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Chapter 19: Adriahnna

6th of Last Seed, 4E 181

To my daughter. I can't explain how it is that I know you are going to be a girl, or even how I know you will ever read this, but faith is starting to play a role in my life. I'll admit, my years as a scholar have left me with many questions concerning the Aedra and the Daedra as it has in the lives of many who follow a similar path. Most of my life was spent in seclusion, a hermit to the outside world. My studies were all that I knew. I had hoped that if ever, by the Divine's grace, I was able to have children, that their lives would have been more fulfilling than my own. I however, could never have anticipated you coming into my life.

By all accounts taken from multiple healers and practicing physicians, I am currently in my fourth month of carrying you, though, you have only existed within this plain for about a week. This may confuse you as it has many of my colleagues. I can't explain the events that have led up to this moment anymore than I can explain how I know who you are going to be. I can however tell you of my experiences, but that is all that I will be able to offer.

I'll begin with my earlier years. The name my mother and father gave me was Adriahnna Talyssa Letrav. I grew up among nobility although, I myself was never considered so. My mother was one of three mistresses to a duke within one of High Rock's more wealthy regions. My father, Brenin Letrav was not able to produce any children with his wife Cleona. My mother, Azalia, was the first to become pregnant. It wasn't unheard of for a mistress to birth heirs for nobles, but it was definitely not the same in eyes of many. I would always be known as the illegitimate child of duke Brenin Letrav. My mother knew what my life would be like, and I often witnessed her tears as she served as one of my nannies. Cleona was my mother in the eyes of the public, but the people within my father's estate knew my mother was Azalia. It wasn't long after my 9th birthday that my mother attempted to escape with me. Her efforts were thwarted, and she was soon after exiled from the region.

My father was a stern man, and often ruled his mansion with a firm hand. I was not excluded. I was put to work studying scrolls and learning new languages as early as 10. My father wasn't the brightest man, he was more brawn than most Bretons. However, he sought an intellectual prowess through me. At first everything was tedious, learning languages I could barely pronounce or trying to decipher symbols in ancient languages. I had almost given up at the age of 12, two painfully long years after beginning my studies, when my father hired a very well known tudor. This man, Silamoore Rykur, was a genius in deciphering the symbols and teaching me the different dialects of ancient and nearly extinct languages.

My father was amazed by my improvement and even seemed to lighten his mood around me more often, engaging and indulging on my newfound knowledge. A relationship was formed, a short lived one. I hadn't seen my mother in over 3 years, and my father's wife, Cleona, grew ill. Cleona had always been kind to me. I was not her flesh and blood, but that was not my fault. She was truly the most understanding person within my father's estate. My father remarried after her death. He married a young noblewoman that was barely older than myself. Cleona passed away shortly after my 15th birthday. She fought off a wasting sickness for many years before finally succumbing to an eternal rest. My father spent a lot of time away from the Estate after her death, even after remarrying.

Jasquelin was my new stepmother. A woman with beauty of a Goddess, but a soul darker than a Hagraven. When my father was home she paraded as a saint, and even spoiled me in his eyes. She became someone different when he was away on his business trips. She became pregnant, and bore my father a son. My father was overjoyed with the outcome. That's when I noticed his attention toward me slipping. He had a legitimate heir to his throne. I knew what this meant, and in all honesty I was relieved that the responsibility would not fall onto my shoulders when the time came. Jasquelin was not pleased. She clearly seen me as an obstacle for her son. Her expertise in deception was put to work weaving a plan to rid herself of me for good. Unfortunately my father did not see past her rouse and sent me away.

Jasquelin claimed that I had stated an intent to burn the Estate down. She forged journals and planted them within my quarters. When the place was searched, the journals were conveniently placed so that they were found quickly. Under any other circumstances I would have fought to prove my innocence. I gave up the chance to plea for myself after my father banished me from his estate to never return. I soon found myself an apprenticeship within the School of Julianos. My hunger for Knowledge was truly satiated there. During my Apprenticeship under Nayla Aethod, a Renowned Mage within the Institution, I learned to wield and control many different types of Magics. I studied a great deal on all branches of magic, hoping that one day I would be able to understand the bond between mortals and magicka. In my 17th year I had made quiet a name for myself among other scholars without even realizing it. I had written many journals with my own views on certain subjects pertaining to history and culture and how each had their own unique utilization of magics. The study of religion was also one of my fields of interest. My journals were archived in the private library, but were soon found by more elite Scholars that would visit the School.

