The tremendous black iron gate is open when we reach it. My feet, however, fail me when I reach the threshold into the courtyard. Adharanji pats my back, Ria squeezes my right hand (the one I can feel), and Odahviing allows his warm, comforting breath the wash over me. I take a deep breath and force myself into the courtyard. The first sight I see takes my breath away. Once, there was a statue in the courtyard that was destroyed when I was a child. The statue was of the Hero of Kvatch riding her unicorn into battle. When I was ten a novice thief tried to steal the unicorn's horn when his friends dared him to. He broke off the horn, but the entire statue crumpled and the entire castle was awoken by the clatter.
The poor thief was caught in the middle of the courtyard with his hammer in one hand and the stone horn in the other. My father went into a rage, then had the thief whipped and flogged before being locked in the stocks for a month. However, now there's another statue in the place where my ancestor once stood in her eternal stone glory. Paarthurnax's wings are outstretched in flight and his head is turned upwards with his jaws stretched wide. I see a nozzle in the dragon's mouth and burn marks on his fangs. Clearly, liquid fire is poured out occasionally to make it look like my deceased friend is still breathing his fiery attack.
I step closer and see a tiny figure on Paarthurnax's neck. My daedric armor is made of real ebony and my dragonbone warhammer looks like it's made of ivory. One of my hands is laying on my friend's neck while the other is holding my weapon up for a deadly attack. Paarthurnax is the size of a horse, so I'm the size of a figurine. Silently, I reach my good hand out and rest it against the last remaining trace of my old friend. Ria, Adharanji, and Odahviing silently gather around me. For a second silence hangs. Then, my only remaining dragon companion pops opens his jaws and bathes the statue in flames. For a brief second the statue seems to come to life.
Shadows flow and cause fine features to reveal themselves; the fire adds a brief flare of color to wash over each of the figures; and the movement of Odahviing's breath makes it appear as if Paarthrunax is yanking his wings back in order to get a more powerful takeoff. Then, the flames die and my (slightly hotter) hand is still resting on a pale shadow of the glory Paarthrunax and I once had. My heart aches and my eyes feel wetter as I turn from the statue and look at the rest of the courtyard. Withered trees surround the courtyard's edges, but that's it. I sigh and begin walking towards the entrance into what was once my home. Thankfully, the halls are tall and wide enough that for once Odahviing can join us.
I make it into the first hallway and look at it. Candles line the hallway along with gigantic hanging portraits of me and the Hero of Kvatch (a single picture of the Nerevarine is near the beginning, but then she disappears); thick wooden tables are laden down with weapons and armors from my ancestors (the Nerevarine included) along with priceless relics we've plundered or stolen (small stone hounds at the end of each table are enchanted to attack any thiefs); and a rug beneath my feet shows the story of the Nerevarine (hence her missing from the walls). My heart aches again as I realize my parents haven't erased me from our history.
Suddenly, the sound of an armored pair of feet rushing down the hall causes me to freeze. Stone steps deeper into the castle are at the end of the hall, and my father comes running down them like someone's lit his tail on fire. Then, he halts dead in his tracks when he sees me. I feel my insides twist in on themselves as I look at one of the parents I ran away from all of those years ago. His once black fur has gone completely grey with large portions of white streaks completely throughout it; his sharp blue eyes are now slightly clouded with age; his claws were once tremendous, but are now trimmed and shortened to where I almost can't see them; and he's now the same height as me (although that's my fault for growing).
My father is clad is his black iron armor set excluding the helm. The last time he wore that armor was when his brother died. So, what Irileth said was true. My father's been in mourning since he thought I died. I'm the first one to open my arms, but my dad's the first one to move. He charges like a bull in battle and slams into me hard enough to almost knock me off of my feet. I somehow manage to stand firm and wrestle my sire into a hug. As we embrace I try to think about how old he is.
He was roughly thirty when I was born and I'm about forty, so he's close (or even possibly past) the age of seventy. I wasted half of my life running from him, and now I've returned when he's an old man. I allow the embrace to continue, but eventually I have to pull back. His eyes meet mine and we stand in silence with our arms still locked together.
"Dad. You have five grandchildren.". I realize his eyes aren't cloudy because of age, but because of the tears filling them. My father lets out a loud moan and shoves his face into the crook of my neck. I allow him to sob for a few seconds, then pull back. Finally, I motion Adharanji forward while Ria and Odahviing stay a small distance away. My daughter slowly and cautiously comes to stand by me. Suddenly, I realize how powerful this will be for my father. He's meeting his adult granddaughter for the first time, and she looks exactly like I did at that age.
