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Neither fully knew why they had never asked, but they were spurred into when they were gallivanting around Western Valenwood. After making eye contact and having what was most likely a mental battle of rock-paper-scissors, it was up to Bastian to ask the now taboo question.
"Hey, while we're here, why don't you take us by where you lived before all this?" When their shorter friend tensed up, Mirri quickly joined in, "Yeah, I'm sure your family would like to see you." Although the second statement was supposed to make Wylarin ease up, it did the exact opposite, her shoulders slowly becoming close friends with her earlobes.
The Bosmeri woman slowly turned to face them, her face stony but her eyes glassy with hidden emotions, "We should stay focused on our adventure, okay? We promised to be there by Middas."
Sensing her unease, little Skitters started circling her owner's feet. Quickly taking advantage of the distraction, Wylarin scooped up the baby Echalette in her arms, "Besides, Skitters is hungry and I'm not far behind. Let's get to the nearest Inn." She stated, her voice a tad bit tight sounding. She kissed the darling creature on the head before setting her down and mounting her horse. With a glance at her friends, she spurred the horse to gallop off ahead of them.
"...I think her family is a touchy subject… you don't think they've mistreated her, do you?" Bastian worried, looking at Mirri while mounting into his own horse. The Dunmer shrugged before doing as he did. They stayed in pace with the other, trying to sluthe out the reason for their friend's obvious discomfort while not alerting her on doing so.
"I doubt it, while i'm no expert of Bosmer culture, I doubt they'd allow child abuse… Do you suppose she's had a fight with them and is wanting to cool off?" Because otherwise Mirri didn't think she could handle the thought that a close friend of hers has suffered an abusive childhood without wanting to avenge her. Bastian was dreading that for the same reason, but he was hoping to avoid thinking about such things when there wasn't any evidence. "Who's to say, she doesn't seem to show any lasting signs of early life abuse, but depending on her age she could have easily overcome the instincts to flinch and such." He offered an uneasy smile on his face. Mirri simply sighed, a few stray hairs falling from her braid and into her face, "I hope that for once you're right."
"Hey, what do you mean 'for once'?" But before he could get an answer, the woman simply trotted away to catch up to the target of their worries. That left the Imperial man to mutter under his breath and hurry his horse to catch up to both women. Seemingly oblivious to their worry, Wylarin led them through the entrance of Baandari Trading post and to the Silver Moons Inn before dismounting and heading inside- clearly doing her best to avoid continuing their previous conversation. The avoidance was alarming to the other two, especially from their normally very open companion, so they were quick to dismount and follow her in, while making sure not to step on Skitters in their haste.
They sat at a table for what felt like ages picking at their ordered meals before Mirri finally had cracked under the uneasy silence, "So...uh does this place remind you of your ho-"
"Alright, I get that you two are concerned, but can we PLEASE drop this topic? I'm not in the mood." Wylarin nearly pleaded, her blue eyes begging for the topic to end. Bastian took the hint and quickly and awkwardly changed the subject, "Have either of you ate Nirnroot before? Because I wouldn't recommend it."
Thankfully, both elven women were amused. "No, I can't say I have, Basti." Mirri chucked. "Me neither, besides, I can't really eat plants." Wylarin laughed, her shoulders less tense now. With the tension gone, they finished their meals with pleasant conversation engaging them for several hours, even after they unloaded their armor and weapons for the night in their rented room. However, the conversation hit a roadblock so to say when they realized the room only had one double sized bed instead of the standard two,or bunks. Being the only Male, Bastian flushed a bit and quickly tried to offer that he'd stay on the floor, but both women gave him pointed looks (or maybe they just looked pointed because Mer's tended to have pointed eyes?).
"Bas, both of you got hit earlier today by those damned wasps, you two need the soft mattress under your injuries instead of a hard floor." Wylarin stated, folding her arms over her chest. Since she came from a large family, Mirri simply shrugged and sat down on one side, "Alright, if you're certain." The shorter woman nodded her head, sitting down on the ground to prove her point. 'This is going to be a long night' Bastian thought, though he followed Mirri's lead and sat down on the other side and began undoing his boots so he could get out of his robes and into his pajamas.
