A legion of Imperial soldiers scouted the wilds of Valenwood in hopes to discover what the Thalmor were up to. Leading this group was a woman best known as Melody Hawke, Dragonborn and her white wolf, Eira. Even though she was half-elf, the Thalmor of the Aldmeri Dominion was hunting her down now that the dragons were no longer around. Her gifts as Dragonborn made her a target for her enemies. This had also affected her family. Her husband, Bishop, her son and daughter, Julian and Bethany. If she were to fall, they would be next.
"Hey Dragonborn!" A soldier called from the back of the group only to receive an arrow close to his manhood. He yelped in surprise, forgetting that his commanding officer was there to lead the group through enemy territory to scout and report, not give away their position.
"Want to say that louder, soldier?" She asked sarcastically as it was her go-to emotion given almost any situation. "I don't believe all of Nirn heard you."
"We were just wondering if we were close." He whimpered not wanting to make her more angry to the point that she uses her power to shout him into pieces.
"We'll know when we're close. Thalmor tend to want to stand out." She confirmed, about ready to keep the group going, but he saw her wolf companion and stopped.
Eira sniffed the air and immediately started growling. Melody Hawke notched another arrow and thought that she was ready for whatever came.
"And we love our entrances." A voice hissed around the group just before the Thalmor ambushed the Imperials.
The Dragonborn shouted her orders to the men and women behind her as she used her powers as the Dragonborn against her enemies. The tattoos all over her body glowed and burned anyone that dared to touch her. Her wolf howled loudly and attacked the Thalmor mages one by one.
From a distance, another imperial scouting party could hear Eira's distressed howl and the fighting. They heard the Thu'um of the Dragonborn. They saw flashes of light that were probably caused by lightning and fire spells. They smelled the burnt flesh of friend and foe. Before they could even reach their comrades, a mysterious green light flashes in the sky and unworldly screams were heard. When the group finally reached the battle, it was already over. Bodies were bleeding and burning all over. No one survived, and no one was identifiable.
Word of the attack reached General Tullius of the Empire in Solitude about a month later. Even if it was just a rumor and she had survived, he still had a duty to inform her husband. Tullius would normally send a lower ranking soldier or a courier to do it, but this was personal. If the rumor of her death was true, he had lost an honorable soldier, a valued ally, and a friend who helped end a Civil War years ago.
He rode with a few soldiers just in case of bandits or Thalmor that had somehow crossed the border. After a few days, he arrived at a small cottage outside of Riften. The home of the Dragonborn and her family. He knocked on the door and was unfortunately greeted by the ranger that was Bishop, husband of the Dragonborn.
True, he did not have the power his wife had, but the ranger was a man you never wanted to anger. He even taught his wife how to fight when they first agreed to travel together.
The general regrettably reported the news to Bishop. Bishop was silent at first. Had he heard Tulius right? Melody is... gone? He slammed the door in the general's face and immediately grabbed his two young children and told them to pack. He promised his wife one thing: if anything happened, even if it was a rumor, he'd do everything in his power to protect his son and daughter.
The family packed, took their three wolves, and went to Riften after seeing that the Imperials had left. They used a secret passageway to get to the Thieves Guild headquarters, the Ratway. Bishop had hoped that this day would never come, but he had to do this anyway.
"Brynjolf!" he yelled for the new Guild Master since his wife was gone.
"Bishop? Lad and Little Lass? What is going on?" The red-headed thief asked.
"Melody... she's... we don't know for sure, but I need a favor." Bishop struggled to find the words.
"Of course." Brynjolf knew what the heartbroken ranger was trying to say. "What do you need?"
"I need you to take care of Julian." He didn't want to, but he had to.
"What?" The eight-year-old boy was frightened. "Why? Did I do something wrong?"
"No! No, Julian." Bishop comforted his son. "I just need you to stay with the Guild until I find your mother and return. Until then, Brynjolf will keep you hidden from the Thalmor and anyone else who will want to harm you."
"What about Bran?" Julian gestured to his silver and white wolf that had been given to him when he and his sister turned six.
"Bran will stay with you always." Bishop smiled, knowing that Julian took after him.
"And Beth and Kodlak?" Julian then worried about his twin sister and her black and white wolf.
"They will be kept somewhere safe," Bishop told his son then looked at his daughter. "You've been quiet, Little Princess."
"I don't want to go!" She screamed to the point everyone in the Ratway heard her. "I want to stay with you and Jules and find Mother!"
Tears were streaming down her face as she begged her father to keep the family together. Kodlak whimpered and tried to give his human companion comfort.
