs, they gave a soft refreshing smell. Very similar to a mint leaf.

She put one in her mouth and started chewing.

Stev then took another jar and opened it in front of Aleyn. It was filled with some sauce like substance.

"This ointment is made with snowstars. It helps with healing and reliefs some pain."

"Turn around and lift the back of your clothes a bit."

Aleyn raised and eyebrow towards Stev who didn't react to her quizzical look at all.

She sighed internally and turned around while lifting her leather jacket and shirt enough to reveal most of her back.

With her back towards him Stev took no time to no time to smear her back with the ointment.

Having her back covered made her feel very disgusting but that feeling was dwarfed by the immediate reaction she felt as the pain in her back gradually disappeared.

"It's done. Your should clean yourself up later and wash those clothes, the ointment has a tendency to stain every fabric."

Aleyn turned back around.

"Here, your neck still needs some." Stev held out the jar in front of her.

Realizing her neck still hurt a lot she stood up in to a sitting position and took some of the stuff from the jar and started rubbing it around her whole neck.

While she was doing that Stev gathered all the equipment and brought it back to the chest he took them from.

Having had enough of him avoiding the question that he knew was on her mind Aleyn broke the silence.

"So are you going to tell me what that was about?"