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The man was kneeled down before her. His head bowed, eyes downcast. His hands clasped on his knees with such intensity that his knuckles were nearly white. His voice trembled as he spoke,
“Goddess, I beg of you.”
She looked down at him. Her face was lined with equal parts confusion and humor.
“You beg of me to do what?” She asked.
The man doubled over on himself until his forehead touched the earth beneath them. “Cleanse me, Goddess. I cannot go on with such a heavy soul.”
She crouched down in front of him, a slight smirk growing on her face. She placed her open hand on the back of his head and said, “Stand. I am no Goddess. There is nothing I can do for you.”
This was a first, Lydia thought. The Dragonborn, her Thane, was well regarded across Skyrim to be sure–though no one had ever referred to her as a Goddess. Not to her face, anyway. Lydia would be lying if she said the woman didn't have an ethereal nature about her.
Perhaps it was only natural.
The man looked her in the eye now. His grip on his knees faltered as his hands trembled.
“You cannot help me?”
The Dragonborn rose. “I cannot cleanse you. I may suggest you seek out a proper God.” She tilted her head, “I do not walk among men because I choose to. I am no more divine than you or my housecarl here.” She gestured vaguely towards Lydia.
The man squeezed his eyes tightly shut and turned his head away from the two of them. “I see,” he said, “Then I ask that you forgive me.”
“Consider yourself forgiven and be on your way. There are plenty of shrines around.”
The man nodded and clamored to his feet. He clasped his hands together and bowed shallowly to them before scurrying off down the road.
Lydia watched him go. He seemed no older than she was. What could he have possibly done that warranted such desperation? She decided she would rather not think about it.
“How peculiar,” she said at last. “I don't believe you've ever been mistaken for a God before.
“No, I don't suppose I have.” She looked towards Lydia and grinned. "Does divinity suit me?" She asked, a humorous look glittered in her eye.
Lydia's answer came by honestly, "Anything would suit you.”