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

[Acadian]

Despite the love of his new family, Cain is unable to stay where there are so many memories. Buffy went through a similar process after losing her mate in Kvatch and had to retreat to Valenwood to sort herself out. Good luck to Cain.

Mara’s earlier warning is now clear. Having the kind of thought connection that Cain and Anska had – the same kind that Linneá and Serana have - makes being ripped apart even harder. Yet, something tells me neither Cain nor Anska would do a thing differently even if they knew how it would end.

It seems like Anilay and the Council’s move against the Emperor is ready to go. Hopefully it will succeed and improve things between Cyrodiil and Skyrim. It is encouraging to already see communications between the Blue Palace and the White Gold Tower.

[Kane]

Despite the love of his new family, Cain is unable to stay where there are so many memories. Buffy went through a similar process after losing her mate in Kvatch and had to retreat to Valenwood to sort herself out. Good luck to Cain.

Mara’s earlier warning is now clear. Having the kind of thought connection that Cain and Anska had �" the same kind that Linneá and Serana have - makes being ripped apart even harder. Yet, something tells me neither Cain nor Anska would do a thing differently even if they knew how it would end.

It seems like Anilay and the Council’s move against the Emperor is ready to go. Hopefully it will succeed and improve things between Cyrodiil and Skyrim. It is encouraging to already see communications between the Blue Palace and the White Gold Tower.

It's funny how our stories rhyme somewhat with certain characters. Not intentional at all, I might add!

They would certainly do it all again if given the opportunity. Love conquers all.

Time will tell!

Chapter XXXVII �" The Way Forward (4E 230)


The ardent waters of the Iliac Bay reflected brilliant shades of red-orange underneath a beautiful sunset. Only the faintest of gentle winds caressed the endless expanse while minuscule waves lapped calmly against the sandy shoreline. A lone figure sat above the tide line, staring aimlessly across the vast waters, wondering about what could have been. He heard soft footsteps in the sand behind him, but he didn’t even have to turn and look to know who it was.

A tallish woman with long dark hair as black as the darkest night took a seat next to him, her hazel eyes briefly staring out across the sea before turning to study his face. “Hello again, brother.�

“Linneá,� acknowledged Cain.

“It’s been nearly a year… Are you ready to come back with me?�

Cain said nothing. He knew exactly how long it had been but no amount of time seemed to feel like enough. The Redguard had been traveling endlessly since he left Skyrim, mourning the death of his fiance and their unborn child, taking whatever meaningless job would get him a meal or room at an inn for the night. He loved and missed the rest of his family dearly, but the pain was still too much to bear.

“I don’t think any amount of time will ever be enough, Linn,� he sighed. “Every time I close my eyes, I see her face. The memories of our time together fill my dreams at night, and the silence in my mind is deafening. The wound runs as deeply as it did the day it happened. No, I can’t come back. Not now.�

“Look, Cain, we all miss Anska and to this day we all mourn her loss. But you can’t shun your life away forever. We need you. And we can help. You shouldn’t have to continue on alone like this, wandering aimlessly around Tamriel, looking for an easy death. Come home. Then we can at least be sad together.�

He shook his head. “I can’t. I’m sorry, Linn. I’d just have soon as died for our mother, or anyone of you. Anska shouldn’t have been murdered so needlessly. She deserved better.�

“It’s easy to die for those we care about, Cain. Real courage lies in embracing the pain with those you love. And those who love you.�

Linneá looked back out to the sea, watching the last glimmer of the evening sun slowly fall beyond the horizon. Night fell over the silence between them as she tried to come up with another tact. Something had to break this spell over him. Then she remembered the note their father had given her that morning. Opening her satchel, Linneá pulled out a roll of parchment and small piece of charcoal.

“How about this,� she began, scribbling furiously across the page.

“Linn...�

“Hang on a sec.� She finished writing the letter and handed it to him. “A small job for you, just so that you can dip your toes back in and maybe take your mind off of things.�

“I’ve been living on small jobs,� said Cain. “Why should this one be any different?�

“Because it’s for me?� she asked, hopefully. “Anyway, the details are all in the letter - if you want to help, head for Wayrest. I assume you were going there anyway, since you’re only about ten or so miles out. Look for me at the Cloudy Dregs Inn and I’ll introduce you to the client.� Linneá rested a hand on his shoulder and then vanished into thin air.

Cain continued to stare out over the bay, counting to ten under his breath. Just a few feet away from him another person dispelled their invisibility spell and sat down by his side. Gwyndala Louvain was a Breton woman of similar age, with long curly hair ranging anywhere from raven black to an iridescent pink, depending on her mood when she woke up in the morning. Numerous piercings adorned her face and ears, and very little of her tiny frame remained free of mystical tattoos that glowed vibrantly in the dark. A self-proclaimed witch, she had a penchant for dressing more scantily than Cain was comfortable with, and practiced arcane magic of a darker nature than he was accustomed to seeing.

