Prologue (4E 230)

Emperor Titus Mede II is dead. Convicted of Treasonous Sedition against the Empire and a Vassal State, the Elder Council cast his Writ of Execution with a unanimous vote on Loredas, the 1st of Last Seed, in the Two-hundred thirtieth year of the Fourth Era. The High Chancellor Anilay Cato was chosen to oversee the day-to-day administration of the crumbling Mede Dynasty, and the former head of state himself was hung from the gallows on Green Empire Way in the Imperial City for all to see.

It was a time of uncertainty in Cyrodiil, for there was yet to be a clear successor to the Ruby Throne, and rumors of Colovian and Nibenese warlords arming up to seize power for themselves were beginning to circulate among the populace. Many citizens of the Heartland secretly wished the Dragonborn king of Skyrim would lay claim by birthright, but so far there had been little news from the northern kingdom.

And with a patience born of long life, the Thalmor diplomats were content to watch quietly from their Embassy while their handlers ruled the Third Aldmeri Dominion with an iron fist. Altmer agents moved about in the shadows to sow discord and discontent wherever possible and worked tirelessly to keep the Empire from once again rising to prominence.

-----

Queen Penolore of the Summerset Isles strolled through the botanical gardens of Alinor with her royal retainer in tow. The ultimate ruler of the Aldmeri Dominion, Penolore reigns supreme over the Altmer of her homeland, the Bosmer of Valenwood, and the Khajiiti of Elswyr with an unrelenting grip. The Thalmor operate solely under her command, bringing order to her subjects and extending her reach over the rest of Tamriel. But on this day, she felt only contempt for the ineptness of the organization’s recent failures in combating the rise of a new alliance of power to the north.

The shrill fops in her retainer had followed her from the palace, prattling on endlessly about matters far beneath her station in a constant bid to curry favor with the monarch. Seeking a measure of peace and quiet, she finally had enough of the bickering for one day. Penolore came to a halt and raised a hand in warning.

“Shut up. All of you will shut up now or I shall have you thrown from the highest tower of my palace. Begone from here if you value your meaningless existences.”

They fell silent in deference to their queen and filed out of the gardens as quickly as possible. Not a single one of them were keen to be present for her wrath should it need to be unleashed upon whichever poor soul tarried. Only a single Altmer remained, clad in the traditional dark robes of the Thalmor.

“Have you more to say, Lisotel? I would have thought your inability to carry out even a single assassination of those miserable whelps to the north would have stayed your sharp tongue. Tell me what value you could possibly still offer your queen when others have been flayed alive for failures of a far less magnitude than your own.”

“I only offer news that our agents deemed relevant, milady.”

“Very well. Spit it out and remove yourself from my sight.”

Magistrate Lisotel hesitated for the briefest of seconds. It would have to be today of all days that he was assigned to her retinue, and a message from Solitude should arrive to their headquarters by carrier eagle. Penolore was already in a foul temper after his Thalmor compatriots failed to squash another uprising in Anequina, and now he was poised to deliver more unwelcome news to the surly queen.

“It is with great regret that our field agents in Skyrim report the return of the High King’s son to the Blue Palace. He apparently was spotted in the city yesterday morning in the company of an unknown Breton woman. Where he had gone or what he was up to over the last thirteen months is still a mystery, but we fear his arrival and reintegration with the royal family will push the king to finally issue a claim to the Ruby Throne.”

The queen had stooped down to examine a budding rose stem while Lisotel spoke and she snipped it free cleanly from the stalk with her pruning shears as the words tumbled from the Magistrate’s overworked mouth. It slipped free of her grasp, fell to the floor, and Penolore ground it to a pulp with the heel of her boot.

“Tell me, Lisotel, have we not discussed the merits of tending to one’s garden on many previous occasions? See how easily that is done? Pruning an errant growth is a simple task that is abundantly important in maintaining a healthy growth; one of which I know your Order is easily capable of facilitating. I am granting you a second chance to do as I have ordered. Should you fail once again, the citizens of Alinor shall bear witness to your entrails displayed upon the ruins of Crystal-Like-Law. Return to me when the task is completed, and not one second sooner.”

Bowing his head graciously, Magistrate Lisotel took leave of the queen. Penolore continued to care for the overgrown rose shrub, snipping off stray stems with malicious intent.

-----

“What news from Chorrol, Brother Cassian?”

“High Chancellor,” greeted the courier. “Brother Indus’ scouts report little movement from the camps deep in the Great Forest. If they have anything planned, it will likely not be for some time. Indus suspects they are having trouble recruiting loyal men for the cause. Of course, this would all be a lot easier to verify if we are given leeway to operate more independently.”

Anilay Cato set down his quill and pushed aside the letter he’d been penning. This wasn’t the first time Cassian had made a similar remark, and the chancellor was beginning to grow weary of reminding the man just how delicate the situation in Cyrodiil really was. A stronger hand may be required soon.

“This again? We’ve been over it many times already, Brother Cassian. I’m giving you the most resources I can without drawing scrutiny from the elves. If they discover the Blades have secretly been reformed, the Dominion will bring war to our doorstep immediately. Do what you can with what I have given you and let’s not speak of this again. There are plenty of other men who would love to be in your position.”

Brother Cassian recognized his dismissal and saluted smartly as he turned to leave. Anilay continued to stare absentmindedly at the door long after it had closed behind his captain. He again found himself wondering if reforming the Blades had been a wise move on the council’s part. The endgame of the it made sense to all involved, but Anilay felt the interim risk was too high, and he’d unsuccessfully pushed to have the vote temporarily stayed.

“Too late now,” he said to no one in particular. And with a heavy sigh, he returned to his unfinished letter.

There was another knock on the door and it took all of his restraint to not fling the quill at it and berate whomever deigned to bother him again. “Come in!”

An elderly Breton woman with long gray hair tied back in a ponytail, poked her through the partially opened door and saluted. “Is this a bad time, sir?”
“No, no, come on in, Delphine,” said Anilay. “Forgive my exasperated tone, I just got done reminding Cassian of our straits and I fear that I shall never finish this correspondence.” He rolled up the parchment and set it aside until the next day. “What can I do for you?”

“I’d like to request something of you.” Delphine entered the study and took the recently vacated seat across from the High Chancellor. After she settled in, Anilay gestured for her to continue. “Might I be sent back north to Skyrim? I know the High King from our time together during the Dragon Crisis, and I may be able to get a better read on his intentions than some of our other agents have.”

“Oh, really? But as I understand it, your time working together did not end well, no? As I recall, he asserted his authority as Dragonborn over you and walked away from your efforts to rebuild the order. What makes you think he’ll let you into his court after all these years?”

Delphine frowned. She hadn’t expected Anilay to be so well versed on her prior dealings as a rogue Blade in Skyrim. Truth be told, her efforts to kickstart the Blades, along with Esbern, in Sky Haven Temple had crumbled to dust after Kirin Windborne had walked away from them. Further recruiting efforts failed, and the wizened lore-keeper succumbed to illness not five years later. For her part, Delphine had faded into obscurity as a farmhand in the western Reach.

“Heard about that, did you? Well, you’re right in that there’s no guarantee, but I don’t know what else I can offer the Blades, sir. I’m old and my days of fighting are long since passed. This at least feels like something meaningful I can contribute.”

“I see,” replied Anilay. “And would you be up for such a journey, Delphine? Autumn is settling in over Skyrim and our men at Cloud Ruler have reported the Pale Pass is already under several feet of snow. It will not be easy going.”

“I’ll manage.”

The High Chancellor studied her for a moment and then he grabbed a new roll of parchment and dipped his quill in fresh ink. He scribbled away while Delphine waited patiently for his decision, wondering where fate would take her next. She had been so hesitant when the rumors of former Blades officers being brought back into the fold were swirling, and it wasn’t until Brother Cassian himself had tracked her down to a small plantation near Karthwasten that she allowed herself to believe they were true. The reality didn’t truly set in for her until she was assigned a room at Weynon Priory, on the outskirts of Chorrol, and asked to advise the younger Captains leading this new iteration of the fabled organization.

Anilay finished writing his new orders, signed, and stamped the bottom with an Imperial Seal before wrapping it up and handing it to Delphine. “Deliver this to Brother Cassian and return to Cloud Ruler with him to begin your preparations.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Delphine. “I’ll keep in touch.”

