#senna markarth

[mazeanempire]

The wedding of Senna Markarth (royal scholar) and Yesenia Rosas (matchmaker & doula)

Women wear matching golden dresses on their wedding day. Gold is a colour usually reserved for the queen & the eldest princess only, but South Mazeans believe that when women marry they get to be 'queens for a day', and are treated as such.

[skyrim-forever]

Started off just thinking about Vevora's relation to the Temple of Dibella in Markarth and had many ideas.

According to uesp, "she [Dibella] has had many different cults, some devoted to women, some to artists and aesthetics, and others to erotic instruction."

Since the Temple in Markarth is only for women the straightforward headcanon is this sect is among one devouted to women, which is what I've gone with. Vevora's mother, who was a priestess and argueably still saw herself as one even after leaving the Temple, was apart of a sect for artists. that's how she met Vevora's father Alms but that's another story.

I don't think Vevora would disagree with the Temple's place as women-only but with how she's views Dibella, as a way of life and cultivating pleasurable experiences, it wouldn't be something she'd consider joining. Aside from her having another faith in addition and the fact she knows the priesthood is not for her; there would also be the difference in the Nord understanding of Dibella (the Moth) and the Breton one she is familiar with.

I've had some ideas for theological differences within the Temple, although only 4 priestesses (excluding Fjotra as she's not there yet/a kid), one Breton (Senna) and one Redguard (Anwen). I could see with the ongoing religious oppression in Skyrim a promotion of distinctly Nordic concepts of the Divines as a way to "resist" and maintain their identity. Had this idea of a viewpoint of Dibella as a consort of Shor becoming popular (idea from unofficial lore) and particularly Senna being opposed to this as Shor is the Bad Man.

Senna is a friend of Vevora's. Although she doesn't feel the exact same because she doesn't have the same views on Shor/Lorkhan (mostly doesn't care about him beyond her interest in the Tribunal days), she would fundamentally disagree with the idea of Dibella having a consort and being tied to another. Would go against her idea of the freedom to seek out beauty and pleasurable experiences. Also if Vevora wanted to deal with religious propaganda, she could return to Mournhold :P

None of my favs are safe from me being weird about tes religion :P Though I do think Aicantar would be fairly non-religious, raised with the Altmeri Pantheon but lowkey gets interested in the Dwemer idea of "Logic and Reason".

But Vevora can definitely make him a believer ;)

[monstersandmaw]

Rhuarc the orc looking gorgeous outside the Temple of Dibella in Markarth. Bonus Senna the sassy priestess teasing him... (it's probably because of his slutty little murder gloves and his armour choices, right?)

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

Last Dragonborn, standing in the middle of a trashed Temple of Dibella: Priestess, I’m so sorry about all this. I totally volunteer to clean this all up.

Senna: Oh, that’s cute. You think you have a choice.

[lady-ravenwatch]

Pictured: Husband and wife with only a single braincell between them lost in the depths of Blackreach.

[limeade-l3sbian]

who is your go-to marriage and your favorite home?

where are all the skyrimfems?

[paperraptor-blog]

Skyrim Marriage Options

Slowly growing list of Marriage Options and information about them.

Argonian

Derkeethus (M)

Darkwater Pass

Trapped in a cell

Essential

Can fight

Level cap 30

Mining camp of Darkwater Crossing

Scouts-Many-Marshes (M)

Windhelm in the Argonian Assemblage

Cannot fight

Blacksmith

Shahvee (F)

Windhelm docks, Eastmarch

Lives in the Argonian Assemblage

Quest

Breton

Ainethach (M)

Karthwasten

Runs Sanuarach Mine and farmhouse

Cosnach (M)

Markarth

Loves drinking

Lives in the Warrens

Muiri (F)

The Hag’s Cure in Markarth

Shop

Quest

Octieve San (M)

Solitude

Older

Retired veteran

Gambles, and drinks

Lives with daughter Evette

Omluag (M)

Markarth

Lives in the Warrens

Perth (M)

Soljund’s Sinkhole

Sell things to him

Quest

Softhearted

Shares a house with Tuthul

Dark Elf

Athis (M)

Whiterun

Can fight

Level cap 25

Part of the companions 

Avrupa Sarethi (F)

Sarethi Farm

Alchemist with her own farm

Brelyna Maryon (F)

College of Winterhold

Can fight

Level 30 cap

Likes Winstead Manor

Quest

Can become a vampire

Dravynea the stoneweaver (F)

Kynesgrove

Jenassa (F)

Drunken huntman in whiterun

Can fight

Quest

Level cap 40

Sadistic and obsessed with killing

Mercenary

Excels at stealth

Revyn Sadri (M)

Sadri’s used Wares in Windhelm

Dislikes Thieves

Quest

Sondas Drenim (M)

Goldenrock Mine

High Elf

Taarie (F)

Solitude

Loving as a spouse

Radiant Raiment

Quest

Can live with her

Does night fight

Imperial

Camilla Valerius (F)

Riverwood

The two exes will continue to be in your home.

She will return to Riverwood if her brother dies

Can live with her and her brother

Starts her own store

Quest

Gilfre (F)

Mixwater Millowner

Owns her own house

Eastmarch

Keeps the household together

Quest

Cannot fight

Marcurio (M)

Riften

Mercenary

Level cap 40

Can fight

Arrogant

Pavo Attius (M)

Left Hand Mine

Owns Kolskeggr Gold Mind

Owns a house outside Markarth

Will remain in miner’s clothing

Quintus Navale (M)

Windhelm

Alchemist

Takes over the White Phial Shop when employer dies

Quest

Ria (F)

Jorrvaskr in whiterun

Can fight

Quest

Level 25 cap

Can join the blades

Can be a steward

Senna (F)

Temple of Dibella in Markarth

Quest

Does not fight

Dislikes breeze home with kids

Enjoys proud spire

Sorex Vinius (M)

Solitude

Love triangle with Vivienne Ones and Roggvir (beheade)

Flirts with customers after marriage

Hates all homes except Proudspire Manor

Runs the Winking Skeever Inn

Viola Giordano (F)

Windhelm

Older

Owns a home (that rivals Hjerim)

Nord

Aela the huntress (F)

Whiterun (Jorrvaskr)

Can fight

Companion

Opens a shop

Quest

Dislikes most houses except proud spire

Essential till Glory of the Dead

Werewolf

Level cap 50

Can become vampire (mixed reviews)

Can be located by doing a companion quest if missing

Aeri (F)

Aeri’s House in Anga’s Mill

Older

Owner of Anga’s Mill

Owns her own house

Angrenor Once-Honored (M)

Windhelm

Homeless

Argis the Bulwark (M) 

Markarth

Housecarl

Opens a shop

Can fight

Balimund (M)

Riften

Owns a house

Adopted son Asbjorn Fire-Tamer

Runs the blacksmith shop

Belrand (M) 

Solitude

Sellsword for hire

Older

Level cap 40

Benor (M) 

Morthal

Thug

Lives in the guardhouse (not a guard)

Calder (M) 

Windhelm

Housecarl

Level cap 50

Quest

Can fight

Erik the Slayer (M)

Rorikstead

Can fight

Mercenary

Cheerful

Farkas (M) 

Whiterun

Member of the Companions

Can fight

Werewolf

Little dopey

Great with kids, sweet to a spouse

Monster in battle

Level Cap 50

If you Marry him you can invite Vilkas to be your steward

Can be located by doing a companion quest if missing

Filnjar (M)

Shor’s Stone

Older

Blacksmith

Owns a house

Grelka (F)

Riften

Iona (F)

Riften

Can fight

Housecarl

Constant compliments

Jordis the sword-maiden (F)

Proud spire manor in solitude

Housecarl

Can fight

Level cap 50

Possible bug not allowing marriage

Lydia (F)

Dragonsreach

Housecarl

Can fight

Level cap 25

Mjoll the lioness (F)

Riften

Can fight

Level cap 40

Dislikes Thieves’ Guild

Quest

Worry about Markarth house

Like most houses

Essential

Where she goes, so does Aerin

Njada Stonearm (F)

Whiterun (Jorrvaskr)

Can fight

Quest

Level 25 cap

Onmund (M) 

Nord Apprentice at College of Winterhold

Can fight

Level cap 30

Orla (F)