I've never been a very social person. My upbringing contributed to my nature I believe. Most Scholars would have their voice heard, but not I. I only wished to record my thoughts and findings for myself. My mentor, Nayla, pushed me into the public's eyes. Along with the praise also came scrutiny from the more skeptical scholars. My ideas were a tad bit outlandish for their taste. I cared not, for the contents of those journals had never meant to be seen by the public's eyes. There was no reason for me to defend my ideas. I soon after started travelling, taking a hiatus of sorts, but in reality I wanted away from the controversy my journals had stirred.

I spent three years away from High Rock. In my time away I pursued more knowledge. I didn't just want to read about it and make assumptions. I wanted to experience it all. I started my journey in Hammerfell, and made my way across cyrodiil. I visited the swampy lands of Black Marsh, and the ashen wastes of Morrowind. I could never reach Vvardenfell, but I knew a great History lay there under nearly 180 years of ash. I was set to make my way back to the Western Coast of Tamriel to set sail for the Summerset Isle when I was sent a summons. I had already made my way back into Cyrodiil and was visiting the Imperial city. I had been there for two days awaiting an order I had made for alchemical ingredients. I had booked a room in one of the taverns when a flushed courtier burst in asking people if they had seen a particular person etched on a worn piece of parchment. A few heads in the tavern had turned in my direction before the courtier finally made the connection. He made his way to me and handed me the sealed envelope that would change my life forever.

27th of Last Seed, 4E 181

My Journal entry has quiet the gap I would say. I've been put on bed rest for a while. It would seem that you are eager to arrive early. I'm sorry my dear, but it is too soon for you to grace Nirn. In my last entry I ended with the courtier bringing me a summons. I'm nearing my 5th month of pregnancy and I can feel you move so clearly now. I can't wait to hold you in my arms. I want to gaze upon you and cherish the gift I have been given.

I was summoned to a settlement known as Kvatch. I had heard rumors of the once great city being rebuilt, but I had wouldn't have known that it had ever been destroyed when I arrived if I had not read about the Oblivion Crisis that plagued Tamriel at the end of the Third Era. Kvatch was a magnificent place with towering white stone, so different than all of the other cities and settlements within Cyrodiil. The Stone work was so foreign, almost Divine. I'm currently still within Kvatch, although I did leave for a time after my work was done. My first visit was simply a briefing. It would seem that my old mentor Nayla Aedroth had been summoned as well, and referred my attendance. Most of the City was off limits to outsiders, and only special privilege, such as I had, could get you into certain areas of the city.

It became clear to me the reason behind such secrecy. The city of Kvatch had been erected as a type of memorial for those lost in the Oblivion Crisis, and as a refuge for those seeking knowledge or guidance of the divines, but it was also so much more. It was a turning point for scholar's all across the land, a building block of infinite knowledge. The only issue was that no one knew how to control or even trigger the process. Deep within the underground ruins of the old Kvatch was a portal. It was inactive during my first visit, but I will iterate later events soon. I'm quiet fatigued at this moment, I'm sure I will continue my entry when I awake.

28th of Last Seed, 4E 181

I know you must be curious of the portal I mentioned, but my mind as a scholar is quiet jumbled, and I wish to organize my thoughts in writing. That is why I have kept so many journals in my lifetime. The portal was not the only thing of interest within the Kvatch, but it was certainly the most intriguing. The portal was well below ground level in an old run down cavern that once served as a hall for the departed. Coffins and urns littered the spacious cavern, and antique trinkets littered the floors. All was left untouched in fear that disturbing the resting souls of the departed would interfere with research of the mysterious door to untold mysteries. In all senses it was a portal, but the flow of energy around it was void.

