One who grew up on the stories of the Last Dragonborn's adventures would be prone to think she was immortal and could never die. But that's why they were called stories. Eriah Quintence, now an old woman and long retired from adventuring, was resting in bed in her home, Proudspire Manor. She was expecting her two children, Samuel and Sofie's visit. They were a couple kids she adopted years ago after she got married to Farkas of the Companions. After Alduin's defeat at her hands in Sovngarde, she finished her service with the Stormcloaks and left Windhelm for Whiterun. She joined the Companions and grew close to Farkas, as well as his twin brother, Vilkas, after she proved her mettle to them. Her time with the Companions had yielded triumph and heartbreak. She had even become a werewolf for a brief time but after helping the late Harbinger, Kodlak Whitemane, overcome his lycanthropy in death so he could avoid Hircene's Hunting Grounds, the twins decided to rid themselves of the curse. Eriah had helped them in her capacity as the new Harbinger. She and Farkas later got married and adopted Samuel and Sofie. The old woman smiled fondly. How she came to adopt Samuel was a rather dark tale. She stumbled upon a boy his age, Aventus Aretino, performing the Black Sacrament to summon the Dark Brotherhood and he asked her to kill the matriarch of Honorhall Orphanage where he had been sent after his mother died. Thought uneasy about taking a life of a noncombatant, Eriah decided to play along. After all, it seemed Grelod the Kind was anything but.
A visit to the orphanage in Riften proved the boy was telling the truth. Eriah decided to break her own oath just this once and slew Grelod while she slept. No one was the wiser, except for the Dark Brotherhood. Eriah had fallen asleep in Breezehome, her first house in Whiterun, and awoke to find herself in an abandoned shack near Solitude. Astrid had taken her with the intention of having Eriah inducted into the group after 'stealing' Aventus's contract with them but the Dragonborn gave her answer in the form of her warhammer meeting Astrid's head. After escaping and letting an Imperial soldier know, she was directed to Commander Moro and was given leave to slaughter the remains of the Dark Brotherhood. She tracked them to their Falkreath Sanctuary and laid waste to them. After that, she returned home to Whiterun. A little while later, Grelod's helper, Constance Michel had couriers take flyers to all corners of Skyrim asking people to adopt children orphaned by the war. Eriah decided to atone for her secret crime by adopting one of the children. She returned to Riften and was drawn to Samuel. She adopted him and they returned to Whiterun together.
How she came to adopt Sofie was less thrilling. She, Samuel, and Farkas moved to her house in Windhelm, Hjerim, and she saw Sofie selling flowers near the gates to the docks. Windhelm was in a constantly snowy area of Eastmarch and her heart went out to the young girl. She took her in and gave her a home with her family. It was a while after that and the end of the Civil War that Eriah managed to raise enough septims to purchase Proudspire Manor and moved her family to Solitude. Part of it was because Ulfric Stormcloak had been elected High King by the Moot. Eriah had remained in love with him throughout the years and she came to his service whenever he needed her. However, she carried a guilty conscience over it, despite never telling Ulfric or letting on how she felt. During a night when the guilt finally got to her, she told Farkas her conflicted heart when they were in bed. He talked her through it and said it was okay that she still felt the way she did. He told her his trust in her had never wavered once in all the years they had been married. She had remained faithful to him in spite of it. His assurance helped her realized that while a part of her was still in love with the High King, her love for Farkas had become the most important love of her life. As her children grew older, her relationship with Samuel grew very strained and Eriah never knew why. Sofie had also held her at a distance but she was far more willing to pay her a visit. Now that she felt Sovngarde was calling for her, Eriah had sent for her children. Sofie had a steady job in the Blue Palace as a bard while Samuel became a soldier stationed in Solitude.
