After meeting Lady Webb they head back to Caed Nua for a few days - given the fact that this person in the Sanitarium has no apparent intention of leaving, it's safe to say there's some room for a quick visit to the Keep they desperately need to rebuild. Which happens to be another of Cera's reasons for heading back, they sold the stuff they found in their fights with the Guls and various Darguls in the district and saved up enough money to repair the Barracks. Between that, the walls that need some repair, and the Western Barbican, the place should be well secured to not get raided by bandits any time soon. They've barely got anything rebuilt, Brighthollow and the Main Keep only, but any progress is good considering the state of the place when they found it.
When they get there, they find that at least the restoration of the Western Barbican finished while they were away.
Cera lets out a sigh of relief, seeing as her new home hasn't been ransacked or anything just yet, and they head inside Brighthollow - Cera making for the Main Keep to check in with the Steward and start on repair of the Barracks, so they can hire some guards to patrol the place. Aloth follows her, intending to make for the library and look through the books and scrolls they salvaged, and holds the door open for her.
The Steward's voice rings out from the throne "Good to see you, my Lady! How did things in Defiance Bay go?"
"Could have been worse, could have been a lot better. We found the Leaden Key, we also found a district they turned into a walking graveyard. They activated a tower in the district, killed a few kith, and just sat back and watched the chaos unfold - might've even set up the kith they killed, a group of researchers that were commissioned to discover what the tower did. Well, they discovered it alright. Too bad they had to be killed to do so. How are things going?"
"Very good my Lady. The Western Barbican was finished about four hours ago, which should help with security a little at least."
"Yes, I noticed. Well-built to. Luckily, we found enough coin in Heritage Hill to repair the Barracks - which should help with matters of security some, as we'll be able to hire some guards for the place."
"Yes, I'll get right on it. Oh, speaking of which, there are two matters that may concern you. One is a letter that came all the way from Stalwart. I thought the messenger was going to swoon, the poor dear. It seems Renengild, the mayor of the town, is looking to get into Durgan's Battery."
Cera lets out an appreciative whistle, and says "Now that would be quite the feat. Stories say the Dwarves there sealed themselves away inside and killed each other."
"Yes, well, Renengild has her sights set on the Battery for the White Forge, and believes someone with your experience may have an edge. And in this case, I believe she may be right in suggesting that. Oh, and the group of Woedica followers you have taken an interest in has also sent a group of people there."
"Good to know, thank you. What was the second thing?"
"Yes, well, about halfway through the day, a group of elves came to the Keep. From their accents, I assumed they were from Aedyr - three elves, two older, one younger. The two older ones were about the same age, a man and a woman, and the third elf was a man about your age I believe."
Aloth can see Cera getting pale, but she keeps her voice steady as she asks "Aedyrans? Did they say why there were here?"
"I'm afraid they are still here, my Lady. As for their business, they claimed to be your parents and…your betrothed."
If Cera was going pale before, she goes as white as snow now and asks "My what?! I'm not betrothed to anyone!"
"Yes, well, that is what they claimed. I bade them await your return from Defiance Bay so that this can be worked out, and they left the Main Keep for Brighthollow. They are still there now, my Lady."
"Thank you, Steward. For letting me know of this before I walked in and had a very unpleasant surprise."
"I take it your relationship with your parents is not cordial, my Lady?"
"No, not particularly. How in Eora did they track me all the way here? Great, this is the last thing I need. Or can take, at the moment." She hurries out of the hall, Aloth following her - she's betrothed?! The questions must be written all over his face, because she says "I'm not betrothed to anyone, Aloth. Not if I have anything to say about it."
"You've met this man then?"
