30th of Frostfall
The first snows had come early but only as a harbinger of what was to follow later. The temperature, however, required anyone but the hardiest Nords to don their hats and gloves and furs and heavy cloaks earlier than was usual.
I returned to my cottage long enough to reacquaint myself with it, unpack my belongings, and to fill the remainder of my book shelves and commission new ones to hold the many volumes I brought back from Cyrodiil.
"You have free rein, Nabil." I said. "I will stay with my sister in Whiterun for several days. You need not worry about disturbing me with your work."
"This one is happy to see Noxaura return." The Khajiit said. "But Nabil's heart is heavy to see Noxaura so abused."
"It is nothing that time will not correct, dear Nabil." I said. "My hair, both on my head and about my eyes, will soon be restored to their former glory. And my burns are healing nicely. In a few months' time I will be as right as rain."
"As right as rain?" Nabil asked, his ears moving as his brow furrowed, causing his earrings to play their golden melody. "Does Noxaura say rain is correct?"
"To be perfectly honest, friend, I do not know what it means, except that I will be back to my usual self soon." I said.
"Right as rain." Nabil repeated to himself before he and his brother Nader has a lengthy conversation in their mother tongue.
"You need not feel obligated to keep me company." Lucia said to me as I carried my luggage downstairs to my borrowed bedroom. "I am perfectly content to live alone."
"You may be contented, sister, but I find I require slightly longer acclimating to my solitary life." I said.
"In that case, you are more than welcome to stay as long as you wish." she said before she embraced me.
"Do not believe her for a moment." Danica said afterwards as we revisited our leisurely walks through the residential district of Whiterun. "With Runa remaining in Bruma and Lydia away with Aric, she is thrilled to have company."
"I assumed Vilkas would take the opportunity to keep her company." I said with a smile.
"He is also away, as is Farkas." Danica said. "Kodlack sent them to Hammerfell. They left shortly before you returned."
"Hammerfell?" I asked. "Do the Companions truly range so far? I thought their activities were limited to Skyrim."
"It is quite unusual for them to travel that far, and this late in the season." Danica said. "But they are my neighbors and, though I do not pry, I notice when they receive a courier, and when two of their number depart shortly afterwards with nothing more than a brief explanation mentioning affairs in Hammerfell which require our attention."
"Perhaps it is best that they are absent." I said, "Though it will be hard on Lucia. I did not envy the conversation she must have with Farkas."
"I agree Farkas would have taken the news hard, but he is also quite resilient." Danica said, "He must be to survive what he has survived."
"Lucia informed me early in our acquaintance." I said. "I still shudder when I think of it. Do not cry, sister. I will recover fully in time, truly."
"I am sorry." Danica said as she wiped her eyes. "I tried my utmost to put on a brave front, but my resolved failed me. You are so thin, and your burns…"
"It is well that you did not see me a month ago." I said with a short laugh. "What you see now is the result of more potions and healing spells and ointment that I can count. I will not mention the stones weight I have gained in that time either. It helps that whenever I visit Kolmas' family in Helgen his wife Inga showers me with gifts of freshly baked goods."
"You are a frequent visit to Helgen." Danica observed.
"Yes." I answered, "I look in on Inga and her four children. They live in a newly built cottage just outside the north wall."
"That is very generous." Danica said.
"It is the Emperor's generosity." I replied. "He swore that he would bear the cost of relocating Kolmas' family."
"Sir Noxaura." Danica said for what must be the one-hundredth time. "I swell with pride at the mere sound of it; but I cringe when I contemplate what you endured."
"I cringe when I think of what would have befallen those children if we had been only one day later or earlier." I said.
"Kynareth surely had her gaze fixed on those children, and move her forces accordingly." Danica said.
"I wish I had your faith, sister." I said as I placed my arm around her. "I would sleep so much easier."
The house seemed quiet when compared to our recent accommodations. Lucia and I had acquired that comfortable silence that is reserved for old friends and family. We were sharing one of those comfortable moments one sunny, somewhat warmer morning when there was a knock on the front door.
"Miss, The Jarl requests the honor of your presence in Dragonsreach." A captain of the guard said to Lucia.
"Are you sure the Jarl requested me, sir?" Lucia asked. "Perhaps he meant my sister Noxaura, who holds Imperial titles."
"His exact words were Fetch the Lady Lucia here at once. Do not return without her, milady." The captain said.
Gods, could something have happened to Aric or Lydia? I wondered.
By the look on her face, Lucia and I were of one mind.
"We come at once." I said as I removed my cloak from the peg by the door.
"Ladies, I trust I find you well." Jarl Balgruuf said to us as he approached us in his private audience chamber before his gaze settled upon me or, more specifically, my face and head.
"So the reports are true." Balgruuf said. "How do you fare, Sir Noxaura?"
