The reason for the name is due to this chapter being about all the dragonborn.
Once the Eluvian arrived at the vault everyone headed through the portal to Skyrim. By now the entire cave had been set upon by groups of stone workers who had carved away at the walls till the entire place resembled an ancient ruin. Freya had even enlisted several members of the Brotherhood to install electricity and a series of air vents to make sure large groups of people would be able to breath while down in the depths.
"This place is pretty impressive," Varric said, looking at some of the renovations, "You hire dwarves to help with the construction?"
Freya looked at him, "The Dwemer have been missing for several hundred years."
"The who?" Varric asked.
"The Dwemer, it means deep elf," Freya tried to explain.
"Ugh, Dwarves are nothing like elves lady."
"Well here there are many species of elf and the Dwemer were one of them. And besides how would you know so much about dwarves?"
"Well I know so much about them because I am one," Varric said, gaining the attention of several nearby scholars who had been tasked with cataloging archives of data collected from the vaults computers.
"Different type everyone, they're from another world," Katie said to the scholars who shrugged and got back to work.
"Well then let's get going," Freya continued, heading out of the room they were in and making her way to the surface.
Once they were topside they loaded into several carriages and were about to head to Solitude when Katie spotted Fawkes and Uncle Leo running towards them with Fawkes shouting shouting, "Hold up my friend!" Katie smiled with an eye role as she got off the Carriage and waited for them to catch up. Once they did Fawkes gave her a hug, "Freya told us to stay here and keep an eye on the cave till the next shift of guards arrived. We were going to go through yesterday but we got the message that you would return soon so we decided to stay and wait."
"Well everything went well, except for the fact that on our way back we ran into a group from a different world led by their own Dragonborn."
Fawkes looked over at Linda's group who had been eyeing him and Uncle Leo, "Hello there," he said, trying to sound friendly.
"HI," Linda said nervously, not knowing what the two creatures were.
They both said hello before climbing into one of the carriages
As they rode Allison perked up like she had just remembered something, "Oh shit Mcready! We didn't stop to grab your wife and son!"
He sat for a second, dumb struck by what she said before moving to the back of the carriage, "I'll find my way back to the cave then go grab them. I'll be back in about two weeks tops," he said before jumping off the back.
Katie smiled at his antics and just shook her head. Having heard the story of his son's condition she stood, whistled to get his attention, and tossed him a potion that cured all diseases. He caught it, read the label and shouted his thanks before returning to his journey back.
As they pulled up to the city of Solitude Freya spotted Queen Elisif walking towards them with Ed-E hovering behind her. She smiled at the sight and jumped off the carriage as it flew towards her before stopping at the sight of Codsworth and Aida, *Questioning beeps*.
"No need to fear us good fellow, we are friends of my mistress Allison," Codsworth said.
"Affirmative. It is because of her that I am still functioning and not dead like my family," Aida added.
*Happy beeps*
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well," Codsworth said happily.
"Oh Ed-E, we finally have what we need to make more eye-bots so we can finish the radio station," Freya said.
*Questioning beeps*
"Allison here knows how to make a machine that'll make them. Once we have them we'll send them to different towns and area's and they'll relay information to a central one at High Hrothgar, who'll use Three Dog's voice to tell of anything important, like area's to avoid or of incoming storms."
"Huh, sounds awesome," Allison commented.
"We could also use radios in them to communicate through the portal and Eluvian."
"Then let's get started on those ones so I can tell my fiancé how things are going," Linda said.
"Let me guess," Elisif said, "A woman of significant beauty?"
"It's not the only reason I'm marrying her," Linda replied.
"Hm, seems to be a common thing concerning Dragonborns these days."
"I said the same thing," Katie said.
"Well enough gabbing," Freya said, "Katie, let's go say hey to our wives then get these two to the Greybeards."
"Sounds good to me. I got Sarah a teddy bear from Moira's store."
As they made their way inside the city Linda was surprised how the place had a simplistic beauty to it.
"Huh, it's not what I'd call a capital but it's nice enough," Iron Bull said as a group of kids gawked at his horns.
"Looks like they aint ever seen someone with horns before," Varric said.
"Nonsense," Freya said, "They must've seen an Argonian or two at some point."
"Yeah but they've never seen someone like me," Bull said, pounding his chest for emphasis.
"Nobody has ever seen someone like you Bull," Dorian said.
