A.N This chapter contains brief mentions of a relationship between two consenting female adults, sorry if this offends you then this story probably isn't for you. Also there is a brief blink or you'll miss it reference to another well known character from Voyager, probably the only one your going to get for a while. As always I own nothing, Italics are elvish and bold indicates the Th'um and Dovah Zul. Enjoy.
They had been on the road for three hours and Katrine's backside was staring to go numb.
"Are you both alright back there?" asked Annika.
"We are fine Mama but I am starting to lose feeling in my backside," Katrine called back.
"We are going to stop at Darkwater Crossing to give the horses some water and have a small midday meal, it isn't far, only an hour away," Anwen said.
Katrine sighed in relief then went back to keeping a look out at the surrounding forest for any dangers, thought the heavy Eastmarch forest made her slightly nostalgic for Lakeview amidst the dense forests of Falkreath.
She wondered if she would ever be able to go back or would the Thalmor always pose a threat and what would it be like to go back. Not as she remembered it, that was certain. Not without Papa there, would she awake one morning in bed and expect him to be there with a mug of frost miriam tea and a kiss?
She shook her head it didn't do to dwell on things that she could not control.
An hour later, as they turned onto an ancient stone bridge, an icon of times past, Katrine got her first look at the small mining village, they can not be more than fifty people living here, she thought.
They were greeted by a retired adventurer called Annekke as they dismounted.
"Nothing much happens here," she told Katrine in a thicker Nord accent then Katrine had heard. "You and your family are the only visitors we've had in a long time, although," Annekke glanced around then motioned Katrine closer. "Some weeks ago Jarl Ulfric passed by and then a few days later the Grey beards called out a summons, people are saying they have called for the Dragonborn,"
Katrine put on a shocked look "Really the Dragonborn, any word on who that is?" she asked, Annekke shook her head.
"Omega, come and have something to eat before we go," called Annika.
Katrine clasped Annekke's hand in farewell before rushing to join her family in having some salted meat and cheese with bread and some snowberry juice that Annika had made for the trip. After they had finished the small meal they once again set off. Katrine noting that the road began to climb the mountain ahead of them.
"Lydia please make certain that Katrine stays on the inside of the road," called Annika.
Lydia who had already caught Katrine's slightly dizzy look called back "Don't worry, I will,"
Throughout the climb Katrine kept herself busy by watching Magnus' gaze progress though the sky and she noticed when it began to begin its decent.
"Are we going to make it to Ivarstead before nightfall?" she asked.
"No Ivarstead is five hours away and I would wager that we have three hours before sundown," said Lydia.
"Which is why we are going to camp out at a spot not far from here, just after the Nalheim," Annika called back.
Half an hour later found themselves at a spot by a lake that looked like it had been used for camping in the past.
Katrine and Tomas had a competition of who could set up their tent the quickest, the loser would have to gather wood, a task both of them despised.
Then Katrine and Lydia were sent by Annika to get water for the pot, Oddok trotting after them, Tomas grumbled as he picked up the woodcutters axe, while Annika and Anwen set up the wind breaks and the cooking hearth.
At the waters edge Katrine caught sight of a small rowboat.
"Hey Lydia, I am going to check that out," Katrine said pointing over at the boat.
Lydia looked up "Alright but wait for me, I'll take this back to camp," she said holding up the large iron kettle. "Don't go off anywhere,"
Katrine put on a mock offended tone and placed a hand on her chest "What do you take me for? I am not completely reckless," Lydia smiled, shook her head and headed back to camp while Katrine made her way over to the boat, Oddok following closely.
Inside the small boat was a fishing rod, a shovel, a small coin purse and a note.
"The treasure is under the stump on the small island in the middle of the lake," Katrine's eyes widened and she looked up to the lake, there was an island in the middle but was whatever treasure that was berried still there? There was only one was to find out.
Katrine motioned Oddok into the boat and started to push it into the water.
