A/N- Hey there, all! So I managed to finish the next chapter... pretty quickly, I might proudly add! Yes, it is a tad shorter than others, but I don't think I could have made it longer and been happy with it. As I said last chapter, this one I've spent many hours editing, scrapping, re-editing, and getting stuck for a while. What saved me is Seether's newest album, Poison the Parish. Started listening to it the day it came in the mail the other day and I instantly found the inspiration I needed to finish this chapter... as well as got some inspiration for future chapters. I think it might've even helped lift my Writer's Block for a while, which... hooray! Now, why only Seether songs? Beats me. Yes, a Seether song (which I will not mention the track title just yet) inspired this story in the first place... but I would have thought after all these years I would have found other influences to help with the storyline. Apparently not, lol.

Anywho, as I said previously, this is a present day chapter. I have another one in the making, but haven't decided if I want to make the next chapter another present day, or jump back into the past. Anyone got any ideas or preferences?

In the meantime, enjoy!

...

As the days went on with proper time to relax at home in Skingrad, Tala finally began to settle into a nice routine. Her nausea finally subsided, but her excessive need for sleep still lingered, which she considered an inconvenience. It probably didn't help that having the same nightmare every night was the cause of her sleep deprivation. So Tala would take a nap during the day in order to recoup the needed rest that she couldn't get at night, and then proceeded on with her life.

Within a week's time of living in Rosethorn Hall, Tala's new housekeeper went and outdid herself in making the manor look vibrant again. She scrubbed the old grime from the walls and floors, properly assorted valued treasures on display, arranged books neatly onto bookcases, and polished glass until it was so clear you almost didn't know it was there. And whenever Tala would return from an herbal scavenger hunt or a small assignment from the Fighters Guild, there would always be an air of coziness in the home and a warm greeting from a pleasant face. She found it very comforting. Just a couple months ago, Tala had chosen to isolate herself from human contact in order to heal, believing that being alone was better for her. Turns out, she was doing better with someone living with her.

Eyja also got clever and started preparing meals whenever Tala went out; that way there was always a hot meal whenever the lady of the house came home... and so the blue-haired Breton couldn't argue about being the one to make those meals.

"You didn't have to do that." Tala murmured with a frown the first time she came home to a prepared dinner. "You do plenty around here. The least I can do is-"

"Cook?" Eyja interrupted. "Nonsense. You've barely been home and when you are, you practically sleep the day away. Yet you still make time to cook for the both of us when you're clearly exhausted. It'd be my pleasure to assist with meals." She then pulled the seat back and pointed at it with a stern face like Tala had done to her. But unfortunately she couldn't conceal a smile, so her act was unconvincing.

Tala couldn't help but smile anyway and give in to her housekeeper's persistence. As she took her seat for dinner, the onion and spices from the meal immediately hit her nose and the smell of meat and potatoes slowly followed behind it. There were other wonderful smells within, but she couldn't quite put her finger to anything exact. She was rather surprised that she could smell that much of the food before she even cracked into it.

"Its Shepherd's pie... my own recipe." Eyja said with delight. "I also provided a nice mead to relax you."

"It smells incredible..." As she stuck her fork into the pie and carved out her first bite, the steam flared to life, bringing out more flavors and intensifying the ingredients that she already recognized. The minute the hot food hit her tongue, she figured out that the other smells were lamb, corn, and a hint of leek. She would never have guessed the leek, but it tasted great. Whatever she did, the blend of food was absolutely perfect. "This is amazing. Thank you, Eyja."

The young Nord's grin spread from ear to ear. There was no way it could get any bigger. "Thank you, lady Tala. That means a lot to hear!"

After the meal, she felt as good as if she just had a vial of the healing potion... if not even better! Yes, it was most definitely the best pie she ever had! Tala hated to admit it, but having a pre-made meal was pretty nice. She could get used to this being a regular occurrence pretty quickly.

It had taken her another week after that to finally ease into a quiet life of minor adventures. And now Tala felt like she had the strength to take that trip down south to Leyawiin to gather Nirnroot. She had done well enough just doing her thing around the Skingrad territory; a little adventure elsewhere shouldn't be too tiresome. But when Tala made the announcement to Eyja one day at lunch, the young Nord didn't seem to approve.

"You're leaving for Leyawiin? When?" Eyja questioned.

"I would like to leave tomorrow." Tala replied. "I'm helping Sinderion with his research with Nirnroot and I think I could find more specimens down in the marshlands of Blackwood. So I plan to spend at least a week there."

Eyja remained quiet for a long moment before she opened her mouth and sheepishly began with, "Pardon me for asking, my lady... b-but are you sure to want to do that? You don't seem like you have been feeling well lately. The fact that you've been sleeping all week has me concerned."

Tala had wanted to say "everything's fine", but she knew her housekeeper wouldn't buy it. "I'm not sure." She reluctantly admitted. "I started out nauseous and tired for the longest time. Now I'm just tired. Healing potions seemed to settle the nausea, but I can't do anything for the sleep. I have... dreams... that keep me awake at night, so I think that's the biggest reason I'm not well."

