25.
The college had its own carriage and a driver and the Arch-Mage insisted on using it. It would be a much more comfortable way to travel, especially in his age, he said. Most of the journey went by in silence, only the cold wind whispered its mysteries. J'Ziir was extremely relieved when they eventually arrived, he was having enough of the Arch-Mages relentless attention. Earlier that morning, when they left Winterhold behind, he asked why the Dunmer kept staring at him. What was he looking for? His only answer was "who". His patience wore thin and so he left the Dunmer in his carriage and rode ahead. And still, he could feel his red eyes drilling in the back of his head.
The Jarl and the court wizard were eagerly awaiting them at the longhouse. Farengar greeted the Arch-Mage delightfully and without a moments delay, led him upstairs where the unconscious girl still lay in the bed. They were all relieved to know that she was still alive. Lydia hadn't moved from her side, she slept next to her, stood guard and monitored her breathing, prayed and wished and hoped that she would be able to go on. When she saw the Dunmer approach them, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. Finally, she thought.
The Arch-Mage sat on the bed next to the girl and took her cold hand on his own. He closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. A calming, golden glow surrounded them and the people in the room simply watched. Finally, he opened his eyes, set his hand on her forehead and nodded. He took her necklace in his hand, closed it in his fist for a while and as he opened it, the jewel shined. It was like an enchanted sapphire in his hand, sparkling gently against his blue skin. He turned to look at J'Ziir and reached out his other hand.
"I need your half as well," he said and J'Ziir frowned. He touched his necklace and swallowed. The Arch-Mage saw his hesitation. "Uniting the Eye is the only way to save your sister."
Lydia gasped. Hadn't she known this all along? She had! But she didn't expect things to come to light in such a dramatic way. J'Ziir felt their eyes on him, filled with amazement and disbelief. He took a deep breath and told himself to analyze the situation later. He removed the jewel, held it in his hand for a moment and then gave it to the Dunmer. He nodded, lifted Sura's head enough to slip it on her neck and laid her back down. The other part of the jewel reacted and the same glow enveloped it. He turned the two crescent moons against each other, recited few unfamiliar words and they all watched as the two parts locked in place. The moons turned into eyelids, both parts extended a semicircle and produced a magical, glowing pupil in the middle. It was bright blue and it lighted the whole room, it was more radiant than all the candles and flames put together.
The Arch-Mage laid the amulet to Sura's chest and the unconscious girl sighed silently. He pulled the warm furs on top of her, stood up and smiled.
"She needs four to five days but after that, she should be alright," he assured.
"What is that?" Farengar asked with endless curiosity. "I've never seen anything like it."
"It's called a Dragon's Eye," the Arch-Mage explained. "It's one its kind, the only one in existence. It was made by a powerful wizard, a colleague and a dear friend of mine, years ago. This is the first time I have seen it completed. But the power in each half is immense and that is what kept her alive long enough. Now that the amulet is completed, it will erase the poison in her and restore her will to live."
"How did you know?" J'Ziir stared at the Dunmer.
"I knew your father," the Arch-Mage said. "And I saw your half of the necklace. But when I heard that the girl is still alive my suspicions were confirmed. There was only one power that was strong enough to keep her alive. Her half of Eye."
Lydia stood up but was still afraid to leave her friend alone. "She will live?"
"Yes, she will," Savos Aren assured her.
"Thank the Divines," she sighed. Only now, after hours of being stressed, stricken with grief and full of worry, she noticed how tired she was. How exhausted and how heavy her limbs felt.
"Lydia," the Jarl said. "Go get some rest. Like the Arch-Mage said, she will be fine now."
"I would like to stay here nevertheless," she insisted but the Jarl was adamant. Farengar and the Arch-Mage were the only ones who were allowed to stay in the room. Everyone else was ordered out.
"I know she is your family," the Jarl said to J'Ziir when he refused to leave. "But she is also my family. You both have waited for years, I'm sure you can wait a couple more days. Now - I would appreciate if you took care of Lydia. Whether you like it or not, she is your housecarl."
"I released her if you don't remember," he grunted. "She can take care of herself for all I care. There is someone else I need to be with."
"Please," the Jarl asked. "Lydia is my niece. I entrust her to your care."
The Jarl was stubborn and hard-headed. He closed the doors to his bedroom and guided J'Ziir away. He was impatient and thought about forcing his way in. What right did they have to separate them now? But when the Jarl ordered his irritating Dunmer housecarl to guard duty, he realized that waiting was his only choice. He didn't want to be thrown in the reach's prison.
