Dala dismounted her horse and groaned, they had finally made it to Whiterun. Unfortunately they had been caught in a storm and were a day late, they would only have one day of rest before heading back to Solitude. As they made their way through the city people greeted the pair. They exchanged pleasantries with everyone, Whiterun was Dala's official home. She was after all thane to the Jarl. These people were pretty much her family. As they moved farther into the city Dala stopped at her house, the small cottage style home was all Dala really needed. She turned and looked at Arya,
"I'll meet you at Dragonsreach in an hour, there's some people I need to see first." Arya nodded as she smiled.
"Tell them I will see them soon." She nodded then turned to the dwelling as Arya started for Dragonsreach. Dala walked into the small house and was met with two small children flinging themselves at her. They started yelling with joy as they clung tightly to her. Dala's own eyes started to mist as she hugged them fiercely.
"Hello my loves, how are you?" The eldest of her two children, Rorin spoke first. He looked proudly at her as he stuck out his six year old chest.
"I've been the man of the house mama, I kept sissy safe." Dala grinned at her son as she again scooped them up.
"You did huh, well I would expect nothing less from the finest young warrior in all of Tamriel." The boy beamed at her but was pushed aside by his four year old sister. The young girl was an exact replica of Dala as a child. She grinned at her mother and wrapped her arms around Dala's throat.
"I missed you mommy!" Dala returned her daughters embrace,
"Mommy missed you too baby."
"I hope mommy missed someone else while she was away." Dala stood up with her daughter still holding tightly onto her and looked at the love of her life. The petite Redguard woman had come into her life by a chance of fate and Dala would thank the gods for the rest of her life that she did. Dala quickly walked over to her wife and kissed her passionately on the lips. Regan wrapped her arms around Dala as she deepened the kiss. In unison the kids both said "ewe" causing the two women to break apart laughing. Thalia slid to the floor allowing Dala to turn fully to look at Regan. Dala folded her wife into a hug and squeezed tightly. Regan smiled as tears fell freely from her eyes, she buried her head in Dala's shoulder and inhaled. Like always Dala smelled of exotic spices from her time spent with the guild, a little bit of sweat and a scent that was all Dala. Regan shuddered in her wife's grasp as she tried desperately to keep from sobbing. After several minutes Dala relinquished her hold on her wife. After placing a quick kiss on her lips she tugged her over to a chair. Dala sat down then tugged her wife down on top of her. Regan immediately slid her arms around Dala's neck and placed a kiss on her temple. Both kids were off in their room trying to find something cool to show their mother, giving Dala a few minutes with Regan.
"How are you my love?" Regan touched her forehead to Dala's and let out a sigh.
"Better now that you are home, I have been worried sick." Dala nodded,
"I know, but I can't risk sending any letters, if someone were to intercept them and find out about you and the children. I could not bear to see you hurt Regan." Dala pulled back so she could looked into her wife's eyes. The woman was just as stunning as she remembered, soft skin the color of rich milk chocolate lightly reddened by the sun. Unlike Dala who had more tone that curves, Regan was shapely in all the right places while still having some definition in her arms and stomach. Her opal colored eyes were framed by her long silky soft hair that Dala compared to fresh ink. Her full lips always had a red tinge to them making them absolutely kissable. Everything about Regan said soft loving woman while her actions and her mouth gave away the fiery temper and strength that was hidden underneath. Regan's long hair was curled around her slim shoulders and she had on clothes that gave away her status here in the city. Dala brought one of Regan's hands to her lips and gently kissed it. She had no jewelry on except for an elegant gold band with diamonds adorning her left ring finger. Dala's own wedding band was securely places on a string that was tied to her ankle. Her boots were so high that nobody could see the outline of the simple gold band.
"How have the children been?" Regan shrugged giving Dala a heart stopping smile.
"They are children. But actually they have been very good, Lydia is with them whenever they leave the house as well as two guards who trail them. There are also guards stationed near the house to keep anyone from trying to enter. Their learning quickly not to tell people who their mother is and to not talk to strangers. Everyone in this city loves you so they all keep an eye on us." Dala nodded feeling some of the weight leave her chest.
