Chapter I
The sun is shining bright today, its the middle of the Second Seed and the warm days are yet to come. I was usually coming at the port of Skingrad, the water was so ever calmly and I would take off my shoes so I could soak my feet in the cold water. Bah, I never really did enjoy the hot days of the summer. I would usually keep myself busy in the warm days with my father's books in the library where the air was cooler, it was more static, It had something about it that I enjoyed, and the melodic silence fitted it all.
„The Hero of Kvatch"
I glanced down at the book in my lap. After reading so many times that I've lost count I still can't imagine how could Martin Septim transform himself in a dragon, and the Hero of Kvatch was there to behold it all. It just seems so unreal even if it did happened 200 years ago, which wasn't such a long time if you come to think about it. The Oblivion Crisis surely was a time to be alive. I tiled my head back to look at the sky; the sun's gentle rays changed my grey eyes almost to white; sighing I murmured to myself: „To become a dragon, woah...". Always I have dreamed being an adventurer just as the Hero of Kvatch was; but I did know that such a life was not suitable for me, im the girl of a writer, not a warrior. Lost im my thoughts, when I finally returned to reality I realised I was late. I've quickly took my shoes, I felt the sun's warmth inside them as I've put them on and I've snatched my book quickly and went back home.
Rumbling through his things I could have guessed my father was yet again preparing for one of his litte expedition out in the world. Peering inside the slighty open door of his library I saw him packing some supplies, I frowned in disbelief.
„Father?" I asked as I nocked on his door.
„Yes, my child?" he didn't rise his gaze to look at me being too busy with his packing.
„Are you going to leave again?" I asked, carefully walking inside making my way next to him.
„Yes, yes." – he searched his cupoards, drawers finally reaching for a quill – „I'll be leaving for Skyrim at dawn."
Skyrim...I took a moment find any memories connected with that name. The land of the Nords I finally caught on a glimpse as I remembered a painting of mountain from that land called „The Throath of the World" I once saw in a shop here in Skingrad. I did so envy my father. He would never have took me with him in his travels outside of Cyrodiil. He saw all the provinces that there were, all the lands and never getting tired of doing it all over again. I could not tell myself what more inspiration could he find for his stories as he had seen them all and why would he still leave me alone for such long periods of time. My mother died giving birth to me; he was my only family and still he would leave me alone only having his library full of books as a reminder of him.
I inhaled deeply, thou I knew his answer would be a no I still managed to gather myself some courage and asked him.
„Will you take me with you?"
This time he rised his gaze to look at me. He began with a low voice.
„You know I can't Elrien. I can't risk something happening to you, you're just a little girl, you're my only child. After..." – he paused for a brief moment this time his gaze was facing the floor – „...after what happened with your mother I can't risk you coming with me, you're only eleven and out there its different I couldn't bear the tought I could lose y-"
In that moment I spanned: „Yes, but you can leave me all alone for months and then come back like like none of this happened!"- I felt my eyes water and I glared at him - „You always do this! These books of yours are more important than your own child!"
He did not have the time to reply, nor did I want to hear what he had to say as I ran out of the room as soon as the words escaped my mouth. I needed to run away. Running down the streets I went to the town's gates and asked the guard to open them, he did raised a brow thinking it was a little late but in the end nodding he did so and I went straight to old lady Lyann's home. She had a little shack down the road close to town with a beautiful garden next to it. Her youth was harsh with her, she couldn't bear children so she always considered me as her niece. She welcomed me to stay the night and I did not complain, nor she asked me what was wrong, by the look of my face she knew my father was leaving again.
The next morning after I woke up I went straight home only to find it as empty as it was everytime father left. He left me all alone again. That bastard, I thought to myself without realising that I was on my knees, little transparent pearls of water falling down my cheeks.
„To Oblivion with you and your blasted hunger for writing father." I murmured narrowing my eyes as I looked at the window seeing dawn was sweeping through. He did not even wait for me to give him my farewells.
Moments have passed which seemed like hours to me, I've pressed my hands on the floor as support to get up. Wiping my tears I returned back to Lyann. Her wrinkled eyes were looking with pity at me.
„He left, Elrien?"
„Yes, he wasn't home anymore when I arrived." – I gave her a fainted smile as I made my way to sit next to her on her bed.
She stroked my hair lightly trying to comfort me and I gave a small sigh.
„I will braid your hair." Lyann finally spoke.
„Please do so, lady Lyann." She had such light hands. As she began to ran them through my hair little strains of hair looked as if they were blonde, not light brown as my hair was. I raised my head a little to look through the window, I couldn't help but notice the little specks of dust that where slowly dancing in the sun's rays. Its rays was reaching my face as well making it look even paler than it was. I closed my eyes slowly as I enjoyed Lyann's hands stroking my hair. It didn't took long for her to finish as my hair was just a little above my shoulders. It was her way of comforting me. Everytime father was not home I mostly spent my nights at hers. The dark scared me but the thought of being all alone scared me even more.
Months have passed, and my father did not return. Then months transformed to years and father was yet to come home.
