Chapter 1: Family Reunion?


7 months prior

Sun's Dawn

Fredas 14th

Solitude Winking Skeever

At a table close to the bar in Solitude's 'The Winking Skeever' tavern sat Jordis, the housecarl of the Thane and Hero of Skyrim. She was laughing and having a few drinks with some of her old friends that had the night off from guard duty. She wouldn't say it out loud, but she did miss the fun days of being a guard and patrolling the hold along with her fellow guardsmen. Waking up everyday to something new and unexpected that could happen. Imagine her surprise when a castle guard came to her saying how the jarl herself wanted to speak with Jordis. If it was not for the serious look on the man's face, the blonde Nord would have laugh it off. But when she stood in front of the whole court of Solitude and Jarl Elisif the Fair, now High Queen of Skyrim, got done talking to her, she knew it was no joke.

Jordis smiled fondly at the memory while talking another swig of her mead. Still to this day, over two years later, she can't believe she was appointed the Thane -no- Dragonborn's housecarl.

It wasn't until later that evening, after telling her fellow guards and moving her things to Proudspire Manor, that she met said Hero of Legends. She was setting down flagons and mead when the doors of the house had open, only instead of buff Nord man, it was a woman clad in black as night Ebony armor. Jordis soon learned that the woman's name was Lydia, and she was the Dragonborn's Whiterun housecarl, fighting instructor, and mentor. Lydia was the one who taught him everything he needed to know in order to survive the harsh lands of Skyrim. And with her connections to not only the guards in Whiterun but the Companions as well, he soon learned how to fight and smithing.

It was a few months after a rumor of something that happened at the Thalmor Embassy, a rumor that no one is quite sure as to what had happened exactly, that the Dragonborn became Thane of Haafingar. Some say there was something to do with the Thieves' Guild, while others say Dark Brotherhood. When Jordis asked, all Lydia did was smile before taking a slip from her flagon.

Breaking from her thoughts, Jordis glanced around to see if the familiar form of a Breton mage was nearby. With no such luck she turned back to her friends to swap a few more stories and how training was going. Some of them poked at her jokingly about how lazy she gets to be while they had all the fun. It was all in good fun, because everyone knew Jordis was no slouch and trained every morning with the Castle Dour guards to stay sharp. But they also knew that the missing Hero was wearing down on the housecarl.

Just as she got up to grab another drink was when Jordis found who she was looking for, the Breton mage wearing adept robes. Standing at five foot six with shoulder length light brown hair, you could easily miss her in a crowd, and judging on how she walked to the bar, only briefly talking to the Argonian in the corner, she didn't want to draw attention.

Jordis decided to say goodbye to her friends before heading over to the bar side to get her last drink, and talk to the mage. Sitting down next to the new arrival and with a soft smile, she said "It's good to see you again, Miss Riees. It's been a few months."

"Yes, Jordis, it is good to see you. Sorry it took a little longer than expected, but college semester has started and I've had a lot of work to study." Explained Matina Riees. She knew she didn't have to explain but she didn't want Jordis to think she was still upset from last time.

Looking around the tavern, Jordis could tell it was getting later since it was getting rowdier for a Fredas night. With that in mind she looked at Matina and asked "Would it be better if we went to Proudspire Manor? It'll be quieter and maybe a You-Know-Who will be there."

"As long as she's not still upset from last time either, then yes" Matina said wincing a bit from the memory.

"No, I don't think she is. You grew up with her not me, you know how she is. Acting all tough because she has to, but really, she cares… a lot."

"Alright, alright. Let's go" And with that both women got up to leave, but not before Jordis paid the bartender for her drinks from earlier.

As they went out the double doors they could see a few people hanging around the entrance outside, more than likely a bit too drunk by how loudly some were laughing at old jokes. But none of that bothered them as they strolled down the street to their destination. It was a nice clear starry night, still a bit cool with a nip in the air, but it was after all Sun's Dawn and that was expected. Jordis humming a little song as she walked while Matina pulled up her hood from the slight chilly breeze.