"So there hasn't been any incidents?" Regan sighed,
"There was a band of merchants who came to the city right after you left, they tried to get into the legendary Dovahkiin's home. Luckily the children and I were eating lunch at Dragonsreach that day so they didn't see us. And the guards had them escorted out of the city before they could get into the house." Dala knew that fear as well as anger was written all over her face. Regan gently cupped her face and placed a small kiss on her lips.
"They didn't find out about us love, were safe." Dala nodded but she still wasn't happy, all this kept coming back to the same thing.
"I wish I could just tell people about you." Regan nodded,
"Me too, but I agree with you. Right now, without you home all the time, we are in danger. Its best to keep this secret until you're here more, don't worry, soon we'll be together always." Dala smiled, she was just about to say something else when her children ran back up to them. Both were sprouting a toy proudly. Rorin thrust his toy into her hands and looked at her expectantly.
"I made this for you mama!" It was a crude carving of Dala's horse she could see. She was actually surprised at how well done it was, Rorin had never done something like this before.
"Thank you Rory, this is a very beautiful gift, I will keep it forever." Rorin grinned at his mother's pride in him, his cheeks turning rosy as he blushed. Next was her daughter, Thalia handed her the toy she had made. This one was unrecognizable to Dala, being little more than a shredded chunk of wood. But knowing her daughter she had a pretty good idea of what it was.
"Thank you princess, this is a very pretty mammoth." Her daughter beamed at her, Dala let out a silent thank you to Talos that her guess had been accurate. For some reason her four year old was fascinated with the humongous beasts. Both her children snatched the toys away then ran back to their joined room. Dala grinned then looked back at her love.
"I have to go up to Dragonsreach, there's a personal matter I have to deal with. But I have tomorrow before I have to get back to Solitude." Regan's face fell,
"Only one day?" Dala nodded somberly,
"Unfortunately, it was supposed to be two days but Arya and I got caught in a storm, we had to make camp." Regan's eyes brightened at the sound of the other woman's name.
"Arya is here!" Dala nodded, pleased that she had brought a smile to her wife's face again.
"Yes, she is as Dragonsreach as we speak. I'm assuming Lydia is there as well, so why don't we all go up there and then once the talks are over we can all have a nice meal together." Regan's smile lit up the room.
"That sounds perfect my love." With that they gathered up the children and were off too Dragonsreach. Dala relished these moments when she was home, in this city no one judged her for her sexuality. She could hold her wife's hand in the street and no one would judge them. Any outsider in the city not accustomed to it would quickly be silenced by those who knew Dala. She was accepted and love in this place and that's why she would call it home to her dying day. People delighted in seeing Dala's family as they walked up to the keep arm in arm. Dala's left hand was engulfed in her daughter's arms while Regan happily held the hand of their son. While Thalia wasn't Regan's biological child Rorin was, they had agreed to both sire a child so one of them never felt neglected in the parent role. Both children were equally a part of each women though. Dala didn't even see skin color when she looked at the love of her life and her two children, all she saw was her family and she would protect them with her life.
As they ascended the steps of Dragonsreach Dala leaned in close to her wife.
"When we get back I need to talk with you, it's about the reason for my coming to see Balgruff." Regan nodded but Dala could see the question in her eyes. As the doors of Dragonsreach opened for them a visiting noble walked out. He looked Dala up and down then zeroed in on her and Regan's connecting arms. He sent them a disgusted look and made a slurred comment that set Dala's blood on fire. She snarled and started for the man but before she could get to him two guards grabbed each of his arms. Behind him Balgruuf was glaring, red hot fury in his eyes.
"See to it Lord Belmond does not come back to Whiterun, he is no longer welcome in my city." The lord in question looked at the Jarl in shock. Balgruuf simply shrugged his shoulders,
"I will not tolerate that kind of thinking in my city, especially when aimed at me highest ranking thane." Lord Byron turned back to Dala with a look of pure panic on his pale face.
"My lady I meant no disrespect, please forgive me!" Dala sneered at him but it was Regan who stepped into his personal space and spat on him.
"You disgusting pig, you better pray my children didn't hear you spew that poison from your mouth or you will be sorry. And next time you see my wife walking down the street, you better get down on the ground and fucking beg like the lowly trash you are. You inbred dog." Before she could start throwing punches Dala pulled her wife back against her chest and wrapped her arms around her waist. Regan instantly calmed, snuggling into Dala's front. The bewildered and now terrified Lord was practically dragged away from the keep yelling at the top of his lungs. Dala turned with Regan still curled into her and grinned at Balgruuf.
