I just read the first bit and it seemed like a good concept with the body and the details. Doesn't seem bad, it's taking a considerably long time to edit it...is it long?

In the text file it's 20 pages long covering 7 days in total... I don't know what you consider 'long'.

I don't know about the precise reason why Minque took so long to edit it, but it seemd that there was a lot of things going on so I don't blame her. Besides she indeed did a very nice job changing it to this mod's criteria.

It's taking a considerable ammount of time...I guess they have to be accurate with it or something...well I hope that gets to you soon...I feel for ya.

You know: first I wanted it back as fast as possible after I sended it to Minque. I don't wanted to rush her so I waited and eventualy the desire faded and I just waited for that the e-mail that brought back my story.
No I feel much more excided I just want to post it so all of you can read it, but I also want to wait. So I'm sure it's not taken of the forum for the second time. (Or was it the third... Can't remember)

Wait, wait...I must have missed the part...why was it taken off the forum?

I putted in some sexual content, there was nothing stated for that mather so I adviced at a dev. Who I send where I had a scene having a very detailed hmmm... You know where I'm talking about. He said that things like that can't be in the mod. So I worked around the problem and when I finished the story I eagerly posted the story. To have it removed after... was it a hour later. The problem seemed almost everything then. I had written about all kinds of small stuf like a guy having boner (don't judge this scene from only this fact, it has very important role) about the way the 2 lovers had sex, a peas about rape (not the actual event, more of a memory). And there where dosen more things they didn't like. I was very stunned because I didn't expected this thing to blow up this hughe.

Correct me if I'm wrong but there are still no guidelins for writting story's for this mod.

Ok, that's it I had it. It's 4 months ago since I have written this story. And I am sick of waiting. Have fun with it or this is last time I have written anything for this forum:

Horses, mud, missery and her to make it bearable (Version 1.1b revised) by NEO256 (with thanks for Minque for helping getting it suitable for this forum)

Introduction:

My life is one big misery. As a slave you don't own anything of your own. Or you may count the rags you are forced to wear. The only thing that keeps me from riding to a nearby cliff and drop myself over the edge is her. She is beautiful, like an angel. Her long blond hair that sweeps in the wind, the way she walks and hangs the clothing on the line to dry, her singing voice on a sunny day. And when she looks my way and puts up a smile I feel like I could conquer the whole world.

My name is R'laph I am a Khajiit and as you probably have already guessed, I am a slave. I work for master Oslon as a stable boy. Taming the horses, keeping them healthy, switching hoofs the stuff a stable boy needs to do. I don't ride them in any other place then my training box, I am too afraid to do otherwise. I had a friend, Resho, an Argonian... He was one of the best riders in all of Tamriel, although Oslon would never admit it. Riding like the wind every day to keep the horses in top shape. But he got tired of working as a slave... as someone’s property.
He dreamed of the wide world and his home province Black March, where he was born. Just like me he was kidnapped and smuggled to Vvardenfell as we were children. I hardly remember how life was in Elsweyr, but I understood why he wanted to go back. Morrowind is the only place in Tamriel where slaves are permitted. If you could flee to any other province you would be free. He told me how he would just like to take a horse and take off. One day a duke with a black horse came to pay a visit to Oslon. Resho´s eyes went big when he saw that tremendously powerful horse. I knew what he was thinking I whispered: “Don't do it! At least wait till nightfall...”
But there was no stopping him, he ran at the horse, jumped on and ride off. Master Oslon placed a big reward on his head ALIVE. It did not take long or one of the best bounty hunters brought him in more or less alive. I was whipped 20 times for my part in the escape for not telling Oslon.
Never felt that much pain... my back hurt for weeks, but that was nothing to what he did then. He beat and whipped Resho to death, before my eyes, to make a statement he said. He's a monster. I shivered at everything I had to do for months and kept thinking of Resho. I still think about him some days, and his dream... Free. But I am too afraid to even think on how to do it... too afraid to end like him.

