Author's note: Hello! I'm back at last. *I don't think anyone was actually waiting for this but still*
I never gave an epilogue to that bit with the vampires and Khilheru, so here it is. My way of tying up loose ends with the characters. (I know, the plot bit I'm talking about was like 6 chapters ago. I got distracted by Solstheim and Aranel...)
I've also been working on editing and fixing up most of the chapters for this story, which basically entails actually editing, fixing minor details, and updating and shortening Author's notes. I'll be updating chapters throughout the week, but there won't be any truly noticeable changes so don't feel pressured to go back and check. They'll simply be a bit cleaner.
Anyway, onto the thing you guys are actually here for.
Disclaimer: I don't own the game, etc, etc.
Lydia is a bit thrown off when Káno appears at Breezehome without any warning. He had warned her that they might be gone for more than a month, though anything is better than some of the other waits they've had to endure. One month is long, but three is any worse. Four, and without a note or contact in any form was the worst, and she thoroughly scolded him for that. After that, he began sending notes when he was planning to head home, unless it was a day trip or something that would only take a week. Teleporting is a pretty neat ability, and as a result, the need for couriers is often negated simply by how fast Káno is able to travel. So when he shows up without a prior note after two weeks of being gone, and toting a very ill looking Marcurio and some young man who seems dead, she's more than a little shocked.
Lucia and Sofie are the first to spot the strange party. The two are playing in the area outside of Breezehome, and are near enough to see the flash of the teleportation, and with that their (adoptive) father, his companion, and someone else appear in the middle of the street. Lucia, who is older and a bit smarter than Sofie, orders her younger sister inside to find Lydia, and immediately sets off in search of the apothecary. She's got enough spending money, and has the feeling they might be needing as many potions as possible.
Lydia opens the door for a panicked Sofie, who hurriedly explains the strange occurrence, and both rush out onto the street. Káno waves an exhausted hello, and Lydia hustles the group inside as fast as she can. They really don't need any more attention than they already have, what with him being the Dragonborn and all. She sends Káno upstairs to put the poor young soul he's toting into bed- she isn't sure he'll make it, but she'll do her best to see that he's comfortable either way- and forces Marcurio to take a seat before he starts getting in the way. Or collapses or something. Or both. Sighing, she banishes all thoughts of ale, and looks at Marcurio. He's pale, but doesn't seem to be on the brink of death, and is already seeing to whatever wounds he may have. Lydia grimaces, and taking a seat next to him, asks "What the hell happened?"
The mage doesn't speak for a good period of time, during which Lucia comes in and hands Lydia several healing potions, and Sofie barricades herself, Lucia, and the rabbit into their room. For young children, she reflects, the two are remarkably perceptive. Finally, having seen to his wounds, Marcurio explains.
"The lead we were following led to a vampire coven, where Káno's young friend was being held. They managed to capture me, but Káno saved me shortly afterwards and managed to obliterate the coven. He rescued Khilheru- the young man- and we made camp outside the town, which, uh, was burned to the ground. However, we didn't have time to recover, and only had a few hours to rest before we were attacked. Bandits, and then directly afterwards, a dragon. I got a few cuts during the bandit fight, and I know that both Káno and Khilheru were almost frozen to death during the dragon attack. We had no choice but to come here as quickly as possible to tend to our wounds. And I know for a fact that Káno is not doing as well as he lets on, that teleportation magic is draining and he took the worst of the assault during both attacks."
Lydia is silent, taking it in. Marcurio was sparse on the details, but even she can understand a bit of just how bad their side trip must have been for Marcurio to admit to his friend's wounds. Typically, both of them have some stupid self sacrificing sense of pride, and tend to their own wounds while avoiding making any sign of hurt public. It's an idiotic way to live, but it's for their "honor," or so the excuse has gone every time she confronts one of them. Eventually, though, she decides that Káno has been alone with his younger companion for long enough. She stomps up the steps, making sure that her footsteps are loud enough to be heard. She wants to give Káno enough time to compose himself, or at least get ready to deal with people. One of the downsides to having a personality like her Thane does it that he tends to be unprepared to dealing with people, despite having the charisma to be able to turn encounters in his favor. So she makes enough noise to be heard, and by the time she has reached the top of the steps, turned around, and entered the room, Káno is prepared and sitting in a chair next to the bed.
"How is he?"
Káno nods, clearly understanding that she and Marcurio have discussed what happened, and gestures at the bed.
"I'm no master of the healing arts, but he'll live."
Lydia studies her Thane. If possible, he looks worse than before, an ashen tint to what little skin she can see under the armour, and eyes that seem to have lost some of their shine. She isn't sure whether to attribute that to the mental strain of recent events, or injuries he has sustained. Perhaps both. She takes the seat that remains at the table, and the two look at each other for a minute.