“A bit of advice, if I may?”

“Sir?”

The chancellor dug around in his desk for few seconds until he found the dossier he was seeking. Flipping it open, Anilay slid out a sketching of Cain Windborne and handed it to the waiting Breton. “If the High King offers resistance, try speaking to his son. I’ve met the man personally and he’s wise, clever, and kind to a fault. Not to say that his father is an ignorant old man, but sometimes younger eyes see things differently. I’ve gathered that Cain is back home in Solitude after being abroad following the death of his fiancé.”

Delphine bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. Everyone in Skyrim had heard about his loss, and people across the province had mourned for the young woman from Stonehills. There were even gossiping commoners in the taverns at night saying she had been pregnant at the time, but that was never officially confirmed by the High King’s court. If It were true, Delphine didn’t fault him at all for taking some time away, even if his whereabouts were a mystery.

“I’ll keep that in mind, sir.”

“Excellent. Take care on your trip, and dress warmly. I expect a letter by carrier bird as soon as you get settled in at Solitude. You’re dismissed, Delphine.”

Anilay watched her depart and then he glanced back over at his unfinished letter. Deciding it could wait until the morning, the chancellor left his office in search of a strong drink to end the day with. He wasn’t entirely convinced allowing Delphine to intrude on the High King’s court was a good idea, but he’d expected answers from Kirin Windborne for some time now, and was rewarded with nothing.

If another week passes like this I shall have to contact Cain myself. Perhaps the man would be willing to visit me in person.

The White-Gold Tower still bustled with activity in the evening hours, and so Anilay elected to don his commoner clothes and seek a drink at Luther Broad’s, instead.

I’m delighted to see another volume of the Kyne’s Kidz saga!

Much has been happening. Wonderful job of painting the petulant Aldmeri Dominion queen in Alinor. If my reckoning is right, their plan seem to involve an assassination – perhaps Skyrim’s King Kirin? Although that would likely just result in Prince Cain taking the throne. We shall see.

And the old Blade Delphine will be visiting the Blue Palace it seems. Curious that Anilay’s apparent attempts to contact Skyrim’s high court have gone unanswered.

After reading this prologue, it is clear now that your title (Of Eagles and Dragons) likely refers to the Aldmeri Dominion and the Dragonborne members of Skyrim's royal family. Nice.

Thanks, Acadian! Life has been busy or we'd be further along by now, but there will be plenty of fun to come!

Chapter I �" Palatial Life


The city of Solitude bustled with activity in the morning hours. Shopkeepers propped open their doors to let the cool air in while vendor stalls in the market filled their baskets with the freshest produce harvested from farms resting just outside the towering stone walls of Skyrim’s capital. Children ran amok down the stretching cobblestone lanes, and the clanging of hammer on steel echoed through the stonework as the smithy tirelessly worked his forge.

Bards practiced under the warm sun bathing the courtyard of their historic college in a yellow glow, voices singing airily for all to hear while instrumentalists pounded on booming drums and plucked at twangy lutes. The Blue Palace, home of the High King and his family, stood proudly atop the great arch spanning over the inlet and port far below. The throne room and his court were empty, and would stay that way until mid-morning, when the various Thanes and advisors would begin to trickle in.

Deep within its expansive walls, Kirin Windborne shook his head bemusedly as he took a seat at the breakfast table with his loving wife and queen, Lydia. Across from him sat his daughters, Linneá and Serana, with their young elven child, Salihn.

“G’morning, da,” smiled Linneá, “why the silly look?”

Kirin poured himself a mug of coffee and helped himself to a plate of fruit, after which he answered his daughter’s question with a light chuckle. “Cain’s back, if you didn’t already know. Ran right past me earlier in some sort of tizzy, and I haven’t seen him since.”

Lydia handed her husband a napkin and pointed at the bit of melon clinging to his beard. He wiped it away and continued eating heartily while she filled him in on their son’s late-night arrival with the still mysterious to them Gwyndala Louvain. “The girls were just telling me he arrived with Gwyn sometime last night. Or early this morning, seeing as she is apparently still sleeping. But Cain was down here once already to talk about something that Linn refused to share with me thus far.”

Linneá made a big show of feigning indifference while she helped herself to more bacon, and topped off the glass of freshly-squeeze apple juice her daughter was drinking from. On Salihn’s opposite side, Serana rolled her eyes and nudged her wife’s thoughts playfully.

Must you always tease them, love? Cain hasn’t been home for good in over a year �" why pretend like you don’t know what’s going on?

I just want to give him some time. You and I both know he went back to that room in a different frame of mind. What if we barge in on them getting… you know…

Point taken.

“I’m sure they’ll be back down soon, mum,” said Linneá. “Gwyn won’t sleep forever and they’re probably both hungry. Cain only came by before to let us know they were back.”

Lydia stole a glance at her husband to see if he was buying that either. The quick wink in response was all she needed. “Nice try, Linn, but your father and I have both told you in the past that you’re a terrible liar.” She turned back to Kirin. “Finish your coffee so that we can go see our son. He and Gwyn need a proper welcoming.”

“Just let them sleep, mum,” said Linneá. “They’ve only managed to squeeze in a couple of hours before the storms woke Cain up. It’s going to be a long day for him already, no need to make it worse.”

Breakfast continued on amicably for the next ten minutes until Lydia quietly excused herself from the table with a steaming mug of tea in hand. The long stone corridors were beginning to come alive as the morning hours churned onwards. Palatial staff bustled about in the throes of their daily chores to keep the halls and rooms her family’s home clean and cared for while a light patrol of guards made their rounds.

Coming to a stop, Lydia took a cautious sip from her piping hot tea and raised her fist to knock on the door to Cain’s bedroom. Her balled fist hovered inches away from the wooden door when she heard a faint snoring sound escaping the room. Lydia instead lowered her hand to the wrought iron door knob and gave it a gentle turn while nudging open the door with her shoulder. Peering through the gap, she nearly gasped aloud at the sight of Cain and Gwyn sharing his bed, rolled tightly up against each other and fast asleep.

The door closed with a light click of the latch, and Lydia darted back down to the small dining room where she had left the others. The girls had left with Salihn, so she took the seat right next to her husband again.

“Back already, Lyds? I thought you had gone to sit in the greenhouse with your tea.”

“Nope. I wanted to see Cain, despite Linn’s warning,” she said. “Although it turned okay, I think I’ll heed her advice the next time she’s being cagey.”

“Oh? I take it he was still asleep then?”

“He was. And Ms. Gwyndala is sharing the bed with him.”

Kirin snorted into his coffee out of sheer surprise and began to cough heavily while Lydia thumped him on the back a few times. It took several attempts at blowing his nose into a kerchief before the hot drink cleared his sinuses and he was able to respond. “Well, that certainly is interesting!” he mused. “It was obvious they were good friends but I wonder how it led to this?”

“I’m curious, too,” said Lydia. “But I guess we should just be grateful Cain is happy again. He certainly has come a long way since our impromptu visit to Gwyn’s home.”

She took a minute to dab at her eyes with a different kerchief than the one her husband had balled up and thrown on the table. Seeing Anska again that morning had been difficult for everyone, especially Lydia. The guilt over Anska’s death was something that she had grappled with for a long time in the aftermath of that awful day, even though Cain had not blamed her one bit. Had she been armed, Lydia couldn’t help but wonder of things would have turned out differently.

“Aye, that he has,” agreed Kirin. “I’m sure they’ll come see us when they wake up, and you can ask them all about it. I need to get to the throne room, dear. Will you be attending court this morning?”

“Nah, not right now,” said Lydia. “I might join you later, but I think I’ll go talk to the girls for a bit. They definitely know more about what’s going on than we do.”





A small group of petitioners waited patiently in the Blue Palace vestibule for an audience with the High King. Some were commoners, others were more well-off shopkeepers or tavern minders, and some were wealthy landowners. They spoke quietly amongst themselves while waiting for the steward, a stout Nord man named Grist, to beckon them upstairs at the appropriate time. Another elderly Nord woman waited anxiously at the foot of the stairs, practically bobbing on her heels, and was the first up the stairs when the group was called upon.