"What happened to waiting for me?" Katrine looked over her shoulder to see Lydia standing there, arms crossed, giving her a disapproving look.
Katrine smiled apologetically at her "Sorry, but look at this," she said handing Lydia the note.
"uh-huh and what make you think that someone hasn't already dug this up,"
"Because the note is still here," reasoned Katrine.
Lydia nodded her head "Fair point, I don't suppose there is any harm in seeing if it's still there," the brunette said and begun to help Katrine push the boat into the water.
The ride across the lake was rather short with Oddok staring over the edge at the fish that swam past.
Once on the island Katrine and Lydia took turns using the shovel to dig under the small stump, aided by Oddok who was happy to play his favourite game of find the berried thing.
Finally after half an hour of digging they hit the top of something solid.
They unearthed a small locked chest, but Katrine having spent some time at the waterfront of the Imperial city had picked up a few trick that were not only good for opening the doors of prison cages.
Inside was a silver necklace with an enchantment that Katrine wasn't familiar with and a rather large amount of septims.
They were lifting the chest onto the boat when Oddok started to growl at something behind them. Katrine turned and saw another boat with three people on it coming their way.
Katrine turned to Lydia, who placed down her end of the chest and drew her sword, Katrine followed suit and placed her off hand on the hilt of Nyérë, just in case and gave Oddok a command "Be ready,".
As the other boat hit lad the three newcomers jumped out and Katrine identified them as a male Nord, a male Redguard and a male Breton.
"Evening friends, may we help you with something?" asked Katrine, always be polite, at least at first, her father had taught her and Tomas growing up, it may help defuse a difficult situation.
"You have something we want, that treasure," grunted the Nord.
"Can't we share it? After all we did save you the trouble of digging it up," said Lydia.
"No! We stole it, it's ours," wined the Redguard, the Breton gave him an are you serious look.
"You stole this? Well in that case I am afraid we are not going to be able to let you have this," said Katrine.
The Breton laughed "Three of us against you two girls, I'll take those odds,"
Katrine smirked and whispered "On my mark," Oddok's growls increased in volume and the Nord's eyes flicked nervously to him.
"One more chance, walk away," warned Katrine.
The Breton quickly drew his sword and flew at them but was met with Nyérë being lodged in his leg, "Go," At Katrine's command Oddok launched himself on the fallen Breton and tore through his throat. Katrine took the Redguard while Lydia met the Nord head on.
After taking down her challenger Katrine turned to Lydia who was loosing ground with the larger Nord. "Lydia down!" cried Katrine, Lydia dropped to the ground and the Nord stumbled forward as Katrine pulled on her magica and let out "Fus!" The shout echoed around the mountain as the Nord was thrown onto his back.
Katrine walked over to where the Nord lay, sword in hand ready to strike if the Nord wished to continue with the fight, he wouldn't be the first Nord to believe that fighting a pointless battle would grant him access to Sovngarde.
He stared up at Katrine with an expression that was half dazed and half amazed. "Dragonborn," he whispered reverently. Katrine held out her hand to help him up. She and Lydia then helped him carry his comrades into his boat. Then Katrine counted out twenty septims out of the chest and handed it to the Nord.
"Give your friends a proper burial and do not tell anyone about this," Katrine told him.
"I won't, thank you Dragonborn,"
"I hope it wasn't a mistake to let him live, do you think he will keep quiet?" asked Lydia as they watched him sail away. Katrine laughed, "The real question is will anyone believe him,"
"Right let us get this back before Mama,"
"KATRINE NAOMI BELANNA HANSON KVATCH!"
Lydia turned to Katrine with an amused smile on her face "You were saying?"
"Fires of Oblivion! Where is a dragon when you need one,"
Annika, Anwen and Tomas were all waiting for them by the shore when they got out of the boat. "What happened, are you alright?" fused Annika as she examined Katrine for any sign of injury.
"I am fine Mama," said Katrine trying to pull away, "We just got into a small disagreement with some thieves is all,"
"Oh is that all, you hear that Anwen we shouldn't have been worried they just got into a disagreement with some thieves," said Annika getting angry.