"Take off your helmet." Lydia speaks with the quiet authority usually found in the Jarls of the land, or even the healers. They have more in common than other denizens of the land, after all.
Káno hesitates moment, but takes it off as her gaze hardens. He's got quite a bit of blood in his hair, indicating some sort of head wound, which would explain the glassy look he's now giving her. Slowly, he removes the rest of his armour, leaving the under tunic and leggings on. The visible wounds are bad, but don't seem incurable. Until he turns directly towards her and she sees the wound in his stomach.
"How the hell did you get that, and why haven't you done something about it?"
Lydia is a bit angry, and rightly so. It shows in her tone, and Káno flinches back from her harsh tone. She immediately regrets her words, and rather than continuing with that particular line of inquiry, she holds her hands up in a gesture of peace. Getting up rather slowly, she hands him a potion and backs away again. He uncorks it, smells and grimaces, and then downs the entire thing in one gulp. Color comes back almost immediately, and now that some of the pain is gone, is obviously thinking a little more clearly. He immediately grabs some of the healing supplies which are lying on the bed, and heads downstairs to get Marcurio's help with a possible healing spell.
This, however, leaves Lydia alone with Khilheru. Curious, she creeps closer to the bed, studying the young man's features. Slim and pale, with a mop of curly brown hair. The kid has freckles though, evidence of a previous tan. She can see why Káno would want to come after this one. He seems… pleasant, and from what Káno told her about the town that he had failed to save, Khilheru comes from a good area. Even if it's burned to the ground. She's curious as to how the vampire coven got their hands on him, and hopes he'll last long enough for them to be able to ask him. She leans back, settling into the chair next to the bed. From the commotion downstairs, it sounds as if she might have to be the one to keep and eye on his condition. As she gets comfortable, Marcurio's voice rises above the rest of the clatter.
"No, sit down! I told you, I have the healing spell ready! Stop that- no, I want you to stay still- what do you mean you're fine, there's literally a chunk of wood in your stomach, you stubborn fool!"
Lydia chuckles to herself and sits back. At least they'll be fine. And, as soon as she thinks so, there's a sound from the bed. She turns to see large eyes blinking up at her. Khilheru is obviously confused, and she doesn't blame him. Waking to up to the noise downstairs only to find himself in a strange house and bed, with a woman bending over him… it's a wonder the young man doesn't cry out. As it is, he starts and attempts to move over in the bed. A futile effort, considering the amount of blankets and skins Káno has heaped on top. She speaks soothingly, explaining the situation. His look of confusion melts into one of relief and slight amusement, though the edge of wariness is apparent. Lydia grins. He's going to make a fine addition to the house.
A few days pass in uneventful peace. Káno, Marcurio, and Khilheru are all recovering, relaxing, and sniping at each other because house life does not suite any of them. Lydia and the kids get tired of being caught in the crossfire all the time, and end up spending a good amount of time hanging around town. Lydia even takes them on a short trip to Riverwood, where they are surprisingly well received. As it turns out, Faendal has been talking. The day trip is short and sweet, and she ends up inviting the elf over. Despite whatever reservations she may have with Káno's odd friends.
This, as it turns out, is a mistake. Faendal ends up playing off Marcurio's salty attitude rather well, and the two good naturedly bicker throughout dinner, while Káno and Khilheru spend the entire time in loud discussion over the properties of farm grown plants in potions. Lucia and Sofie have fun for the better part of the evening by jumping into both conversations, with witty comments of their own. Lydia is content to simply watch and make sure that any projectiles are nonlethal. No daggers, swords, axes, spell tomes, or actual arguing at dinner. Thankfully, the talk remains tame, albeit rather serious after the kids go to bed. Faendal is given the entire tale of how they met Khilheru in the first place, and the side of the story that they know which came afterwards. The young man in question jumps in somewhere in the middle, explaining how the survivors of his village had fled to the hills, and resultantly been captured by the vampires. From what Káno tells them, Khilheru is the only survivor of the group that had been captured, and while there might be others, none of them were with the coven.
In all, it's a rather hectic night, and she is fully convinced of at least one thing: they need more women in the house. That and Khilheru is crazy, because from the sound of it, Káno is planning on letting him stay as long as he'd like. And from the way Khilheru responded, it seems that he might be considering taking him up on that offer for as long as possible. Lydia knows she really isn't looking forward to having another person to look after, but oh well. She will always do her best to help her Thane, even if he is the most idiotic person she's ever met. Besides, she likes the kid. He might even be willing to help keep their mutual friend out of trouble, for a while at least.
Relevant question: How would you people feel about a short Q&A? I've got a Tumblr (which is completely unused) that I could put it on. Stuff like character descriptions, what actually happened in chapter 30 because it was a little weird, OC's, plans for the future… all that. Let me know, ask questions, and I'll put one up as a special for chapter 40 if there's enough of a response.