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

[Kane]

Chapter XLIII – Fractured


“…you want to do what?” asked Cain. “How in the hell would that even work?”

Gwyn sensed the hesitation in his voice but she also noticed the flicker of hope behind his eyes. No going back now, I guess. Why do I keep doing this to myself? She flicked a loose strand of hair away from her eye and tucked it behind an ear in an effort to hide the mistiness that had begun while her thoughts momentarily drifted.

She cleared her throat and explained her intentions. “Your dragon blood’s an incredible source of magick and power resting just beneath the surface, and it has a natural connection to what we are dealing with here. I should have seen it sooner, if I’m being honest. You showed me its potential weeks ago when you spoke three simple words and time itself slowed to a crawl. There’s no spell in existence that can do that, Cain. Not even the magick I’ve been practicing has an application like that. I think I can harness it during the ritual to open a rift in time that you’ll be able to navigate. We still don’t know what the end result will be, but it’s the only option left for you.”

Cain froze. He was sure all was lost after last night and somehow the diminutive Breton he’d been sharing his life with recently still continued to surprise him. Words eluded the thankfulness he was feeling towards Gwyn, so he pulled her up from the chair and hugged her instead. The top of her head barely met Cain’s shoulders and she had to stifle a gasp at the sudden embrace. [censored], he even manages to smell nice most of the time.

She pushed him away and feinted disdain while pointing a finger up at his chin. “Too much, don’t ruin it. You can thank me later this morning if it works.”

“You want to try it so soon?”

“No point in waiting.”

-----

The cloudy night sky obscured the bright red and white glows of Masser and Secunda from shining through Linneá and Serana’s bedroom window. The couple were lying awake in bed, now late into the night, comforting each other after an ill-fated discussion with their elder brother. While her wife’s revelations with Gwyn turned out to be an interesting surprise and turn of events, Linneá had recalled them home feeling more disconnected from Cain than ever.

“Do you think he’s given up on saving her?” asked Serana. Linneá’s head rested on her lap as she idly twirled her dark locks of hair. When they got home, she’d been more upset than Serana had seen her in a long time.

“I don’t know,” she sniffled. “I don’t see how he can at this point. One thing is for certain, though… we are going back tomorrow, and I think it’s time our parents came along with us. Kyne, too.”

“Oh, that will be a hoot,” giggled Serana. Linneá rolled over and stared up at her with one eyebrow raised. “That was sarcasm, Elle. Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood.”

“Hm. I should have picked up on that. He really did get me twisted up like a pretzel.”

“I don’t think he meant what he said, hon. He loves you very much and I’m sure he already wishes things had gone differently. We’ll find out tomorrow, I promise. And I agree that it’s time for us all to go – even if he doesn’t come home, we might be able to talk him down. This madness has to end. But, let’s get some sleep now and talk about it in the morning, okay?”

With a subtle nod, Linneá sat up and pivoted to lay her head on the pillow. She threw and arm over Serana and pulled herself in close, breathing her perfume in deeply and drifting off to a restless slumber.

-----

It was still cloudy later that morning and the smell of rain hung on the air as Kirin stood on the balcony of his study and gazed out over the marshy lowlands of Hjaalmarch. The murky swamps filled with dangerous creatures and dense groves surrounding his home village of Morthal elicited a deep fog that no amount of sunshine ever seemed to burn off. He often took a break from the day-to-day toil of being High King to look down at the gloomy expanse and ruminate on his younger days. And each time he was still amazed at how far he’d risen. And how lucky he was to have a loving and supportive family by his side.

A low murmur of sound drifted through the window to his left and he wondered what the girls would be doing in his study so early in day. He ambled back inside and was alarmed to see not just his daughters, but Lydia and Kyne, as well.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Lydia came to his side and grabbed his hands. “It’s time to go see our son. All of us. Linn has relayed some disturbing information to Kyne and I, and Cain needs us now more than ever.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” admitted Kirin. “What are he and that other woman up to out there?”

“Well, according to Linn and Serana,” Kyne began, “they’ve been messing with Time Magic in a misguided effort to undo Anska’s death and bring her back. I wish my children here would have told me sooner but we still have time to act. They at least were wise enough to deny him use of the Elder Scrolls.”

“How long have you known about this?” Kirin demanded, rounding on his daughters. “And why the hell did you not tell us sooner?!”

“M’sorry, dad,” said Linneá. “Our curiosity got the better of us at first, but we did recognize that Cain is taking it too far. It’s been about eleven days since he clued us in and I don’t think he and Gwyn are any closer to actually attempting it. We pretty much trounced their only chance last night by refusing to give them the Scrolls. It, uh, didn’t end well.”

Kirin regarded them angrily for a moment. He couldn’t believe they’d been hiding this from everyone, including their patron goddess. Then he noticed the downcast expression his normally cheerful daughter wore and knew that whatever happened between her and Cain last night was eating away at her and that she needed to see him again soon.

He beckoned her over and offered a comforting hug. “Don’t sweat it, Linn. I know you just wanted to help him. We all do. I take it you and Serana want to leave with haste?”

“Now,” said Lydia. “We need to go now. Salihn is at school and Kyne will meet us there, husband.”

“Very well. Where did you say they are holed up? On the Glenumbra Moors? Always wanted to go see them someday anyway. Take us away, Linn.”
“Ana’s mastered the spell, too. You take her hand and mum can come with me.”

A flash of purple and white light briefly illuminated the study and a large brown hawk soared out of the open window and into the grey skies above Tamriel.

-----

The very same skies above Gwyndala Louvain’s meager cabin were abnormally dark. It seemed as if morning had come for only a couple of hours before night charged back in unabated, blanketing the grasslands under an oppressively dour dusk. Inside her home, all was still. The beds were empty and the fire in the hearth had burned down to a smoldering pile of ash.