"I mend sir, which is all that I can desire at this point." I replied. "My burns heal faster than my hair grows, but in a month or two I should have something that at least passes for eyelashes and eyebrows."
"The cold weather comes early, my friend." Balgruuf said, "And so you will benefit from the camouflage of hat and cloak, and your beautiful head of hair may take what time it requires."
"You are very kind, sir." I said. "Thank you."
"Lady, you have a visitor." Balgruuf said to Lucia before turning to what could only be in Imperial Courier, "Sir, here is your charge." Balgruuf said indicating Lucia.
"Madam, are you Lucia, daughter to Thane Aric of Whiterun?" the courier asked.
"I am she, sir." Lucia said.
"I have a letter that is to be placed into your hands only." The courier said as he produced said letter from his weatherproof satchel and handed it to her.
"You will attest that I discharge my duty, Jarl?" The courier asked Balgruuf.
"You are faithful to your office, sir." Balgruuf said.
"Gooday." The courier said before departing.
"Will you keep us in suspense, sister?" I asked after a few moments of silence.
Lucia broke the seal on a document that had several pages. She had read about half of the document when she found a strong need to sit down. When she had finished reading she sat very still, the color having fled her face.
"Lady, what do you read to cause you such distress?" Balgruuf asked.
Lucia seemed to have lost the use of her voice. After a moment she simply handed the document to Balgruuf, who scanned it quietly before he began to read aloud from the beginning.
To be delivered only into the hands of Lady Lucia, daughter of Thane Aric of Whiterun.
Lady,
You will forgive a foolish old man for writing to you rather than delivering this news in person when you were at court. But an Emperor is, when all is said and done, still but a man, and I lacked the courage to say out loud what should have been said.
When I first beheld you I thought I was seeing a ghost from my past. You resemble your mother in every aspect. Trust me when I say that it is a blessing from the Divines that you to not resemble me in any way. Even as a young man I was not hansom, and my youth was in my past when I met your mother. But she was young and beautiful and it appears that she bequeathed you both youth and beauty. Her life ended just as yours began. She was blessed, at least, in that she held you, and named you, before she died. It was she that named you Lucia, after her mother.
You mother's name was Elianna Salvitto. She was a member of my personal guard and, even though she was quite young, she was already a skilled warrior. It was by chance that I became acquainted with her. It was on one particular evening that the burdens of my office felt like they would smother me and it was during her watch that I made some comment that she heard and, thinking I was speaking to her, she replied. It was a trivial thing. But then I asked her a real question; a question that had no answer, as so many questions I must face have no answer. She had never said more than 'yes, your Imperial Majesty', or 'no, your Imperial Majesty' before then. But I convinced her to do away with all ceremony for the duration of our conversation, and we simply talked about what consumed my mind. You must realize that the list of counselors I have at my disposal is as long as my arm, but she had no agenda. Her advice was that of a simple woman and a soldier. She was in no way simple, but you take my point I am sure.
I do not believe I took advantage of her. I am most certain that she did not take advantage of me. But many in court would not have approved when our relationship became liking, and liking became love. I could not marry her. When she became too great with child to continue her duties we made preparations, and looked forward to your arrival.
We spoke often of our plans for the future. She had no family, and the palace is no place to raise a child. We had agreed a small home in the city, with a servant or two, would serve well enough at first. It would allow her to resume her duties but still be a Mother. And you would be close enough for me to see you often.
But Elianna died the same day you were born, and all my hopes and dreams died with her; no, not all, you lived. You were beautiful even then. But I could not acknowledge you. You would have been in danger immediately if I had done so.
So I chose two loyal officers. A husband and wife that desperately wanted a child, but could not provide one for themselves. Their names you already know. A vow of secrecy, a new posting, and a new daughter took them to Skyrim, with a letter of introduction from me to the commanding General.
The family you have now is your true family. Calvus and Ladia were your true parents, as Aric is your true father now. But you are the daughter of my blood and to my knowledge you are my only living child.
I am an old man. Your father and your adopted sister have saved me from death for the second time. But death comes to us all eventually, and my death cannot be so many years hence.
I wish to correct a grievous error I made so many years ago. I wish to acknowledge you as my daughter by blood, and to also acknowledge your mother by name. A record of your birth lies deep within the Imperial vault. I know this, because I visit it every year on the date of your birth, which if you are at all interested, is the third day of Last Seed in the one-hundred-eighty-fourth year of the forth era. It is also the day your mother died.
This is what I wish to do, but I will not do it without your consent. Make no mistake; this will forever change your life. If you agree, the Imperial Council will pass articles officially recognizing you as my daughter, and also as my heir. You will become Empress of Tamriel upon my death.
Please consider this request carefully. Discuss it with your family, but impress upon them the importance of secrecy and discretion. I have complete confidence in them.