Kirin Windborne did his best to remove the pained expression on his face when Bryling hurried up the stairs to make sure she was first in line. Brelyna Maryon, the court wizard loaned to the palace for the next ten days, sighed at the former Thane’s appearance and wished she had been sent the week after instead. Thankfully, the king took it upon himself to address the woman first.

“What can we do for you, Bryling?” asked Kirin.

“Thank you for seeing me, my lord,” said Bryling. “I’ve come to request more guards at Rockwallow, until such a time that Stonehills is rebuilt. The progress being made in the village is excellent but I still worry for the safety of my miners. Rumors of nearby bandit clans continue to circulate and I’m �"“

“If I may,” Brelyna interjected. Kirin held up a hand to quiet Bryling and nodded at his wizard. “Thank you, sire.” The tall dark elf turned her attention back to the old woman, red eyes gleaming in the anticipation of shutting this nuisance down. “Bryling, this is the third time you’ve made this request in the last two months and my scrying has yet to turn up anything of note.” Bryling scowled and opened her mouth to retort but the wizard cut her off. “I’m not finished. As I said, nothing has been revealed, and we even dispatched an exploratory commission two weeks ago that included the king’s own daughters. No traces of bandits were found. None at all.”

“Brelyna’s right,” said Kirin. “Stonehills has plenty of guards as it is, and there is no threat from anything other than local wildlife, Bryling. Return home and if you come to me with this request again you’ll be summarily dismissed from the palace grounds.”

The old woman’s face was a mask of cold fury, but she spun on her heel and left in a huff while the next petitioner stepped up. Brelyna watched her leave with a satisfied smirk on her face and then turned her attention back to the remaining rabble waiting before the throne.

It promised to be a long morning.





“How long has this been going on?” asked Lydia.

The rain had blown through in a hurry leaving behind clear skies and deep puddles all across the flagged stone walkways of Solitude, including the Blue Palace gardens. Lydia sat around a small table in those very gardens with her daughters and had begun grilling them about Cain and Gwyn. Linneá and Serana had been hoping for a peaceful morning to practice a few new spells they were mastering, but it looked like gossip would be the order of the day instead.

“This one’s all yours, love.”

“Gee, thanks, Elle,” replied Serana. “To answer your question, mum, it’s been ‘going on’ since about two hours ago.”

“That’s it? Just since this morning?”

“Pretty much, yeah. Gwyn has been down bad for Cain for several months now, but he only put two and two together this morning. Linn tried to warn you off earlier in case they were, um, exploring new things about each other, but it sounds more like they just took the opportunity to relax peacefully.”

“Several months?” said Lydia. “And how long have you two known that about her?”

“Ana picked up on it the night before everything came to a head. I’m sure that Gwyn’s feelings only deepened after Cain was finally able to move on and heal. In the span of a few hours, she went from not having a chance in hell, to her dreams coming true. And based on her usual bluntness, I’m surprised she didn’t try to jump his bones sooner, if I’m being honest. But I guess Gwyn must’ve wanted Cain to get there on his own.”

Lydia stewed on these revelations for a few minutes and came to the same conclusion her daughters had reached early that same morning. She found herself smiling inwardly at the prospect of Cain being back to his old self, and part of her relished what she knew would be a challenge: getting to know the diminutive Breton he’d returned with and who had helped him through so much.

“If he’s happy, then that’s all that matters,” Lydia concluded. “However, I think it’s time to go rouse them from their slumber. Care to join me?”

“Uh, not sure that’s a good idea,” said Serana. “Gwyn’s not afraid to tell anyone one off for doing something she doesn’t like. Including the High Queen of Skyrim.”

“Exactly,” grinned Lydia. “Figuring her out is a going to be a lot of fun, don’t you think?”

“Count me out, mum,” said Linneá. “I’d be lying if I said Gwyn doesn’t scare me a tiny bit. I don’t think she’s afraid of anyone, and she definitely doesn’t take [censored] from them either.”

It was with a dramatic sigh that Lydia left them to it and headed back inside the palace walls. The living quarters weren’t far away from the gardens, and so she soon stood outside of Cain’s bedroom door once again. This time, it was slightly ajar already and when she pushed it further open there was nothing to greet her but an empty room.

Figuring they were after something to eat, Lydia headed for the dining room where they had all eaten breakfast earlier in the day and this time she was rewarded by hearing a playful banter before she even set foot through the doorway. Cain and Gwyndala had managed to procure a small mountain of leftover breakfast food from the kitchen staff and had piled it on the table in front of them.

“Ah, there you two are! Linn tells me you got in late last night? I’m glad you’re finally home, Cain, and Gwyn you of course are also welcomed with open arms!”

Her wayward son, home at last after thirteen long months abroad rose from his chair and hugged Lydia tightly to himself. “Thanks, mum. It feels good to be back. Can you sit with us?”

“Of course, I can!” smiled Lydia. “Wouldn’t have been seeking you out otherwise.” She sat down across from the two of them and poured herself a glass of water while Gwyn watched her with something approaching a look of impatience. “So, then,” continued Lydia, “How have you two been? Oh, and I wanted to ask you about -”

“About checking in on us a little bit ago?” finished Gwyn. “Yes, I saw you. I was content, not sleeping. And yes, we’re together.” After a pause, she added: “Finally. That good enough for you?”

Lydia frowned at her terse response. She hadn’t forgotten their brief time together outside of Gwyn’s cabin when the woman had referred to herself as a bitch, but she was beginning to wonder how much of that was a front and how long it would take for someone other than Cain to crack that shell. And whether or not she wanted to start right now.

“I see,” said Lydia, deciding it would indeed be now. “Look, Ms. Louvain, I’m a very tolerant woman but I’ll ask that you show me some amount of respect while we’re within these walls. I’m Cain’s mother, first foremost, but I am also the High Queen, even if I don’t enjoy bandying that about. I won’t presume to know what in your life has made you so harsh when dealing with others but if you cannot find a way to be something approaching pleasant to myself, and to Cain’s father and sisters, then you’ll find that your stay here will be very short.” Having said her piece, Lydia smiled sweetly at Cain. “It’s nice to have you back, dear. I’m going to see if your father needs help with court this morning. Come see us later if you can.”

She strode gracefully from the dining room without so much as a fleeting glance backwards and headed up to the throne room to join her husband’s side.





The line of petitioners had dwindled but not cleared out entirely when Lydia climbed the vestibule stairs, crossed the hall, and took her seat next to Kirin.

“There you are, dear,” he said. The he lowered his voice and smiled gratefully at her. “You’re timing is perfect �" can you handle the next one? I need a break to grab a drink. We started off on poor footing with another visit from Bryling.”

“Bryling again? Small wonder you didn’t send the rest of them packing after that.”

“Brelyna handled her or I might have. Back in a minute.”

Kirin excused himself while Lydia beckoned forth a timid looking Imperial man carrying what looked to be a burlap sack full of rotting tubers. The queen groaned quietly and plastered what she hoped was a welcoming smile across her features as the man began to ramble about varmints and poor fertilizer quality. Further relief from what she knew would yet be a long morning came with the timely arrival of Linneá and Serana, who were just cresting the stairs when they caught sight of the odorous bag. Lydia had to restrain herself from laughing while her precocious daughter took the sack from the farmer, summoned a chest at her feet, and shoved it inside to save everyone present from the rank smell.

If the man was offended, he didn’t show it. Instead he turned his attention to Kirin, who had just return to his seat on the throne. He argued with the king for a few moments more before enough placating words were spoken. The farmer then began to demand his potatoes back from Linneá, but she refused to let the smell back into the palace air and was about to take the man to task when a single step forward from Grist was enough to dispel any remaining notion of combativeness.

Kirin sighed heavily and longed for an excuse to end court early, but a valid one had yet to present itself. At least until a few minutes later when he noticed Cain and Gwyn trying to slide past the remaining queued citizens and take a seat next to the girls. “Cain!” he shouted. “And Gwyn, welcome!” His face lit up with excitement at seeing them and Kirin wasted no time in ending the court session early. “I’m afraid that’s all I can manage for today, folks! If you didn’t get an audience this morning, leave your name with Brelyna and you’ll be first in line tomorrow!”