Cain and Gwyn sat outside on the ground, directly in the center of the largest ritual circle they had made thus far. The chronomantic runes Gwyn had studied for weeks were painted all around them, interspersed with relevant clawed markings of the Dragon tongue that Cain had etched out. They sat facing each other with their eyes closed in concentration.

Gwyn’s heart pounded against the inside of her chest in fear of what was to come. She’d chosen this path to help her friend even though it meant throwing away any chance at becoming something more than that. Opening her eyes, she saw the relaxed look on Cain’s face and decided it was time to stuff her feelings down for good and begin the spell. Blue magick flickered into life on her palms and flowed outward, feeding the various runes around them until they all glowed with the same energy.

Once the runes were fully primed, a web of magick expanded out in a sphere that perfectly encompassed the circle of cleared, bare earth. Mystical threads wove carelessly throughout the time barrier in a dazzling array of pulsating white lights. Occasionally, they would intersect to form one of the time runes or a Word of Power, and the resulting burst of magicka fed the ritual and increased the potency of Gwyn’s fervent spell casting.

Cain finally opened his eyes and the sight took his breath away. The barrier around them had grown more and more dense as it mirrored the markings on the ground until finally they began to feed off one another in a crisscrossing pattern enveloping the air within it.

“I’m ready if you are,” stated Gwyn. “All of my spells are charged and I can direct the energies through you like a conduit. If this works, a portal should slowly begin to form between us.”

“Do it,” said Cain. He couldn’t believe this was finally happening. In a matter of minutes, he would see her again. The thought of it filled him with a palpable excitement that pushed everything else out of his mind. Nothing mattered beyond holding Anska in his arms once again.

Gwyn sighed and focused the magick towards Cain, and three things happened near simultaneously. The swirling blue and white energy collapsed inward and fused itself with Cain’s dragon spirit; a large brown hawk fluttered down from the still darkening sky; and following a flash of purple light, four figures appeared out of thin air.

Hell broke loose all at once.

“NO!” Kyne’s divine voice rang out loudest of all, drowning out the shocked cries of Cain’s family. “YOU MUST STOP THIS AT ONCE! GWYNDALA! CAIN! I BEG OF YOU TO STOP BEFORE YOU DESTROY US ALL!”

“No no no no, don’t do this!” pleaded Linneá, rushing up to the barrier. “Brother, I’m sorry we couldn’t help you but this is so much worse than using the Elder Scrolls! Mum is right, you have to end this! Please!”

Cain lowered his head in an effort to ignore them. The arrival of his entire family and Kyne herself was not something neither he nor Gwyn had anticipated and would only distract them from an already dangerous attempt at manipulating time and reality. Funnily enough, he’d thought they had more time.

“Should we continue?” whispered Gwyn. “What if Kyne can breach the circle?”

“She can’t,” promised Cain. “Time isn’t under her domain. Only Akatosh can intervene in this, and he doesn’t involve himself in mortal affairs. Keep going, Gwyn – I can feel the aperture beginning to form. The energy flowing through me is… intense. I need to concentrate.”

It took all of his strength to channel the flow of power safely through him, and he sensed that a large enough interruption would not only sever the link, but it would also endanger his life. Cain closed his eyes and breathed deeply while more voices tried to reason with them.

Kirin and Lydia had recovered from their initial shock and stood hand in hand at the edge of the time barrier. And his father spoke softly to him: “Cain, you must know this won’t work. Death cannot be undone and Anska has gone on to Sovngarde. She died a warrior’s death and will be honored in Shor’s Hall for eternity. We should honor her memory in life and leave her at rest until the day we join her ourselves. Let her go, my son… it’s the only way forward.”

“We know how much you loved her,” said Lydia. “We know how much she meant to you, and how you longed to marry her, and how you longed to raise your child with her. She was taken from us too soon, but that doesn’t mean you have to throw everything else away, Cain! Please, end this before you lose us all! And before you lose yourselves!”

Gwyn was watching her friend closely. He remained stoic in his concentration even as tears had begun to pour down her own cheeks from the remarks of those who loved him. She’d never had family like this other than Aunt Marcie and she was amazed at Cain’s ability to remain composed in light of their desperate pleas. But his concentration didn’t waver in the face of their goal and the tunnel they were tearing through time began to expand.

Serana left Kyne’s side and circled around until she was closer to the still mysterious Breton, and out of Cain’s earshot. “Gwyn you can stop this right? You have to know this only ends terribly for you. One way or another, you are going to lose him by going through with this.” She hoped that appealing to her infatuation with Cain would be enough. That it could sway her from continuing the spell. “At least if you stop now, you’ll still have him.”

Gwyn sniffled and shook her head to clear the moisture from her eyes. “No. It was a nice attempt, girl, but if this means he’ll be happy than that’s what I will give him. He deserves it far more than I do. No one will miss me if I’m gone…”

A multitude of overlapping voices continued to bombard Cain and Gwyn while they worked, and while the time vortex widened further and further. Cain struggled to drown them out while he focused on keeping the bridge between his soul and Gwyn’s magick stable. The effort was taxing all his strength and he knew that the slightest slip would undo the ritual entirely.

He heard the voices trail off for a few seconds until one of them approached the barrier’s edge directly and addressed him in a soft, kind voice. “Cain, please don’t do this,” said the goddess, her voice just audible enough for him to hear it. “Anska wouldn’t want you attempt something so dangerous and you know it. She’d want you to let go of her. You still have us, and you’ve even made a new friend in Gwyn. She’s willing to sacrifice it all for you, but are you really willing to do the same? Does she deserve that? Please, Cain… please end this.”

Tears started to drip from his eyes and splatter into the dirt at his knees. It didn’t mater what she said. What anyone of them said. They were so close he could taste it. After ten months apart, and months of work with Gwyn leading to this point, he was almost there. Another few minutes and the portal would be wide enough for him to step through.

“I’m sorry, mum,” he shook his head. “I need this more than any of you could possibly understand.”

