Chapter 35 Twilight Roads and Burning Hearts
After taking in the breathtaking view inside Sky Haven Temple, we finally decided to leave. The ancient stone walls still echoed faint whispers of forgotten Blades history as our footsteps carried us toward the exit. The heavy doors creaked behind us, letting in a gust of cool evening air.
Just outside, we ran into Esbern and Delphine.
"Hey, we're heading out to meet the Greybeards, okay?" Alex said, lifting a hand in a small wave.
Delphine crossed her arms, her stern face softening just a little. She nodded once, her blond hair catching the dim glow of the setting sun.
Esbern gave an exaggerated shrug. "Yeah, sure. Don't worry about us," he said, adjusting his hood with a tired but determined flick of his wrist.
He glanced around the dusty ruins, squinting at the broken pillars and moss-covered tiles. "Delphine and I will… ah… make this place just a little more livable," he muttered, already imagining all the work ahead.
Alex chuckled. Astrid gave a small smile barely noticeable, but enough to warm the air between them for a moment.
Then the two of them began descending the stone steps, boots tapping softly against ancient carvings, and headed out of Sky Haven Temple.
The moment they stepped into the open, the environment changed entirely.
The wide canyon of Karthspire greeted them with the haunting stillness of early twilight. The cave entrance behind them breathed out a faint chill as they left its shadow and stepped onto the rocky path.
During the long walk out of Karthspire's cave and onto the open tundra, they teased each other the entire way quiet laughs, soft jabs, shy glances that said more than words.
They followed the winding stone path, surrounded by tundra grass that swayed gently like waves pushed by the cool evening wind. A few fireflies drifted above the blades of grass, glowing softly in the dimming light.
The sun was sinking fast.
Its orange glow stretched over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. Warm colors brushed their shoulders, reflecting off Astrid's armor like shimmering embers dancing across obsidian metal.
The distant mountains of the Reach caught the last light, their jagged edges glowing faintly before disappearing into the purple shadow of dusk. The wind carried the earthy scent of cold stone and the faint whisper of running water somewhere far below.
Astrid inhaled deeply, her breath forming a small cloud in the cooling air.
Alex watched her for a moment how her hair moved with the wind, how the twilight softened her usually fierce expression.
Skyrim during sunset always held a quiet beauty, but walking through it with her… made everything feel like it was glowing a little brighter.
Side by side, they continued toward High Hrothgar, the world around them slowly slipping into night while the warmth between them only grew stronger.
Skyrim's sky at dusk turned molten gold, stretching long streaks of amber and crimson across the horizon. The mountains glowed as if brushed by fire, their jagged silhouettes wrapped in a warm light that slowly dimmed with every passing step. The air grew cooler, brushing against their cheeks like a quiet whisper from the Throat of the World.
The stone path to High Hrothgar lay silent untouched, serene. Only the thin whistle of wind weaving through the rocks and the steady rhythm of two pairs of footsteps broke the stillness.
Alex walked in simple clothing a modest wool coat, frayed slightly at the edges, and boots dusted with the gray earth of the Reach. His breath came out soft in the cooling air.
Beside him strode a much taller figure Astrid her Daedric Armor catching every bit of leftover sunlight. The black plates shimmered red like molten metal under dusk's glow, a striking contrast to her unhelmed face.
With her helmet off, her beauty wasn't just visible it was illuminated. Her sharp eyes reflected the orange sky, turning them into molten amber. A faint breeze pushed a few loose strands of her hair across her cheek, softening the intimidating warrior into something quietly breathtaking.
For a long while, neither spoke.
Astrid finally exhaled hard through her nose.
"You've been really quiet."
Alex blinked, as if snapped from deep thought.
"I'm just… focusing on walking."
Astrid turned her head slightly, one eyebrow lifting, lips pulling into a half-smirk.
"Focusing on walking? You need to focus for something this simple?"
Alex rubbed the back of his neck, clearly flustered.
"Uhm… yeah."
Astrid tilted her head in a slow, deliberate motion. A strand of hair slipped free and danced against her cheek. The movement was unintentionally elegant and Alex tried not to stare.
