Wow,I just realized how close this story is to ending...I hope everyone has liked it so far, Review and tell me what you think of this chapter! The end is so close...only one or two more chapter!
Ch. 25
Larka and Taka returned to the hut and told WhisperWing and Liam of their decision. They all agreed it was in Tyrade's best interest to be taken away, although Liam was not happy about losing another fighter. The whole ordeal left Larka feeling drained of energy so after she ate a quick supper she retired to her and Liam's hut where Tyrade was being taken care of by one of the elderly women of the tribe. The wizened old Ashlander returned Tyrade to her mother and left the hut with a small smile and a bow. Larka took Tyrade in her arms and held her close, stroking the black and silver streaked hair that was growing on her small head.
Tyrade looked up inquisitively at her mother and smiled. "Mother, I love you." She said slowly. Larka smiled broadly and kissed the little girl on the forehead. Tyrade giggled and squirmed playfully. Larka summoned the small ball of magic WhisperWing had taught her and Tyrade sat on the floor playing with it happily, glancing over at Larka with a proud smile on her face. Larka smiled back but inside she was heavy with sadness.
"Mother sad?" Tyrade asked a small frown crinkling on her tiny face.
"Yes darling, Mother is sad. She doesn't want to lose you." Larka said. Tyrade walked unsteadily to Larka and Larka scooped her up in her arms.
"No be sad Mother." Tyrade said firmly.
"I'll try my best." Larka said.
She bounced the girl playfully on her knee and then gave her some dinner. After Tyrade had eaten dinner Larka took her in her lap and sang her a short Tribunal hymn, one of the only ones she knew, she sang it in the language of the Empire and Tyrade frowned in confusion as she tried to make sense of the alien words.
"What are you speaking Mother?" she asked.
"It's the language you'll be learning soon." Larka said speaking in Ashlander once more. She had used the tribe's language for so long now the language of the Empire was the one that sounded strange to her ears. "You'll be going some place where there are no huts and no vast hills and endless skies." Larka said.
"No fun." Tyrade said.
"Oh, it's different but it has its own beauty as well. You'll come to see that my darling." She said. "And now it's time for bed."
"No wanna go to bed Mother. Sing strange song again." Tyrade said happily.
"Alright, but get into your bedroll." Larka said. Tyrade sat crossly, not wanting to obey.
"Tyrade, listen to Larka." Larka said sternly. "Or I won't sing."
"Ok…" she said huffily tottering over to her bed and climbing in.
Larka sang the song once more to the sleepy child and even when she was fast asleep Larka continued singing, going onto other songs of the Empire, songs of love, war, sadness, and good times. Some Larka could only remember the tune to so she made up words, all in the Empire's language. Her singing soothed her and soon Larka was in bed herself, she was just falling asleep when Liam came in.
"Are you awake?" he asked softly.
"Yes." Larka murmured. Liam nodded and climbed into bed. He kissed her softly and they lay in each other's arms, listening to the noises outside their huts and to one another's heartbeats. Soon they fell asleep but they never let go of each other.
The sun was still nestled behind the hills when Larka awoke. She eased herself out of Liam's arms and put her undergarments on and wrapped a thin blue robe around herself, stepping outside into the chilly morning air. She walked through the tribe aimlessly, taking everything in, her bare feet feeling the sand and ash beneath them. She followed a hunting path out of the tribe and sat on a small boulder. She used the ring to summon Llilith to her side. In a small cascade of light the Winged Twilight came to stand beside her, regarding Larka with solemn eyes.
"You called mistress?" Llilith asked.
"Yes." Larka responded.
"How may I be of service?" Llilith asked complacently.
"Since when are you so docile?" Larka asked with a grin.
"You know." Llilith responded. Larka nodded sadly, thinking of the battle.
"There's going to be another fight Llilith, one which we can't win." Larka said.
"I know." The Daedra replied. "Do you wish me to participate?"
