Blood Runs Deep part 3
Tarrion barged through the hallway that would lead to the main room. He threw the doors that lead to the main hall wide open, and he saw several people standing or sitting.
Four of them were guards, and they were Imperials, just like the two outside. They grasped their swords as soon as they saw Tarrion, but their leader raised his hand and they calmed down. Their leader, also Imperial, sat in one of the chairs and was wearing an engraved set of armour. Tarrion recognized it as the armour of the Penitus Oculatus, the personal bodyguard of the Emperor. His hair hung behind him, long and flowing and he had a patronizing expression of disgust on his face.
"What is the meaning of this?" Tarrion asked angrily. "Who in Oblivion are you and what are you doing here?"
The leader of the group stood up. "Calm yourself, Nord. First tell us who you are."
"That's rich coming from someone who has broken into MY house!"
"Your house?" the Imperial asked calmly. "I see… then you must be the Thane, am I correct?"
"Again… who is asking?" Serana said who came standing next to Tarrion.
The man clearly wanted to say several things to her, but gave a slight nod. "I am Marcus Maro, Septor of the Penitus Oculatus, but that is all you will know for now-.."
"Marcus… That is enough."
Another person walked through the doors that lead to the dining area, followed by Rayya. The voice gave away that she was a woman, but she was wearing a hood. She apparently outranked the Septor, because he stopped talking and gave Serana an unsettling gaze.
The woman took her hood off and faced Tarrion. As soon as she did she froze, and Tarrion felt a similar feeling.
She was shorter than him, yet a bit taller than Serana and she was a Nord. Her hair was brown, long and tied behind her head. She was wearing scarlet red robes with golden imagery, and a diamond-encrusted necklace hung on her chest. Her eyes were deep and several rings adorned her fingers. She stared at Tarrion like she saw a ghost, until she was able to utter one word.
"….Tarrion?"
Tarrion stood there frozen to the ground. Serana gave him a strange look before looking back at the woman. Marcus apparently did not expect this either and raised both his eyebrows.
"Should I know y-… wait!" Tarrion said slowly, until it hit him. "I know that voice….. Elaine?"
"Tarrion!" the woman said as she walked towards him and hugged him. He was only half able to wrap one arm around her.
"How…. How have you been?" she asked as she pulled herself back. "I haven't seen you in…. how long was it? Ten years? Twelve? How are you?"
"I.. eh.." Tarrion stammered but Marcus interrupted him.
"It seems you two know each other… very touching of course, but we have business to discuss. I suggest that you and your pale squeeze sit down so we can get to business."
"What did you just call me?" Serana snapped at him.
"Do not give me orders in my own home!" Tarrion shouted and he took two steps at the man.
"Marcus…. That can wait." Elaine said quickly before things would escalate. "Please, wait outside…. We can talk later."
"Milady… I don't think I need to remind you of our mission. We don't have time to fraternize with the local rabble."
"Marcus! Outside. All of you." she snapped at him.
The Imperial stood up and reluctantly walked toward the door, ignoring Serana like she did not exist. The guards followed him until only Tarrion, Serana, Elaine and Rayya remained.
"Alright.. what is the meaning of this?" Serana asked sternly. "Who are you and what is are these Imperials doing here?"
"Forgive me, sir." Rayya said quickly as she walked up to Tarrion and made a bow. "I am sorry I could not warn you. I tried to stop them and told them you weren't home, but they refused to listen. Forgive me thane."
"Thane?" Elaine blurted out. "Tarrion… you're a thane?"
"Yes I… Wait a minute… that man called you 'Milady'. What are you exactly?"
"CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!"
Serana shouted so loud it scared Rayya, and Tarrion felt that he indeed needed to explain the situation.
"Yes… sorry Serana. Eh… Serana, this is Elaine. My sister. Elaine… meet Serana. My.. betrothed now."
"Sister? You have a sister?" Serana shouted indignantly.
"Betrothed? You're getting married?" Elaine shouted in surprise.
"You finally proposed?" Rayya asked in relief.
"Yes… Yes and yes. Now, please… Elaine. What are you doing here?"
"Sir..." Rayya interrupted quickly. "May I suggest that we all take a seat and I'll prepare something for everyone?"
"Eh, what? Oh… yes, good idea." Tarrion stammered. "Why don't we all… eh, go to the parlour and talk there."
The trio left for a smaller room while Rayya rushed to the kitchen to prepare something for them to eat and drink. Serana walked right next to Tarrion and whispered to him.
"Why didn't you tell me you had a sister?"
