The Saga of Laprima Donnaugh Options

[Renee]

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Clavicus Vile

When the dream began, she found herself lying in a cart, lying in hay, lying still, half-hiding from the others. Part of her wanted to be out there with them, while another part felt quietly content to stay right there. Right in that haypile. Staying still, and keeping quiet. It's this latter, secondary part which attained.

The scene was heavily pastoral. Lots of trees, green with foliage. Sunlight and blue skies. A few puffy clouds, a perfect sort of day. The sounds of others around her. The cart she was in had been drawn off to the side, placed in shadow. The horse which had brought it here must have been tethered somewhere else. As she lay in the cart, she began to feel rather lonely. Sad, and lonely, despite the others cavorting nearby.

They were there for her. All of them, gaily awaiting her presence. Dressed in finery. The women wearing whites, pinks, and light blues. Maids and maidens. The men, dressed more somberly, but the sounds from their revelries were no less delighted and cheerful.

Where is she? Where is Laprima?

Someone was calling. A man, sounding a bit tipsy with wine, perhaps. Yet his voice contained an edge of concern. And then, the voice of one of the ladies...

We should go find her! She's probably near! She's going to miss out!

She sank lower, hiding within hay. She could hear them coming, getting nearer, occasionally calling out to her. She cowered. Not with fear, but with some sort of distress. Lonely she was, and part of her did want to join the others.

She scrunched within the hay as footsteps approached and circled the cart. She held her breath. Eventually, the footsteps moved on. Small relief; she exhaled. They hadn't discovered her. So she took a chance. Got situated upon her arms, and raised her head about a foot, attempting to peer over the cart's side. As she did so, she noticed there was a knot in its wooden planking. For no reason at all (other than, this is a dream, and in dreams we sometimes do strange things) she pushed upon this knot, and the knot fell out, leaving a hole. She squinted her left eye, viewing outside of the cart, only to see vague shapes of the departing couple, heading off into a cabin. Still calling out, still calling her name.

...And that's when she noticed the man with the dog.
...He stood off to the side of the meadow, nearer to the woods.
...He stood in shadow. He wore a jerkin of white and black. He beckoned to her.

You there! I can see you, he said quietly. Despite using a soft tone, she could hear his voice clearly, in the surreal way which dreams can magnify. I can see you, and I mean no harm. Why do not you approach me?

She felt a stab of fear. How can he view me, hiding within this cart? But then, she relaxed. For the man was merely a boy. A boy she recognized from her youth. And this boy was her brother.

Laprima! he called. Come hither, posthaste!

And so she did.

She rose from the cart, took a moment to brush stray strands of hay from her clothings, and then ran swiftly toward her brother, skirts ruffling below. She noticed that the dog which had been there a moment ago had vacated, or vanished. She looked to her brother as she drew nearer. And her brother smiled up at her in his typically mischievous way. A smile she hadn't seen since they were, in fact, both children. Her previous feelings of loneliness were gone.

You should depart! her brother said to her, dancing around her with gaited elan. Head on! Depart hence toward Solitude! And do as they say! ... These folks you see in their fabled costumes, all of them here, are of nothing to you! ... To us! .. They mean nothing! ... A wretched lot! ... So onwards must you go! ... Your man, he awaits your presence! And you shall be in high company! Just dandy! Just peachy!

She felt elation at his words. Her brother, right there before her. 'Whatever is to come, would be fine,' he was telling her, seemingly tapping within her thoughts, her hopes, her fears.

Elija, she said to him.

Yes, sister!

She was weeping by now.

Her hands raised to embrace him. But just then, a flash of emotion overcame her. A mixture of revolting sickness, and sweet delight. She recoiled, stumbled backwards in disgust...

Laprima Donnaugh awoke, bolt upright, her eyes teary. Her bed quarters around her, her 8 year-old feline dozing by her side. She'd just had a dream. Her thoughts were racing, so she consciously made an effort to remember all she could. ... Her brother .... A cart ... Some people walking by in gay costume ... A dog by the side of the forest ... Slowly, she pieced it all together. After a minute or so, she sat up in bed, inked her quill and began to scribble words quickly in her journal.

After she had recalled all she could, she realized she was in agreement with her brother. She would head to Solitude.