"Damn right!"
That night for dinner Freya, Katie, and Allison made up Mud crab cakes, and a cave bear roast.
"You know, I don't think I'll miss the bad taste radiation leaves in meat," Allison said.
"I don't, and I used to eat campfire made meals all the time," Freya said, testing the cake filling, nodding her approval, and began to fill the wantons and setting them in the oil.
Allison stopped and looked over at Amada who was feeding her and Katie's daughter. She sighed as a tear slid down her cheek.
Katie noticed her mood change and pulled her into a hug, "Hey, look at it this way," she pointed her thumb at Sarah, "She is part of your family."
"How do you see that?" Allison asked, chopping some vegetables.
"Well technically I'm Shaun's daughter, since James was Shaun, thus I'm your granddaughter, and that makes her your great-granddaughter."
*Sigh* "That only makes me feel old."
"Well you are over two hundred years old."
"Does your wife even know who I am?"
"Not yet. Why don't you go introduce yourself while Freya and I finish dinner?"
"Ok. By the way, did you name her after-"
"Elder Lyons daughter? Yes, yes I did," Katie said with a smile.
Allison nervously walked over and sat next to Amada, "Hi," she said, faking her 'let's talk about you joining the Minutemen' voice.
"Oh hello… your Allison right?" Amada said.
"That's right. I'm Shaun's mother."
Amada smiled, "He's a cute kid, and he seems quite taken with Solitude."
"That he is, but that's not the Shaun I was talking about."
Amada looked at her confused, "What?"
"Well you see, Shaun the child is a Synthetic Human based off of my actual son."
"So he's your sons clone?"
"Sort of, anyways the real Shaun was the head of The Institute in the Commonwealth. And with the use of a Synth that he 'remote controlled'… he's Katie's father." Allison said.
Amada looked at her for a few moments, "So what you're beating around the bush saying is… that you're my grandmother-in-law?"
Allison grunted in annoyance, "That makes feel so old," She said resting her head in her hands.
"Well I must say that you look good for your age."
"Thanks."
As all this was going on, nobody noticed Linda leaning on the door frame watching the whole event take place, "Was there a point in telling your story or were you just saying it to get it off your chest?"
Allison looked at her, "I was telling her so if I ever want to spend a lot of time with the baby it won't seem weird since I'm family."
"Well instead of saying you're the great-grandmother just say you're the aunt or something. It'd be better considering how old you look."
"I actually wouldn't mind considering you like a sister," Katie said from the kitchen.
Allison smiled, "I could live with that."
Since it appeared to be finished, Amada handed Allison the baby and headed into the kitchen. Allison felt a wave of nostalgia holding the infant, and then sadness as she remembered a night many months (for her) ago.
It was winter, Christmas Eve to be precise.
Allison was sitting next to the fireplace with Shaun who had woken up in the middle of the night needing a late night meal. It was snowing outside and the entire neighborhood was alight with Christmas lights.
Shaun was almost asleep when her husband walked in and handed her a glass of tea before taking Shaun into his arms, "Merry Christmas little guy."
Allison smiled at the sight and looked out the window. The ground had at least six inches of snow covering it and all looked beautiful, "It looks so peaceful."
"Yeah, you'd almost forget that a war's going on."
"Well, maybe tomorrow things will get better."
"Always looking for that brighter future aren't you?"
Allison looked at Shaun nestled in his father's arms, "You know it."
A tear slid down Allison's face as she looked at Sarah. Linda wanted to ask what was wrong but decided not to pry into sad memories.
Luckily a distraction came in the form of Freya's wife Lydia entering the room with plates and silverware, "Could one of you help me set the table. It's a good thing that Freya built such a big house, and a table big enough to house everyone. Though Linda," Linda looked over at her, "I would prefer if your friends could stay at one of the other houses. We have one that's a ten minute walk away, it's just with all the noise the babies will never get their naps."
"I understand."
"I'll show them Windstad Manor tomorrow as my sisters and I attend to some business," Freya said from the kitchen.
"Taking them to the greybeards dearest?"
"Yes, then one or two other things that I need to take care of. Oh, by the way, were the flower arrangements delivered?"
"They reached Falkreath this morning. Oh and the girls said they'd be a little late so we should start eating if they don't show up on time."
"Good and ok. Dinner's almost done so why don't you guys get to setting the table."