The goddess stepped back and ushered the others to her side. “There is only one thing left I can do, if they won’t see reason. Spread out around the circle and kneel in wait, my children. We are going to appeal to Akatosh himself and I will lead the prayer.”

Kirin, Lydia, Linneá, Serana, and Kyne moved apart until they were evenly spaced around the temporal barrier and knelt down with their eyes closed, arms raised to the blackened heavens. Gwyn had noticed them beginning to fan out and something about the look of certainty in Kyne’s face made her worry.

“Cain, I think they’re about to try something. Are you sure this will hold?”

“Yes. Only –“

“Lord Akatosh!” Kyne’s voice rang out clear, and far louder than any mortal could achieve. “We call for your aid in our team of need!”

“Oh no,” exclaimed Gwyn. “Damn it, Cain what if he does something? We’re making progress but it’s not big enough yet!”

“Just keep going.”

Kyne had continued the intonement while they spoke, but in this instance the Divine knew that brevity was more crucial than appeasement to the Lord of Time. The prayer was short and ended thusly: “Please end this incursion, this warping of Time as only you can!”

An eerie silence fell on the Glenumbra Moors. Cain’s family opened their eyes and gazed hopefully around for a sign that their prayers were heard. Gwyn, too, looked about frantically while Cain himself remained focused and attentive.

Without warning, a blinding white flash illuminated the dark morning, forcing everyone to shield their eyes against it. After a second or two, Gwyn felt the sudden brightness fade, and she opened her eyes with a gasp of shock that finally swayed Cain’s intense commitment to the spell.

Anska stood before him in the ritual circle, still adorned in her heavy armor with her favorite war axe hanging from a loop on her belt. Her long blonde hair fell beyond her lower back, braided in one long twist, and her warm brown eyes bore a sadness while she looked down upon her wayward fiancé. A delicate golden aura of otherworldly power and beauty emanated from her ethereal form as she knelt down in front of Cain.

“Hello, my love,” she spoke softly to him.

“How –,“ began Cain, tears flowing unchecked at her sudden appearance.

“My lord Shor has granted this favor to Akatosh,” she explained. “I’ve been told of your plight, dear heart. Of your unwavering desire to save me. Of the pain and torment you have been dealing with since I was called to Sovngarde.” Anska took his hands in her own and stared calmly into his eyes. “And of what you’re attempting now. It won’t work, Cain. You’ll bring ruin to all those that you love.”

“I… I can’t stop,” cried Cain. “It’s been so hard without you. I lost everything I’d ever wanted when you died. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to lay down and die with you, and with our unborn child. The silence in my head was deafening. It’s still deafening.”

“I understand, Cain. I do. But fate works in mysterious ways, and our love was always destined to be cut short. We made the most of the time we had, and for that we should be grateful. I’ll treasure it for eternity, but that’s a luxury that only I have.” She lifted a hand and brushed the tears away from his eyes. “You’re still alive. You have Kirin and Lydia, and you have Linneá and Serana. I know how much they mean to you, and how much they love you.” Anska glanced behind her at Gwyn and smiled at the stunned woman. “And you have your friends, too. They’re all counting on you in more ways than you could possibly know. It’s time to let me go, my love. You have a life here among the living. Live it, and go be the great man I know you to be.”

The others had grouped together outside the magickal barrier and looked on in wonder. There was not a dry eye present while they watched the impossible unfold in front of them. It was with bated breath that they continued silently praying to Akatosh in reverence for his timely action, and they hoped beyond hope that Anska would give Cain the closure he needed.

Even Gwyn was in awe of Anska’s abrupt arrival, her mouth hanging open in astonishment. The tall Nord woman was far more beautiful than she expected, but also exuded an endearing kindness that was almost alien to her. In those moments, she finally understood what drove Cain’s unwavering desire and loyalty.

“Anska, I… I’m sorry,” Cain felt the connection to Gwyn’s spell unraveling. The runes and dragon etchings surround them began to dim and the aperture between them started to shrink.

“Don’t be. I gave my life to save those in need, and given a second chance, I would not hesitate to do so again. I’ll always love you, lunkhead. But those who came here to help you, and those who came here to stop you have one thing in common: they need you. The real you. Be the big brother your sisters need, and the son your parents long for. And be the unwavering rock your friends need.”

She kissed Cain on the forehead and together they rose to their feet. The spell severed and the temporal energy around them faded while they embraced one last time beneath clearing skies and bright sunlight.

They separated after a few moments and Anska smiled sadly at him. “Shor is calling me home now. Goodbye, my love,” whispered Anska. “And promise me you will move on.”

Cain held her hands tightly and met her gaze. “I promise.”

Anska nodded and pulled her hands free of his grasp, waving at her family watching nearby in amazement. “I love you all, and I always will,” she called to them. Gwyn stood awkwardly a few feet away from them and tried without success to not be noticed. “I wish we had been able to meet in a different life, Miss Louvain,” Anska smiled at her. “Take care of him, yeah?”

She caressed Cain’s cheek a final time and then disappeared in another blinding flash of whitest light.

This post has been edited by Kane: Apr 21 2025, 03:18 PM

[Acadian]

What a beautiful episode! The care you put into the details of the spell Cain and Gwyn were attempting was wonderful.

Those who love Cain surrounded him and Gwyn, but predictably for nought. There is only one who could dissuade him from his course and, thankfully, Akatosh is wise enough to know that. Only Anska could set him free and, with a bit of help from Cain’s family and a pair of Divines, she did exactly that. Again, beautifully done.

I’m so glad that before she departed, Anska gave her blessing to Cain + Gwyn. The little Breton was willing to forego her future and even her life to help Cain. Cain is going to owe her big time!

[Kane]

It's fun working with magic that we don't get to see in-game, kinda like a blank canvas. Mixing in the dragon language characters was a last minute inspiration to put a different spin on it.

I, uh, must have been writing that part in the kitchen. Yes, that's it. My wife must have been chopping some onions nearby at the time. Anska's return was long overdue by that point.

