I am terribly sorry for the very long delay. I have been trying to get this out but between work and college, I've been kinda busy. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this epilogue. While the plot line has technically ended, I do plan on continuing. I want to include some extra one-shot chapters, that go back in time and maybe forwards. Who knows. They'll be out of order regardless. I can't promise much or that they will come at soon. But I hope you have enjoyed the story nonetheless. I appreciate everyone who has reviewed, followed and favorited this story. And for those who continue to do so. As always, feel free to ask questions. If there is something you want to see, just let me know.

May you conquer your enemies.

If dreary and cold were smells the Windhelm marketplace would reek of it. The clouds hung dark above the city and there was a bite to the air that was unusually cold, even for Windhelm. The shabby and disheveled stalls stood packed together, each with a merchant trying to call out their wares, halfheartedly it seemed. The cold was getting to them as well. The crowd was thinning as the wind blew harder, deciding to take their chances on another day. Which was fine, less people to stare at the halfbreed as I had so kindly been referred to. Most people never see the offspring of an altmer and an orc. So naturally, I got plenty of confused stares and sideways glances. Most people were at least kind enough to act like they weren't looking or didn't care. And rarely did they ever say anything. But not in good ol' Windhelm. These racist bigots were always good for letting you know what they thought. I got several, "What in Oblivion are you?" and "Get out of my city!" I think one woman actually screamed. Granted, I wasn't exactly the most gorgeous thing to walk Skyrim anyway. I was tall, perhaps too tall. I had none of my father's physique. I was thin and lanky with barely any muscle to speak of. My kind of yellow, kind of tan skin, had small random patches of dark green as did the tips of my ears. My hair was short, dark, coarse and a constant tangled mess. But what I think really got people was my face. I got my mother's thin face which did not mix well with my father's protruding and large jaw. And I had the classic orc teeth. Except I had just the one jutting out from my bottom jaw, up over my lip. But damn were my eyes beautiful.

I pulled my coat tighter as I moved in closer to my sister, who was now leaning on the counter of Aval Atheron's stall. Luckily for her, she was not made from the same gene pool as myself. Lucia was a nice looking nord in her 30's, I suppose. I don't really think I could comment on my sister's attractiveness. In all honesty, I hadn't been paying the slightest attention to what they had been saying. But the deceptively innocent grin that was now forming on Lucia's face made me move in closer to hear.

"Do I look like a whore?" She asked completely sincere, as she stared him straight in the face while wearing a smile. That was my sister. Easily deceptive with her sweetness, and quick to use that to bite you. She was definitely my parents' child. More so than me most often.

Obviously taken aback, Aval stumbled over his words as he tried to recompose himself. His eyes had grown wide and his mouth had hung open for several seconds before he realized he should probably shut it. "I-I would never say such a thing. Especially….especially about Moth's own daughter. We've been friends…good friends for years" He yammered as he tried to dig his way out.

"Then why" her grin gone and her eyebrow raised "are you trying to screw me over?"

Aval tried to defend himself, but Lucia cut him off before he even uttered a sound. "Don't deny it. I detest a liar. Here's what we're going to do" she said taking her dagger from her side and twirling it in her hand. "You" she said as she poked him in the chest with it "are going to give me the equipment at the price you and my father agreed on." She then pointed to herself, "I will then give you that coin. No more than that. Understood?" She asked with a glare icier than the wind. Aval quickly nodded and went to retrieve the equipment.

"Did you have to threaten him?"

"Now dear Karth, when did I ever do that?" She asked, sliding the dagger back into place with that grin plastered to her face again.

"He's not a bad guy" I said in his defense. He really wasn't. But times were hard…for everyone. It wasn't unheard of for merchants to suddenly change their prices. Was it right? No, but still…

She sighed, "I know. But better I catch him in a lie and correct him then Papa. That wouldn't bode well."

That was true enough. Pa was not someone to be trifled with. He made his discontent known in an unpleasant way.

"You know you could have stepped in at any time. Seeing as though you have a way with dunmers." She giggled obviously referring to my wife, Demiah.

"Your humor is the envy of us all dear sister."

She pulled her hood down over her head as the wind blew harder. A moment later Aval was back with the box of equipment. Lucia quickly paid him and took the box, leaving him a few extra gold pieces. Softy. As we made our way through Windhelm to get back to our carriage she asked,

"How are you two by the way?"

"You ought to know. You see us every day. We live right next to you."

"Well excuse me for making conversation."

"How are you and Jeelek?" I teased

She gave me a confused look as we reached the carriage. "What?"

"You know. The argonian who keeps visiting the shop. How are you two?"

"We're-we're not a…Why would you ask that?" she stammered as she attempted to get the packages in the back.

"Because nobody needs that many blades, blade repairs, enchanting, or directions. He's trying to see you, because Divines know he isn't there for me." She was avoiding looking at me as she climbed up into the seat and grabbed the reins.

"Just get in" she huffed.

"And you squeal every time he shows up."

"I do not" she huffed again.

"Just be careful. There might be something sharp down there, if you know what I mean." I couldn't resist adding as I joined the bench.

Her face went red as she turned around and slapped me hard in the arm. It stung, but oh was it worth it.

"By the Nine, shut up." She yelled taking the reins back up.

I could tell I had pissed her off now, so sincerely I added, "At least he makes you happy."

She shook her head. "No, Papa always taught us to never let anything interfere with your judgement. I learned my lesson the first time."

