2nd of Rain's Hand, 4E 176

A little five-year-old girl was sitting by the window sill looking out over the Imperial City, the capital of both Cyrodiil and the Empire as a whole. A knock on the door heralded her mother's entrance into her room. "Eriah? I've called you several times for breakfast. What's wrong?" asked Nirva. The girl-child looked over at her. "Nothing, Ma. Sorry." she said getting up. Nirva followed her out of the room and sat her down at the table. After setting her plate in front of her, Nirva pulled her husband, Jenron, aside. "Something's up with Eriah, Jenron. This is the third time this week that I've come into her room to see her staring out the window. It's almost as if she knows she staring in the direction of Skyrim." she said. Jenron, a man with a head of black hair and a beard, looked into the kitchen to see his daughter looking out the window as she ate. "I don't see what's so unusual about that, love. She's a child and she's growing. She's probably bored." he said. "That's not all. There have been several nights in the last month where I'm coming home late and when I pass her room, I hear her talking to someone. A quick peek showed me she's sleep-talking. That in itself is rather strange but it's who she's talking to in her dreams that makes me rather concerned." she replied.

Jenron looked at his warrior wife, running a hand through his beard. "First I've heard of this, Nirva. Who does she speak to?" he asked. "It was hard to say but after a couple instances of this, I picked out Akatosh and Talos in her mumbling. We've raised her to believe in Talos's divinity but to keep it confined to this house. I'm very concerned that if the Thalmor decide to spy on us, they'll catch her saying his name and thus take us all in." Nirva replied. Jenron was no warrior. He was a jeweler while his wife supplemented their income with her work in the Fighter's Guild. Because she had such a young daughter, she took local jobs only. They lived comfortably enough, having moved to Cyrodiil from Skyrim before the Great War began when Eriah was six months old. Devout Talos worshippers but knowing that Cyrodiil was the best chance Jenron had to earn enough money from his jewelry business to support his family, the Quintences vowed to continue worshiping the Ninth Divine in secret and to raise their daughter to do the same. Eriah was young but already understood the need for secrecy because her parents didn't sugercoat the facts about the Thalmor and what it took for the Great War to end. It chafed Nirva's hide that they couldn't even have a shrine to Talos in their home, even hidden, out of fear that a random search by the High Elves would lead to its discovery.

"We'll be vigilant, Nirva. While you're with the Fighter's Guild and I'm but a simple jeweler, I have my doubts of the Thalmor giving us a second thought. We've done well to cover our tracks when we left Skyrim. I also must confess something. When Eriah was born, I looked upon her and was struck by an epiphany." Jenron said. "What sort of epiphany?" Nirva asked. Jenron smiled as he looked into the kitchen where Eriah was cleaning her plate. "That our daughter is meant for greater things than we can imagine. Hearing that she's dreaming of Akatosh and Talos makes me almost certain that destiny has something in store for her. I think it's our duty to the Nine that we start encouraging her to find some skill she can make use of and see where that leads." he explained. "So if she expresses interest in the sword, you would have me teach her?" Nirva asked. "Yes. I know the idea doesn't sit well with you because you'd rather her have a different life than the warrior's life you've lived both in Skyrim and Cyrodiil but I believe it's essential that we let her make her own choices as she grows. Within reason of course." Jenron said.

Nirva looked back into the kitchen to see their young daughter back to staring out the window again. "Are you sure this must be done? When she can have a better life than I lived, must she follow the path of a warrior?" Nirva asked. "Trust me, my love, if my gut wasn't telling me that Eriah was meant for a life greater than what we're living, then I'd agree that she doesn't need to follow a warrior's path. However, I could tell when she was born that she was born with a warrior's heart and I've witnessed plenty of acts of compassion from her as she grew. Remember that bird she brought home in tears over because its wing was broken and she begged us to help it? Or the time she sneaked a loaf of bread out of the house to give that beggar down the road? It really moved me. I want what's best for her, I really do, but I also want her to feel empowered enough to make her own judgments and choices. I've already decided that once she hits marriageable age, I will not start lining suitors up for her. I must see where all of this is going." Jenron explained.

Nirva looked up at him with a smile and kissed him. "And this is why I fell in love with you, Jenron. Though my father and yours arranged for us to marry, I can honestly say I'm glad things worked out between us. Very well, we'll follow your lead and guide Eriah the best we can and see if there's truly some destiny laid out at her feet." she said. Jenron held his beloved against him, feeling like a lucky man. Like all young people, neither he nor Nirva was enthused about having people arranged for them to marry at the will of their families but once they met and got to know each other, love blossomed and the rest of history. Her mother wasn't particularly fond of Nirva's warrior ways and hoped that marrying a man with a stable job would've reined her in. But it wasn't so. Not only did Jenron continue to encourage Nirva's ways, he was the one who came up the idea of Nirva joining the Fighter's Guild once the move to the heartland was made.

While her parents were talking, Eriah herself was letting her imagination fly free. She kept imagining a great golden dragon battling what appeared to be Mehrunes Dagon, based on the likenesses she had seen of the Daedric Prince in the books her parents owned. Part of her education was learning about the Princes in addition to the Divines because of the very real impact they had on history. The Oblivion Crisis was so long ago now that some were starting to think it was mere legend, instead of historical fact like many others believed. Eriah already decided she didn't like them. She knew who Tiber Septim was (as well as who he became) and her favorite historical figure after him was Martin. She had a particular fondness not just for Talos but also Akatosh and Mara as well. "Eriah?" Jenron then called. The little girl looked at him and he smiled before pulling something out of his pocket. Her eyes widened he opened his palm to reveal an Amulet of Talos. "I made this in secret for you because you've done so well in keeping your devotion to him hidden. It's made of wood in the event that something happens, we can cast it into the fire and it will be destroyed before the Thalmor discover it. This amulet will give you courage. Make sure this stays hidden, especially if you wear it. Understand?" he asked. "Yes, Pa! Thank you." Eriah said, letting him slip it on over her head. She tucked it under her dress and even the cord was well hidden. "We're proud of you. You're going to do great things." her father said, embracing her.