Temple of Dibella in Markarth

Daily income

Will not leave temple of Dibella

Roggi Knot-Beard (M) 

Kynesgrove

Can be a follower and a steward

Miner

Quest

Level cap 20

Stenvar (M) 

Windhelm

Mercenary

Sense of humor

Can fight

Level cap 40

Sylgja (F)

Shor’s Stone, The Rift

Quest

Does not fight

Temba Wide-Arm (F)

Ivarstead

Kind and amiable wife

Dislikes breeze home

Does not fight

Mill owner

Torvar (M) 

Whiterun

Member of the companions

Can fight

Drinker

Level cap 25

Uthgerd (F)

Whiterun

Can fight

Level 30 cap

Quest 

Mercenary

Owns a house

Vilkas (M)

Whiterun

Member of the companions

Werewolf

Can fight

Level Cap 50

Intelligent

Steward Material

Fierce in a fight

Can be located by doing a companion quest if missing

Vorstag (M)

Markarth

Mercenary

Lives in the silver-blood inn

Level cap 40

Likes Heljarchen Hall

Candiate for the blades

Sweet and a badass

Wilhelm (M)

Ivarstead

Cannot be a follower

Essential

Runs the Vilemyr Inn

Ysolda (F)

Whiterun near merchant stalls

Marriage perk: 100 septa’s per day

Does not fight

Crush on Mikael the bard

Drug dealer

Small house in Whiterun

Takes over Banered Mare if Ulda is killed

Essential

Quest

Likes Herjerchan hall

Orc

Gat gro-Shargakh (M)

Left hand mine (Before cleared of forsworn)

Marriage perk: 100 gold daily

Lives in Kolskeggr Mine

Borgakh the steel heart (F)

Mor Khazgur, Haafingar

Quest

Daughter of the Chief Larak

Level cap 30

Can fight

Ghorbash the Iron Hand (M)

Dushnikh Yal

Sneaky

Brother of Chief Burguk

Level cap 30

Potential Steward

Can fight

Ghorza gra-Bagoi (F)

Markarth

Blacksmith

Quest

Lives with her brother in Understone keep

Great Spouse

Moth gro-Bagol (M)

Understone Keep

Ghorza’s brother

Blacksmith

RedGuard

Anwen (F)

Temple of Dibella in Markarth

Rayya (F)

Falkreath

Housecarl

Can Fight

Quest

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER

[svndrenched]

Since moving back to Markarth, Adisse has, regrettably, dated several locals. First was Hathrasil, a smelter. While it was convenient that he would willingly sharpen her axe, all he did was work. And with Adisse's need to constantly be around people, it wasn't fair to either of them. And that sucked, because Hathrasil is a really nice guy. They do remain on good terms.

Next was Senna, a priestess of Dibella. The sex was great, but there was a lot of aedra versus daedra bickering. They aren't friendly with each other, but there's no active bad blood between them. Adisse does her best to avoid her. Plus, she knows Hircine could trounce Dibella any day of the week.

Then Drystan. Messy. We're not getting into that. "Ex" Forsworn should not become entangled with active Forsworn. The breakup was loud, and thankfully done outside the city walls.

Yngvar. She knew better than to date someone working for the Silver-Bloods. She knew this, and she did it anyway, because he was a good lay and she's still pissed about it. If he quit his job, she'd beg him to take her back in a heart beat. 10/10, would smash again.

Muiri was the most recent. This was right before she performed the Black Sacrament. Adisse doesn't fuck with assassins. And who orders a hit on their best friend? The fuck? Calling that relationship quits was easy.

[smolpocketmonstercoffee]

Skyrim OC's

Since I haven't really talked about these guys much yet, I figure I'll do an intro post for them.

First and foremost is Loriel Elsinlock, my Altmer dragonborn. He is a fugitive from the Summerset Isle, wanted by the Thalmor for burning down an Aldmeri Dominion Hall of Records when he was 44 and has been on the run throughout the continent of Tamriel for the last 50 years before the start of the game, the 17th of Last Seed, 4E 201. He is one of three identical triplets in his family.

In the same AU is the following non-dragonborn OCs:

Reignhart Frostfang, an assassin of the Dark Brotherhood, lone survivor of the destruction of Sanctuary, non-listener, and soon to join the Thieves Guild. Her mother's clan hails from Dawnstar but was banished from Skyrim by the Jarl Skald the Elder of Dawnstar upon him gaining his title, the Frostfant's being viewed as rivals of his family for generations, tolerated until he took power. Her father's family is from Markarth.

Bat the Axe, an old comrade of Loriel's from his days in the Dawnguard. An orc from Orsinium and a clan chief by the events of the main game. He is Loriel's best friend.

Do'zan, a khajiit bare-handed brawler from Elsweyr who met Loriel in his youth during Loriel's travels.

Laronen Elsinlock, one part of Loriel's triplet siblings. Fifth Emissary of the Thalmor, and healer. Altmer, obviously.

Lermion Elsinlock, one part of Loriel's triplet siblings. Blacksmith, married with four kids. Altmer, obviously.

_

Inkraas, my Dunmer dragonborn for the Dragonborn DLC facing off against Miraak. He's lived a very troubled life.

_

Vianna, non-dragonborn Bosmer, a devout worshiper of Hircine, ran away out of spite for being dropped as heiress to her family with the birth of her brother. She joined the vampires in the Dawnguard DLC for power.

_

Tsanji, a nord non-dragonborn who was raised in Elsweyr by her father's khajiit merchant friends. She returned to Skyrim to gain closure for her family's deaths. Becomes a Companion.

_

Zaana, a nord non-dragonborn, Thane of Markarth and Stormcloak supporter.

_

Senna, the Sabre of the Reach, a Forsworn clan heiress, determined to reclaim the Reach for the Reachmen at any cost.

Romances:

Loriel Elsinlock - Ulfric Stormcloak.

Reignhart Frostfang - Brynjolf

Bat the Axe, three wives back in Orsinium.

Do’zan, no romance.

Laronen Elsinlock, Nilsine Shatter-Shield.

Lermion Elsinlock, wife.

_

Inkraas, no romance, Bromance though.

_

Vianna, Farkas.

_

Tsanji, poly romance with Vilkas and Farkas.

_

Zaana, Argus.

_

Senna, Cael, the Wolf of the Reach, upcoming mod Forbidden Love by the same makers of Skyrim Romance mod.

[bulkload574]

List Of Skyrim Wives

Optional Kill Amaund Motierre

Skyrim Husband's List

List Of Skyrim Husbands

List Of Skyrim Wives

Aela the Huntress. Aela is one of the elite members of the mates in Whiterun. She is the best hunter. And that is our top 10 Skyrim best steward list. Either way, let us know in the comments. And if you want to meet someone in Skyrim that could be more than a good hand around the house, check out our Skyrim Best Wife Top 10.

The Divines have blessed a total of 30 female marriage candidates and 37 male marriage candidates in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and official expansions.

You can marry anyone regardless of your Dragonborn’s race or gender, so long as you’ve fulfilled whatever conditions make them your friend. Housecarls will be wiling to wed you as soon as they enter your service, mercenaries must be hired first, and other candidates have fetch quests or other requirements.

You’ll also need to exhaust the dialog options with Maramal, the priest in the Temple of Mara in Riften, and be wearing an amulet of Mara in order to initiate a marriage proposal. It does not have to be an amulet purchased from Maramal, any amulet of Mara will do. There’s a free one in a tent along the shoreline east of Dawnstar. Others appear at random throughout the game.

Skyrim allows one marriage and only one per Dragonborn, even if your spouse is killed — unless you use mods or console commands. There’s a persistent rumor that players can kill their spouses and remarry, but I suspect that’s a feature added by the Unofficial Skyrim Patch that PC players frequently download, or possibly a very early gameplay bug that was patched in subsequent updates, so don’t assume it will work for you. Choose your spouse wisely.

There’s only one Altmer and one Redguard, both female, who can be married. The Hearthfire DLC adds a second Redguard female. There are no Bosmer (wood elves) or Khajiit (cat people) to marry, at all, male or female, unless using mods or console commands.

After the wedding, all male and female spouses will give you a homecooked meal and 100 septims a day. You can live in your spouse’s home or move them into one of your homes, though some spouses may leave — such as Camilla taking over her brother’s shop if he dies or Ysolda taking over the Bannered Mare if Hulda dies. I’ve also read that only spouses from the Dragonborn DLC can be moved to Severin Manor on Solstheim, but I don’t have confirmation of this.

