Winter had visited Skyrim and Cymbeline was already on her way back to Cyrodiil, she couldn't stand the cold, not even in Whiterun where she could stay inside Breezehome by the fire, but that wasn't productive and she would eventually run out of things to burn. And she couldn't stay at the College, despite their best enchantments, she still woke up to a thin layer of frost just inside her windows each morning, not to mention it was always snowing.
Onmund had never met Cymbeline's family, and the Imperial talked about them very little, what she did mention was that the Fire-Weaver was once a very well connected family in the courts of Cyrodiil. From what Onmund had inferred, the Fire-Weaver blood line had died down immensely after the Oblivion Crisis. He knew of her Half-Brother in the Imperial City from letters they would receive every so often, based off the seal on the letter, he probably worked in the Emperor's Court.
Cyrodiil was rolling hills and bare trees, their leaves shucked for the winter and a frosty nip in the air, it was undoubtably warmer as they approached the Imperial City. What's best was that there was not a Dragon in sight, well, one that was living. In the shadow of the White Gold Tower, Onmund felt his hand be held as he was taken across the bridge on the outside of the city, or at least, as much as Cymbeline could show him on dry land.
"Over there are the guard towers, I used to climb them as a child, not sure why the guards would get upset…Oh! And over there is the Waterfront, I had a few friends who lived over there, we should go see them later Onmund." The Imperial went off like a child, pointing out places she remembered from her childhood, it was good to hear some happy memories from her.
As they traversed through the gates, Cymbeline gave him a squeeze on his hand as a group of Thalmor passed them, stepping closer as they came out into the Plaza.
It was unlike anything Onmund had seen, white stone buildings circled a statue of Akatosh, their roofs were a shade of green that rivaled the grasses and bushes that lined the streets were they could. Iron lamps dotted the streets as civilians and travelers traversed the side walks, some heading into a near by hotel, others making their way back home or towards the other districts. It seemed much more alive than in Skyrim, instead of a grimm silence there was chatter and commerce.
"This used to be the Talos Plaza District, now it's just the Plaza District." Cymbeline explained, nodding to a familiar face as she passed by, "Over there is the Tiber Septim Hotel, really only a few ambassadors stay there a few nights while in Cyrodiil, but now they're usually housed in the Tower."
"Cymbeline? Is that you?" A woman's voice sounded clear as the two stopped on their way to the next district, Cymbeline turning to see who had called to her, a young woman with short brown hair and bottle green eyes stood a few paces behind them, one that was quickly crossed by an excited Dragonborn as she embraced her friend.
"I've missed you so much! There's so much I have to tell you about Skyrim Anne!" Cymbeline exclaimed with a bright smile, holding her friend's shoulders as she motioned for Onmund to join her side.
"And who is this Nord?" The young woman asked, eyeing up Onmund.
"This, is Onmund." Cymbeline began, taking his hand, "My husband."
"You got married? When was the ceremony, why didn't you tell me?" Anne asked questions quickly, her eyes wide in shock.
"Yes, it was a little while ago and Skyrim kinda had a little dragon problem." She explained with pauses as Anne nodded her head.
"So it's true? The Dragons and the Dragonborn's return?"
"All true."
"Oh, we'll have to talk later, I've got to get back to the Tavern, stop by if you need a drink!" And with that, Anne was gone.
"That was Anne, she's a friend of mine."
The Imperial City was much more different than Skyrim, with all its walled off districts and similar architecture, Onmund was baffled on how one could remember all the locations of the districts, their shops, the shop names, district names and still manage to tell apart their house from the others. He guessed it came from living in the city for a while.
"And this is… Green Emperor Way…" Cymbeline began on a chipper tone, but as if she remembered something important, grew quite as the first of the stone grave markers and tombs caught their eyes.
The White Gold Tower towered above them, casting a long shadow across the city, acting like a sort of gigantic sun dial, Onmund could see the damage the Oblivion Crisis had done to the tower, despite it being repaired to almost mint condition as several areas on the tower were a lighter or darker shade than the rest.
As they walked across the rich green grass, dew still clinging to the emerald blades, Onmund found himself looking at the gravestones and family tombs until they stopped at one, outfitted with the traditional painted green doors the other tombs had and white stone building the walls, a family name was inscribed at the top just like the others before it.
Fire-Weaver.
"This is where my parents and ancestors are buried…"
At the base of the closed and locked doors was a bundle of flowers, fresh and untouched by the frost and dew that clung to the grass, as if placed there that very day.