In their time together Cain had witnessed her use outright impressive, if not brutally effective spells to end fights in a hurry. The first time her magick decapitated someone he felt himself flinch subconsciously. And when she later turned a bandit inside out he nearly emptied the contents of his stomach at the sight of it. When confronted about the disturbing nature of her destruction spells, she simply shrugged and said: “I’m small and easily cornered. So, I fight back without giving them a chance to do so.� He thanked the stars she was a friend and swore to never have her as an enemy.

“Well?� said Gwyn, stealing a sidelong glance at him. “What are you going to do about this development? Are you ready to re-enter that fold?�

“I don’t know,� said Cain, plainly. “I miss them a lot, but we’re no closer to our goal than we were three months ago and I’m struggling to come up with an alternative option to what I proposed to you back then. We may not have a choice.�

“Hm. I’m beginning to agree with you there. None of the avenues I explored have come to fruition either. It’s really fuckin’ annoying to hit the proverbial stone wall, as it were.�

“Then it seems our hands are tied. Who knows, maybe Linn can help us out when it’s time. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, or try unique solutions to impossible problems. And neither one of us can certainly set foot in that place or the entire plan will be ruined.�

“Wayrest it is, then,� said Gwyn. “I’m off to bed. Cya bright and early.� A quick wave of her hand summoned a small tent and she crawled into it before Cain even had his bag open to start erecting his own tent.

-----

Dawn came quickly and they were underway just after first light, heading towards the city under gloomy skies that threatened an early summer downpour. They moved quickly, for Cain had long since left his set of armor behind in favor of lighter clothes and freer movement. And Gwyn moved even faster than he in a set of robes that seemed to exist only to cover as little skin as possible. Had he still not been so steadfastly devoted to his late fiance, Cain felt that he’d have given in to temptation long ago.

It didn’t help matters that his odd companion was somewhat of a free spirit in regard to her sexuality. She’d offered him a roll in the hay more than a few times already, and when turned down she wandered off to find a more wiling partner. They’d been traveling together for nearly four months now, and there was still so much Cain didn’t know about her. Not for lack of asking, but more due to the fact that Gwyn refused to speak of her past.

All in all, Gwyndala Louvain was an enigma that Cain had yet to fully unravel. Their trust in each other was mutual, but he suspected a deeper trauma lay within that she’d only share on her terms. One thing she knew for certain though, is that his sisters would adore his new friend… when the time came for him to return home, that is.

By midday, Cain and Gwyn approached the eastern gate of Wayrest, the Jewel of the Illiac Bay. The guards bowed their heads politely while they passed through, their eyes lingering on the provocative attire she sported. Her tangle of hair was crimson today, which Cain had come to understand implied a night of fitful sleep and bad dreams. But she was always jovial and outgoing, despite what roiled under the waves.

They were ahead of schedule when entering the inn, so Cain grabbed a table and ordered lunch while Gwyn threw on her hood and took a seat at the bar, just within earshot. Not five minutes later, Linneá walked through the door with a stranger and joined her brother at his table.

“[censored] me, am I happy to see you here,� she half-shouted, beaming intensely at him. “I wasn’t sure you were coming, but I hoped beyond reason that you would. Gimme a sec, I’m ordering some booze for the occasion! Woo!�

Cain couldn’t help but grin at her antics. Ten months was a long time to be away from home and he did miss his family more than he let on. He gestured to the man who’d come in with Linneá and offered him a seat.

“Sorry, my sister gets a little excitable sometimes. “What’s you name, pal?�

“Genard,� said the Breton man, offering a handshake.

Cain accepted it and nodded. “Cain Windborne, at your service. So, tell me, Genard… what’s Linn getting me into this time?�

“We’ll get to that,� she said, setting down three pints of ale. Cain hadn’t noticed her slink back over, but he thanked her for the drink and waited patiently for her to explain.

At the bar, Gwyn had lowered her hood and was making a show of writing in her journal with her ears trained in their direction. The bartender sauntered over to see if she needed anything and she shooed him away with a lazy flick of the wrist.