Day 1

It was just another spring morning when I went outside, raised my arms and arc my back to straight my spine.
My bed was out of hay with a piece of cloth over it. It was getting hard again, I found out that putting the hay on to the bed a certain way will make it softer. It involves waving it with different layers but I didn't feel like doing that again soon. It takes a lot of time and it's boring, besides that. I'm not very good at it so it would have me frustrated for days.
I breathed in the morning scent of a new day and took my walk to the stables. It was still dark but I knew my way around. I fed all the horses that were eager to get out and run free. I could see it in their eyes and I certainly know how it feels to be a prisoner. That day I didn't feel that bad, I a saw her again the day before in a blue long dress sweeping the front lane of Olson’s enormous manor. She sung a song about the spring that still echoed in my head.
I thought: I wish I could at least meet her one day. I want to know if she is as lonely as I am and maybe we could have a talk and... O, who am I fooling; I know that would never happen. I will work my whole life here... alone.
When all the feeding trays in the boxes where filled I got to the wooden seat that stands in the middle of the courtyard. A basket with bread and some berries for my breakfast that day. I took a seat and pulled a piece of the bread and started eating. There was no wind that day, totally silent. It was even too early for the birds. I watched over the courtyard that was covered with grass, surrounded by wooden fences, except the road from the entrance that made a straight way to the Forrest.
While eating some berries to make the dry bread taste better I looked to my left and saw the square box made out of a taller fence that I used to tame and trim the horses in. I don't ride them myself much but the horses listen to me. Maybe it's because of my voice or the way I say it I don't know but as soon as I open my mouth they obey. Of course horses that are wild need some harder measures where I got my whip for. I don't need to hit them, just making the whip hitting a part of the fence or snap it in the air is enough to back of a horse. It's all about letting them know who is the boss and that they will have the best time if they listen to their rider.
I chewed on the last piece of bread and returned the basket to the manor. Placed the basket at the right side of the door and returned to the stables.
That is the closest I will ever make it to the manor. If I am caught doing anything else than returning the basket they will punish me. I have never been punished for it but Resho did by stealing some meat once. They whipped him a couple of times and since then we are ordered to turn away from the house as soon as we had... or must I say, I returned the basket.
You know... I still talked to Resho, in my memories I conversated with him almost every day. I knew it was not real but... It made me feel less lonely.
That day the daughter of Oslon, Laura wanted to ride Victor. One of the fastest horses Oslon owned. She ordered me the day before to make him ready for a ride as soon as they were done with breakfast. I had plenty of time left because they probably need another hour to finish it. I got my meal as soon as the maid starts making breakfast. They have two maids and both Khajiit; I don't know there names but I sure know which one is the prettiest.
One seem to clean the house, I only saw her once when the rounded all of us up to bury the remains of Resho. She was pretty fat for a Khajiit; she probably has a disease or something. But the other girl... you just have to see her. When she looks in my direction with her blue eyes I feel like melting. She's the one making breakfast and doing the laundry. I will probably see her later today when she is done doing that. She always did the laundry on Wednesdays. She would come outside to hang the clothes over the line between the manor and a tree right from the manor.
I walked in to the stables and went to Victor’s box. There were 6 boxes at right side of the stables; the left side was for hay that is stacked till the roof. At my left at the entrance we had a stash. We stored the equipment you would need to ride a horse. Kain and Victor are the only horses that had their own horse tacks. Victor had a very nice dark brown soft saddle and high quality belts and for Kain equally nice black pair.
I entered the box; I stroke his head and said. “Seems the mistress wants to ride you this morning. Better get you ready.”
The box next to Victor was 'house' to Kain. Kain was by far the fastest horse Oslon owned, a black almost untameable animal. I am the only one he really likes; he even lets me ride him on a good day. Kain is extremely aggressive and only lets people ride who he likes. Oslon's only reason for keeping Kain was to claim that he had the fastest horse.
I led Victor out and installed his gear. It was done in about 5 minutes. I led him outside and waited on the seat on the courtyard with his leads ropes in my hand. After a short while I heard the front door. I could tell because the arch over the door concentrates the sound coming from the door. When they talk loud in the hallway you can also hear that very well on the courtyard, even with the heavy wooden door closed.
I stood up, turned around and saw her coming while she fixed her fine leather riding gloves. Laura had dark brown hair; she wasn't as Oslon but still quit a handful. Believe me you don't want her yelling at you with her high pitched voice. She had a very nice purple suit with golden patrons shaped like flowers. She didn't want to carry a helmet, 'that would mess up my hair' she always said.
I handed over the lead ropes and she climbed on without saying anything and rode off.
I was glad, in this time of the year I didn't have to do much.
In autumn I have to clean up the leaves on the courtyard, in winter I clear it from snow and in summer I had to water the grass and the plants on the garden almost every day that on top of my usual training sessions with the horses.
Although Oslon was very harsh he was reasonable about the breaks I could take. A full hour a day free to spend with only one exception, when the horses where needed they must be ready. And that day I felt like taking my break right away, walk to a corner where the sun was shining and relax for a while. But I knew I could better wait till the afternoon and watch that girl while doing that.
I'm no pervert... I just like watching her.
I went to the stables and did the daily things, cleaned manure the manure of the horses out, refreshed the hay on the floor, brushed the horses and I took one of them for a training session 3 times a day for one and a half hour per training session.
When I was done with cleaning out the boxes and refreshing the hay, I grabbed my whip that hung next to the entrance, fixed it to my belt and I brought out Shelly to the training box. I just let her in to the box and locked the fence. After letting her doing some rounds for a warm up I let her run some patrons and I felt like riding her for the last half hour. I returned her to her box and went outside for a short pause, and then I saw Laura come back.
One of her eyes was tearing. I could hear her cursing; she apparently had a fly in her eye. Without saying a word to me, she returned the horse and run off to the manor. I brought Victor back to the box and I just wanted to walk back to the bench on the courtyard when I suddenly heard her bumping off the stairs with an awful scream. Shortly followed by very loud talking of Oslon, he was definitely very angry.
It peaked my interest so I stared walking toward the house. Then she (the maid I like so much) ran through the door with her long blue dress. She turned around and sayd in a desperate voices against Oslon who was following her closely with a stick in his hand.
“Please, master you must believe me! It was an accident… I did not mean to bump in to her!”
“I'm going to beat the living daylight out of you!” cried Oslon who was closing in fast.
When they where halfway the courtyard, close to the bench he grabbed her at the shoulder and pushed her over to the bench. She tripped over her feet, turned on her back and fell on the bench nose up. She uses both hands to push herself up and in her eyes I saw the fear for her master.
I gathered all my courage and said: “At least listen to her, she said she didn't do it on purpose and that she is sorry.”
Oslon turns his angry face at me and I swallowed when I saw the fire in his eyes, then he said on demanding and diabolic tone: “You don't tell me what to do SLAVE, you will shut up or I will punish you too!”
He again turned his face to the girl, walked to the bench and continued with the same tone he used on me: “When I am through with you, you would wish you were dead.”
Then I felt an anger come over me.
He raised the stick above his head to hit her; the girl dropped herself on the bench and using both her arms to shield her face. Then I suddenly realised I was armed. I grabbed my whip, rolled it off in an instant and swept the stick out of his hand.
He first looked confused at his hand and then turned to me and shouted: “I will kill you for that you worthless piece of....” But he never finished his sentence as my whip hit his face very hard. It just went automatically, as if my hand had a will of it’s own. Oslon fell on his back and did not move again... I knocked him out.
A moment I thought about the consequences this would have for me. Then the girl brought her arms down and took a look at Oslon. “Is he dead?” She asked.
I walked up to him while rolling up my whip as I always did when I was done with my job. “No, he's just unconscious.” I said when looking at him.
“How do you know?” She asked while still looking at Oslon.
“His chest is moving so he’s still breathing.” I took my eyes off Olson’s face and looked at her. “Are you alright?” I asked her.
“Yes... Thanks to you.” She said while getting straight. “Who are you?”
“I...I am just the stable boy.” I said loyal while looking at the ground.
She giggled and said: “No, I mean you name silly.”
“My name?” I was a little anxious to pronounce it, they normally never used my name, the ordered me to say I just where a slave or a stable boy when any one asked. It was a long time since someone used my name before. I grasped my throat. “My name is R'laph.” I over pronounced.
“My name is Zirasy.” She said while wiggling her leg. Although she laughed at me, she did not look very relaxed. As if she tried to hide her anxiousness for me. She stood up and walked up to me. “Thanks for saving me.” I got a weird feeling in my stomach I never felt before, I felt the desire to get closer to her but fate decided different. The other maid came running towards us.
“Zirasy what happened?” she asked out of breath. “I just brought Laura to her bed. She is not wounded badly but she did complain about pain in her back, she is asleep now.”
She looked from Zirasy to me and then Zirasy said while pointing at the house. “I was collecting clothes for the wash, but when I walked off the stairs with my hands full of clothes. Laura ran up the stairs and bumped in to me. I could barely keep myself straight by setting my behind leg on a higher step but she fell off the stairs.” Then she turned her head and pointed at Oslon. “And master followed me but...” The maid broke her sentence.
“By Azura, what happened to the master?” The maid said, while she walked up to Oslon and bowed over him. She checked his legs, arms, chest, neck and head.
“I knocked him out.” I said rather cool.
“You used your whip and hit him in the face?” She said half in panic.
“Yes, how do you know?” I asked.
“There is a thin long bleeding wound in his face. I hope he will be alright or I don't know what he will do to you.”
I looked at Oslon for a while and then turned to Zirasy again. I hesitated and tried to ask her. “I... Would you... will you...?” I stuttered.
She looked hopefully at me.
“Would you like to run away with me?” I asked after taking a deep breath.
“YES! I mean, I love to but... we cannot walk. They will catch us... I have not forgotten about Resho.”
“Then we will take a horse.” I proposed.
“But I cannot ride...” She said while looking at me.
“That doesn't matter; we can go both on the same horse.” I said helpfully.
“Don't know if this is a good idea. Why should we do better then Resho. Oslon will set a reward on our head when he wakes up.” she said with fear in her voice.
“I don't know, but I am certain it can't be worse then what he will do to us when he wakes up while we are still here.” I said while turning my head at Oslon.
“If I only had to courage to kill him.” I said while making a fist.
“NO!” The maid cried, she turned around spreading her arms to the sides to shield Oslon. “Laura cannot live without the care of her father. I will not let you kill him. “
“But don't you want to be free?” I asked her.
“But not by taking 2 lives. And besides that. I have nowhere to go; I have nobody to help me. This is the only home I ever had!” She said almost bursting in to tears.
We looked at each other for a while till I said. “Your right. I cannot murder him and ruin Laura's life.” I turned my head to Zirasy. “We have to act quickly; maybe we can get far enough before he wakes up.”
I walked to the stables and she followed me closely. When we entered the stables she asked me rather shy. “R'laph?”