"And here I was hoping you'd say something," she murmured, her voice dipped with faint disappointment.
Alex paused mid-step, glancing sideways at her with a shy, hesitant look.
"I'm afraid I'll say something wrong."
Astrid shifted closer. The soft scrape of Daedric metal echoed between them, low and intimate.
"Why be afraid?" she asked, gaze fixed on him with a teasing sharpness.
Alex lowered his eyes to the path.
"Because… if I say what I really think… I'm afraid you'll notice."
Astrid froze.
The last traces of sunlight brushed against her face, revealing a soft blush blooming across her cheeks. Her lips parted slightly.
"…notice what?" she pressed. Her tone was soft, but there was a commanding edge like she already knew the answer and wanted to hear it anyway.
Alex couldn't speak. His ears turned red, and he focused hard on the path ahead, pretending to be deeply interested in a random pebble.
Astrid let out a short, amused huff somewhere between a laugh and a sigh.
"You're unbelievable…"
She drifted closer again, their bodies nearly touching now shoulder to pauldron even though she towered over him. The warmth from her armor radiated through the evening cold.
"If you won't say anything… fine," she said, voice lighter. "I'll start."
Alex stiffened.
"W-what do you mean?"
Astrid glanced at him quickly just a heartbeat of eye contact then tore her gaze away again, flustered.
"Don't misunderstand," she muttered. Her voice dropped low, almost embarrassed. "I just… like seeing you walk beside me without a helmet or heavy armor. You're… refreshing."
Alex stopped in his tracks, staring at her like she had just revealed a secret impossible for a Daedric-armored warrior to admit.
Astrid kept walking, trying to pretend she didn't see his stunned expression.
"Your smile is annoying too," she added, face forward. "Because every time I notice it… my face heats up."
Alex's breath hitched.
"I I didn't even know I was smiling."
"That's the problem," Astrid replied, casting him a side-eye. "If you look like that unconsciously… what happens if you do it on purpose?"
Alex swallowed, then stepped closer close enough that she felt his presence press against her personal space.
This time, he dominated the moment, making her stop and face him.
"If I do it on purpose…" he whispered, "what will you do?"
Astrid's blush deepened sharply. Despite the heat rising to her ears, her eyes locked onto his piercing, unwavering, refusing to back down.
But her voice betrayed her.
"I…"
She bit her lip and abruptly looked away, fists tightening slightly at her sides.
"I might… faint," she admitted, barely audible.
Alex's smile bloomed gentle, warm, unmistakable.
Astrid caught it. She definitely did.
She snapped her gaze away almost instantly but peeked again, quick as a thief.
"You saw it, didn't you?" Alex teased.
"No!" Astrid barked back instantly too quickly to be credible.
"You saw me smile," he pressed, stepping closer.
Astrid halted, body angled toward him, her cheeks burning.
"I told you," she murmured, voice thick with embarrassment, "my face gets hot when you do that."
Alex held her gaze for a long moment a silent exchange warmed by the dying sun and the quiet intimacy between them.
"I… get hot too when you look at me like that," he confessed softly.
Astrid's breath caught. Without thinking, she raised her hand and covered half her face, trying to hide the deep flush that spread from cheek to ear.
"This is a trip to High Hrothgar," she whispered shakily, "not emotional torture."
Alex laughed under his breath.
"You started it."
Astrid's eyes flicked up again. Sharp, but softer than before.
"Yeah," she admitted. "But you're the one making it worse."
They resumed walking slower, closer, their shoulders brushing occasionally, sending little jolts of warmth through both of them each time.
There was no snow.
No crowd.
No voices.
Only the fading sunset wrapping them in warm gold, the wind whispering around them, and two hearts beating far too fast for a simple walk to High Hrothgar.
On that quiet mountain road, with night slowly swallowing the sky, something tender began to form between them soft, shy, playful… and burning brighter with every stolen glance.
The sun finally slipped behind the mountains, swallowed completely by the horizon.
In its place, night unfurled across the sky deep blue, scattered with stars beginning to shimmer like tiny shards of crystal.
