Chapter 23: The Homefront.
Sasha and i approach the throne where the queen was seated, surrounded by several noble wanting her ear or something. We stood still several paces from the throne waiting for the queen's summons. I looked towards Sasha who stood still, confident with a small bit of unease in her stance. "Don't worry child trust me." I whispered softly, she looked to me and gave me a smile. The queen wore a bright golden gown with red motives and golden jewelry which accented her golden skin perfectly.
The queen noticed us and bade us to come forward, when we reached a certain point Sasha and i dropped to our knees and greeted her. "Greetings Thorein, i trust your journey was uneventful?"
"Yes my queen everything went smoothly." I replied still with my head cast down.
"and who is this child you have brought with you?" she asked.
I motioned towards Sasha. "This child i found and took her under my wing." I looked towards Sasha and nodded. "go ahead introduce yourself child."
"My name is Sasha my queen and i am honored to be here today." Sasha said respectfully. "Thorein found me in the Embassy and after a while took me with him and treated me like a father."
A few gasp where heard in the throne room when Sasha fell silent. "Rise both of you." She commanded us and we did as we were told. "Now who is your father Sasha?" she asked when she saw Sasha fully. Sasha fell silent a few seconds before standing up with a straight back and arms crossed behind her back like a soldier replying. "My father was a Thalmor justicar under first ambassador Elenwen died in serves of the Dominion."
"You have my condolences my child." My mother sounded sincere.
"I took her in ma'am and adopted her, she is a fine young girl and a great daughter." I said while smiling towards Sasha when i looked back towards the queen she stood up.
"Leave us." The queen said while walking down towards us. I looked around the room and every noble and servant walked away and the royal guard closed the main doors. The queen kneeled before Sasha and looked at her with an tight expression and Sasha flinched slightly. "so i have a granddaughter of different blood." She stated before pulling Sasha into a hug.
"Mother Sasha doesn't know i am your son." I said with a sigh. My mother released Sasha directly and looked at me with a frown.
"And why not?" my mother stood up and walked right in front of me. "Are you trying to hide your heritage?"
"No off course not. Just wanted to make Sasha comfortable before dropping her future in her lap like that." I stated. "But now that is impossible." I turned towards Sasha. "i am sorry for not telling you sooner but the queen is my mother. But do not think everything will be handed to you just because you're my daughter."
"Off course not father, we must work for everything no matter where we are from." And gave me a slight nod. "You told me that, when nobles just take what they want, the common folk will hate them so we thrive to be different." i smiled warmly at Sasha and nodded.
"I am proud to know you take my advice and apply it for yourself as well." I ruffled her hairs and looked towards my mother. "Now if you will excuse me i have some business to take care of mother, can she stay here with you and see how you handle the nobles?" my mother simply nodded and i turned away. "You will do what my mother says Sasha and learn from her ok be back soon."
"Bye papa we will take when you get back." Sasha responded cheerfully. I made my to the door when i let the nobles and the royal guard into the throne room again.
I made my way with large strides to the palace prison. Several guards nodded towards me and saluted me when i passed but i didn't linger. When i reached the door towards the office of the prison commander, i stood and straighten my clothes and when i was done i knocked three times on the door. "Come in." Catha's voice sounded sweet and i missed it allot. I opened the door and stood in the door threshold.
"Hello Catha it has been a while since we saw each other." I said in a flirtiest voice possible. Her head sprang up when she heard me.
"T Thorein what are you doing here?" she sounded surprised and something i couldn't quit place it. "you where gone for so long and i didn't hear from you much."
"Yes i am sorry for that Catha but the situation was messier then i thought." I placed my hands on my hips and shook my head. "I missed you."
"I missed you to but..." Catha began uncertain. I took a few steps towards her and raised her chin with my hand.
"it is alright Catha, you know you can tell me." I said looking in her eyes and she dropped her head again and i looked down towards her and saw her hands. "Does he make you happy?"
She looked up to me. "Yes. Yes he does. I am sorry for not telling you but i was afraid of what you would do." She said with hesitation. I took a seat in front of her desk.
I let out a sigh. "Well then tell me everything about how you met and such."
"we met when i read one of your earliest message to me and i bumped into him and then we talked he took me to dinner several times and along the way i... i forgot about you and me and we.." she stopped uncertain and with a flush of red on her cheeks.
"Fell in love and got married?" i said with a smile. "If he makes you happy Catha i am happy for you." She looked towards me and saw my smile and relaxed a bit. "Sure it is not how i imagined our meeting today but i ain't angry. But do tell me what does he do what is his name?" i said without mockery or anger in my voice.
"He is a soldier of the dominion and his name is Nirndorin." She said with a happy ring in her voice. "we got married about two months ago."
"Well Catha i am happy for you, it is for the best really me being so secretive and away for a very long time." I said while looking around her office.
"i hope we can still be friends after this Thorein." She said while standing up and walking towards the side of her desk. I stood up and walked in front of her. I pulled her in for a hug.
"Off course we can be friends Catha and congratulations on your wedding to him." I said letting her go. "But if you will excuse me i only came here to check on you and wanted to ask if you wanted to catch up this week?"
She took a step back when i released her and nodded. "That would be fun." And gave me a smile. I brushed her cheek with my thumb.
"Then i will see you someday this week goodbye Catha." I tilted my head towards her and began walking away.
"Goodbye my friend." She said while i was walking towards the door.
When i was outside i stopped and balled my fists. I was angry she didn't tell me that she was with someone or something. I let out my breath and thought to myself, this is indeed better for her i couldn't be there every night when she wanted to talk about her day or just to drink and laugh forgetting about the worries the day brought her. I walked back towards the palace. On the way i greeted red legion recruits and royal guards alike i avoided the nobles on the way not interested in there banter about the world and their worries. When i reached the palace i opened the doors and saw Calonwer talking with some red legion commander and i waited for him to finish.
"But my lord we can't protect the palace and the roads at the same time we need the dominion forces for back-up." The commander said.
"We can't, the queen orders us to do this." Calonwer replied and looked over the commander's shoulder to me and nodded. "But if that is a huge problem, talk to the person behind you."
The commander turned around and i saw a male Bosmeri with three scars across his face on his left side across his eyes downwards. "My lord, i was just telling commander Calonwer that we need more soldiers to protect the isles good."
"I understand Commander, but if it is ordered by the queen we must make do until i can change it." I walked closer to him and he took a step back. "Is that understood?"
"Yes sir. But can i at least get some more recruits for support?" he asked shyly.
I looked towards Calonwer who nodded. "Yes you can. But when Calonwer wants them back, you do it immediately." I answered a bit irritated. The commander nodded to us both and skulled away.