Bishop sighed and held his little girl close. "I'm sorry, Bethany. It's too dangerous for you and your brother to help me look for your mother. But I promise that I will never stop looking for her and when your guardians think that you're old enough, you can find me and join me."
Neither of the children liked the idea, but it was a battle they knew that they couldn't win. They hugged each other tightly like they were never going to see each other again. Kodlak and Bran did the same, for they were litter mates and were always part of a pack. Karnwyr, Bishop's wolf, nuzzled the two younger wolves as though he was saying his fair wells too.
Once the goodbyes were said, Brynjolf held on to Julian and Bran as Bishop, Karnwyr, Bethany, and Kodlak left the Ratway. Julian started fighting and Bethany started crying again, but it was for their own safety. Julian's new home and family was with the Thieves Guild. With them, his new name was Julian Zin-Tafiir, orphan to the world and soon to be a great thief like his mother.
Days later, as the remaining family members traveled, Bishop debated where he should keep his daughter, Bethany. She had already shown an interest in magic which points to the Mage's College in Winterhold, but she also had an interest in using bows and swords which points to the Companions of Windhelm. Since it was closer, they went to the college to see if they were able to take her and her wolf.
Little did he know that Vilkas, Harbinger of the Companions, and his wife, Serana were visiting the college.
"Ranger? Bethany?" Serana was definitely shocked. "What...?"
"It's... it's Melody. We need help." Bishop told her and Vilkas just nodded.
Vilkas and Serana had already heard the news and went to the college to inform the Arch Council. Bishop told them and the Council about Bethany and the situation. Quickly, Vilkas and one of the council members, a dark elf named Brelyna came up with a solution.
"She will spend half of the time with us as a distant relative, learning as the whelps do," Vilkas said.
"And will travel here to hone her skills with magic while under a different name." Brelyna finished.
Everyone else nodded in agreement. Two identities gave Bethany extra security and Bishop was glad. He didn't like trusting others with his troubles, but his wife taught him to take a leap of faith every once in a while. Sometimes it would be literal.
"Alright." Bishop turned away to look at his daughter who looked like she was going to cry once more. He knelt down and held her in his arms one last time before saying. "Serana."
She understood. Serana took Bethany and held her tight as Bishop and Karnwyr left to find the Dragonborn. Bethany cried, kicked, and screamed, but her father kept going. It broke everyone's hearts to see it happen, but they knew that the child had to be kept safe. For that to happen, sacrifices had to be made. From then on, her new names were: Beth Honorblade, third cousin of the Harbinger and Anya Su'um, a young apprentice of the Mage's College.
Bishop had reached the edge of Winterhold before wiping the frozen tear from his cheek. He hated leaving his children behind. He knew that this was the best option at the time to protect his family. Then his mission was clear, find Melody Hawke and give her a piece of his mind then kiss her like there was no tomorrow.
The old wolf rubbed his head against the ranger's leg and received a pat on the back.
"Come on you mutt, let's find that stubborn, noble, dragon lady." He laughed a little, thinking about how she hated to be called a noble. "I can't wait to see her face when I tell her that I told her so."
He thinks back to the morning she left two to three years before.
...
It was a cool summer morning, the day after the twins turned six. The Dragonborn received a notice about a war against the Thalmor rising and she was needed. She had seen enough war when she supported the Imperials against the Stormcloaks, but she had a lot more in stake if she had stayed out of it.
Her back was packed, Eira was fed and ready to go, and she wore her old Imperial armor with pride.
She turned to her husband. "Bishop, remember if something happens-"
"Make sure that the kids are safe. I know, Ladyship." His said, pulling her into an embrace. "Just know that if something does happen, the kids will be protected and I will hunt you down."
His growl brought a smile to her face as she hugged him back. Soft sniffles and weeping broke the hug.
Julian and Bethany wanted to put on a brave face for their mother, but they were young and didn't understand.
"Why the tears little ones?" She asked kneeling down to their level.
"We want to go with you." They both said as they hugged their mother.
"But I need you here." She hugged them and pulled back. "To take care of each other, the wolves, and to take special care of your father. Can you two do that for me?"
Bishop didn't even make a remark at her joke, knowing that it was to help calm down the children. Sure he was the parent that spent the most time with them, but Melody had a way with the twins. Might have been motherly instinct or something else. Whatever it was, it always worked. The children nodded, giving their mother one last hug.
"Know that even if I'm trapped in Oblivion itself, I will fight every day to be with you all again. I promise." With that, she turned and left for Solitude with Eira to receive specific orders from General Tullius and she prayed to all the gods that the war would be over soon.
Up to the attack, she held her promise in her heart. She had won many victories for the Empire but did it for her family. The war seemed endless, but who truly knows what destiny had in store for the Dragonborn and her children.