Season Unending, The Children of Kyne, Vol. III Options

[Kane]

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Content warning: this story should be considered 18+. Sexual content is present, but never described, and I don't shy away from foul language (though it seems to be censored). There is also darker content further in regarding sexual assault.

Prologue
It could be said that Skyrim was a cold, harsh land, unforgiving to outsiders and barely tolerant of anyone but a true Nord. Fortunately, those times have passed, and the sun shines brightly upon a healing landscape. The scars of civil war and dragon crises fading to memory as a new High King and his court sought to pull the land up from the depths of a crumbling Empire. An Empire in name only, its once powerful alliance spanning the entirety of Tamriel, now relegated to Cyrodiil (or the Heartland, as the Nibenese and Colovian nobles preferred to call it), High Rock, and, of course, Skyrim.

But now Skyrim stood to rise above the rest, and usher in a new era for a floundering society that still scurried from the inevitable boot of the Aldmeri Dominion. Hope began to inflame the hearts of men, for the Dragonborn King was rumored to be setting his sights upon the Ruby Throne, and the weak Mede Dynasty that occupied it. From his palace in Solitude, forces were directed and diplomats dispatched as the pawns of war moved slowly but surely. The Dominion was forced out of Skyrim with an ultimatum, and the land was finally back under the full rule of the Nords, as it ought to be.

The year is Two Hundred Twenty-nine of the Fourth Era, and the gears of war have started to turn, as the land braces itself for the Second Great War that was always to come. It was also the year that a mid-level member of the Anvil chapter of the Fighter’s Guild was loaned to the storied Companions of Jorrvaskr, in the city of Whiterun. This talented young warrior of Redguard descent suddenly found himself sailing to a strange land and leaving behind the only home he ever knew. Little remained for him in Anvil after the passing of his mother, so he looked forward to a new chapter of his life, far from the painful memories of home.

The first mate, a stout Imperial named Janius, approached the young Redguard with a roll of parchment and a quill. “Name?”

“Cain. No surname.”

“No surname?” inquired the First Mate. “How can that be, young man? I have it here that you were born and raised in Anvil, and joined the Fighter’s Guild when you came of age. Your mother is listed as Ariessa Janeel, also of Anvil. Do you not share her name?”

“In the absence of my father, she did not bestow it upon me.”

“Bastard then, eh? Unfortunate, but I see it all the time. What is your business in Skyrim?”

“On loan to The Companions. For what reason I do not yet know, but I will follow my orders from the guild and my future employers.”

“An honorable attitude for a young warrior, mister Cain. It’s a long voyage to the port of Solitude, so all we ask is that you remain civil and pitch in a helping hand when required.”

Cain nodded and the first mate moved on to speak with a different passenger. It was indeed a long voyage, filled with many sleepless nights while the ship bobbed and rocked on the choppy waters of the sea. The occasional storm would blow in and everyone from the captain to the lowest deckhands were grim-faced and determined as they struggled to keep the passengers safe from the onslaught of high waves and powerful winds. Nearly a full month passed before they sailed beneath the great arch of Solitude and nestled the ship into the port. All hands helped to moor the ship before the passengers eagerly disembarked in a new land.

A tall Dunmer man of middle years stood in wait on the pier, clad in worn hide armors with a longsword slung across his back. Years of experience lined his weathered face, eyes deep set and wary as he scanned the faces off all those who set foot off of the ship. When Cain approached the man, he flagged the Redguard down and directed him off to the side.

“You must be Cain,” he said. “Fresh from Anvil, yes? My name is Athis and I’ve been sent by our Harbinger to retrieve you. The Companions welcome your aid, but we have a long journey to Whiterun yet. Ordinarily I would accompany you south on foot, but we are already short-handed and will be taking a carriage.”

“Nice to meet you, Athis. Lead the way �" this is a strange land for me and I defer to your judgement.”

They shook hands and departed the port at a quick trot. A carriage sat in wait along the road to the capital city, and soon after Athis handed the driver a bag of Septims, the were trundling along the road to Dragon Bridge, headed for the southern road to Whiterun Hold and Jorrvaskr �" the legendary mead hall of The Companions. Despite being in an unfamiliar land, Cain found himself excited at the prospect of these new horizons and the change of pace from the last few months of misery that followed the death of his mother. He bowed his in prayer for her before striking up a conversation with Athis.

“So, what’s it like being in The Companions?” he asked. “Are things much different from the Fighter’s Guild?”