The main differences between spouses, other than appearance and voice, are where they live, whether or not they can be followers, and how likely they are to be killed. I recommend marrying someone who is a follower, even if you don’t take them with you on adventures, because you can access their inventory and give them weapons, armor, staffs, enchanted items and health potions, to help keep them alive. Towns and Hearthfire homes do get attacked, and death does happen, unless your spouse is one of the few programmed “essential,” or unless you’re using mods and console commands.

For more about marriage in Skyrim, see this Elder Scrolls wiki page or this Unofficial Elder Scrolls wiki page.

Let’s take a look at our choices…

COMPANIONS

The Companions are a warrior guild in Whiterun and for many players the first faction of friends and potential marriage candidates you’ll meet. Some are both teachers and followers, which allows you to buy skill training and then access their inventory and take back the gold, essentially getting training — and level ups — for free.

All live in Jorrvaskr, where you can live anyway if you join the guild, so you won’t gain additional housing through marriage. Several players have also reported glitches in which steward or married Companions return to Jorrvaskr instead of living in the Dragonborn’s home.

Aela is Supreme Werewolf Queen of Side-Boob, which makes her almost as popular a wife choice as cranky Lydia. Aela and Njada are both Nords and trainers, in archery and blocking respectively. Ria is an Imperial. All three are skilled warrior women and possible followers, but Aela’s level cap is 50, while the others max out at 25.

Between Vilkas’ tear-streaked emo eyeliner and Farkas’ dumb-yet-endearing-jockishness, the Brothers Werewolf are popular husbands.

Vilkas is a two-handed trainer, follower, spouse and steward. Farkas is a heavy armor trainer, follower and spouse. Both are level capped at 50. Torvar is a potential follower and spouse who is a surly drunk. He’s capped at 25.

All three are Nords. There’s also a Dark Elf in the Companions who can be married, but I’ve listed him with the Dunmer, below.

HOUSECARLS

All housecarls are Nords, except Rayya who’s a Redguard. All begin with the same armor, weapons and stats, except Valdimar who is a spellsword, while the rest are classified as warriors. They live in houses that belong to you, so you won’t get a bonus house through marriage.

All are possible spouses, stewards and followers who will defend you unto death. They are all level capped at 50, so should be able to stick with you through most of the game, assuming you continue to improve their weapons, armor and other gear. Don’t forget to put health potions in their inventories.

From left to right: Lydia (Breezehome in Whiterun), Iona (Honeyside in Riften), Jordis (Proudspire Manor in Solitude). and Rayya (Lakeview Manor, added by the Hearthfire expansion).

The basic game gives us Argis the Bulwark (Vlindrel Hall in Markarth) and Calder with the groovy mutton chops (Hjerim in Windhelm). Hearthfire evens up the score with two more male housecarls — Valdimar (Windstad Manor) and Gregor (Heljarchen Hall).

DUNMER

There are several gray-skinned Dunmer to marry, perhaps because of the popularity of Morrowind?

Avrusa Sarethi is an alchemist with her own farm.

Brelyna Maryon is an apprentice mage at the College of Winterhold (no bonus house there) and she can also be a follower, level cap 30.

Dravynea the Stoneweaver is an Expert Alteration trainer who works in the Steamscorch Mine and lives in Braidwood Inn in Kynesgrove.

Jenassa is a mercenary follower living in the Drunken Huntsman, level cap 40.

Revyn Sadri is a merchant in Windhelm and a speech skill trainer, but will only marry or train the Dragonborn if you help him with his request to return a stolen ring. If you don’t side with him, it is possible to marry Viola instead (see below).

Romlyn Dreth is a bootlegger with a small home under the city of Riften.

Sondas Drenim is a food vendor at Darkwater Crossing, a mining camp.

Athis is a member of the Companions who can be a follower or spouse, as well as one-handed skill trainer, level capped at 25.

HOTTIES

Anwen (Redguard), Orla (Nord) and Senna (Breton). All of these ladies live in the Temple of Dibella, goddess of love, in Markarth. Note: There’s a reported bug with Orla where she refuses to leave the temple to live in anywhere else.

While not devotees of a love goddess, these three seem to be popular hunky husband choices for their looks, personality and skills.

Marcurio the sassy Imperial mage mercenary can be hired at his residence, the Bee and Barb in Riften, and is level capped at 40.

Onmund is a sweet apprentice at the College of Winterhold who is a potential mage follower (level cap 30) and steward, whose Nord family does not supporting his interest in magic.

Vorstag is a warrior mercenary who can be hired from his residence, the Silverblood Inn in Markarth. He has a sweet disposition while also being a badass fighter, and possesses one of the softer Nord voices in the game.

AND MORE HOTTIES

Camilla is sister to the proprietor of Riverwood Trader and the Imperial creamy center of a love Oreo between Faendal the Bosmer archer and Sven the Nord bard. If you marry her, her “friends” will continue to visit her at your home, wherever you live. She may also return to Riverwood and take over the family business if her brother dies.

Muiri is a Breton alchemy assistant who inherits the Hag’s Cure in Markarth if her employer is killed (and who also has an interesting love life, too, which you will hear about while doing the Dark Brotherhood questline).

Ysolda is an enterprising Nord drug dealer with her own tiny house in Whiterun, who takes over the Bannered Mare if Hulda the innkeeper is killed. She was made “essential” by one of the official updates (which are automatically included in some versions of the game), so cannot die, I assume because of her role in the quest “A Night to Remember.”

Sylgja manages to retain her youthful beauty in spite of being a hard-working Nord miner, and her big bust apparently doesn’t get in the way of swinging a pickaxe all day at Redbelly Mine in Shor’s Stone.

Sorexis an Imperial whose father owns the Winking Skeever in Solitude, involved in a love triangle with Vivienne Onis and Roggvir until the latter was beheaded. After marriage, he may continue flirting with ladies who enter the inn and he hates every home except Proudspire Manor.

Quintusis an Imperial alchemist who takes over the White Phial shop in Windhelm when his employer dies. I don’t know if he qualifies as a hottie (maybe if he lost that hat), but he’s young and seems to be kind.

Wilhelm owns the Vilemyr Inn in Ivarstead. While the Nord cannot be a follower, he possesses pickpocket skill and is marked “essential” so he can never be killed.

Roggi Knot-Beard is a Nord miner in Kynesgrove, drunk and in debt, who can be a potential spouse, steward and follower, though his skills are minimal and his level is capped at 20.

MATURE SPOUSES

If you prefer your spouse to be a little older and wiser, we have…

From left to right: Aeri, Nord owner of Anga’s Mill and her own house. Gilfre, Imperial owner of Mixwater Mill and her own house. Temba, Nord mill owner in Ivarstead. Uthgerd the Unbroken, Nord mercenary, level cap 30, for hire in the Bannered Mare and owner of a decent house in Whiterun.

Optional Kill Amaund Motierre

Ainethach is a prominent Breton who runs the Sanuarach Mine and owns a farmhouse in Karthwasten.

Balimund is a blacksmith and smithing skill trainer with a house and forge in Riften, which he shares with his adopted son Asbjorn Fire-Tamer.

Filnjar is a Nord blacksmith with a house in Shor’s Stone.

Stenvar is a Nord warrior mercenary with a decent sense of humor who may be hired from his home, Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm. He has the same voice as Farkas and Balimund. I married him in my first playthrough. He makes an excellent follower but is capped at level 40 and I had to retire him to Proudspire Manor with our kids sometime between levels 45-50.

ORCS & ARGONIANS

If you like the kind of spouse who has green skin and tusks, we have the orcs or “Orsimer” of Skyrim.

Female orcs: Borgakh the Steel Heart is the daughter of the Chief Larak of the Orc stronghold of Mor Khazgur and a potential follower, level cap 30. Ghorza is a blacksmith and smithing trainer in Markarth, who lives with her brother in Understone Keep.

Male orcs: Gat Gro-Shargakh is a miner who lives in Kolskeggr Mine, east of Markarth. Moth gro-Bagol is Ghorza’s brother and also a blacksmith, working and living in Understone Keep in Markarth. Ghorbash the Iron Hand is an Orsimer living in Dushnikh Yal and is the brother of Chief Burguk. He is a potential follower (capped at level 30), spouse and steward.

