Chapter Two
One Year And Two Months Later…
Ulfric Stormcloak.
That was the name of the man who murdered High King Torygg. High Queen Elisif, widowed, returned to being the Jarl of Solitude with Avyanna still guarding her. During her grief, Elisif had withdrawn from the world and Falk briefly took over her duties, allowing the woman to mourn her husband's death.
Then came the Stormcloak rebellion…
Avyanna's loyalty was put on the spot a few times, most of the Thanes wondering where she stood on the argument. While Avyanna worshipped Talos and not afraid to admit it, she wasn't jumping on the Stormcloak cart anytime soon. Torygg was like an uncle to her and Rohan and with his death caused hatred for Ulfric within her. More than the hatred she had developed for bandits.
Instead of paying attention to Elisif like she normally would, Avyanna's couldn't help but pick up on the conversation going on between two of the Thanes.
"A dragon? Are you daft Erikur? Those are nothing but a child's tale." Bryling scoffed, giving him a look of disbelief much to the Nord man's annoyance.
"Child's tales don't burn down Helgen!" Erikur snapped at her, crossing his arms over his chest. "Besides that's not all the guards are gossiping about."
Avyanna rolled her eyes. "The guards gossip about anything." She inputted, focussing the two Thane's attention on her.
Bryling raised an eyebrow in questioning. "Then you haven't heard?"
"Heard what?" Avyanna asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Erikur and Bryling exchanged a wary look with each other, silently asking who should be the one to tell her. When Avyanna sighed with impatience, Erikur cleared his throat.
"There are rumours claiming Ulfric Stormcloak has a younger sister." Erikur said carefully, watching for any sign of anger in the young Nord.
Avyanna clenched her hands, glaring at the floor in anger. Both of the Thanes tried to get her attention again but she tuned them out, focussing on Elisif to calm her down.
"Thank you for your concern," Elisif smiled at the farmer who bowed slightly before walking back down the stairs. Elisif let out a tired sigh and glanced over at Falk. "Are there any more?"
Falk shook his head. "No my Jarl, that is all for today."
"Then I will be in the garden." She stood up and walked down the stairs. Avyanna followed her, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activities as they made their way to the royal gardens at the back of the palace.
As soon as Avyanna stepped out, the smell of various kinds of flowers hit her nose. The smell of the night shades and the moon berries set a smile on her face. Elisif had sat herself down on the stone bench, closest to the white marble dragon-shaped water fountain.
"That was exhausting." Elisif stated, rubbing the bridge in between her eyes. Avyanna smiled at her, seeing the older woman finally returning to her normal self. Before everything was ripped away from her in one Shout.
"At least you may relax my Jarl," Avyanna spoke, glancing up at the rooftops before turning her attention back to Elisif. "Rohan has been begging for me to take him hunting again."
Elisif smiled softly. "You should bring him to the palace more often; it pleases me to see how much he has grown."
"I will."
Elisif looked at Avyanna, noticing her stance and the way her eyes held a burning anger in them. "What is wrong my dear?"
Avyanna let out a shaky breath before looking back at the Jarl. "For once I wish the Thanes wouldn't gossip so much."
"It's in their nature," Elisif chuckled. "Besides, they're harmless rumours."
"So Ulfric having a sister is a 'harmless' rumour?"
Elisif froze, her eyes widened in shock and disbelief at the words that had escaped Avyanna's mouth. Elisif closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths before a small smile on her face as she cleared her throat, drawing the red haired Nord's eyes upon her. "Would you care to sing for me? It would be relaxing."
Avyanna swallowed. "I do not sing." Avyanna stated a little too harsher than she intended. Elisif didn't seem fazed, her eyes still pleading until Avyanna sighed and stared into the water of the fountain.
"Though I may speak, some tongue of old," Avyanna sang softly. "Or even spit out some holy words…I have no strength, with which to speak. When you sit me down and see I am weak…"
"We will run and scream, you will dance with me, we will fulfill our dreams and we will be free…" Avyanna broke off a bit, looking up into Elisif's eyes and seeing small tears falling down, a sad smile on her face.
"We will be who we are, they will heal our scars…Sadness will be far away…"
"So I had done wrong, but you put me right. My judgement burned in the black of the night," Avyanna looked back down at the water just as footsteps entered the garden.
"Anna!" Rohan called, running over towards them, cutting her off. Avyanna stood up and caught him in time, putting him back down to the ground and frowning.
"What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay home." Avyanna scolded him and Rohan looked apologetic.
"But I was bored," he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Besides, I wanted to see Aunt Elisif."
Elisif chuckled, holding her arms out for him. "Then come here little Rohan." She smiled and Rohan ran past Avyanna and into Elisif's warm, waiting arms. "Your sister was just singing for me."
Rohan's eyes brightened at the sound. "Continue! Please Anna?" he pleaded, his eyes reminding Avyanna of a pup begging for a cuddle. With a sigh and a sharp look at him, Avyanna sat back down onto the edge of the fountain and picked up where she left off.
"When I give less than I take, it is my fault, my own mistake—Look out!" Avyanna shouted just as she looked up, seeing a shadowy figure in the bush behind Elisif and Rohan. Both looked behind them just as the assassin, dressed in red and black armour, raised their sword.
Avyanna quickly grabbed a small dagger from her belt and threw it, the dagger landing straight into the assassin's chest. Elisif and Rohan quickly ran over towards her just as she pulled out her sword, pushing them behind her.
"Guards!" Avyanna barked and Rohan cried out in fear. She spun around, finding a man dressed in similar armour as the dead assassin, holding Rohan close to him with a dagger pressed to his throat. Guards surrounded them, pointing their weapons at the assassin.