"Love, if you ever start to feel uncomfortable, I can wait." Onmund said softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"It's fine, I've wanted to get this off my chest for a while now."
"Cymbeline!" A mans voice called this time, and when Onmund turned to meet him, he knew his relationship to Cymbeline. The man had coppery hair, that despite his efforts was unruly, pale skin with freckles just under a pair of amber eyes, he wore a simple set of rich clothes, or perhaps the simplest he could find.
"Elgar." Cymbeline greeted with a brief embrace when he was within range.
"What are you doing back in Cyrodiil? I wasn't expecting you for a few more years from the way you talked about the College in Winterhold." Elgar asked, eye brows raised as his eyes traveled to Onmund "And who is this?"
"My name's Onmund, she's my wife." Onmund introduced himself, extending a hand to the Imperial as his brow fell even, taking the Nord's hand in a strong grip.
"We came here for the winter, sorry for not informing you."
"It's alright, I was just heading home, if you'd like to join me for the night."
"Of course we would."
Elgar's house was in the Elven Gardens District, a District filled with large two storied houses and beautiful gardens, the occasional Thalmor Agent passed the group with little heed, not that Onmund mind, as long as they weren't as inane as in Skyrim he could deal with them for a little longer. The sun was just beginning to set when they made it to Elgar's home.
When the group entered the large elegant house, they were met with a warm blanket of air, and the smell of fresh bread. Anne instantly descending from the staircase that ran to the right across from the entrance.
"You'll never believe who I saw today- Oh, Cymbeline, Onmund. I see you've already met Elgar."
Anne and Elgar had been married shortly before Cymbeline had left for the College, Anne filling Onmund in on the details as they sat down to hot bowls of soup and slices of bread. Halfway through dinner, Elgar spoke up.
"So tell me about Skyrim Cymbeline, are there really Dragons?"
Cymbeline exchanged a nervous glance with Onmund as she took a shaky breath and spoke.
"Skyrim's a lot different than Cyrodiil, less politics and more tradition… and yes, there are Dragons… though a lot less than before." She added after a moments thought.
"Have you met the Dragonborn, I heard he was at the College of Winterhold." Elgar asked as Cymbeline folded her hands in her lap.
"There's another thing I need to tell you actually… Elgar… I am the Dragonborn."
"Really?"
"Yes." Anne and Elgar shared a look with each other before a knock came at the door, standing Elgar went to answer the door and was back moments later, excusing himself for work reasons and leaving without another word.
They shared a bed in the guest room that night, and were gone after a short uneventful breakfast the next morning, already on the road to Bravil.
It was an uneventful journey once more, filled with trees, rolling hills of frost ridden grass and sharp frozen air, leaves crunched underfoot and a watery smell filled the air as the city of Bravil came into view.
It was significantly smaller than the Imperial City, which was to be expected, but around the size of Whiterun. Scars of its past ravaged the city, from the occasional blood stained wood in an alley way and the odd symbols that Onmund often found throughout the Nine Holds in Skyrim.
Cymbeline's home was quaint, not quite as grand as Onmund would have thought, made of old wooden boards and strengthened with stonework and clay added recently. Stepping through the threshold, Onmund could feel the old enchantments in the air, they were weak and clumsily done, but he could guess who made them. An older man had greeted them, he was much unlike Cymbeline, with salt and pepper hair and dark eyes that widened at the sight of the copper haired Imperial.
"Uncle Tam." Cymbeline warmly greeted, shaking the man's hand, Tam seemed quite surprised when he felt the simple gold band around his Niece's finger, matching the one Onmund wore, his brow rose in question.
"Yes, we are." Cymbeline sighed, letting her hand fall back to her side as she looked around the place she had grown up in.
It hadn't changed since she had left, furnished with old woven and faded brown rugs, wooden furniture and bookshelves chock full of books on Alchemy, there was little surprise of the presence of the Alchemy Table in the corner of the room, right before the stair case leading upstairs to the two bedrooms.
It was later that Cymbeline explained that Uncle Tam could not speak and that her Aunt Beatrice had taught her Alchemy.
Onmund had never met Cymbeline's family before, but now that he was in Cyrodiil, he thought of his own.
It would be one of the many times he would spend winter in Cyrodiil.
And I'm back, double update today, not next week, I believe this makes us a week ahead schedule, which is fine with me. Anyways, reviews are always appreciated and I'll see you next chapter!