I turned around and said. “Yes?”
She looked down, played with her fingers and stuttered. “I... I...” She suddenly looked at me, walked forward and kissed me. My head felt light and it was like there were butterflies in my stomach. She stepped back and said shyly. “Thanks for saving me.”
I was stunned, nailed to the ground, I did not know what to say but after a short silence I answered with a soft voice. “For you I would do it a thousand times again.”
We stared at each other and it was like magic. Time seemed to fade in her wonderful azure blue eyes but as soon as it came it faded back to reality. It felt horrible to spoil the moment.
“Come on let's go.” I opened Kains box and led the horse to the hallway of the stables.
Zirasy looked at the horse that was enormous compared to her rank figure. I stroke Kain over his head and said softly in is ear. “We are going to make a long journey, how do you like that?” The horse nodded what I took for a yes. I walked to the entrance of the stables, grabbed his gear, walked back to the horse and started to install his saddle.
“Wow, you are really good with horses. Is it because of your gentle voice or do you know a special technique to make them listen so well?” She asked interested while she looked how I put the saddle on and tied the belt under Kains stomach.
“I don't know, I worked with horses all my life since I was a little kid.” I turned my head towards her and asked. “Do you really think I have a gentle voice?”
“Yes, it sounds as sweet as honey and so warm and comforting.”
I smiled rather shyly and said soft. “Thanks, no one ever said that before. I thought I was only good for horse taming.”
She kneeled and put her hand softly against my chin. “You mustn’t be so hard on yourself. You have proven that you are much more then just a slave or a stable boy today.” I smiled and then she said. “Come on, let's go.”
I stood up, fixed my whip on to Kains saddle and asked her. “Ok, where do you like to sit?”
She prawns her face, not understanding what I meant.
I added. “I mean would you like to sit in front of me or behind me?”
She looked at the horse and seemed to ponder what was best but then she suddenly turned her head towards me and asked. “I don't know. What do you reckon is best?”
I waved over my head and thought for a moment before I answered. “Well Oslon taught Laura riding by letting her sit in front but when someone comes here carrying a passenger, the majority sits on the back so they can grab hold of the rider.” I thought for a moment and said. “It depends on what you prefer. At front you can see more but there is almost nothing to support you, so if you are scared of riding you better sit on the back and grab hold to me.”
She didn't think long about it when she said firmly. “I will ride on the back. But how will I get on. I cannot jump that high.” She said while looking at the horse.
“No problem.” I said while continuing making the horse ready and fixed the rein. Then I walked to the right side of the entrance and brought back a box that was as tall as my knees. I put it just next to Kain, set my left foot in the left stirrup and pulled myself on to the horse. She looked rather scared to jump on the horse. “Don’t worry, I will help you.”
She stepped on the box, she put out her arm that I could use to help her climb the horse. As soon as she landed on the horse I turned my face in pain. “What is the matter?” she asked me.
“Could you get of my tail please?” I asked her in deep pain.
“Ho, I’m sorry.” She pulled up her leg so the tail comes loose. She grabbed it and checked the part she sat on. “I’m really sorry.”
“Don't worry about it, accidents happen.” I slapped the lead ropes gently so the horse walked slowly to the entrance. I feel that she dropped my tail and took hold of me.
“Here we go.” I said when leading the horse out of the stables. I looked back and saw that she had her eyes closed and that she pushed her head against my back.
“You haven’t been on a horse before?” I asked her when we rode of Olson’s property.
“No, not a single time.” She answered, still keeping her eyes closed.
“I wouldn’t keep my eyes closed if I where you, it’s a beautiful day.” I said.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the trees on the side of the road. “Wow.” She gasped when she saw some colourful butterflies. “Those are gorgeous, what are they called?”
“What do you mean?” I asked when I looked in the direction she was looking.
“Those flying coloured creatures.” She pointed with her head towards the colourful insects.
“Those are butterflies. You have never seen those before?” I asked while pawning my eyebrows.
“I did a couple of times, but I never knew how they where called. But how did you know?” She asked interested.
The reason she asked was clear to me. We never had proper scholing. We were only taught the things who where highly necessary. So I explained.
“Well, I had a lot of conversations with slaves that came to the ranch with there owners. I also heard that the border of this province is to the west.”
“How do you mean west?”
“Well it's a way of... hmmm... well... how do you put this?” I thought for a short while and finally said. “This planet is round right.” She nodded. “Well to navigate a map you need to know which side is up right? “
“Yes, but what does that have to do with that west thing.”
“Give me some time to explain. The most upper point and the lowest point of this planet are magnetic. Which means it slightly attracts certain metals like iron and cobalt. So people found out that when you magnetised an iron needle it always pointed to the upside of the planet. They called this invention a compass...”
She made a noise that told me she seemed to understand.
“So the top of a map always points to the top of the planet which you can check with a compass.”
She again made a noise to make clear she understands what I was telling her.
“And they needed a system to name the different directions on a map and that compass. So they call the most lowest point of this planet south, the most upper side north, the left is called west and right is called east.”
She thought for a second and said. “I see. Wow, that you can remember all of that. I am impressed.”
I smiled and said. “It's not that hard to remember things that interest you.”
It was silent for a long time, we rode for several miles with the scarcely grown forrest at the left and right and in frond of us there was a wide road that led on for several miles where it disappeared in the more tightly grown forrest at the horizon. We did not ride very fast, but we progressed fair enough.
Then she suddenly asked me. “But one thing bothers me... how do you know where the west is? Even if someone pointed it to you from the ranch, you will lose direction in the mountains or woods where we will be forced to break of the straight line that points to the west... Do you have such a compass thing with you?”
“Well, I can see it by looking at the sun. Someone also told me you can do it by looking at the stars but he never explained how it works. But after looking for the stars for a week I understand the trick. It was actually very easy; there are certain patrons when you connect the stars with each other. If you can recognise them, you can use them to navigate your way. I found out the patrons I needed to pinpoint the different directions by the direction the sun went down.” I explained by pointing at the sun and where it would go under.
“Why did you do that for? Where you planning to escape?” She asked.
“No not really, although I dreamed of being free... But I was just...” I gasped. “Never mind.”
She putted her face over my shoulder and asked. “What's the matter? Why don't you want to talk about it?”
I looked at her and said. “Well because I am ashamed of myself about it.”
She put back her head. It was silent for a while then she said softly. “Well I am also ashamed of myself. I also did something I have a lot of regret about.”
“You want to talk about it.” I asked kindly.
There was a silence before she said. “I have tried to trade my body for freedom.” I turned my head towards her and opened my mouth, but I couldn't think of something to say so I closed it again an listened.
“A man came to me while I was hanging the laundry... I was younger then and more stupid. He promised to help me get free if I... I satisfied him.” She stalled and then turned her head down in shame. “He was rough and he hurt me. I was glad when it was over and that he would help me run away. But he just stood up, pulled up his pants and took off.” I saw tears falling on the horse. “I'm so stupid, how could I let him abuse me like that?”
I stalled the horse, jumped off, lifted her of the horse, closed my arms around her and tried to comfort her. “I'm sorry I asked. I was ashamed of myself because I was too afraid to run away. After what happened to Resho.” I said trying to make her feel better.
She looked at me with her eyes full of tears. “You where also afraid of Oslon?”
I closed my eyes, nodded slowly and opened them again.
She pushed her head against my chest and said. “I was so afraid that I would do something wrong... that I would upset Oslon. You always looked so cool when I saw you... I thought a guy like wouldn't be afraid. I'm glad that I am not the only one... that I am not alone.”
I waved my hands through her blonde hair rubbed over her back trying to calm her down.
“Don't worry, if we are over the border we never have to see that dreadful man again.”
She softly laughed between her tears. “And all thanks to you... Thanks a thousand times R'laph.”
After a while her crying subsided. I lifted her up the horse and climbed in frond of her. I slapped the lead ropes to spore the horse to a run.
“Why the hurry” she asked all of a sudden?
“If we really are serious getting out of this province. We need to cover as much land as we can today before he fines out the reward.” I said while lowering my body to have better grip on the horse.
After a short while the road went smaller because of the trees. It shrinked to just a little wider then the with of our horse. From time to time I could see the sun in a hole in the leaves above us. We rode for several hours without stopping, Kain was used to this heavy workout and he seemed glad to ride over some new soil.
The sun turned over our heads and our shadow lengthened. When the sun touched the mountains at the horizon the forest started to get less thick.
I held Kain back for a little and said. “Kain is getting tired and it will get dark soon. We better find a place to rest.” As I looked through the forest for a place where we could sleep. I hoped to find an open place where I we had enough room to sleep. But after riding for some minutes I gave up that idea.
This part of the forest was heavily covered with bushes and small trees. I turned left and went through the bushes, after 200 metres there was a cliff with a rather big open place between the forest and the edge. There also was a boulder close to the edge where we could sit against to watch the forest and fields that stretched below the cliff all the way to the horizon. To the right I could see the mountains that devoured the sun. “Here we will put up our camp” I said. I looked over my left shoulder and I saw she was fast asleep. It was to bad that I had to wake her up, but other wise she would have fallen off the horse when I got off.
“Zirasy...” I tried softly. She wiggled her head and then turned to the right but did not wake up. I turned my head over to my right shoulder. “Zirasy... Come on, you need to wake up.” I said a little louder. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. She used her hands to wipe her eyes and asked. “Why have we stopped?”
“Kain is getting tired and it's to dark to go on. That’s why I found a place where we could rest a little more comfortable.” I jumped of and helped her to get off Kain. I grabbed his lead ropes and led him to a tree. I tied the lead ropes to a bench and gently rubbed over his head. “Well done boy, you have earned your rest.”
“What a breath taking scene.” I heard Zirasy say.
I turned around and I saw her stand close to the edge. I warned. “Don't get to close, otherwise the edge may break off.”
She did some steps back and continued to look over the wide fields and massive forests below her. “You sure know how to pick a location.” She praised me.
I walked towards her and took stand just beside her and looked over the lands before us. “There was no suitable place in the Forrest so I tried to find a place close to this cliff. I was just lucky to find this place immediately.”
We stared for a while and then I walked to the boulder, sat myself down and put my back against the flat side of the rock that was almost as tall as my full length. She soon joined me; we were awake the most of the night. We talked the for the most of the night. I liked her even more, she had a very kind personality, although she didn't have an extensive knowledge she is pretty intelligent. She picked up everything I told her. For example I told her a lot about horse breeding that night, and I'm sure if I would ask her today, that she still would know almost everything I have told her.
When the 3 moons had reached there highest point, just before midnight she moved and took a seat between my legs. She fell asleep against my chest and it didn't take long for me to join her.