“Husband, there were only a handful left,” said Lydia. “You couldn’t have spoken to them today?”

“No,” he said, decisively. “We’re all here for a change, and it’s time to celebrate that with a hearty lunch. C’mon, we’ll have head to my study and make an impromptu trip back home to Elysium. I’m sure Kyne would love to join us, and we did promise to visit her more.”

What a beautifully evocative opening you gave us as you set the scene so nicely. A true treat for the senses as you described early morning in Solitude, gradually working your way into the palace.

I’m glad you highlighted Lydia’s guilt over the death of Anska – that makes total sense though I had not thought of it before.

What a fun ‘holding court’ session as unhappy citizens come before the High King to solve their perceived problems and sleights.

Gwyn vs Lydia! I’m glad Lydia did not back down after Gwyn quite wore through the High Queen’s patience. Gwyn will be a tough nut to crack and a lot of trouble, but something tells me she’s worth it.

I wanted to touch on Lydia's guilt sooner but Season Unending was already quite lengthy and was Cain's tale at the end of the day. This one'll be a little different.

Court seemed like a fun thing to tackle and will likely be a recurring theme. Not everything is doom and gloom all the time, so I think it's a good way to inject some levity.

I think Gwyn knows she deserved that. She's not on home turf anymore and is going to have to let her guard down around people other than Cain.

Chapter II �" Practice and Relaxation

A small spear of keen ice struck Linneá’s side and shattered into nothingness. Grimacing slightly from the pain, she casted another quick healing spell before closing her eyes to concentrate on the magickal theory she’d been practicing lately with Serana. The bright morning sun beamed down on the palace gardens they stood in, its vibrant light warming the air while a gentle breeze rustled through the overgrown ivies, endless array of flowering alchemical plants, and fruit bearing shrubs that filled the stone soil boxes and clay planters surrounding the two mages.

“Okay, hit me again!” said Linneá, breaking the idyllic reverie. The next icy spear struck her upper leg this time and brought Linneá down to one knee. “[censored]!” she gasped, “that one really hurt!”

Serana rushed over to her wife’s side and flashed her own healing spell with one hand, while her other gripped Linneá’s shoulder to steady her. “Let’s take a break for a bit, love. You don’t have to master it the first time out.”

“I’ll be fine, just gimme a sec.” She breathed deeply several times and then scowled at Serana. “Did you make that last one stronger?”
“Maybe,” giggled Serana. “I thought you’d concentrate harder if I made it hurt more. Did it work?”

“If it means I won’t have to feel that again… yes. But you should know by now that there are better ways to entice me, dear.” She reached up and twirled a small strand of lace on her wife’s top that was slightly undone. “Just untie this all the way and I’ll have all the motivation I need!”

“Divine’s sake, Elle, I’m not going to parade around the gardens with my tits out for all to see.” Serana helped Linneá back up to her feet and shot her a devious smile. “Tell you what… if you reflect the next one I’ll conjure up that… object… you’re so fond of when we go to bed tonight.”

“The red and black one? Deal. Now get back over there and hit me again. Use a damn blizzard spell if you have to, cause I’m definitely going to make sure we have a good time tonight!”

Linneá closed her eyes while Serana moved away, and readied herself for the incoming blast of ice. A shimmering aura of pale blue light encased her slender form in anticipation of the hostile spell Serana was about to fling her way once again. The promised reward at the forefront of her thoughts, she focused a fair bit of her ample magicka reserves to cast Shalidor’s Mirror.

Another flash of icy blue sliced through the air, rushing towards Linneá, and this time it immediately reflected back towards Serana, who barely had her ward spell up in time. The shard of magickal ice shattered against the protective barrier and the moment Serana lowered it she dashed back to Linneá and jumped into her arms.

“Elle, that was perfect!” Serana pressed her lips firmly to Linneá’s, who slowly drove her a few paces forward and up against the palace wall. “Ooh, careful!” squealed Serana. Further words were not spoken until they heard the door open and footsteps clicking on the paved stone floor.

Lydia saw them separate, shook her head ruefully, and then beckoned them to sit around a small table with her. Linneá and Serana joined her, and their mother wasted no time in asking about Cain and Gwyn: “How long has this been going on?”

-----

Cain and Gwyndala were awake and eating a late breakfast when Linneá and Serana walked into the dining room a short time later and sat down opposite them. Their brother seemed to think something very amusing was going on while his tiny Breton girlfriend chewed on her bottom lip and stared aimlessly through his sisters as if they’d never appeared.

“Good morning, you two,” said Serana. “Uh, Gwyn, are you alright? And what’s so damn funny, brother?”

“You just missed mum,” explained Cain. “She took Gwyn to task and then left to join dad like it was just another ordinary conversation. I’ve never seen her fired up like that.”

“Oh no,” sighed Linneá. “Gwyn, dear, you really don’t wanna be on her bad side. Mum isn’t just some bumpkin our dad met on a farm, she was a housecarl for the Jarl of Whiterun and was assigned to protect dad when the Dragon Crisis began. They fought dragons’ side by side to save us all, and she dueled Alduin himself with dad on the Throat of the World. There is far more to our mother than just being the High King’s devoted wife.”

Gwyn had still been staring at the wall behind them, but she did hear Linneá’s warning and when she focused back on the present, it was with a mischievous grin that caught the others off guard. “I had it coming,” she admitted. “I’m sure you noticed I can’t help myself sometimes, and that I come off like a bratty [censored]. And she didn’t even pretend to hold back, went right to calling me out on it. I think I’m going to like Lydia, but you all need to give me some space for a while, okay? I lived alone in that cabin for fifteen years until your brother here came along and wormed his way into my life. I’m not used to being around this many [censored] people all the time.”

“Fair enough,” said Linneá. “Do you want us to leave? Let you and Cain eat lunch in peace?”

“No, I… I’m fine with you two.”

Serana’s eyes flashed with surprise, and she helped herself to a sweet roll while stealing a glance at Linneá. I think she likes us, Elle, she thought at Linneá. Maybe we can help her acclimate?

I’d wager she thinks more highly of you than me. She probably hasn’t forgotten that you took the time to check on her more than once. But we can definitely see if she’s interested.

Their brief mental exchange didn’t escape Gwyn’s notice, and she flung a grape at Linneá to get their attention. It bounced off her forehead and splashed neatly in the jug of water sitting in the middle of the table, which had the intended result. They were both looking at her again and trying not to laugh at Gwyn’s outlandishness.

“It’s rude to talk about others in front of them, even if it is telepathically,” said Gwyn. “If you have something to say, then do so out loud.”

Cain had mostly been silent during this exchange but when he opened his mouth to chime in, Gwyn kicked his leg and he nearly yelped in pain from the pointed shoe digging into his calf. The look she shot at him screamed ‘I’ll handle this’, so he shrugged and went back to dipping a crusty loaf of bread in a small bowl of seasoned oil.

“You’re right, that was rude,” agreed Serana. “We’ll try not to do that. Anyway, Elle and I thought we could take you under our wings, help you get settled in here. Show you where the quiet places are, who to avoid… that sort of thing. Interested?”

“Under your wings? You do realize I’m older than you two, right?”

“Technically, very few people in all of Tamriel are older than my Ana here, but, yes, we do realize that. Besides, it’s just an expression, Gwynnie. What do you say?”

Gwyn stared at them for a moment, her expression unreadable. Linneá suddenly wasn’t sure if now was the right time to be offering this �" Gwyn had only been here for a few hours and no doubt felt way out of her comfort zone. But they were going to have to get to know each other eventually, and Linneá and Serana both felt there was more to this woman than a callous exterior. And the fact that she already opened up to Cain and let him in further proved that to them.

“… I think that sounds nice. Final warning, though… if you call me that again, they’ll never find your body. Oh, and I do have one question for you, Serana.”

“Hm?”

“Where do you keep the brandy?”

-----

Late morning quickly gave in to midday while life moved on in the Blue Palace. Downstairs, near where the very foundation of their home was set deep into the bedrock of Solitude’s great arch, one of the larger unused dungeons had been converted into a private library with its own small alchemy lab off to the side in an antechamber. Soaring bookstacks stood against every wall in the circular chamber, and a large table at the center housed several magickal light sources, surrounded by comfortable armchairs, and plush chaises. Tables covered in scrolls, inkpots, quills, and notebooks were tucked into random corners, and a large shelf filled with several bottles of liquor and glass goblets adorned the southern wall.