Whatever you may decide, it will not change the fact that you are my daughter. I would climb up onto the palace roof and announce it loudly to the heavens if I could.
Your loving father, Titus Mede II
"Talos' blood." Balgruuf whispered after a moment.
"Sister." I said quietly as I wrapped my arms around the woman seated before me, the woman who could one day be Empress of Tamriel if she chose.
"I feel quite dizzy." Lucia said. "My blood has ceased to flow to my brain."
"Breathe." I said, my arms still wrapped around her. "I have you. Just breathe."
"I cannot explain why, but I feel terrified." Lucia said as her shaking arms wrapped around me.
"It is a great shock." Balgruuf said. "It will pass in a moment or two. Give yourself grace to react as your body sees fit."
"That explains his reaction to seeing you in the palace." I said, "Gods, who could have predicted such a turn of events."
"You did, sister, several times." Lucia said.
She was correct. I had said more than once that she would be a Queen if there was any justice that existed upon this earth. It seems that justice does, indeed, exist.
"You need decide nothing yet." I reminded her. "Await the return of Aric and Lydia and discuss the matter with them."
Balgruuf folded the letter again and handed it to me.
"May I sit here for a moment longer?" Lucia asked him. "I am sure that you are correct and that the shock will pass soon, but it seems to be taking its own sweet time about it."
"Take as long as you require, Lady." Balgruuf said. "I will return with liquid refreshment. It is, after all, almost noon."
The early winter snows found me in Helgen once again, as I delivered winter clothing to Inga and her four children.
"These should serve you well for the winter season, dear Inga." I said to Kolmas' wife as my cart was being unloaded. "And these sweets are also for you and the children."
"Thank you Reverend Mother." Inga replied as she took my gift only to replace it with freshly baked bread. "This is for you and Miss Lucia."
"That is very kind." I replied. "I gained a great deal of respect for anyone who kneads dough during my stay in Cyrodiil. I know now where you acquired such strong hands and forearms."
"You spent time in Cyrodiil kneading dough, Reverend Mother?" Inga asked.
"Not exactly." I answered with a smile.
There was a knock on the door, and a city guard gave me a perfunctory salute after Inga had admitted him.
"Beg pardon, your Grace, but we must move your cart to allow a wagon to pass." He said.
"I will come at once." I said.
To my surprise the approaching wagon held many familiar faces. One face in particular, which much resembled mine, was attached to a woman who was seated beside a hansom Bosmer battle mage who was wrapped in a grey cloak and was serving as the wagon's driver. The shock on my mother's face as she saw my appearance was plain.
"Sir, you have hidden talents." I said to Rafel as he stopped the wagon behind my small cart, "How come you by such an eclectic assortment of abilities?"
"I had excellent instructors." Rafel replied, indicating Adrien and Lucien who sat in the bed of the wagon, while never taking his eyes from me.
"Reverend Mother, what happened to you?" Lucien asked.
"The young man has plucked the words from my mind." Rafel said.
My mother was instantly beside me giving me a warm embrace.
"My beautiful child, what has happened to you?" she asked.
"The answer to that question must wait a short time." I said as I embraced her in return before addressing the two youths. "Do your parents approve of you being here, so far from home?"
"They approved under condition that I deliver them into the custody of an adult." Rafel said. "It will not surprise you that they have particular adults in mind."
"We wished to return to Ballus and Wilma if they will have us." Lucien said. "We want to learn to be blacksmiths."
"We want to make our lives here in Helgen." Adrien said. "The farm felt too small after all we had seen. And we want to continue to train with the sword."
"They will be overjoyed to have you again." I said, my eyes growing damp as I embraced my mother again. "What a blessed day it has become."
"A blessed day indeed." My mother replied, her eyes matching my own in color and dampness.
It was mid-afternoon when my mother and I, sitting on the bench of my cart that was almost a duplicate of the one Railius and I had ridden across Skyrim, made our way from Helgen back to Whiterun.
"Was my appearance really so shocking?" I asked.
"It took my breath away." My mother replied. "No one informed me of your ordeal, or your injuries. And, unlike your other recent escapades, this occurred in broad daylight."
"You did request a peaceful night's rest." I said.
"I will not remind you how impolite it is to use my own words against me." She replied.
"I am just happy that I have you within arm's reach." I said as I placed my arms around her. "I mean to keep you so for as long as possible."
"Is it not dangerous to release both reins?" my mother asked. "How will he know what is required? Most of my worldly possessions now lie in this cart, and I would like them preserved from harm."
"He has worn a path in this road four inches deep this past month." I said. "He could make the journey, Helgen to Whiterun and back again, with his eyes closed."
"That does not sound the least bit safe." My Mother replied.
Our cart horse pricked his ears up at the sound of our laughter.