"No, I need you to pass to Tyrade now, I know she's young but I won't be with her much longer and I can't keep you to myself." Larka said removing the ring from her finger. "Is there any way I can give her the ring and see to it that she won't ever lose it?"
"Yes." Llilith replied. "Give it to me and I shall pass it on to her myself. I'll see to it she is never without it. I will watch over her for you Larka WinterStar." Llilith said putting a purple scaly hand on her shoulder. "It is as my mistress Azura commands, but I do it now of my own free will as well." She said.
"Thank you Llilith." Larka replied smiling at the creature. "I should return, there is a lot to be done and the sun is rising. Would you like to walk with me?" Larka asked.
"Alright, but just to the borders, your people may tolerate me but they have no love for my kind." Llilith said.
They returned to the tribe to find everyone awake and busy. It seemed they had received instructions from someone for the soldiers were drilling and getting their gear ready and the those who did not wish to fight, the elderly, and young children were all assembling to leave. Llilith vanished and Larka hurried to her hut, her robe and silver hair blowing in the wind around her. She entered the hut to find Liam playing with Tyrade and Taka sitting on a stool sharpening her blue long blade Icicle.
"We were wondering where you were." Taka said.
"I went for a walk; I took care of some things regarding Llilith." Larka said throwing off her robe, not in the least bit self conscious to be wearing barely anything.
"I gave the tribe instructions on what to do. All who wish to fight are preparing, your Reapers are showing those who are not soldiers some basic magic and fighting skills, WhisperWing is with them." Liam said, picking Tyrade up and setting her on her bed.
"Good." Larka replied, going through her weapons chest and removing various objects. She then went to her clothing chest and after careful consideration pulled out several things. Having done that she decided to put the robe back on and eat some breakfast. None of them mentioned the battle or the fact that for Larka and Liam this might be their last day. Taka finished sharpening her sword and put it back in its sheath.
"When do you want me to take Tyrade away?" she asked.
"Not till later, wait till dark when you can slip away undetected. I have a feeling they are watching us even now." Larka said. "Liam, have your sword sharpened, it looks dull." She said picking up Krillan's battle axe.
"Where are you going?" he asked looking up from tickling Tyrade.
"To practice." Larka said matter-of-factly.
"Aren't you going to put some clothes on?" he asked incredulously looking at Larka's threadbare robe. Larka stared at him for a moment and then walked out of the hut.
"I guess that isn't an important factor." Liam said to a bemused Taka.
Just holding the shock enchanted axe again brought feelings of sadness and raw pain to Larka as she exercised with it slowly at first to get her muscles warmed up and then faster. She missed Krillan fiercely and wished he was here to talk to her. She thought of Tyrade and Taka who would be leaving that night and then of the battle that would take place once the sun went down. She refused however, to think about how it would end, instead focusing ferociously on the axe in her hand and all her muscles as she put them through their paces.
Once she was done she went to WhisperWing and her Reapers to drill them and give them instructions for the upcoming fight. Larka could tell WhisperWing was extremely nervous but she did her best to make her focus on the activity at hand, making her train just as hard as the Reapers and once Larka could see her become focused she sent the Wise Woman to Liam, who would help ease her worries. Larka left her Reapers and inspected and drilled the rest of the soldiers, reminding them of their parts to play in the battle. She was as strict as ever, not tolerating any weakness and giving harsh reprimands to those who she thought needed them. Now was not the time to fall apart, she told them angrily walking up and down their lines, looking as fierce as ever, hair being tossed in the wind and robe wrapped around her toned body. She dolled out quick and surprising slaps to those who looked especially distraught, head butting a man who smirked at her outfit and then yelling at him to see WhisperWing to stop the bleeding. After that no one showed any weakness, even those who felt it pushed it to the back of their minds in the face of their vicious commander, and they respected and thanked her for it silently as they felt vigor and the excitement of battle fever slowly build in their veins.
