A/N: Lots of me bull-shitting in this chapter with Dunmer culture/Dunmeri so...enjoy! XD
"Thank you, Fethis," Vanya said as he handed over her purchases wrapped in cloth. She glanced around him before asking, "Is Dreyla at the house?"
"Yes," the merchant sighed. "She went to check in on the builders. She should be back fairly soon."
Vanya hummed thoughtfully, then smiled. "I'll see you later."
"See you," he replied as she turned away. She stopped short when she nearly collided with a couple of children that were running in circles around the well. Their trilling laughter made her giggle as she walked through the market, the sound still taking some getting used to. There was quite a bit of construction going on and a few families had moved to town. One particularly rich family from Morrowind bought the manor that had sat empty since the whole Severin affair. Dreyla's new home was situated along the coast near the edge of town, and Vanya had passed it by many times but never stopped for a closer look. Now that it was almost finished and Dreyla was there at the moment, it made for the perfect opportunity to snoop a little.
As she approached, Dreyla was speaking with Neetranaza and despite the dunmer's small stature, especially compared to the argonian, she seemed to have developed a far more commanding presence. From the much finer clothing to the way she carried herself with elegant gestures, she was definitely going to suit her position as a captain's wife.
"You may go, thank you for your time," she said in dismissal to the argonian. He nodded, throwing a quick glance at Vanya before turning to leave prompting Dreyla to look her way.
"Oh! So good to see you, Vanya!" Dreyla said, reaching out to take her arm. "It's been a while since we've really talked."
"I know, you have your hands full though," she replied as she looked up at the house, which was being built of the same gray stone as Morvayn manor except it was a bit smaller and not quite as plain. There wasn't a whole lot to be done for the muted color or lack of windows- all the rooms would fill with ash otherwise- but it had a cute turret on one side, the entryway was recessed into a spacious covered porch and there was a veranda on the backside that looked out over the water. "It's really going to be beautiful."
Dreyla sighed as she looked up at the house and Vanya noticed the golden barrette in her hair, a large ruby in the center. "It is a pity about the view though. Nothing like waking up to the dock and the Bulwark outside my bedroom door every morning. But..." She stretched her free hand out, sweeping it in front of her showily. "Father says he will import dragons-tongue from skyrim to set by the door. That will liven things up a bit. Hopefully, that ugly wall will do its job so the ash won't choke them out."
Vanya barely heard what she said, her eyes drawn to the sparkling on her wrist. "That bracelet! It's gorgeous."
"You like it? Modyn commissioned it from Morrowind," she said proudly, holding her wrist out and Vanya looked over the golden cuff, covered in ornate filigree that surrounded a stylized, ruby- encrusted shalk, the Redoran symbol she'd originally identified as a scarab."I only just received it a couple of days ago." The dunmer admired it a moment longer before clasping her hands together, with a dreamy expression. "Oh, Vanya, you should see our earrings!"
Good God. "Earrings?" she repeated, almost exasperated by the sheer amount of opulence. She glanced quickly at Dreyla's neck, surprised when she did not see another dazzling adornment. "Wait, our?"
"Hmm? Oh, it's dunmer tradition wear an earring instead of a...well.." Dreyla wiggled her fingers. "A ring ring."
Vanya hummed to herself, rubbing her ring finger absently, deciding that she was now going to inspect every married couple's ears.
"My headdress and our robes won't arrive until the next ship comes," Dreyla continued. "Bringing Modyn's parents."
The sudden tension in her voice caused Vanya to look at her face, which was creased with anxiety. "Don't worry, they will love you," Vanya assured. "You are the picture of Redoran glory."
"I don't know. He and his father haven't exactly been on good terms. From what I've heard they are so different. His father was a Buoyant Armiger." Vanya feigned a sympathetic expression at the gravity in Dreyla's voice, despite having no clue what she meant. "After the mine dried up, his father wanted him to relocate. Said he was wasting his abilities." She sounded more and more worried the more she spoke. "There's no glory in being the captain of the guard in a dead town!" The poor woman was nearly gasping now. "Vanya, what if they blame me for him staying?
"Oh, come on." Vanya grasped Dreyla's shoulder, giving her a shake. "Look around, the town is not dead anymore. Besides, whatever they think, you just have to deal with them for a little while and then they'll go home."
Dreyla took a breath, still looking uncertain. "I guess so. Thanks," she said with a sheepish smile. "You always know what to say."
Vanya returned her smile, then looked back toward the house noticing that all the argonians were among the builders. They must have been happy to get out of the stale mine. She narrowed her eyes. There were the three she knew, and now an unknown fourth who she had not noticed at first since his coloring nearly matched the beige surroundings. She wasn't sure if it was the backdrop of the water affecting her perception but he looked massive.
"You know," Dreyla interrupted her thoughts. "Teldryn's mother is coming."
She felt as though a rock dropped into her stomach. His mother? She slid her eyes to the dunmer. "Only his mother?" The rock in her stomach turned to lead at Dreyla's somber expression.
"His father is dead. Killed," she said, casting a furtive glance toward the workers. "in some military excursion, Modyn says. Neither of them talks about it."
Teldryn laid lazily across his bed, leaning against the wall, still groggy from the much-needed nap following his exhausting morning. She's coming here. Sun-Alma.