“Tell me, brother,� continued Linneá. “What changed your mind this time? Why accept the offer after so many months of avoidance?�

“Can’t very well hide forever, can I?� came the rehearsed reply. “I dunno, maybe it is almost time to share the pain instead of keeping it bottled up inside. Won’t lie and say I don’t miss you all, too. But that doesn’t mean I’m doing this job and hopping on the next ship back Solitude.�

“I’ll take what I can get,� said Linneá. “Not too much longer though, yeah? I’m already going to have to spill the beans tomorrow about our little rendezvous’.�

“What? Why?�

“I stole a peek at one of dad’s communiques last night and it had a troubling if completely nonfactual report attached of your apparent imprisonment at the hands of a mercenary clan in Hammerfell. He’ll be forced to spend resources we don’t have looking into it, or officially declare you deceased to avoid dealing with them. No one wants that.� She paused for a moment and then went on. “Which also means your likely to get a visit from another ‘friend’ if you catch my drift.�

Cain swallowed hard. He was not looking forward to that meeting after nine months of no contact with Kyne. She is not going to be happy when she does track him down again. But they were here for a different matter, so he cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“Let’s talk about that later, Linn. We’re here for a job.�

She nodded and gave the floor to their contact. Genard rustled up a letter from one of his pockets and laid it one the table for them to read while he took a pull from his ale. Cain and Linneá combed through it, exchanged a fleeting glance of doubt at it’s validity, and accepted the terms. All three shook hands and Genard drained his glass and left without a further word.

“He wasn’t very friendly, eh?� mused Cain.

“Asshole would be more accurate,� grunted Linneá. “And there’s no way this job checks out. The highest ranking Dominion spymaster in High Rock living in a boarded up house across town? Nah, this idiot means to capture one or both of us in hopes he can extort some gold from Dad. Be careful with this one, Cain. I know you can handle yourself, but I don’t want to lose you again.�

“I’ll be fine, Linn,� he promised. “Somehow, I doubt this will be the worse thing I’ve ever handled.�

“Good. Now stand up and give me a hug so that I can go. Serana and Salihn are expecting me for lunch.�

“Give them my best,� said Cain.

Linneá left the inn and Gwyn joined him at the table to discuss their next move. The job itself was trivial and together they would make sure this ‘Genard’ lout would regret going down this road. The real problem they had would be the arrival of a goddess and whether or not it was time for his new friend’s presence to be known.

-----

The morning sun rose high above the Blue Palace. As predicted, a guard knocked on the door to Linneá and Serana’s suite with an urgent summons to Kirin’s study. They dropped Salihn off at the kitchens along the way and then hastily headed up to what would amount to one hell of an argument and dissection of their behavior and secret keeping. When they arrived, Lydia and Kirin greeted them cordially before settling in for the meeting.

“I have some news regarding you brother,� began Kirin. “According to this letter, some thugs in Hammerfell claim to have captured him and they want a reward.�

He continued on with a dire tone, clearly struggling with could be done about it, and how seriously they should be taking it. Serana kept jabbing her wife in the leg with increasing force while she yelled mentally at her until Linneá yelped in pain and got the message.

“Something to add, Liin?� he asked. “Is this really the time for to two to be goofing off?�

“Elle, has something to tell you both,� said Serana. “Don’t you, sweetie?�

“Oh no,� sighed Lydia. “What have you done this time, Linn?�

“[censored]. Well, er, it’s nothing dreadful, of that I can assure you… but I sort of broke in here last night and read that same letter, dad. Sorry. Anyway, you’ll be happy to know that I can one-hundred percent guarantee you that it’s a complete fabrication.�

“I’m going to ignore that first part for now,� growled Kirin. “So, tell me how you know this is fake.�

Linneá fidgeted nervously in her chair and then looked at Serana for support. She shook her head and whispered in her thoughts: I told you we shouldn’t have kept it a secret. They are going to be very cross with us and it’s your fault.

I know. Guess I better just be blunt about it. Here goes nothing…

“Because I had a drink with Cain around noon yesterday, and he is very much not captured.�

“LINNEA!!� Lydia jumped up from her seat and grabbed her daughter’s shoulders. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ‘HAD A DRINK’ WITH HIM YESTERDAY? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM?!�

“How could you keep this from us, Linn?� demanded Kirin. “And you too, Serana, because I damn well know she told you right away!�

“That can wait, husband,� snapped Lydia. “What I want to know is how exactly did you find him when he’s managed to give everyone else the slip?�

She fidgeted uncomfortably again. They were going to be even more upset when she told them that she’d had the means to find him at any time since his departure last year. She only waited as long as she did out of respect for his privacy. And to let him have the time alone he desired.

“I, uh. I sort of marked him during our last goodbye on the night he left. Marked his spirit, I mean.�

Her parents both glared at her with expressions somewhere in between anger and shock. Lydia sat back down and lowered her head into her hands while Kirin sighed in disbelief. He tore up the letter involving the fake extortion scheme and tossed it into the fireplace. Deciding it would be best for everyone to take a breather, he dismissed his daughters.

“You two need to leave us for a while; I’ll come find you when I need you. And, Linn? This isn’t over yet. The four of us are going to have a nice long chat later about priorities.�

Linneá knew it wasn’t the time to defend herself, so she left with Serana and together they headed off to find their daughter. And outside the window, a large brown hawk took flight, bound southwest for the province of High Rock.

This post has been edited by Kane: Apr 5 2025, 02:26 AM