In other parts of Kvatch weird anomalies would take place, a flash of inexplicable light, instrumental sounds, almost as if the place was being haunted, but no signs of unsettled spirits could be found. It was as if part of the town was experiencing some sort of "glitch" in time. I tried to reason with myself and my colleagues that what we could be experiencing was a rift in time. I remembered that my arduous, although short lived, studies on the Oblivion Crisis revealed that the Individual last heir to the Septim Dynasty had resided within Kvatch at the time of the first Oblivion gate opening just outside of the City. Akotosh had been the Divine that blessed St. Alessia with the Dragon blood that enabled the Septim Dynasty to block all efforts made my the Daedra to enter Tamriel. Akatosh was the crown Divine, and Deity of time. My reason behind my Rift in time theory was that Martin Septim was the last living heir, and his destiny to his final fate and sacrifice began as soon as the Oblivion gate opened outside of the city. My theory was that Akotosh touched Martin Septim through time and set him on course to his final fate, and ultimately death through his sacrifice.

At the time I wasn't sure how to describe my reason any clearer than I can describe it now. Anything is possible when you are dealing with the Divine. It doesn't have to make sense, but in my heart and mind it does. Other's were less accepting of my thoughts. Even my previous mentor, Nayla, had her doubts. The portal was void, and I couldn't devise a way to activate it, so my work was done. It wasn't until much later that I realized they weren't looking for an explanation as to why there were so many different anomalies within Kvatch. They simply wanted to control these events and objects so to speak.

My visit to Kvatch wasn't for nothing after all. Sure I was sworn to secrecy, but as you can tell by my writing this journal I haven't taken it too seriously. I didn't leave empty handed. I left with knowledge, and new hypothesis' that I would later be able to test out in the field. I also came away with a man that would later become my other half, a man who has stuck by my side for what seems like ages. His name is Krahmer, He is here with me now, though he is oblivious to my mentioning of him. Right at this moment he is in the process of reading a few volumes we picked up before returning to Kvatch this time. Our lives have been quite hectic recently and I'm glad to see that he is finally giving himself some time to rest. Rest sounds so peaceful right now. You have been still for a while, I take it you are already resting within my body.

Gareth

Mahrig's eyelids began to droop as she finished reading the entry. A small yawn escaped her mouth. I could tell she wanted to continue reading, but her body would have no more where pursuits of the mind were concerned. She had been reading in a voice low enough for only her and I to hear. The place around the campfire was deserted except for a goat that was grazing nearby. She closed the journal slowly, but made no effort to rise to her feet. She stayed snuggled close to my side as she rested her head against my arm and wrapped the journal in an embrace against her chest.

"I almost don't want to finish, because I already know how it ends for her." Mahrig's gaze was on the flickering campfire that presented flames that swayed in the cool breeze like a curtain. In that moment I realized that I was probably more content on reading more than Mahrig was. I had been intrigued about the description of Kvatch that Adriahnna had given in her journal. The strange occurrences, the mystery portal, and even her complex theory of a "time glitch" as she had called it. I was never one to seek knowledge, but I had been in Kvatch, and never knew that it had held such mysteries. I was even more intrigued by the fact that I was finally seeing into Mahrig's past. Granted it was before she was born, but I felt as if I was beginning to know her a little more.

Mahrig clearly shared an affinity for Magic with her mother. It might have also been the Breton blood that the magic called to, but the connection was almost uncanny. I felt a bit of relief while glancing down at Mahrig's peaceful face. Her eyes were now closed and her head tilted slightly back as she continued to lean against me. I glanced up toward the night sky. The stars didn't only twinkle, but almost seemed to dance across the night sky. I felt one of Mahrig's arms snake through mine. She pulled herself slightly closer. We stayed like that for a while until I heard soft snores begin their escape from her slightly parted lips.