My dad finally releases me, but it's only to trap his granddaughter into an even tighter hug. My child freezes for a moment before lightly putting her arms around her grandfather. Adharanji looks over at me with her ears flattened back and her eyes wider than I've ever seen them. I offer her a smile and she cautiously smiles back. Hopefully, one day she'll be able to accept the affection everyone has for her. It takes a few more minutes of sobbing, hugging, and whispering affections to one another before we're done. Finally, I have time to speak.
"Where's mom?". My dad motions up the stairs.
"She's ill at the moment and bedridden, so I'm giving her a few hours of rest. There'll be time to meet her later.". I nod. My mother has a joint disease that makes them swell and cause her great pain. Some days she'll be able to do everything like a normal person. Other days she'll have to lay in bed and do nothing because of how unbearable it is to even more a single finger. There are a thousand potions to help, but nothing to cure. I push my ailing mother to the side of my mind, then move to introduce Ria and Odahviing. My father deeply bows to Odahviing.
"I'd like to personally thank you for keeping my daughter alive and relatively well.". I see his eyes dart to my crippled limb. He doesn't say anything, but I can practically feel the pity radiating off of him.
My father also notices Odahviing's wounded stomach.
"If you'll allow it, then I'd gladly have our finest smiths craft some armor for you.". Odahviing lets out a deep growl of happiness and nods his head. Then, my father turns and offers a slight bow to Ria before offering his hand. Ria reaches out and shakes his hand with all of the strength she possesses. My dad laughs before asking.
"Who're you? A friend of my daughters who's come to help her reclaim her birthright?". Ria shakes her head.
"I only met her a little bit ago, but I like to think we're good friends.". She looks at me and I nod in confirmation. She's a fine woman and I'm glad to call her my friend. You also wouldn't mind her being something more. Eh, I wouldn't mind anyone being something more. I'm about as difficult to woo as a free whore. That's because I am a free whore. I inwardly chuckle at myself for some reason and watch a servant zoom past me and tap my father on his shoulder. The thin elf whispers something to my dad, then charges away. My dad looks pained and speaks to us all.
"I have to go and attend to some emergency matters of the hold. Please, make yourselves at home and explore. I'll fetch all of you for dinner, then spend some time with you afterwards.". My dad offers all of us (even Odahviing and Ria) hugs before jogging back up the stairs.
Instantly, Odahviing is turning back towards the courtyard. I begin trying to jog with him, but the red beast shakes his head and motions for me to stop following him.
"We can spend time together later, but now I need to go get myself fitted for armor.". I sigh and watch him go. I can't even turn around before Adharanji is speeding off with only a single blown kiss over her shoulder as a 'goodbye'. I groan and turn to see Ria smiling and waving at me. I smile back and walk over to her. She's the first to speak.
"Mind if I tag along with whatever you're doing?". I nod, but warn her.
"I have no idea what I'm going to do.". Ria sniffs and cringes.
"Maybe bathe.". I groan and throw my head back.
"I washed my face on the way here!". Ria questions me.
"What other places have you been rubbing your food on though?". I sigh and nod to show her she's right. Ria punches my shoulder and tries to cheer me up.
"Come on, it's not so bad. You can have your own private bath and I'll wait outside and talk with you.". I shrug and don't think anything of it. She's taken a bath with me before, so just having idle conversation during a private one doesn't seem any different. I walk up the steps, get off at the second floor, and walk a little ways down the hallway to the left. The third door on the right leads to multiple tubs sunk into the ground with curtains to draw around them.
I shed my armor (cringing at the sticky and red short fur beneath) before climbing into the water. I sigh as filth already begins leaving me. I'm tempted to draw the curtain for privacy, but I don't want to risk alienating Ria. So, I let it remain open. Ria sits beside the bath, then pulls out her sword and begins polishing it with a rag from her pocket. Suddenly, she says something.
"So, those tattoos were because of your lineage?". I instantly realize what she's talking about and nod before telling her the full story.
"Every child born will have the Unicorn of the Hero of Kvatch on their left. It was originally the serpent of the Nerevarine, but it was replaced when a more suitable woman became prominent in our bloodline. Our right side is our father's symbol. My father married into the family, so he doesn't have any tattoos. He could have, but he didn't have to and decided not to. My mother has the unicorn and a dog from her father's house. Obviously, my father's house is a bull. Hence the bull and unicorn on my ass. None of my true daughters have the tattoo because they were born outside the hold, and my bastard was a bastard. I suppose all of my daughters could get tattoos if they returned.". Ria stands and begins practicing with her sword.
"That's actually really neat. I didn't expect that sort of-". She's talking and swinging her arm when she falls into the tub.
Note: Thank you all for your patience. Expect the average 'two day' update time.