Might take a while for them to get there, but I'm sure Gwyn is over the moon after that interaction. The question will be whether or not she decides to show that.

[Kane]

Chapter XLIV �" Letting Go


A soft summer breeze rustled through the moor with a gentle touch that sent the tall grasses and vibrant wildflowers aflutter. With a calamity averted, wildlife came to ground and birdsong began anew, ringing, tweeting, and hooting aloud for all to hear. Outside of Gwyn’s cabin Cain stood in a daze, partially unable to believe what he’d just experienced. The scent of his late fiancé hung in the air for a split second until the wind caromed it away, leaving just the memories. And for the first time in ten months, Cain found those to be enough.

Timid footsteps approached from behind and he felt a small hand rest on his shoulder. “Are you okay?� asked Gwyndala. “That was… I don’t even know where to begin…�

“No, I’m not okay,� replied Cain and turning to look at her with a weak smile. “But I think I will be in time. I’m glad you got to meet her, Gwyn. She truly was an extraordinary person. Still is, I guess. Even in death.�

More footsteps hurried over. Gwyn ducked away to her porch while Cain’s family peppered him with a thousand questions and took turns hugging him with teary eyes. This went on for nearly ten minutes until Serana broke away from the group and asked Gwyn if she could sit on the steps with her. The Breton shrugged and gestured vaguely at the space next to her.

“Since Cain’s a little tied up, I thought I’d check in with you. How are you doing, Gwyn? No ill effects from those spells? That was an impressively masterful use of the arcane you nearly pulled off.�

“I’m fine,� said Gwyn.

Serana rolled her eyes and tutted jokingly. “It’s okay to let your guard down once in a while, you know. I’ve seen how loyal and protective of you Cain is. My brother wouldn’t allow us to be here if he didn’t trust us implicitly.�

Gwyn didn’t say anything. She already knew all of that but felt it unfair of Serana to think she would just pour her heart out simply because they had someone in common. Then a tiny voice of reason crept into her thoughts. She’s not asking for your life story. She just wants to show that she cares.

“Yeah, I guess you have a point. I really am okay. Things turned out better than I could have ever imagined. Feel up for a celebratory drink? I still have some of that brandy in there.�

“It’s only half past nine in the morning.�

“This is a judgement-free sort of place, Serana. Do you want the [censored] drink or not?�

“Oh, remembered my name, have we?� teased Serana. “And yes, I’d love a drink. Divines know we all could use one after these last few days.�

A few seconds after Gwyn disappeared into the confines of her tiny home, Serana noticed that Cain and Linneá had broken away from the others and were walking off into the tall grasses, deep in conversation while their parents and Kyne milled about awkwardly.

We’ll be back shortly, dear, came Linneá’s gentle thought. See if you can wrangle the folks, will you? They’re worried about intruding on Gwyn’s life.

“Are you sure they’ll be okay?� asked Cain. “They seem a little, I don’t know �" nervous? She doesn’t bite.�

“Gwyn’s not exactly sociable, brother. Ana can handle it, though. She’s determined to cut through that hard shell for some reason. Something about your friend has piqued her curiosity.�

“Doesn’t surprise me,� Cain admitted. “They have more in common than you know.�

“Oh? Like what?�

“That’s for Gwyn to share, and only Gwyn. I’ve probably said too much already.�

They walked a good way off until Cain felt they were far enough away to not be overheard. He was still thoroughly embarrassed by the hurtful remarks he’d made to Linneá the night before, but now that they stood alone and across from each, he struggled to find the words to say. It also didn’t help that Cain’s mind was still racing from what he’d just experienced.

Linneá understood anyway, and she pulled him in to her embrace. “It’s alright, Cain. I forgive you. I can only imagine how stressed out and angry you were last night. None of us realized how much you were still struggling with her loss �" even Kyne thought you were on the mend. We should have done more to help you sooner.�

“How could you have when I tried my damnedest to stay away? Don’t feel too sorry for me, Linn. I couldn’t even help myself.�

“Loss isn’t easy for anyone. I’m just glad you found Gwyn and developed whatever weird bond it is that you have with her. Things could have turned out much worse if you had truly gone it alone.� Linneá took a deep breath and then asked him something that had been on her mind for a while now. “What is it with the two of you anyway? She was willing to throw her entire life away for you this morning, Cain. An act of sacrifice like that goes well beyond friendship…�

“Gwyn’s a complicated woman, and she’s had a hard life, Linn. I wouldn’t expect you to understand.�

Linneá giggled and punched him playfully on the shoulder. “Okay, sure. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.�

“What do you mean by that?� asked Cain, indignantly.

“Nothing at all, brother. C’mon, let’s get back and make sure they aren’t at each other’s throats.�

There was, in fact, little of note going on when they returned to Gwyn’s cabin. Kyne had summoned a table large enough for all of them out front, and they sat in isolated groups. Serana seemed to be the lynchpin and was sharing the bottle of brandy with Gwyn, and talking to the others while Kirin and Lydia sipped from steaming mugs of coffee.

Cain sat down next to the tiny Breton and gave her hand a squeeze. Gwyn’s stomach did a somersault but, on the outside, she managed to keep a somewhat neutral demeanor and raise an eyebrow at him.

“I owe you so much. We’ll talk more about it later.�

She flashed him a rare smile and this time was unable to hide the new light in her eyes. Cain caught it just before she turned away but his attention was pulled elsewhere by a sharp noise that kept him from focusing on it.

“Ahem,� Kirin cleared his throat and looked around at all of them. “I know the day is young, but it feels long enough already. We need to get back home in time for the court to open, so I don’t think we should linger here much longer. Ms. Louvain was kind enough to let us stay this long already, and �"“

A snorting sound from the far end of the table cut off his remarks. Cain sighed and lifted a hand to his mouth to stifle the laughter from tumbling out.
“Er, is there something wrong, Ms. Louvain?� continued Kirin.