Linda stood, "Since Allison is busy I'll help"
Several minutes later the table was set, all of Freya's friend had arrived and everyone who could eat was sitting and enjoying the meal, "You know," Iron Bull said over a mouth full of crab cake, "I'm usually not one for seafood, but these are awesome."
"I'll agree with you there boss," Krem said.
Shaun eyes the cakes wearily and decided to go with just the roast.
"Come now young man," Dorian said, putting a large spoonful of green beans on Shaun's plate, "You need the nutrients from some vegetables."
Allison giggled, "That's my job sir."
"Oh please," Blackwall said, "Dorian's a great mom substitute," He added with a snicker.
"Haha, laugh it up."
"Oh don't worry luv, we are," Serra said.
"It's interesting how so many worlds can be so close together yet be so different," Solas said.
"I find it best not to contemplate such big matters while consuming food supplements," X6-88 said.
"Careful there X6 with the contemplative attitude. No need to blow a circuit," Valentine said.
"Unlike you I do not have circuits to blow."
"Hey now… that's a low blow," Freya said.
"Forgive my insensitivity," X6 said to Nick.
"It's fine. If I got bothered by every comment about my model type I'd have gone Curie's route and downloaded myself into a Gen-3 a long time ago."
"You'd have hated it within a minute Nick. Because then gunshot's would've actually hurt," Allison said, "Plus you couldn't use you're greatest threat."
"What's that?" Morrigan asked.
"Me shouting if this face is the last thing they want to see."
"Then again, Ellie probably wouldn't mind you having a few extra pieces," Cait said, causing said woman to choke on her food.
"He's just my boss," She lamely said as a defense.
"Yeah, sure sure keep telling yourself that."
"Stop picking on her Cait. I made it clear to her when I adopted her-"
"Wait you what?" Allison asked.
"I adopted her when I moved to Diamond city. Found her squatting in the building that my office now resides in. So I offered her a place to stay if she'd run errands and sort the files," Nick said, pulling Ellie closer to him, "As I was saying, I told her not to get to attached incase a glitch makes me forget half my memories."
"Which is why I back them up every other week," Ellie said.
"You're such a softy Nick," Piper said.
"Hey don't say that so loudly. Don't want it getting around."
Everybody laughed as Nick theatrically posed as a big strong hero, till there was a knock on the front door. Freya stood and walked to the door and everyone heard her talk to whoever it was before she re-entered the dining room with four young women in tow, "Everyone these are my daughters," She pointed as she began to call out names, "Sophie, Lucia, Melody, and Svari. Sophie and Lucia I adopted from around Skyrim, Melody I brought back from the Mohave, and Svari is Melody's wife while Lucia and Sophie are married."
Everyone said hello and the five women sat at the head of the table.
"So what made you decide to adopt so many girls?" One of the chargers asked from the second table.
"Well I found Lucia begging in Whiterun, I adopted her because she had no home and she reminded me of when my father threw me out for stabbing him in self-defense"
"You stabbed your father in defense?" Cait asked.
Freya nodded.
"You're my hero," She said getting a laugh from anyone who knew her story.
"Anyways, I found Sophie in Windhelm selling flowers and sleeping in an alley while it was snowing."
"Ok, that right there reminds me of a story called-" Piper began.
"Little Match Girl. I read it while in the Mohave and at first I laughed at the similarities, then I cried at how that could have been my little girl. Anyways, Melody was a slave in Creasers legion, she took care of the Brahmin. I saw her and immediately went to the man in charge of the slaves and dropped ten thousand caps in his lap and said I was buying her."
"Even managed to get my teddy bear back as well," Melody said.
"And let me tell you," A big woman at the end of the table said, "The day she brought her home was the first time I saw her with an honest to goodness smile."
Dorian looked at the woman, "Excuse me Mrs-"
"Lilly."
"Lilly… I don't mean to embarrass you but how-"
"I was what was called a Nightkin class super mutant but as you can see I've turned mostly back to normal except for these muscles."
Bull laughed, "Hey how about some sparing practice tomorrow? These wimps can't seem to take any of what I can truly dish out."
"I'll talk to my husband and see if I can get the time off from working in the stables."
"Sounds good, I haven't had a strong sparring partner in so long I feel as if I'm going soft."
Everyone laughed at that but the sound of crying from upstairs drew a sigh from Katie and she left go deal with it.
