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After finally Defeating Miraak and proving herself as the Dragonborn, Mave was now on a boat leaving Solstine and going back to Skyrim. She was more anxious than she would like to admit, what would the future hold for our heroine and her jackass of a companion.
After my final battle with Miraak, I was conflicted. It was finally over, I defeated the final boss, I could live a normal life in Skyrim, but what would that look like? What would become normal for me? I had spent all this time throwing myself into my work trying to better the world and becoming “The Dragon Born”, whatever the fuck that means. A snippy comment from my “caring” follower drew me from my thoughts.
“ What are you planning on basing your personality on now that you have defeated Miraak?” Marcurio smirked. “ The great dragon-born Mave has labored and Triumphed, Come see the great dragon-born old and washed up. 5 coins per person.” The entire crew was on the main deck of the small boat that had given us passage to and now from Solstien. I threw my pack at him.
“Oh Markie honesty, it's sad that even in your wildest fantasies you are STILL working for me, I truly hoped becoming my apprentice would teach you to have more ambition.” Marcurio was my follower, a short imperial mage with an even shorter temper. I hired him from the Bee and the Barb in Riften. He loved two things: Academics and getting on my nerves. I didn't mind, he was good at what he did, but one of these days I fully expect him to let the draugr kill me. My comment made the Nord crew unable to contain their laughter. Marcurio was tough but there is always a way to get a rise out of him.
“ Fuck you Mave I am your Companion, not a little apprentice” he quipped. They quickly learned the short-tempered nature of my talented yet snarky companion, as he stormed off to read somewhere other than the deck of the ship. The captain came and sat next to me,
“Wow, I still can't believe it. The dragon born has returned to Skyrim. I can't believe all those stories are true” the generic-looking blond Nord looking me up and down, giving me the creeps. “And as a WOMAN no less” Astounded that he could even tell the difference between a ship and a shit I scoffed,
“ Well, it had to be a woman” The confusion of the crew was almost audible.” Well, we are worried about things like people trying to capture us or how to not seem weak compared to our male um… counterparts.” I said sucking on my teeth and making vague gestures with my hands at the surrounding men who were obviously offended by my comment. “ Whereas men, pause for dramatic effect, are more concerned with how their dicks and whether it's easier to fight or fuck dragons.” with everyone dumbfounded and silent I hopped up from the crate I was sitting on and dusting myself off before popping off to bed. “Well, goodnight gentlemen.”
I stood in the small damp room that I won in a drinking contest with Marcurio the night before we took off back to Skyrim. I stood in front of the small mirror that I had set up for myself on the dresser, brushing out my long auburn locks that had been up all day. I stood there looking at my tired dirty reflection in the mirror The smooth swaying of the boat lulled me into a deep state of thought. Thinking about how I made a scene on the deck just now when I know that I shouldn't have I don’t have anything to prove I mean I’m the fucking dragon born, or how right Markie was. What was I going to do when I got back? Was I really going to buy a house in one of the holds and hope that neighbors and travelers alike will never tire of my stories? What happens when the novelty wears off, will I just be some drunken fool that people keep around because of what I once was? Or would I have to remain this hero figure forever just to be accepted into communities because being someone I'm not is better than being on one at all? A small change in the rhythm of the waves delivers me from my trance and back to reality. “ Well, whatever happens, you don't have to make a decision today!” That's what my mom used to say whenever I became overwhelmed. With that, I got my sleepy and slightly drunken self into bed and lay there until I couldn't hold my eyes open anymore, funny how when you are exhausted it is so much harder to sleep.