She had to be referring to Sykrk. I remember that well. I was around 10 at the time. Me and Pa had never liked him. But she loved him, so we never said anything. She almost married him until she found out about his girlfriend in Windhelm and his other one in Solitude. And well...things didn't end peacefully. She left him and he kept trying to convince her otherwise. I had to give it to Pa though, he never interfered in her business until the final night. Lucia refused to even let Sykrk in the door way, but he somehow made his way in. His mistake, beside the obvious one of cheating, was that he decided to get violent. She cut the biggest scar into his face I had ever seen and physically kicked him out. All without getting a single bruise. However, on top of his already gaping wound, Sykrk had the misfortune of landing right at Pa's feet. I don't know exactly what happened after that but it didn't sound pleasant.

So, needless to say I didn't push my sister any further on the subject.

It was late the next day when we returned home. But Pa was still in his usual spot, by the forge. He didn't stop working as we approached. He didn't even lift his head. But he knew we were there all the same.

"Doesn't take three days to get to Windhelm and back" he grunted.

Now to the untrained person who hadn't live with this man almost all their lives, they would assume that the tall, gray haired 70 something year old orc, was angry or at least irritated. However, knowing him that directly translated into "What happened? I was worried."

"Sorry Papa" Lucia apologized as she walked over to kiss him on the cheek. "There was a snowstorm. So we stopped for a while."

"Smart. Did you get the equipment?"

I handed over the box and watched as he brought out his new tools for the forge. "Was Atheron fair?"

"Of course." My sister chimed in.

Not trusting Lucia to tell the truth, he raised his eyebrow and looked at me. And I wasn't about to rat the poor man out. "Only paid him what you said to."

Pleased with that answer, he put the stuff away and went back to work. Lucia and I both turned to go take care of our own work. I had enchanting to get done and she probably had some requisitions to fill. But Pa started talking again. "Jeelek starts next week."

"Starts what?" Lucia asked confused. Equally confused, I stopped to listen as well.

"Work." One of Pa's famous one word answers.

"He works at the mill." She said.

"It's closing. The owners are retiring."

"But he lives with them. How is that…" But Pa cut her off before she could finish.

"Not anymore. He's staying here." He answered as he continued to work and only looked up when Lucia didn't respond. I would have paid good coin to have seen the dumbstruck look on her face.

"He can't….you can't…but that…" she tripped over her words.

"I would have thought you would have been more excited about your boyfriend-" This time she was the one to cut him off. "He's not my boyfriend!" she protested as she stomped off. Pa snorted, which is what passed as his laughter. While I laughed so hard it hurt to breathe.

The wind started to pick up. It was getting cold here too. Pa's face turned solemn as he began to clean up. " 'Bout time to visit your mother again. She never did like the cold."

Several Years Later

Moth

The wind blew hard and forceful. But at least it had stopped snowing. Damn stuff was almost to my knees. The sun had gone down several minutes ago and the temperature had already dropped greatly. It even looked like Nelcara's statue was shivering. The kids had started back to the inn but I stayed behind. I waited until I knew they were inside before I sat down. It took me a minute. My joints ached and everything was stiff. This is why orcs didn't die of old age. One of your own would kill you first. I finally managed to make it to the ground and lay my head back against the base of the stone when I heard her voice.

"Taking a nap in the snow?" she teased. Gods I had missed that voice.

I turned to see Nelcara sitting next to me smiling. She reached over and placed one hand on my cheek while running the other through my hair.

"My Moth's gotten all grey and old." She giggled with a sad smile. She was looking at me with those big green eyes. She was just as beautiful as the day she left.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked, pulling the coat tighter to block off the cold.

"I told you, I wasn't going anywhere without you again." Her eyes dropped and her smile faded, "Never again."

I pulled her towards me and wrapped her in my arms. Never taking my eyes off her. She felt warm, and soon I could no longer feel the cold. After a few moments she pulled back to a sitting position. It was then she noticed the noise coming from the inn. At this distance it was muffled, but you could still hear the music and comradery. It made her smile again as she turned back to me.

"Lucia and Karth have grown so much. They used to be such tiny things. Karth and Demiah's baby was so precious jumping around in the snow. It was almost over her head." She laughed. "And I'm glad Lucia married Jeelek. He makes her happy."

"They're good people. You did a good job." She said as if she hadn't been there for eight years of their lives. As if she had never raised them or cared for them, when in reality she could have done much better than me.

"We" I corrected. And she smiled again. Gods, there wasn't anything I wouldn't do for that smile.

"We" she agreed. "I'm still proud of you though." She leaned in and kissed the top of my head before standing up. She never shivered or seemed bothered by the snow. In fact, it didn't even seem to touch her. She held her hand out to me and I quickly took it. Getting up was much easier than sitting had been.

"Any regrets?" She asked as we stood beside each other. For a moment I thought about that. Did I? I had spent my first 18 years in the stronghold, trained in forging and fighting. The next 20, were given to the Legion, which led me to Markarth to become the Jarl's blacksmith. And it was working late there that got me Nelcara. She came in lost and looking for directions. At first I saw her as nothing but a nuisance and then just a humorous distraction from work. But soon she had taken 9 years of my life. Well, not taken. They were gladly given. The best years of my life. It was because of her I had family. Because of her I had two children. Because of her I now had grandchildren. Things and a life I had never knew I wanted. It was because of her I knew what love was. And everything before her had simply lead me to her.

"Not a damn one." I smiled, grabbing her hand tightly.

"And neither do I. Especially that time we…" And she trailed off, her wicked grin forming on her face as she gave me that look. "Ah, but some memories best left unsaid."

I pulled her close and pressed my lips to hers. She quickly returned the favor. It was so nice to have her back again.

"I missed you." I said in a voice so small, I didn't even recognize it as my own.

She gave me that smile one more time while caressing my cheek, "I missed you too"

And they were gone.