"Lady Eriah? Your children are here." came the voice of her housecarl. "Thank you. I'm ready for them now." Eriah said, sitting up in bed. A gentle breeze issued through the open window, the sun shining brightly. The door soon opened to reveal her pride and joy. Samuel had grown tall, worthy of his Imperial heritage. Sofie was every bit the Nord as she could be. "Hello, Mother." Sofie said, coming first and setting a vase of flowers on the windowsill. Samuel just took a seat in a chair at his mother's bedside. "It's good to see you both. I hope that I'm not taking away from your duties." Eriah said, smiling at them. "Not at all. Our employers know that your time may come soon." Sofie said. Eriah reached out and set a hand on her daughter's face. She then turned to Samuel. "My son, I've been thinking about our relationship for the past three decades and I'm hoping you'll grant this old woman some peace. Can you tell me what's been troubling you all this time?" she asked. Samuel ran a hand through his short hair. "Now you finally ask me. I don't know whether to feel angry or happy that you're finally brave enough to confront me." he said, rather hotly. Eriah gave him a stern look that reminded them of their childhood days when their mother had been younger and stronger.
"Don't be like that Samuel. This old heart can barely take it as it is. Whatever it was I did wrong, I want to know so I can make amends. I called you here for this reason because I'm not long for this world. Sovngarde beckons." she said. In spite of himself, Samuel let a bitter smile cross his lips. "I sometimes forget that you're the woman who could Shout the bad weather away and still whisper gentleness to soothe our fears." he said. Taking a deep breath while Sofie held his hand, as they did when they were children, Samuel began to let out his pent-up frustration. "One night when I was a lad, I couldn't sleep. I was heading downstairs to get some warm milk when I heard you and Father talking in your room. Being the foolish child I was, I quietly went to your door and started listening in. The things I heard shattered my childhood view on our family. I heard you confess love for Ulfric Stormcloak to Father and I couldn't process how you could've married him while you loved another man, a man you served no less. The longer I thought over what I heard, the angrier I grew." he explained. Sofie squeezed his hand encouragingly. "To this day, I still cannot believe you carried that into your marriage because it made me feel Father wasn't good enough for you. You and he took us in and made us a part of your family when we had no one so imagine, if you can, how it felt to learn your heart loved someone else." he said.
Eriah closed her eyes as Samuel slammed his fist on the bedside table. "How could you do that to Father!? To us!? You were too cowardly to admit your feelings for Ulfric Stormcloak so you settled for someone else! Someone you clearly didn't love nearly as much!" he raged. Sofie, always the sensitive one to foul moods, was trying and failing to hold her tears back as she buried her face in her hands. "Meyus kiir." (1) the old woman whispered. Eriah opened her eyes and looked at her two adult children. "Samuel, your words cut me deeper than any wound Alduin ever gave me. It's quite a feat to outdo a Dovah in anything. But you're wrong when you say I didn't love your father nearly as much as I did Ulfric Stormcloak. I loved Farkas with everything I was. I didn't enter into a marriage with him to escape my feelings for Ulfric. That conversation you overheard? I was admitting to still harboring those feelings to your father, praying to the Nine he'd understand and you know what? He did. He not only understood the struggle I was going through but he accepted that my heart would always love two men. Yes, even now, my feelings for Ulfric haven't waned but make no mistake. I was always faithful to your father and never once strayed, even when I had been presented with chance after chance. I can tell you that if I had done so, more than a couple Daedric Princes would have been happy to gloat about how the Dragonborn fell from grace to any mortal who would listen. I loved your father more deeply than life itself. I would've walked into Oblivion if it meant keeping him safe. By Talos, I would've fought Alduin for all eternity if Farkas could be kept from harm." she said.
She gave her two children a gentle smile. Sofie was still crying quietly and Eriah reached over to take her hands from her face so she look into her tear-filled eyes. "Sweet Sofie, did you also doubt my love for your father?" she asked. "I'm so sorry, Mother. I wanted to believe Samuel was lying when he told me about what he heard but still I doubted you as well. I tried to remain normal in spite of it but that little voice in my head wouldn't let me forget. I believe you're telling the truth but I just can't seem to stop crying. I wish Father were here so I could apologize." she replied, brushing some hair aside. Eriah kissed her hand and gave it a motherly squeeze. "Rok mindok, fariik mon." (2) she said. She looked back at Samuel, who had his face buried in his hands, his strong shoulders stiff. "I'm not going to ask you for forgiveness, my son. You are not wrong to feel the way you do. Even after Farkas assured me that he understood my struggle, I still carried the guilt. What changed was that I wasn't shouldering it alone anymore. Farkas helped me carry my burden until his final day on Nirn. He loved and supported me in spite of it all. I may be Dragonborn but I'm also a human woman. I struggle. I can't be strong all the time. I am so very sorry that you suffered in silence all these years and I never figured out why." she said.
