We both lunged at each other, meeting in the middle of the clearing.

I don't know who threw the first punch, but suddenly his fist was slamming into my face while I sunk mine into his stomach. Blood pooled in my mouth as he gagged for air. We stumbled apart for a brief second to catch our breaths before diving back at each other, eyes narrowed in determination. My knuckles throbbed from the blow that I landed. He must have casted something to harden his body. The bastard. I dodged his fist and came up with my own; for a brief instant, his smoky eyes widened before he managed to tilt his head back and slam it into mine. Stars burst in my vision but I shook it off, blindingly throwing a sloppy kick.

He stepped back, easily evading it. "Is that all you got?" he crowed, smirking infuriatingly at me. I growled and threw myself at him, changing direction at the last minute. Both of us grunted as we attempted to wrestle the other to the ground. Circling each other, he released the hold he had on my shirt and used it to start jabbing me in the ribs. The blows were never held back, we had never been the kind to pull punches. My hands grabbed his hair, bringing his face down sharply onto my bent knee. And there was a sharp crunch sound of bone on bone. Blood flowed from my brothers face, his nose, no doubt, broken and he staggered backwards. I watch as he wipes the blood from his nose and with a determined look, stalks towards me. I ball up my fists and just before I swing, his hand is around my throat, picking me up like I weighed nothing more than a bag of apples. I kick and scratch, but I can't do anything but try to breathe. My feet dangling under me. I can feel his arm trembling as he brings me closer to his face.

"You are improving, little sister." He smiled and moving with his arm, threw me down to the ground, knocking the wind from me. I gasp and the last thing I see is his arm raised above me, his wide hand clenched, and with one last punch, it was lights out for me.

I woke up not long after Daodrik's fist had connected to my temple. Blinking against the fading light, I run a hand down my face, and groan as I realize he had moved me to sit against a tree. Looking to my right I see my brother several feet from me, eyes closed, hands open wide. Pulsing from his fingertips is a strange, bright light. I watch it flicker, changing colors from amber, to ruby, then back to gold. I clench my fist, my nails digging into my palms. Daodrik always had a way with mother's natural talents in the magical arts. She was always so proud. And here I was, incapable to lift a damn warhammer, cast a simple spark or flame, fire a stupid arrow or even take down my own brother in hand to hand. And here my brother was, flirting with women because he needed good speech-craft, spell-casting, wielding weapons. I sigh, slumping against the tree. What am I supposed to do now? Dusting myself off, I stomp away, hating that I lost another round with none other than my brother. My body hurting, but not as much as it should have. With a sigh, I accept that my brother must have healed me while I had been knocked out. I didn't walk far, for fear I would cross the border without father. I didn't know where Black Marsh ended and Cyrodil began. Or Morrowind. Instead, I sit on a flat rock, gazing up at the stars, recounting as many stories as I could that our mother had told. With all that has happened since she passed, I can't help but wonder, would she be proud? Of me? Did her story become written amongst the stars? Did she become a star, looking down on our realm, to watch over us? Letting out a sigh, I sit in silence, hoping to hear an answer amongst the whispering winds.

"Daodrik, where is your sister"? Their father asked as nightfall closed in. He received nothing but a shrug as Daodrik continued reading an old spell tome. Rolling his eyes, their father dried his hands as he looked at his son. His eyebrow had a deep cut through it. Its blood dry now. Bruises decorated his jaw, shoulder and more, no doubt, that couldn't be seen. His hair was a complete mess as well. But what caught his attention was that his son's nose was now out of alignment. A silent snort of a laugh left him. This has happened before. One of them would lash out, and they in turn would lick their wounds once the dust had settled. And by the looks of his son, his daughter gave as good as she got. His son may be able to heal others, but self-healing was different.

"I asked you to teach her a lesson. Not to beat each other to the brink of death." Reaching into a small basket he tossed a minor healing potion at him. Catching it in the crease of his book his sons' eyes finally made it back to him.

"I didn't mean too. I was even walking away. But then she had to go and jump onto me, and one thing led to another." He popped the cork and took a long swig, groaning at the feeling of his body healing. A new snapping of bone sound made them both flinch. "Damn." He rubbed a hand over the bridge of his nose.

"She cracked you good didn't she"? He asked, failing to keep the pride out of his voice. His son laughed through a wince.