"So exactly how many babies will be running around here?" Cait asked.
"Well Katie has a toddler and a two and a half year old. I have a ten year old and Lydia's been wanting a second one. Sophie and Lucia both are wanting one and are waiting for a response from Tolfdir to see if he'll help them-"
"Hopefully he'll help us this time," Sophie said.
"Sophie, you had both just gotten married and were just seventeen last time."
"And now we're twenty."
"Yes and you also have a business to support yourselves so I think he'll agree this time. Anyways Joana has a five year old and is expecting, Lilly just had one, and Veronica and Christine have three kids one of which is a year old."
"And don't forget Boone and Cass's triplets," Lydia said.
"Right."
"Please tell me you have a place for us to hold up if you do the babysittin," Cait asked.
Freya smiled, "Yes, I had talked to Lydia about taking you guy to a house I have to the south east that I designed to house around forty people comfortably."
"Does it have proper pluming?"
Freya smiled, "Yes it does, and before you ask, yes it has some electricity and gas."
"That's all well and good but as long as I'm able to take a proper warm shower I'll be happy."
"Don't need to worry about that, the water heater I made allows the shower to run at top heat for about an hour before it needs to recharge. Now after I show you lot where you're going to stay, Allison, Linda, Katie and I have things to do."
"Such as?" Linda asked.
"Well first the Greybeards will want to meet you, then of course Paarthurnax, then a few errands that I need to run."
"Like?" Linda asked.
"Need to visit a gravesite to pay respects."
The next day they set out.
When Freya had said that she remodeled Windstad Manor it was an understatement. The main living area was the size of a mead hall and had several bathrooms while the main hall itself sported several large tables along with a still, brewing tank, and mead vat. It had a fully stocked kitchen and a 'freezer' which was mostly a room that had been enchanted to remain at zero degrees Fahrenheit to store meat while a 'refrigerator' was to store other things.
After a brief tour the four women set off for High Hrothgar.
Along the way Freya and Katie would teach Allison and Linda words of power and share experience of the words with them so by the time the monastery came into sight they knew an impressive amount of shouts.
As they entered they spotted a man in a duster style jacket with dreadlocks talking to one of the Greybeards.
Freya walked over and kneeled behind him, "Teacher Ulysses."
Ulysses turned and faced her, "How many times must I tell you Dragonborn? I have taught you all that I know and am no longer your teacher."
"My people always regard those who are their mentors as such. And besides in my mind, you will always have more to teach me."
"I guess that's true," He looked at Allison and Linda, "I see that you found two more Dragonborn."
"Yes I have," Freya said, standing and motioning to the monk to fetch Amgeir, "Well to be fair, the one with the short hair sought me out and revealed yet another world that vault-tech knew about and was trying to visit. Also I must say that it's odd to see you here. I thought that you were all settled in Ravenrock with your wife."
"I came to meditate on how so many lives have been changed by you and your, 'sisters'."
"Huh, well this is a great place for it. Now, I have to get these two properly introduced to the Greybeards and Paarthurnax then we need to go talk to my 'family' in Dawnstar about the anniversary of the reason we're now in Dawnstar, followed by a quick trip to the college to take care of several things, possibly Riften to speak to the thieves guild, then the Dawnguard to introduce those two to Serana and to make them members, then to Falkreath, then Skyhaven to deal with the Blades wanting guns, then finally home."
"Sounds like you have much to do."
"Yeah, but I don't mind. I like to travel, also a month after I retired Lydia demanded I return to work because I was tearing up the house looking for something to do besides working the forge and enchanter. So the more time I can be doing something the better."
By the time Freya finished her conversation with Ulysses, Amgeir had arrived and was observing the two new Dragonborn from a slight distance. Once Ulysses left he approached, "Good to see you again Dragonborn Freya. I see that you've found two more to add to your numbers."
"Well the short haired one will be returning to her world after she's done with everything here so she and her wife can get married."
"I understand. Well I assume that you've taught them a few shouts so let's see the strength of their Thu'um."
After about two hours of training they began the trek to the top of the mountain to speak to Paarthurnax. It went as it usually did, they killed a few wraiths and spotted a few goats on the way up.
They found him in his usual spot of contemplation, on top of the burial stone and looking out over the land of Skyrim.