The collective books, tomes, spell books, and manuals had been assembled over the last five to six years by Linneá and Serana, who were now nestled down on one of the chaises, hoping to eke out a bit of piece and quiet before heading upstirs to attend their father’s court. Serana held a thin novel in one hand while the fingers of her other hand laced through her wife’s hair.

But she was having trouble concentrating and soon glanced down at Linneá with a frown. Vacant hazel eyes stared past Serana’s own to the ceiling above. “Can you not think so loudly, love? It bleeds over sometimes. Why are you still peeling that theory apart anyway? After that show early, I’d say you’ve mastered Shalidor’s Mirror.”

“Oops, sorry. I didn’t realize you could hear me.” Linneá sat up with her knees tucked in towards her chest and rested her chin between her knees. “You know how I am �" always trying to improve upon things. I started to wonder if, given the proper focus, spells could be redirected outwards in a wide-ranging effect, instead of the back at the caster. It would be a handy trick if you find yourself surrounded."

Serana shook her head in admiration. “Only you would take a spell from Shalidor himself and wonder if it could be better, Elle. You’ll never cease to amaze me, you know that? I’ve had thousands of years to practice magick and sometimes I still feel like a novice when I watch you peel apart spell foundations or master theories that would turn the heads of Telvanni mages.”

Linneá blushed and looked away. “You stop that, you’re gonna make me tear up and I don’t want to ruin my makeup before we go help da. Besides, you’ve forgotten more about alchemy than I’ll ever know, so let’s just say we’re even.”

“Got me there,” laughed Serana.

Serana picked up her book and started reading it again while Linneá laid her had back down in her lap. Despite her best efforts, bits and pieces of Linneá’s thoughts continued to filter through at odd times until Serana sighed and set the book down in surrender. She settled for closing her eyes and leaning back to relax until they needed to leave, content to enjoy the quiet morning in their library.

Half an hour later, Linneá stood up to stretch, and then grabbed Serana’s hand. “Come on, we might as well go now. I hit a wall and it looks like you’re about to fall asleep.”

“Just resting,” said Serana. “I kept hearing the odd stray thought of yours.” Her stomach grumbled on the way out of their library, so she steered her wife towards the nearest kitchen. “I need a snack first, come this way.”




The smell as they entered the vestibule and ascended the stairs to the throne room assaulted their senses and nearly made Linneá and Serana gag. Wondering what on Nirn could cause such an odorous stank, they took the stairs two at a time in search of the offending items and spotted the farmer with his bag of rotting potatoes, still bandying them about in from of Kirin. Linneá immediately dashed to the man’s side, yanked the burlap sack out his hands, and dropped it into a summoned chest.

“You’re not getting those back,” she spat, interrupting the farmer’s retort and waving her hand in front of her face to dispel the foul smell. “Why the hell did you think it was a good idea to bring those before your king? Finish your piece and don’t pull a stunt like that again, or you’ll join those potatoes in Oblivion.”

After a subtle warning from Kirin’s housecarl, the man took the hint and went back to yammering about his perceived slights.

“That wasn’t very tactful, Elle,” whispered Serana. “These people do look up to us, ya know…”

“[censored] him,” she shot back. “Besides, mum got a kick out of that. Did you see the [censored]-eating grin on her face when I told him off? She loved it.”

Leaving the man slightly off-kilter, Linneá and Serana made for a nearby bench and took a seat until they would be needed again. Things proceeded uneventfully for a few minutes more until Cain and Gwyndala tried to sneak in past the commoners and join his sisters in wait. But their father noticed them right off, called a closing to the morning court and waved the four of them over to where he and Lydia tended to the Throne of Skyrim.

“What’s up, da?” asked Linneá. “Why’d you send them all away? Still had at least another hour of madness waiting in line.”

“Ah, don’t worry about them,” said Kirin. “I’m famished and we’re all here together for a change. Come on, we’re heading up to my study and then to Elysium for lunch with Kyne. I already discussed it with your mother, and we can use the break!”

Linneá shrugged and started to follow her parents further into the palace while mentally tipping off their goddess that they would be visiting. Serana was about to follow suit, but she noticed that Cain and Gwyn were hanging back and seemed to be debating something. Gwyn in particular looked a little agitated.

“Everything okay?” she asked them, doubling back.

Properly motivated (by lust of course), Linneá is able to cast quite the reflecting spell to counter Serana’s ice bolt.

I was pleased to see that Gwyn realized she deserved the reprimand she got from Lydia in the last episode.

Older than Serana – I suspect not!

I winced when Linneá called our little Breton Gwynnie again. . . and Gwyn did not disappoint.

What a cool mages girl cave Linneá and Serana have beneath the palace!

Sounds like a Divine lunch is up next.

Chapter III �" Settling In

Rain splattered against the window. Occasional footsteps passed by the locked bedroom door and continued down the hall. A dim fire crackled in the hearth. Distant lightning sundered the grey skies above and the echoes of thunder reverberated throughout the province. The city hummed with activity despite the inclement weather, and time marched on, unhindered and unimpeded by all those who are subjected to its ultimate dominion.

And, yet… it seemed to stand still. The world felt frozen in place. Cain was unsure how many seconds, moments, or even hours had passed. All he knew was that it would never be enough. How could he have missed the signs for so long? She was there all along, right in front of him, but he never knew when it began. Neither did he suspect she would ever want such a thing �" especially after what she’d been through in her teenage years.
Then his stream of thought broke quite suddenly and time seemed to speed back up when Gwyndala’s soft, curved lips separated from his own, and she stared up into his eyes with an inviting hunger.

“It’s about [censored] time,” said Gwyn. “I was beginning to think you’d never get the hint. But I need to ask… are you sure you’re ready for this, Cain? I won’t hold any doubts against you if you’re not.”

“I wouldn’t have made the first move if I wasn’t ready,” said Cain. “I promise.”

“Good enough.”

They were kissing again and Gwyn steered them back towards the empty bed. “C’mon, breakfast can wait; let’s get some more sleep. You have no idea how long I’ve waited to curl up against you.”

“Uh, I’m not exactly tired anymore,” said Cain.

“Too bad.”

She pushed him down and waited until he lay comfortably on his side, and then Gwyn climbed in the bed and tucked herself in against him. It only took a few minutes for her light snores to resume, leaving Cain to close his eyes and hope that he could fall asleep again, too. Then he realized how long it had been since he was in such an intimate position with another woman, and he gently pulled away from Gwyn a little bit so that she wouldn’t notice the sudden change that came with that thought.





He awoke alone an hour later to find that Gwyn was already up and getting dressed. What remained of her modesty had apparently vanished now that they were sharing a bed. She sat fully nude in front of the unused vanity in his bedroom, brushing out her hair and getting ready to apply her makeup. Cain took the time to study a few of the subtly glowing tattoos that stretched down her back �" he’d not seen some of them in the past, despite Gwyn’s penchant for skimpy clothing. They flowed enchantingly out from the center in a beautifully intricate design that accented the delicate curves of her small, slender body.

Cain’s eyes inevitably drifted south until they froze on the space just above her backside. There were two prominent dimples exposed by the way she leaned forward to brush on her eye shadow, and in that moment, he longed for nothing else but to explore what other mysteries were normally hidden beneath her frayed and patchy robes.

Her eyes caught his reflection staring at her in the mirror and she grinned wickedly. “Maybe later, if you behave yourself. I was starving before but now I’m ravenous. We’ll get something to eat and then see where the day takes us.”

“Breakfast it is,” said Cain. “The kitchen staff should have plenty set aside. They reuse what they can for lunch sometimes. And I know of a quiet dining room away from the hustle and bustle that’s bound to kick up soon.”

“Then get dressed so that we can get the hell out of here. I’m almost ready.”

Cain slid out of the bed with a nod and pulled a nicer set of trousers out of his backpack. Most of the shirts he owned were dirty and wrinkled, so he pulled the pants on and then headed across the room to see if anything nicer awaited him in the wardrobe. A blue and grey quilted shirt and doublet hung from a wood hanger, and a pair of loafers rested at the bottom of the ornate cabinet. Cain pulled off his faded undershirt and was about to pull the new clothes over his head when he saw Gwyn admiring his shirtless torso in the mirror.