"I heard, but I also heard her use that shout, so why would she need to use that if she was just in a disagreement?" asked Anwen, crossing her arms. It wasn't usual for Anwen to be in anything other than a good mood, Katrine supposed with the stress of recent events tension in her family was high and she suddenly felt very guilty for wandering off and adding to the stress. Really she wasn't a small child and going off on her own after everything that had happened, even if Lydia and Oddok were with her was just irresponsible.
"I am sorry, I saw the boat and got curious and then I read the note and I wanted to check that out, then those thieves showed up and demanded we hand over the chest and I certain they would not have just let us leave, then Lydia was having trouble with the last one and I wondered how strong the thu'um actually was and I am sorry," explained Katrine, staring down at her boots.
"And I shouldn't have encouraged her, or I should have told you what was happening," said Lydia looking as guilty as Katrine felt.
Annika sighed "I suppose if you did tell us we all would have gone over and it would have ended the same or if you had not gone over the thieves might have tried for the camp, it is done now," she said. "Katrine with everything that has happened you can not just wonder off like you used to, it isn't safe anymore, at least for now" Anwen added "You do understand that don't you?"
"Yes I understand, I forgot for a moment," Katrine said.
"I wish we could let you forget for a while, My Omega but we can not, maybe that isn't fair but I think I would rather be unfair to you for just a little while then lose you for ever," Annika told her, then sighed "Let us see what is in that chest and weather it was worth it,"
Back at camp Anwen examined the necklace, Tomas was counting out how much coin was in the chest and Annika was working on dinner, while Katrine and Lydia spared.
"This is a water breathing enchantment, it is very rare to find one, they only appear on rings and necklaces and unlike water breathing spells and potions, as long as you wear it the effect won't wear off," said Anwen after a time.
"That's pretty impressive, wonder where those bandits stole it from, does it have any engravings?" asked Lydia.
"No, if I had to hazard a guess they probably got it off a caravan, this is exactly the type of thing the Khajiit like to trade," Anwen said setting the necklace down.
"Well who ever they are they're probably dead, there is about two hundred gold septims in here, I doubt they would have let them get away with that much coin," said Tomas tossing the last coin into the chest.
"I would have thought that a Khajiit caravan would be more equipped to handle some bandits," said Katrine as she and Lydia finished.
"Even the best of us can get caught off guard, the right plan pulled off at the right time, probably an ambush," said Tomas as he picked up the chest and took it over to the wagon.
"As interesting as this conversation is dinner is ready," said Annika plating up some grilled salmon steaks.
The night was simple, as nights on the road often are. A conversation, a mug of tea and laughter, but it was everything to Katrine, everything that Katrine missed those nights on the way into Skyrim. She went to sleep that night with a true smile on her face.
Katrine was the first one up the next morning and for a moment she just lay in her sleeping roll listening to the sounds of her family sleeping, the subtle sounds of their breathing brought her a sense of peace.
After sating her hunger with some leftover grilled salmon she put a couple pieces of firewood on the dying coals of the fire and placed the kettle over it, getting it ready to make some tea.
As she made her way over to the wagon she stopped, something sounded off. There were two sets of breathing coming from behind the door. She didn't think that her mother and Lydia had gotten that close, so who was it.
She opened the door quietly to find her mother and Anwen cuddled up like lovers in the sleeping roll.
Logically Katrine probably should have guessed who it was, there was only one option but for some reason it had never occurred to her that her mother and Anwen's relationship was this close, Anwen had always been her father's wife and the sole reason her mother had stayed with them was because of Katrine, she had always been told that, so there was obviously more to the story then Katrine had been told. But there was one thought that echoed through her mind. Tomas knew.
She closed the door as quietly as she could and strode over to Tomas' tent. She picked up the stick that they had been using as a fire poker and roughly jabbed him with it.
"Ow! What in Oblivion was that for?" he asked tiredly as he sat up.