Under normal circumstances I would have stayed up and kept guard while she slept, but it would seem there would be no need with the increase in guards around Dragon's Bridge. I could see lanterns far off in the distance across the bridge. I also had no doubt that Penitus Oculatus Scouts were hiding out in the nearby forests. Dragon's Bridge was a main station for the Penitus Oculatus afterall. The place was heavily guarded, and any danger that could approach wouldn't make it too close to the town without the bell tower ringing an alert. I slightly relaxed, and allowed myself, along with Mahrig who still clung to me in her sleep, to lean back in a lying position.

Mahrig only stirred slightly as I changed our position. When I was comfortable I turned my attention back to the stars. I was starting to drift when I heard footsteps approaching. I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see Theo approaching. He stopped and looked down at the sleeping Mahrig. I hadn't noticed he had been carrying a blanket until he slowly draped it over Mahrig, and partially on me.

"Thank you." I voiced in a whisper. Theo slightly nodded his head. It almost looked as if he wanted to say something, but he instead grabbed his bag that was nearby and headed for the inn. It wasn't like Theo to be so nonchalant, especially in this kind of situation. In our travels before Shor's Stone, any kind of physical contact Mahrig and I would make was always met with a scoff from Theo, or a wry glance aimed at me. I guess Theo had matured a bit on his journey with Mahrig in my absence. He could still be obnoxious at times, but it would seem in this moment he understood that Mahrig's emotions would be running wild, especially after all that she had already been through. She had died. I didn't want to relive the still fresh memory, but my mind took on a will of its own.

Mahrig's eyes fluttered open briefly before they rolled into white and the chilling shrill voice escaped her. In a language I couldn't understand it almost seemed as if she began chanting. Krahmer almost collapsed in that moment. If any passersby had seen the events unfolding before us, they would no doubt think that necromancy was at work. I however, with my keen senses, detected nothing of the sort. Instead there was a strong sense of pure power emitting from Krahmer, it filled the air around us. Theo had already frozen in horror as he gazed from our position a few meters away. My fingers were as cold as the steel that armored my body, and my blood began to follow suit. The sight before us had been terrifying. I could see tendrils of some kind of void battling with the seering white light that was emitting from Krahmer. The Tendrils, dark and wispy, seemed to dance across Mahrig's sickly pale skin as Krahmer's light swatted them. With each blow the tendrils would retreat, but almost instantly regain ground with more ferocity than before. Theo was likely unaware of what I was capable of seeing. Many years of practice and discipline went into my ability to sense and see such things. It was almost as if a different plane of time or another world was trying to grab Mahrig and drag her in, and the only thing stopping it from succeeding was Krahmer's selfless actions and determination.

I dared not disturb Krahmer in a time like this, I feared that my interference would only hinder his concentration, which he seemed to already be struggling to maintain. Whatever was transpiring before us was clearly putting Krahmer in distress. That's when it happened. The dark seemingly void wisps disappeared, but instead of Mahrig regaining consciousness like I had hoped, Mahrig's body went limp. The whites of her eyes were no longer visible as her eyes closed. One last breath escaped her chest as Krahmer collapsed beside her. My mind stood frozen in horror at the sight before me. I knew not what had happened, only that Mahrig was now deathly still. My mind stood as still as Mahrig, but my body raced to her side instantly grabbing her into my arms. I would have done anything in that moment, I thought that by sure will I would bring her back. I couldn't lose her, not like that. I searched my mind for anything, through everything I had been taught over the years, everything I had learned in my journeys, but nothing I had experienced or knew could possibly bring her back from her current state. My hands trembled, and my body had begun to shake as I clutched Mahrig's body tightly in my grasp. A scream of anger? Sorrow? Guilt?, escaped my chest ringing out into the canyon below as Mahrig's voice had earlier that night.

The emotions that washed over me had not been felt since I had been a child and witnessed my own father's murder. The pain I felt was almost blinding, I began to suffocate on my own emotions as I held Mahrig's lifeless body. My emotions were beyond control. I could feel the sting of tears in my eyes as the ripping continued in my chest. My gut churned with vile threats of losing everything I had consumed prior to my journey up the mountain. The sting of tears rolled down my cheek as a warm feeling began to engulf my frigid being. It started in my icy finger tips that clutched against the once clammy skin against my hands.