She knew Tarrion was not very open about his past, but it never really mattered to her. Her own past held horrors that she would never share with anyone, not even Tarrion, and so she asked little. But now that his sister showed up at their doorstep, she wanted to know the truth.
"I'll explain later, alright? When we're alone."
All three of them took a seat on comfortable chairs and Serana kept looking from Elaine to Tarrion and back. Neither of them seemed to know what to say, until Elaine broke the silence.
"So.. Tarrion. How are you? You seem to be doing quite well for yourself."
She looked around the room and it was clear she was impressed.
"Yes… I am, thank you."
Serana saw that Tarrion felt uneasy and he spoke slowly, trying to pick the right words. "I'm doing well… well enough."
"Well enough?" Elaine asked. "Look at this place. It's huge! And look at you. You've grown a lot little brother. You even have a beard now!"
Tarrion absently stroked his chin, which was indeed covered with short black hair, along with his jaws, cheeks and temples.
"Yea… you need to shave again." Serana remarked.
"And you…" Elaine looked at Serana. "You are betrothed to my little brother? For how long?"
"Eh… yes, I am," Serana blushed. "but not for that long. Two days actually."
But Tarrion intruded.
"Elaine…. Why are you here? What is going on?"
Elaine sighed and took another glance at Serana and smiled at her before turning back to Tarrion.
"Well…. You've guessed correctly that this is not a social visit. I'm here on….. both personal and official business."
She leaned in, as if to make sure that no-one else would hear the sensitive information she was about to say.
"It is about Thalia…."
Tarrion's eyes widened a bit when he heard the name.
"She is in Skyrim, but I don't know where, and from what I have gathered…. It is not good news."
"Who is Thalia?" Serana asked.
"Our sister." Elaine said with a glance at Serana before turning to Tarrion. "We have to find her and bring her home."
"You have two sisters?"
Serana fell back in her chair and could not believe her ears. "You have two sisters and you never told me?"
"What do you know so far?" Tarrion asked, ignoring Serana. "And why do you have an entire escort from the Penitus Oculatus?"
"Yes…." Elaine answered and she glanced quickly from Tarrion to Serana and back. "They are with me because they need to investigate rumours about Stormcloaks. I heard the rebellion has died down after Ulfirc Stormcloak died, but some people in Cyrodiil are not convinced. They want these rebels that are still out there dealt with, one way or the other. But when I heard that Thalia may also be in Skyrim, I demanded I would lead the ones send here."
"You 'demanded'?"
"Yes…. I gained a high rank in the emperor's entourage and I have quite a bit of leverage. I never told them that Thalia was involved, nor do I know if she even is… but if she is, I don't want her to be harmed."
She nodded to the door that lead to the main hall. "They don't know that I am only here for Thalia, but if they do they might report back to the emperor. If Thalia is somehow involved in this, and word got out, it would ruin everything I built over the years."
Tarrion gave her a strange look. Serana saw it and she knew what it meant, and it seemed Elaine seemed to feel the same.
"Don't get me wrong here." she quickly added. "I love Thalia… she is still my sister, but well….. you know how she is."
"It has been a long time…. But I remember." Tarrion answered slowly.
Elaine nodded and continued. "I arrived in Falkreath about a week ago, but the Jarl couldn't help me. He directed me to his thane, because 'he travels a lot and would likely know more'. I had no idea that this 'thane' would be you."
Tarrion nodded. "Well, I have to disappoint you. I haven't heard anything about any growing unrest or even hints at a new or persisting rebelling. Are you sure these rumours are true?"
"True enough for my superiors to take serious action."
It was quiet for a moment. Tarrion was lost in thought and Serana knew that she couldn't help at the moment. Elaine looked at the two of them and waited for either of them to say something. When that didn't happen she sighed.
"Look, I don't like this situation any more than you do, but it is family. But the problem is just that I don't know anyone here. I am a stranger, but….. you're not. I need to find Thalia before my 'escort' finds her, but I cannot just go and ask around. I wouldn't even know where to begin. I need your help with this. Will you help me?"
Tarrion did not look at Elaine, being too occupied with his thoughts, but he knew he had to give an answer. On the one hand he wanted to help. As Elaine said 'it is family'. And he valued his family. On the other hand, he had gotten used to the peace and calm. The peace that lasted in Skyrim had lasted for long enough for Tarrion to ask Serana to marry him. And she had said yes, so he wanted to continue the peace and calm and focus on planning a wedding. Yet he knew that it was both his duty to help, and his family that he needed to help. He looked at Serana and she gave a slight nod.