"That was for what I just saw in the wagon,"
Tomas pinched the bridge of his nose "Mara's mercy you weren't supposed to find out like that," he said.
"How was I supposed to find out then and how long have you known?" asked Katrine angrily, just more things that had been kept from her "Did Papa know that they were having an affair,"
"It isn't an affair, yes Pa knew and I found out about it maybe five years ago and at first I was as angry as you were till Pa sat me down and explained it all to me,"
"Then by all means explain it to me," said Katrine as she took a seat in front of him.
"Shit I never expected to be the one to do this, alright so even from the start of their relationship Pa knew that Ma loved women just as much as she did men and when things became serious they agreed that they could have lovers of the same sex as long as the other approved of them, ironically that is actually how Pa met your mother, she was Ma's lover first," Tomas explained "I found out that day Pa took us hunting but I had forgotten my dagger, found them on the dinning room floor,"
"You came back and your face was red, Papa took us back to the house and Mama took me fishing," said Katrine recalling that day, how many obvious signs did she miss "Have I been walking around with my eyes closed this whole time?"
Tomas laughed "No, they just hid it well, I told Ma that you would need to be told soon, lest you figure it out yourself," he looked over in the direction of the wagon "Honestly I'm glad Ma has Annika, I don't know how well she would be dealing with what has happened," he said.
He turned back to Katrine who was just trying to get the images that were in her mind out, she vowed never to eat in the dinning room again.
"Hey you know what you need," he said.
"A very large mug of mead," Katrine answered.
Tomas laughed "Don't let Annika hear you say that, no grab a stick, let's see if all that training with the Companions have paid off,"
They circled each other for a moment before, true to his nature Tomas struck out first, Katrine dodged his attack and they began their fight in earnest, moving all over the campsite, making more noise than was necessary.
Katrine laughed as she ducked and dodged most off Tomas' blows.
"You fight with all the grace of a blind horker brother," Katrine cried gleefully.
Tomas barked out a laugh "I'd rather fight like a horker then a skeever,"
Katrine gave an indignant cry and leapt onto his back, punching his head and pulling at his hair playfully "You take that back," she warned. "Or what?" he said spinning in circles in an attempt to make Katrine dizzy. "Or I will tell Anwen about those Lusty Argonian maid sketches you have hidden under your bed,"
"What does he have under his bed?" a voice asked from behind them.
Tomas spun them around to face the wagon with Katrine having to hold on tightly as to not fall.
Anwen and Annika was watching them with thinly vailed amusement in their eyes.
"she is kidding, aren't you Katrine," said Tomas as he set her down. "Absolutely, after all he could not sketch if his life depended on it, so where would he get them," said Katrine placing an innocent on her face.
Anwen regarded Katrine for a moment before shrugging her shoulders and turned to Annika "No matter how old they get they still act like children," Annika smiled "It is when they start acting like adults that we need to worry, think on that Anwen, we are to young to be mother in laws to anyone or grandmothers,"
Anwen looked horrified "Don't even go there," she said.
As they sat down for breakfast Katrine was able to subtly watch the interactions between Anwen and her mother and despite what Tomas had told her, she came to the thought that she must have been walking around with her eyes closed as she noticed that they sat close together, were often meeting each others eyes and they way they spoke to one another rang with familiarity. Katrine decided that she would talk to her mother about it.
"Do you love Anwen?" Katrine asked as she helped her mother pack up the wagon later that morning. Her mother looked startled "Why do you ask that?"
"I saw you this morning when I went to wake you and Tomas confirmed what I saw, he also said that you have been in a relationship with Anwen since before I was born and that Papa knew about it," Katrine said.