Day 2

I woke up when the first rays of the sun hit my face. I slowly opened my eyes and stared at my left to see the sun come up from behind the mountains, I stretched to Zirasy´s ear and whispered. “Zirasy you don't want to miss this.”
She slowly opened her eyes, looked at me and turned her head towards the scene when I nodded to the dusk. We looked how the red sky slowly turned to purple and to plain blue. After the sun took back his round shape by leaving the mountains she said.
“That was breath taking; I have never seen anything like that before. Have you ever had to time to see this?”
“No, but I heard from slaves who live close to the coast that it was worth getting up early for. But I never had the chance to see it myself.”
“What do you say if we do this every year to celebrate the day we first met?” She asked while looking at me.
“Yeah, but I reckon I will do this every day to celebrate our freedom.” We smiled at each other and after a short moment I said. “I’ll better get us some food.”
I put my hands against her back and stood up; I walked around the rock and looked how Kain was doing.
He looked happy to see me, I walked until I was beside him and stroke his head. “Did you also have a nice sleep?” I asked.
He shook his head to clear his manes and neighs. I smiled, grabbed the whip that hung on to the saddle and walked through the bushes into the Forrest. It did not take me long to find a Scrib, an as big as 3 fists insect with 6 legs. I was told to watch out as they have a poisonous breath that could paralyse you.
I rolled off the whip and slapped him, it was hurt very badly, it turned over on to his back crippling his legs into the air, I hit him again and it was dead. I slowly walked to it and picked it with a stick that lay close to it.
When I assured myself that it was dead I took it back to Zirasy.
“Do you know how to prepare these?” I asked when I showed her the dead Scrib.
“Yes, I have cooked them for Oslon before.” She took the Scrib out of my hands, not afraid at all and ripped of his legs. Then she broke the shell open, pulled out it’s organs and gave me some jelly like stuff. “Yuck, what is that?” I asked her.
“This is the tastiest part of a Scrib; you found it so you may have it.” I smelled and it actually smelled quite good.
“Well here goes.” I took a bite and swallowed. “Hmmm, this stuff taste pretty good.”
“I told you.” She said while she started eating the rest of the Scrib, which was not much I saw when we were finished. “Why didn't you tell me there wasn't much to eat from it beside that jelly?” I asked her.
“You have to ride all day again so it's far you get the biggest part.” She said while rubbing over her arm and avoiding my eyes.
“You don't have to take it personal. I just don't want you to be hungry. Just give me a second so I can find a second one.” I walked back to the forest, but I couldn't find another Scrib. I did kill 2 rats and brought them back to Zirasy. I handed them over and said. “Here you go, I hope they are any good.”
“Nice, but I will need a knife to cleanly slaughter it.” She said while examine the rats.
I then asked her. “How do you mean cleanly.”
“Well I can maybe rip off his legs like I did with the Scrib but I will probably be covered with blood.”
“Can't you just bite of a leg?” I proposed.
“Maybe, depends if his fur is clean. I don't want to eat the parasites.” She said.
“Parasites?” I asked.
“Yes, insects that life from there blood. They settle up in the fur and pierce them self through the skin so they can suck up the blood. Most of these are infested with all kinds of diseases. The easiest is just to take off skin and take out the meat.”
“Wow you know a lot about cooking.” I praised her.
“Well, they taught me a lot about this so I would make a good cook.” She said while staring at the rats. “I wish they taught me more so I could really be independent. I would like to learn how to draw, how to settle and ride a horse, how to read and write.” She said while turning her head towards me.
I thought for a moment before I said. “I will teach you what I know and for the rest... I will do my best to find someone who wants to teach you things like that. But first we still need to get out of the province.”
She again focused her sight towards the dead rats said softly. “Thanks, I look forward to that.”
“Shall I help you rip off a leg off this rat?” I asked while pointing to the biggest one.
“Yes, I’ll try this one.” She said while handing the biggest rat to me.
I grabbed the rat by his both front legs and pulled them apart with all my strength. The leg came off pretty easily. “Well that wasn't so hard.” The rat did not bleed that much and only spoiled some drops on the grass.
“You’re a lot stronger than me.” She said while looking at the rat.
“What should I do then?” I asked her. She explained how to take off its skin. After some trials I managed to pull off his skin piece by piece I handed over the skinned rat. She started eating, while I butchered the other one and joined her. After we were finished eating we disposed all the leftovers into the valley. We walked to Kain; I helped her to climb him, untied the rope and climbed on behind her. I took a look over my shoulder and she looked very calm. “You aren't afraid of riding anymore.”
“As long as you ride I am not afraid.” She said while gently putting her hands on to my sides.
I gently smack the lead ropes and Kain slowly took us back to the path we were following yesterday.
We ride for some hours talking about our time at Olson’s. She told me how Oslon tried to beat her when he had drunk too much and showed me an amulet that protected her from Olson’s rages. She apparently had got it from her mother. I wondered how she could have kept it. I decided not to ask her about that, but to tell her some things about my life instead. I told her about how I was ill-threatened when I did something wrong, like breaking a bucket or forgetting to clean up the horses manure. And so we shared each others miserable life that we left behind us.
The path turned slightly to the left and we rode close to the edge of a cliff for a while. The path started to go down and I could see that the forest would end soon and continued into the wastelands. I wanted to eat and drink something before we would go into the waste land. I stopped beside a pool in the middle of the forest and tied Kain to a tree. He immediately started drinking out of the pool.
“I would love to take a bath...” Zirasy said.
“But you don't want me to see you.” I said.
“I don't care as long as I still wear my underwear. Hey, that rimes.” She gigled. She took off her dress, so she only had a light yellow bra and underpants on. Then she slowly walked into the pool. I stared at her and I was nailed to the ground. She looked at me, frowned her eye brows and said. “What are you waiting for, aren't you coming in?”
I took of my pullover and my brown pants and joined her. We swam for while until she asked me to wash her back. I went over to her and took stand behind her close to the side of the water. She dropped her bra and I washed her back, she was enjoying it until I bowed over her shoulder to kiss her on the cheek, but she did not liked that, she immediately put her bra back on and said. “Are you trying to have a look at my breasts?”
“No I just wanted to... I...I am sorry.” I said trying to apologise myself.
“Turn around.” She said.
I turned away from her, I felt bad, and why did I do that? The last thing I wanted to do was upsetting her, was there something wrong with me or... I hoped she could forgive me.
I heard her going out of the water, after a short while I heard her walking away. I did not turn around immediately but stood there trying to think up some excuses or at least some explanation for my behaviour. I turned around and I saw she was sitting against a tree close to Kain. She had her arms wrapped in front of her chest and looked at the ground in frond of her. I got out of the pool and put my clothes back on. I walked towards her and kneeled beside her. “I'm sorry to upset you; I did not want to hurt you.”
“Why did you try to have a look at my breasts or what did you wanted to do?” She asked while still staring at the ground.
“I just wanted to kiss you.” I looked to the side and tried to think up something else but it had to come to this point sooner or later. “Zirasy, listen I have to confess something... Since the first day I saw you I love you.” She suddenly turns her head towards me. ”My dream was to walk away with you. I don't know what came over me in that pool but I just felt the urge to kiss you. If you don't like that I won't do it again.” I took her hand and looked her in her eyes. “I would rather take my life then hurt you... Can you forgive me?”
She looked at me, turned her eyes down and sighed. “Maybe I'm just too stressed... I find it hard to relax after what that man did to me, can you understand that?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Can you still love me knowing that?” She asked.
“Is that so weird? Love is more then just the physical thing.”
It grew silent and then she asked. “Have you ever made love before?”
“I? No, you are the only woman I met in a very long time...”
After a short silent I asked her. “Zirasy.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think about me, do you like me?” I asked her.
“You know R'laph, I honestly don't know. I like you as a friend... But I have never fallen in love before... I don't know if my feelings for you are through.”
“I do not ask you to love me. If you do not like me that much, we can just be friends.”
“I don't know if it will be that easy.” She looked at me and said. “We better discuss this later.”
We had some water out of the pool and eventually took off. After a short while the forest turned in to waste land. Grey dirt and dead trees, not the pretty sight we were used after the gorgeous forests we crossed. She still did not say a word since we left from the pool. We rode the whole day till nightfall. When the sun started to drop down, we reached the mountains. I found us a cave and after making a fire with some fire stones and dead branches I found on the wastelands we finally started to talk to each other again.
“R'laph, how do you know your love for me is through and not just the will of your body to reproduce.” She asked me.
“If it is my will to reproduce I would have just taken you, besides that I am willing to give my life for your safety.” I told her.
“How do you know that you would go that far to save me?”
“I just feel... I just know I will.” I tried to convince her. “Why are you afraid of me? I have not hurt you; I only want you to feel better after our time at Oslon.”
“I'm not afraid of you... I'm afraid to be... to be...” She turned her head.
“Miss used again.” I completed her. “I don't know how it feels to be... It must be horrible. But it does not mean that all men are animals who can only think of one thing. But if you don't give me chance to prove myself you will never know, we will maybe always remain friends. But what I feel is more then just friendship, I want to be with you day and night, I want to share my food, my dreams, my everything.”
We looked at each other for a while till the fire faded. “I'm going to find us more wood; I heard the nights can be very cold and dangerous on the wastelands.” On my way outside I saw Kain who was very quietly staring at the fire; I tied him to an outstanding rock in the cave. I went outside, walked away for some 300 meters and found some wood from a thunder shattered dead trea.
When I came back I saw someone enter the cave Zirasy was sitting, I dropped the wood and ran towards the cave. I stormed inside and saw the figure was attacking Zirasy.
“Well well, what do we have here?” He said while playing with a knife just a meter away from Zirasy who was crawling in to a corner, overcome with fear.
“Get your hands of her.” I yelled.
The figure turned around an examined me. “On a holiday slave?” He laughed. “As soon as I am done with your little girlfriend here I'm going to take you two with me and claim the reward.”
I felt very cold. Did Oslon carry out the reward this fast. Or did he just hire this person to find us. Either way it would be everything or nothing. The bandit turned around a closed in on Zirasy who screamed and punched to keep away her attacker. I grabbed the whip off Kain, rolled it out and aimed for the man his head. I hit his ear that where almost ripped cleanly off his head, he screamed in agony and turned around, attacking in blind fury; I only had a second before he was at me so I ruthlessly swung my whip that hit him on the knee. The man fell and grabbed hold of his knee. I hit him again in his face, and he fell flat on the floor. I hit him again and again and again until I was sure I killed him. I panted heavily, trying to catch my breath. I walked to Zirasy. “Did he touch you?” I asked her.
She just stared at the body and did not answer.
“Zirasy, did he touch you?” I repeated
She looked at me with her eyes full of tears, jumped up and flew in to my arms.
“I was so afraid R'laph... I'm glad you’re back.” We sat down and she eventually cried herself to sleep in my arms. I was awake the most of the night, to protect us. But I was so tired, that after some hours I also fell asleep.

