***Chapter 36***

*The following month, after Adonato got back, Lydia walks in and is greeted by everyone*

Lilina: "Lydia you're back!"

Adonato: "About time you got back, Mrs Thane over here was turning me grey."

*Lilina punches Adonato's arm*

Lilina: "Shut up, how was training Lydia?"

Lydia: "It was great, I learnt a lot of stuff."

Adonato: "That's good, what's this new sword?"

*Lydia places a cloth on the table and unwraps it to show a sabre*

Lilina: "That's a really nice sabre Lydia, where did you get it?"

Lydia: "Jali, the sword master gave it to me."

Adonato: "I take it that this is the special sword you talked about in the letter."

Lilina: "Yes yes, well let's celebrate your return with some mead and a fine meal then."

Adonato: "I think you're forgetting an introduction."

Lilina: "Ah yes silly me, Lydia this is Rowley."

*Rowley gets up wearing his cloak and walks to Lydia, shaking her hand*

Rowley: "Hello Lydia, pleasure to meet you."

Lydia: "Hello Rowley, it's nice to meet you."

Rowley: "So I'm going to skip to business, I wanted to know if you would take me as your own apprentice, I need training from the best."

Lilina: "I feel so insulted."

Adonato: "I feel amused."

Lilina: "Fuck off."

Lydia: "Why do you want my help?"

Rowley: "Well…"

*Rowley slides his cloak off, exposing his shoulder*

Lydia: "By the Gods, what happened?"

Rowley: "A man known as the Ebony Warrior, I'll tell you the full story later, but I have set a goal to become a great swordsman."

Lilina: "But first we shall drink."

*Lilina goes to the kitchen to get some drinks*

Adonato: "I second that."

Lydia: "Yeah I could use a drink."

Rowley: "Mead all around."

Lydia: "I have a message for Jensine."

Adonato: "I'll send her a letter asking her to come down."

Lydia: "A letter? Where is she?"

Adonato: "Up in her own safe house."

*Lilina comes back with a tray full of drinks*

Lilina: "Here we are."

*everyone takes a drink*

Lilina: "To Lydia, welcome home."

All: "To Lydia."

Adonato: "You'll have to tell us stories of while you were away."

Lydia: "I have a few interesting tales to tell."

*While Lilina is in the forge making Jensine's new shin guards, Adonato sends a letter to her, Fasrin meditates and Lydia is showing Rowley how to use the sabre*

Lydia: "Have you ever held a sabre before?"

Rowley: "I hadn't held a proper sword until last week."

Lydia: "Well see if you can hold this up."

*Rowley grabs the sword, feeling the good balance*

Rowley: "It's hard to keep up but I can hold it up."

Lydia: "You'll get better with it, the most important muscles are in the wrist so lets work on basics."

*Lydia draws her sword and extends her arm fully, swinging it in a circle using only her wrist, the point of her sword goes from the right shoulder to the left foot the continuing up and over"

Lydia: "This is called strike one, try it now."

Rowley: "Ok."

*Rowley mimics the action with some difficulty*

Lydia: "You'll get better with time, remember to keep your shoulder and elbow straight."

Rowley: "Alright."

Lydia: "Just keep doing it over and over."

*Rowley continues practicing as Lilina comes to check up on them*

Lilina: "Hey guys, how's the training?"

Lydia: "Pretty good, still fresh though."

Lilina: "Well we all have to start somewhere, and Lydia is a fine teacher now."

Lydia: "Thank you, how are the shin guards going?"

Lilina: "They're done; just have to wait for Jensine now."

Lydia: "That's good, where's Fasrin?"

Lilina: "She's meditating."

Lydia: "Haha, how stereotypical."

Lilina: "Why's that?"

Lydia: "Others seem to imagine mages as the old wise people who meditate constantly."

Lilina: "It's to focus."

Lydia: "I know, I know, keep going Rowley."

Lilina: "You're doing well Rowley."

Lydia: "Keep it flowing, it has to be smooth."

Rowley: "Can I take a break soon? My wrist is starting to hurt."

Lydia: "Sure, get a drink. Hey Lilina, could you make a better version of the steel sabre, I know it'll take a while learning a new design."

Lilina: "Well the strongest thing I have at the moment is ebony."

Rowley: "No! I'm not using ebony!"

Lilina: "Why not? Oh that's right."

Rowley: "I refuse to use anything that reminds me of that asshole."

Lilina: "Don't worry Rowley I won't use ebony, Lydia would you mind going hunting with me?"

Lydia: "I will after I have Rowley doing the full drills."

Lilina: "Alright, Rowley would u like to watch? I don't think it would be safe for you to try to help us because you haven't had enough training."

Lydia: "It'll take a few days for him to get the full drill."

Lilina: "I know, this is for after."

Lydia: "Come on Rowley start up again."

*Rowley grimaces as he continues the drill*

Lydia: "So, Lilina, you and Adonato trying for a little one?"

Lilina: "Little one? Oh a child haha, no not yet."

Lydia: "That's a shame; you're not getting any younger."

*Lydia gives an overly emphasised grin"

Lilina: "I'm not too old just yet, certainly not too old to kick your ass."

Lydia: "I don't know, I'm pretty well caught up."

Lilina: "Caught up in your own fantasy world to think you can best me."

Lydia: "Whatever you tell yourself. Keep that arm straight Rowley."

Lilina: "Let's have a brawl then, unless you're scared I'll beat you."

Lydia: "Wouldn't want you to break a hip."

Lilina: "FUS."

*Lilina uses the shout at Lydia but she steps out of the way, making Rowley stumbles backwards*

Rowley: "I'm doing the drill, no need to shout."

Lilina: "Sorry Rowley."

Lydia: "Aim is iffy."

Lilina: "My aim huh?"

Lydia: "Haha, you know I tease, anyway, let's head inside for a bit, I think Rowley needs a break."

Rowley: "Thank you."

Lilina: "Yeah lets head inside, I need a drink, your cheek has upset me."

Lydia: "Love you too."

*They all head inside for a rest and drinks*

[The universe and characters of Skyrim belong to Bethesda and associate corporations, the only things owned by my girlfriend and I are the non-lore friendly characters, equipment, and actions that are required for the story to make sense.]