"Good to see you haven't lost your forgiving nature." Her Jarl snorted,
"When I get trash like that in my city, he's lucky I didn't toss him to my dogs." Dala snickered as she walked forward, lightly pushing Regan with her. Their children were long gone, already deeply involved in a game of tag with Balgruuf's three children. Regan slid out from in front of Dala only to recapture her arm. Balgruuf led them to his war room on the second floor of the keep. In two of the chairs closest to the back wall Arya and Lydia were engrossed in an arm wrestling game. They were both swearing as they tried to force the others arm down. Dala sighed, while Arya was very fit from her time with the guild, Lydia was a full blooded Nord and built like a mountain. There was no way Arya could win this. Before she had to suffer the humiliation of defeat Dala coughed loudly. Lydia, momentarily distracted stopped flexing. With lightning quick speed Arya slammed the older woman's arm into the table with a thud. Lydia looked down at her arm, then at Dala, as if she didn't understand what just happened. Then she was out of her chair running towards Dala.
"Sneaky bitch, she wouldn't have won if you hadn't coughed!" Dala grinned as Lydia hoisted her up into a bear hug. Even with Dala's 5'10 frame, she felt like a Brenton compared to Lydia. The Nord was 6'4 and solid muscle. "Damn the gods if it isn't good to see you again my thane!" Dala returned her embrace laughing.
"It's good to see you too Lydia, now can you put me down before you break my spine?" Lydia set her down then pointed a finger at Arya.
"Rematch!" Arya grinned and threw up her hands.
"Bring it bitch." Dala made an exasperated face as the two went back to their corner of the room and proceeded to start the match over again. Turning back to Balgruuf Dala blushed.
"Did you talk about anything?!" He grinned,
"Yes, we were actually doing pretty well until Lydia showed up. Then they were lost in… whatever that is that their doing." Dala nodded and turned to her wife, she placed a quick kiss to her temple.
"I'll see you in a bit love." She nodded and silently left the room. While Dala would prefer her wife be with her, she knew that only persons of war status were allowed to these kinds of talks. Dala turned back to her two friends.
"Go downstairs with Regan, keep her company." They immediately stopped and nodded. They left just as quietly as Regan leaving Dala alone with Balgruuf. His face turned somber as he sat in his chair.
"Now what's this about Tullius wanting to garrison troops here?" Dala sighed and began to explain to him how she had gotten involved and what was about to happen. At the end of it Balgruuf looked just as tired as Dala.
"This is a real mess. If I let troops in now then that will give Tullius the idea that I'm supporting him now. But if I don't then Ulfric will destroy my city, there is no win here Dala." She nodded,
"There isn't, but there is only one answer. You must let Tullius help you, or this city and everyone in it will burn. I won't lose my home Balgruuf, I can't." He nodded and rubbed a hand through his greying blond hair.
"Then tell Tullius to go ahead with the reinforcements, I trust you on this Dala. Not him, please don't make me regret this." Dala nodded,
"I'll make him leave once we are sure Whiterun is safe. Hopefully we can wound Ulfric's pride a little, and we'll keep some troops stationed outside the city for a while after to scare off any ideas of a another attack. I know you just want to stay neutral Balgruuf, and I will try my hardest to make sure you don't bow to anyone." He put his hand on Dala's shoulder and gave her a gently squeeze.
"When do you leave for Solitude?" Dala's face fell.
"The day after tomorrow, we need to get back as soon as possible, I'm overseeing the transport of the troops to the city. It will take longer with the number of troops were bringing in, a few days at least to get here. I fear we may not have enough time, but I want at least one day with my family, I haven't seen them in so long." Balgruuf nodded in understanding,
"The life of a War persons is demanding and strenuous, we should be oh so lucky our wives even tolerate us." Dala nodded, like her Balgruuf was often called away for long periods of time. His wife Tara was probably the sweetest gentlest person Dala had ever met. Balgruuf never ceased to thank the gods that that wonderful angelic being had chosen him.