A/N:
My dear readers,
the world has changed since the previous instalment of this story was published on February 29th, 2020. When the whole coronavirus madness started, my home city and the surrounding areas were very badly hit and for quite a few weeks the only sounds we could hear during the long, dreadful lockdown were the sirens from the ambulances and the church bells tolling (this happened only once a day, as the local priests correctly believed that it would have been too depressing to let the bells toll every time someone from our city died). Now in my country the worst seems to be over, but my prayers and thoughts are with those who are still facing the horrible first wave of the pandemic. If any of you still hasn't been touched by this awful event, or if any of you still has doubts about it, allow me to give you some good, simple advice: please be careful with your behavior. Even if you are skeptical, please be careful for your sake and for the sake of everyone -friends, family, colleagues, even simple strangers - around you. COVID-19 is not a joke: you may believe you are in good health and you have nothing to worry about, but with this virus there is no way to know who will overcome it without problems and who won't. So I ask you: please, please be careful. I deeply hope we will soon see the light at the end of this horrible tunnel, but in the meanwhile we really need to do our best to improve the horrible situation we are experiencing at this time.
Anyway, back to silly little things like fanfictions: I have not forgotten about Agda and Steinarius. Also, in this chapter we will get to learn a bit more about Laenara. In their kind reviews, both MeanE and ShpperOfTrashyShips seemed very curious about her - and hopefully, this young, brave Elf with the strength of a dragonhunter will not disappoint them. Also, Agda is finally getting back on track again and setting the basis for her next adventures and for her friendship with Vigdis.
So, with no further hesitation, let's start this new instalment from my fanfic.
Enjoy!
Morning Star 20th, 4E 203
Nirya looked around the creepy Nordic ruin once again. To that disdainful Altmer, the scene that was unfolding around her was both pathetic and surreal.
Colette was crying out of happiness, whereas Faralda seemed extremely relieved. Enthir was rolling his eyes at the thought of the introduction of new rules for trading, whereas Sergius was hiding his content behind the usual cold façade. Urag was grinning widely, while Brelyna and Onmund looked happy and serene for the first time since the Stormcloaks had started controlling the areas around the College. Yet, the person behind all those feelings actually seemed meaningless, Nirya thought with a snort.
Agda of Anvil had unexpectedly turned up in Winterhold weeks after leaving, her tired eyes surrounded by dark circles and her pale face overcome by tension and nervousness.
"I know I haven't been the Archmage this College deserves", she had calmly stated more than an hour earlier, as soon as all the members of the College had gathered in that small room in the old ruins of Saarthal. Somehow, the young mage had managed to get there on her own and to send a message to all her previous colleagues. "I also know that, at the moment, I am not exactly the most loved person in Skyrim, which is why I decided to organize this meeting here rather than in Winterhold. Yet, I would be more than glad if you could welcome me back in the College. I am at a very peculiar stage of my life and I'm afraid I have nowhere else to go. I don't want to resume my old role as Archmage, don't worry: I just know that this is the place where I belong and that, if I'm to become a mother, I want my child to grow up here".
As soon as Agda had stopped speaking, Nirya had tried to make her understand that she was no longer welcomed in Winterhold. The other members of the College, however, had been quick to make the young Nord feel loved and happy and respected.
"Please, please, resume your role as leader of the College!", Brelyna had blatantly begged the young Nord. "We know you're pregnant - the whole of Skyrim does, actually -, but we promise we won't cause too many problems. You will only have to organise our daily tasks and deal with the Stormcloaks once in a while. Please, we need a leader like you!"
Surprisingly enough, also Faralda - the current Archmage of Winterhold - had been quick to support Brelyna's request.
"I've had enough of morons like Jarl Korir", she cried out. "Please, Agda, take back your job!"
Unfortunately for Nirya, Faralda and Brelyna hadn't been the only one to push for the young Nord to resume the leadership of the only magic school of Skyrim - and as Agda had finally accepted her old title, everyone had started clapping and showing their enthusiasm.
As the usually shy Drevis started sobbing in tears of happiness, Nirya rolled her eyes.
Maybe it was time she finally left that gang of spineless mages and went back to the Sumerset Isles.
As she set foot in her old living quarters for the first time in what felt like years, Agda sighed and gently laid a hand on the stone wall beside her. For some reason, she needed to feel its cold surface under her fingertips in order to make sure that she wasn't dreaming.
Everything in her office was exactly as she had left it, Agda realized. Faralda had never really accepted to act as the Archmage of Winterhold, so she had never taken up residence in her friend's room. For this reason all of Agda's belongings were still in their place.
As she approached the little garden in the center of her living quarters, Agda smiled. Her alchemy ingredients had suffered from her absence, sure, but she was certain she could put a remedy to that without too many problems. Aside from that, in that room Agda felt as though she had never left Winterhold and her title of Archmage at all. Yet, the life of the young Nord had gone through an amazing number of changes over the previous months: Agda had been married, she had become pregnant, she had briefly found happiness before losing everything to the Thalmor once again. Yet, the girl had not been broken.