Day 3

When I woke up, I smelled a nice scent. It was the scent of fried meat; I opened my eyes and saw that Zirasy was cooking meat on a stick above a fire.
“Good morning.” She said happily.
“Good morning. How do you feel?” I asked.
“Well, I feel quite happy. I am glad you came on time R'laph and that you saved me.”
“I told you I would. But what are you cooking, it smells delicious.”
“Well.” She nodded at the dead bandit.
“You mean...” I asked with open mouth.
“Yes.” She said while bringing the meat to her mouth and taking a bite out of it. After she swallowed she said. “He actually tastes even better then he smells.”
“How can you eat him, after he attacked you?”
“Well I see it as a way of revenge. And besides that I cannot find a better way to get dispose of him.” She said before taking another bite.
I had to agree on that, but how could she think like that? Maybe she feels weak because she needed me last night and this is her way of strengthening herself.
“Here, have a piece.” She said while pointing a chunk of meat on a stick in my direction.
I hesitated, I saw the mans face while looking at the meat but eventually I took a bite. After I swallowed, it faded. “It actually works, I forgot about him.” I said.
“Maybe it is in our nature. To not feel guilty about killing and eating a prey.” She said. “I'm glad I can forget him this way. I feel much stronger than yesterday.”
We devoured the body almost completely while she explained about his organs and what was good to eat and what wasn't. We buried the mans remains at the end of the cave.
Then it was time to get on the road again.
“I want to sit on front.” she said.
I smiled and bowed like a servant letting is master in to his house.
I helped her on to Kain and I jumped on behind her. I slept the lead ropes and we took off. Nothing happened until she wanted to go faster, because of the bouncing and her back against my... you know, I well... . She did not notice at first but then suddenly she demanded.
“Pull over.”
“What's the matter.” I asked her before I jumped off Kain.
“You lied, the only thing you can think of when you touch me is that.”
I tried to explain. “No, that’s not through. Because you...” But she interrupted me and said.
“I don't want to hear anymore of your excuses, just take that horse and go.” she said angry while turning her back on me.
I thought that the punishment I got for helping Resho was the worst a man could get. I was wrong, this felt as if she pierced my heart. I did not care for my freedom any more as I had no one to share it with.
“No” I said silent when walking towards the bushes behind her. “You can take the horse...”
I jumped and ran through the bushes, I heard her asking something but I didn't care. I slowed down and saw the cliff I was looking for. The wind swept over while I slowly wandered to the grass covered edge and looked over to the bottom of the gorge.
“Good bye cruel world.” I said while closing my eyes and slowly bending over the edge. Then I suddenly felt a hand pulling me back and before I knew it, I was on my back staring in her face.
“Why did you do that? You said you did not want to see me any more.” I asked her.
“I wanted to know why you left Kain like that... And... Listen, I take back everything I said.” She lowers her head and closes her eyes “This proves it, so everything you have told me... It's all through. And I just did not want to see it. I almost lost you because of my own fear.” She opened her eyes, bending over my face and whispered in my ear. “I'm sorry I did not trust you, in return I will give myself to you.” She laid herself down beside me and gave me a kiss.
Then for the first time in my life I slept with a girl. I was tense with her, because I didn't want to upset her again.

We were exhausted and we laid there for some time. Then I remembered that weren't free yet, we needed to get out of the province. The position of the sun told me we where here for about an hour and a half.
“Zirasy, we need to get on.” I said while kissing her cheek.
“You’re right, we better get going before our dream ends into a nightmare.” We got up and clothed ourselves. We went back where we left Kain. Surprisingly he still stood there, 'waiting' for us?
I jumped on him and then another surprise. Before I could stick out my arm to Zirasy, she was already sitting behind me.
“You bring up the best in me. If we want to keep it that way we, better cross the border as soon as possible.” She said leaning over my shoulder.
I spurred Kain for a run; we had some time to catch. She was holding firmly to me... not of fear, but she wanted to be close to me.
After riding for half an hour she asked. “What do you think we should do as soon as we crossed the border?”
“I think I should find some work to pay for our last trip... a trip to Elsweyr. I'm finally going home.”
“You where born in Elsweyr?” She asked surprised.
“Yes, they kidnapped me and brought me to Morrowind. What about you, where you also born in Elsweyr?” I asked her while looking over my shoulder.
“No, I was born and raised in Morrowind. My mother was a farmer, my father died of a disease 4 months before my birth. She worked very hard in her effort to raise me. She was very poor and when I got older she didn't had enough money and food to keep us both alive. She sold me when I was six years old. First I was outraged and very sad... I was alone in this big world; the only one I trusted gave me in the hands of strangers. Dark elves raised me to be a house slave, taught me how to cook and how to keep a house clean and finally, when I was the age of 13 they sold me to Oslon. I can't imagine what is worse. To be kidnapped as a child or being sold like a product... a walking piece of meat.”
“How do you think of your mother now?” I asked.
“I hated her first, but when I got older I understood that we would probably both have died of starvation if she hadn't sold me. I want to meet her and know what kind of woman she is.” She said while looking at the mountains at her right.
“Maybe we can return one day...” I said hopefully.
“I hope it will not be too late.” She said softly.
After a while I said. “I would like a big manor like Oslon has.”
“There is a big difference in what you want and what you will get.” She replied.
“I’m sure we can make a living by taming wild horses and training horses for rich people. As soon as we got the money I build us a big manor.” I said full of confidence.
She smiled. “I also have a dream. I dreamed of strong man that would take me away and...” She said some while later. “I would like to raise some children with you.” She said laying her head on my shoulder, I kissed her and we talked more about they how our children should be named like and how big our ranch should be and where we would like to settle it.
We rode until the sun started to disappear behind the mountains. I found us a cave that was already been occupied before. There were some damaged bedrolls; I put them close to each other so it covered a larger space on the floor. We searched the area for some wood and something to eat. We both found some small dead trees and she also brought back a dead cliff racer she found. It was apparently killed by a sword, because it had a big cut in his throat. I made the fire with the fire stones I took from the last cave and some cloth that was teared of the bedrolls.
She cooked the cliff racer and used the knife she took from last night’s bandit to cut pieces of it. After we were done eating, we laid our selves on the bedrolls and talked about Resho. She wanted to know what he was like. I told her about his riding skills and how he dreamed of freedom.
We spent the night together. We had a lot of catching up to do, and so fell asleep in each others arms, totally exhausted. I never had a nicer sleep.