His eyes slid to the missive on his side table that he had yet to read, his guilt eating at him for not sending one first. He hadn't written her last year at all, but he'd been a little busy. He heaved a sigh that ended with a groan as he leaned forward to retrieve the missive, sitting back against the wall eyeing his name written in Daedric lettering. He broke the seal and unfolded the parchment, reverting his mind to Dunmeri as he began to read.
Sun-Julekil'yi, [My dear son]
Ohn bahr shoka'ath hadik am po'ulak [You did not write me all of last year.]
He snorted.
Os harihir nulfi'ag ohn errat eri Modyn bahr muhri'ath et shoul'ud en home'ag am muhrjuli'ohm. Os leyshe'ag ohn humore'ag as baldejuhn am as elevire'ag Akajuhn. Os gan'binthi de leyshakam lih itam'ohm enhi as ekilam en shoviya'oam ouahbihn. Dayn edur hadarshakam sut medelal enhi albu'maltisk. Muhri nivise'ag, as Molhejuhn ald amughehar ohn de amaldad ot leyr-toshok.
[I might have thought you lost had Modyn not been thoughtful enough to inform me of your wellbeing. I have heard you took up in the service of the so-called Dragonborn. How eager I am to hear of your exploits with the man and of his rumored power. Dayn has been pestering me insufferably for details. Be warned, the old Armiger may detain you to compose a poem.]
Teldryn hummed thoughtfully. That could be very entertaining, actually.
Sho'vohr Ikala'yi muhrse'ag juli hi'ulak en as nik'bosara adur bar as balmarhiin khurdruhn. Signi, Os duhrinich ohn enhi homadiif devehr bulorghel'yi ku'elm Os talje ohn. Dahrdiyir, Ost bahris shoyu'ag muhriar as aln'mer yaglakam prokid ohn, barudag ist ohn adur. Gah'almese Daedra alsyn ouanshad sut julan'ohm.
[My horn lilies came in well this year and the bittergreen vines have finally grown over the courtyard walls. Alas, I can bore you with tales from my garden when I see you. I must say, I never thought I'd be the one coming to visit you, wanderer that you are. I beseech the gods daily to intercede for your benefit.]
Hadik adur mol'ouagif, daelkhun'yi, en osuhn bahniyir en proki malhorul'iam enhi as amer'kon am ganmer'iam.
[We are all tested, my heart, and we must stand and face our trials with the courage of our ancestors.]
Telshahr Os talje ohn,
[Until I see you,]
Daelhkalma'ohm [Your loving mother]
He rolled his head back against the wall, refolding the parchment, smoothing the creases between his fingers as her closing statement lingered in his head. It was a familiar refrain that he would normally read over without a second thought, a sentiment so ingrained he could not remember the first time he'd heard it. It was as if he had been born knowing it.
Hadik adur mol'ouagif.
We are all tested.
To what end? He scooted to the edge of the bed, opening the drawer of the side table and deposited the missive inside. How many courageous ancestors had lost their lives upholding misguided virtues, enduring trials thrust upon them by those who meant to collect the reward while cajoling bereaved families with honeyed words about duty and honor?
He slammed the drawer shut. Fuck them.
He heard the click of the lock and he ran his hands over his face like the action could rub his thoughts away. The door opened and Vanya walked in with her basket on her arm, the smile on her face piercing the storm of his feelings like a ray of aetherial light. She crossed the room to set the basket on the table then pulled a new bottle of magicka potion from the basket, waving it at him.
"You look like you need this."
"Not right now," he replied with a shake of his head.
She set the bottle on the table then tutted loudly as she picked up the empty bottle from the morning. "Teldryn," she put a hand on her hip as she held the bottle out. "You lost the cork again."
He only smirked, reaching out his hand to beckon her over.
She replaced the bottle and sauntered toward him. "You're hopeless," she said as she pushed him down on the bed, clambering on top. He pulled her close, rolling them over.
"You have no idea," he said as he nudged her hair away from her neck with his nose to make way for his mouth, finding solace in the rise and fall of her chest under him and her quickening breaths against his ear.
"I have some idea," she purred, her hands pressing firmly down his back, returning to his shoulders leaving a warm trail of relief in their wake. He kissed down the contours of her neck, feeling the vibration of her voice as she continued, "So what are we doing tomorrow? Sleeping in?"
He pushed himself up to lean on one elbow, sliding his other hand under her tunic to tease his fingers along the waistband of her breeches. "Sleeping in sounds good." Her eyes were dark with desire as he loosened her laces, diving his fingers under the fabric. "And then we need to get you fitted for armor."
Her inquisitive look melted away as he dipped into the slickness of her sex, her legs parting as her arms curled around his shoulders. "Ah- armor?" she murmured between the small gasps and minute twitches of her pretty features as he pleasured her.
"Mmhmm." He dove deeper into her, quickening the pace and she rolled her hips in tandem to his movements, her grip on him tightening.
"F-for what?" she managed to breathe out.
"I'll just have to show you," he said in her ear, savoring the shiver that traveled down her body as he continued to work her with his fingers. His efforts were rewarded by the exquisitely tortured expression on her face as a rush of heat spread into his palm, his hand soaked as he coaxed her body into panting ecstasy.
Once she recovered, she searched his face with a piercing gaze as he brought his hand up to rest on her stomach. "Keeping secrets, are we?"
Something told him she was not referring to the armor and before he could reply she pulled him down, rolling back on top of him with a smirk that promised some of his very favorite things. His mind was wiped of everything but the press of her curves against him as she leaned down, whispering against his lips. "So mysterious."