Or if that isn’t exotic enough for you, the Argonian spouses…

One lizard lady, Shahvee, and two lizard gentleman, Derkeethus and Scouts-Many-Marshes.

Scouts-Many-Marshes is a light armor trainer but not a potential follower, so you probably can’t retrieve your gold from his inventory after training. He and Shahvee live in the Argonian Assemblage bunkhouse in Windhelm, if you marry and move in with one of them.

If rescued from Darkwater Pass, Derkeethus can be a follower (ranger class, level cap 30 and the only Argonian follower in the game) and potential marriage candidate. After being rescued, he will move back to the small mining camp of Darkwater Crossing and might get killed by Falmer who spawn there.

DRAGONBORN DLC SPOUSES

One male and two female marriage candidates are added by the Dragonborn DLC. All are Nords. From what I’ve read, these are the only spouses who can live with you in Severin Manor, but I’m not sure if they are limited to Solstheim or can move to Skyrim, too.

Halbarn Iron-FurandHilund are residents of Bujold’s Retreat/Thirsk Mead Hall and Morwen has her own home in the Skaal Village. Halbarn and Hilund are level capped at 60, but I’m not sure if any of them can be followers or not.

SPECIAL SPOUSES

These are the final three eligible females, but there’s much more to discuss on the male side. I’ll follow up with that in a sec.

Mjoll the Lioness is a Nord who lives with Aerin in Riften. She is a skilled fighter who can be a follower, and while capped at 40, what makes her special is that she cannot be killed. Even after her quest is finished, she will not die. Keep in mind that wherever she goes, Aerin will follow.

Skyrim Husband's List

Taarie lives in the Radiant Raiment shop in Solitude, which is pretty special if you decide to move in with her, but what makes her really special is that she is the only Altmer (High Elf) marriage candidate in the game.

Viola is special because she appears to be the only old female marriage candidate, as well as an Imperial living in Windhelm (Ulfric Stormcloak’s city) with a very large home that rivals Hjerim.

THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Omluag is a Breton who lives in the Warrens (basically the homeless shelter) of Markarth.

Odfel is a Nord who shares a small house with an orc and whose claim to fame is a unique pickaxe called Rocksplinter.

Perth is a Breton miner in Soljund’s Sinkhole who looks like he should be following Dorothy and Toto to see the Wizard. He shares a house with Tuthul (who is kind of hot looking and has a cool mohawk, but isn’t a marriage candidate – why?).

Pavo Attius seems to be the best catch of the bunch, since the Imperial owns the Kolskeggr gold mine and a house outside Markarth, but he will remain in miner’s clothes unless you have a PC mod. Forsworn might also invade from time to time and can kill him when you’re not around, unless you move him to another home.

Angrenor Once-Honored is a homeless Nord war veteran who lives on the streets of Windhelm.

Belrand is an old spellsword for hire in the Winking Skeever.

Benor is a Nord thug who lives in Morthal and has been denied a job with the city guards but still lives in the guardhouse anyway. Beat him up to win his heart.

Cosnach is a drunk whose heart can also be won by a brawl. In my experience, he’s a decent follower with some funny dialog about “aiming for the one in the middle” (since he’s drunk, get it?). He lives in the Warrens of Markarth.

Octieve is a retired old Breton veteran who offers some two-handed training. He gambles, drinks, and lives with his grown daughter Evette in Solitude.

I WISH I COULD HAVE MARRIED

Blazing badass Teldryn Sero fills all top ten of my list. My heart is forever broken that the Dunmer spellsword can neither marry nor become a steward so we could have at least lived together. It might have been nice to marry Faendal, the sweet Bosmer archer of Riverwood, or black leather clad bad boy Brynjolf of the Thieves Guild.

Really, just about any of the Thieves Guild members would have been acceptable partners. Partners for what, exactly? Yeah, I guess they’re not really the marrying type.

Alas, they are all unavailable, unless you’re rocking a mod on PC. I’ve been playing on PS3.

~ J.L. Hilton

Connect, support, comment or contact the author here

Welcome to Skyrimmagic Today we are bringing you a list of possible spouses in Skyrim, a list I know several people have been looking and asking us for. This tell you all of the possible spouses both male and female, their race, their job, and where you can find them.

Females:

Aela the Huntress – Nord, Companion, Jorrvaskr in Whiterun. ​ -Requirement: You must complete The Companion’s story arc with Glory of the Dead.

Aeri – Nord, Lumberjack, Anga’s Mill in The Pale. -Requirement: Work for her chopping firewood.

Anwen – Redguard, Priestess, Temple of Dibella, Markarth. -Requirement: You must complete Temple Quest: The Heart of Dibella

Avrusa Sarethi – Dark Elf, Farmer, Sarethi Farm, The Rift.

Borghak the Steel Heart – Orc, Warrior, Mor Khazgur, The Reach. -Requirement: You must pay her dowry or convince her to leave her home.

Brelyna Maryon – Dark Elf, Student, College of Winterhold, Winterhold. -Requirement: You must complete of Brelyna’s Practice.

Camilla Valerius – Imperial, Merchant, Riverwood Trader, Riverwood. -Requirement: Completion of The Golden Claw.

Dravynea the Stoneweaver – Dark Elf, Mage, Kynesgrove, Eastmarch. -Requirement: Give her one Frost Salt.

Ghorza gra-Bagol – Orc, Blacksmith, Blacksmith Shed, Markarth. -Requirement: Give her The Last Scabbard of Akrash.

Gilfre – Imperial, Miller, Mixwater Mill, Eastmarch. -Requirement: Also chopping firewood.

Grelka – Nord, Merchant, open market, Riften (Can be married only through console command ).

Iona – Nord, Housecarl, Honeyside, Riften. -Requirement: Become Thane of The Rift. (some bugs with this, she may treat you as thane not spouse)

Jenassa – Dark Elf, Hireling, Drunken Huntsman, Whiterun. -Requirement: Hire her.

Jordis the Sword-Maiden – Nord, Housecarl, Proudspire Manor, Solitude. -Requirement: Become Thane of Solitude.

Mjoll the Lioness – Nord, Adventurer, Riften. (My wife, sexy accent not bad looking and boss warrior, cannot die) -Requirement: Retrieve her sword, Grimsever, from the dwemer ruins of Mzinchaleft. Phoenix point: year one edition download for mac.

Muiri – Breton, Alchemist, The Hag’s Cure, Markarth. -Requirement: Completion of Mourning Never Comes. (You have to kill BOTH targets to gain Muiri’s affection.)

Njada Stone-Arm – Nord, Companion, Jorrvaskr, Whiterun. -Requirement: Completion of The Companion’s story arc with Glory of the Dead.

Orla – Nord, Priestess, Temple of Dibella, Markarth. -Requirement: Complete Temple Quest: The Heart of Dibella.

Ria – Imperial, Companion, Jorrvaskr, Whiterun. -Requirement: Completion of The Companion’s story arc with Glory of the Dead.

Senna – Imperial, Priestess, Temple of Dibella, Markarth. -Requirement: Completion of The Heart of Dibella.

Shahvee – Argonian, Dockworker, Argonian Assemblage, Windhelm. -She may be married by recovering the Amulet of Zenithar and returning it to her. Please note that she may be killed in the quest Blood on the Ice, so it is suggested that you attempt to marry her before starting this quest, or proceed with caution saving often.

Sylgja – Nord, Miner, Shor’s Stone, The Rift. -Requirement: Deliver her satchel to her father in Darkwater Crossing, then return his satchel to her.

List Of Skyrim Husbands

Taarie – Altmer, Solitude -Requirement: Visit Elisif the Fair while wearing the outfit she gives you then return to her and tell her what happened.

Temba Wide-Arm – Nord, Miller, Ivarstead, The Rift. -Requirement: Bring her 10 bear pelts.

Uthgerd the Unbroken – Nord, found in her house, in Whiterun. -Requirement: Best her in a brawl battle.

Viola Giordano – Imperial, Busybody, Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm. -Requirement: Start Revyn Sadri ‘s favor, but then rat him out to Viola.

Ysolda – Nord, Citizen, open market, Whiterun. -Requirement: Give her a Mammoth Tusk.

Males:

List Of Skyrim Wives

Ainethach – Breton, Mine Owner, Karthwasten, The Reach.

