Dovahkiin POV:
The frozen ground beneath our horses' hooves crackles and sends tiny puffs of white powder up into the air. Our steeds brave the cold and harsh conditions with the pride of horses use to years of hard work. Puppy, however, is whimpering and doing a little dance beside us as he's forced to walk in the snow. Adharanji started the evening with a smile on her face, but it's nowhere to be found now. The icy forest is dead without a single track of prey; Puppy hasn't stopped whining since we left Solitude; and it looks like another snowstorm will move in within a few hours.
Adharaji begins idly strumming her bow as we travel deeper into the Royal Forest. I've never been much of a hunter, so I allow my daughter to lead on. I'd imagined more conversation while we hunted. Unfortunately, now Adharanji is so dedicated to killing an animal she won't speak until we've bagged something. Oblivion, she might even try to kill Puppy at this point. I decide to pass the time by examining the weapon I had to choose for hunting. My good hand flexes and does what I command. Unsurprisingly, my dead hand lies there uselessly and practically taunts me.
I still can't understand why Ria wouldn't take it. Yes, it's completely and utterly morbid, but it would achieve what she wants. She'd be a member of The Circle and do what she originally wanted. My internal musings are interrupted by Adharanji coming to a complete halt and giving me a single command.
"Get your hound up. I've found tracks, but the prey will hear him coming a mile away.". I reach down, grab Puppy by the collar, and yank him into my arms. The dog doesn't take too kindly to being roughly handled, but he quickly starts kissing me when he realizes I've saved him from the coldness of the ground. Meanwhile, Adharanji slides halfway off her horse to examine the tracks before quickly remounting her steed and trotting off. My own horse follows with little to no command on my part. The horses still crunch through the snow, but now it's not as severe.
Probably because there's no ice beneath the snow in this area. Maybe. I don't know, I'm not a damned weather mage. Is there such a thing as a weather mage? I'll have to ask- My horse harshly whinnies at me as his chest slams into Adharanji's horse's ass. My daughter hisses and swings her hand back at me. Without thinking, I bring my own good hand up and our claws interlock. Adharanji hisses again and rips her claws away from mine. I chuckle a tiny bit and earn another hiss. Finally, my horse, Puppy, and I are all silent. Quietly, I slightly stand up in my saddle and see what Adharanji is looking at. Quite a ways away from us, and through a thicket of brush and trees, is a single thin deer.
Adharanji slowly loads her bow and attempts to take aim. She leans slightly to the right, sucks in a small breath, and fires. The deer was tense and alert throughout it all (probably because of the hissing); however, being tense won't save you from an arrow. The projectile launches itself in between his ribs and solidly sticks. The beast brays once before the arrow buries itself into something vital and kills him. As he falls nothing happens. No more deer, no flutter of birds, and no scream of fear from another animal. Adharanji begins riding towards her kill. Finally, I try to make conversation.
"Do you think the Royal Woods are always this abandoned?". My daughter explains the emptiness to me as she hops off her horse to claim her kill.
"'Royal Woods' aren't suppose to be used for hunting. The entirety of the woods is really just poor terrain. Unsuitable for farming, settling, and using in any other way. So, the queen claims it to prevent people from even trying.". She ties her deer in front of her saddle.
"It's likewise hard to survive it.". She motions around her before beginning to mount her horse.
"No natural source of water beyond rain and snow; not enough shelter to take cover in come harsh conditions; and never enough prey to provide for a population of predators.". Well, that took some charm out of the 'Royal Woods'. Adharanji turns her horse around and begins traveling back the way we came. I follow her lead, but this time I ride beside instead of behind her. This slows our progress because my horse needs to trample down an entirely new path. Thankfully, Adharanji doesn't seem to mind and even attempts to make conversation.
"So, you and Ria?". Adharanji laughs hard enough that Puppy begins wiggling in my arms. I shush my dog, kiss him on the head, and turn my attention back to my child.
"And what is so particularly funny about my relationship with Ria?". Adharanji sighs and shakes her head.
"Mom, this has happened before. Pretty person meets you, you briefly improve upon yourself to keep the pretty person, and you get bored of the pretty person and leave them. Usually, that's when you'd wander back to dad for a few weeks.". She scrunches her eyes and flattens her ears.
"Only I suppose there's nobody to wander back to this time. Maybe Odahviing or me? I don't know about that part. All I know is you've been alone for a year with only Odahviing. You're dying for attention and think you like Ria. Only you'll eventually find out it won't work.". I'm not going to try to tough it out and start yelling at Adharanji and go on a rant about how she's wrong. What she's said hurts and I can honestly believe how she'd see our relationship in this light.
"I'm not going to run off. Trust me, I have nowhere to go and don't want to even run.". Another sigh.