Annika was quiet for a moment before "No I am not in love with her, I do care for her as I did for your father, I would not have agreed to have you otherwise, is there anything you want to ask me? Seeing what you saw must have been a shock,"
Katrine had only one question in regards to that "Why the dinning room floor, I will never be able to eat in there again,"
Annika laughed "I am sure if your brother could eventually eat in the dinning room you will one day be able to as well and in answer to your question, when you have children the time you have to be intimate with your partner is reduced drastically so you take any opportunity,"
Katrine made a disgusted face, her mother may be a beautiful woman but she was still her mother and the thought of her being intimate with anyone was almost enough to make her want to take a vow of eternal chastity, almost.
There was one or two other questions she wanted answers to " Have you ever been in love?"
Annika smiled softly "Once, a long time ago, before I had even come to Skyrim,"
"What was this person like? How long were you with them?" asked Katrine curious, her mother had told her little about before she had come to Skyrim except that when she was little her and her parents had been kidnapped by a tribe of people who brain washed travelers who got caught in their territory, she had been saved by a ship of explorers, that was where Katrine's name had come from, the captain of the ship who had saved her was called Kathryn and that was all she had said of her past.
"She was brave, intelligent, stubborn, reckless and had an insane amount of luck, which is a dangerous combination. But she was also kind, empathetic, she cared deeply and was exceedingly charismatic," said Annika sadly "And I was never with her, not in the sense you are thinking of, I knew her for about four years but because of my upbringing she thought me to young,"
"How old were you?" asked Katrine.
"I was twenty eight," she said, at Katrine's shocked look she added "Where I am from people come of age later in life and I did say that it was because of my upbringing, I was twenty five when I was rescued and had spent eighteen years with the tribe who held me captured, I was inexperienced when it came to social interaction," Annika explained "And that was the reason she had given for turning me down, or I suppose she was just being kind,"
Katrine could see the open pain on her mother's face , clearly it hurt to speak about but there was one thing she needed to know. "What is being in love like?"
Annika thought for a moment before saying "It is like being in the dark for your whole life then finally seeing the sun, at first it blinds you, then you adapt and it becomes a soothing warmth that bathes your whole body and you wonder how you lived without it," Katrine smiled one day she would fall in love and she would not let it go like her mother's friend did, she was an idiot to do so. "How old are you now?" her mother shot her a look "Take a bit of wisdom form me Katrine, never ask a woman her age,"
They arrived in Iverstead at midday and Katrine got her first look at the mountain she was expected to climb, her breath caught and she began to feel light headed again.
"Are you alright Katrine? Not a fond of high places?" asked Lydia. Katrine smiled "Tomas once dared me to climb the tallest tree in the Falkreath forest, I got all the way to the top and could not figure how to get down, Papa had to climb up to me and carry me down on his back, I was seven winters," "Remind me to not challenge you to do anything thing?" said Lydia as they dismounted in order to stretch their legs.
While Annika and Anwen spoke to a friend of theirs who ran the inn, Katrine and Lydia led the horses to the bridge that lead to the mountain, while Tomas spoke to a angry looking woman at the mill.
At the bridge she overheard a conversation between a Bosmer and a male Nord.
"Making your way up the seven thousand steps Klimmek?" asked the Bosmer. The Nord, Klimmek shook his head "Not today, I'm just not feeling up to it,"
"Aren't the Grey beards expecting your delivery?" the Bosmer asked. The Nord shrugged his shoulders "Not sure, I'm no pilgrim, I've yet to be allowed in the monastery,"
The Bosmer wished Klimmek a good day and made his way over to the mill.
Katrine walked over to Klimmek "Excuse me Kinsman, but did I hear you say something about a delivery to High Hrothga?" Klimmek smiled at Katrine "Yes I did lass, making your way up there are ya?"
"My family and I are, yes. Is there anything you could tell me about High Hrothga?" Katrine asked.
"I've been up to the monastery many times but I've never laid eyes on any of the Grey beards. Not that I'd care to, being masters of the Th'um they could kill you by uttering a single word," Katrine's eyes widened, she could send people flying and her voice felt extremely powerful, how powerful was these Grey beards.