"Interesting, hi drun two new Dovahkiin wah zu'u today," He said, using English for words with no Dovah counterparts. ("Interesting, you brought two new Dragonborn with you today.")
"Geh. Fin gein voth fod lingrah om los Allison ol fin gein voth mal om los Linda Trevelion." Freya replied. ("Yes. The one with shoulder length hair is Allison while the one with short hair is Linda Trevelion.")
"Uhm," Allison started, "Could you speak English for those of use that don't speak dragon?"
Linda looked over at her, "I'm with you on that one. The only dragon speak I know is what mine does."
At its mention Linda's dragon poked its head out of the backpack she was wearing and looked at Paarthurnax.
"Ah, hello there little one. Are all dragons in your world that small?" Paarthurnax asked.
"No, she's normally bigger but to get her here we had to shrink her."
"May I see her in her full size?"
The dragon hopped out and Linda motioned for everyone to stand back. They took a few steps causing Linda to role her eyes as she climbed up the final bit of the mountain a little.
As she charged the spell everyone joined her and the dragon hopped in the air and began to hover till Linda launched the spell. As it grew it flew around the mountain top before landing back down and giving Paarthurnax a 'who's the small one now?' grin.
"Impressive," He said.
The dragon seemed to chuckle before grunting something to Linda. She seemed to understand and after a few moments launched the shrinking spell at her. Once she was small again she flew back into Linda's backpack and rested her head on her shoulder, "I swear, you must like being smaller."
"Well when she's bigger she can't get a proper back scratch," Allison said on a laugh.
The dragon shot a fire ball at her and just settled back down.
"I don't think I've seen a more comfortable dragon other than the one that now works at the collage," Paarthurnax said.
"It's true, back at Skyhold she decided that the courtyard was her napping area and anyone who didn't like it could bugger off," Linda said, "Also, I think she likes being this size probably because she misses her mother and I've become her replacement."
"A proven fact is that some animals with long life spans do visit their mothers when they enter their elder years to take care of them," Freya said, "At least in Skyrim some do."
"By the way I've been wondering," Katie asked, bending down to look at the Dragon, "How many species of dragon are there?"
"Quite a few actually. My girl here is a Fereldan Frostback, but as much as I like her beautiful golden look I must say that my favorite are the Gamordan Stormriders. Their colors are some of the most mystical things that you'll ever see," Linda said. The dragon just huffed at that but after giving a look of thought seemed to agree.
"Does she even have a name?"
"You know, with all that was going on I never bothered to ask or make one," after a few moments of communication with the dragon Linda said, "She goes by Gold wing since they never usually bother with names and use descriptions instead. But she said that she'd like to be called Goldean since it's close to what she's normally called and sounds enough like a real name."
"Nice," Freya said, "Well since that's done let's get on with your introduction to Paarthurnax in the proper way of the Dovah. And since it's customary for the elder to go first," She turned to Paarthurnax and motioned him to commence with introductions.
After about another hour they set off towards Dawnstar and within about three hours arrived to the outskirts of town. They got their usual looks and hellos from the people and even heard a rumor about a coven of Hagravens to the east as they circled around the port towards the door.
As they entered Cicero greeted them with several jars in his hands, "Oh hello Listener! I see you've brought new sisters!" he said in his usual joyful shouts.
"Yes I have, but they're not why I'm here at the moment. Is everyone ready?"
"Yes, Nazir and the unchild have already left. I was about to tend to mother before leaving myself."
"Ok then I'll leave you to it. I'll be there in about… well I'll be there by the anniversary."
"Ok, but do go talk to mother, I get the feeling that she has a job or two for you."
The trip to the collage was slowed by a storm but they made it there before it got too bad, with the assistance of the clear skies shout of course.
The first thing Allison and Linda saw was a dragon explaining how to properly brew a vat of manna potion ingredients. The second thing was several students assisting him by lifting pots full of whatever was going in the main caldron that must've weighed more than they did but they were lifting them like they weighed nothing.
As they entered the courtyard the dragon turned to them, "Archmage Dovahkin! How are you this fine day?" He asked joyfully, ignoring the blizzard that seemed hell bent on drowning the school and freezing his students.
"Pretty good," Freya looked at the students, "Wouldn't it be better if you moved this class inside?"
"I guess, but the main hall is in use and my large form is a bit distracting to those in other classes."