A cold breeze drifted through the tundra, carrying the scent of pine and distant waterfalls.
Alex exhaled a soft cloud of white.
"Astrid… are we camping here, or do we keep going?"
Astrid scanned the surroundings with a warrior's instinct her eyes narrowing slightly, her posture alert but relaxed. The faint fire-red glow of her Daedric Armor pulsed under the moonlight, making her look both ethereal and dangerous.
"Let's camp first," she said quietly. "We need somewhere quiet and safe."
They searched the nearby clearing, boots crunching softly over dry grass and scattered stones.
"How about here?" Alex suggested, brushing some leaves aside. "The ground's decent. Looks quiet, too."
Astrid stepped closer, crouching to test the earth with a gloved hand.
A few strands of her hair fell forward, glowing faintly under the rising moon.
"Yeah…" she said, looking up at him with a small smile. "Perfect."
Alex nodded and reached into his system inventory, pulling out two bedrolls. The air rippled faintly with blue light as the items materialized. He knelt down, shaking out the fabric, spreading them neatly on the ground.
While he worked, Astrid gathered firewood. Her movements were smooth despite the weight of her armor she bent low, muscles shifting beneath the black metal, her breath forming small puffs of mist.
When she returned, she knelt beside the pile and struck flint. Sparks jumped, and a moment later, a warm flame crackled to life.
The firelight reflected off her armor, dancing across her face and making her eyes glow.
Skyrim's night was bitterly cold colder than the day had hinted and the fire's warmth wrapped around them like a soft blanket.
"Hey," Alex called gently. "I made some skewers. We can eat together. And I brought drinks too."
He pulled out pieces of seasoned meat and pierced them with sharpened sticks. The savory smell rose immediately as he grilled them over the flames. Then he took out two bottles light clinking in the quiet night.
But before handing anything over, he raised a finger.
"Don't get drunk, okay? If we get ambushed out here, that'll be bad."
Astrid gave a lazy smile, the firelight softening her usually intense features.
"No promises," she teased.
After eating warm skewers, tender and smoky they took slow sips of their drinks.
The fire crackled, the stars shimmered brighter, and a soft wind rustled the grass around them.
Astrid's cheeks gradually reddened not from the fire, but from the alcohol. Her eyes softened, her words mixed with a faint slur. She wasn't fully drunk… but close.
Alex watched her carefully.
Then he leaned forward and gently pulled her bottle from her hand.
"Oops," he said with a teasing grin. "You're getting tipsy. That's enough for tonight. Go lie down I'll stay awake for now."
Astrid blinked at him.
Her gaze unfocused for a moment, then sharpened in a slow, hazy way.
She didn't move toward the bedroll.
Instead, she moved toward him.
Half-dazed, she crawled closer, her armor lightly scraping against itself.
Alex blinked, leaning back a little.
"Astrid…" he said carefully, "I'm not giving you more drinks, okay?"
But she didn't reach for the drink.
Her hand rested on his chest warm through his tunic.
Her breath brushed softly against his collarbone.
Her eyes, though glossy, were locked straight onto him with surprising clarity.
"Alex…" she murmured. Her voice dropped into a low, smoky whisper. "You promised…"
Her gaze dipped downward not at the bottle, but at him.
And he realized he had no idea what promise she meant.
Before he could ask
Astrid suddenly pushed him.
Not roughly but firmly, decisively.
Alex fell back onto the soft ground near the fire, his breath catching in his throat.
Astrid leaned over him, her hair falling like a curtain around his face, her armor glowing red from the fire's reflection.
She didn't wobble.
She didn't hesitate.
Her hands pinned his shoulders gently but unmistakably.
Her face hovered inches above his.
Her breath was warm, brushing his lips.
"Alex…" she whispered again, voice dripping with heat and something unbearably tender,
"you promised me… didn't you?"
Her tone soft, smoky, full of desire made his heartbeat stumble.
The night around them went quiet.
Only the fire crackled.
Only her eyes held him in place.
And with her body above his, her expression flushed and vulnerable yet bold…
…the cold Skyrim night suddenly felt very, very warm.
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