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Whiterun approached in yellow grass, yellow guards, yellow banners, yellow sunshine dancing on yellow skin. Thalendar hadn't pulled up his hood, instead even further down, but still the guards hailed him and nodded respectfully, called him 'Thane'.
'Thane'? That Altmer held one of the highest offices in Skyrim's politics? Esbern had no time to wonder about it as Thalendar increased his pace and the old Breton had a hard time keeping up on his aching feet. Not that they had to go far: Just after the city gates, past the blacksmith, Thalendar entered a small house. A frown appeared on the Altmer's face for some reason. As soon as Esbern had shut the door behind them again, the High Elf shouted louder than ever, except for the incident with the bear: "Lydia!"
Nobody answered them. Thalendar drew a deep breath and called again. "LYDIA!"
"Papa!" Two high voices screamed in delight, two small figures appeared from a doorframe, two girls hugged the tall Altmer although they barely reached his waist.
The following minutes were a storm of question – "How are you?" "Who hurt you?" "Does it hurt?" "Have you brought us anything?" "Who is that?" "Where have you been?" "How long do you stay this time?" "Can we go swimming in the afternoon?" – before Thalendar managed to say something himself.
"Daughters, while I do appreciate the warm welcome me and my companion Esbern have been travelling for quite a long time and need some sleep. Unfortunately we have to leave in the evening again. And please, remember what I have told you about? The time has come."
"Oh papa!" moaned the taller of the two girls, a Nord with dark brown hair that reached almost to the small of her back. "We don't want to stay in all day! It's so boring."
The Altmer laughed at that. "Girls, believe me when I tell you death is infinitely more boring than a few days at home. Where is Lydia, by the way?" A hint of an edge crept into his voice.
"She went to the market early for some fresh vegetables," answered the second girl, a tiny Imperial with hair of a dark blond and big blue eyes.
Thalendar sighed at that. "I'll have to talk to her thoroughly. She is my housecarl after all, has to follow my commands and guard what is mine. But where are my manners," again this sudden change, "girls, this is Esbern. For your own safety it is better if you do not know too much about him, although I do not doubt you will puncture him with question until he has as many holes as the walls of this city. Esbern, these two are my adopted daughters Sofie and Lucia."
The taller girl curtsied, a strange thing to see in a Nord girl, and elbowed her sister, who belatedly followed suit.
"Hmph." A scowl appeared on the Altmer's face, but he was clearly amused. "Your manners are still lacking, I see."
Just then the door opened and a tall Nord woman, clad in steel armour as if for battle, entered the house. "Oh," she said as she spotted the visitors and nearly dropped the packages in her arms, "my Thane, I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd be coming back to-"
"Enough, Lydia. This is Esbern. I will depart with him again at sunset. Until then, prepare him your bed and have a hot meal ready when we wake again. And," he said, his voice menacing, "I think I gave you quite clear instructions about your behaviour during my absence. Pray tell me, which part of 'Guard the children no matter the cost.' did you not understand?"
The poor woman bleached. "I'm sorry, my Thane, but I was just at the market to purchase some vegetables for lunch-"
"Yet the door was left unlocked," interrupted Thalendar. "As we depart, I will give you clear orders, and this time I will suffer no insubordinance, are we understood?"
"Papa," said Lucia, "don't be mad at her. She just forgot to lock the door."
"And anyone could have simply come in and snatched the two of you away." Thalendar raised a hand to cut off the protests of his daughters. "Enough now. Esbern and I have to rest. Lydia, get our guest some fresh garments and please try to stay out of my room while I am sleeping."
The Altmer briskly turned to the stairs but a tug of Sofie's small hand on the frayed rim of his robe stopped him. "Can you tell us a story first?" she asked shyly.
He smiled down at her. "A short one, but yes, of course." And there he went, his daughters trailing behind him.
"If you will accompany me…" said Lydia hesitantly.
"Yes, thank you very much," murmured Esbern, still staring after the small family. "Is he always so … so …"
"Contrary?" Lydia helped out. "Yes, it's strange. He usually treats me like I'm little more than a slave born to lick his boots, but when he's with the girls he's all the loving, doting father, if a bit queer when it comes to mannerisms. He's actually trying to raise them in the fashion of Alinor, can you imagine that?"
"Who are their parents?"
"Dead, as far as I know, or long gone. It's better this way. They both were orphan girls when he found them begging in Windhelm and Whiterun. He took them in, gave them a home, a person to adore and to call 'Father'. I do hate him occasionally for the way he treats me, but I know he can't act in any other way. He is absolute in everything he does, no half-measures. He either loves your or despises you."