Lucia
If you are reading this, then I guess you have already figured out who I truly am. Before my capture and imminent execution, please allow me to tell you the story from my side.
My name. My name does not matter for now. You all know me as Lady Envy.
I guess I should probably start at the beginning for you to see the full story, after hearing both sides of the tale, then I will allow you to judge. However before then I demand you still your tongue. However, before I do so I shall tell those of you
who do not know me a little bit about myself.
I am a Nord woman, hailing from Whiterun in Skyrim. I have beautifully long fair hair that I love to brush each morning and I would consider it my best feature. Although I'm sure the men of Whiterun would tell you my best features are something different.
I live in a modest house called Breezehome and I am lucky that in life I have never wanted for anything, for you see my father is the Karl of Whiterun.
That's right I am Jarl Balgruuf the Greater's bastard daughter.
I never knew my mother, she died giving birth to me. I'm told she was a beautiful woman that worked in the bannered mare inn. People always tell me that she was a woman full of life and that she loved to live it to the fullest each moment. They say I
remind them of her, they say I have her smile and her eyes.
I'm told my mother was a whore.
Also, I guess they mean I have her eye for my left eye is a beautiful crystal blue while my right eye is cloudy white, the healers and even Farengar Secret-Fire the court wizard, a master Mage of the college of Winterhold have no idea what the cause is.
I can see perfectly clear, I tell myself that it's because of my 'special' eye I am good with the bow.
My youth is as you would expect of a bastard child. Do not get me wrong, I am extremely grateful I wasn't thrown into an orphanage, for I had heard terrible things about them places. Though instead of being raised by a loving mother and father, my childhood
memories are of being raised by my adoptive parents Fralia and Eorlund Grey-Mane. They are nice and have treated me as one of their own, though all of their children are ten years on my age so I have always been the runt of the household. You see
they are good friends of my father and Eorlund is the legendary blacksmith of the Skyforge in Whiterun, he creates the Skyforge steel that everybody talks about, I had hoped that one day he would let me into his secret but I had to find out my own
way. My father refuses to acknowledge my birth, for the Jarl cannot be thought of bedding a whore.
As soon as I came of age Fralia and Eorlund told me that it was time that I found myself a husband to bear his children. After the ordeal with my mother bleeding out bringing me into this world I refuse to get with child, naturally they became furious
and told me that if I wasn't going to follow their house 'lore' then it was past time that I moved on.
The next day I was handed a purse of gold septims and a key with the deed to Breezehome, then I was asked to leave. These are the harsh traditions of the imperial law.
Since then I have fought my own battles and found my own path in this life, I accept the oath is a rocky one at places and I have done heinous acts that cannot and should not be forgiven, just know this, everything I did was to survive this harsh world.
It all started like most 'horror' tales, it started off as just another normal day. Well my normal day I should point out. The day was Sundas the 17th of the last seed 4E201. I remember this day well, for it seemed it was the last day of my ordinary life.
I woke up with the morning rays shining through the wooden slats of the window in my bedroom. I remember hearing the birds of the sky singing a beautiful song to each other on this beautiful morning. I climbed out of bed and brushed the stray straw from
my body, even though I was still naked I threw open my window shutters. I even remember giggling at the thrill of it then quickly ducking down out of sight. The breeze that drifted through the window blew out the last flames of my bedside candle.
I put on my fine red home decorated as you would most houses to be furnished In Whiterun to be furnished. I have a wardrobe and draws for my clothes. There is a cheat to the side of my bed for the treasures that I have acquired over
time and there are a few tapestries hanging upon the walls bringing some colour into the wooden home. The only person in Whiterun that sells furnishings is Proventus Avenicci the Jarls steward. He sells a small variety of furniture, however my step
father Eorlund is very handy with metal and wood work and he helped me when I needed it.
I got my favourite boots out of my cupboard to the side of my bed and slipped them on. I headed down the rickety stairs. Before sitting in my chair, I stoked the hot embers of the hearth fire bringing the flames back to life. Throwing some kindle upon
the hearth the flames picked at the dried grass feeding life into the fire. I added some dry logs to the flames to help the fire to grow to eradicate some of the chill that had crept into my home during the night.
I threw some Snowberries into the kettle suspended above the flames along with some harvested rain water, I cannot remember a morning I did not wake up and enjoy the pleasure of a nice hot Snowberry tea to warm the belly. It was Fralia's morning ritual
that I picked up when I left the house.
I remember hearing the hustle and bustle of the market a little way up the road from my home where merchants would fight to gain the attention of the townsfolk to unload their wares upon them for a nice profit. Finishing my tea I looked around making
sure that the house was nice and tidy before venturing to the market stalls myself to see what bargains I could snatch up, besides I needed to acquire some more candles to burn through the night.
I remember emerging from my home and smelling the calming fragrance of the lavender flowers that I had planted beside my home. I find the smell relaxing and there are always a few sprigs of them within my home to give it a nice relaxing atmosphere.
"A good morning to you Lady Envy." One of the guards said to me as he passes by on his patrol of the town.
"What's a lovely morning it is good sir." I replied to him. Heading towards the city gates I walked alongside the guard on my way to visit the blacksmith Adrianne Avenicci. "You have a daughter if I'm not mistaken, is she well?"
"Yes, thank you. My pup is growing up healthily, she is a good child. Her and her mother helps the farmer sell his groceries on the market stalls. What if you Lady Envy? Is there a man in your life for you to bear his children?" The guard asked. We walked
at a leisurely pace heading to the edge of town, a steady clink accompanied us as the guard used his spear as a walking aide. I noticed the perspiration upon his yellow uniform bearing the horse of Whiterun.
