Angel

We're about a day's ride outside Riften when the courier catches up to us.

"Dragonborn! I have a message for you from a Rayya of Falkreath. She said if I got this to you quickly there would be more gold involved." I freeze. Rayya is the Redguard woman I hired to be a steward to both my estate and my children while I'm away. I tear open the missive. It's about Sofie. She's got a high fever and has been asking for me.

"How long ago did you get this?" I ask him.

"Yesterday morning." I fill a small pouch with 50 gold pieces and toss it to him.

"Thank you. If she ever sends you for me again the reward will be the same." He looks at the gold in amazement.

"My thanks, Dragonborn." He inclines his head and rides away.

"What is it? What's wrong?" asks Vorstag, pulling his horse alongside mine. I have a decision to make and I have to make it quickly. I don't have time to take Vorstag back to Riften, I need to get home now. I could send him back on his own, the path is fairly well marked, but after the attitude he displayed in the Thieves Guild earlier Brynjolf would have him fleeced of all his belongings within three hours. He has a horrible sense of direction, so if I try to send him off to someplace else it could be weeks before he actually finds it. Or I could take him with me to Lakeview Manor.

"Vorstag, how long have we been traveling together?"

"A little over five weeks."

"And in that time have you ever known me to break my word?"

"Not once."

"Then please believe me when I say that if you reveal the location we're going to to anyone for any reason I will find you and I will kill you. Do you understand?" He looks stunned.

"Yeah, I understand."

"Good," I say, urging Frost to pick up the pace. "Try to keep up."

"Where are we going?" he asks over the sound of the wind.

"Home," I respond. "My daughter's sick." We ride all through the night and into the next day, but I finally make it home. I leap off Frost and throw Vorstag the reins before he's even dismounted.

"Take care of them both, would you?" I call over my shoulder as I stride into the house. Rayya meets me in the entryway.

"Thanks the Divines you got my message." She's prevented from saying anything further by Alesan coming up behind her and launching himself at me.

"Mama! You're home! Sofie's real sick 'cause she tended to her flowers in the rainstorm without any shoes on. She's going to be okay, isn't she Ma?" I give him a hug.

"Of course she is Alesan. Now go do your chores, I need to talk to Miss Rayya." He rolls his eyes.

"Yes, Ma." He leaves the room singing on off-key version of Ragnar the Red. I turn back to Rayya.

"How is she?"

"Her fever still hasn't broken yet. I've been feeding her the special broth the herbalist in Falkreath gave me for her twice a day. And don't worry, I sent the message from there. The Courier doesn't know where the manor is." I give her a relieved smile.

"Smart thinking." The door behind me opens and Rayya draws the curved sword she keeps on her person at all times.

"State your business Nord, before I run you through."

"Um... Angel?"

"He's with me." Rayya nods and sheathes her sword. "Is Sofie in bed?"

"Yes, I told her I sent for you. She'll be happy to see you."

"Thank you Rayya, you have done well." She gives a small bow and returns to cooking on the hearth. I turn to Vorstag and hand him some charcoal and paper. "Follow me. I need you to make a list of the ingredients I tell you, then take it to Rayya and tell her to put them on my Alchemy table in the tower." He nods and gestures for me to lead the way. I open the door to the room I share with my children to find Sofie awake and playing with her doll in bed.

"Mama!" she rasps in a delighted voice and I breathe a sigh of relief. Her skin is pale and her cheeks are flushed, but there's a vitality in her eyes that tells me I can heal this.

"Sofie!" I say with a smile, crossing the room and sitting on her bed. I give her a hug and kiss, noting that while her skin is warm to the touch she doesn't have the shivers. I turn to Vorstag. "I need charred Skeever hide, hawk feathers, and a rock warbler egg. Soak the feathers in warm water." He nods and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

"Who was that man?" asks Sofie. Oh Talos, how do I explain this one?

"You know how Miss Rayya stays here while I'm gone and helps you and your brother?" She nods. "Well, sometimes I need help too, so Vorstag comes with me and lends a hand." She seems to accept this answer easily enough, to my immense relief. "Now then Sofie, would you like to tell me how this happened?"

"It's Alesan's fault!"

"How is it his fault?"

"I'm ten and he's only nine. I should be able to do way more stuff than he can."

"Sofie..." I say with warning. She sighs.

"He left his wooden sword out in the rain two weeks ago and ran out to get it without any shoes or a coat. And he was fine! So if he can do that I thought I could trim my flowers."

"Sofie, when I brought you here from Windhelm, do you remember what I told you?"

"Never go outside without proper clothing again," she says in a bored voice. I smile.

"And I said that for a reason Little One. You nearly lost your toes to frostbite, and all that time you spent sleeping outside on the ground took it's toll on your body. You have to give it more time to get stronger."

"But what about Alesan? He didn't get sick."

"Alesan had a different experience than you Sofie. He slept on the floor of an inn, but instead of selling flowers he worked in a mine for the miners. His lungs aren't as strong as yours." She looks a bit sad.

"But now we both have a real home here with you, right Mama?"

"Of course you do," I say, slipping a strand of hair behind her ear. "Now get some sleep. I need to go mix up a potion for you."

"All right Ma," she says, burrowing under the blankets and closing her eyes. I extinguish all the candles but one before slipping out of the room, nearly colliding with Vorstag.

"I told your steward what you need, she has it waiting for you." I smile at him.

"Thank you Vorstag. We'll be staying here a few days, so you should ask Rayya to get a bed made up for you upstairs." He steps in my path when I move to leave.

"Or, just thinking out loud, I could stay in your bed with you. Save Rayya some work and all." I give a short laugh at what must be a joke.

"Thanks Vorstag, but the last thing I need is my children thinking I'm bringing them home a Pa." His face falls a little.

"Right. Of course."

"Oh come on, it's not that bad. My cellar is well stocked with mead barrels."

"Mead barrels you say?" he asks. "Well, things are looking up already."

"Yes," I say, walking towards my Alchemy tower and thinking of my children, "they certainly are."