“Oh yes, quite different. Every man or woman in The Companions is their own. We have no leaders, just a Harbinger who is wise in counsel and offers a guiding hand. There are no ranks to elevate to and no coveted positions to fight for. We take the jobs we must and your shield-siblings will be ready to stand with you. Honor is valued above all else.”

“Interesting. I must admit, the lack of politics seems hard to believe. Everything is so much about rank and station in the guild that often times our true purpose is forgotten when the infighting picks up. Jobs go unanswered in the chaos and brawls turn deadly over simple differences of opinion. I might end up staying here for a long time if life is to be more peaceful in that regard.”

Athis chuckled. “While we do strive to rise above such petty squabbles, you’ll soon find that Jorrvaskr is anything but peaceful. However, our brawls usually end with hearty pats on the back and consuming copious amounts of mead, rather than misery and death!”

“Sounds like a dream come true, Athis.”

“That’s a very Nordic attitude, young one. Are you sure you’re a Redguard?”

“The color of my skin betrays that,” laughed Cain. “But who knows, maybe my father was a Nord, whoever he may be.”

The Dunmer smiled and their conversation moved onto other topics. Athis went over the finer points of The Companions with him and eventually moved onto the current political climate and powers that be in Skyrim. Cain listened with rapt attention, absorbing all the he could to avoid any run-ins with local laws and to avoid misunderstandings, no matter how small they could be. Just as the sun began to set, the carriage pulled into a small village and ground to a halt. Orthar, the driver, dismounted and told them they would continue on in the morning. Cain and Athis hopped down from the wagon and followed him into the local tavern, the Frostfruit Inn.

“This is the village of Rorikstead,” said Athis. “A fine place to spend the night. Grab us some mead and I’ll see about getting a meal. No sense in sleeping on an empty stomach.”

He left the inn as Cain was ordering a few pints of mead and a loaf of bread to munch on. Experience had taught the young man never to consume spirits on an empty stomach, and so he found a table off to the side and chewed on the crusty loaf while he awaited Athis’ return. Ten minutes later, his fellow Companion reentered the tavern with a basket of fruit in one hand and a bundle of skewered meats in the other. They ate and drank their fill while continuing to discuss the ins and outs of Jorrvaskr well into the night.

Dawn brought forth cloudy skies and the smell of rain upon the air as the carriage rumbled off onto the road, resuming their journey to Whiterun. By late afternoon, the two men were approaching the gates of the tundra city, and making their way through the bustling marketplace. They passed the local tavern and ascended a flight of stairs whereupon Cain was greeted with a breathtaking sight �" the Gildegreen was in full bloom before his eyes and the immense beauty of the towering tree froze him in his tracks as the wind gently whistled through its branches.

“Aye, a sight to see, eh?” remarked Athis. “Little matches the serene beauty of our mighty tree, blessed by the Goddess Kyne herself. That’s her temple there and the priestess' maintain the tree and those who seek her guidance within.”

“It’s amazing,” sighed Cain. “There is nothing quite as lovely in all of Cyrodiil.”

“Yeah, well, the Imperials already think too highly of themselves. Divines know they don’t deserve such a wonderful symbol as our Gildegreen. Let’s move on now �" Jorrvaskr is just over there.”

Continuing on, Cain and Athis soon stepped through the solid wood doors of the legendary mead hall and were met with the raucous din of the main dining area where shield siblings dined heartily and drank merrily, roaring with laughter and swapping exaggerated stories of their noble deeds. Athis steered him through the hall and down a small flight of stairs to a much quieter living area, with bedrooms lining the underground corridor. The walls were adorned with centuries of decorations ranging from trophy kills to impressive weapons to woven tapestries and ancient, tattered flags. At the far end of the hall two men sat around a small table and were deep in conversation, only noticing their approach at the last minute.

The smaller of the two large men rose to greet them. “Athis, I see you’ve returned with our new shield-brother!” He turned to the Redguard and offered a hand for Cain to shake. “Cain, yes? Welcome to Jorrvaskr! I’m Vilkas, Harbinger of The Companions, and the silent one here is my brother Farkas. He may look intimidating but I promise he is more bark than bite!” Vilkas roared with laughter and sat back down as Farkas greeted Cain.

“Pleasure to meet you, brother,” rumbled the towering Nord. He sat back down and resumed his stony silence while Vilkas spoke again.

“No trouble, then, Athis?”

“None at all. The land seems quiet for a change.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that. But it’s getting late now �" you two head upstairs and eat. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow!”