"Well then… how about I help keep things warm long enough for this potion to be finished and then I'll tell you about a job I need your help with."
"Ok. We're almost done anyways."
The dragon didn't look happy, "You want me to talk to those maniacs?"
"We're just trying to show them that not all dragons are bad. If we can't talk them down then I'll plainly tell them that I will finish what the Thalmor started if they don't stand down."
"Ok, but I'll only go if you get there ahead of time. I don't need them trying to kill me when I have such a nice life here at the collage."
"Deal. By the way I would like to buy some spell tomes for my two new companions so that they can learn magic."
"How can we when we're not true mages?" Linda asked.
"The magic of this world is different than yours so you might be able to learn more here than what you could learn in your world," Katie said.
"Interesting, Solus would probably enjoy coming here for a while."
They moved to the arcanium and spent several hours going through tomes while Urag approached from time to time with several extra books he thought they might find useful, as well as boasting about the three elder scrolls that Freya brought him.
After they finished with that they found a carriage and paid the driver to take them to Riften. As they walked through the town Freya spotted Maven Black-Briar and sent her a 'Don't forget to never mess with me again,' look when their eyes met.
"She hates Maven a lot," Katie whispered to Linda and Allison, "She likes to think she's untouchable, but once sent someone to steal from one of Freya's houses while one of her daughters was there. Freya had been nearby and sensed a problem and found the man trying to pin Sofia to the floor to rape her. Since he was a very new member to the guild she had no problem torturing the information of who sent him out of him."
"I then broke down Maven's door and beat her within an inch of her life and cut one of her fingers off as a warning to never mess with me again. I actually took Brynjolf with me to be a witness so Mercer Frey, the leader at the time, would hear why I assaulted our biggest financial supporter from a trusted member… also I took him to keep me from killing her," Freya said, "But now that I'm in charge of both the Guild and the Dark Brotherhood," Freya smiled, "I've made both groups stop helping her family and her fortune has severely plummeted. I made up for the loss in funding by supplementing with my own funds so everyone but Maven was happy."
"I take it the robbery was supposed to be a message but the almost rape was what set you off," Allison stated.
"Wouldn't it set you off?"
Allison stopped, "When I found Kellogg, the man who took Shaun and killed my husband, once I disabled him, I killed him very slowly. So yes, I understand you."
"If he had just stolen some shit, I'd have been ok. But we have rules in the Guild and one of them is no raping. If the Guild finds out you raped someone while on a job then you get executed and whoever brought you on is punished severely. Maven's middle son needed an attitude change and she thought the Guild would give him that. Unfortunately for them both I found him and taught them both how great my wrath is. In the end, while Mercer was furious, he understood why I killed Maven's son, her guards, and beat the shit out of her. When he went to make peace with her he told her of the rape rule and she told him she understood and was only a little upset about her disappointing son's death."
"Wait she wasn't furious about you killing her son?" Linda asked.
"Not really, he cost her tons of money too many times," Freya said as they approached the fake tomb where the Guild's secret entrance was.
As they entered several of the members turned towards her. Brynjolf was one of them and he walked over to them, "Hello Freya, who're the two new faces?"
"Allison is the one with the brown hair, Linda is the one with short black hair."
"More Dragonborn?"
"Yes I'm here to tell you that I'll be away for a while, while I train them."
"Like Katie."
"Exactly."
"Well, there're no jobs of real importance right now, but Maven is still trying to weasel her way back into our good graces."
"Then I think she needs to learn that no means no. Have Vex and Sapphire steal the Black-briar family jewels, and to not return them till she gets the message and then give them to Queen Elisif."
Brynjolf smiled, "You got it boss, also Karliah is still upset with you."
"Well remind her that I plan on my eternal retirement to be in Sovngarde."
"Of course."
As they left Allison looked at Freya expectantly, "Usually the Thieves Guild is run by a trinity known as the Nightingales. They serve Nocturnal the Deaderic prince of shadows, and once a nightingale always a nightingale meaning even in death you shall serve her. I was told that and said hell no. She wasn't happy and thought Nocturnal's help would be a necessity to defeat Mercer Freya, but I just said I didn't need her help when I had the blessing of over half the others."
"Only half?"
"Some required human sacrifice, but I don't do that… except with bandits. Anyways, a companion I had at the time was already a follower of Nocturnal and saw the chance to be a Nightingale as a once in his life time opportunity so he took my place. That Satisfied Karliah about hunting Mercer but she never got over feeling betrayed by me wanting to go to Sovngarde."