"No, I'm afraid not. I fear I am not fit to bear children into this world and the moment you tell a man that, he is on his horse running no doubt for the next woman to lay with. Though I am content living by myself, I must admit I do miss the company
of a family life." I replied with a sad smile to the guard who looked at me sympathetically.
"I am sorry to hear this Lady Envy. I'm afraid I must head back up to Dragonsreach now. I wish you a good day and may all the divines smile down upon you."
"Thank you kind sir, may all the divines smile down upon you and your family." I said to him as I watched him turn around and start to make his way back up the hill with his head scanning from side to side, the bright yellow of his uniform drifted along
the web of time and out of sight.
"Are you okay miss?" A young child asked pulling on my dress from behind.
Turning around I found a small brunette girl looking up at me with huge brown eyes, her clothes were dirty and a foul odour accompanied her. Her hair was all tangled and dirty and her teeth were a grim colour. "Yes, thank you sweet child. Are you well?"
I asked her in return. It looked like she had been through a great ordeal, I could see her soul screaming out in pain through her big brown eyes.
"Yes, thank you kind lady I am well. Although..." she started to ask something but her head fell in shame.
"What? What is it?" I asked the young pup.
"Lady, could you spare a coin?" She asked looking up at me with her big brown eyes. She sounded like she was ashamed and afraid to ask. My heart melted for the young pup.
"Of course!" I said to her, fishing in my purse I pulled out a gold septim and handed it to her. She gingerly took it, her eyes lighting up with tears building in the corners of her eyes. Only now did I see how truly beautiful she was.
"Oh thank you! The divines bless you lady." The young girl almost squealed. She could have been no more than ten years old.
"Please, my friends call me LadyEnvy." I said to her with a smile. "Though I would like to ask. Why are you begging sweet child?"
"It's...It's what Brenuin said I should do. He's the only one that's been nice to me since...since mama... since she died. My aunt and uncle took over our farm and they threw me out. Said I wasn't good for anything. I wound up here, but...I...I don't
know what to do, I miss her so much..." she had tears in her eyes as she told me of her struggles and by the time she had finished so did I.
"By the divines you brace girl. You must be starving?" I said to her wiping the tears away from my eyes.
"I am lady, my belly hurts so much." She whimpered, her cheeks flared red and her eyes fell to the floor again.
"Here come with me I will fill you with a nice hot stew that will warm your belly, I just need to get a few things from the merchant stalls first though sweetheart." I said to her. "Here why don't you tell me your name. I think it would be much nicer
than me calling you girl all day."
"Lu... My name is Lucia if it please you my lady." The girl said with a tremble in her voice. It appeared the young girl did not know what to do with herself, she looked on the brink of jumping in the air with joy and bursting into tears at the same time.
I guessed she hadn't expected any kindness from a stranger in the harsh lands of Skyrim.
"It does please me Lucia, for it is a beautiful name." I said. As she smiled up at me I felt the corners of my mouth lifting too. "Come on then sweetheart, let us not linger a moment longer than necessary."
I held the young pups hand as we walked the rest of the way to the blacksmiths forge. We rounded the corner and seen that Adrianne was hard at work pulling on the chain of the bellows, as the huge fan blew the coals of the forge they flowed white hot
and let out a blast of heat. Within moments I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead. Looking down at Lucia could see a streak forming as the sweat cut through the grime on her face.
"Welcome." Adrianne said smiling as soon as she realised she had customers. She gave me a warm smile, looking down and Lucia her smile faltered a little realising the girl was a street child.
"I was wondering if you had half a dozen iron nails." I asked her before she could say anything to raise my ire.
"I have, though I would of thought you would of gone to the Skyforge for them." She said looking at me puzzled.
"There is still some unaired problems between me and my adoptive father. The less I see of him the better I think." I said to her. "I am sorry for the hassle but I am in abit if a rush if you don't mind selling them?"
"Of course, that will be four Septims please." She said placing the nails within a small leather pouch.
"Thank you." I said to her handing over the coins and taking the pouch from her. I tied it to the belt tied around my waist. Holding Lucia's hand, I ushered her away from the forge and back into the road to the merchant stalls.
"Divines bless you lady." Lucia said to the blacksmith before we left.
"And to you both!" Adrianne called after us.
"Now then pup, I need to acquire a few ingredients for the stew and how about a nice freshly baked loaf of bread?"
"My mouth is watering just from your speaking miss." Lucia replied looking up at me with a heart warming smile.
Emerging onto the road I looked over as the towns gate banged,the guards flung the gates open to let a courier through. The man astride his horse charged through shouting at people to move out of his way as he was on extremely important business
for the attention of the Jarl. Curiosity gripped me but I had this little pup to take care of.
"I wonder what this important business is." Lucia said, voicing the same question running through my mind. "I have never really seen the inside of Dragonsreach. I climbed the stairs trying to seek the Jarls aide but when I reached the top I was turned
away by the towns guard saying it was no place for street urchins."
"Really?" I asked her. Looking up at me she nodded. " Well I think today maybe your luckiest day. We shall get a hot loaf from Carlotta and some Eidar cheese to spread over it, we shall get some groceries for the stew later and then we shall pay a visit
to Dragonsreach. How would you like that Lucia?"
"I would, very much Lady Envy." She replied.
"Good, then we can find out what was soimportant that made that man nearly plough though the towns people to get the news the the Jarl."