"I think she took me leaving pretty hard." He admitted. "When she came too, she stalked off somewhere." He spoke evenly. "I wanted to go cheer her up, but I don't know how anymore. Ever since mother passed-'. Trailing off, father and son looked at one another.

"We all miss her. But even when she was wounded from battle, she didn't want us to grieve." Drukel spoke, even when his chest ached with the pain. Looking back at his son, he gave him a steady look. "You are certain to leave? To the college? Everything will be able to grant you safe and smooth passage?" His son nodded. "Then, I suppose there is no point in me trying to convince you to stay. You know of your path, even if it is not even here in Black Marsh."

"I only wish our little stargazer could take it as well as you have father. It feels as though you are pushing me out the door." His sons' brows met for a moment. "I hope you are well." The illness that had taken the tribes one by one was still a threat to their people. A threat to their father. To themselves. But because of their mixed blood, the children weren't as effected. Or maybe, just yet.

"I will not leave this plain until I am confident you and your sister are fit and able." Laying a hard hand on his shoulder, letting his son feel the full weight of it. "I have taught you all I know. Your mother, thought her time with us was short, helped you find your gift, and with that, taught you all she could. Helped mature it. Your sister, still needs help. She seems lost. But I can see she has a power inside her that is untapped. And I feel that soon, it will be." He turned to the hearth and removed the stew from the fire.

"Watch out father. She may even challenge the chieftain for the title, that is, if you don't do it first." His son laughed as he limped a bit to grab a bowl of stew.

"I don't want to challenge anyone unless they threaten my family. Then I shall see their limbs busted from their bodies. As well, I don't think your sister wants to run a village. Our numbers may be dwindling, but I too want her to leave this place. Let her see the many places of our world."

"She wants to see the ocean." Daodrik spoke as he sat back down at their table. "Or rather, the place you asked mother to wed her." Drukel smiled.

"She loved when your mother told that story." Moving with a warriors grace, he grabbed two bowls, bread and some ale. "Speaking of your sister, I think I shall go check on her. Mind horizon while I am gone." He commanded as he started toward the door.

"By your word and my will." Came his son's response.

Drukel didn't have to go far, as he looked for his daughter. Being a wary child, she never strayed far from the hut. Living close to the border, he had been firm in telling her to be mindful of how far to go. She sat on a rocks edge, her legs dangling over.

Serlina, lost in thought as she looked at the stars with such desperation, like if she looked hard enough, there would be an answer to some unspoken question. She looked so much like her mother it sometimes startled himself. Her hair was waves of pure earth, softly reflecting the light of the sun when it decided to share its warmth; each strand moving freely with the evening breeze, a compliment to her stillness. Her lightly bronzed skin, another gift from her mother, highlighted her hazel eyes. He sat on the damp earth right next to her and followed her gaze to the moon, saying nothing. She wiped her nose with her sleeve and glanced his way. He would linger until she spoke of what ill thought plagued her mind. And after years of this, she was wise enough to know that he didn't need to ask questions.

"I always fail, Papa. Always. Why do you even bother to teach me things? I'm not strong like you or Daodrik.. Or able to wield magic like mother. Or have her grace or." She sniffed, blinking back tears. "I can't do anything right. I can't even best my brother in a fistfight." She ended with a hint of anger. Think on it a moment, he answered.

"You may not be strong, but your endurance is something your brother could only strive to have. By the looks of him, you didn't go down without a fight." She gave a weak laugh. "You are still young, an-"

"Daodrik and I are the same age father. Don't feed me lies that taste like dirt and say it's a taffy treat. I had my fill of it today, and I can say, it doesn't go down easy as sweets do." Her voice held a bite in it that he couldn't help but be reminded of her mother. Her sharp tongue would be the death of some men. He was sure of it. Passing her a bowl and ale, he watched her take a long swig, swishing the liquid around in her mouth before digging into her food.

"Your brother has strong qualities, and yours are yet to show. You nor I, cannot force them to arise. You are not one for pushing yourself into being something you are not."

"But your teachings, all our practices, why do we go over the basic, over and over? Why can't we move on to something more advanced? Why can't we-"

"I teach you the basics, that way when you learn more, it is fluid. Though they may be the basics, where your brother can learn the more advances stages, you will know these steps and movements inside and out. They will save your life faster than making some fancy swing of a heavy weapon." He sipped his own drink. "Your body is not meant for heavy weapons. You are lighter on your feet, have a keen sense of surroundings, and make use of what's around you, even unarmed. That is better than heavy weapons." He explained as they ate.