The newly appointed Archmage of Winterhold had spent many sleepless nights thinking about her future and her child's. In the end, she had decided to do what she thought was best for the two of them - and as soon as she had made up her mind, Agda had returned to Winterhold with haste. Somehow, Vigdis had found out about her choice and had been waiting for her at the border between Skyrim and High Rock.
'Delphine doesn't know I'm here', she'd immediately said. 'By the way, I'm not here on her behalf: I just want to accompany you to Winterhold, Agda. After all, I think you deserve some help after all you've been through'.
Travelling with Vigdis had actually been pleasant, Agda had to admit. The black-eyed thief was suspicious, broody and not very talkative, but she made sure Agda had everything she needed along the road. Over the previous weeks the mage had learned to trust that mysterious woman - also, she had learned to see Vigdis for what she really was. Vigdis wasn't just Steinarius' former partner, a thief, Delphine's right hand - she was also a generous Nord who could give her heart and her soul for a cause she believed in, she was a warrior who needed friends and trust more than anything else in her life, she was a woman who could give a lot of love without asking for anything in return. By the time they got to Saarthal together, Agda had grown immensely fond of her.
'If you want, I can come and visit you sometimes', Vigdis had volunteered while saying goodbye to the mage.
Agda had welcomed those words with a smile.
'I'd love to. Also, I could use a hand with the baby, once they're born'.
Vigdis had smiled, then she had let out a long sigh.
'I'm afraid I'll be busy with Delphine and the milk-drinkers Steinarius mistook for possible dragonhunters, but I'll try to see what I can do', she had replied with a grin.
As she thought of Vigdis, Agda walked towards her old bed and slumped down on the mattress.
'You could go back to Steinarius now', she had told the Nord thief one night, as they were having dinner in a remote inn in the middle of the Reach. 'I think he could use your help after all he's been through. And then, he doesn't want to see me again, so you might have a chance to resume your relationship'.
Surprisingly enough, Vigdis had reacted very seriously to that jokeful suggestion.
'Steinarius is not the man we once knew, Agda', she had commented with a snort. 'He's not good for you, and he's not good for me either. I have Mercer now and, although sometimes he can be very annoying, I'm happy he is my partner. Actually, I've recently come to realize that I wouldn't trade him for anyone else in the world. And now, please, let's not mention Steinarius anymore'.
As she thought of Vigdis' confession, Agda laid a hand on her belly. She knew that Steinarius was still in Whiterun, training in the hope to trap Odahviing in Dragonsreach without destroying the whole city. Yet, the mage was surprised to realize that she didn't really care about what the Imperial was up to.
She'd been hurt too many times by her relationship with the Dragonborn and she was now ready to finally let it go.
Despite Agda's efforts, the news of her return to Winterhold spread very quickly. Jarl Korir immediately started harassing her again, whereas the inhabitants of the city were glad to have their favourite Archmage back. Soon enough the girl started receiving letters from the whole of Skyrim - some people criticized her for leaving the Dragonborn, others welcomed her back in their country, some others asked for her help throughout the whole of Tamriel. After few days Agda found herself immersed in work - and after few days people started calling 'Agda the Cold' once again. The mage did not bother - after all, she had missed her old nickname.
Among the letters she received after her comeback, Agda particularly appreciated the one Jarl Ulfric wrote her. The man said he was happy to hear that she had 'resumed her rightful place in the heart of our land', as he solemnely put it. Also, he announced he would make sure Korir would not bother her.
One day Agda even received a letter from Whiterun. Jarl Balgruuf welcomed her back to Skyrim and took the chance to ask for her help with the Dragonborn.
"I know you're no longer a couple, but he seriously needs to be healed".
As she read those letters, Agda felt tears well up in her eyes. Nonetheless, she destroyed the message as soon as she finished reading it.
She needed to heal from her injuries too - and she couldn't do that if she continuously went back to the person who had caused them in the first place.
While travelling to Winterhold with Vigdis, Agda had found out a lot about the Blades' plans for the future of Skyrim. Also, she had discovered that the young thief and Delphine had already managed to rescue Laenara, the girl the Thalmor wanted to turn into a pure-bred Altmer Dragonborn. The High Elf was now living in Skyhaven Temple, but she was not particularly fond of that accomodation.
"Laenara is sweet and everything, but we can see that she hates living with the Blades", Vigdis told Agda one evening, as they were having a late-night snack in the Archmage's room. Since her return to Skyrim, the thief had become one of Agda's closest friends - yet, she still hadn't lost her love for dramatic entries through the roof of the College. "She hates Erik for being too talkative, she hates the way Esbern looks at her with that silly, adoring look in his eyes, she hates how snappy Delphine is. Actually, she only gets on well with me - and that means that she's really desperate indeed".
Agda chuckled at Vigdis' self-irony, then she took another sweet roll from the plate in front of her. She was as hungry as a bear, whereas her friend hadn't eaten anything for the whole evening.