"Either spend eternity serving a Deadera or in paradise… not a hard decision," Katie said.
"Exactly."
The trip to fort Dawnguard was quick and as they entered the sunlit valley Allison and Linda marveled at how it looked like the middle of spring in terms of light considering that it was winter.
As they passed members on their way to the fort they exchanged words and pleasantries but didn't linger. The doors were open and the sounds of joyful laughter filled the air. As they walked in Valerica 'who had been talking to Florentius' spotted them and walked over with a smile, "Nice to see you again Freya, it's been far too long."
"Says the one immune to time," Freya said with a smile.
"True. I see you've brought some new members."
"Wait, if the Dawnguard are vampire hunters then why-" Linda began.
"Do they allow one in their home? I'm the voice of vampires that don't wish to harm others but merely wish to exist. Like the couple that owns Crescent Moon Mill. They put up with me well enough, especially since my daughter married their leader."
"He married a-"
"She let herself be turned back into a human."
"Ah. So what's with the celebration?"
"Serana just had another child… three actually, and they're celebrating it."
"Three?! Damn, how's she doing?"
"Fine now that my best friend is back from that destroyed world and has time to say hello."
Everyone turned to Serana, "Hey, I was looking for another Dragonborn."
"And it looks like you found two," Serana said as she walked over and hugged Freya.
"Sure did. By the way, how is it that you've had six children but you only seem to get hotter?" Freya asked, jealous of Serana's perfect hour-glass figure and now double-D breasts.
"I don't know, but Isran isn't complaining," Serana replied with a smile.
They all laughed before returning to the party.
They decided to use dragons to fly the four of them to Falkreth and after they landed they quietly made their way to the old sanctuary. As they neared the door they saw that it was propped open and that the flowers that Freya had ordered were slowly being taken inside and set around different areas where the members had fallen.
There wasn't really much to the anniversary, each member went to each area, 'spoke to their fallen brethren', and mostly just paid their respects.
Freya for the most part spent her time where Astrid had died, mostly sitting in silence as she remembered how she had been treated as an equal as soon as she had entered the sanctuary.
After about an hour they left and headed to Sky Haven Temple. The trek was nice in Allison's opinion, she had come to miss the green scenery of before the war. They encountered a few groups of Forsworn but dispatched them quickly from afar with their rifles.
As they headed through the door to the temple they heard a loud voice barking orders. Freya, fearing for her dragon friend, ran through the interior and out the back door to find an odd sight in her eyes. The Blades seeming interested in helping to brew some kind of potion with the dragon.
"Ah Dovahkiin, join us. We're just finishing a pot of Wraith Blood Elixir."
Freya just stared, "What's it do?" Katie asked.
"It's meant to give the drinker a great immunity to the cold for several hours, but is meant for cold as in tunneling through ice or across a frozen mountain. If there is magic in the cold then it really doesn't do anything."
"I'm surprised you're going alone with this Delphine," Freya said.
Delphine looked at her, "Even with the many large hearths it gets cold at night," she said, gaining a laugh from the dragon, "So we might as well learn a way to make it more bearable."
"Very good, but remember that this won't help against magic nor dragon frost attacks," The dragon said.
"Remind me again why you're here."
"The Dovahkiin wanted me to show you that not all dragons are evil. What's the expression about eggs?"
"That one will ruin the bunch."
"Right. Now, the base is almost ready for the troll brains."
Freya cringed at the thought of drinking that and walked over to Esbern, "I want to talk about your attempts to get guns."
Esbern sighed, "Not mine but Delphine's. I've accepted that not all dragons must die but she's very stubborn."
"You sided with her concerning Paarthurnax."
"That's because he had a history of betrayal."
"Yeah, betraying Alduin, the evilest of Dragons."
"And his brother. Look, I'll keep trying to get Delphine to calm down but no promises."
"Well that's all I ask."
"Ugh, this tastes horrible," Delphine shouted while gagging. Everyone laughed.
"Well yes because we haven't added mole teeth to absorb the rancid taste. An hour after that that we'll add it to jelly so the taste is whatever you want it to be."
"You know what, a cold bed isn't that bad," Delphine said walking off. Again, everyone laughed.
Freya followed her into Skyhaven, "Hey!"