This post has been edited by Renee: Jan 24 2022, 02:42 PM

[Renee]

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"Laprima," Elisif blinked rapidly several times. "Laprima!" She rose from her throne. "My grandest apologies to you dear! It has... well it has been so long!"

"Yes it has," Elisif's niece agreed, grinning softly.

"I do apologize!” The queen’s voice was lilting now. “It has been years since you and I have laid eyes. And we have been so formally busy with inquests today!"

"It is fine! Really, aunt Elisif."

But the queen persisted. “By gracious. Last time I saw you, you were but a child! I cannot say this without embarrassment, I admit fully before the court, I did not recognize you. Do you forgive me?”

"You have no need for apologies," Laprima answered as her smile began to fade.





As they spoke, their voices reverberated between dozens of strategically-placed surfaces; the floor, the ceiling, between multiple walls, planes, jambs, and crevices. Because any good court where aristocratic topics were discussed would not be as good without a series of variegated echoes.

Laprima had come to Skyrim wearing a frock of embroidered golden furs, with a hat to match, anticipating cold air. But it wasn't so cold here, not in Solitude anyway. So she removed the hat, revealing a mass of dark hair. Laprima’s hair dropped and drooped, finally settling into a mixture of iron-straight, and curvy curls.

"How is this? You can see me now?"

"Oh, do come here!" But Elisif did not wait. She abandoned her throne. Rushed over to embrace her niece. "How was your journey? Were the seas rough?"

"It was a little rough,” Laprima's little grin returned. “The journey was lovely, in its own sort of way. I did not think I could ever become any sort of seafarer. Yet here I am."

By now she was feeling more comfortable, all she’d needed was to actually converse with her aunt. As moments passed, her level of confidence rose a little. What had I been so worried about? Everything was going to be fine.

The palace’s music swirled. Elisif lowered her voice, so that the others might not hear. "But you came upon a … freighter?"

"Well, yes."

Aunt Elisif held Laprima at arm's length for a moment, before finally letting her go. "I don't understand. Well, we don't understand."

But before Elisif's niece could explain, the court’s wizard spoke. “Not that it is any of our concern, but we were thinking perhaps you had taken that ship so as not to cause a fuss upon your arrival." Sybille said, her voice a tad raspy. "As you are of a noble’s status, you might not have wanted the usual panoply a woman of your … elevated status might elicit?”

Laprima’s face twitched a little. Her eyes focused. That wizard, she thought. Something about her. But she was distracted. Could not draw whatever conclusion she seemed to be headed toward. “Well…yes,” she answered slowly, “I was just wanting to travel as a citizen. To just be one of the crew, I suppose. As you say, I did not wish to cause a fuss. I am a noble's daughter, yes, but this does not mean I must always live so grandly.”

Laprima and Sybille stared at each other for a few moments. Laprima trying to deduce, and Sybille already knowing. A series of gentle lutes played softly in the background, as the two ladies' eyes locked.

Elisif broke the silence. “Come on now!” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “Laprima! Let me show you to your quarters. Follow me, please!”

“Yes of course.”

“Falk, Sybille, Bolgier, you may go.”

At once they dispersed. Falk, the red-bearded Nord man with the thick accent, Sybille the court wizard, and a man Elisif had not addressed until now stalked off, to whatever else they had planned for the rest of the day.

Laprima Donnaugh followed her aunt. They exited the court from its right side, made a sharp turn, walked across a portion of a hallway, and into an open room somewhat to the left. “This room is…Sybille’s,” Elisif explained.

“Really lovely architecture,” the niece commented.

“You'll be quartered next to Sybille, but do not let this bother you dear. Sybille can be difficult sometimes, but, ah. Here we go.”

Before the queen was a door made of oak, with a knob and fastenings of heavy iron. “This door is locked,” she explained. ”But here,” she said, handing her relative a key. “Take this, please. And let's have a look inside!"

“Thank you.”

She twisted the key, which unlocked the door. The two stepped inside Laprima’s new room, which was similar in decor to Sybille’s. Main difference was, Sybille the wizard did not have her own door.

"This place is yours for as long as you, and Chamany, would like to stay.”

"Oh, well thank you. This is lovely."