"What kind of dreams? If I may ask..."

Tala hesitated for a moment as she thought about how much she wanted to reveal. "Mostly memories of events from the Oblivion Crisis." Was what she said, and she chose to say no more.

Luckily, Eyja didn't try to push for more information. She just thought about it for a moment before suggesting, "Perhaps you should seek guidance from a healer, or a priest of Arkay or Julianos for your dreams."

"Hmm... I hadn't given that idea much thought. I had been hoping that the issue would go away on its own. But that doesn't seem to be happening."

"Well then I feel like it would be wise to seek outside advice. I would be very dismayed if something were to happen to you."

Tala smiled and gently shook her head. "No fretting over me, Eyja. I doubt sleepless nights will kill me, but I will seek help from someone anyway... once I return from Leyawiin, that is."

Eyja's frown deepened. "Very well. I will keep the home in good clean condition while you're gone. But please make sure when you return you will do whatever means necessary to get well."

Tala softly chuckled to herself. She knew all too well what it was like to worry about the lives of others and she appreciated Eyja's genuine concern for her. "I promise I will." She took another bite of food and said nothing more.

Eyja then proceeded to clean up the dining room without another word while Tala finished her meal. Once she was done, Tala rose from her seat and headed to the local shops for supplies with a list of things she would be needing for her journey southeast. Adequate herbs and potions incase of danger? Acquired. Tools to keep her armor in peak condition? Procured. Food for the house and to travel with? Obtained. Two hours of shopping completed, and now it was time to head home, go upstairs, and pack everything she needed for her trip.

As she was organizing her things that evening, Tala thought about what Eyja had said earlier. The young Nord was right: Tala could use some help. She spent so much time helping other people and never really took the time to help herself. But she didn't want to confide in anyone about her reoccurring dream. It was her burden to bear and no one else's. But maybe with the nausea finally subsiding, it meant that Tala could squeak by on not needing help for now. All she needed to happen was for her to feel better than she has in weeks by the time she returns home.

She doubted that would happen, but she was hopeful anyways.

The sky swirled in its usual colors of gray, violet, and blood. The daedra were still chasing the civilians through the streets and attacking her fellow Blades. The feeling of terror was racing through her body as she relived this tragedy once again.

Then everything went black. Her heart pounding rapidly in the background of the darkness.

The piercing red eyes of the Daedric Prince of Destruction staring into her own eyes as it let out a massive roar and shook the ground, the sky flaring with fire and pain.

Everything went black again. Her heartbeat started speeding up faster with the fear.

Here she was, standing in the middle of the street, helpless and scared all over again. By now, she knew what would come next. Her beating heart would drown out the sound of the screams, and perhaps more of the painful memory would flash to life in under a moment's notice. All she wanted was to run and forget this hurt. But no matter what she wanted, it was pointless; she couldn't move her feet. As all the sounds of chaos began to fade with each heartbeat, she shut her eyes and clutched her head with her hands. As she dug her fingers into her hair, the world began to spin. She couldn't breathe, her chest was constricted, and tears ran down her face.

Make it stop. Just make it stop.

"Tala?"

This time she didn't want to open her eyes. She knew he was standing right there, but she didn't want to look at him. Her heartbeat was still racing and she still felt like the world was spinning in her head.

"Go away." She had the courage to whimper. "I want this to end. Just make it go away."

The sound of her beating heart slowed. The world seemed steadier under feet. She then felt a gentle hand touch hers and carefully take it away from her head. The feel of his touch felt so real, it made her think for a second that this wasn't a dream. But she knew better than that.

She slowly opened her eyes so she could look at him, but then the ground shook underneath her feet.

Then the world became a blur before it went black again. Her heart suddenly began to beat faster. Fast enough that her body began to crumple. She felt herself falling for what felt like forever before she hit the ground.

Tala jerked awake and shot upright for a moment, her heart racing and face wet with tears like always. The dream changed a little again. She didn't know why, but the only thing that seemed to keep changing was Martin trying to talk to her. Nothing else about the dream ever altered. She didn't understand why either, and it frustrated her. She was tired of reliving that day over and over again with subtle and confusing variables. Why couldn't she just relive a fun moment in her life? Or something randomized and confusing that wouldn't wake her up with an anxiety attack?

It felt like a little after midnight, so that meant it would be a long night if she tried to get back to sleep. However, she couldn't bring herself to try, not if it meant replaying that horrible dream. So she arose from her bed and began changing into her armor. If she was going to be awake this early, she might as well get a heads start on the travel to Leyawiin.

Once she was in her warrior's attire and her travel bag was strapped to her back, she briefly went to her guarded display case and checked the hidden contents within the Imperial Dragon armor. Still there, as always. Despite knowing that it was carefully protected, Tala still felt the need to feel it in her hands every now and then, to remind her when things had been perfect.

She went downstairs and left a note for Eyja informing her that she left early and that she took food from the cellar to eat breakfast on the way. She then headed out of the home, out the stables to get her horse, and headed south to her next destination.