#;Eira/Niruin

[silvanils]

A Reason to Stay

A prompt fill from @blossom-adventures​​ over at @nirnwrote​​!

I had so much fun with this one! For story-context, this would be after Eira becomes Thane of the Rift but before her ill-fated mission with Mercer... So Niruin’s smitten, but has not quite realized he’s in love just yet!

Rating: T+ (language, mature themes, off-screen sex - no explicit smut!)

Word Count: ~850

You can also read it on Ao3 here!

“Look at all this space, Niruin!” Eira says, gesturing around the kitchen. “There’s room down below for me to put up some displays of my favorite, uh… acquisitions. What do you think?”

Niruin’s not sure why she’s asking, or even why she invited him over for dinner when they’re just friends with a few extra side-benefits, right? They’ve always kept their meet-ups fairly brief.

But she’s staring up at him, now, with her too-pretty eyes — and damn it all, she always leaves him feeling foolish and tongue-tied. He’s been staring too long. “It’s a beautiful house, Eira. Much nicer than my tiny apartment, anyway.”

She flashes one of her knowing grins at him, then, and reaches out to tug him closer by the lapels of his coat. “Just wait until you see the bedroom,” she teases. “And the heated bath! It’s absolutely decadent.”

.

“Perhaps we should have eaten out,” Niruin sighs, later, poking at his half-burnt dish. “Not that I doubt your cooking abilities, of course, but…”

“I blame you,” she huffs, her cheeks all dark and ruddy. “This recipe is supposed to be foolproof, but you showed up in those snazzy clothes and distracted me!!”

Niruin can’t help but laugh at how stupidly adorable she looks when she’s embarrassed. No one’s perfect, I guess. “Oh? Well, I had to look my best! You live in the nice part of town, now! I can’t strut down these streets looking like a… a… you know!”

“...A thief and scoundrel?” Eira offers, raising an eyebrow. “That’s fair. Honestly, I’m surprised you clean up so well — where did you find that coat?”

Niruin tugs on the end of his sleeve. It’s one of his nicer possessions, a wine-red coat lined with fur. He hasn’t worn it in years. “Valenwood,” he finally says. “It was a gift, and… one of the few things I kept from my old life.”

It feels like a lifetime ago, now: his father’s verdict, all the frantic farewells, the hasty packing… and his older sister showing up, teary-eyed, this coat folded up in her arms. ‘Don’t forget this, you dumbass. It gets cold where you’re going.’ 

He’d only found the note she had tucked in the pocket much later: instructions on how he could get in touch with her if he ever needed anything. But he’d been to stubborn, too proud, to reach out. And when he had to buy an even warmer coat for the thick of winter, this one had gotten shoved into the bottom of a chest where it had stayed until… recently.

“It really suits you,” Eira says, snapping Niruin back to the present. “You should wear it more often.”

“Well,” Niruin says, coughing and flushing as he sits up a little straighter. What man wouldn’t preen a little when someone looks at him like that? “Perhaps, if I were to go out more…”

“That could be arranged,” Eira teases, standing up so she can move closer. “But tonight, I’d rather you stay in.”

.

Niruin is used to brief, quick affairs that end before the night does, usually with him picking his things up and slinking out a window feeling only a slightly better than before. He’s not used to staying until morning, or waking up to a sight as lovely as this.

Eira is still fast asleep, surrounded by her collection of soft, down-filled pillows. At some point during their coupling, his fingers had tugged her hair free of it’s binds — leaving it all mussed up, now, fluffed out around her face and curling up around her neck and shoulders. 

Niruin can’t help but grin as he hears her soft, barely-noticeable snores, watches the slow rise-and-fall of her bare chest. No one’s perfect, he thinks, but she comes pretty damn close.

He slips out of bed carefully and tugs on a robe before heading upstairs again. “Foolproof, huh?” He sighs, flipping through the recipe book on her counter. “Well, we’ll see about that.”

Soon enough, the whole house smells of warm cinnamon and baked apples, and Niruin grins when he sees Eira pad up the stairs just as he pulls the tray out of the oven. She’s only wearing a thin shirt, her hair still a fluffed-up mess… and she’s pouting.

“Still trying to one-up me, aren’t you?” She mumbles, grabbing one of the fritters and shoving it in her mouth before Niruin has time to warn her not to. “Ow! Fuck, that’s hot — !”

“Yeah, no shit! It just finished baking!” He huffs, setting the tray down. But his curiosity wins out as she keeps chewing, her cheeks growing flushed. “Well? What do you think?”