-_-_-_-_-
The moons were both high in the sky as Mirri rolled over to face her bed-mate, " Psst, are you awake?" She whispered, glancing over at the foot of the bed where Wylarin was to ensure she didn't wake the other. A muffled grunt was her answer before the redheaded man rolled over to face her, his blue eyes bleary but awake. The Dunmer smiled sheepishly before sighing, "I'm still thinking about Wy's reaction earlier today… Something about family her home upset her and my concern is keeping me up." Bastian nodded and ran a hand through his hair, "I understand, I only had just drifted off before you said something. I kept thinking about every possible solution as to what's wrong…"
"Aw… now I feel like a Fetcher."
"Nono, it's fine. I tend to keep myself up usually anyways. But how are we going to get any information from her when she shuts us out?"
"Well, for starters you could respect her boundaries and not wake her up in the middle of the night with your conspiracies." Wylarin's sudden voice made both startle in surprise before mumbling their apologies. They heard the spare blanket Wylarin had rustle as she sat up, just barely making out the shape of her head in the darkness of the room.
"We're really sorry Wy-" Mirri began, but was cut off by Wylarin sighing before she said, "It's fine, I understand you're both worried about me, and I'm thankful for that. It's just…" Another sigh, but this one wavered a bit, "I'm not sure what to say without you both getting more worried, plus I haven't really put much time into thinking about it so it's still touchy for me." Her voice cracked a bit and they could hear a sniffle come from her direction but they didn't dare interrupt her now that she was opening up.
"When I first woke up in ColdHarbor I had no memories, I didn't know who I was, where i was, or where i had come from… once i escaped i got a few back, mainly about myself like my birthday, my age, race, that kinda stuff. But memories about my family and home haven't really come back, they're just blurred fragments I sometimes see in my dreams." They once again heard a sniffle, but this one was followed by a small sob, "I don't even know if they're alive or if my home town is even around anymore. I mean, who knows how long I was gone before I escaped? What if my family is alive but they don't remember me?" Wylarin had to swallow some tears through her rambling, "W-What if it's like you two kept thinking and my family doesn't love me? What if they hurt me before and that's why I ended up where i did? Would they even care i'm stil alive?" She asked with a whimper, clearly crying by now if the sobs were anything to go by.
Both Mirri and Bastian were quick to sit up, wearing matching heartbroken looks from what their friend told them. "Oh Wylarin… I'm so sorry to hear that." Mirri murmured,her eyes shining with sympathy.
"...C-Can I join you both for a bit? I don't Want to feel alone anymore." She asked, her voice small and vulnerable for the first time that either of them could recall. Both made quick work in scooting over so there was room between them for their upset companion. "Of course, you don't even need to ask." Bastian replied, already working on lighting the candle on his night stand so they could all see each other. Wylarin was quick to climb onto the bed and clamber her way between them, her eyes damp with tear tracks still obvious on her cheeks. Mirri helped her get under the covers and tentatively wrapped an arm around the smaller woman, not sure what her boundaries were at the moment. Her worries were quickly dashed away when the Bosmer pressed up against her and tried to stifle another sob. Bastian rolled back over and wrapped an arm around the upset woman as well, any previous embarrassment from sharing a bed having disappeared the moment Wylarin started crying.
They remained that way until Wylarin eventually calmed down, her breathing smoother and her eyes only half open. She was very tired from all her crying and it was obvious to her friends. Bastian gently kissed her shoulder, "Go ahead and sleep, you must be exhausted by now. We'll still be here in the morning." He murmured gently. Mirri kissed her forehead and ran a gentle hand through her hair while nodding, "Basti's right, we'll be here for you when you wake up okay?" They got a small nod from the redhead between them before she fell asleep, fully relaxed in their safe embrace.
When they all finally woke up, they were still embracing one another, their legs tangled together and while a day before they would of all scrambled away in embarrassment, they simply smiled at the others before reluctantly pulling away to get dressed for the day.
And if their eyes lingered on each other or if they stayed closer to each other, none of them cared to point it out or question it.