Chapter Twenty-Five

When we approached Helgen I couldn't help but smile. The progress was evident. I was really pleased to see that the workmen had preserved and restored the original stonework. The frames of the houses were up, and all the debris had been cleared away.

"Dragonborn!" Nenya called pleasantly from outside the nearly rebuilt tavern.

I hopped off of my horse, helping Sissel down. Milly dismounted gracefully with the assistance from an Argonian lass.

"Thanks! I about fell on m'ass there." Milly said cheerfully.

"The pleasure is mine." The girl replied with a small smile. "It is an honor to meet the wife of the Dragonborn."

Milly laughed and I sighed. "'M not his wife, just his housekeeper. Now I'm just flattered ya think I could land such a husband." She said with a wink.

"This is my daughter Sissel." I told Nenya, wrapping my arm around her. "She wanted to see the progress the workers have made."

Nenya smiled. "Hello Sissel. Do you like Helgen so far?" She asked.

Sissel nodded. "It looks wonderful. Will you live here when it's done?"

Nenya laughed. "Oh no Sissel, my home is in Falkreath. Your father lived in Falkreath when he was your age." She told Sissel.

"That's when you were married!" Sissel chirped cheerfully.

"Yes. I'm surprised your father remembers that. My husband passed away years ago." Nenya said after a moment. I had no idea what she was talking about but Sissel nodded anyway.

"Do you think it will be done before next month?" Sissel asked.

Nenya shook her head. "No I don't think so. Perhaps in two months." She replied. "Do you want a tour? Your father can tell you of his plans."

Sissel nodded. We were shown the tavern and the houses, then we were shown the guards barracks. Once we reached the keep I cringed. I couldn't help but remember running after Ralof, my hands bound, with a Stormcloak soldiers blood not yet dry on my face. I was so ragged from Thalmor captivity that Hadvar hadn't even recognized me.

"We cleaned out everything from the Keep, just as you asked. Did you have a plan for it?" Nenya asked, breaking me free from my memories.

I nodded. "Aye. The Kahjiit have a great many wares, I thought a more permanant market could be established." I told Sissel.

Sissel nodded. "That's brilliant! They could sell food and goods and tables could be set up so people can eat while they shop since surely they will travel from far away?" She suggested excitedly.

"A very good idea!" Nenya exclaimed with a wide smile. "That will certainly increase profits for the community. If it becomes popular enough, farmers will move into the area and provide fresh food." She looked at me. "This girl is going places!"

I grinned. "That she is!" I agreed, ruffling Sissels hair.

I realized that it had been very quiet and looked around for Milly. She was nowhere in sight.

"I've lost my maid." I told Nenya.

Nenya looked around in surprise. "So it would appear. I wonder where she went. Perhaps some of the workers have seen her?" She said thoughtfully. We moved back towards the homes. We looked around, but she was nowhere.

I stopped a passing worker. "Lad! Have you seen a girl, flame haired and loud?"

The teenager nodded. "Aye Dragonborn. She's on the roof with Hadvar."

I looked up and there she was, weaving thatch into place like it was second nature.

"Milly!" I called. "Why are you on the roof?"

She looked up and waved enthusiastically. I cringed.

"Be careful!" I commanded, reaching out as if I aimed to catch her.

She scrambled down from the roof with grace I didn't know she possessed.

"Hiya!" She said happily, pushing her hair out of her face. "I was showin Hadvar how to weave the thatch instead of just half ass tuckin it. These folks don't want rain on their heads."

"Hadvar is here?" I asked, looking around.

I was shoved from behind. "Slow old maid!" A laugh barked out.

I turned to grin at my old friend. "Looks like my maid was showing you how to do your job! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in an imperial camp somewhere?" I asked, shoving him playfully.

He laughed. "Not anymore my friend. I've left the soldiers life behind. Wandering around looking for work when I heard Helgen was being rebuilt."

I nodded. "Setting up a place for the Kahjiit to plant some roots." I explained. "This is my daughter Sissel." I remembered to say.

Hadvar raised his eyebrows. "Are you married then?" He asked.

"No. I adopted her." I said softly.

"You're the boy!" Sissel exclaimed, marching up to Hadvar. "The boy under the bridge with Uncle Ralof!"

Hadvar looked to me with wide eyes and I just shrugged. "She's unique." I offered.

Sissel rolled her eyes. "Kissing. Duh. Milly let's go talk to the girl who helped you off your horse. I want to look at her tail!"

The girls scampered off and Hadvar looked... Uncomfortable.

"She's met Ralof then?" He asked. I nodded. A strange emotion crossed his face. "I had heard he was dead."

"Not dead. Just missing for a while. He's with Gerdur now. Where are you living these days?" I asked.

Hadvar shrugged. "All over. For now, a tent in the courtyard with another lad who was kind enough to share his lodgings."

I frowned. "Alvor didn't have work for you?" I asked.

Hadvar set his jaw. "We had a disagreement. I'll earn enough to rent a home eventually." He said after a moment.

I nodded. "In the meantime, you'll stay with me and Sissel. Oh and you've met Milly." I declared.

Hadvar shook his head. "I have a job to do here Arryn."

"And I'm offering you a better one. I've got a lot of things to do in Markarth that I'll need help with and I've got a lot to do in Falkreath. So we're headed to my house there this evening. Mind you, you'll need to use that sword of yours."

Hadvar looked hesitant. "You don't need my help Arryn. You're the Dragonborn. I'm just a foot soldier. I appreciate your offer but I can't accept charity." He answered with a sad smile.