He flexed once with a wink and parroted Gwyn’s own tease back at her: “maybe later, if you behave yourself.”

“Oh, go [censored] yourself!” she laughed. “Seriously though, put that shirt on before I slide off this chair. And go fish out something for me to wear. My clothes are still in the next room.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Cain finished getting dressed, slid the loafers on, and headed to the empty room next door that was likely to stay that way. He gathered up all her belongings, slung the small pack over his shoulder, and returned to his own room a few minutes later.

Gwyn waited for him on the bed, a blanket draped over her arms to ward off the chilly autumn weather that had already set itself in over the northern province. Her left eyebrow raised itself at the sight of Cain laden down with all her belongings. “That’s awfully bold of you to assume I’d be staying in here for good. What if I only needed your comfort because it was my first night in a strange land?”

“Because I know you, Gwyndala Louvain. I’ve had seven months to understand exactly who you are and what makes you tick. I know you already trust me to protect you, or you would not have been so reticent to be apart last night. And now that we’ve moved beyond a normal friendship? I suspect there will rarely come a time when we are apart. If I’m wrong, tell me so now and I will return all of this to the other room.”

Gwyn stood up from the bed and let the blanket fall to her feet. She bared herself entirely to Cain and slowly walked towards him, her eyes locked firmly to his. Cain’s heart beat furiously against his rib cage at her approach, and he held his breath in anticipation. “Goddamn it. You are making this really difficult right now,” she admitted. Gwyn bit her lip and took the sleek violet robes that Cain had grabbed out of her bag from his hands. “Help me slip this on so that we can go eat. And then you and I are going to have a long talk about certain needs of mine and how you’re going to fulfill them.” He exhaled and pulled her in tight for another kiss, but she raised a finger to his mouth instead. “Later.”





As promised, Cain led them to the same dining room the rest of his family preferred to eat in every morning. His arms were laden down with baskets of food from a quick stop by the kitchens, and Gwyn carried a pitcher of fresh water and two plain goblets. They only managed a few mouthfuls of the delicious breakfast before Lydia joined them at the table. Cain was happy to see her again, but he did not expect to see her clash so soon with Gwyn. After a thorough chastising of the Breton’s behavior, Lydia departed, only for Linneá and Serana to stumble in on them mere moments later.
Resigned to dealing with a revolving door of visitors during their first day back at the palace, Cain focused on filling his empty stomach with much better fare than he and Gwyn had been living off of for the last several months while everyone else spoke around him. He had stopped by for dinner a few times before they finally returned, but there was something different about knowing he could enjoy this every day now.

Midway through a hunk of bread, he opened his mouth to interject in a conversation between his sisters and Gwyn when he received a painful kick in the leg for his efforts. And soon, they were gone too, finally leaving just the two of them to eat in what he hoped would be peace.

“You enjoy being around them somewhat, don’t you?” he asked Gwyn. “My sisters, I mean.”

Gwyn shrugged. “I guess so. They seem like a lot of fun, but I don’t know if I’m looking for what they want out of me.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You really have to ask?” said Gwyn. She poured herself another measure of water, fished the grape out of it, and took a pull from her goblet. “Cain, I don’t know how to be close to anyone. You are the exception in the very lonely life I’ve led since aunt Marcie died. They can tell I’ve got a ton of baggage and I’m sure they mean well… but I can’t fathom myself sharing with anyone what I’ve already shared with you. How could they understand? Where do I even start? I’m not even sure you understand, but I’ll be damned if you didn’t earn the truth. And it wasn’t until after I shared that pain with you that I began to think of you as a friend. Before that, you were just a tool. A means to an end. Someone strong to scare off those who would try to take advantage of a small woman out on her own.” Her piece finished, Gwyn downed the rest of her water and sighed. “Should have grabbed wine instead. I knew this would be a long day.”

Cain regarded her with sadness in his eyes. The wonderful person that sat next to him didn’t deserve her lot in life and he wished he knew how to help her open up. But something told him she needed to get there on her own and that pushing her would only push Gwyn further away from his family. And from himself.

“Look, I’d never force you to do anything you don’t want to,” said Cain. “I’m grateful you did open up to me, especially since it’s led us to where we are now,” he gestured vaguely around the room, “not physically, but the fact that we’re together as more than friends. And if I might make a suggestion? Speak to Serana if you need a good jumping off point. She carries a dark history within herself too, and you might have more in common than you realize. But do it on your terms and on one else’s. I promised you that we’ll leave if this new life is too much, and I stand by that promise. Now more than ever.”

“Stop being so [censored] good to me,” she blushed. “And I’ll think about it. Serana does seem to get me more so than the rest.” Gwyn helped herself to a large bowl of fruit and spoke around a mouthful of sugared jazabay grapes. “Now… no more talking, let’s just eat for a while.”

-----

There was some sort of clamor echoing around the vestibule when Cain and Gwyn emerged from the long hallway leading into the Blue Palace depths. Raised voices echoed down the stairs and an awful smell circulated throughout the lofty entry way and grew stronger as they climbed the stairs to find what the fuss was all about. An agitated man in farm clothes was speaking at Kirin and Lydia, so Cain grabbed Gwyn by the hand and tried unsuccessfully to sidle over to a bench where his sisters sat in wait.

Kirin’s voice boomed out seconds later, welcoming them to his court, and then he wrapped up the proceedings and waved all of them over to his side. Gwyn started fidgeting nervously by Cain’s while Kirin told them it was time for a family lunch at their old estate, and that Kyne would be joining them. She’d hoped there would be more time to settle into this new life before something like this would happen, and she didn’t relish the idea of being thrust into such an important social event so quickly.

The others started walking away while Gwyn whispered urgently to Cain. “I don’t know if I can do this, it’s so soon. And I didn’t get off to a good start with Lydia earlier �" what if I say something stupid again? I’m [censored] terrible at this [censored] and I’m starting to freak out! Can we just stay here by ourselves? Please? Will they even miss us? I �" “ Her sentence hung unfinished in the air when Serana joined them.

“Everything okay?” she asked. “You look upset, Gwyn �" what’s going on?”

“It’s a little overwhelming,” answered Cain for her. “Getting together with all us right off the bat, I mean.” He wrapped his arms around Gwyn and gave her a quick hug. “You don’t have to join us, but there’s no way I can get out of this, Gwyn. It’s my first day back and Kyne will be there to boot.”

“I can stay here if it’ll make you feel better, Gwyn,” offered Serana.

“That’s nice of you, but no, you should go be with your wife. Can you give Cain and I a minute? He’ll catch up.”

Serana turned to leave and Gwyn sat back down on the bench with Cain. “I don’t like it, but I understand your obligation. I think I will stay here this time, though… if that’s okay with you.”

“You do whatever makes you comfortable,” smiled Cain. “If you want to settle in undisturbed for a while, head down to the lowest level of the palace and look for a wooden door with a nightshade bloom painted on the wall above it. That’s Linn and Serana’s private library and you’ll feel right at home there.” He paused to unclasp a chain around his neck and then he handed it to her. “Take this and keep it with you while I’m gone. When it’s time to return, I’ll recall to it. Do you have the talisman you were practicing with?”

“Oh, yeah, here.” Gwyn pulled a studded earring out of her earlobe and handed it to Cain.

“Thanks. I’ll leave this outside the estate. If you change your mind and decide to join us, you’ll appear on the front walk.” He bent down to kiss her and then lifted her chin with his hand so that they were looking eye to eye. “That is by no means a request or an attempt to make you feel obligated. You come only if you want to. They’ll get the [censored] over it if you don’t.”

Gwyn laughed and kissed him back. “You’re starting to sound like me. Go be with your family. I’ll be here when you get back.”

-----

Cain stepped into his father’s study a few minutes later and shut the door behind him with a click. His family had settled in to wait for him and Gwyn and were chatting among themselves while Kirin moved out from behind his desk and greeted his son warmly.