"You both make it look so easy. It's frustrating. I want to be strong like you are. And Daodrik. Even the way mother was." She spoke softly, pushing the stew around in her bowl. "And looking at the both of you, I feel. Out of place. Like I don't belong here. Like I am meant to be somewhere else." She dug into her food. Taking in her words, he thought a moment.

"I won't say your feelings are not important. But being jealous of your own family is an ugly trait."

"Then I'm ugly." She snapped. Looking at her, he narrowed his eyes scornfully.

"Serlina, I was there when you came into this world. I know you, the real one inside, not the one you show the world. You're beautiful. Yes, you are not strong as a man, but in time, I believe you will become the strongest woman anyone will have either the pleasure or demise knowing."

"But I rage, I get angry, I forget what you said and I mess up all over again. And after, I feel so tired." She admitted, angry with herself.

Her father held her gaze, "Anger, rage, bitterness, resentment and jealousy take their toll on the mind as well as the body. You are like the rest of us and you make mistakes. You will continue to make them too, as do I. But what's so special about you is that you own them, feel the hurt and force the pain to make you better." Reaching over, he took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as they finished their meal. "You are becoming so much like your mother; you don't even know it. Your silent strength would make even the most ferocious creature to tremble in fear. And your compassion is what helps drive you. That, would make your mother proud." And in that, he thought, so was he.

"I remember her from how she was when we were younger. But now, she feels so faint in my mind. I feel now as though I barely knew her." She admitted softly, her words trailing near the end. A moment of silence ticked by and finally she turned to him and asked, "What was she like? Before us?" She finished her food and set the bowl aside his own. They sat in silence for a time before he spoke.

"Your mother was a hero; you should have seen her work." He smiled in memory. "Every day she worked for a better tomorrow, a more noble outcome. For her, a rock in her path was simply an opportunity to think harder, to develop new solutions. Every fork in the road, she walked both paths, until she was sure which was the right one and then she ran as fast as she could on the one she decided was the best fit. She held on tight to her dreams and woke up every day like her success was already there, she just had to keep on walking to it. And when the time came, she fought for it."

"Sounds like a never-ending battle.".

"I will warn you, my dear stargazer, that the battles can be hard. Battles can break you and leave you for dead just to see if you can get up again. Battles can teach through lessons that are cruel, but if that is the only way to save you, then your path is set. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. That's what your mother would say before each battle." She nodded.

"And know that I have your back." Daodrik added stepping in and sliding in beside her. Turning to him, she looked at him cautiously.

"You seem to be knocking me on it more frequently than watching it, brother." He let out a laugh as she lightly punched him. "And you can't watch it, if you go and leave me to fend for myself."

"You won't learn if we both shield you from everything." Their father stated firmly.

"Be brave, I'm never far." Daodrik stated. She scoffed at him yet, she rested her head against his shoulder. "I know you won't understand, but I feel as though my destiny lies beyond the Marsh. When mother spoke of the college, something in me told me it was my destiny to go there."

"Destiny huh?" She shook her head. "Father, what made you, someone who taught us never to stray far, someone who, time and time again, said Kothringi never leave this place, unless they have died, ease his ever steel-like grip on his son, to let him leave? Are you ill? Dying? If your dying, there are easier ways to go about preparing us for it." Her brother nudged her with his elbow.

"Well, I didn't take the thought as well as I did earlier today, I will tell you that right now. When Daodrik said he wanted to leave in the upcoming weeks, I nearly said no. Then I recalled something your mother once said to me, the night before she helped lead my people out of slavery."

"And that was?" Daodrik asked, leaning forward.

"You can't save someone from their destiny, from what they were created for; what you can do is make it easier for them, bring more joy, less pain. You can walk some of their path with them, you can protect them from the demons who would end their mission too soon. So, above all, be a friend, be kind, and love all the stronger when it hurts to do so... for in those moments is the measure of who you truly are, the key to your own mission, the answer to who you are and whom you serve." Their father explained to both of them. "She was a wise woman your mother." He felt another pang in his chest. Felt his body heat. Clearing his throat, he looked at both of his children. "Now Serlina, Daodrik will be leaving in several days, that will not change. We can only take a note from your mother and help ease the way, not make it more difficult for him. No more breaking of noses. No more bickering. If I am to have a week left with both of my children, then I want to make the most of it. As should the both of you." Gathering the dishes, he left them to reconcile.