I snorted. "Charity? You'll work for every septim. I've a daughter I need to care for now. Can't do that dead now can I? Don't have months to get everything done. I'm man enough to know I've got responsibilities enough to swallow my pride." I insisted.

"Fair enough Brother. Alright, I'll keep your ass alive." He laughed.

Milly placed her hands on her hips. "An' here I was thinkin' I would be battling the beasts of the world!" She teased. "Fine then, Sissel and I shall tend the home and talk about all the handsome men we see, right Sissel?"

Sissel nodded. "Yes. But only if we can talk about dresses too." She said seriously.

"We can absolutely talk about lads and fetching gowns!" Milly laughed. "And recipes and of course, we can figger out how in the blazes men get everything so dirty. Lookit the state uh yer da there. A mess from head to toe on that armor."

I looked down and saw no mess. "Hush up hens and get to the horses. Milly, you'll ride with Hadvar." I grumbled.

Milly scoffed. "Ya mean he'll ride with me. Do ya know how to ride a horse Haddy?"

"Haddy? And yes. I've been riding since before you were born." Hadvar laughed.

Milly turned her head to smirk at him. "Well now you can see the art perfected." She called, climbing onto the mares back, scooting forward for Hadvar to have room. He shook his head with a grin and climbed up after her.

I helped Sissel up onto our mare and we were off for Lakeview Manor. It didn't take long for us to get there and we were greeted almost immediately by Rayya as we stabled the horses. She was out feeding my cow when we rode up.

"Good evening my thane!" She called pleasantly, sheathing her scimitars. "I wasn't expecting so many guests. Please forgive my aggression."

"Of course Rayya, I appreciate your vigilance. This is my housekeeper Milly, my brother Hadvar and my daughter Sissel. Is there food enough in the house for Milly to cook a meal?" I answered.

Rayya nodded. "Of course my thane. I just smoked some salmon yesterday. I also have a pot of venison stew prepared. Killed the elk this morning." She told me, leading us all inside. I loved this house. If my duties to Skyrim didn't keep me near the future High Queen, I would have made it my permanant home. As I watched Milly and Sissel race through the house, throwing open doors to explore, I couldn't help but smile at the dream. They oooed and ahhhed over my trophy room and armory.

"What in Oblivion is that?!" Milly screeched from the trophy room. Hadvar went to investigate with a grin. I followed him.

"That's a Dwarven machine. They run on steam and magic and they've killed many ignorant adventurers." Hadvar explained. "Arryn and I ran across one when we were what, eighteen? Up running around the Druadach mountains. Ralof nearly died trying to get me out of there."

I nodded. "Aye. He was cursing me the whole way. 'Ya could have killed Hadvar! Now you've killed me. Gerdur will strangle me if I go home in this state. Is Hadvar okay? You're a damn fool. Trying to fight men made of metal.' He was near hallucinating then. Didn't realize Hadvar was the one carrying him home. Gerdur popper him right in the eye. "Ya killed my brother! Ya right twit!" I did a poor imitation of Gerdur that had Milly giggling into her hands.

Hadvar frowned dramatically. "She never punched you! I got blamed for it all. She was sweet on you." He protested.

I laughed. "Only in my wildest dreams brother! Remember the time I got drunk later that month?"

Hadvar thought for a moment before he burst into laughter. "Oh I'd nearly forgotten!" He cried out as Rayya placed bowls of soup in front of all of us. Milly smiled up at her, but remained intent on Hadvar.

"You grabbed her in the Sleeping Giant and about ate her face. She broke a bottle of ale round your head. You never looked so sad. Not sure if it was from her scorning you or that she wasted your ale!" Hadvar roared with laughter as the girls giggled quietly.

"She married Hod the next spring. I pouted for a week." I admitted.

Hadvar grinned. "Don't worry brother, you're still prettier than Hod." He teased. I rolled my eyes.

"Sissel it's time for bed. Milly, if you would." I said as I watched my daughter hide a yawn.

"I would. I'm ready for bed m'self. Night all. Hadvar it was nice to meet ya." The redhead declared, leading Sissel to the bedrooms upstairs.

"Take the double bed lass, that way Rayya and Hadvar aren't forced to share a bed." I called.

"I will sleep on the floor." Rayya said immediately, with an alarmed look at Hadvar.

"Ohhhh my. Poor Haddy!" Milly teased from the top of the stairs. "We'll take the double."

Rayya bowed her head. " I will retire to my usual bed then my thane. Good evening." She informed me, quickly rising and fleeing from the room. Rayya was a great steward but her sense of humor was lacking.

"So you're in that room there." I told pointing to my left. "Rayya might just die from impropriety if I let you sleep in the same room as her." I laughed.

"She did seen tense." Hadvar agreed.

"Redguards are serious people. I mean to invite Ralof to join us." I told him.

Hadvar sighed. "He won't join us if he knows I'm going. He hates me. For good reason. I almost sent him to his death."

I shook my head. "He doesn't hate you. He doesn't hate me either. It was war. A war that's over now. We are brothers Hadvar." I said firmly.

"I can only hope you're right, I wanted to see Gerdur when I last visited Riverwood but my uncle and I... We fought. And I thought it best not to." Hadvar said sadly.

"Why did you argue with Alvor?" I asked with a frown.

Hadvar groaned. "Arryn there are things I've done that I'm not proud of. But my uncle is ashamed of me. And he should be. But I'm still a man. I can't stand by and be insulted!" He looked up at me, almost pleading. "I betrayed Ralof. Even if it was orders. Even if I did it for skyrim. Alvor said a good soldier does what he's told, a good man does what is right."

I nodded. "Aye. But that's in the past now. It's time to be brothers again."