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 XXXII �" Revelations


Rain blattered against their tent as a blistering thunderstorm roiled in off of the Abecean Sea, soaking the sandy shore beneath them. Cain and Anska sat cross-legged in the middle while they chatted the dreary afternoon away, secretly wishing Kyne would blow the storm past them in a hurry. After two peaceful and quiet days alone on the beach north of Anvil, they were due back in the Imperial City at nightfall to meet with the High Chancellor once again. Anilay had hinted at a possible alliance, but did so with some trepidation �" especially since he would be aiding two fugitives.

Despite that, Cain couldn’t help but feel the answers they sought were tantalizingly close. And yet he felt uneasy about all of it. Anska had noticed his withdrawal during those moments since they had arrived back here, and finally decided to ask him about it.

“What is it, darling? Something has been eating at you since we left the city…”

“Hm?” Cain murmured, shaking from his reverie. “Oh, just this business with Anilay and how it will shake out. Kyne was right to feel uneasy about how dangerous of an undertaking this might be. Could you imagine if we were caught sneaking around the White-Gold Tower? My presence alone would cause a scandal, let alone the fact that Mede pursues us.”

“I know, but at least we might have help with the matter,” said Anska. “I’m sure he has secret ways in, and to move about the tower. It’ll work out, you’ll see. There is nothing we can’t do together, my love.”

Cain swallowed hard. There was something else he’d been considering, and his fiancé was not going to like it. At all. “Er, about that…”

“About what?” asked Anska, eyes narrowed.

“If Anilay is able to help us, I think I need to go with him by myself. I �" “

“Like hell you will!” shouted Anska, cutting him off. “You are not going in one of the most dangerous places in Tamriel without me you damned lunkhead! Where is this coming from? Some kind of sudden gallantry or worry for my well-being? I can take care of myself, as you damn well know!”

Cain shrunk back a little under the torrent of words that seemed no less intense than the storm engulfing their meager campsite. That had gone about as well as he had expected it to, and he knew from intimate experience that it was best to just wait Anska out. After a few more choice words, she became less verbose and settled for staring daggers at him.

His admonishment now complete, Cain deigned to respond as placatingly as he could. “Hon, I agree with all of that and I always want you by my side. But this time will be different: stealth is the order of the day, and alone I can move faster and more quietly if Anilay is to lead me through tower. And if I somehow do get captured or cornered, I can easily vanish in a flash without worrying about becoming separated from you!”

“Don’t care. I will not leave your side until this is all over. Period.” Then she got up and left the tent, taking a seat outside in the wet sand and bowing her head against the elements. Anska saw the logic in Cain’s reasoning, but Mara’s warning to them in Skingrad echoed over and over again in her mind until it reached a fever pitch.

Annoyed at how poorly that had gone and sensing her distress, Cain soon followed her outside and decided that he’d had enough godsdamned rain for a while. The wind howled around them and the rain poured down in buckets on the Gold Coast until he stared up into the swirling grey clouds and Shouted three ancient Words of Power into the heavens.

“LOK VAH KOOR!”

Startled by the unexpected eruption of noise from behind her, Anska swiftly rose to her feet and spun around to face Cain just as the rain ceased and the massive storm clouds overhead evaporated under the mighty command of a Dragonborn. The sun now blazed down on them as if the rain had never happened, causing steam to rise from their drenched clothing while Anska stared him down.

“You couldn’t have [censored] done that earlier?”

Despite the circumstances, Cain smiled broadly at the woman he loved beyond reason. “I’m not one for showing off. Besides, a good rain is healthy for nature. Can’t just go around turning off the weather all the time.”

“Whatever,” grumbled Anska. She sat down in the sand again and stared out over the now calm sea. Cain joined her on the ground and followed her gaze out over the glistening blue waters and sighed heavily. After a moment of silence, Anska leaned her head onto his shoulder and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry I went off on you. But you are not getting rid of me that easily, Cain Windborne. No matter how strong your reasoning is. Not after what Mara told us.”

“Anska, I will never want to be rid of you. I know you can handle yourself better than most, but that won’t ever stop me from wanting to keep you safe, especially with that little one growing in your belly. And I can feel how heavily her warning is weighing on you and I’m sorry for not considering that. All I ask is that if we do end up sneaking into the Tower, then you must remain as close to me as possible. I won’t hesitate to pull us out at the first sign of trouble.”