Klimmek caught Katrine's look and mistook it for fear "Not that they would, they seem peaceful, but I wouldn't provoke them,"
"What type of deliveries do you make?" Katrine asked him, deciding it was wise to change the subject. "Mostly food supplies like dried fish and salted meats, you know things that keep fresh for a long time. They tend not to get out much if you catch my meaning,"
Katrine nodded her head, they are recluses, she thought, but how did they hear about me?
"What do you receive in return?" she asked him. "Well it's kind of an understanding between us. I mean it wouldn't feel right to charge them for a bit of preserved food," "That is kind of you," she told him. "Thanks, trouble is my legs aren't what they used to be and climbing the seven thousand steps takes its toll,"
Katrine felt bad for him, especially since he was doing something kind for people who it seemed that most would choose to avoid.
"I could take the supplies up there for you," she offered. "Really? That would be kind of you," he passed her his pack of supplies. "At the top of the steps you'll see an offering chest. Just leave the bag inside and you're done,"
"Anything I should watch out for during the climb?" she asked him. Klimmek thought for a moment "Well there is the occasional wolf pack or stray, but that's all I've come across. Shouldn't be a problem for you and your family, other than that, watch your footing. In wintery conditions the stairs can be treacherous,"
Katrine thanked himfor the warning and placed the supplies in the wagon as she waited for her mother and Anwen to return. She did not have to wait long as they returned a few moments later. "Are we ready?" asked Anwen. Katrine looked around at Lydia Tomas and Oddok "I believe so,"
The road up the mountain was unexciting, though they stopped by every emblem so that Annika could write down what was etched on to it. However near two hours in to there climb Oddok, Allie, Voyager and Lydia's horse began to fuss.
They pulled to a halt, with Katrine and Lydia moving their horses up so they were beside the wagon, and Tomas had taken out his spyglass that Adrian had given him when he took a job on the Jun Ikrin.
He gazed though it and let out a mutterd curse. "What is it?" Katrine asked looking to where he appeared to be looking at, she thought she saw the outline of something but she couldn't be sure.
Tomas passed her the spyglass and said "See the ridge up there, it's a frost troll, so much for only wolves,"
Sure enough, there it was, seven feet tall, same colour as the snow on the ground, with three eyes in it's head.
"Let me have a look," said Anwen reaching over to Katrine.
Anwen took a quick glance though the spy glass then handed it to Tomas, she then pulled her hand back and summoned a large fireball into her hand and threw it at the troll.
There was a large explosion of flames and a few minutes of animalistic screaming then silence. Anwen cast another spell which Katrine recognised as detect life, then dispelled it. "It's dead," Anwen said.
They continued on their path, holding their breath as they passed the fallen troll though the scent of burning troll fat lingered in there noses, stopping only for more of the emblems, an hour passed and they finally caught their first glimpse of the monastery.
It is massive, it is more like a fortress then a monastery, nothing like Weynon priory, thought Katrine.
As they got closer Katrine noticed a familiar statue of a warrior standing atop of a wyrm, Katrine looked up at his determined face and wondered what he felt as he took this journey, did he feel as uncertain as I do. She was shaken from her thoughts by her mother's voice "Are you alright Omega?" her mother asked. "Just paying my respects,"
They dismounted and set up their horses in a disused looking stables, laying down some straw for them to lay on and Katrine gave Allie an apple. "You spoil that horse," said Tomas. "No I do not, you just do not understand the bond between us,"
"Children let's behave," said Anwen "We wouldn't want these Grey beards to think us savages,"
After setting up the horses Katrine dropped Klimmek's supplies in the chest and led the way into the monastery.
As they entered they found themselves in a massive entry hall, Katrine gaped openly at the intricate carvings on the walls, but quickly shut her mouth as they were approached by a wizened man with a grey cloak and hood, his bright blue eyes twinkled with great wisdom and great strength and some how installed Katrine with a sense of calm.
He looked straight at Katrine and at the same time he seemed to be looking into her "So a Dragonborn appears, at this moment, at the turning of the age,"