"This one, probably not. But this isn't the first time I've had a suitor my parents approved of - and believe me, none of them were right for me." At his questioning glance, she sighs and says "I really do try to respect other peoples' privacy, I really do. But when my parents want to make me spend the rest of my life with someone, well, I want to know that I want to spend the rest of my life with them. And none of them…none of them cared about me. They only cared about the title they'd get upon marrying into my family. They were all pompous, vain lords and such that cared more for appearances and how much political power they could gain by marrying into another wealthy family, didn't have a care in the world for whomever that unlucky girl would be other than how pretty she is, what kind of dances she knows, and whether or not she is capable of producing an heir for them. And, as a Cipher, I've found appearances can say very little while what's underneath can say a great deal. The expression 'actions speak louder than words' - well, I've modified it to 'motives speak louder than actions.' And my motives are to find someone who actually cares about me."
She opens up Brighthollow and heads upstairs, only for them to find an elven man in a heated argument with Kana and Eder. The elder man, dressed in finery they haven't encountered anywhere in the Dyrwood, says "I demand to see my daughter at once! The so-called Lady of Caed Nua should-"
Cera puts two fingers to her lips and lets out a shrill whistle, effectively getting everyone's attention and cutting off her father's tirade at the same time.
They give each other hostile looks for a full minute, and Kana quietly says "Not exactly a happy family reunion then."
Cera doesn't say anything out loud, but she connects with his mind and says I left for a reason, Kana. I really need to know though, have you seen a male elf about my age?
No, why?
Damn, because he's who my parents are attempting to marry me off to this time.
…What?
Don't ask until after, please. By all the gods, I can't believe they tracked me down to keep this up.
The entire exchange takes maybe a minute, but Cera's father apparently knows that something is up - or knows his daughter's abilities well enough. "Stop putting your whispers in other people's heads and-"
"What are you doing here?" Cera's normally warm voice has gone ice cold, having none of the compassion she feels for most anyone.
"I've come to bring you back home. You've had your little adventure across Eora, but now it's time to return to Aedyr and-"
"And what? Marry some stuck-up, pompous noble to combine our house with his? Be tethered to a man who doesn't care for me other than what heir I can produce?"
"Oh, not this argument again!" They all turn around to find an elvish woman with her brown hair up in an intricate bun made from a set of braids that must have taken forever standing in another doorway, the doorway to Cera's room no less, and Cera tightly says "Mother."
This close to her parents, it's easy to see they're related - Cera's got her father's nose and jawline, and her mother's lips, cheekbones, and hair. Her eyes though, Aloth can't help noticing she doesn't get her blue-green eyes from either of them - something she must be glad for, from the hostility between them.
Her mother looks her over with obvious disapproval, saying "You destroyed your hair, and your dressed as one of these commoners."
Cera visibly grits her teeth, and says "I cut my hair. And I'm dressed as the locals in Dyrwood do because they know what is appropriate for the weather and such here."
And so nobody immediately recognizes I'm Aedyran and hangs me for it.
Aloth has to agree with that part, then he realizes it was in her voice - she's connected to him now? That certainly explains why it's so choppy though, if she cut it herself - likely on the road, from what he can gather.
Pallegina comes in a few moments later as Cera and her parents move to talk in semi-private, dragging an elven man in robes every bit as ostentatious as Cera's parents, and Eder says "And here's the last guy - you said there weren't any others, right?"
Pallegina says "This one is the only other I could find. Went snooping around to see if his 'betrothed' was around. Whoever that is, I truly feel sorry for the poor girl."
Aloth gives a polite cough, inclines his head towards Cera - who is by now in a furious argument with her parents a little ways away from the group, and Pallegina stares at all of them in shock for a minute. "By all the gods, our friend has truly terrible luck. This one, as we say in the Republics, is a leech and a worm. We normally use the insults to describe business men that embezzle from their businesses and have no backbone, respectively, but it is also used in much more…offensive ways when it describes a person in all their qualities. This case is definitely the latter."
Aloth eyes the elven man, and it's not hard to see why Pallegina doesn't think much of him - he's shaking like a leaf at the mere sight of the feathered woman, Kana, and Sagani, and they can all bet it's not lost on Cera either.