“Deal,” said Anska. They laid back in the damp sand and stared up at blue skies now mingled with lofty white clouds soaring high above Nirn. Closing her eyes against the bright sun, Anska breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. “I long for the day when this is all over, dear. All I want is to spend our days safely within the palace walls, enjoying a quiet life, and raising our child.”

“That sounds idyllic,” agreed Cain. “We’ll get there soon, Anska. I promise.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

-----

Several hours later they were seated once again around the small pub table in the basement room of Luther Broad’s, waiting anxiously for the High Chancellor to return. This time, however, they had eaten beforehand instead of ordering another questionable meal from the barman upstairs. Three more mugs and a bottle of wine rested on the table between them but it had yet to be opened. There was no telling how this second meeting with Anilay would go, and so they waited in relative silence, only thinking the occasional question at each other.

Right on cue, the door at the top of the basement stairs opened and footsteps descended the rickety wooden steps. Cain and Anska watched intently until they recognized the Imperial man’s face illuminated by the torches and candles spread about the room. He strode purposefully towards them and sat in the empty chair, a faint smile touching his lips.

“So, what’s it to be?” asked Cain. “Will you help us? Or turn us in?”

“The Elder Council has agreed to cooperate fully,” he nodded.

Cain breathed a sigh of relief. Getting in to the White-Gold Tower will be much easier with help from the inside, especially if Anilay could help to keep guards occupied with trivial tasks. Still ever cautious, he glanced over at the mouse perched atop a barrel in the corner, and was relieved to see it nod ever so slightly.

“Excellent!” said Cain. “What sort of conditions do you have? And I have to ask… why is the council interested in helping us, and by extension, the High King?”

“I’m curious about that myself,” said Anska. “The Empire has only ever cared about itself since the Septim line ended. The Legion barely helped put down the Stormcloaks.”

“Those are valid concerns, but you already touched on the heart of the matter in our last meeting, Cain. Mede has indeed grown paranoid and fearful �" his old age worries him and he refuses to let go of what his family has achieved. He clings to power and refuses to see the new dawn that approaches.”

A new dawn? What does he mean by that? thought Anska.

I dunno, but it implies that the Emperor’s days may be numbered. Gods, I hope we don’t end up in the midst of a power struggle.

Anilay stared curiously at Cain and Anska. They’d fallen silent when he finished speaking, yet they appeared to be concentrating on something else. Noticing his gaze, Cain played it off by uncorking the wine and pouring glasses for all three of them.

“Well now,” said Cain. “That certainly is some food for thought.”

“Indeed. And there is something else you should know, in the spirit of cooperation. I’m not ignorant to the fact that you and the lovely Ms. Anska here will be the ones undertaking this dangerous task, so I think it’s only fair that I slip a little insider information to you.”

“You have my attention,” said Cain, his left eyebrow raised.

“Mede has been planning an attack on the Blue Palace for some time now. I’m not privy to all the details, but I can tell you that Penitus Oculatus agents have been slowly getting into position over the last few months. I don’t know when the order will be given, but given it will be, and they will swarm the palace in the hopes of overwhelming your exceptionally powerful family and thus eliminating Mede’s largest threat to power. You must find a way to warn them.”

For several long moments, nothing but the rowdy rabble from the bar upstairs could be heard. A pin could have fallen in the basement of Luther Broad’s and the resulting echo would have reverberated throughout the entire building while Cain and Anska sat in stunned silence. Staring open-mouthed at the High Chancellor, they hadn’t even noticed the small mouse jump down from its perch and scurry off into the darkness.

“You… you can’t be serious!” exclaimed Cain. “Can he really be that [censored] stupid? An entire legion couldn’t hope to stand before my father and sisters, yet he thinks his secret police can pull that off? It’s madness! And he’d better hope Anska and I aren’t home by then or he will really regret trying a stunt like that!”

“Cain, we need to go home,” pleaded Anska. “Now. [censored] this quest for information �" there are more important things in life than finding some turncoat.”

“I told you he was fearful,” tutted Anilay. “The council and I both recognize it as folly, but at the end of the day, he is the Emperor and it’s his will to carry it out. But I implore you not to abandon your mission. We can do this as soon as tomorrow night, if you are ready, and we can put an end to his secretive methods. We want the same information �" who are these special contacts and where are they implanted? Let’s find it out and then you can be on your way.”

Cain lowered his head into his hands and glanced sideways through the gap in his fingers. Kyne was gone, which meant she likely already relayed this new development to Linneá. His family would know, and they would be able to shore things up back home. Anialy was right �" there was no reason to leave just yet.