"Will Laenara remain in Karth forever?"
Confronted with the mage's question, Vigdis snorted.
"I had her spend a few days with me in Riften a few weeks ago, but she hates the city with a passion. Also, Mercer isn't too fond of her - despite being a Breton, he's as racist as a Nord when it comes to Elves".
Intrigued by that remark, Agda decided to thread into dangerous waters and ask Vigdis for more information about her partner. Surprisingly enough, the thief seemed glad to answer her questions.
"Mercer is older than me and can be a downright jerk, but he can also be very protective. He often argues with the other members of the Guild, but I always manage to knock some sense into his head. Still, over the last few weeks I think he might have gone completely crazy".
Worried by that sentence and by the way Vigdis had hastily lowered her gaze, Agda asked her what was going on. The mage felt very weird at that moment: for the first time, the thief was opening up to her about her private life. Susprisingly enough, Vigdis didn't seem bothered at all by that strange intrusion in her privacy.
"Mercer went to Dawnstar on a quest and came home with a fox. A fox and a child. The name's Alesan and he's been living with us for two weeks now. He calls me 'Mum' and he calls Mercer 'Pa'. It's... it's weird".
As she noticed the strange expression on Vigdis' face - a mixture of embarassement, happiness and disdain -, Agda burst into laughter.
"I'm very happy for you, Vigdis. It seems like you now have a big, happy family around you".
"A family and a fox. Geez, I hate that thing".
Despite her words, Vigdis' black eyes were sparkling with happiness.
The two women spoke for the rest of the night, until Agda started yawning and her new friend decided to leave. As Vigdis was preparing to meet the snowstorm outside the College, however, Agda made a very unexpected remark.
"You said that you had someone alter Laenara's face right after you saved her from the Thalmor, didn't you?"
Vigdis welcomed the question with a frown.
"If you are thinking of having your old scars erased..."
Surprised, Agda blinked in confusion.
"No, I'm actually good with my scars - by now I even got used to them. Yet, I was thinking... Laenara now has a different face, so she cannot be recognized by the Thalmor. Is it correct?"
"Of course she won't be recognized by the Thalmor", Vigdis replied, confusion evident in her voice. "Laenara was a blonde skinny girl with a hooked nose and red eyes, now she is a red-head beauty with yellow almond-shaped eyes and wonderfully chiselled traits. Also, we made up a story about her past. You know the two Altmer women who sell clothes in Solitude, don't you? Well, it turns out that they are friends with Delphine and that they are willing to act as Laenara's aunts. They don't have any relatives back in the Sumerset Isles and their only niece actually disappeared in Valenwood long ago, after the death of their only brother. It is a bit far-fetched, but this story should hold in case the Thalmor look into it. Should Laenara decide to leave the Temple and find herself a normal life in Skyrim, at least she will have a backstory to support her".
"You're telling me that the Thalmor aren't looking into her disappearance?"
"They were looking into it, but they think they already had the answer to their questions".
Frowning, Agda asked Vigdis what she meant.
"Delphine gambled with your life once, Agda, but she's usually much more clever than that. Northwatch Keep is said to host Stormcloaks prisoners, so she talked some of Ulfric' soldiers into attacking the fortress. While the Stormcloaks and the Thalmor were in the middle of a heater battle, I snuck into the keep and saved Laenara".
Agda was confused by that revelation.
"Didn't the Thalmor get mad at Ulfric?", she asked, a deep frown on her pale face. "There is a truce going on between the Stormcloaks and the Legion and..."
"Agda, you should know that, every time Ulfric complained about the rumors regarding Northwatch Keep, Elisif and her people always replied by saying that that place was nothing but an empty fortress. Ulfric said that his men went there only because they wanted to get shelter for the night, but were forced to react when they found many Thalmor soldiers defending the fortress. After repeating that that place was deserted, Elisif couldn't blame Ulfric for the fight that unfolded".
"But are the Thalmor still looking into Laenara's disappearance?"
Vigdis smirked.
"We did a good job, Agda of Anvil. When I kidnapped Laenara, the face-altering woman from Riften was with me. We took the corpse of a fallen Thalmor and disguised it as the girl, then hid it in her cell. By now the Thalmor believe that their precious jewel is gone once and for all - which, by the way, is the reason why Steinarius is still alive".
Pleased by what she had just found out, Agda nodded to herself. She had always considered Delphine as an unwise gambler, but the mission to save Laenara had been carefully planned.
"So you're saying that, if I were to host that young girl here, the Thalmor wouldn't recognize her", the Archmage said after she finally put her thoughts in place.
Surprised, Vigdis blinked her eyes repeatedly.
"I suppose not. Wait, are you really..."
Before Vigdis could end her sentence, Agda nodded.
She knew how it felt to experience the cruelty of the Thalmor, so she was ready to offer poor Laenara a better life in the peaceful isolation of Winterhold.