Day 4

The next morning she again beat me in the early awake. She had found some roots we could have for breakfast. They tasted pretty bad and I did not hide that.
When she saw my face she said. “I know they don't taste very well, but they contain a lot of energy, you better also feed Kain some.”
I tied Kain to a big rock last night; there was no grass to silent his need for food. I gave him some roots, he seemed to like them.
After we were done eating we continued our journey. I didn't know the exact point where Morrowind ended and Cyrodiil began. The only thing I heard was that it was mostly covered with big forests, so I reckon that we could recognize this province by the environment.
We rode for some time, mountains became more levelled and then we entered a huge forest. I saw an animal I later recognized as a deer.
“WE DID IT! WE MADE IT!” I yelled.
“You mean we are finally free?” she asked bending over her shoulder and looking in to my face.
I nodded and we hugged and kissed each other in celebration of our freedom.
We rode on for some time in the hope we would cross a sign-post or a settlement.
Suddenly a lot of noise from scared birds flying up from a bush behind us pulled my attention. I looked back and saw a figure following us on a horse.
I drove my horse to run faster, branches just bearably missed us when we speeded through that forest, where holes in the leaf deck above our head gave stripes of light on the path before us making it look we where even going faster.
The forest ended and I continued on to an open field. Then suddenly an arrow landed in the ground in front of our horses. Kain jumped up on his 2 behind legs and we were bearably able to hold on. We both jumped off, I led Zirasy behind me so I could protect her and prepared my whip.
Now in clear daylight our follower was clearly visible. To my surprise it was a Khajiit, but not from the generic sort. This one had enormous muscles, looked to the world like he had nothing to lose, carrying a big sword on his side and a bow over his shoulder. In his half open jacket I could see all kinds of bottles. The Khajiit jumped off, hung the bow on his horse and walked slowly towards us.
“Why are you following us?” I asked braver then I felt.
The stranger stopped and said slow and very confident: “I am here to collect you two; there is a reward on your heads.”
“And you think we will just surrender and go with you?” I asked with certain anger.
He did not answer but continued walking towards us. I swept and let the whip smack just beside his head so he would be frightened from the sound, but he just walked on as nothing happened. I tried again but this time I aimed for his head. Then it became clear how good fighter he was. He just tilted his head slightly to the left so the whip bearably missed him.
It was clear I had to give everything to have a chance against this guy. I started to smack him as hard and fast as I could. After I hit his hand and wounded his leg he pulled out his sword. I had never imagined that it was possible for someone to block a whip with a sword, but he was so fast that it looked like a piece of cake to him.
I tried to find a hole in his defence and I found one. I could extend further fast with my whip, so I could let him block a low hit to the left and then hit him in the face. He grabbed for his face that gave me the opportunity to hit his sword carrying hand, he dropped his sword and almost the same time as it hit the floor, I wrapped my whip around his leg and pulled him over. He smacked to the ground pretty hard, I stepped in for a final blow to knock him out. I gather force by raising the whip above my head. He rolled over just before the whip could connect; he grabbed his sword and jumped up. Then he turned the tide.
He grabbed Zirasy by the chest of her dress and pulled her over to him. She screamed while he grabbed her shoulder and turns his self behind her back. He put his sword against her throat and demanded: “Enough fooling around. Surrender or I will kill the girl.”
“Let her go!” I yelled.
“No way” He said cool and confident as if he already had won the fight.
“How can I beat this guy...?” I thought “Just look at him, he is a born killer, the way he looks and holds that sword. How could I beat someone like him?”
I tried to walk around him to find a better position, but he just followed my movement and turned her in my direction.
“Come on R'laph think: there just must be a way to beat this guy there just must be. Maybe I can bluff myself out off this. But with what?”
Then I said pretty confident: “Let her go or I will make your horse take off.” I pulled my whip above my head and aimed for the horse.
He laughed and said: “Go ahead, that will be long walk for you two.”
I lowered my whip again and nearly lost all hope when I hectically tried to think of something. I looked at Zirasy and saw the fear in her eyes. She was clearly too afraid to move a muscle that could upset her attacker. I could hear her breath fast and very deep.
Apart from her breathing it was silent for a moment that seemed to last forever.
Then the stranger said on demanding tone: “This has taken long enough. I'm going to count to ten, and if you do not surrender I will slit her throat.”
A shock like a thunder strike went to my body. We were just free for 3 days.
“One”
All our dreams all our plans, could it all be over already?
“Two”
Or should I flee... NO I don't want... I will not run and leave her in his custody.
“Three”
I have to choose... But I can't!
“Four”
I'm just a stable boy, not a fighter. I can't defeat him... Just look at him...
“Five”
Please... why does this happen to me? What have I done that I deserve this punishment.
“Six”
I closed my eyes. What should I do?
“Seven”
If I fled she will die, if I attack she will two, if I give up Oslon may kill us.
“Eight”
I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT! This is just nightmare and I'm gone wake up soon...
“Nine”
“No, this is real, and I started this and I am going to end it.”
He opened his mouth to say the final count when I opened my eyes and quickly yelled. “Stop”
A moment of silence before I lowered my head and said: “I surrender.”
“Finally. Toss your whip to the side, turn around and go sit on your hands.” The stranger said.
I tossed my whip to the side turned around, laid my hands to the ground and set my knees on my hands. I thought he would hit the back of my head, but instead it took a while before anything happened. Then I heard him walk towards me and stop a metre or so behind me and ordered:
“Put your hands behind your back, slowly.”
I did what he asked and as soon as the two hands touched each other. He bent over and wrapped a peace of cloth around them. I pulled up my eyebrows and wondered why he would do something like that. Then he tied my hands behind my back by teeing a rope multiple times around my wrists.
I was too deep in thoughts when he ordered me to stand up. I stood up and focussed my attention. “Turn around.” he said then.
I turned around and saw he was severely wounded. His leg bled as well as his hand and his face. It did not occur to me when he kept Zirasy under threat. Speaking of her, where is she? I looked over his shoulder and saw her standing close to our horse, lonely and very afraid.
“If you just do what I say: I will make sure nothing happens to you. Come with me.”
He turned around and walked off when I asked him: “Before we go I at least want to know your name.”
He stopped and spoke over his shoulder. “I'm Fineas. I already know who you 2 are. Slaves from a man named Oslon, your name is R'laph and she is Zirasy.”
“How do you know that?” I demanded.
“Posters at every census office in almost every city. He wants you back alive, which could only mean that you two are runaway slaves.”
He walked on and I followed him, I walked to Zirasy and saw that her arms were tied over each other with 2 small belts. She shivered on the feet as she looked my way.
Fineas pulled a blue bottle out his jacket and looks at me.
“Try to calm her; I don't want her to faint when we are riding.” He said before taking off the cork and drinking the potion.
“It would go a lot easier if you could untie me.” I spitted sarcastically at him.
Fineas takes his mouth off the bottle, puts back on the cork and replies “We are leaving shortly so if you can't do it, I will do it my own way.”
His wounds started to heal rather quickly after the potion. Then he walked off in the direction of some bushes then suddenly he halted and said. “One thing, if you try to run. I will shoot an arrow in your back... got that?” I swallowed as he continued his way to the bushes and bent over to collect some berries.
I tried my sweetest voice to calm her down. “I am with you, don't worry...”
She laid her head on my shoulder and started to cry. She is to upset to just calm down easily, I can't blame her.
A moment later Fineas returned and went straight to his horse. I followed him with my eyes when Zirasy crying started to fade. He got some stuff from the bag that hung on one side of his horse. Then he walked towards us and laid all the things he had in his hands on the ground. 2 Different kinds of berry's, one light red, another very deeply red and some roots. Fineas reaches in a bag on his belt and get a mortar and pestle. He starts to crush the 3 ingredients and continues till it becomes a fine powder.
“That root must have been very dry to make a powder out of the smashed berries.” I thought.
Fineas reached in his jacket and grabbed 2 small green bottles. He turns them around in the air to check if there is something liquid in them. He seemed glad with the result as he takes the cork off the bottles, then he took a spoon from his jacket and started to fill the 2 bottles with an equal amount of powder. What ever the bottled was filled with. It soon started to smell very pleasant like flowers on a sunny spring day. Fineas put the cork on one of the bottles and puts it in his coat. The other one he took to us.
He stood close to Zirasy and tried to see her face. “Not very successful I see.” He said. And led her away from me by pulling her shoulder.
He putted the bottle under Zirasy nose but she immediately turned away her head.
“Hey, back off. Are you trying to poison her?” I said angrily.
“No, this stuff is to calm her down. I call it Shweet.”
Zirasy tried to dodge the bottle he was trying to make her drink.
I then said: “Your lying... you are just trying to poison her.”
“I only get the money when I bring you in alive. But as you wish. I will proof to you that this is not a poison” Fineas took a small pull and swallowed the liquid coming out of the bottle. We both stared at him for a while but nothing happened. Zirasy still shivered.
“Now take a pull and you will feel a lot better.” Fineas said and slowly brought the bottle to her mouth, she looked at the bottle for a short time and she drunk before I could say anything else. And indeed she calmed down immediately.
“See that wasn't so bad was it.” Fineas said on a rather sweet tone.
Zirasy licked over her lips and smacked with her mouth: “This tastes very sweet.”
“Bear with me, you don't want more. This stuff is addictive and in higher dose you will be something close to drunk by it.”
He looks at me and asks. “Also want a gulp?” He asked me.
I looked suspiciously at the bottle, back to him and then to Zirasy.
“Common it tastes good.” She said.
“Alright, I have nothing to lose so...” I said. And took a gulp of the potion. It tasted better then anything else I drunk before. Some slaves where able to steal drinks from there masters and shared them with me sometime, but this Shweet exceeded all of them by far.