She glares at him. “They’re good,” she concedes. “Much nicer than mine, anyway. Oh, and we should get  some wine-colored curtains.”

.

Somehow, impossibly, they spend the morning together as well. And when they head out to have lunch together in the market, the falling leaves make Niruin think of autumns at home but… for the first time in ages, it’s not a feeling that leaves him sick with longing. Just a warm, cozy sense of nostalgia.

Maybe our luck is changing, he thinks, his eyes lingering on Eira’s snow-bright hair. One thing is sure, though. You’ve given me a reason to stay.

[knightdawn]

Since I’ve been trying to distract myself from stuff with Skyrim again, have some random headcanons about my Dragonborn:

Eira has thanedom in all nine holds.  She didn’t really aim for this, it just sort of kept happening since she helps so many people.

She’s also Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild - but she keeps these two things pretty separate.  Most people are aware she’s “with the Guild” but few know she holds such a prestigious position in it.

She’s not too concerned about people in the Guild learning about her life outside of the Guild - unlike the Guildmaster before her, she’s not taking more than her fair share of Guild wealth.

In fact, she’s been funneling money INTO the Guild pretty often.  She likes seeing the storeroom filled with gold and artifacts, as it should be.

Brynjolf, Karliah, and Niruin like to tease Eira about having a hoarde.

(She doesn’t correct them; they’re not wrong.)

Eira’s very good at filing away information to mark down later, but she also keeps a journal on her at all times and has a space in each of her homes and hide-outs dedicated to keeping track of everything.

[silvanils]

A charming newcomer in Riften hopes to shake things up and earn some coin, but shadows loom on the horizon. Assassins, bears, civil war, dragons… Eira has an ace or two up her sleeve, but is she a match for Maven Black-Briar, whose honeyed words drip with poison? (A Thieves Guild centric story that also deals with the Dragon Crisis, the Thalmor, and Skyrim’s politics.)

Main Pairing(s): Female Dragonborn/Niruin Rating: M

IN THIS CHAPTER

Eira joins the Guild, but her welcome isn’t as warm as she’d hoped. Brynjolf promises things will get better if she keeps up the good work, but most of her fellow thieves seem less certain of that. What’s more, while she’s still finding her bearings in Riften, Eira keeps stumbling into troublesome situations...

[silvanils]

“Where’s Eira, Mercer?” “She’s dead. Karliah killed her, just like she killed Gallus.”

The Flagon was pretty glum, that night, after Mercer left to take care of other business. Her absence was keenly felt by everyone, but.. the weight of loss was heaviest for a few of the guild’s regulars. Brynjolf couldn’t quite make himself believe she was really gone, while old Delvin couldn’t hold in his tears after he’d taken a shot in her honor. 

“She was one of the damn best thieves I’ve ever known.”

Niruin only sipped his drink before setting the cup down. He knew no amount of alcohol would dull the sharp ache he was feeling, and he didn’t even want to try.

“We won’t see one like her again.”

A small scene that will find its way into “When Shadows Wake” eventually. I have a lot of feelings about how losing Eira for a few weeks actually made everyone realize how much they needed her around.

[silvanils]

For the fanfic trope game: enemies to lovers? :3

put a fanfic trope in my inbox and I will tell you:

how likely I am to write it

The similar trope “rivals to lovers” is probably one of my all-time favorite dynamics. Enemies to lovers is a bit more... complicated? So I don’t write it as often (but I do also love it!)

what character(s) or pairing I’d most likely write it for

Solas x Varlas - they’ve actually got a LOT of history, but their Inquisition-era dynamic is essentially “enemies AND lovers” as Varlas tries desperately to get Solas to see things his way...

Other ships I write that have elements of this:

Fenris x Mari Hawke - I wouldn’t call them “enemies” or even full-on “rivals” but they DO butt heads a lot about issues that matter deeply to both of them since my Hawke is a mage.

Eira x Niruin - more of a “rivals to lovers” ship. Niruin thinks she’s full of hot air and absolutely cannot stand her at first!

[silvanils]

A charming newcomer in Riften hopes to shake things up and earn some coin, but shadows loom on the horizon. Assassins, bears, civil war, dragons... Eira has an ace or two up her sleeve, but is she a match for Maven Black-Briar, whose honeyed words drip with poison? (A Thieves Guild centric story that also deals with the Dragon Crisis, the Thalmor, and Skyrim's politics.)