Angrenor Once-Honored – Nord, Beggar, Candelhearth Hall, Windhelm. -Requirement: Take pity and give the beggar a gold piece.

Argis the Bulwark – Nord, Housecarl, Vlindrel Hall, Markarth. -Requirement: Becoming Thane of Markarth.

Athis – Dark Elf, Companion, Jorrvaskr Living Quarters, Whiterun. -Requirement: Completion of The Companion’s story arc with Glory of the Dead.

Balimund – Nord, Blacksmith, The Scorched Hammer, Riften. -Requirement: Give him 10 Fire Salts.

Belrand – Nord, Hireling, The Winking Skeever, Solitude. -Requirement: Hire him.

Benor – Nord, Warrior, Morthal. -Requirement: Challenge him to a brawl and win.

Calder – Nord, Housecarl, Hjerim, Windhelm. -Requirement: Become Thane of Eastmarch.

Cosnach – Breton, Drunk/Porter, Silver-Blood Inn, Markarth. -Requirement: Challenge him to a brawl and win.

Derkeethus – Argonian, Fisherman, Darkwater Crossing, Eastmarch. -Requirement: Find and rescue him.

Erik the Slayer – Nord, Barbarian, (( Frostfruit Inn), Rorikstead -Requirement: Hire him. Note: Sometimes, the choice for marriage doesn’t appears in the dialogues. It is a bug.

Farkas – Nord, Companion, Jorrvaskr, Whiterun. (Vilkas’ Twin) -Requirement: Completion of The Companion’s story arc with Glory of the Dead.

Filnjar – Nord, Blacksmith, Shor’s Stone, The Rift. -Requirement: Complete Quest, Mine or Yours

Gat gro-Shargakh – Orc, Miner, Left Hand Mine / Kolskeggr Mine, The Reach. -Requirement: Complete favor to Pavo Attius to liberate Kolskeggr Mine.

Ghorbash the Iron Hand – Orc, Warrior, Burguk’s Longhouse, Dushnikh Yal, The Reach.

Marcurio – Imperial, Hireling, Bee and Barb, Riften. -Requirement: Hire him.

Moth gro-Bagol – Orc, Blacksmith, Understone Keep, Markarth.

Octieve San – Breton, Citizen, Solitude. Frequently found in and around the Winking Skeever. -Convince the gamblers to let him off his debts

Omluag – Breton, Miner, Markath Smelter, Markarth. -Talk to Mulush about the smelters

Odfel – Nord, Miner, Shor’s Stone.

Onmund – Nord, Student, The Hall of Attainment, College of Winterhold.

Pavo Attius – Imperial, Miner, Left Hand Mine / Kolskeggr Mine, The Reach. -Requirement: Complete his favor to liberate Kolskeggre Mine.

Perth – Breton, Miner, Soljund’s Sinkhole, The Reach. -Requirement: Clear Soljund’s Sinkhole of Draugr.

Quintus Navale – Imperial, Alchemist, The White Phial, Windhelm. -Requirement: Complete Quest, Repairing the Phial

Revyn Sadri – Dark Elf, Merchant, Sadri’s Used Wares, Windhelm. -Requirement: Bring back stolen ring from shop’s stock to Windhelm inhabitant

Roggi Knot-Beard – Nord, Miner, Steamscorch Mine, Kynesgrove, Eastmarch.

Romlyn Dreth – Dark Elf, Meadery Worker, Black-Briar Meadery, Riften.

Scouts-Many-Marshes – Argonian, Dockworker, Argonian Assemblage, in Windhelm. -Requirement: Talk to Torbjorn Shatter-Shield about the Argonian dock workers

Sondas Drenim – Dark Elf, Miner, Goldenrock Mine, Darkwater Crossing, Eastmarch.

Sorex Vinius – Imperial, Assistant Innkeeper, Winking Skeever, Solitude. -Requirement: Deliver kegs of rum to Falk Firebeard at the Blue Palace

Stenvar – Nord, Hireling, Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm. -Requirement: Hire him.

Torvar – Nord, Companion, Jorrvaskr, Whiterun. -Requirement: Completion of The Companion’s story arc with Glory of the Dead.

Vilkas – Nord, Companion, Jorrvaskr, Whiterun. (Farkas’ Twin) -Requirement: Completion of The Companion’s story arc with Glory of the Dead.

Vorstag – Nord, Hireling, Silver-Blood Inn, Markarth. -Requirement: You must Hire him

Wilhelm – Nord, Innkeeper, Vilemyr Inn, Ivarstead, The Rift. -Requirement: You must complete Dungeon Quest, Wilhelm’s Scream.

This is the list of any of the wives or husbands you may have in this game. If you see an error or I am missing someone contact us and let us know!

[bumblingorcs]

@valenwccd // Hadran & Senna 

Senna didn’t mind life in the near freezing marshes of Hjaalmarch. She liked the cold, and she was used to the seclusion, even if she did miss Markarth, and the other priestesses, and her husband who was never around despite dragging her out here to live with him in the first place-

She couldn’t allow herself to be angry and bitter about all this, not after Hamal had warned her about letting a man she barely knew whisk her away from home. Sure, the marriage had been hasty, and not very well thought out, but she had everything she needed here. She had her own shrine set up, so she could continue her duties as a priestess, out here in the empty wastelands. She had a house full of servants too intimidated to speak to her, or even meet her eye. Senna was happy with all of this. She was.

Still, she was lonely, not to mention bored. She’d resorted to having conversations with the cow. 

Senna sat on the front doorstep now, a rag in one hand, and a statuette of her goddess laid across her lap. It gleamed in the cold sunlight - she’d already polished it to perfection, but what else had she to do? 

The odd trance she had gone into was suddenly broken by the sound of hooves. By the time Senna recognized the noise, the horse had already burst onto the estate, kicking up slush as it slowed to a trot. It’s rider was the most terrifying elf she’d ever seen ( not that they’d get many elves in Markarth ), and as Senna scrambled to her feet, the statuette tumbled from her lap and into the muddy slush. 

“Shit. Um-” She had a split second to decide what was more important: handling this intimidating visitor or rescuing Little Dibella. She inevitably decided to do both at once, speaking hurriedly as she bent down to grab at the statue. “Hello - I-I’m assuming you’re looking for my husband. Or - Basil. But he isn’t here, at the moment, so you’ll have to come back.”

[horker]

When I first played skyrim in like,, 2015 I had a random character I created lmao amd I married Senna, who is a Dibellan Priestess from Markarth, and then while doing the Sanguine quest you actually wake up in the Temple of Dibella in Markarth after u pass out and its Senna who wakes you up but I didn't know that!!!!! I thought the game has ur spouse come get you but it was all just a big coincidence that my wife would wake me up after causing trouble and hungover 😥

[monstersandmaw]

Footsteps in the Snow - Chapter Three

Hope you enjoy Chapter Three - thank you so much for your amazing feedback on this story. I never expected it to gather any support on a blog that’s mostly dedicated to monsters, but I do do fantasy fiction as well, so I guess it has a home here too. Enjoy!

Lein recovers after his brush with death, meets a sassy priestess of Dibella who sees *instantly* what his feelings are for Argis, and an old lover comes calling...

Table of Contents | Previous Chapter

Edited: December 2024

Everything hurt.

There wasn't a single scrap of skin or muscle that didn't hurt.

Lein ached down to his bones, and sweat rolled from his temples into his hair. Moaning vaguely, he tried to remove whatever it was that was making him so Nine-damned hot, but his fingers groped too feebly and he cried out in frustration. All the sound that left him, however, was a dull croak and a whimper.

"Shh," a soft voice murmured from beside him. "Shh, rest."

Lein had the vague impression of a woman in orange robes, and a shock of silver-blonde hair, before he slipped into fevered dreams once more.

When he crawled his way back to consciousness the next time, the aches had gone but he felt terribly weak. And cold. Washed-out from the combined actions of fever and potions, he shivered and rolled over, drawing the blankets up around his ears and drifting off again.

After sleeping the sleep of the dead for what might have been hours or days for all he knew, Lein finally surfaced and felt brighter: weak, wobbly, and watery as a new-born elk, but alive. He grunted, rubbing his eyes, and levered himself upright, blinking the vagueness from his vision and brain as he stared at his surroundings.