“Gwyn is fine,� she answered. “And you’re the High [censored] King of Skyrim. I can be a bitch at the best of times, but I’m cultured enough to know its poor manners to invite you to piss off. You and your wife are welcome to stay as long as you’d like. Uh, within reason, of course.�

“Oh, dear,� said Lydia.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Mrs. Windborne,� Gwyn retorted. “This isn’t the Blue Palace, it’s a piece of [censored] hovel with an earthen floor. I know you’ve only been royalty for a few years, so please just be yourselves.�

Linneá, Serana, and even Kyne had joined Cain in barely suppressing their laughter at the tiny, yet fearless woman. Despite her eagerness to get that part out of the way, Gwyn sat back and worried she’d gone too far and had disrespected Cain’s parents. That would be a rocky start to recover from. To her delight, they both laughed aloud at her brash directness and dropped the airs.

“Good enough for me, Gwyn,� chuckled Kirin. “We really do need to be getting back, though. I’m not even sure who the college is loaning us today for our court wizard.�

“There’s one more thing I’d like to do first,� piped up Cain. “With all of you,� he added.

“What is it, dear?� asked Kyne.

“I’d rather just show you, if that’s okay.� He got up and moved away from the table. “Come join me and I’ll whisk us all away at once.� Cain’s entire family circled around him with Gwyn at his side. They joined hands and he wasted no time in casting the recall spell.

-----

They reappeared hundreds of miles to the southeast, standing atop a steep cliff looming over the Abecean Sea. Cain knelt down and used his dagger to chop away the overgrown grasses to reveal the grave markers he’d lain down over the last two years. One for his mother, Ariessa Janeel, and one for his fiancé, Anska of Stonehills.

“Oh, Cain…� came a soft voice from behind him. “I’d always wondered where…�

Gwyn laid a hand on Linneá’s shoulder. “Sometimes it’s best not to say anything,� she offered, gently.

Linneá swallowed hard and fished around for her wife’s hand instead, gripping it tightly in her own. To their left, Kirin was comforting Lydia and Kyne who were dabbing at their eyes with kerchiefs. Standing firmly by her friend’s side, Gwyndala watched Cain rest a hand on both markers for a few moments. Then he slipped Anska’s engagement ring from his pocket and laid it on her tombstone.

“I’ll always remember what we had. Always.�

He brushed the tears away from his eyes and stood back up. Gwyn led him gently away so that the others could pay their respects, and sat down with him on a nearby rock.

“You chose a wonderful final resting place for them, Cain,� soothed Gwyn. “The view from here is truly special.� She eyed him closely and could not believe the shift in his spirit from early this morning. It felt like a completely different man was sitting next to her, in all of the best possible ways. The grief was still present, but he seemed to finally be at peace with himself.

“They deserve it,� he said to her. “Remarkable women, the both of them.�

“I don’t doubt it.� Gwyn gritted her teeth and steeled herself for the answer to the question she was dreading to ask him. It couldn’t be put off anymore, though, and she picked at her fingernails while probing nonchalantly. “So, will you be going home now? With your family? I’m sure they’re eager to put all of this behind them.�

Cain watched his family take turns kneeling in front of the gravestones, wondering what they’d think of his decision on that matter. He’d given that question a lot of thought over the last hour or two, and the answer was never in doubt.

“No. At least, not yet. You and I still have work to do.�

Gwyn hid her smile and did her best to seem only slightly interested. “Work? Like what?�

“I’d like to get rid of all those books on time magic. Not like I was ever going to learn it, and you’ve already mastered the contents, so they need to go. Even if it’s only to keep anyone else from stumbling onto such a trove. After that… I don’t know. S’pose I need to find a way to thank you for sticking by my side through all of this. And for how much you were willing to give up. That was never fair of me to ask and I can’t believe you indulged such selfishness. I’ll never figure you out, Gwyndala Louvain. Never.�

“I wouldn’t say never,� Gwyn smirked. “You already know more about me than anyone ever has. There’s just one piece of the puzzle left. In time, you’ll find the place where it fits.�

They looked back over at his family together and saw that Kyne was the last to take a knee in the tall grasses. Linneá and Serana were standing off to the side, watching the two friends sitting on their stone perch. The knowing smiles they shot at Gwyn were so smug she could have smacked them both. Then the goddess waved her hand over the graves, blanketing them with an elegant golden light while she rose to her feet and turned to beckon them over.

“Thank you for bringing us here, my child. For finally letting us grieve with you. And for taking such a monumental step in moving on.� She hugged him tightly for a moment and then gestured at the headstones once again. “I used a little divine magick to preserve them forever. The grass will never obscure them, nor will the sun ever fade them. No mortal will be able to remove them, and the ring will never leave that spot.�

Cain thanked her profusely and offered a hug of his own that she gladly accepted.

“I must go for now,� said Kyne. “But I’ll come see you again soon, okay?� She bade goodbye to the rest of them and soared off into the clear blue skies.
Kirin and Lydia approached him next and Cain knew exactly what was coming, so he headed them off. “Not just yet,� he said. “I promise I’ll be home before long, but not just yet. Gwyn and I have some loose ends to tie up.�

“We knew you’d say that, hon,� acknowledged Lydia. “We’ll be there when you are ready.�

“It won’t be too long, and I’ll make sure I stop by for dinner now and then.�

“I’ll hold you to that, son,� said Kirin. “I beg you not take another ten months, though. I’ve got big plans for you.�

More goodbyes followed, and then Cain’s parents retreated back a little bit to allow Linneá and Serana a few moments with him. They promised to stop in when they could, but first made sure to check if that was okay with Gwyn. She nodded and warned them not too early in the morning, or they would be unceremoniously thrown out.

Soon enough, it was just Cain and Gwyndala standing alone by the two graves. She had let his family pay their respects first, and now took the time to do so herself. After a moment of silence, Gwyn rose to her feet, placed her hand in Cain’s, and together they recalled back to her home on the Glenumbra Moors.