"Make another move and this young lad's life disappears." The assassin hissed, pressed it harder against Rohan's throat. A frightened whimper came out of Rohan, his eyes full of fear.
Avyanna swallowed, pointing her iron sword at the ground. "Stand down," she ordered the guards, forcing them to lower their weapons. Underneath the assassins mouth mask, Avyanna was sure he was smirking.
"Good, you know how to obey," he sneered, stepping back while pulling Rohan with him. Avyanna's fists were clenched at her side in anger, glaring daggers at him. "Now unless you wish to see the lad dead, you and the guards will allow me to walk free."
"Do not hurt him." Avyanna pleaded, her eyes focused on Rohan's fearful ones. Her chest was tightening and it was taking every bone in her body not to rush out and attack him.
His eyes narrowed. "Do as I ask and he won't have a scratch on him." He bargained, walking back a couple of steps before stopped suddenly. The air was frozen, watching and waiting as his arms dangled at his sides and the assassin suddenly fell onto his knees and collapsed.
"Anna!" Rohan sobbed, running over as soon as the dagger was away from him. He ran straight into Avyanna's arms, sobbing in her chest as she hugged him tightly.
"You're safe," she whispered, kissing his hair and looking past his shoulders. Five arrows were in his back, forcing her eyes towards the roof. Five archers were above watching them carefully. For once in her life, Avyanna was thankful for their skills. "Thank the Divines…"
Lifting him up and carrying him on her hip, Avyanna turned to find a pale Elisif behind her. Her eyes were widened at the sight of the dead assassin body, realising that it could've been her.
"What's going on?" Falk's voice rang across the garden as he rushed over to Elisif's side. He looked between Elisif and a crying Rohan, then at the dead assassin. "Avyanna what hap—"
Avyanna cut him off. "Look after her; I'm taking my brother home." She informed him before turning on her heel and walking out of the garden. Her pace was hurried, leaving the palace and down the street towards Proudspire Manor. Rohan continued to cry as she opened the door and closed it behind her.
Quickly, she knelt down and placed him on her lap. "Did he hurt you?"
Unable to speak, Rohan nodded and pointed to the light pink scratch on his neck. It wasn't deep enough to be fatal or even bleed out much, but it marked Avyanna's failure.
"Stay still, I'll heal it." She murmured, her hands glowing a soft, golden yellow as she placed it over the wound. Growing up under her father's care, she had often injured herself. Her mother, Miranna, was an expert at healing spells and past down her knowledge onto her daughter. It came in handy over the years, Rohan often bruising himself one way or another.
Avyanna withdrew her hand, finding no mark left on his neck as Rohan's sobs turned down into quiet hiccups. It broke her heart to see her brother so scared, her motherly instincts kicking into high gear.
"Go take a bath while I start dinner, aye?" Avyanna asked him in a calm tone. Rohan nodded, pulling away from his sister and running upstairs. As soon as he was out of sight, Avyanna let the tear she had been holding back drop down her cheek. All of the emotion she had held back came spilling out, more tears falling down her face. Oh Dibella, I nearly lost him! How could I be so stupid? This is why I keep him home…
Rohan continued to wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares. Avyanna often woke up to the sounds of his sobs, sometimes Rohan would sneak into her bed. It worried her deeply, watching her brother suffer for her mistake.
That's why it broke her heart to quit her position.
Elisif looked at her surprised, along with Falk Firebeard and a few Thanes. "Avyanna…are you sure?" Elisif asked cautiously, wanting to make sure she heard the young Nord right.
"I am," Avyanna nodded, hand on her hip. "I'm sorry for what happened and I know the crisis was dealt with, but my brother is suffering."
Falk gently rubbed his chin. "What occurred with your younger brother was unfortunate but you have a job to protect Jarl Elisif. Your father did the same."
The room fell silent, the tension hitting a new high just as the words left the older man's mouth. Even Falk realised what he said, seeing the hard look on Avyanna's face.
"Yes and the job killed him," Avyanna replied in a dead panned tone. "I am the only living kin he has left. I'd rather die than have him sent off to Riften!"
Elisif stood up, her calm appearance and eyes staring into hers. "Avyanna, take a walk with me."
Avyanna didn't say anything, turning her attention away from Falk and following Elisif out into the garden. Her mind went back to that day, images of the dark eyes from the assassin, the dagger held to Rohan's throat—
"You may go," Elisif stated, snapping Avyanna back into the present, pulling her mind out of the past. "Unlike Falk, I understand the importance of family and I owe your family a great debt. If that means letting a skilled body guard go, then I will allow it."
Avyanna let out a small smile, reaching over and hugging the elder Nord. "Thank you Aunt Elisif." She whispered, tears falling down her face. Elisif hugged her back, squeezing tightly before pulling back. She stared at Avyanna with a small smile on her face, wiping away the tears with her thumbs.
"You are family to me and all I want is your happiness. If that means watching you move to another hold, I can live with that," Elisif smiled. "Have you decided on where to go?"
Avyanna nodded, wiping her eyes with a small smile. "Whiterun."
"Then I wish you all the happiness in the world. Just remember to write."
Poor little Rohan, kid must be scarred for life. Anyway, thanks for reading and if you like it, why don't you slap that Review button and let me know. OMG HOW CUTE WAS THE LITTLE BRAWL BETWEEN KIRAYA AND ROHAN IN CHAPTER 32 OF TWO HALVES: WALK IN THE SHADOWS?! I was screaming TEAM ROHAN!