Athis and Cain took their leave of the Harbinger, and his silent brother, and headed back to the dining hall for a good meal and plenty of mead. All in all, Cain was looking forward to being counted among the ranks of such proud, jovial warriors. Jorrvaskr was everything the Fighters Guild was not, and his mind was made up in short order �" tomorrow he would pen a letter to his chapter leader and tender his resignation. But the night was still relatively young, and after stowing what little gear he had under a vacant bed, Cain met Athis upstairs in the great hall.

They ate, drank, and sang well into the night as Cain made the rounds and was introduced to his shield-siblings. More than a few were young like him, and he could not help but eye up some of the female warriors among the ranks, especially Thea, a tall blonde Nord that shared the same birthyear as Cain. He lingered next to her the longest and was in awe at how much mead she could knock back with the rest of the burly men seated around Jorrvaskr. By midnight the two of them had slid out the back door and were getting to know each other better in the moonlit gardens.

The next day came earlier than Cain, still sleeping off the merriment and escapades from the night before, had expected it to. Farkas strode into his room just after sunrise and threw a dossier at him before barking out the Redguard’s first orders.

“Read that and then come find me in the mead hall. You’re heading to Falkreath today and we need to find you a shield-sibling to watch your back, and see what you can do. Don’t tarry, it’s a long walk to Falkreath and the sun is already up.”

Cain sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before leaving his warm bed and heading for the bathroom. He checked himself in the mirror before leaving and sighed at the long scratches Thea had left on the side of his face. Farkas had likely noticed them, too, but it was probably nothing new to the seasoned Companion. He splashed some water on his faced, headed back to general quarters, got dressed, and went upstairs for his first assignment.

This post has been edited by Kane: May 6 2025, 01:14 PM

[Kane]

Chapter XXIV – What Lurks in the Shadows


“I just knew it in my [censored] bones that you would say no,” sighed Linneá. “Let me guess – you need us doing more political [censored]? Where are we off to next, Black Marsh? Elsweyr? Gods forbid Serana and I have to do something fun for a change.”

She sat across from Kirin in his private study, arms crossed and wearing a defiant expression. Serana squirmed uncomfortably in the chair next to Linneá – she sometimes wished her wife wasn’t so brash with their parents, especially now that they were High King and Queen. But then, Linneá wouldn’t be Linneá if she didn’t challenge them.

“Was it not enough to pull off what we just managed to in Morrowind? Haven’t we earned a chance to do something a little different for a change? Ayleids, dad! [censored] Ayleids! Aren’t you the least bit curious?”

“Oh, I’m plenty curious, Linn,” said Kirin. “We have a more pressing matter though.” He tore off a small piece of parchment from a missive he’d been reading and scribbled a few words on it before sliding it across the desk to her.

Linneá read it with raised eyebrows, and then cast her room muffling spell around them. “Okay, I’ll bite,” she said. “What’s so important that our even our closest advisors can’t be trusted not to listen in on us.”

Kirin stood up and paced back and forth behind his desk. He’d been grappling with the matter for a few weeks now, but there was no denying it anymore, and action had to be taken. He knew Linneá and Serana could handle it, but he did feel bad about not letting them join up with Cain and Anska. Hell, I wish I could be out there with them, too, he thought. Those days are over though. This, however, would be just as dangerous a task.

“We have a traitor in our ranks.”

That caught his daughters off guard. It seemed unfathomable to Linneá that someone could have wormed their way inside without setting off alarm bells. None of the palace staff, agents, soldiers, dignitaries, or guards were aware of Kyne’s existence nor her close ties to the Windborne family. And they certainly didn’t realize she probed their minds whenever she was around.

“How?” asked Serana. “How could someone have eluded us like that?”

“It has to be someone fairly recent,” said Kirin. “Information only just stated to leak. We were lucky to notice it at all.”

“Who caught it?” said Linneá. “Someone here or abroad?”

“Our lone agent in the Summerset Isles managed to intercept a message to the Thalmor. We must be cautious in seeking out the mole, if they are able to communicate home without us knowing. I’m going to assign the both of you some clerical jobs around the palace – it will look like busy work while you gear up for your next trip.”

“I take it the trip is a ruse, too?”

“Yes. But Sentinel did request a few diplomats, so it will look convincing to anyone paying close attention. Just please be careful, girls. Whomever this traitor is… they will be dangerous.”

“Not as dangerous as we are,” smirked Linneá. “We’ll find them, dad.”