[Acadian]

“Gwyn’s a complicated woman,�
- - Now, honestly, is there any other kind?

Linneá had the right of it, highlighting how much Gwyn was willing to sacrifice for Cain.

It looks like Cain has been given another chance at love, and I’m pleased to see signs that he’s wise enough to, in time, take it.

Besides, I already see encouraging signs of Linneá, Serana and Gwyn acting like sisters. The three really do have quite a bit in common when it comes to temperament.

Wonderful touch by Kyne to magically preserve Ariessa and Anska’s gravesites.

[Kane]

Epilogue


(Three months later…)

Lightning bloomed across the cloudy night sky and a fierce eastbound wind rushed across the grasslands, carrying the smell of rain and driving the approaching summer storm ever closer. The light pitter patter of raindrops on the roof of Gwyndala Louvain’s meager cabin indicated it was finally time for her to leave. She slung a small backpack over her shoulder and took one last look around what had been her home for fifteen years. The bookshelves were empty, and most of her clothing and all alchemical ingredients were stowed away in her magickal chest. Only ashes remained on the fireplace hearth, and all of her furniture was stripped bare. Little of her life remained there and that’s how Gwyn preferred it.

Dry-eyed and filled with a steely resolve, she joined Cain outside in the rain.

“Are you sure about this, Gwyn?� the Redguard asked her for what felt like the thousandth time.

“If you ask me that again, I’ll lock you inside there while it happens. Just burn the [censored] thing down so we can get out of here before I’m soaked through.�

“Okay, okay, sheesh. Stand back and cover your ears, alright?�

Gwyn did as he advised and stepped back a few paces with her hands pressed firmly over her ears. Apart from the day he had rescued her from those brigands, Gwyn never actually witnessed Cain use the Thu’um in their time together, and she was dreadfully curious to see what would happen.

YOL-TOOR-SHUL!

The thundering eruption of fire from deep within Cain’s dragon spirit mingled with the sonorous lightning that cascaded across the stormy skies as it swept forth and engulfed the cabin in roiling flames. Had they not cleared the tall grasses from around the home earlier that day, a prairie fire would have spread in every direction.

“Holy [censored], Cain! Do me a favor and don’t ever point those lungs at me like that!�

Cain laughed and then prayed to Kyne, asking the goddess to keep the blazing inferno from spreading. And his Divine matron answered by ushering in a torrential downpour to thoroughly soak the earth.

“Godsdammit!� yelled Gwyn. “So much for not getting sopping wet! Get us the [censored] out of here already!�

The telltale flash of purple and white light briefly illuminated the darkness at the edge of the still burning homestead and the two of them vanished from sight. The fact that it was nearly one o’clock in the morning meant that that same small room deep within the Blue Palace where he had first met his family was silent and still when they reappeared in it, dripping rainwater all over the flagged stone floor.

It was a sparsely furnished chamber with a single table at the center and a few chairs spread out against the walls. Tapestries and flags featuring the Windborne family crest adorned the walls, and the oil lamps had all been set so low that they could barely see anything.

“I somehow expected more pomp and flair,� admitted Gwyn, her eyes scanning about the room.

“Skyrim isn’t as lavish as High Rock. Neither is my family, for that matter.� Cain walked cautiously over to the nearest lamp and turned up the flame so that they could at least find the door. “There we go, that’s much better. Fancy a drink or a bite to eat before we turn in? There’s usually plenty of leftovers from the day in the larders.�

“Nah, I’m tired,� yawned Gwyn. “Show me to my bedroom, Mr. Prince.�

“Ugh, don’t start calling me that. You should know by now that I don’t like the pomp and flair either.�

“Hey, I’m just trying to be respectful of your title!� Gwyn widened her eyes in a mocking manner and stared innocently at him. “Does my liege require an apology?�

“Oh, gods. That’s so much worse. Why did I think this would be a good idea...�

“Because you’re stuck with me and you damn well know it. Now, take me to my room before I pass out and you have to carry me.�

Cain shook his head ruefully and led her upstairs to the living quarters. He paused for a split-second outside of what had once been the room he shared with Anska, but didn’t linger. A tide of memories washed over him and Cain smiled inwardly at them while leading Gwyn up another floor to where his new room was located. He pushed open the door of the adjacent room and was pleased to find it was also empty.

“Here you go, madam Louvain. Make yourself at home!�

Gwyn strutted into the medium sized room and nodded appreciatively at the vanity against the far wall, and the adjoining private bathroom. She threw her bag on the floor, sat on the bed, kicked her sodden boots off, and flung them out into the hallway.

“Bad idea,� warned Cain. “If Linn sees those out there in the morning she will not hesitate to barge in here and wake you up.�

“Chuck ‘em back in here and then shut the door. I’m going to bed.�

Cain did as he was asked (told, really) and headed into his own bedroom. Settling in could wait until the morning, so he changed into some dry clothes from his bag and opted to set his own boots out in the hallway with a grin. The bed looked much more inviting than Gwyn’s rough cot he’d been kipping on for the last year and it did not take him long to drift off after snuggling down under the blankets.

-----

Dawn had not yet arrived when the same heavy rains that chased Cain and Gwyn out of High Rock earlier that morning roused him much sooner than he would have liked. He was staring up at the ceiling in anticipation of the busy day ahead when a soft noise caught his attention. Cain rolled over quietly and looked down at the floor to see Gwyn curled up on top of a few pillows against the side of his bed.

Frowning at the sight of her, he slid out of bed, carefully picked up the sleeping woman, and gently laid her onto the mattress. After she was tucked under the warm blankets, Cain took a seat in the chair near the window and pulled out a book to read. Just as expected, the door burst open a little while later and Linneá ran into the bedroom ready to make a fuss until she noticed the tiny Breton sleeping in Cain’s bed.

She backed out of the room and beckoned Cain to follow. Once they were out in the hallway, she shut the door and gave him a curiously apprising look.