When they neared the manor, Jordis pulled out her set of keys to unlock the doors with, and pushed them open. Shutting the door and turning to tell Matina to light the candle on the table, only to catch a glimpse of amber/red eyes and a shadow falling from the third floor. Before she knew it Jordis grabbed the nearest thing she had, her trusty sword on her hip, only to find it wasn't necessary for Matina had thrown something at the intruder.

"Really! Out of everything you could have thrown, you choose a flower vase?!" Exclaimed a familiar voice.

"Arya?" The now dumbfounded mage questioned.

"No, it's Skyrim's Courier. Yes, it's me!"

"Are you serious?! Be glad that it was a vase and not something really bad! Like a spell! Ugh! Don't do that. You know I hate surprises."

"Well technically I was going to surprise Jordis to see if she's still on her toes." Arya deadpanned putting the vase down, now turning to her intended target, with a smirk she added "Speaking of which, did I succeed?"

Putting her sword back, Jordis gave her a disapproving look. "Considering all I saw was two small orange orbs surrounded by a shadow that seemed to fall from the third story, and not to mention I drew my sword? What do you think?"

All the vampire did was chuckle a little and flicked her wrist to alight all the candles. Now able to see the intruder, you could definitely tell she was a vampire. With what little skin that showed on her hands and face, due to her Nightingale armor, she had smooth ivory skin and the same light brown hair as the mage. Added that she had some gold-ish blonde highlights. But as where Matina kept her hair med length, Arya had a long braid that reached down by her shoulder blades. As she walked over to hug her sister, any doubts of them being related could be thrown out the window. All except for the faint facial features that a vampire usually had, with defined cheek bones and a slightly slimmer face, along with her glowing sunset like eyes. And two inches height difference.

Since there weren't any more surprises, Jordis just mumbled about getting some drinks after the little scare and started to head to the stairs that led to the first floor. While the remaining two walked over to the dinning room table by the cooking spit. Both didn't know really what to say now that everything had calmed down.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that Jordis returned handing Matina her favorite Ale that the silence was broken. "Anything you want Arya? Any mead or wine?"

"No. I think it's best I don't drink at the moment." She said somberly.

"Good thinking, cause I have a feeling you two need to have talk and not have the influence of alcohol to mix. But afterwards you know where to get it if you want any. And I made sure your potions were still good." The housecarl said. Since Proudspire Manor was that main meeting point for both the mage and vampire to meet, Jordis made sure she kept a few blood potions. They were after all sold from her own castle.

"Thankyou." Arya simply said before turning her amber eyes to the fire.

At that Jordis nodded and walked upstairs to her room, not too far away in case they needed her but not too close to intrude on the upcoming conversation. Then again, Arya was the only being brave enough to sneak in the Dragonborn's house, and jump scare like that simply because she could. 'Then again, what do you expect from the older and not to mention, mischievous sister of my thane?' With that thought in mind she shook her head before closing her door, turning in for the night.

Back down stairs in the still too quiet dining room, Matina finally broke the tension that seemed to float like a lingering fog. "All jokes aside, Arya, sister, how are you? It's been over two months since I last saw you, and weeks since we wrote any letters."

"I'm sorry" Arya said before Matina could even start on her rant.

"What" Was all the stunned Breton could manage.

"You heard me." She said in a softer tone, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you. They were hurtful and they just came out."

"To be fair, I didn't say very nice things as well."

"Considering the circumstances, I think it's safe to say it's a shock that it was just yelling that was involved."

"You're not lying there. With your temper and the blood of an ancient vampire, yeah, Lady Luck was looking down on one of us." Matina laughed a bit, and Arya couldn't help but join.

Looking back on it now, everyone involved had gotten off the hook with only hurt feelings from harsh words. With how heated the argument had escalated after a piece information, one of the Princes had to of been watching over them.