[centre]-----[/centre]

Anilay hunched over a long scroll of parchment, penning the formal request to the Elder Council. It was time they took action: The Emperor’s desperate attempts to remain in power were going to cause a rift between Cyrodiil and what remained of the Empire, but the old man was too blind to see it. If he enacted his grand scheme, the provinces of High Rock, Skyrim, and the Kingdom of Orsinium would surely withdraw any ties, leaving the Heartland a sitting duck against the Aldmeri Dominion.

The chancellor scribbled away tirelessly at his first draft, crossing out words and making the occasional note in the margins. Time was of the essence, and Mede must not get wind of his actions or Anilay would surely be strung up on the battlements.

Treason.

It was the correct move for the future of Tamriel, of that Anilay was sure. But it was still treason.

May the Nine preserve us.

[centre]-----[/centre]

They’d been walking for nearly a week and still the rain had not let up as Kyne had promised it would. Miserable, hot, soaked, and hungry; Cain and Anska continued their arduous trek south through Morrowind. The occasional small village offered some dry respite, but they’d yet to find one large enough to have an inn where they could relax at for a day or two. The rain continued to fall, trying it’s best to dampen their spirits. It somewhat exceeded in doing so, but the two of them were also enjoying each other’s company.

It was another rainy evening on the eighth day of their journey when a sudden thought struck Anska.

“Um, Cain?”

“Yes, dear?”

“This rain… do you think it’s Kyne’s doing? As a punishment? I mean, that is her domain and she has been distant since that first day…”

That hadn’t occurred to Cain until now either, but it made perfect sense. The goddess had in fact mentioned that very evening the met that the rain would be clearing up, as most summer storms usually did. For it to have rained this entire week screamed of Divine intervention.

“[censored]. You may be right. I think we’re going to have to call for her and see if we can put this matter to bed.”

“Can we do that? Just ask and hope she comes?”

“I think she’ll come if I pray,” said Cain. “At least, she told me she would come anytime I asked.”

He hadn’t even gotten down on his knees when the hawk soared down out of the gloom and landed on a fallen log laying on the side of the forest road. The amber eyes stared impassively at them, waiting for what it deemed to be the correct thing for the two of them to start with.

“Hey, mum – that was fast,” said Cain. “Were you close by?” The hawk didn’t so much as twitch, so he continued on: “Look, about last time… I’m really sorry we ignored your wishes. But you have to understand how desirable this was for us, and how frustrating it was to have the rug pulled out from under our feet. I know you had your reasons and that they couldn’t be shared, but I want you to know how close it’s made Anska and I now. We’re inseparable and I wouldn’t change that even if the world went all to smash.”

A small flash of light briefly illuminated the road and Kyne now stood before them in her usual form, the rain soaking through her light blue gown and matting down her auburn hair. She tilted her head towards another small clearing just off the road and led them into it. Then she raised her soft hands high and brought them down with a flourish, bringing an end to the rain and ushering in the warm rays of the sun.

“Thank [censored] for that,” breathed Anska. “Er, sorry, not ‘[censored]’. Divines. I mean, uh, Kyne, er, mum. [censored]… never mind.”

“Sometimes less is more, dear,” Kyne smiled at Anska. “But I knew what you meant.”

“Does this mean you’ve forgiven us?” asked Cain.

“Yes. And no,” replied Kyne. “I sympathize for what the heart wants, but it saddens me to think what the future could hold in store. No more of that though – the deed is done. We should all move on and focus on what comes next.”

“You’re scaring me, ma’am,” said Anska.

“Do not dwell on it, child. Cain has given the two of you a wonderful gift and you should enjoy what it has to offer. There are many possible futures that are defined by the roads we must walk. Stay true to yourselves and all will work out.”

There was a finality in her statement that Cain recognized as the end of the matter and despite her reassurances, he did not feel any better about it. Resigned to discuss it with Anska later, he moved onto the only other question he had for her.

“Are Linn and Serana going to join us?” he asked.

“They are not,” answered Kyne. “I know you were looking forward to it, but your father has them looking into a matter close to home.”

“Aw, it could have been a lot more fun with them along,” sighed Anska. “We had such a nice time with them in Blacklight – it was nice to have family so close in age. They feel like my own sisters already.”

“Don’t fret about it. I’m sure there will be no shortage of time in the future for the four of you. Kirin doesn’t always have his children out on assignments, or grand adventures. He prefers you all to be home with he and Lydia as much as possible.”