That's when Samuel stood up and leaned over his mother. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, hugging her tightly. Eriah was old but she still had the hardy body of a Nord in her prime. "I'm the one who should ask forgiveness, Mother. I just wish I hadn't been such a coward and confronted you years ago." he said. "You've already been forgiven, my darling boy. Put it to rest in your soul and go forth with your head high." Eriah said, hugging him back. Sofie joined in and the family just shared in their mended relationship. "I miss Father. I wish he could be here to see this." the young woman said. "He is watching from Sovngarde. He sees us." Eriah said. Her children pulled away. "Samuel, Sofie, I have a request for you. Down in the basement on the weapons rack is my Elven warhammer. It has been my faithful companion through many battles. When the time comes, I want you both to take it to the Throat of the World. I promised my friend and mentor that when the time came for me to go home to Sovngarde, my warhammer would be passed on to him. Will you honor this last request?" she asked.
Samuel and Sofie looked at each other. Both knew their mother spoke of the dragon Paarthurnax. She had let them in on that secret when they were in their teens and made them swear not to tell another soul. At that time, the only ones who knew the Master of the Way of the Voice was a dragon were the Greybeards, the two remaining members of the Blades at that time, and Eriah herself. The Dragonborn didn't want Paarthurnax's true identity to be broadcast, striking a deal with Delphine of the Blades years ago that her organization stay away from the Throat of the World on pain of death. Paarthurnax wasn't her only dragon friend either. They also knew of Odaviing, who had become their mother's ally just before the battle with Alduin in Sovngarde. They looked at their mother. "What of the blizzard you say Paarthurnax has in place to keep others from reaching the summit? What of the Greybeards?" Samuel asked. "Do not worry. I have a letter for the Greybeards in my wardrobe drawer. They will know I sent you when they read it. As for the blizzard, Paarthurnax told me that when he senses my spirit depart this world, he would Shout the blizzard away and await your arrival. The Blades have grown numerous since the war with the Thalmor was won but they are still banned from the mountain, a last favor to me by Delphine on her death bed. She may have died hating Paarthurnax but she was also wise enough not to risk angering me. So when all other dragons were slain, she turned the Blades over to the new Emperor's service as they did long ago. Paarthurnax and Odahviing are the only ones left now, save Durnehviir, the undead Dovah I met in the Soul Cairn. You may meet him as well if he is summoned." Eriah assured them.
"We will do it. You have my word." Samuel said. Sofie nodded in agreement. "Thank you both. The hour grows late and I need my rest. My housecarl is at your service." Eriah said, scooting lower into the bed and pulling the covers up. Her children gave her a hug and kiss and exited the room. "Dari, inform us immediately if anything happens. We'll be on our way." Samuel informed his mother's housecarl. "Of course, Master Samuel." Dari replied. She had been in the service of the Dragonborn's for ten years now, upon the retirement of Jordis the Sword-Maiden. The siblings then departed the manor. "I sometimes find it hard to look at Mother as an old woman. I remember when she was young and strong." Sofie said. "That is the way of things, Sister. Father and Uncle Vilkas were among the strongest of the Companions but even they were no match for time. They live in Sovngarde now and I know Mother longs to join them...and her High King. Now that my head is clear, I can see how sad Mother is. She outlived all the men she loved in this world. Uncle Vilkas was the brother she never had, Father was the love of her life, and Ulfric Stormcloak was an unrequited love she was proud to serve and call friend. Forgive me, Sofie. I did wrong to not just her but you and Father as well." Samuel said. Sofie wrapped her arm around his waist, giving him a hug. "Mother forgave you as Father does now. So do I. Whatever happens now, you will always be my brother. Thank you for inviting me into the family when Mother took me in." she said. Samuel wrapped his arm around her shoulders and the two siblings headed for the Blue Palace to continue with their duties.