Delphine turned to her, "Yes?"
"I'm just going to say this once. Stop trying to get guns. There's only five of you and if you get taken over by bandits or worse the Thalmor, then all of Tamriel will be in trouble."
Delphine thought that over, "I see what you mean, but what'll happen if they find our base anyways?"
"Then you should just accept your fate and be ready to head to Sovngarde."
"Speaking of being ready to head to Sovngarde, shouldn't you be heading to Whiterun to check on the Companions?"
"Oh yeah, Kodlak Whitemane's death anniversary is in a week."
"One of these days you'll have to tell me just what type of relationship the two of you had," Delphine said as she leaned against the table.
"What relationship with who now?"
They turned to see Katie standing by the doors holding a pot of something.
"She had some kind of relationship with the last leader of the companions," Delphine said.
"No I didn't! He just treated me special is all," Freya said, hands on hips.
"And one of your housecarls said that you would dress like a barmaid and act like one for him," Delphine said smirking.
"He asked if I knew how to sing. I sang for him a few times and when he said it made him feel younger I, as a joke, treated him like he was a young dashing hero again. He was old and expecting to die of old age soon so he went along with it."
"And I hear that he actually fell for you."
Freya sighed, "That's actually true. One night after he fell asleep I noticed his journal was open and he had written how he thought I was the one from a dream he had, one where I helped him fight off Hircine's wolf."
"Hircine's wolf?" Delphine asked.
"The inner circle of the companions were werewolves, and as such when they die, a wolf of Hircine would drag them to his realm. But Kodlak didn't want that, he wanted to go to Sovngarde. He wrote that he believed me to be the one give him this gift, and though he would have thought himself blessed if I would bare him an heir, he respected that I was married to Lydia."
"Do you ever regret that he didn't ask?" Katie asked.
Freya smiled and pulled a necklace from beneath her shirt, "Remember what Tolfdir asked for so he could make a pregnancy potion?"
"A few strands of my hair so I'd be the father."
"When he died I cut off some of his hair and put it in this vial then put a preservation spell on it. Lydia and I talked recently about doing this but I've never had the time for the pregnancy."
"Well if and when you do it be sure to travel through the portal to Sovngarde and show him."
"I plan to. But if I do decide to do it I would respectfully ask his family if they would mind me having his child."
"That would only be proper."
"Madam Delphine! The potion is nearly ready! Give it another try after the jam is added!" The dragon shouted from outside. Delphine just sighed.
Several days later in the city of Solitude.
Allison was slow to wake up. The dream was different today. This time she watched as Freya had rescued her wife Lydia from a group of vampires. She just smiled as she untangled herself from Curie and Cait, still being slightly surprised that they had agreed to share her, 'Share me, it's funny how this stuff works out,' she thought as she put the covers back over them and walked over to the door to their balcony.
It overlooked the cove that the city was built over. She sighed as she watched a boat make its way to the docks down below and across from that was a wooded area.
"Let me guess what that sigh was about," Allison whirled to her left and saw that Katie was on the balcony next to hers, "You can't get over just how different this world is from the waists."
"Yeah. Even before the war the world wasn't this beautiful," Allison said, returning to looking at the scenery.
They stood there for a while before Allison's Pip-Boy binged with a message.
It was from Mcready 'Got a communication from Far Harbor, Little Bertha is sick and is asking for you.'
"Shit!" Allison said, heading over to her dresser and pulling clothes and supplies out.
Cait and Curie woke up and were watching her, "What's going on?" Cait asked.
"Little Bertha's sick in Far Harbor."
"Oh dear," Curie said, "Wiz ze conditions zere 'er any illness could become quite bad."
"Which is why you're coming with me."
Katie entered the room, "I'll come too. I have medical experience so I'll be able to help."
"Ok, go ask Freya if she wants to come with us."
"Want I should go ask what's her name your other sister?" Cait asked.
"Linda? Sure."
Several minutes later as Allison, Curie, Cait, Fawkes, and Uncle Leo were waiting at the door Katie came down the stairs holding a note. "She left this with her wife. It says that she's headed to Whiterun with Linda and they'll be back in a few days."
"Well I'm not waiting for them to get back so let's get going," Allison said, opening the door and heading out.
Katie kissed Amada, whispered a few things in her ear that made her giggle, and followed everyone out the door and through the gate.