Main Pairing(s): Female Dragonborn/Niruin Rating: M

IN THIS CHAPTER

Eira arrives in Riften, where she hopes to find a way into the Thieves Guild. When she meets Brynjolf in the market, he promises he can get her in if she helps him out a little... but Eira quickly learns the Guild doesn’t work the same way here as it does in Cyrodiil, and that seems to be quite a problem.

[silvanils]

4, 8, and 11 for Eira???

ELDER SCROLLS HEADCANONS

4. What’s their biggest pet peeve?

It really bothers her when other people take credit for things they didn’t do, or try to act like they’re more important than they are. See also: Maven Black-Briar. Eira really dislikes Maven’s attitude. And Maven in general, actually. (Maven kind of IS her biggest pet peeve...)

8. What do they act like when they’re sick?

Eira is not patient enough to deal with being ill. She’ll push herself and keep working like normal when it’s not something too serious, like a cold. When she’s ill enough to need bedrest, though, she complains a LOT... but appreciates having a caretaker who is willing to make sure she has everything she needs, like water, soup, and medicine.

11. What is their idea of a perfect date?

She really loves spending some quality time with her date, talking while they take a walk through some scenic location --- the woods, a lakeshore, some docks, rooftops, etc. This is followed up by eating and/or having drinks together, and then turning in to have a bit more fun before they actually get some rest. A truly perfect date would also include a bath, preferably shared with her lover --- she loves the intimacy of just cleaning up and getting ready together.

[silvanils]

Okay I have another question for Eira and Aril: What do you think about one another's significant other?

ask my characters anything

Aril: “Niruin’s alright. He’s handsome, witty... a bit lofty, sometimes, but Eira doesn’t mind that sort of thing. He’s obviously sweet on her, and she’s sweet on him --- that’s the part that matters. I wouldn’t mind having him around.”

Eira: “Oh, Farkas is adorable. Not the sort of man I would have expected Aril to go for, but... seeing them together, I can’t imagine anything else would be better for my brother. I bet he gives the most wonderful hugs.”

[silvanils]

So I was reminded about bi visibility day just in time to do a little something for the occasion with one of my own favorite pairs of bisexual rogues who LIVE by the motto: “Be Bi, Do Crimes!” (aka Eira and Niruin)

💖💜💙

As a biromantic ace myself, I wanted to share the love in some way~

[silvanils]

Title: I’ve got everything I want

Relationships: Niruin/Female Dragonborn

Rating: M

Summary: The Flagon was always busy, now, with new faces turning up all the time. The regulars didn’t mingle much, but that wasn’t exactly unusual. They’d been a close group even under Mercer’s leadership, but Eira had brought to them a sense of camaraderie that had transformed them into a true, tight-knit brotherhood. 

Niruin had never believed a single person could make that much of a difference, but Eira was one hell of a person.

Fulfilling a prompt sent by Alexis from the @nirnwrote​​​ discord: Eira (optional Niruin): "I've got everything I want."

[silvanils]

For Aril/Farkas and Eira/Niruin:

Did either of them try to resist their feelings

How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?

Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

How do they celebrate holidays?

ship questions

Aril/Farkas:

Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

Nope! It did take Farkas a little while to realize he was crushing on Aril, though... and it also took him a little while to say anything. Aril figured it out right away and was just amused by his lover’s antics and shyness. He wanted to see how long it would take Farkas to get around to actually confessing, so he kept quiet about his feelings... but yeah, neither of them resisted the process. LOL.

How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?

ALL THE TIME. Neither of them is shy about physical contact, but they (usually) keep it somewhat tame in public spaces. In private, they’re also always touching each other and they both love hugs and spooning.

Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

It’s the first serious relationship for both of them. Aril is also the first man Farkas has been sexually intimate with, so he gets the firsts that come with that --- but Aril had experience before Farkas (which is probably a good thing.) Farkas is, however, the first person to propose to Aril.

How do they celebrate holidays?

Depends on the holiday, but there’s usually some sparring, drinking, and merry-making. Aril also likes to play some music, which Farkas joins in with (usually slightly off-key) and they both use holidays as excuses to give each other gifts and special treatment. 

Heart’s Day is a big one, though, since it’s both the holiday for lovers AND the eve of Aril’s birthday. Farkas likes to make sure they stay up until midnight so he can wish Aril another happy year and give him lots of kisses. ;D

Eira/Niruin:

Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

They BOTH did to some degree, but for different reasons. Niruin’s feelings about romance are complicated and he tends to avoid his problems instead of facing them. He’s not fond of the idea of being “stuck” in a relationship, either, which was one of the reasons Eira’s nonchalant attitude about physical intimacy was appealing to begin with. 