He was in the master bedroom of his new house in Markarth. The door was open and he could hear the friendly crackling of a fire in the grate next door.

His head swam only a little as he pushed the covers back and stood carefully. The long, loose, linen nightshirt into which he had been put while unconscious fell to just above his knees, and it flopped open a little at the chest. He tugged at the neckline and as he peered downwards, he saw two new scars, livid pink against the pale of the rest of his skin. One was a ragged star shape where the arrow had pierced his lung from back to front, and the other was an angry slash across his abdominal muscles.

“Gods, I was such an idiot,” he whispered to himself as recalled that frantic plummet down the mountain-slope away from the dragon burial mound and right into a pair of necromages. His stomach growled and he felt faint for a different reason this time, so he turned to make his way barefoot towards the living room and kitchen in search of something simple to eat.

Sitting beside the fire, apparently lost in thought, was the figure of his housecarl. He had his back to Lein and seemed to be staring off into the flames. Lein smiled at the sight of him looking so still and calm, in stark contrast to the bulky warrior’s appearance and gruff manner.

With a steadying hand on the doorframe, Lein made his way into the room, and Argis jumped almost out of his skin at the sound of the door knocking softly against the wall.

"My thane!" he gasped, leaping to his feet and bolting towards him. "You shouldn't be up. Senna said you had to rest. Please... whatever you need, let me get it for you."

He held up a hand to quieten the enormous man's bellowing, and gave a soft, hoarse chuckle. "It's alright, Argis. I'm alright."

The housecarl's eyebrows knotted and he scowled. "Sir," he began, but again, Lein cut him off.

"Please. I want to sit by the fire. Is there anything to eat? Something simple?"

Reluctantly, Argis nodded. "Let me help you," he said as Lein swayed.

He allowed the gentle giant to steer him into a chair, and sat back with a deep sigh as he watched Argis moving away to fetch a clean bowl from the table. As he began to ladle broth into it, Argis cast Lein a wary look, which only made Lein chuckle again. "I'm alright, Argis," he insisted. "I'm not going to pass out or combust. I'm just a little weak."

"A little? You should be dead!" he hissed with surprising heat to his tone. "When you fell in through the front door three nights ago, I thought it was an intruder. I came running down the hallway with my sword drawn, only to find you tangled up in a load of shit by the doorway, half-crushed by your own backpack." He strode over to him and all but thrust the bowl at Lein, and when he passed him an elegant Dwemer spoon, Lein wondered fleetingly if he was going to stab him with it.

Argis watched carefully to see if Lein was too weak to hold the bowl, clearly afraid he'd slop scalding hot stew all over his lap, and then went on with his story.

"I rolled you over and discovered there was more blood in your clothes than there was in your veins, and nearly had another heart attack." He drew a deep breath and eyed Lein's face. More calmly, he added, "I thought you were pale before, but I've never seen anyone that white.” There was another pause. “I thought you were dead."

"I'm sorry I frightened you," he said, blowing on a spoonful of simple, aromatic broth.

Argis shook his head, still looking angry. "I got you into your room, but the potions weren't working. I thought maybe I’d chosen the wrong one since I can’t fucking read, and I had to get someone from the temple to come and treat you. I thought I’d killed you…” His voice cracked strangely. “Senna said it was the poison from the wound that was counteracting the healing potions. She said necromancers use that sort of shit. What the hell were you doing pissing off necromancers? I thought you just went to get a statue from the Forsworn?"

Lein had to laugh, even if it only came out as a hollow rasping in his throat. "I hadn't intended to, I promise you. I... I sort of fell into it... as it were..."

Argis wasn't at all amused. "I thought you were going to die. Fuck, I've not been your housecarl much more than a week, and I thought I was going to lose you already."

"It wasn't your fault, Argis," he sighed, beginning to shovel the stew into his mouth in earnest. "You weren't even there. How could it have been your fault?"

"That's just it," he said, falling back into his own chair across from Lein with a huge grunt. "I should have been. I'm sworn to protect you with my life."

"I'm more of a loner usually," he shrugged. Waving his spoon at the broth, he added, "This is excellent, thank you."

His housecarl merely grunted again.

Lein sighed and realised he’d shamed his housecarl by ignoring the one thing he was contractually obliged to be doing — being allowed to protect Lein. "Look, I chose to go alone. I don’t know if you've ever served another thane, or what your expectations of me are, but this is probably going to take some adjusting to. I have titles in other holds, but… I’ll admit that I’d forgotten that Markarth is different. My housecarls in Whiterun and Hjaalmarch are... well... they're as much my friends as they are anything else.”

His spoon clanked against the edge of the bowl in the silence that stretched between stilted sentences.

“The thanes in Whiterun at least don't behave the way they do here. There's no pomp and ceremony. You just turn up at the jarl's court, you have your meeting or whatever, your housecarl sits next to you at the table, or buggers off to the inn if they don't feel like coming to the meeting, and it's all very relaxed."

Argis listened intently, expression mostly blank but mild incredulity was starting to creep in at the edges the longer he listened.

"So coming here and seeing all the thanes parading around like peacocks, showing off and barking orders at their housecarls like... like hunters with dogs... I'm not used to it. They do it in Solitude too and I don't like it. I'm not going to treat you like that. Ever."

"Is that why you didn't ask me to come with you?" he murmured eventually.

Lein nodded, taking some more of his stew. "I assumed you'd ask me if you wanted to come along, and you didn’t, so I didn’t offer. I assumed you had stuff to do here, and in all fairness, I shouldn’t have had any problems. Valdimar always tries to come along with me, but Lydia never even asks. She still just trails along like a new puppy until I actually have to send her back to the house because she's nearly got us both killed."

He chortled, blowing on the spoon before swallowing another delicious mouthful. Argis looked confused when he spoke about Lydia, and if it was distracting him from his worry, Lein decided he would happily keep talking, even if his throat felt raw and his eyelids drooped from time to time.

"Gods, she was so green when we first met. Must be about five years ago now. She was barely seventeen, and she’d had maybe a week in the city guard before she got assigned to me because I killed a dragon and got myself made a thane. I think Balgruuf thought it'd be funny to give her to me and watch an outsider have a go at courting her. Most of the men in Whiterun have tried to get up her skirts at one point or another, but we actually ended up getting along really well in the end."

"What do you mean?"

He snorted, realising he was just about to confess that his tastes ran towards men, but he settled for the other side of the truth and said, "She's only interested in women. I think he thought it'd be funny to watch me try and get her to sleep with me, only to be slapped or have my cock cut off or something."

"Was it?" Argis asked, a strange catch in his voice. “Funny, I mean?”

Lein laughed fully this time, the last of his stew swilling around in the bottom of the bowl. "I’ve still got my cock, if that’s what you’re asking. But maybe that’s because I never bothered," he chuckled, laughing as much at the idea of bedding Lydia as Argis’ question. Tiredness washed over him and he sighed, resting the bowl on his thighs a moment. "I mean, she's pretty, sure, but... well... she didn't do much for me, let's just say." His consonants turned soft and slurred a little, and his grip on the bowl loosened.

Argis frowned, but didn't ask any more. "Can I take that for you?" he asked instead, gesturing at Lein's empty bowl.

Suddenly Lein could barely muster the energy to lift the bowl from his lap. "Thank you," he nodded as it was taken from him.

Argis' heavy feet stumped away, and, with a belly full of warm food, Lein felt his eyes drooping and his head nodding, but he was asleep before he could summon the strength to return to bed.

A vague pressure around his shoulders and under his knees, followed by a lurching sensation, stirred him just above the surface of sleep, and he opened his eyes to find, to his utter mortification, that he was being carried back to bed like a child. The musky warmth of Argis' chest was so deliciously close, and being manhandled like that would have turned him on under different circumstances, but as it was he could barely bring himself to look up at the bigger man. When he did though, he found that Argis was smiling softly, and a moment or two later he grinned down at him as he set him tenderly down onto his mattress.

"I'm sorry," Lein hissed, feeling vague with exhaustion. "You could have just left me there..."

Argis gave a whickering chuckle and pulled the covers over Lein's feeble body. "You need some more rest," he said. "And all you’ll get in one of those old chairs is a terrible crick in your neck."

He hummed a vague response, and let sleep claim him again.

