The morning comes and Lydia sits at a long table in the Dragonsreach court, laying her head on an arm. While it wasn't one of those nights, she certainly had her fair share of mead. Lydia and Ysolda drank 'til the small hours, being the last to leave and allowing Hulda at least some rest. Her head feels heavy and tender, a slight empty feeling in her stomach and the dull throb of the previous night's alcohol across her whole being. She hears the large front door slam shut and lifts her heavy head to see Luxuria coming. Lydia sits up properly, causing her to feel a little queasy then gives her dutiful honours to her thane.
"I am your sword... and... your shield..."
Luxuria walks straight past her and to the steward. They have a brief exchange then she returns to Lydia.
"With me." Luxuria says, then turns and walks to the doors.
Lydia quickly follows but is still perturbed by this woman's shortness.
"Where are we going?"
"Home." she says.
"Oh, you have a house?"
"Yes. I do now. Come."
Luxuria marches ahead quickly with quite a pace to her walk. Lydia feels like a pet chasing after her mistress but hopes that the townsfolk don't see this in her. They walk through the town until Luxuria stops at Breezehome and uses the key to open the front door.
"This is your new home?" she says, gutted that her chance for this home has gone.
"Yes. Come."
They enter but it is quite dusty and there is little décor to speak of.
"Hm. I'll see that bald Breton. Insist he does something about all this. In the meantime, take these."
She hands Lydia a large sack of items that didn't look like if would fit under her cloak but it must have come from there.
"I am sworn to carry your burdens." Lydia says, quoting from the housecarl instuctions.
"What? What are you saying now? What did I say about being officious? Just... never mind. Oh. And there's some armour in there. Better than that 'steel' shite. I have to go again."
Luxuria leaves without a further word.
"Okay then, 'bye!" she says sarcastically. "Aaah... crap!"
She looks around at this place and begins to tidy it up a little, removing the cobwebs and starting a fire, then it occurs to her.
"What if I need to go out? I don't have a key! By the Nine!"
She looks through the sack of items.
"Ooooh, Ebony armour. Nice. What else do we have...? What the...? What's she going to do with all this crap? Dragon bones?! She's got dragon bones?! And dragon scales?! She's been slaying dragons and she didn't bring me. Awww!"
Lydia paces up and down in the house in her new armour, enchanted with various abilities and protection. There's a little more flesh on display than she would normally like with the armour's styling but the protection is in the right places and she uses a shield anyway. Her steel sword and shield seem a little poor now though.
Evening has come and she has a pot of food cooking, a pottage. Lydia is no 'Gourmet' but she does make a nice enough meal. Having gotten used to her new armour, she gives the stew a stir then a taste.
"Hm! Good! Though I say so myself. Wonder when my 'illustrious' thane is coming back? Oh, speak of the devil..." she says as she hears the door being opened.
Luxuria walks straight past her and up to her bedroom.
"Yes, I've had a lovely day, thanks for asking. I made some dinner if you'd... oh, why bother." she says to no-one.
"What? Did you say something?" Luxuria calls down.
"No, my thane. Nothing at all."
"Good. Keep the noise down. I'm going to sleep."
"Of course, my thane. And I hope you sleep... well?"
Luxuria has already gone again and Lydia hears the door slam.
She is frustrating.
With little else to do, Lydia heads up the stairs to her own bed. Luxuria's door opens and she pops her head out uncovered, which Lydia has not seen yet. She is quite surprised. This previously mysterious looking figure is younger than she, probably Nord Lydia thinks, red headed, freckled and actually quite pretty, nothing at all like she would have expected.
"What did I just say about keeping the noise down?"
"Oh. I was just going to bed, my thane. Sorry if I disturbed you."
"Hm. Good."
And back in Luxuria goes, another slam of the door.
Nothing is turning out at all like Lydia had planned and despite being the strong warrior she is, she cannot help but have a little weep in her bed, feeling like her dream home as been gazumped and any dreams of seeing Skyrim dashed by the unfeeling child she must follow.