“There you are!” He pulled Cain in for a hearty hug and then clapped him on the back. “You didn’t stop for so much as a ‘hello’ earlier this morning but at least I know why now! Lydia tells me you and Gwyn kicked things up a notch, eh? Well, I guess that means I’ll just have to get to know her better! Where is the lass anyway?”

“That can wait, husband,” said Lydia. She got up from her chaise and gave Cain a kiss on the cheek. “It’s lovely to have you back, dear. I take it Gwyn will be staying behind?”

“Yeah,” nodded Cain. “She’s not a social person and she isn’t used to any of this yet. And, no offense, our family isn’t exactly a quiet one. The thought of a boisterous lunch with all of us is a bit overwhelming for her."

“It’s okay,” said Lydia. “The girls warned us not to pressure her and we’ll make sure Gwyn gets the space she needs. And about earlier… she’s not upset with me, is she?”

“No, not at all,” laughed Cain. “She knew it was deserved and she appreciated that you didn’t pull your punches.”
“Good. Should we be off then?”

“Sounds great,” said Cain. “I’ll need to ride along though �" I don’t think I ever marked anything permanent at Elysium. Anska and I were only there for the one day.”

“You can hold my other hand, Cain,” offered Serana.

The Windbornes gathered in a circle at the center of the room and vanished in a flash of purplish-white energy. And not ten minutes after they were gone, the door to the locked study swung open under the influence of Gwyn’s alteration spell. Crestfallen, she looked around the empty room and cursed her indecision.

[censored]. I should have just stuck with him from the get-go, she thought. Guess I’ll wait downstairs.

Nice to step back a bit and cover some of the same ground from Cain and Gwyn’s perspectives.

I think Cain chose wisely in recommending the counsel of Serana who, like Gwyn is no stranger to a troubled and dark past.

I was pleased to see Gwyn ultimately change her mind about lunch but, unfortunately, a bit late perhaps. I know he gave her a talisman but does she know the recall spell? I won’t be surprised if, at some point, the pair decide to share thoughts like Cain/Anska and Linneá/Serana.

Now that all the main characters have been introduced, I'll be either switching perspectives from here on out, or mixing them all together for some chapters. It was tricky covering all three in one morning - I should have given myself a bigger window of time in hindsight.

Indeed. It'll be curious to see how long it takes Gwyn to work up the courage.

She does know the recall spell and has mastered it. But their being gone already is also the perfect excuse (for someone who doesn't know how to be social anymore) to say "aw shucks" and stay behind. Gwyn'll have to work up the courage for that, too.

The thought sharing will be tricky. There is a lot of trauma involved in that on Cain's behalf...

Chapter IV – The Ice Begins to Thaw

The windows of Elysium Estate were flung open to let in the cool autumn breeze blowing off the tundra of Whiterun Hold. Candle sconces, chandeliers, and candelabras lining the open rooms, hallway, bathing areas, and alchemy and enchanting labs were all lit and burning cheerfully for the awaited guests. Outside in the gardens the shrubs were trimmed, flowers bloomed, and a campfire crackled merrily in a small sitting area just outside the back door.

Delectable aromas of roasted meats, fresh baked breads, steamed harvest vegetables, and freshly sugared fruits wafted about the kitchen and dining rooms of the vacant home for Kyne’s champions. New barrels of mead and wine sat tapped and ready on the counter with freshly cleaned tankards, goblets, and glasses waiting to be filled. And several bottles of Colovian Brandy were decanted for a post-lunch sipping.

The Goddess of the Storm and matron Divine of her beloved Windborne family placed the final touches on her dining room spread. Curly auburn hair fell beyond bare shoulders that seemed impossibly perfect. A shimmering linen robe of purest white draped over her human form, and glittering green eyes carefully surveyed the dining room table. Kyne reached down and tweaked a napkin ever so slightly, so that it was perfectly parallel with the ornate silverware resting upon it. She gazed around the empty home, remembering days past when her children lived and thrived under its roof and her eternal guidance. She was proud beyond words of all they had accomplished, but Kyne knew she’d always miss the simpler times in this house.
And then a flash of light accompanied by a cadre of voices outside by her shrine announced the arrival of the guests. Seconds later, the Windborne family pushed through the front door one by one and stared in amazement at the spread Kyne had prepared for their last-minute lunch decision.

Cain entered last but was singled out first by the goddess. Her beaming smile seemed to wash away all the cares of the world and her warm embrace smelled of freshly picked primrose. “There you are, my child! I’m so glad to see you’ve finally returned home.” Her eyes darted around the newly arrived guests and noted the lone missing Breton, who’s eclectic hair and revealing wardrobe normally stood out, despite her being dwarfed by Cain and his tall family. “But where is Gwyndala? I thought she had returned with you?”

“Give her time, mum,” said Cain. “She’s not good at this sort of thing and is feeling like a fish out of water. I taught her Mark and Recall and she will join us if she wishes to.”

“Aw, okay,” sighed Kyne. “I rather hoped to take a walk with her this afternoon, but I guess it can wait.”

“A walk?”

“Yes, dear. I still know so little about her… and, yet, Linneá has shared a very interesting turn of events with me! That can wait until later, though,” she winked. “For now, let’s eat!”

Kyne greeted the rest of the family and then invited them to sit down and dig in to the sumptuous fest she’d prepared before their arrival. Silverware clinked off of porcelain plates, conversation sparkled, and laughter echoed around the dining room while the Windborne clan enjoyed themselves and brought Kyne up to speed on everything happening at the Blue Palace. She was especially curious about the nature of Cain’s evolving relationship with Gwyn, but her questions on the matter derailed after a commotion began in the kitchen.

“Ouch!” exclaimed Linneá. “What’d you smack my hand away for?! I was going to fix a glass of this for you!”

“The brandy is off limits until Gwyn gets here, Elle. She enjoys it as much as I do.”

“I thought you said she wasn’t coming?”

“I did,” affirmed Serana. “But I still have my suspicions. Drink the wine for now, and pour a double for me.”

“If you say so.” Linneá poured two large glasses of Arenthia red for the two of them and gave Serana a kiss on the cheek before rejoining the rest at the table.

Kyne shook her head and smiled at Kirin and Lydia. “Those two will never change, will they?”

“Doubtful,” laughed Lydia. “In fact, I fully expect them to sneak off to the master bedroom for old time’s sake. Ten Septims say Linn will have her down there within the hour.”

The sound of silver on glass suddenly tinkered across the table, and once she had their attention Linneá picked up her wine-filled goblet for a toast. “It occurred to me just now that the last time most of were here at Elysium, it was with Anska. There probably isn’t a day that goes by where one of us doesn’t think about her and how special she was to all of us.” She paused to dry her eyes along with everyone else. “[censored], sorry, told myself I could get through this without tearing up. Guess not. Anyway – “ She raised her glass with the others. “To absent friends.”

“To absent friends,” they chorused.

Linneá took a long drink and then gripped her brother’s shoulder tightly with her free hand. “Sorry, Cain. I felt I had to say something.”

“S’okay,” he muttered. “I know what she meant to you. Thank you for honoring her memory.”

“Hey, how about a distraction? I’ve been hearing about how great a swordsman you are ever since you turned up last year, but dad’s the only here who has seen you in action! Fancy a sparring match in the yard? Ana and I left a bunch of gear downstairs before we left. I’m sure we could both find a sword we like.”

Cain regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. He knew Linneá was worried about dredging up hard memories, but he only remembered Anska in a positive light these days. His fiancé’s brief return and parting words had impacted him greatly and finally set the path for him to move on. And he had done just that – as much as he could, anyway. Cain suspected Linneá knew that too, and began to wonder if this was an excuse to do something she’d wanted to do for a while now.

“You’re on, sis,” he replied.

“Awesome!” Linneá playfully elbowed her wife’s side, “told you he’d go for it, love.” Linneá drained the rest of her wine and then grabbed Cain’s hand to lead him down the hall. “C’mon, we stowed what we couldn’t take with us in the basement. There should still be several racks of weapons and armors.” She stopped and called back to the others, “meet us outside in ten minutes if you care to watch!”

They descended a small flight of stairs and through a double-set of doors to the cellar beyond. Linneá led him through a small reading nook before the hall opened up into large chamber lined with trophy shelves, display racks, and countless mannequins adorned in a wide array of armors, light or heavy. Mysterious artifacts rested beyond glass cases and atop gleaming pedestals.