He turned to leave only to see his tired housecarl making her way downstairs. She could barely walk and like a drunkard, she swung from side to side. And what was even more ridiculous, she was still wearing the same, revealing red dress that she had worn in the Jarl's party. Seeing her condition, he felt a sudden pinch somewhere inside him, like someone pricked him with a needle. He already half accepted his attraction towards her but that was all he would accept. And he knew lust had nothing to do with feelings. In his travels, he'd seen people who hated each other but still lusted after one another like two dogs in heat. But since she stayed by Sura's side all this time, taking her back home would be like paying a debt. And he always paid his debts. He walked after her and grabbed her by the arm.
"Come on," he said. "I'll take you home."
"I have a bed in the barracks," she told him. "That's my home. And I can get there myself, thank you very much, my Thane."
"You can barely walk straight," J'Ziir snapped. "Now, follow me and don't argue."
"Or what?" she raised her other eyebrow. "Are you going to knock me unconscious?"
"I might," he snarled. "If it makes you easier to handle."
"That's your solution to everything, isn't it?" Lydia slapped his hand. "As long as things are easy to handle, everything is alright. Well, my Thane. I think your simple life just got a lot more complicated. Now you actually have something to fight for."
"Keep your mouth shut," he dragged her along. "Nothing has changed."
"Nothing has changed?" she was astonished. "Are you insane? I mean...with all due respect, my Thane, but still!"
"What was I thinking? It was foolish of me to offer to help you," he let go of her hand and immediately regretted his softhearted decision of taking her home. But now she was livid, almost fully awake and followed in his footsteps.
"Now do you see what I meant," Lydia grabbed his shoulder but he shook her off and continued on. "Your sister, your reason to fight and save this land."
"No," he turned to face her. "I found her, yes. But I can take her with me and leave. Neither one of us belongs here. This is not our home."
"This is her home," Lydia argued and hurried after him. They rushed through the silent Market and towards the main gate. "It's been her home as long as she remembers. And the man she loves lives here! She doesn't remember you! To her, you are just a vulgar stranger!"
He stopped on his tracks. He refused to think about it, that she still wouldn't recognize him. That there would only be a black, empty void where her real family should have been. That she would actually choose these Nords rather than him. And why wouldn't she? What had he done to keep her safe? Even when he had known the truth but denied it.
"J'Ziir?" Lydia walked next to him and touched his hand. "Are...are you alright? I didn't mean to say that, it was rude of me. I know she will remember you eventually and..."
"Don't comfort me," he growled. "Let's go."
Lydia gave up. He didn't want to talk about it, like always. And she was too tired to argue with him. But eventually, he would have to face the truth and expect it. Or lose his sister all over again.
"Get inside," J'Ziir stopped at the door of a medium-sized house. It was right next to the Warmaiden's and Lydia was always sad to see this place so empty and quiet. She really liked that house, admired it. It wasn't too big or too small, it had a spacious downstairs and a small bathroom just behind the stairs. It had two medium sized bedrooms upstairs. All in all, it was a very cozy little place. If she could have chosen where to live in Whiterun, it would have been in Breezehome. But her measly payment was never enough and her father always reminded her that she would have a house of her own when she and Hadvar were married. He opened the door and waved her in.
"Wait...what?" Lydia followed him. "What is going on?"
"You always complain that I don't have a place to stay," J'Ziir sighed. "Now I do. Go upstairs and get some rest. The small room on the left is yours. I have things to do."
"You bought a house?" Lydia grinned and teased him. "When?"
"What does it matter?" he turned to leave. "I have a house and you have a place to stay. I don't want to hear anything more about it. I'm leaving, get some rest," he ordered and slammed the door shut behind him.
Lydia looked around and even his angry exit couldn't ruin her good mood. She was tired and sore and her muscles were aching but for the first time in ages, she felt happy. Sura would survive and she would help her recover and deal with her bad memories. And what was even more amazing - her Thane had finally listened to her and bought himself a house. And not just any house. Breezehome.
She peeked into the little room under the stairs and saw a wide, wooden bathtub in the corner. There was also two big barrels of warm and cold water. Lydia giggled - did you planned this for me, my Thane? Impossible, that would be too much to expect. She removed her gown, threw it on the floor and filled the tub with steaming water. She added some lavender leaves and tundra cotton and sighed as the warm, scented liquid embraced her body. Things were finally starting to look better, she thought and closed her eyes.