40 Making Mistakes IV

Inigo pauses, in deep thought for a moment before cracking a wide smile, "Let them just try and stop us!" He says clasping my arm in solid agreement.

"Ha! They can try!" I laugh while clasping him back before we return to laying against the log in silence.

"Hey, Inigo..." I ask hesitantly.

"Yes my friend?" He replies.

"You know... I'm going to have to do some terrible things in the future... Things that will probably mark me as a monster... Possibly quite literally turning me into one..." I say, recalling my early thoughts on doing the Dawnguard questline or even the Companions.

"My friend, what you do, how you're born, or what curse or blessing you are given does not make you a monster or a hero. We are all born with good and bad in our hearts. The greatest heroes can be corrupted into villainy, while the worst villains can turn into heroes given the chance and motivation. Just like you have given me a chance to attone for my past betrayal, I think you can truly make the world a better place with what you have planned. No matter the methods you may be forced to resort to, I shall stand by you." Inigo promises.

"Thank you, and if I ever succumb to the depths of darkness... You understand..." I ask him giving him a knowing nod.

"I do... And if that ever transpires, I will... Though I suggest you not underestimate the strength of your iron will, my friend. I know in my heart you can triumph over the strongest of your demons and temptations." Inigo says with conviction.

"I don't know about temptations... Those girls might be the death of me." I sigh in exasperation.

"Ha, yes. I noticed how you've looked at them... All of them." Inigo snickers.

"What can I say? I'm weak to a pretty face?" I laugh with him for a while, lightening the dower mood considerably.

"So too is Mr. Dragonfly, apparently. It turns out he has become quite enamored with the bee in a jar you collected from Goldenglow my friend." Inigo says, motioning towards his bug in a jar, reminding me he is infact still crazy.

*Sigh.* "Inigo..." I say.

"Yes my friend?" He replies curiously.

"Never change buddy. Never change." I laugh.

"I can't promise that my friend, because we all change all the time. But I can always promise to be your trusted friend and pal Inigo." Inigo says with seriousness.

"Ha, that'll do, Inigo, that'll do just fine." I say.

And with that, we talk for a couple more hours until he passes out from exhaustion and I'm left holding a silent vigil alone. Afraid to sleep for fear that the Dark Brotherhood has already heard word of what I did to Grelod and come for me. Looks like I'll have a couple of sleepless nights until I'm ready to become an assassin.

The night passed quickly and with little disturbance. I happened upon a couple of large rabbits while on watch, quickly drawing my bow I nail an arrow in each and start to dress them like I've done it a thousand times before. After gathering the meat, I go to rekindle the dwindling campfire.

Once a flame has caught, I set the rabbit meat up to cook and forage for a few birds eggs that I cook them over a thin flat stone I wash in a nearby creek. Using the dripping fat from the rabbits to add a bit of seasoning since I didn't think about grabbing spices in town.

I hear a rustling from the tents as everyone begins to wake up, though I noticed that the girls eyes are slightly red and puffy, and they're silently making their way around the fire with downtrodden expressions.

While Inigo stretches before complaining, "My friend, I think we should avoid sleeping on the ground with a log for a pillow. My back is killing me. What about you?"

"I'm thinking the girls had it worse, looks like the hard ground had the princesses crying all night." I joke, trying to get a rise out of them.

"I-it's not that Commander, it's just-" Kasia starts to explain before Sofia glares her into silence.

"It's nothing, Silvy, poor Blondie is homesick and Whiskers is upset about not getting dinner after that job you, her, and Blue over there did last night." Sofia explains before taking a seat.

"Oh shit, I completely forgot you guys didn't get dinner! We'll go find us a deer now that everyone is all up and about before we get traveling, come on Inigo! Enjoy breakfast and watch after Crimson while I'm out. Be back soon!" I shout rushing out of our camp to go for a quick hunt with Inigo tailing behind me.

"Wait up, my friend! I need to use the restroom!" Inigo shouts as we disappear into the woods.

While Silvantus is out hunting, Kasia speaks up to the rest of the girls in the camp, "Shouldn't we tell him we heard him talking with Mr. Inigo last night? It feels wrong…"

"Absolutely not! That's the last thing you do when you feel guilty! Never admit you did anything wrong, especially if you did!" Sofia argues adamantly.

"She did not know Fluffy had amnesia too…" M'rissi says with melancholy, "Does Fluffy want to remember too? Or is Fluffy better not knowing if it hurts him so much to remember?" M'rissi ponders aloud.

"Then it's even better he doesn't know that we know! We don't want to burden him even more, right?" Sofia says.

"I don't want to make him feel worse… But… Who is that her, he talked about? Do you think… She was a lover or something?" Kasia asks in distress.

"What, no! Definitely not! Her Fluffy is hopeless in love and definitely single!" M'rissi shouts in denial.

Out in the woods…

*Aaachoo!*

"Huh, I think someone is talking shit about me?" I say scaring the deer causing me to miss my shot.

"What does that have to do with sneezing, my friend?" Inigo asks in confusion.

"It's nothing just a saying I remember from before, anyways, let's track down that deer!" I say looking for its hoof prints.

Back in camp…

"Fluffy does pet her head a lot… Which makes her feel funny, but in a good way?" M'rissi admits with a flush while averting her gaze from the other girls.

"Well… I'm not sure if what I thought would happen would actually happen… But I thought he was g-going… T-to… K-kiss me." Kasia stumbles out.

"That's nothing, Silvy has seen me naked before and I have even worn his clothes!" Sofia exclaims with a sense of superiority and victory over the other two.

"What?!" M'rissi and Kasia exclaim in unison and disbelief.

I walk back in to the camp to see the girls huddled around the fire.

"Hey girls! We're back, but sadly the deer got away so we're going to have to make this breakfast from earlier last." I shout, moving to start packing up the camp.

"You!… You!… Terrible, terrible Fluffy!" M'rissi exclaims in a flushed rage before stomping off.

"I-I'm going… Over there…" Kasia mumbles before shuffling away absentmindedly.

"What did I miss?" I ask Sofia in confusion.

"I have absolutely no clue, Silvy, maybe they were really hungry for some of your meat? You know, the venison." Sofia says before walking away with a whistle and a grin.

"Whatever, we need to get packed up and moving on to Euphoria Palace." I say before I realize something… This is an honest-to-goodness brothel… I MIGHT GET LAID?!