“What?� asked Cain. “Oh… Gwyn. Dunno what happened there, sis. I set her up in the room next door and woke up this morning to find her sleeping on the ground next to my bed.�

“Uh huh. Sure.�

“I’m serious, Linn! Ask her yourself!�

“I’m not going to wake her �"“

She fell silent when the door opened and Gwyn looked up at them crossly. “You two make a lot of [censored] noise, did you know that about yourselves?�
“Well, good morning, Gwynnie!� bubbled Linneá. “Maybe you can clear something up for us!�

Gwyn stepped back and let them into the bedroom. She took a seat at the end of the bed while Cain pulled the chair he’d been using up next to the one Linnná had grabbed. Gwyn folded her arms across her lap and stared pointedly at Linneá.

“First things first; if you ever call me ‘Gwynnie’ again, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing you do,� she glared at her to make sure the message sunk in and was rewarded with a coy smile and a nod. “Excellent. Now that that’s cleared up… what were you two arguing about? And where’s Serana? I’m not accustomed to seeing you two apart.�

“She took Salihn downstairs for breakfast,� said Linneá. “Little tyke has school in about an hour.� Linneá shot a sidelong glance at Cain and then continued. “We weren’t arguing, by the way. I was just, um, curious about something.�

“Don’t beat around the bush. I heard most of what you were saying. Or should I say ‘implying’?�

“Can you blame me?� replied Linneá.

Cain was thoroughly confused by their exchange at this point and had just opened his mouth to chime in when Gwyn cut him off. Then he felt like just letting them go at it while he slinked off to have breakfast with Serana and his niece. But something told him that wouldn’t fly either.

“If you don’t know have all the facts, it’s better to say nothing,� said Gwyn.

“Then enlighten me, please.�

Gwyn blushed for only the second or maybe third time since Cain had known her. It highlighted the little dimples in her cheeks in a way that he found very endearing. She noticed him staring and he tore his eyes away and focused instead on the rain splattering against the window. A slight smile touched her lips and then vanished when she turned back towards Linneá.

“It’s really none of your business, but if it’ll make you drop the subject… it was too quiet in my room. Your brother snores so loudly that I wanted to strangle him the first night I let him sleep in the cabin. I guess I got used to the noise.�

“You should have woken me up,� said Cain. He maintained a calm exterior, but his mind was racing from her admission. “I’d have given you the bed and slept in one of these chairs.�

“I don’t need your charity. Though it was really [censored] cold on the floor and I wasn’t comfortable. At all. Now, Linn, if you don’t mind, I’d like you to leave so that I can go back to sleep for another hour or two.� Linneá excused her self and Cain made to follow her out until Gwyn addressed him. “Not you, idiot. Go sit back down and read some more. I’ll be up in a little while.�

Linneá chortled as quietly as she could manage and winked at her brother before departing to join her wife and daughter for breakfast. Cain shut the door and slid his chair back over near the window. The first book he’d grab had been a little dry, so he opted for the latest works of Adonato Leotelli instead. But his attention soon wavered and he found himself gazing at the woman sleeping soundly in his bed.

She didn’t feel safe without me around, even if she won’t admit it, Cain observed silently. I wonder when that started?

He noted the way Gwyn had blushed, and then remembered a few other times her toughened façade had slipped. Or the way she sometimes smiled to herself when she thought his attention was elsewhere. And the way Linneá had been subtly teasing them both for the last couple of months. Then her words from that fateful morning above the Abecean Sea echoed back to him: ‘There’s just one piece of the puzzle left. In time, you’ll find the place where it fits.'

Alarm bells rang in his head and he elected to set his book down and leave the room as quickly and quietly as possible. Cain figured that Linneá and Serana ought to still be eating breakfast, so he practically sprinted downstairs to their favorite small dining room.

Along the way he nearly ran right into his father, but Cain pushed passed him with a hasty apology. “Sorry, can’t talk right now, dad!� Moments later her crashed through the dining room door and joined his sisters at the table, huffing and wheezing from the exertion.

“Whoa, take it easy, Cain!� said Serana. “What’s got you so worked up?�

He took several deep breaths, poured himself a glass of water, and took a long drink from it before answering her question with an abrupt one of his own. “How long have you two known?� He paused at the sight of Salihn chowing away on some bacon and got distracted by the little one. “Goodness, you’ve grown so much this year, Salihn!�

The elfling had tacked on a few inches since he’d last seen her and Cain didn’t doubt that one day she would be taller than all of them. Salihn waved delightfully at her uncle but didn’t stop eating the salty breakfast meat and Cain didn’t blame her at all while he helped himself to a piece from Linneá’s plate.

“Anyway… where was I?�

“You were accusing us of knowing something,� Serana reminded him.

“Oh, that’s right,� said Cain. Then he shot an accusatory look at them. “Gwyn… how long have you two known that she, er, fancied me?�

“Ah, finally got there, have you?� laughed Linneá. “Ana figured it out the night you asked us for the Elder Scrolls. Poor Gwyn was already in deep by that point, I think.�

“But that was three months ago! How did I not �"“

“Notice? I think you did, Cain,� said Serana. “I just don’t think you were ready to acknowledge it. And no one blames you for that.�

He leaned forward with his elbows resting on the table and lowered his chin into his open palms. It wasn’t until now that he understood why Gwyn had stayed true to him, but he still couldn’t fathom why she’d gone along with his crazy endeavors.

“I’m such a piece of [censored],� he muttered. “You’re absolutely right about her, and my obsession made me ignorant to the signs. I put Gwyn through hell, didn’t I? The poor girl couldn’t do anything but watch me try to throw it all away and drag her down with me. She never deserved that and she should have dumped my sorry ass long ago. Why in the hell did she not run for the hills?�

Linneá patted him gently on the back. “It was a tough time for you, brother. Don’t keep beating yourself up about it. And as for Gwyn… well, the heart wants what the heart wants. There’s no telling what someone will do in the name of love.�

An uneasy feeling was settling into the pit of Cain’s stomach. He had no idea where to go from here and yet he could not stop thinking about the little dimples in Gwyn’s cheeks when she had blushed earlier. And the way her eyes had lit up after their ill-fated attempt at time travel when Cain had admitted how much he owed her. And those godsdamned dimples.