"Mom, you've told that to twenty different men and at least five women. I'm sure you think you love her now, but when the haze of sex has worn off you'll realize you've fucked someone who's young enough to be your granddaughter, met you less than a few months ago, and was originally hunting you to kill you.". I want Adharanji to be okay with my relationship, so I try explaining things to her.
"Things are different in Skyrim. Love doesn't bloom from sweet words and long courtship. Actions are what forms love. Ria has taken action to pursue me and my past deeds of valor have won her heart.". Adharanji yanks her horse to a stop for our talk to go deeper.
"Ria pursued you?". I puff myself up and nod in a moderate amount of pride. For someone my age, weight, and appearance it's a rather impressive accomplishment to have someone pine after you. Adharanji seems rather reluctant to accept it.
"Well, my opinion of Ria has greatly decreased.". I glare and she raises her hands in a mock defensive position while explaining herself.
"I know it's hard to hear and you might not believe me, but I think Ria wants something from you. Gold, power, or fame can be enough for someone of low morals to seduce and fuck you.". I take a deep breath to calm myself before correcting my daughter.
"I only have two things to say to that. One, we haven't had sex yet. Ria hasn't attempted and I feel it's too soon. Two, I offered her what she wanted. I attempted to cut off my hand to give to her as a prize and she refused.". Adharanji still looks concerned, but now she's willing to hear me out.
"She just refused your gift? She didn't even look tempted for a second?". I nod.
"She wrapped her own hand around my wrist to prevent me from cutting it off.". Adharanji looks a little taken aback.
"And, you just refused sex? You didn't even try?". I nod again.
"I've felt no need to sleep with her.". Adharanji still looks completely shocked.
"Oh. Well, good then.". I smile and pat my daughter on the arm. She drops her hands from the defensive position, so I decide to tell her what I think of her at the moment.
"Thank you for being concerned about me. Your heart was in the right place. And, it's sweet you didn't want me to get hurt or mess up my life for the tenth time.". My child seems to glow a little and finally offers me congratulations.
"I'm glad you've found someone. I hope you can move past the differences and make it work. Ria deserves happiness and you definitely deserve happiness after all of this. However, I promise that if I see you starting to run I'll tackle you to the ground.". I chuckle and shake my head as we both begin riding. As we go I realize something and tell Adharanji it.
"You realize Ria is going to be your step-mother, don't you?". Adharanji groans and Puppy starts wiggling again. I calm my husky as Adharanji shakes her head.
"So, I get one mother who's about to kick the bucket because she's so old and one who's young enough to be my daughter?". I scoff and playfully nudge her.
"Trust me, I'm going to be around for a long, long time to annoy you and stick my nose in your life. Besides, look on the bright side. You'll outlive your mother and father, but you'll never lose Ria.". Adharanji keeps shaking her head.
"I'm sure Ria will be thrilled to have me as a daughter.". We're exiting the Royal Woods and entering the regular woods, so I offer Adharanji some final advice.
"I'm sure she will. Ria thinks highly of you, and from what I've seen you think highly of her. You two might not have much in common, but you'll get along well enough. Just talk about how much you unconditionally love me and how amazing I am.". Adharanji laughs hard enough that the dead deer in front of her is nodding its head. I smile because I've done my job and cheered her up. However, my work is quickly destroyed when we reach the main road to Solitude. The sight before us quiets us and causes us both to yank our steeds backwards into the woods.
A stream of riders is pounding down the snowy path. That isn't too concerning, but the banners seven riders are carrying are. Windhelm, Falkreath, Morthal, Dawnstar, Markarth, Riften, and Winterhold. Finally, the last rider passes. Adharanji and I both ride onto the road and slowly begin riding after them. Adharanji speaks her thoughts without really asking for a response.
"Whiterun didn't send a rider. That means they're the only one to bend the knee, or they're the only one that didn't. Either Elisif asked for riders to come with a confirmation of bending to her will, or she asked for some other sign that only Whiterun sent.". I speak my own mind and add on to what she said. Once again, I really don't ask for confirmation of her listening. Mostly, it's thinking out loud.
"Irileth said she would do something to ease tension in Whiterun. Either it worked completely or didn't. Or, it did and Balgruuf is just withholding his rider.". Adharanji adds to my sentence.
"Maybe Irileth's plan worked. Maybe Balgruuf was going to send an army or assassin and she stayed his hand.". I grunt and give my daughter some advice.
"We'd best disguise ourselves when we get inside. At least, until we know if the riders mean 'forgiveness' or 'death'". Adharanji agrees and we keep riding. When we reach the city we dismount and get to work.
Note: The first chapter of 'Luck Be a Lady' is being written. Most likely it'll be released within five chapters of 'The Last Dragon'. More information on the second story going to be released next chapter.