It was a full week until he was strong enough to convince Argis to stop hovering nervously. "For Nine's sake," he finally grumbled. "I only fainted once, and that was three days ago. You don't need to keep orbiting me like some damned dragonfly..."

Argis laughed softly and mumbled his apologies.

"I'm going up to the temple to settle my bill with Senna," Lein announced as he moved down the stone ramp.

"Please don't decapitate me," Argis rattled quickly from behind him, "But you want me to come with you?"

"Now, do you want to see Senna's pretty face again, or to keep me from falling on my pretty arse?" he quipped.

To his surprise, Argis blushed an extremely pretty pink himself, and muttered something about better being safe than sorry.

Lein snorted indelicately and waved his hand. "Fine, come on then."

The two made their way silently along the stone walkways of the city, moving towards the stairs which led to the temple. A few people stopped to talk to Lein, the guardswoman who had let him in after the incident with the necromancers for one, and he laughed brightly as little Adara bounded up to him shortly afterwards. He encouraged her to keep going with her training, and promised her he’d buy the first piece of jewellery she put up for sale when she’d completed her apprenticeship with her father.

All the while, Argis stood there watching, observing from a couple of paces’ distance in silence, his expression inscrutable.

The ascent to the temple of Dibella took a bit more puff out of him than he’d been expecting, and he pressed a pale hand into the rock doorway at the top to recover, but when he caught Argis lingering at his elbow, he rolled his mismatching eyes and grinned. "I’m not on the floor yet, Argis," he smirked.

With nothing but a shake of his head, Argis followed him into the temple.

At the sound of the door opening, a priestess called from the back of the room without looking up. "The sisters are communing with Dibella. They can't be disturbed. You'll have to come back another time."

"It's alright, Senna," he called softly. "I don't need to see the sisters. I just came to offer my thanks, and to give what's owed to the temple for your help."

"Lein?" she gasped, setting down the jug of water she'd been using to wash her hands and scurrying over. "Oh Dibella be praised, you look so much better." She surveyed him more closely. “Which is to say you look as terrible as you always do, you scrawny runt.”

His laugh echoed in the high-ceilinged sanctuary. "Argis tells me that it’s thanks to you that I’m back on my feet."

She eyed the housecarl from under her golden hood and smiled, her strange tattoos stretching. "Not entirely down to me," she smiled. "He cleaned you up first. Gods though, you were a mess, Lein. Infected and oozing..." she grimaced and turned serious. "I've not seen someone that close to crossing over since my training days. Still," she added more brightly, "Here you are, to live and pester me another day."

He held out a heavy coin purse to her and said, "Well, you have my thanks,” and he turned to his housecarl and added, “As does Argis.” He eyed the bag of coins and said to Senna, “See that this goes to helping others, will you?"

She smiled. "That's what we do here, Lein." She slid the purse into a pocket of her robes and spoke again. "You look like you could use some sunlight and fresh air now. Take it easy though... no more quests or contracts, you hear me?"

"I hear you."

"And Argis?" she barked at the big man standing slightly behind him, "You make sure he does as he's told, alright? No going off adventuring just yet."

"Yes ma'am," he smiled, bowing his head politely.

"You see, Lein?" Senna said, jabbing him in the ribs with a sharp elbow. "At least he listens to me."

"I told you I heard you," Lein smirked, flashing her his most disarming smile.

She shook her head with a wide, fond smile and bundled them both back out into the sunny morning. "There's a great difference between hearing someone and listening to them, Lein. If my charms weren't so entirely wasted on you, I'd have you wrapped around my little finger like every other man in Markarth. Too bad there are no ‘Brothers’ of Dibella, hmm? As it is, I’ll just have to threaten you instead."

"Threatening me with Argis?" he smirked, eyeing Argis’ colossal bulwark of a body up and down. It was all too easy to see where he’d got his nickname. "Oh come on, Senna, look at him… Have a little mercy."

Argis shifted slightly and a tiny smile played around his scarred lips.

A light glinted in the priestess’ eyes and she leaned in close to hiss, "I know your type, Lein." She giggled, and actually smacked him playfully on the backside as he halted on the temple steps. His skin stung strangely, but it soon passed.

He rolled his eyes and trotted down the three steps onto the landing where Argis stood waiting for him, a baffled and slightly wary expression on his handsome, rough-hewn face.

"Don't ask," Lein chuckled, turning and stepping off the first of the stairs which led back to the city below. Somehow he missed his footing as his head spun unexpectedly and his vision blurred. He cried out in surprise as he tipped backwards.

Argis lunged for him and caught him with his massive hands. "Careful," he growled.

"Thank you," Lein frowned, casting a quick glance up at the temple doorway as his vision cleared again, the weakness passing as swiftly as it had come. Still holding him by the arms, Argis followed his gaze.

Lein called out to Senna, "Did you...?"

Her eyes went wide with over-acted innocence. She brought her finger to her lips and winked before shutting the door with a booming clank.

Lein growled in her direction, and patted Argis on the forearm. “Tricksy meddling priestess.”

"What was that about?" his housecarl quizzed, letting go, but still staring at the door as though she might re-emerge and come at Lein a second time.

Laughing softly once more, Lein resumed his skipping pace down the stairs now that Senna's devious magic had done its work. "Never mind," he called. "The mischief of priestesses is a surprisingly well-kept secret in Skyrim. Senna is worse than most."

Argis didn’t say another word to him all afternoon, and Lein wondered if he'd offended the big man somehow with all his playful irreverence towards Markarth’s beloved Order of Dibella. Perhaps Argis still expected a little more decorum from his thane, though Lein had been careful not to push it from playfulness into flirtation. He still had no idea of the housecarl’s preferences, and he wasn't about to make things a thousand times worse by flirting with him.

Argis probably had cottoned on to what Senna had been playing at though, and perhaps that had freaked him out. Skyrim’s civilians were pretty open minded about people’s relationships, but it was a different story for those in military service. Lein had learned the hard way what the guards and soldiers of Markarth in particular thought of men who liked other men. His ribs ached at the memory of a beating he’d taken at the hands of two Markarth Guards when he’d been just sixteen. He hoped that if his housecarl wasn’t interested, he was at least open minded.

He spared Lisbet the details of his difficulties when he returned her statue to her that afternoon, and he still received a handsome reward for his efforts. He also convinced her to buy a bunch of the crap he’d picked up on the way, as though he was no better than a hoarding magpie. However, Lein’s buoyant mood soured the longer Argis remained reservedly quiet in his company. Somehow it felt different from the thoughtful silence he’d grown used to from the man, so that evening Lein excused himself and retreated to his enchanting room before supper.

The little stone fireplace truly roared, the fire egged on to hotter temperatures by the flames he directed at every so often. Lein loved the heat as much as a Khajiit or Argonian would have done. The glow of it seemed to make his bones glow too, but it felt wonderful, driving away the last aches of his injuries. He’d cleared the stone shelf at one end of the room of all its junk, and, sitting in the comfy wooden chair beside the fire, he had his feet perched on it, one ankle crossed casually over the other, eyes on the last page of a very bizarre volume with the title ‘Withershins’.

When he heard Argis call that supper was ready and that he’d leave it in the pot for Lein, he replied that he’d be out in a moment. He finished the book and set it back on his shelf, stretching, feeling the restorative powers in his body, the new scars creaking on his skin, and headed out to join Argis.

The housecarl was sitting at the stone table in the dining room, tucking into a massive piece of pot-roast venison when Lein emerged. Lein had just gone over to grab a plate when there was a knock at the door. Frowning, Argis set down his knife and fork, but Lein waved him to stay put. “It’s alright — I’ll get it. You keep eating.”

Argis complied, though his expression remained sullen and watchful, and Lein snatched up his favourite dagger and slid it down into the leather belt at his side. It wouldn’t have been the first time thugs had been sent to his door, and it never hurt to be too careful.

He called out as he ambled down the slope. “Who is it?”

“Lein?” a soft, lilting voice called from the other side. The sound of it made Lein’s gut twist and his world tilt oddly. “Lein, that you?”

“Vipir?” he gasped, flinging the door open. “What the hell are you doing here, so far from Riften?”

The man who stood on the other side of his bronze front door was tall and muscular, wearing his own custom, sleeveless version of the tough, supple leathers of the Thieves Guild. His bare arms showed under the large, studded leather epaulettes, and a belt of small pockets hung diagonally from left shoulder to right hip. Lein knew they’d be full of lockpicks and other tools, and probably the odd diamond ring, snuck off a wealthy lady’s finger right under her nose. Vipir was damned good at pickpocketing.