I felt movement. It was subtle, but enough to drag me out of my own self pity. I glanced down through a blurry haze just in time to see Mahrig's chest move. The intake of air was small, almost unnoticeable, but it was enough to break me free of the panic that had imprisoned me. It gave me hope.

I will probably never understand what Krahmer did for her, or how he did it. All that I do know is that mahrig was breathing, and alive, and laying beside me in a sound sleep. Reliving those fresh memories was bearable with her by my side. It brought so many things into perspective for me. It brought my past, present, and future into question. Mahrig was my world and I would do anything to protect her, even if it meant giving my own life in exchange. I fell into a deep sleep that would prove to be the best rest I had received in a little over two months.

Mahrig

I woke to the warm feeling of Gareth's breath in my hair. The sky was starting to turn orange in the Eastern sky, and the sound of guards changing shifts could be heard in the distance as a group of them headed for the tavern. Their laughing jesters put a small smile on my lips as I gently raised myself up onto my elbow. I gazed down at the sleeping man beside me. The dark circles that had been under Gareth's eyes the night before were now gone as his face seemed to be in a relaxed bliss of slumber. I glanced back to notice his outstretched arm that I had been unknowingly using as a pillow as I slept. His arm was no doubt muscled, but rather soft to the touch as I remembered the comfort I had felt upon awakening.

I glanced back down between our bodies where my mother's leather journal rested. I was finally seeing into a past that held answers. It might have been before my time, but it seemed to shed some light on my ties with Kvatch. The lighting was still dim outside. The smoldering ash I expected to wake up to was actually a full fledged fire. Someone had rekindled the fire for Gareth and I while we had slept. I would have to thank whoever had been kind enough to see to our needs while we were unconscious. It would seem though I would be able to thank the person sooner than later.

Krahmer made his way back from the small mill beside the falls. I caught notice of his figure approach as he quite noisily dropped a stick of wood. He started to bend down to retrieve it with his arms already full, but I bounced to my feet, careful not to wake the sleeping Gareth. I retrieved the wood, and even grabbed a few more pieces from Krahmer's arms to lighten the load. A look of thanks crossed his features.

"It's the least I could do Sir, in exchange for stocking the fire while we slept." Krahmer nodded and slightly shrugged after unloading his arms.

"You don't have to Thank me. It's the right thing to do. It does get cold this far up North. You can call me Krahmer. Sir makes me feel well beyond my age. I'm not claiming to be young, but I'm not ready to head off with the ancient greybeards." I slightly giggled at his reply. It was the most humor I had witnessed from the man.

Krahmer's eyes fell to the journal that rested beside Gareth's still sleeping form.

"So, you took the leap and read a bit I assume?" Krahmer gestured toward the journal.

"Ah, yes. I did." I paused before continuing.

"Though, if there is anything useful I have learned over the years it is to take things in stride. I shouldn't read it all at once. I'm afraid at some point it would be too much for me to handle." I slightly bowed my head and continued.

"Besides, I have it now thanks to you, my answers. At a time like this there is more than just my own problems to deal with. I can't have my past dragging emotional baggage that could hinder my work here in Skyrim. The darkness that is spreading across the land is so much greater than finding out where I come from." Krahmer slightly frowned at my half hearted explanation.

"I'm not saying that I am not grateful for what you have given me. I will hold my mother's journal above any other possession I have. All I'm saying is that it shouldn't be rushed if I'm going to face this Dragon situation." Krahmer raised a brow before responding.

"I assume that means you are finally going to speak with the Greybeards?" I nodded in response to Krahmer's question.

"If I'm going to delve into my past I will need to make up for the lost time by pushing forward to the future by still participating in the present. It seems that would be the most logical course of action." Krahmer's eyes slightly widened as a smirk crossed his aged, but chiseled features.

"You sound just like your mother, even the way you think makes it almost feel like she is here, speaking through you." He closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the dawning sky.

It wasn't pain I seen on his face, not like before when he would mention her. It was love, love in the purest form.