"But you do realize that no matter what, you are still my sister." After everything that was said, it was good to hear that from Matina, for it was like a huge boulder had been lifted from the Nightingale's back. For the whole ordeal those two months ago, visiting their mother in Bruma, was over Arya finding out that she was only a half-sister. Not only that but with another fact about her birth, one that only she knew about, it was a miracle she didn't lose her mind to rage and transform to her Vampire Lord Form. Needless to say, it was still pretty much a bad situation between Arya and her mother. Even hours after the rage filled argument, she knew she had to be the one to tell Matina when she came home that evening, for both knew their mother would lie or let things go. That's when the two sisters butted heads and words were said that couldn't be taken back. Fed up and tried of the whole ordeal that seemed to drag on, Arya stormed out the house not caring it was still daylight, and returned to the castle, to her clan. Leaving a hurt and conflicted sister behind. "And Zakel would agree if he was here." Matina added reassuringly.

"Yes, I know he would. I just wish we knew what happened." She wouldn't admit it out loud but Arya was worried about their younger brother.

"We don't know, Arya. I wish we all did, but we don't. And all we can do is wait and hope for the best." Matina started, only to see the fire in her sister's eyes light up. 'I swear with those eyes it is like staring straight at a dragon' was all she could think of after seeing that look, 'here we go again.'

"Wait and hope. Wait and hope? We been over this for well over two years now. Wait for what exactly? And hope? What? Hope that he'll just walk through those doors right now?! That maybe after all this time that everything will be normal again?!"

"Arya! Calm down- "

"NO!" The vampire all but roared and standing up, eyes almost turning black, showing just a sample of what lays dormant under that ivory skin. "You don't get it do you? Zakel is not coming back. Not unless we go help."

"Go help? Do you not hear yourself? We can't! We don't even know where to start looking." The mage threw back, she loved her sister dearly, but sometimes that temper got to be too much. 'You weren't always like this. Sister, I wish you would tell me more, more of what happened to you in that castle.'

"I say we go straight to that dragon who took him!" Arya said as if it was the most obvious thing ever.

"… You want to go after a dragon?" Matina just stared at her sister like as if she grew two limbs, "Are you forgetting just who this dragon is… was… I don't know what side he's on anymore!"

"Exactly why I want to question him myself."

"At the top of the Throat of the World where pretty much all the dragons are still at. Oh, and did I forget to mention, dragons? You know fire breathing dragons?"

"About twice now but I think you might have to say it a few more times, I am deaf in this ear after all." The Nightingale said sarcastically.

"Arya! This is not a game! Last I checked vampires are weak to fire, or did you somehow forget that too?" By this time Matina was starting to get frustrated since it seemed her bullheaded sibling was grating her nerves purposely. "Why do you do this? When someone doesn't see eye to eye with you, you get all sarcastic and hard headed that would make a boulder proud."

"Hey!"

"No Arya. I am only going to say this one more time, and you are going to actually listen to me!"

Both just stared at one another for quite a few moments, one determined to be heard for once and the words stick to, the other not backing down. 'Why do I do this?' Arya thought for a moment, 'Why bother when it seems to never get through to her. She may be willing to except Zakel maybe gone but I won't'. The more she thought about it the more she could understand where Matina was coming from. The dragon that took Zakel didn't come back either, but went to the top of the Throat of the World, that was when dragons started flying there as well, and have all but called it home there now. 'They're hiding something, I just know it' but the upset sibling could never prove it. Facing dragons was Zakel's area, he was the Dragonborn, he did it best. But as where the younger sister was too scared, Arya wanted nothing more than to march up there to get her answers.

By all means, the Vampire Lord was fearful, she'll admit that, but when it came to her two siblings, she would do anything to see them safe. Matina may think she didn't listen but she did, they had that argument many times over since becoming a vampire, her sister thinking that the ancient blood that she harbored was affecting her more then she let on. She, after all, was bitten by Harkon himself.

"I understand Arya, that you want to go find him. I understand that you just want to know what happened. But don't you think that after two and a half years of looking and investigating that something would have popped up by now?" Matina said, watching as her sister slowly sat back down. "You retraced his steps from Whiterun and talked to the Jarl many times, right?"

"Yes, I did."