Cain left the two of them to talk and searched around for bits of wood or branches to make a fire with. Everything was damp, but he’d been trying his hand at basic fire spells lately, and figured it might be enough to get a hot meal cooking for a change. A few minutes later, he strolled back into the clearing and dumped the fuel on the ground.

After several unsuccessful attempts to dry out the wood, he gave up and kicked fitfully at the pile of branches while Anska giggled at him. Kyne smiled and shook her head once before waving a hand and instantly igniting a roaring campfire.

“Show off,” grumbled Cain.

Kyne conjured up three dry stone seats around the fire and took one of them for herself. “How’s that for showing off?’ she winked. “Come and sit you two while I make dinner. It’s the least I could do after causing it to rain on you for a week.”

“Was that a punishment?” said Anska, as she sat down on one of the makeshift seats. “For defying you?”

“Not exactly”, replied Kyne, her voice a bit lower than before. “Let’s talk about something else. Please.”

“It’s because you were sad, wasn’t it?” Cain asked her. “You were mourning.”

“Cain, please, I beg of you to let it go,” pleaded the goddess.

Anska got up from her seat and grabbed his arm, dragging him under a nearby tree on the outskirts of the small clearing. Kyne started digging out their cooking supplies and left the two of the alone while she started on dinner.

“Why do you keep pushing her?” demanded Anska. “Yes, it’s plain to see that something is upsetting her, but she obviously can’t or won’t share what it is. Let it go! She’s forgiven us for ignoring her and Mara’s wishes, so let’s just be happy that she is with us again! Stop trying to make her miserable!”

“I don’t like having my fate bandied about so casually,” said Cain. “If there’s something we should know then we ought to know it!”

“All you’re doing is pushing her away, Cain. Can’t you see that? Yes, it’s frustrating to feel like a plaything to the gods, but you’re forgetting how much she cares for you. For all of us. Please just [censored] drop it and let her love you!”

He felt himself wither once again, this time under the glare of Anska. He realized she was right and that he’d been acting callously towards Kyne. Shame began to gnaw at his insides for how he’d been pushing her and Cain felt the regret sinking in. He pressed his lips against Anska’s and kissed her briefly as a way of saying thanks, and then marched back into the clearing. Kyne stood over a cooking pot and he pulled her away from it and hugged her tightly.

“I’m sorry, mum. I shouldn’t have been pushing you. I won’t say another word about it.”

Kyne returned the embraced and sniffled lightly. “Don’t worry about it, dear. I’m just glad we can have some time together like this. And I’m happy for you and Anska. Truly.”

[centre]-----[/centre]


Dinner in the Blue Palace was a somber affair. A shimmering haze encircled the small dining room where Linneá and Serana had joined their parents alone for the first time in weeks. The table was teeming with plates of delicious food and full goblets, but the silverware remained untouched after Linneá had cast her muffling spell again and told Kirin and Lydia what had been plaguing her thoughts.

“No, I refuse to believe that,” said Lydia. “She’s such a lovely young woman and she seems so genuinely happy with Cain. There’s no way it could be her. Do you have any proof?”

“We don’t,” said Linneá. “But the timing lines up perfectly with when our agents noticed something was amiss. Nearly down to the same day Anska arrived here.”

Kirin’s arms were crossed and he leaned back in his chair. He didn’t like it anymore than Lydia did, but it was the only lead anyone had turned up thus far. He thought back to Anska’s time at the palace, brief as it was, and wondered if tabs had been kept on her movements.

“Did anyone other than us keep an eye on her?” he asked aloud.

“Not really,” said Serana. “I think just about everyone was tied up with Cain’s sudden arrival. Elle and I especially were splitting time between here and Blacklight. Anska was mostly left to her own devices, when she wasn’t with all of us or with Cain.”

“Damn it, I wish we could speak to him somehow,” said Linneá. “They’re linked now like Serana and I are, so he may have some insight. But if she is hiding something, then it must be buried deep enough for to hide it from his thoughts.”

“Hold on,” Lydia interjected. “If they managed that than I find it hard to believe she’s capable of hiding her true intentions. No, it must be someone else. It must be.”

No one spoke after she finished her insistence. Not a single one of them wanted to believe Anska could betray them, but it was all they had for the moment. Kirin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and smiled at her.

“I don’t think anyone here wants to accept it, Lyds. Hell, by all accounts it sounds like these two had a wonderful time with her and Cain during their time in Blacklight. But we have nothing else to go on right now, so we need to consider the possibility.” He turned back to his daughters and nodded at them. “Keep digging and let me know what you find. And let’s eat before all this food gets cold.”