"Yes…" he nodded. 'I'll help. But we can't do much today. I'm sure you've had a long journey behind you and could use some rest. You're welcome to stay here. There are a few guest rooms you can make use of."
Elaine sighed in relief and a smile appeared on her face. "Thank you, little brother. I feel better already."
Elaine thanked Tarrion again and went outside to tell the men that all was well, but Tarrion left for his bedroom as soon as she left the main hall. He fell on his bed and let out a huge sigh. The amount of emotions he had to keep down during the last hour left him exhausted and he knew it would not get any better any time soon now that he promised to help find Thalia.
He was about to close his eyes when Serana walked into the room. She gave him a serious gaze and closed the door.
"You have quite a bit to explain to me."
Tarrion sighed again. He knew she was right, yet he felt too tired to do so.
"I don't suppose this can wait?" he asked as he sat up straight.
"No." she answered sternly and se grabbed a seat in front of him and looked him straight in his eyes.
The look she gave him was fierce. A look he had never seen before, except maybe once. When Serana had confronted her mother, she had given her a similar look. A look that said 'Explain yourself'.
"Ugh…" Tarrion moaned. "I… I don't even know where to start."
"Then start with this; why have you never told me that you had a sister…. Never mind two."
Tarrion was about to open his mouth when Serana added. "And don't lie, Tarrion. Don't start this betrothal with lying to me."
He shook his head slightly. "Never." and he took a deep breath.
"I never told you because i…. don't have many fond memories of them." he started. "My sisters were always….. and from what I hear they still are…. Two opposites. They're… two sides of the same coin. Sisters, yet very different."
Tarrion remembered a few fragmented memories of when he was only a child.
"My father was a Nord. My mother was also a Nord, but she was born in Cyrodiil. That never caused any real problems, but after my sisters were born, and after they grew up, problems started to happen."
"Elaine is the elder. She had always considered herself to be the 'big sister' and the wiser sister. No matter what I or Thalia would tell her. As for Thalia, she was the younger sister, yet fiery. Stubborn, but loyal to a fold. I was the youngest of us three. I…."
He sighed again. "I'll spare you the smaller details, but over time the two of them grew apart. Thalia felt like she was a Nord, and the Nords of Skyrim are, as you know, stubborn and proud. Elaine was more drawn to Cyrodiil and the Empire. My parents went with either of them. My father agreed with Thalia, my mother agreed with Elaine…. And I was caught in the middle. Over time, that rift between them increased. Thalia would never be friends with anyone that isn't a Nord, and Elaine became too occupied with the Empire and the whole disagreement with Talos matter. They eventually dragged our parents with them. Eventually… we separated. Thalia and my father stayed in Skyrim, and my mother, Elaine and I left for Cyrodiil. I was…. Twelve years old at the time. We settled in the Imperial City where Elaine immediately started studying. I went with her for a while, but…"
Tarrion shook his head at the memories. "I never felt the same way she did. I wanted to go back to Skyrim but I did not want to let them down. My mother would sometimes regret the decision to leave her husband, yet the next day all was well again. After two years she dies of a fever. Both Elaine and I were heartbroken, but when she went back to her studies again, I was left with no-one. A year after that I left to return to Skyrim. But I never found my father, or my sister. I searched for them…. I stayed in Skyrim for almost four years until I gave up the search. I assumed they left Skyrim…. Or… they were dead. I was about to leave…. To return to Cyrodiil…. But I was caught in an ambush and brought to Helgen to be executed…. But then Alduin attacked and.. well… you know the rest."
Serana had listened to his story, and a part of her understood what he felt. The pain that family can cause is a deep and sensitive pain, and most people, including her, would prefer not to talk about it. Yet she knew better than anybody that sharing this pain with those that care will relief that pain.
After a while she said. "You should have told me."
"I know I should have, but…." he sighed in frustration. "it is family. It is…. They drove me crazy sometimes. I would tell them to stop the endless bickering, but they would never listen. They tore our family apart, and I never wanted to revisit that. I don't even like it that they're here."
"Why?"
"Because they bring trouble! They will tear at each other's throats if they can, they will drive each other away again. They're family, I know…. But they bring trouble. Everything was going so well between you and I, and now I am afraid that the peace that we had has been disrupted. And only one of the two is here!"
Serana leaned in. "Trouble or not…. They are still your sisters… your family… and you stand up for your family."
"You killed your own father, so you have no say in this."
Before Tarrion had even uttered those words he knew he had crossed several lines. He immediately recoiled and looked down to the floor, afraid to look at Serana. And a good thing too, because her face had shifted from understanding, to an icy anger that Tarrion could feel right through him, even without looking at her.