"And you talked to everyone involved in that Peace Counsel?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Frowned the older sibling. "You try remaining discrete while asking about the Dragoborn."

"That's because only a handpicked few know we are his sisters." The mage said before asking one last question, "And you even went to High Hrothgar to talk to the Greybeards?"

"Yeah, like that did a damn thing, old hermits." Already feeling a headache coming on, she crossed her arms over her chest as she closed her eyes, leaning back in her chair. 'I'm so getting a drink after this.' The Nightingale really hoped this was going to be the last time they talked about this.

"Then you have done all that you could, I wish you would stop blaming yourself." Matina said sincerely. She could see that after all this time, after all these years, Arya still thought it wasn't enough, and it was taking its toll.

'Along with a few other things,' The mage thought 'but you quit talking to me like you used to.' She still believed that there was something else going on that wasn't being said to her. With everything that came out two months ago about her, she could understand why her sister would still be moody. But that far away look she would get at times like these, it's a wonder what else is going on. 'We used to be each other's shoulder to lean on, and share secrets like best friends. I wish you would tell me what happened to you too.' And the irony of it all was that Matina wasn't the uptight and guarded one of the bunch. As much as Arya liked to think Matina was too soft to fight and too trusting, she still could get what she needed without her older sibling's help.

Which led to Matina having a few more friends then Arya thought as well, and how she knew just what her sister was. Arya always said that siblings looked out for one another no matter what. So, when she dropped off the map for five months, Matina asked a certain Dark Elf at the college on just where she might be. And boy did the poor middle sibling get a rude awaking. That she wasn't just a vampire, but a vampire Lord, and not to mention a Nightingale Phoenix. But those were questions for another day, besides they still had one more thing to discuss before the weekend was out. 'Speaking of which' Matina thought with a smile.

Arya on the other hand had been sitting quietly with her arms still crossed and leaned back in her chair. Her head resting on the headrest with her eyes closed. All the while trying out the calming technique Garan had advised her to do. If anything, it made her sleepy, 'Bet that was his goal too, sneaky bastard' she thought with a small smile. So much so that she almost missed what Matina said.

"What?"

"You didn't even hear me, did you?" Grinned the mage.

"If I did I wouldn't have asked now, would I?" Opening her eyes, she could now clearing see the mirth sparkling in those deep green eyes of her sister. 'This can't be good' was all she could think before the next sentence was asked.

"I asked, dear sister of mine, what you plan on doing this weekend? Don't tell me you forgot what today is? Or should I say was? It is after all 1 am now." Matina's grin was downright wolfish now, and she couldn't help but laugh at her sister wide eyed expression. "You forgot, didn't you."

"No!" was all poor Arya could say. For after looking at the clock, it was indeed 1 am and most definitely now Lordas, the 15th… of Sun's Dawn.

With that the mage started laughing at her sister's expense as she got up from the table, heading down the stairs with one single thought in mind 'I'm so getting my drink now'.


Author's Notes

Hi everyone, author here again with a quick side note.

I totally didn't realize that when i published this story that it was on April Fool's Day XD whoops. My bad.

This time I'd like to say that I have mixed a few things up when it comes to the whole siblings factory. To me I feel as though I should explain a point or two about Arya, Matina and Zakel. The whole Dragon Blood and Soul that flows in the Dragonborn does make sense… if they were the only child. It gets confusing to me when they have siblings but yet they don't share anything Dragon related. So I aim to change that a bit. Here the Dragonborn is still the immortal soul and blood stuck in a mortal body. But, if said DB has any siblings, they will only share a small amount of dragon blood too. While the DB will be pretty tough, strong, fast, and the pretty op guy we knew; the siblings will only be a fraction of that due to the blood. Like, a tad faster, a little stronger for one's size, or excels in magic a bit more, ect.

Nothing that would confuse the poor people of Elder Scrolls on who's the DB, but it does make a few healers shake their heads on how a person only got a broken bone when they should have a shattered one. That or they heal a bit faster, and if they are sick it's not as bad or last as long as normal people. To me that makes a bit of sense.

Anyways, more to come in the next chapter.