“Now, let's go. We have a long way to go.” Fineas said.
Fineas looked at Zirasy and said: “Turn around to the horse.”
She first looked at me and then slowly turned around checking over her shoulder from time to time. Fineas came forward, took stand just behind her, grabbed her at the middle and lifted her on the horse. “Your turn.” He said looking at me, I walked to the horse; he took place behind me and without any effort he lifted me on the horse the same way he did with Zirasy. Then he got 2 pieces of rope with a stroke of letter between them out of the sack on the side of his horse and tied our feet together under the horse. He jumped on his horse, grabbed the rein of our horse and led it while riding his own. I felt rather nice but my anger for Fineas did not subside.
He rode just beside us and looked very cool and confident, as if this was just every day’s life. “Why do you do this?” I asked him angry. “You are a Khajiit yourself, how can you betray your own kind?”
He did not look up or moved a muscle but continued to ride and look straight forward.
“Why do you catch people for money? What is so exciting about bounty hunting?
A moment of silence made me think he would ignore my every question but then he answered as cool as he looked: “I need a way to support myself. And this is where I am good at, hunting and fighting.”
“So you catch innocent people and more or less sell them to the highest bidder. What a wonder full life, doesn't it: get on your conscience what happens to the people you catch?”
He replied again without looking up: “The most people I catch aren't innocent. And I cannot live from things I find in the woods. I need shelter, clothes and weapons to defend myself... If you can just name a job where you get paid for hunting people legally and completely on your own I will stop my bounty hunting and start doing that job.”
“Master Oslon will probably kill us; doesn't that bother you at all?”
He turned his head and took short look at me, it was hard to read his face but it was clearly he would have liked to say something, but then stared forwards again. I never got an answer.
It was silent for a while when I tried something else.
“Please, let us free. I will give you everything you want.” I begged.
He started to look irritated and replied looking deeply in my face: “Can you offer me 10.000 pieces of gold or anything worth that amount of money.”
I opened my mouth but nothing came out, he only cared for money, he did not care for any one or anything as long as he could make enough money to support himself. I looked down at the ground “No” I replied silently.
“Then you can't give me everything I want.” He started looking forward again and he looked a little angry so I decided to give up. A hopeless situation, yesterday I was the happiest man alive, tomorrow... I don't want to think about tomorrow.
I rested my head on Zirasy shoulder and said sadly.
“I'm sorry Zirasy. It's my fault I should have at least tried to defeat him...”
“No,” she said confident looking up to the sky. “It's not your fault. You wanted to protect me, but you couldn't and I don't blame you. You’re the first one that really cared for me; even want to give your life to protect me... I would rather die then never have met you.”
She turned her head and kissed me on the cheek. Suddenly I felt much dosed; I then did not care about the world anymore. There was only me and her. We kissed and rubbed our heads against each other, time was nothing more then a word. We continued and licked each others neck and cheeks then the last thing I could remember is the taste of that Shweet potion Fineas gave us.

When I woke up the sun was on the top of his height. I looked at my left where Fineas was riding.
“How long have we been asleep?” I asked.
“3 Hours.” He said without looking up.
“What was in that potion that made us fell asleep?” I asked rather angry.
“I messed up with one of the ingredients I think, sorry.”
He said sorry... why did he do that? He was pretty well caring for a bounty hunter. First the cloth he putted around my wrist to apparently make sure the ropes didn't cut me, then that Shweet stuff he gave us and now he said sorry because he messed up with the potion.
I wondered what was cooking in his mind. It was impossible to see from the outside because he just looked like Oslon usually did when he tried to sell something to a rich duke. Full of confidence and whit a look like he didn't care about the world.
It was also hard to determine Fineas age, he looked very strong and his mean face made me think he was about 24 years old, but he was very fast and agile that made me wonders.
“How old are you?” I asked.
He seemed to think about that question for some time and then said. “I’m 18 years old.”
That was a surprise, he was barely an adult and already this powerful. He must had a lot of training to achieve this level of skill and strength.
After riding for about 2 hours we saw a village dooming up at the horizon. When we almost entered the village we saw 3 adolescent nords trying to threaten an old man.
“Give me your money grandpa and we will leave you alone.” One of the boys said while threatening the old man with a knife.
The man tried to walk away while anxiously protecting his purse but the boys have him cornered.
Then Fineas surprised us even more. He jumped of the horse and walked to the boys.
The boys saw him coming and the boy with a knife looks at him and shouted.
“Back off or we will hurt you plenty you filthy feline.”
He turns around and continues threatening the old man. Fineas tapped on his back.
The boy turns around while saying. “I told you to….”
Fineas grabs his hand and squeeze in his wrist so hard that the boy dropped his knife. The boy at Fineas right charges in, but didn't get far because Fineas feet blew him away for 3 meters before rolling over the road. The left boy backed off while Fineas grabbed the boy at his neck and lifted him up with only 1 hand.
“If I see you again doing stuff like this I will castrate you... Got that?” Fineas said very calm.
The boy nodded anxiously.
“Now scram.” He said a little angry.
The boys ran of but the guy he kicked remained on the the ground. Fineas followed the boys with his eyes and growled. “Pests...”
He looked at the old man that slowly started to calm.
“Are you alright?” Fineas asked friendly.
“Yes hmm... thank you young man.” The old man said surprised by this sudden turn off events.
“Your welcome.” He said friendly. Fineas turned around an headed back for his horse.
“Hey wait up; here take this money as a reward for helping me...” The old man said.
“No, you can keep it old man. You seem to need it more than I do.” Fineas said over his shoulder while taking the lead ropes from his and our horse and slowly leading them in to the village.
“But can I at least know the name of my saviour?” The old man asked.
“Fineas” Fineas said.
I turned my head to see the old man before we entered the village and saw that he was stunned. His mouth and eyes wide open. I could see he was whispering something.
This was very weird; I thought Fineas would be very well known for his bounty hunting. I learned later that I was right about the well known part...
We rode in to the village, it was getting darker. It was very silent in the village, there was light coming from a tavern next to the stables where Fineas stashed the horses and helped us off.
We spend the night in the tavern. Zirasy and I slept in a big bed. It was very soft and comfortable although we were still bound by our hands. Fineas slept on a bedroll he lends from the owner, he slept against the door of the room. Fineas was watching us for a while, but as soon as I was sure he was asleep I talked with Zirasy on a plan to escape. We didn't make a chance against Fineas so if he would wake up we would be done for. We tried to think up all kinds of plans but we couldn't think up something that had a reasonable chance of success. We gave up and finally fell asleep.

Day 6

When we woke up there were all kinds food settled on the bed. Fineas brought us all kinds of fruits, bread and wine. He untied me so I could eat properly and I fed Zirasy. After that he tied me the same way he did the first time we met, we didn't had much time to see the inside of the tavern by daylight because Fineas wanted to go as soon as possible.
The ward took his payment and said.
“Good to do business with you and I hope to see you again Abbadon I mean... Mr. Fineas.”
I heard that name before, I was sure of it. Fineas took us to the stables, collected the horses, paid the owner, put us on the horses again and we took off again. After riding for a half a hour I remembered.
“Abbadon, the temple gave you that name because you murder a lot.” I said against him. “You are Abbadon the angel of dead.”
“That’s how some people call me.” Fineas said without looking up.
I didn't want to know more, so I didn't ask him any more. I didn't know anything about Abbadon or Fineas how every you want to call him, but why did a heartless murderer bounty hunted slaves? I didn't care because on this point we would be brought to Oslon, I was far more afraid on what he would do to us then Fineas.
We rode for the most of the day, took a short stop at the same pool we found about 3 days ago. I remembered the thing that happened there.
We drunk some water and took off again. Fineas was a good rider; he knew how fast he could ride without tiring out his horse and Kain... That wasn't an issue; he was used to extreme work out.
At nightfall we were on only kilometres from Olson’s ranch. We spent the night in another tavern, Fineas made the same approach he did the last time only this time the door wasn't visible from the bed. So I took the risk and tried to escape. But as soon as we were around the corner Fineas looked up at me and said slow and tempered.
“If you don't want any trouble, you return to your bed and go to sleep.”
We gave up, went back to bed and we spend the night as it was our last.