I watched as our father walk away, his steps a little slow than his usual gait, but we all had a long day, and no doubt it had taken its toll on him just the same. Looking at my brother, I cleared my throat, causing him to look my way.

"Sorry about your nose earlier." He snorted.

"No, you're not. The look on your face at the time was one of victory. Not of concern. But I suppose, I should apologize for not going easier on you."

"You don't need to-"

"No, I do. You had already been wrung out by father and his teachings I should have just let it slide. Or just gone easier on you."

"I didn't last very long." I frowned.

"After several hours with our father, even I would have dropped. You didn't. And still gave me a few licks here and there. Don't apologize. I found that I am proud you even drew blood." Turning to her, he clasped both of my hands in his. "Listen to me well sister. I know my absence will make your heart hurt. And I too shall miss your fire. Never lose that." Looking away, I couldn't help the sigh that escaped from my lungs. "What is it?" he asked.

"I just... I want to learn one spell. ONE. DAMN. SPELL." I say through clenched teeth. "I see how you can do it, and talk about all the teachings that you and mother had, and I can't... I don't have that." I pause and look at him. "Can you teach me one before you go? Just one? Even an easy one?" He looked at me, shocked and slowly, a grin spread across his face. Dusting himself off, he stood and offered a hand to me to help me stand.

"It would be my honor."

We sat in our small home, the fire burned down to embers, leaving us in the kitchen in the darkness. I stood in the middle, my brother explaining the spell to me, slowly, helping me find the magic inside myself, like our mother had taught him. Gently, like coaxing it out of me, he helped me focus it. He was very adamant on teaching me this 'candlelight' spell. He kept saying that I would appreciate it. And since he didn't give up on me, I believed him. The last night before his departure, I finally did it.

It felt like a muscle spasm to me. One minute my hands were tight in concentration, the feeling of magic building in my left hand. Then I released it. For a second, I was blinded by the light that was illuminating the room. It was steady and bright enough to relieve the darkness. It was suspended in the air, its colours were soft, silvery, pearly hues, casting shadows that bathed in its intrinsic glow. Looking at my brother, who looked so proud of himself, or maybe it was me, being able to cast a simple spell. Either way, he looked pleased.

"I knew you would like it. This was the spell I went into town for." He spoke quietly, so as to not wake our father. He had been feeling tired more and more lately, and had gone to bed to rest a while, he hadn't even woken up for supper, but had made an appearance while we both practiced in our clearing. He was going into town more and more often the past few days, carrying large packs of things wrapped in hides. When we had asked about it, and his trips throughout the week he simply said, 'Just a little preparation. Nothing for you to be concerned over. Now mind your footing silly girl, and keep that damn blade level with your nose!" I smile at the memory. My attention brought back to the small globe of light; I reach out to touch it.

"It's... so beautiful. Like a pearl that shines. Like.. A star. It's like my own star." My eyes welled up with unshed tears. For a moment, I could feel my mother presence. Like she faintly had an arm around me and Daodrik. "It feels like she's here with us. With me." I speak as the light bobbed around above us.

"That's how I feel when I use my magic as well." His voice remained soft as he went to the hearth to add more wood to the embers, then slowly, his hands lit with small flames. Palms out, the flames expanded and pushed away from his hands in a steady stream of heat as they fell upon the logs, the flames molding to them, licking hungrily, as light and heat filled our home. Turning to me, he raises his nearly finished drink that he had set on the table earlier.

"To you my slow learning but stunning sister. May the light guide you in all dark places, or help bring you the glow of starlight when there are none." I raised my own, stepping towards him, we clink our glasses and drink deeply. My eyes are slow to shut that night, but as I watched the glow of my new light flicker above me, I find myself lulled into a calm sleep.

AN:

Hello again! Just a little family development before our story kicks off fully. Just like to add that I do NOT own Skyrim, or Skyrim's Romance Mod. That is owned and created by Bethesda and Mara.

Hope you all are liking the story so far!

-IMME