Once they were inside, first thing she noticed was her room did not have any magical music playing from somewhere unseen. Not that this would be a problem; Laprima was silently glad.

Aunt Elisif closed the door softly behind them, then turned to her niece. Now that both of them were inside, something about the queen had altered. Laprima noticed this immediately. Elisif's face went from sunny and cheerful, to wry and serious.

“So Laprima dear. Let us get some things straight right away.”

“Hmm? What? What is it, aunt Elisif?” she asked innocently.

But Laprima Anne Donnaugh already knew the answer to that.

Elisif chuckled a bit. “Listen to this. You sound just as when I last saw you in White Gold Tower.” The aunt smiled, shaking her head a little. “A mere child, hiding off into the crypts.”

Laprima said nothing. There was nothing to say. Because my goodness, Aunt Elisif already knew.

“We are not playing children's games here, Laprima,” the queen continued, walking a neat circle around her niece, her face pinched. "As you may have surmised by now, I know all about your actions down in Cyrodiil. I know about the thefts, I know about ruckus, and the lies, do NOT think you’ll be given a soft ride now that you’re out of Cyrodiil, do you understand?”

Elisif the Fair stopped her discourse. Gathered herself. Her face softened. “Well, goodness. I just rose my voice at you. I am so sorry dear, for that little outburst.”

“No, it is alright,” Laprima muttered, her shoulders sagging. “Listen,” she spoke softly, choosing her words carefully. “I – I have done some things I am not proud of. I made some mistakes. I fully admit this. And, I was hoping you might not have heard these things, way up here in Skyrim. But you have, you have heard them," she said sadly. "News travels far, apparently." With these words spoken aloud, Laprima nodded. "But I am here now. I am here, in Solitude. And I am prepared to make things right,” she said quietly, her eyes beginning to water.

“Oh Laprima, don’t do that. No, don’t do that!” The queen handed her niece a scarf. "I did not wish to make you upset."

“No, it is alright. I am glad to be here in your company. And glad to know you have accepted me, despite my past.” She wiped her face with the scarf, righting her shoulders. “I shall try my best to cause amends, I promise. I am just lucky to be given a second chance.”

“That’s uplifting to hear," her aunt answered. "When a girl is obedient and sweet, the world cannot help but love her. Now, would you like me to give you a little tour of Solitude?" she smiled. "Just the two of us?”

“Yes. Sure, let us go,” Laprima answered.

"Then let us commence."

Elisif turned to the door, began walking toward it, but then stopped. “Just one more thing.”

“One more thing? Yes, what is it?”

“Your face, uhm, your maquillage,” the queen answered. “So dour, and so pale. Stark black mascaras against a pale white foundation.”

“My face is dour and pale?”

“It’s just that, well, you are about to embark into marriage with Chamany, wherever he may be. You are about to be wed, within a matter of weeks.” Elisif placed a hand upon her niece’s wrist, standing close. “And perhaps it might suit you better to present your man with a … uhm, a freshened appearance."

“A freshened appearance." Laprima's replied, a mixture of emotion upon her face. "And what have you in mind?"

“Oh it’s just a suggestion, dear. We’ve had a problem lately with vampires in Skyrim, sad to say. There’s word these monsters are spreading into our outlying villages, and even walled towns such as Whiterun. The menace will be dealt with, should they ever appear in Solitude. This I can assure. This I can promise.”

Laprima Anne Donnaugh said nothing. My aunt says I look like a vampire, thought she. She tried not to let her shoulders slump again.

“Ach, do not fret. We have a fantastic and lovely facial artist here in town. We have wardrobe shops! We have anything a lady of our status could ever want," Elisif the Fair was back to being sunny, smiling, and radiant. "Come with me. Let’s go on the town.”

The pair walked back the way they had come, their footfalls reverberating softly. Because any good court where delicate footfalls were to be heard would not be as good without a series of variegated echoes. As they left the Blue Palace, Elisif chattering on about wardrobes and weddings and 'maquillages', Laprima began to realize something about her aunt. She was serious about this.

~~~~~~~~~~

At that very moment and several miles down the road, Chamany LaCroix, Laprima’s husband-to-be, was riding slowly away from the village of Dragon Bridge, on a young and sturdy mare. He hoped to make it to Solitude by nightfall.
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