Next came the guilt, which evidently was written all over his face. The crushing guilt he felt at thinking he could betray Anska’s memory in such a way.

“Don’t do that to yourself, Cain� said Linneá, sharply. “It’s been over a year and we all know that you’re in a better place now. Anska herself told you to let go, and I’ll be damned if she didn’t pick up on how Gwyn felt about you. Did you forget the last thing she said before returning to Sovngarde? To Gwyn, of all people?�

“’Take care of him’,� finished Serana. “No one’s telling you to run off and propose to her, Cain� she continued. “But you’re allowed to be happy, and there isn’t a damn person in this palace that would judge you poorly for that. We just want to see you thriving again.�

Cain chewed absentmindedly on another piece of bacon, and then decided it was time to get back to his room. He poured himself a mug of tea from the urn on the table and excused himself. Linneá and Serana hugged him in turn before he left and said they were glad to finally have him back home. His feet carried him back to the bedroom automatically, and once he got there Cain was relieved to see Gwyn still sound asleep in the bed, snoring ever so slightly.

He sat back down by the window and tried once again to read his book. Moments later he gave it up as a lost cause and tossed it aside. Cain settled back in the chair while the debate continued to rage on inside his head. Was he even ready to move on like that? Could he be happy with someone else? Did Gwyn deserve someone who had been so selfish and nearly taken advantage of her in so terrible of a way?

The last part didn’t matter. She’d already shown her willingness to say by his side, and she harbored no ill will towards him. In fact, they’d grown even closer over the last three months. And it was Gwyn who suggested it was time for him to return home… but only if she came, too.

This went on for another hour until Cain heard a slight yawn and glanced at the bed to see Gwyn sit up and stretch her arms over her head. Her hair was tousled from being pressed against the pillow, and when she saw that Cain was still sitting in the room with her, it changed from a tealish-blue to a shimmering multicolored spectrum that best resembled a vibrant rainbow after a harsh summer storm. She smiled at him in a way that made his stomach lurch, and he knew immediately that it was hopeless.

“I’m starving,� said Gwyn. She got to her feet and grabbed a pair of flats from her bag and then slipped them on. “Do you think we missed breakfast? I swear I could eat an entire �"“

Her unfinished statement hung in the air after Cain leapt up from his chair, crossed the room, and bent down to kiss her.

Gwyn pulled away and stared up at him with a devilish grin. And then she started devouring Cain with her eyes. “It’s about [censored] time.�

This post has been edited by Kane: Apr 25 2025, 12:44 AM

[Acadian]

Then her words from that fateful morning above the Abecean Sea echoed back to him: ‘There’s just one piece of the puzzle left. In time, you’ll find the place where it fits.
- - Well. It’s about time, Cain!

I loved the banter between Cain and Gwyn. Also between Gwyn and Linneá. Gwyn is more than a match for both her new sisters combined when it comes to being feisty. Gwynnie indeed!

What a wonderful tale! Actually, two love stories in one and you made them both work beautifully.

[Kane]

He did get there eventually, lol. Moving on is one thing, but letting go is another. Despite the closure Anska gave Cain, he still needed more time to grieve.

Writing Gwyn's sass is immensely enjoyable. Truth be told, I hadn't originally planned on introducing her in this book. But she was living in my head and already decided for herself that it was time.

Thanks for reading along! This was my first attempt at writing something without having a preexisting narrative to follow, and I'm actually quite relieved that I didn't lose steam. The characters ended up being more than enough to develop a story around!

It also ended up being longer than Seeking Solace, which really surprised me. I don't have the exact number on hand, but MS Word has this at over 120,000 words.

[Kane]

Some author's notes, after editing the completed tale:

• I had initially written Anska closer to her in-game self, and given her a proficiency with magic that I forgot all about. This has been adjusted and all references to her combat style involve her favored war axe. Chapter VI in particular is where that's reflected the most, and in future chapters she has a typical Nord apprehensiveness to magic.
• I also tweaked a little bit of detail regarding Cain and Anska's summons by the Ayleid tribe. It occurred to me while editing that I had linked the assassination attempt on Linneá and Serana to the same person who summoned the other two down south. That's a bit contradictory, so for now, Ulvon's Morag Tong contact gave them a name (Lisotel) whose thread hasn't been pulled yet. This occurred in chapter XXI.
• The previous changed also required that Anilay and Mede were not behind the assassination attempt. That slightly altered some dialogue in chapter XXXI.

This post has been edited by Kane: Apr 29 2025, 06:17 PM

[Grits]

Good grief, Kane, you really got me with this story. I was delighted by Cain and Anska’s love story, and then of course devasted by the battle in the Blue Palace. As soon as Gwyn entered the picture I knew I was going to have to stay up late. There was no way I could put my Kindle down.

Gwyn was fascinating from the beginning. I love how the friendship grew between them, and then the subtle clues that Cain had come to mean much more to Gwyn. Gwyn’s willingness to sacrifice herself made me want to slap the still-grieving Cain upside the head for not seeing it, but even better that Anska herself gave them her blessing.

Anska’s last scene was heartbreaking and beautiful. I had to cry quietly because I didn’t want to wake up my dog.

I love the way you depict Cain’s dragon magic and Gwyn’s gruesomely twisted destruction magic. I hope we learn more about Gwyn’s history as her relationship with Cain develops, and she hopefully grows closer with the women in Cain’s family. If anyone could hold their own with Linneá, Serana, Lydia, and the freakin’ goddess Kyne, it’s Gwyn!

[Kane]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Grits! I had a blast writing it and it was my first attempt at writing something without having a story or quest line to use as a narrative.