Sagani asks "Who, for the gods' sake, would want to pair their child with this guy? No wonder Cera doesn't talk about her family much."
"Cera? The Lady of Caed Nua? Where is she, I'm-"
Eder grins and says "She's having a talk with her parents. Something tells me you'll be off to Aedyr soon enough - without her, as we've got business here that really can't be put off for long."
The elf's eyes widen when they land on Cera - her travel-stained clothing, her choppy, self-cut hair, and the loaded crossbow at her hip. He incredulously asks "That is…"
Sagani finishes "Cera. Lady of Caed Nua, and our friend. She can more than take care of herself though, despite what you may think."
Cera's father's voice raises suddenly, and he says "Cera, this ridiculousness of yours is coming to an end right now! You are coming back to Aedyr with us, marrying-"
"No! I'm staying here, in the Dyrwood, as the Lady of Caed Nua. I cannot just pack up and leave, as I now have responsibilities here in the Dyrwood that I cannot just walk away from. Restoring Caed Nua, dealing with a 'Master Below' deep under the place, and finding an individual that has managed to up and disappear somewhere." She yanks her wrist out of her father's grasp, glaring defiantly at him even as he tries to form a response.
"If you do not return with us to Aedyr-"
"Disown me then! See if I care! When I left home, I swore I would never come back - and I mean to fully keep that promise, no matter what else happens."
The elf - Cera's not-betrothed - finally gets out of Pallegina's grip and says "I was promised your hand-" As an answer, Cera whips her crossbow up, pointing it directly at his heart with purple flames surrounding the bolt.
Eder bursts out laughing, and says "Now there is a 'Dyrwoodan hello' for sure! Not as big as the one we gave Waidwen, but just as good!"
Kana says "That's…a firm answer, if nothing else."
Aloth can feel Iselmyr rolling around on their mental floor laughing hysterically, and says Don't you dare say a word that they'll hear, Iselmyr. I mean it, don't.
Laddie, this…this is too good…hahahahaha!
He has to agree there, but barely manages to keep his lips from twitching upwards.
"You…you're a…"
"Cipher. Brîshalgwin, here. And a very good one, at that. Didn't they tell you that little detail about me? The fact that I could hear your mental blubbering for the past five minutes since Pallegina found you? Praying to every god with some jurisdiction in the matter that she wouldn't kill you?"
"You went in my head?!"
"No, I didn't have to - you were basically shouting it out for the world to hear, the ones that can hear it, anyway." The elf noble looks at the crossbow bolt, still wreathed in purple flames, and holds his hands up - smart move. "Go back to Aedyr. All three of you. I'm not going back, and I'm not marrying someone I don't love. That's the end of it."
The look of fury that crosses Cera's father's face doesn't go unnoticed, but Cera is also more than capable of simply making them leave - they leave of their own volition, much to Cera's relief. If they hadn't, they'd likely be dealing with Aedyran guards every few weeks sent to 'escort' her back to Aedyr.
AN: Next chapter is up, folks! I went into further detail about the two options I sort of combined in the beginning of the game. Cera and her parents do not get along by any means. more info on the why and how next chapter! At any rate, at least it seems Caed Nua's restoration is going well! Focusing on the defense seems a logical move, seeing as the walls are broken, etc. And all the bandits around the area. I know this is way off the game canon, but some options would have some pretty big consequences in real life and you can just walk away in the game and nobody really cares about you being a raider or con artist in the caravan. Anyway, enjoy! One last final to take, and I'm done! Passed my Chem class with a solid B, which I'm seriously happy about, Stats is still up in the air at the moment, but I'm close to an A-, etc. Enjoy, please review! PS. timing for some of the personal quests, such as the Long Hunt, may seem a little screwy - but trying to stop a group of people that turned a district into a horror movie scene and not going insane seems fairly important.