Vipir was many things, and among them, he was Lein’s ex-lover.

The brunet laughed softly and jutted his square jaw out at Lein. “You gonna let me in, or are you gonna make me freeze my balls off out here?”

“Just as long as you don’t ask me to warm them up this time, eh?” he snorted quietly, holding the door open for him. Over his shoulder he yelled, “Argis, we got company. This is Vipir, an old friend from Riften.”

Vipir gracefully ignored his demotion from ‘lover’ to ‘friend’ and leaned in close to Lein’s ear as he entered the house. His breath fanned across Lein’s ear as he whispered, “He your new lover-boy?” The sudden closeness was intoxicatingly delicious and it took Lein a moment to recover.

Lein replied in the same hushed tones though. “Housecarl. I’m a respectable thane here now, you know? Don’t go sullying my good name now, will you?”

Ignoring Vipir’s snort of laughter, he walked up the slope back into the house ahead of him, just as Argis got to his feet, wiping his hands on a square of linen from the top of a fresh pile. When they were both in the room, Argis extended a hand in greeting to his thane’s guest with a steady gaze that weighed him up and down. Lein suspected that Argis had already worked out Vipir’s slightly weaker left side, and his preference for a bow over blades.  

“Can I get you something to drink?” Argis asked politely, his expression just about warm enough not to be called rude.

Viper laughed again, clearly unfazed. “A good mead would go down nicely, thank you,” he said, easing himself into a chair by the fire with a huge sigh. “By the Nine, Lein, it was a long carriage ride here.”

“You didn’t run all the way from Riften this time?” Lein chuckled.

“Oh fuck you,” Vipir retorted. “You and Vex are never gonna let me live that down, are you?”

Lein shook his head and took a swig of the bottle Argis offered him at the same time as he handed one to Vipir. They clinked drinks and downed a good few gulps before Lein asked, “So, what are you doing here?”

“Job for Delvin,” he said evasively, swigging his mead. “Little Vexy told me you were planning on being holed up here for a while.” He squinted his dark brown eyes at Lein and added, “Gotta say though, you look like shit.”

Lein barked a loud laugh and took another long draft of his own drink. “Yeah, well, I had a rather close brush with death about a week ago. Still recovering.” He flopped down into the chair opposite Vipir and ran his finger thoughtfully around the rim of the bottle.

“Shit,” Vipir cursed, his whole demeanour shifting suddenly to something much more serious and earnest. Concern flooded into his warm eyes and his deep, accented voice. “You alright?”

Lein nodded. “Yeah. Think I gave Argis the fright of his life when I stumbled in through the doorway in the middle of the night, full of holes and bleeding to death, but I think he’s nearly forgiven me now. Is that right?”

The housecarl had returned to his seat at the table to finish his supper. Lein turned to look over his shoulder at Argis, who surveyed the two of them with a calculated stare for a while and then smirked. “I think you’ve got a little way to go before you’re forgiven for that, thane,” he smirked darkly.

Vipir shot Lein a very knowing look over the rim of his mead bottle and waggled his eyebrows, but kept quiet.

“Where are you staying?” Lein asked to distract him. “Silverblood Inn?”

“I know you think I piss everyone off, Lein, but I do have some friends in the city.”

Lein cocked an eyebrow. “Bridges you haven’t burned? Vipir, I’m impressed.”

He rolled his eyes and slouched further into his chair. “I’m meeting my contact tomorrow,” he said, adding, “But yes. Silverblood Inn tonight. So when you haven’t been getting yourself nearly killed, what have you been up to? Feels like ages since you stopped by the Ragged Flagon.”

Lein cast half a glance at Argis, who was nearly done with his meal, and said, “Taking contracts here and there mainly…” he shot him a meaningful glance. Avoiding the inevitable dragonborn bullshit.

“For our ‘family’ in Falkreath, or jobs for Brynjolf I don’t know about?”

“Both,” he smiled.

“Dancing with death and the law,” he whispered, barely audible above the crackle of the fire. Then he sat back and uttered his next statement just loudly enough for Argis to hear, and in a tone that made Lein want to kick him. “Ah, I always loved your wild side, Lein.”

Lein shared his supper with him, and the two friends who had once been lovers chatted for hours by the fireside.

While Argis excused himself fairly early, Lein found it impossible to tear himself away.

Vipir was one of those old lovers who had never done anything wrong. Their relationship had never soured, only grown distant as Lein had left Riften to roam Skyrim’s roads. It had never been serious, but it had always been heartfelt. The banter came as easily as it ever had, and Lein enjoyed hearing how the guild was picking itself up again now that Mercer was no longer dragging it down. “Brynjolf and Karliah are the next hottest thing in Riften, of course,” Vipir laughed. “It’s nauseating.”

“Oh wow, predictable much?” Lein scoffed, cheeks rosy, and most of the way through his second bottle of Blackbriar Reserve.

Vipir’s booming laugh resounded around the chamber yet again, and Lein wondered if they were keeping Argis awake. Feeling a pang of guilt, he yawned and set the bottle down, stretching out his shoulders.

“Listen, Vip,” he sighed. “How long are you in Markarth for? Maybe we can catch up some more over breakfast or something tomorrow? I’m kind of beat…”

“Yeah,” he agreed with a yawn of his own. “Me too. I basically came straight here from the road. I’m due to leave again tomorrow. Quick exit and all that. You want to meet at the inn at eight tomorrow morning?”

“Nine?” he countered with a hopeful grin.

“No stamina,” Vipir chuckled. “Not like the old days.”

“You forget I almost died last week,” Lein retorted. “I’m not myself.”

“Yeah, well, you were always good at keeping your scars from me,” he sighed, standing and setting his bottle down on the edge of the fireplace.

Lein stood and felt the room spin.

Vipir let out a soft laugh and stepped close to steady him. Too close. “Never could hold your liquor either,” he murmured fondly, pressing his body against him, his strong, archer’s hand still wrapped around Lein’s forearm.

Lein bit his lip and groaned involuntarily. It had been a very long time indeed since he’d felt a connection deeper than a formal handshake, and he suddenly found himself aching all over to be touched, kissed, held, fucked…

Vipir read him as easily as he always had, and closed the last of the air between them by sealing a kiss onto Lein’s softly parted lips.

In an instant, passion flared through both of them, and it deepened.

Vipir’s short beard scratched against Lein’s white stubble, while Lein’s hands raked through his shoulder-length brown hair, grabbing it, pulling it, shoving him deeper into the kiss. Teeth clacked before tongues began to explore further, and Lein moaned at his old friend’s familiar taste and touch.

“Vipir, please…”

Vipir was bigger and stronger than Lein, and he easily backed him up against a blank bit of wall. Lein let out a grunt as his back collided with the cold masonry, and Vipir chased the sound with another kiss. His hips ground against Lein’s and they each felt the other’s hardening cock and gasped. “Been a while since you and I…” Vipir breathed. “You want…?”

Lein’s mismatched eyes flitted to the archway which led to Argis’ closed doors. “Keep it quiet,” he hissed.

Vipir didn’t even try to get him into his bedroom before he’d stripped his shirt off and had undone the ties of his trousers. Lein knew he shouldn’t be doing this here, in his living room, but the sensations overwhelmed him and he suddenly found he had no objections whatsoever to Vipir jerking him off.

Lein came loudly, an embarrassingly short time later, head thrown back, hands clutching at Vipir’s shoulders as he shuddered violently, knees buckling beneath him. Vipir actually had to hold him up as he painted his old friend’s hand and part of his own stomach white in the warm air of his own living room.

“Thought you said to keep it quiet,” Vipir chuckled, kissing at his sensitive, flushed neck.  

“Fuck you,” Lein growled vaguely.

“With pleasure,” Vipir answered, passing him a linen cloth to clean himself up. Vipir was still desperately hard, and didn’t wait very long for Lein to get clean before he was back, biting and sucking kisses into Lein’s collarbones.

A few heartbeats later Lein pushed Vipir back off him and stalked away to his own bedroom.

He never thought he’d bless Markarth’s stone beds, but at least they didn’t creak.

Chapter Four

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We can stay here for a thousand years, and then a thousand more…