“What is all this stuff?” asked Cain.

“Spoils of many adventures. Some from ma and da, some from Ana and I.” She pointed at a large white bow floating above a stone pedestal near the northern wall. “That’s Auriel’s Bow, there. We tracked it across the entire damn province and used it to stop Serana’s father from plunging the world into eternal darkness. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Was that during your vampire phase?”

“Phase? Seriously?”

“Couldn’t resist,” grinned Cain. “Does Serana have any other family?”

“Yeah, her mother, Valerica, is still at Castle Volkihar. We don’t see eye to eye. Never did, really, but once it set in for her that Serana chose our love and to grow old and die with me, she became even more bitter. It’s been a few years now since we spoke to her.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Linn,” said Cain.

“Don’t be. She made her choice and is too damn stubborn to change. There’s no reason for her to still be out on that godsforsaken island when her only family is within reach. Serana had hoped that she’d change with Harkon out of the picture, but Valerica is too set in her ways. She thinks that that stupid, petty, conniving vampire court still means something.”

Cain recognized that she didn’t have anymore to say on matter and so he busied himself with checking the heft and balance of a few longswords. There seemed to be a surplus of tantos and he was curious about that until he remembered Linneá defending the palace last year with one of the short blades in her off-hand while she unleashed powerful magick on the hapless invaders with the other. It wasn’t until he reached the end of the final weapon rack that a well-polished blade caught his eye.

He lifted the simple, yet elegant longsword free from its place on the dusty rack and admired the intricate carvings etched into the cross guard, and rubbed a hand over the expertly woven leather grip. The pommel tapered down to a blunt point, and the keen steel blade itself was impeccably imbued with a silver edge. A blood channel dipped down like a small valley at the very center of the weapon, and when Cain held it aloft, he found that the balance suited him perfectly.

“Good choice,” noted Linneá, who had just come around the corner. “That was one of my first forays into mixing metal types and I spent many a long hour perfecting it.” She raised her own chosen sword to indicate she was ready. It was slightly longer than the one Cain had chosen, with flowing lines spanning the length of the blade, and a glowing purple stone with a mysterious rune set into the pommel. “I crafted this one before we rescued mum from Apocrypha. Many a demon of old Mora’s fell to this sword in that awful realm. Afterwards, I focused more on honing my magickal prowess in favor of longswords.”

“We don’t have to do this if you’re out of practice, Linn. No shame in changing your mind about a friendly spar.”

“I never back down, brother. You should know that by know.”





After a second stiff drink the lines on page were beginning to blur. Gwyn shook her head vigorously in a vain attempt to bring her eyes back into focus. It didn’t work and she set down the book that she’d been reading with a sigh, and chose to stare absentmindedly up at the ceiling above her instead. Bored and lonely, her hand reached for the third glass of brandy she had poured and nearly tipped it over before her fingers closed about it.

She held it to her lips and then withdrew it sharply, resisting the urge to fling it against the stone walls around her. Gwyn dabbed at her eyes with the hem of her sleeve to wipe away the unbidden dampness and groaned with frustration, her vibrant array of prismatic hair that had set in earlier that morning now reduced to the darkness of the abyss.

Coward, she thought at herself. I should have just sucked it up and gone with him. It’s not fair that he has to go it alone while I sit here in misery.

If Gwyn had been more alert, the sound of the door to Linneá and Serana's library opening and closing again with a light snap would have garnered her attention. Instead, she nearly jumped out of her skin in surprise when she rolled over on the plush chaise and found herself staring into the curious green eyes of an elven child. “Ah!” she yelped. “Who the [censored] are you?!” The little one jumped back a step and frowned unsurely at Gwyn. It only took a second for recognition to dawn on Gwyn, and then she tried her best to smile kindly at the little girl. “[censored], sorry, kid. You snuck up on me is all. Wait, are you Salihn? Cain’s niece?”

Salihn nodded. “Those were bad words you said.”

“Um. I’ll try not to say them again.” Gwyn pulled herself up to a sitting position and patted the empty space next to her. “Come sit with me, kiddo. My names Gwyn. I’m a friend of your moms, and your uncle Cain.”

“Do you know where my mommies are?” asked Salihn while she clambered up onto the chaise. “They aren’t in our rooms or the kitchens. I can’t find Nana, either.”

“Oh, yeah, they went to have lunch at their old home. Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

“Mrs. Elisif sent us home early. How come you didn’t go with Uncle Cain?”

Gwyndala fidgeted nervously in her seat. She’d always had a soft spot for kids, but damn it if they also didn’t cut her right to the core. The alcohol and an interesting book had allowed her to tamp down the feelings of angst after having not gone to lunch with Cain and his family. Now it came roaring back to the forefront of her thoughts and she began to feel guilty again for not recalling to Elysium after she changed her mind the first time.

“I, uh… I’m not used to being around a lot of people,” said Gwyn. “I’ve been on my own for a long time and sorta got used to that. I guess… I guess I get scared around people I’m not familiar with.”

“Mum says it’s okay to be scared as long as we have someone we love to be scared with,” said Salihn. “I was a little scared when I couldn’t find them – wanna be scared with me?”

Salhin’s cheery green eyes stared hopefully at Gwyn, and the solitary Breton felt a large piece of the icy veneer she’d worked so hard to encase over a lonesome life shatter to pieces. Never more than in that moment did she appreciate the innocence of children and the mark they could make on someone, and seemingly without effort.

“I’d love that,” Gwyn smiled through new tears that welled up from somewhere other than the pity she’d felt a few minutes ago. “So, what do you do for fun around here, sweetie?”

“I have lotsa toys upstairs and sometimes we all for go walks or we play down by the water but it’s getting too cold out for that. Can we go to Mama Kyne’s house, too? It’s more fun there and she likes to play with me in the gardens!”

Gwyn bit her lip hesitantly and came within in a hairs breadth of trying to persuade Salihn otherwise until the little one grabbed Gwyn’s hand and comforted her with a reassuring smile the same way Serana had tried to on several occasions.

“We can hold hands and you can stay with me, Ms. Gwyn. Mama Kyne will take care of us both!”

Goddammit, she is just so stupid cute, thought Gwyn, melting a little more. Guess I’m going to lunch anyway. I wonder if his sisters planned this… I certainly wouldn’t put it past Linneá.

“Okay. We can do that. I was starting to miss your Uncle Cain, so it will be nice to see him again.” They got up from the chaise and Gwyn grabbed her hand. “Can we go back to my bedroom first? I want to slip on a different pair of shoes.”

“Sure! Follow me, I know the way!”

Salihn took off at nearly a run while Gwyn tried her best to not stumble out of the room after her. The brandy made her movements a little sluggish at first but the sudden burst of activity soon helped to clear her head. They arrived back at Cain’s bedroom a few moments later and a breathless Gwyn sat down on the bed to rest for a moment.

“Where’s all your stuff?” asked Salihn.

Gwyn waved her hand once and a magickal chest appeared at her feet. “I don’t have a whole lot anymore and most of it’s in here. Gimme a sec, hon.” She kicked open the chest and fished out a pair of black, strappy, open-toed stilettos with a three-inch heel. “These’ll work. I won’t feel so lost next to your freakishly tall family.” Gwyn finished putting the shoes on and then scooped up the little one. “Have your moms zipped you away like this before?”

The elf girl nodded and hugged Gwyn tightly in preparation. More and more of the cold, distant shell fell away from Gwyn as she smiled at the small arms wrapped around her. She focused on the talisman Cain had promised to leave outside of Elysium Estate should she have a change of heart, and with the destination in mind, they vanished into the tell-tale vortex of swirling purplish-white magickal energy.

Cain vs Linneá in a mock blade matchup. That will be interesting! Discussing the background of some of those weapons was a neat way to review more of the family’s past adventures.

Then back to Gwyn at the palace. Well, a book and some brandy didn’t help. How about an elf-child? I love the way Salihn so effectively melted away Gwyn’s protections. In fact, I join Gwyn in wondering if Linneá and Serana were not behind this ploy to lure Gwyn to lunch.

Very high heels will indeed help – a little – when Gwyn joins those tall Nords! So will standing next to Salihn.