Then he caught feelings and started to worry that she wouldn’t want to be with him anymore if she found out, since it changed the nature of their relationship (which was supposed to be a “no strings attached” sort of thing. Oops?)

On Eira’s side, she was caught up in so many other things herself that she didn’t really notice the hints that he was having these problems. She had to lay low to avoid the Thalmor for a while, which was the catalyst for her realizing she was also in love with Niruin. (And, sadly, a thing that kept them apart for a while...)

After THAT ordeal, though, they both had a heart-to-heart that made them both feel a LOT better about their future. ^-^

How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?

They engage in a lot of flirty banter and some light PDA around others and cuddle a LOT in private, especially when it’s cold.

Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

It’s the first time Eira’s been romantically interested in someone, though that takes a while to develop. It’s also the first time Niruin’s been willing to seriously commit to a relationship and been HAPPY to say “I’m yours.” (Bonus: Eira’s not the first person he’s been engaged to, but she IS the first person he actually ties the knot with.)

How do they celebrate holidays?

Holidays are VERY busy days for members of the Guild, so they usually spend a good part of the day doing “work.” Eira also likes to check up on the poor and make sure their affairs are sorted... and then they end the night with drinking, having fun, and love-making.

Once they settle into a serious relationship, she starts to take the few days around Heart’s Day off (since the day after is ALSO her birthday) and they often travel to Riverwood for some rest and relaxation away from the bustle of the city.

[silvanils]

the sound of her heart

In the quiet hour before dawn, Niruin lay awake, listening as the city began to wake up outside. The house Eira owned was tucked perfectly between the market and the lake, the hushed voices and lapping waves. 

They were tucked perfectly together, too, his head resting against her back while his arm held her close against him. The ends of her hair tickled his nose, but he couldn’t move, couldn’t make himself pull away from her.

He felt her warmth, her softness, the gentle beating of her pulse. Heard it, too — the quiet thumping, slow and steady. And suddenly, it was the only sound he could focus on, the rest of the world falling away around them.

“She’s dead. Karliah killed her, just like she killed Gallus.”

Niruin shifted against her, warding off the chill that threatened to creep in. She was here, now, safe in his arms — that was all that mattered. 

She was alive. 

He heard the shift in her pulse as she stirred before her head shifted against the pillow, and then she hummed softly and cupped her hand around his. He felt a spark of warmth deep in his chest, the tender gesture somehow far more intimate than any of the things they’d done in the middle of the night.

“Good morning,” she whispered. “Sleep well?”

He kissed her shoulder, smiling at how her heart skipped and fluttered. He’d missed this. Missed her. “Best rest I’ve gotten in weeks.”

From this list of intimacy prompts, as requested by Alexis of @nirnwrote​!

Niruin x Eira: listening to someone’s heartbeat

[silvanils]

I wanted these three arts all in one place, so here it is! I need to do more with these guys, I love them all... 

[silvanils]

I wanted to post this as it’s own art, too, instead of just an answer to an ask! Eira was the very first character I created for the Elder Scrolls universe and she’s come a long way over the past 4-ish years I’ve been working on her story. But she’s always been a rascal and a thief and her main love interest has always been Niruin, the archery trainer from the Thieves Guild.

Eira’s something of a Robin Hood type, stealing from the rich to give to those in need, but she also puts her charisma and connections to use in a political way - she has no intention of becoming a ruler in any obvious way, but she’s not against pulling strings to make things turn out in a way that benefits her family.

[silvanils]

six sentence sunday

A little progress was made on this Skyrim fic featuring the best archer from the Thieves Guild:

The Blue Palace wasn’t Niruin’s destination, but his eyes were drawn there nonetheless — especially when he noticed a small figure creeping out of one of the windows there, gracefully darting from sill to sill before leaping onto the parapets of the same wall he was hiding out on.

He’d recognize that fearless grace anywhere, and he couldn’t stop himself from smiling as she made her way towards him. “Niruin?” Eira asked, once she was close enough to whisper and be heard. “Why are you here?”

“I could ask you the same question. In fact, I should! Aren’t you trying to avoid the Thalmor?”

I’m tagging: @kita-lavellan, @mrstethras, @this-basic-mage, @anavakarian, @fenharelz, @curiousartemis, and anyone else that wants to do the thing <3

[silvanils]

Eira and Niruin, 3B~!

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