Day 7

We woke up and to my surprise our hands were already untied. We walked to the door. But as soon as I wanted to open it, Fineas entered with a dish full of food. I could have attacked him, but I decided it had no use; we ate together at the table in our room. It was silence and we were tense towards the day that lay ahead off us.
We went as fast as we had came, again bound just after we were finished breakfast and after riding for 4 hours through the forest we entered the thinly grown forest and after a short while we saw Olson’s ranch through the woods. I felt that Zirasy was dead afraid, I laid my head against hers and we rode on to the courtyard.
Oslon was apparently waiting for us; he stood beside the entrance of the courtyard playing with a stick in his hand. The wound I delivered him was scarsly visible on his face. We looked how Fineas jumped of his horse and walked up to Oslon.
“Ha I see you brought back my slaves. Well done.” Oslon said while looking from me to Zirasy and then to Fineas who was standing in frond of him.
“Yes, I would like my reward.” Fineas said cool. Oslon handed over a sack and Fineas immediately started to count money out of it.
“You know what I'm going to do to them? I'm going to slap the girl until she is almost dead and then she may watch how I'm going to skin the boy and pull him all over my property until he is dead.” Oslon diabolically laughed.
I felt my stomach turned and I could feel how Zirasy tensed. This was the end of our journey, I started it and I would end it by paying my life for my transgression. I closed my eyes and gave for what I felt Zirasy, my last kiss. What then happened can't be described by a single pencil... But I will try.
Fineas took some of the money he was been counting and putted back the sack into Olson’s hand.
“I don't think so.” He said rather angry. “First you can take that money and put it where the sun doesn't shine.”
Oslon was totally stunned and looked at him with big eyes.
“Second you drop the reward against those 2 and third you let them go.” He said.
Now it was our turn to be stunned... What was he doing? He wanted us for his self?
Oslon recovered rather quickly and said on an equal angry tone.
“And who do you think you are that you can order me something like that? KHAJIIT!”
“My name is Fineas.” Oslon turned pale white and was nailed to the floor.
“Now if you would be so kind, get me some parcment and a pencil. I want to make a contract.” Fineas said again cool and controlled. Oslon didn't move and was still nailed to the ground.
“TODAY OSLON!” Yelled Fineas angry.
Oslon ran off to the manor, Fineas brought the horses to the bench in the middle of the courtyard where it had all began. He lifted us of the horses when Oslon came back with some parchment roles, a pot of ink and a feather. We didn’t felt confident at all about the situation. What did he want to do with us? Did he want his own slaves?
Fineas snapped his fingers and said “Note!”
Oslon spread out a parchment over the bench and dipped his feather in the ink.
“I Oslon, declare that the slaves named R'laph & Zirasy are released from there duties as slaves. They are hereby free to go. Signed Oslon.”
Oslon wrote it down as fast as he could and signed the parchment.
I couldn’t believe my ears, he set us free. Fineas untied us, grabbed the parchment from under Olson’s hands, rolled it up and handed over the parchment to me.
“Why did you set us free?” I asked him amazed.
“What? You would rather be dead?” He said sarcastically.
“No, I mean. Why did you help us?”
“You apparently haven't heard from me before did you...?”
“No, I heard from your nickname Abbadon and that it's connected to the angel of dead and that would mean that you are murderer or something like that.”
“Then it's time to properly introduce myself: as you know my name is Fineas and the temple has also marked me as Abbadon: the angel of dead. I'm called this because I have indeed killed a lot of enslavers that didn't want to cooperate with me or tried to kill me afterwards. I got the name mainly because the way I do it.”
“You mean you make a living freeing slaves and killing enslavers?” I asked.
“Not exactly, I make a living by bounty hunting. But freeing slaves is my first priority and when an enslaver dies and has no more family left. I just take all the stuff I can carry as a reward for my effort, but trust me. That's not that much.”
“But you said you wanted to claim our bounty.” I said.
“I planned it out from the beginning and it worked out perfect.” Fineas said.
“But you could have told us and we could have just followed you...” I proposed.
“You think you would believe a bounty hunter marked Abbadon. The angel of death would bring you to you owner to set you free?”
I thought for a moment and shaked my head. He was right, we would have never believed him.
I stared at him for a while and he looked around at the ranch. He than pointed at the shack I used to live in. “Was that your home?” He asked.
“Yes.” I said looking at the shack and remembering the bad time I had living in it.
“Darn, that’s a small rotten excuse for a crap house. Take my excuse for my slang words; I can be a little rude from time to time.”
He looked over the courtyard and watched the manor and then his eyes rested on Oslon. Oslon was still sitting at the bench; shacking and apparently he pissed his pants.
“What are you looking at, haven't you anything better to do?” Fineas asked.
Oslon stood up and slowly backed away.
Then Fineas saw the fat Khajiit at the manor, she stood in the door opening watching the crowd at the courtyard. Fineas walked around Oslon to the house and talked to the Khajiit apparently she didn't want to leave because after Fineas pointed at the forest she shaked her head.
Fineas returned passing Oslon who was walking so dumb that it looked as he had also pooped his pants. He stopped in front of us and said.
“Well seems my deed is done, see you again sometimes. R'laph...” He said while nodding at me. “Zirasy...” He nodded towards Zirasy. “Good bye.” He turned around and just wanted to walk off to his horse when I said.
“Wait, we haven't had the chance to thank you for everything you have done for us.”
“Seeing 2 happy young lovers is more then enough thanks for me.” He said with a smile.
“Are you going to Elsweyr, because we could ride together then...?” I asked him.
“You are going to travel to Elsweyr? That’s a very long journey. I think I can help you two.”
We 'borrowed' Victor from Oslon and we rode to Kragenmoor. That was just 20 kilometres south from the ranch. There Fineas took us to the mages guild, he seem to knew a someone that worked there, we could use the fast travel provided by mages guild and we were transported to Orcrest a city in the centre of Elsweyr in an instant.
We thanked him for all his help and Zirasy gave him her amulet she had from her mother as a gift, Fineas declined it but after pushing him to take it, he accepted the offer. We waved him goodbye just before he entered the mages guild and transported back to Kragenmoor.


And that was 2 years ago.
Zirasy and I have married. We live 10 minutes walk south of Orcrest. We have our own ranch and the manor I dreamed off. What started out as a small business with one horse I captured in the nearby woods, became one of the biggest ranches in the province.
I make a nice amount of money from rich people who bring in there horses for obedience and health training.
We own 15 horses now that are for sale, I have 3 young pupils in pay to help me to keep up with the demand for good trained horses and I'm going to need it because it seems I'm going to be a father soon. I hope I will see Fineas again someday, so I could thank him again for the tremendous life I'm living now.

And that is so much for my story, if you are looking for a good horse or you want to hear some about the harsh live as a slave or how to make a success out of nothing: drop by sometime and I will be happy to share you my story's.

It took me a little while to read it, but that was great.

Don't ever stop writing.

Very good, I'm glad to see this finally completed...I liked the way you ended it as well.*Applause*

Cool story, and thank you for sharing it despite the obstacles you had to go through.

I´m very glad to see it here again..and I beg you to forgive me for taking so long "editing it"

It´a very good story indeed!

I am glad you helpt me out... Thanks Minque.

well it was my pleasure and i´ll be glad doing it again if you need it......it´s gonna be an update i presume?

How do you mean? A update of what? This story?

well...yes..some kind of continuation..or am i totally wrong? hmm forgive me in that case..i just thought.....it would be interesting to see what happens next...

Hmmm, no I was not realy into continueing it here. I was to continue this story in my own story (the one covering 4000 years of time atleast....)
But maybe... If you guys realy like this story I can maybe come up with a solution or even to change my mind to write somekind of continue..

Example, write about the children when they become adults and that something happens or a event that will not acure in my own story.

Please do! That would be interesting......keep it up my friend....keep it up!

Well... Let's see. Something like that Oslon guy trying to take revenge and sends out a assasin to kill the familie?

yes! that would be exciting!!! but please don´t kill cats....i love kitties...

By all respect. Khajiit aren't cats... And don't worry. If I don't get to excited in a bad way they will live...