We’re going through with this, he thought at Anska. Kyne’s gone and Linn probably knows what’s happening. One more day won’t make a difference.

Fine. But the moment we find what we are after, you WILL recall us home, Cain. That’s an order.

Yes, boss.

“Tomorrow night it is, Anilay,” agreed Cain, raising his head to meet the Imperial’s eyes. “Tell us where to be and we will see you there.”

-----

It was midnight and yet the dull murmur of voices could be heard from within Kirin’s private study. Had Linneá not casted her room muffling spell, the murmur would sound much more akin to shouting. But the entire palace staff did not need to be aware of what was transpiring in the dead of night, and so they slept soundly while the King and his family talked and argued rather heatedly.

Kirin had resumed his usual pacing behind his ornate desk while he digested the information his daughter had woken him up with. Linneá and Serana occupied their usual seats opposite the desk, while Lydia lounged on her favorite chaise, still trying to shake the grogginess from her tired mind.

“There’s no way he can be that stupid,” said Kirin. “It will be political suicide when he fails. The Elder Council will oust him without a second thought and he’ll be executed for treason against one of the Empire’s own allies. You must have heard wrongly, Linn.”

A fluttering of wings announced the arrival of Kyne herself as she soared through the window and took her human form amid her favorite family. Raising a hand to keep the silence, she addressed Kirin directly and firmly. “The information is valid, my child. I heard it with my own ears.”

Kirin’s eyes narrowed. “Where did you hear it, mum? What is it that you and my daughters aren’t telling me?”

Linneá fidgeted nervously and opened her mouth to speak, but Kyne smiled and shook her head. “It’s okay, dear. It’s time a for a few secrets to be told.” She patted her shoulder reassuringly and then turned back to face Kirin. “The High Chancellor himself, Anilay Cato, gave this warning to Cain and Anska not two hours ago, in the Imperial City.”

Lydia gasped and rose from her seat, the latent sleepiness immediately forgotten. She stepped behind the desk with her husband and glared at the three of them. “How long have you known they were there?” she demanded. “And why did you not bring them home?!”

This time, Linneá would not be silenced. “Because they’re innocent, godsdamnit! We put them through hell, and they’ve done nothing wrong!”

“Elle speaks the truth, mum,” said Serana. “We’ve known since barely a day after they escaped. Kyne has been checking in on them, and we even apologized in person after we learned the truth. They’ve been in Cyrodiil since that ugly day in the Ayleid village.”

Kirin sat down in his chair and stared benignly at the top of his desk. These last few minutes had been overwhelming and he need a few minutes to sort out his emotions. A pending attack on their home and the land he was sworn to protect. The innocence of his son and the woman he loved. The secrets his own daughters had kept from them. And direct communication to the High Chancellor himself.

He looked up at Linneá and asked a single, pointed question. The one he cared about the most: “Why did you not tell me about Cain and Anska?”

“It was his idea, and it was a good one, da,” replied Linneá. “We kept up the pretense here at the palace to distract everyone from our search for the real leak. All the while he and Anska traveled to the Imperial City with the intention of finding out the same thing from that end. How they ended up meeting Anilay Cato, I don’t know. That’s a revelation to Serana and I, too.”

Still standing tensely behind him, Lydia began to relax while the tale unfolded. Then she sat on Kirin’s lap and nodded sagely at her daughters. “This has been weighing on you for some time, hasn’t it?”

“It’s been awful,” said Serana. “And I’m glad the ruse is over �" among us at least. Cain and Anska don’t deserve what’s happened to them, but it’s also made them stronger.”

“They’re even engaged to be married,” winked Kyne.

“WHAT?!” shouted Kirin and Lydia in unison. “I can’t believe we’ve missed that,” added Lydia, looking crestfallen.

“We will make it up to them,” promised Linneá. “Big time. For now, we have a city to defend. And they have a mole to find. Speak no more of this, unless we are all here together as we are now, yeah? There are dark days ahead, but hopefully they can return to us soon.”

“Dare I say we can have a little celebration?” asked Serana. “We can drink to our wayward brother and son, and his future wife. I think we still have a bottle of Firebrand tucked away downstairs…”

“Serana!” exclaimed Kirin. “I ordered you and Linn to dispose of that when it was confiscated!”

“Come on, dad, you didn’t really think we’d do that, did you?” grinned Linneá. “Lighten up and enjoy a drink with us. I think you’ll come to like that stuff!”

Laughter filled the small study as Kirin groaned and buried his face in his hands.