"I'm sorry…. I shouldn't have-…"
"That was cold, Tarrion."
He knew that he had said something that even he did not fully understand, and he made a hesitant glance at Serana, but looked back down again when he saw how her eyes flared at him.
"I'm sorry….. that was….. I shouldn't have said that. I… I didn't mean that… I'm sorry."
"I know you are…" she answered. Her voice was still angry, and with every word her teeth were bared, yet her tone was not cold anymore. "and I know you didn't mean it. But don't say that again."
Tarrion quickly nodded. "Yes… of course…. Never…"
Serana still stared at him and saw how his shoulder and arms moved uncontrollably and she knew he regretted what he said. After a while Tarrion looked up at her and she saw a tear in his eye.
"This is what I mean." his voice trembled slightly and the tear welled up. "Already they frustrate me…. They frustrate me so much that this happens between us. I don't want that to happen. I don't want the same thing that happened to my parents happen to us."
Serana's angry gaze now left her completely as she saw how tears dripped on his cheeks. It melted her heart, and she got up and kneeled in front of him and took his hands.
"It won't." she said tenderly.
"I had just gotten so used to the peace and calm between us. The easy life. No problems happening…. Nothing else was out there but our love for each other…. I don't want that to go away….. I don't want to lose you."
She raised herself and cupped his face as she kissed him tenderly. She felt his hand hesitantly embracing her as she hugged him and sat on his lap. She gave his lip a slight tug as she pulled back and gave him a slight smile.
"You won't. Over my dead body….. alright… my 'undead' body."
He gave her a watery smile. She embraced him and kissed his neck. His arms wrapped themselves around her and stroked her back.
"Thank you." she heard him say. "And I'm sorry…. For not telling you about my family. And for what I said…. Can you forgive me?"
"I already have."
The two went downstairs again where Elaine and her escort waited patiently to be shown to their rooms. Elaine looked with concern in her eyes at them, but Tarrion smiled at her.
"Is everything alright?" she asked him.
"Yes, it is." and he directed himself to Rayya who made sure that the soldiers would behave. "Rayya, would you show Elaine to the main guest room, please? The rest of them can sleep in the west wing."
The soldiers bowed and thanked them, except for the two soldiers that Tarrion had thrown aside outside, and the Septor Marcus Maro. When he wanted to walk to the stairs Tarrion stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"The west wing." the septor said indignantly.
"Not you…. Not until you apologize."
"For what?" Marcus asked, now clearly offended.
"For disrespecting me in my own house." Tarrion said and he looked Marcus straight in his eyes, using his height and build to force the Septor to look up. "But most of all, for insulting my fiancée."
Serana gave the Septor a stern look with one eyebrow raised, but inside she smiled.
"How dare you address someone of my station-.."
"You can apologize, or sleep with the horses outside." Tarrion barked at him.
Marcus looked at Elaine, but she also had the same look that Serana had. One eyebrow raised and a fierce gaze. Seeing that no-one would come to his aid, Marcus took a deep breath to calm himself and turned to Serana.
"I apologize for what I said, milady. Please, forgive my rudeness."
He made a slight bow to hide his face, but both Tarrion and Serana knew full well that he tried to hide his anger. Serana waited a few seconds before she answered, clearly enjoying to see his anger.
"You are forgiven." she eventually answered, but before Marcus could walk away she continued. "However… if you insult me again… I will have your blood."
The Septor had to use all his willpower to keep his mouth shut and make a slight nod at her, before walking up the stairs to the bedrooms. His men followed him and Serana came standing next to Tarrion.
"You really turn me on when you stand up for me like that."
"Why do you think I stand up for you in the first place?"
Serana chuckled and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.
=End of Chapter=
=Author's Notes=
Ah, yes. Family brings trouble, and in no small amount. How will it go when two sisters, with completely opposite views on the world, meet each other again after years of being apart. Will Tarrion be able to keep them calm, or will things escalate in an entire rebellion?
Septor: A rank i made up for the Penitus Oculatus. You can say it is sort of a General for this organization.
(OC) Elaine: Sister to Tarrion, in case you have not read the entire chapter. She has studied in the Imperial City in Cyrodiil and became highly influential and powerful in the daily politics in the Empire. Having met with the Emperor himself a few times she is held in the highest respect. She is NOT a member of the Elder Council, but basicly the next best thing.
(You will hear more about Thalia in the following chapters)
(OC) Marcus Maro: You may have noticed that his last name is the same as Gaius Maro and his father Commander Maro (first name never given). He is indeed family to them and is Gaius' uncle.
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