It was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set when Larka returned to her hut. Liam, WhisperWing, and Taka were all talking, the look of sad reminiscing on all their faces. Tyrade was sleeping fitfully in Liam's lap and Larka could see that everyone was tense. Everyone went quiet as Larka sat beside them and she looked at each of them. "It's finally time." She said quietly. WhisperWing started crying silently and Taka and Liam fought tears. "Taka, I'm giving you a ring of Chameleon, it's very strong and it should cover you and Tyrade as long as you keep in contact." Larka said still quiet but resolute. "You'll leave by the western hunting trail and from there you'll know how to get out of the Ashlands." She said looking right into Taka's eyes and holding her gaze. "It is imperative that no matter what you tell no one who you are or where you came from. I'll leave you to fabricate a story should you be questioned. Keep your Ashlander tribal markings covered at all times, Tyrade is still young so she has been given none yet so you won't have to worry. She's just another Dunmer child of no special consequence to anyone." Larka continued. "Llilith?" Larka called softly.
"Yes?" the Winged Twilight said, appearing at her side.
"Give the ring to Tyrade now and accompany Taka out of the tribe, protect them at all costs. I trust you have ways of making yourself unseen." Larka said to Llilith. The Daedra nodded and stepped toward the sleeping girl. She gently picked her up and out of the air the ring appeared in Llilith's hand. It had been put on a thin silver chain that shown faintly of some unknown spell. Llilith placed the chain around Tyrade's neck and the ring danged from it, the stone shining with the summoning spell. Llilith gave the sleeping girl to Taka who took her gently in her arms.
"What should I do once I've reached a town?" Taka asked. Larka looked to Liam for him to speak.
"We would have you book her passage to the mainland and have her given to a good family there to be raised. She must know nothing of where she came from, it would do her more harm that good." He said softly. "Once you have turned her over to the family you are free to do as you please, but we ask that when our daughter returns to this island that you look after her, but she must know nothing about us." He said firmly. "We know you will look after our daughter well Taka." He said with a smile.
"You should go now." WhisperWing said sadly, "I'll miss the two of you dearly. Do you remember the spell for the ball of magic I taught you?" she asked Taka, who nodded. "Good…she loves that" WhisperWing said, tears falling freely.
Everyone stood and embraced Taka and Tyrade who had woken up and looked with bleary eyes at what was going on around her. "Goodbye my daughter Tyrade, grow up with honor." Liam said kissing her on the forehead and stroking her feathery hair lovingly and turning away crying softly.
"Goodbye father. I love you" Tyrade murmured.
"Goodbye little angel, grow up well." WhisperWing said kissing the little girl on the top of her head and saying a quick prayer.
"Goodbye Wise Lady, I miss your lights." Tyrade said a small flicker of white spell fire appearing at the tips of the child's fingers as she spoke.
"You'll grow up to be a fine mage." WhisperWing said managing a smile.
"Well my darling Tyrade, as I have had to say goodbye to your namesake I have to say goodbye to you." Larka said taking the girl in her arms. "Forgive us for leaving you at such an early age. I know you will grow up strong and brave." She said.
"Goodbye Mother Larka." Tyrade said reaching up to touch Larka's cheek.
"Goodbye my daughter. We all love you." Larka said kissing her on her little hand and returning her to Taka. "And goodbye Taka, you have been a true friend." Larka said to the Bosmer with a smile.
"I will never forget any of you." Taka said, tears rolling down her cheeks. She gave everyone one last hug and Tyrade in her arms and Llilith at her side she took Larka's ring and they all vanished from sight. "Goodbye my dear friends, we shall meet again in Oblivion." Taka's voice said… and then they were gone.
"Oh Gods!" Larka exclaimed turning away and sinking to her knees as she sobbed. Liam rushed to her side and held her as she cried, WhisperWing crying softly beside them.After what seemed like ages Larka's tears abated and she stood, a look of calm calculating upon her face once more. She pulled her hair back into a twist and discarded her robe, going to her weapons chest and hefting Krillan's axe in her hands.
"Are we ready to fight?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye.
