Chapter 12 – The Blue Rose (Ten Years Later)

"Kou and Kei, come back here right now!" Althea had to stop to catch her breath, she had been chasing the twins around the whole day, and had run out of patience. "If you don't get back here right away, you'll have to go to bed without supper!"

Of course they didn't listen, since they were having such a blast playing tag in the crowd. Kei, a girl with dark brown, curly hair, blue eyes and speckles on her nose wasn't hard to spot in the crowd with her beaming smile and loud voice, shrilling with delight. Kou, on the other hand, was more like his father. He moved soundlessly, and had a skill for blending in anywhere. If it hadn't been for his pure white skin, Althea would've lost track of him long ago. When she lost sight of them for the umpteenth time she almost screamed in frustration. Both kids where completely impossible to handle when their father wasn't around, which he wasn't most of the time.

"Mum!" It was Kei who had shouted. Althea hurried forward and around the corner of The West Weald Inn, just to discover that the girl was sitting on one of Einar's shoulders, happy as could be.

"Oh, thank god!" she exclaimed. "I thought I would lose them in this crowd."

Einar just smiled and lifted Kou to his other shoulder. "Good afternoon ma'am. Lively little fellows, aren't they?"

Althea rolled her eyes. "If you only knew. How come you're here so early? The dinner wont be ready until six." They started walking towards Rosethorn Hall as she spoke.

"I wanted to avoid the big crowd, but it seems like I'm too late."

"People were arriving yesterday, so yes. I didn't expect so many to come just to see Émile."

"Well, he is quite popular, isn't he? Re-elected two times, rich, young, handsome and single.. Although that is up for debate." Althea looked at Einar with a quizzical face which he couldn't help but notice. "Haven't heard about his rumoured lover?"

"Lover? I thought he didn't have time for anything but politics. Who is she?"

"Had to pay Laverne a great deal of gold to get that bit of information." Einar frowned. When the former guildmaster talked about 'a good bit of gold', you could assume that he meant 'a good bit of gold'.

"So you know her name? Then tell me!" If Althea hadn't already been so exhausted she would've jumped up and down with excitement.

"Not you too.." Einar sighed. "All people want from me these days are gossip. What kind of warrior does that sound like to you?"

"A retired one?" she answered with a smile.

"Hmpf! I'd like you to repeat that when you've celebrated your sixtieth birthday."

"Just tell me her name, old man."

"Gabrielle Surilie, the granddaughter of Davide Surilie."

Althea's jaw dropped in amazement. "I had no idea they even knew each other."

"You know her?"

"Well of course! We're both in the town council."

"Mum, what's for dinner?" said Kei suddenly.

"I have no idea, Ragnhild wanted it to be a secret."

"Oh dear. The secrets that nord women keep are never good."

"I'm sure it'll be delicious." Even though so many years had passed, Althea was still a bit afraid of Ragnhild. The old woman was though, and expected everyone else to be the same. Although, she had to admit, the resentment that she had felt towards the nord disappeared as soon as she saw how sweet she was towards Kei and Kou. A bit like a filled sweetroll, Althea thought, crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

"I'd be dissapointed otherwise.. Here we are!" Einar opened the door for her, and then followed her inside. There really was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen.

"And when is that good-for-nothing husband of yours coming back?"

"Don't call him that." Althea tried to look angry, but it was wasted on the big brute. "He's escorting Émile, as always, and they'll be here soon."

Einar was already moving towards the kitchen. "How's he doing nowadays? Haven't seen him in a long time."

"I'm not surprised that you haven't. He gets paid to keep in the shadows, after all."

"Mum, I'm hungry!" Kei moved around so much that Einar had to put her down.

"Don't worry, we'll eat as soon as your dad arrives." Althea turned back to Einar. "I think he's happy. At least he seems happy."

He smiled and sat down on a kitchen chair. Ragnhild was nowhere to be seen, but there was a big pot on the fire, so she would surely come back soon. "How could he not be happy? He has everything a man could ask for.. Well, except for.." His voice trailed of. Mortality, was probably what he wanted to say, but not in front of the kids. They didn't know yet, and Althea foolishly hoped that the day would never come when she would have to tell them what he was.. What they were. Of course, as they grew up, they would wonder why their dad didn't age, but that was a day she didn't care to think about. The thought of her getting old, and him being forever as he was now, scared her more than anything.

"Oh, look what the cat dragged in! What are you doing here? Did the guild fire you?" Ragnhild laughed. "Was the work to hard for such an old man?"

Althea expected Einar to jell at Ragnhild, but he just smiled. "And I heard you had to get an assistant? May be they'll fire you to.." They glared at each other for a while, until they finally broke out in a laugh. Nords are an odd bunch, Althea thought before joining their laughter.

A loud bang announced the next guest. "Hello everybody! I come bearing gifts and booze."

"Something you picked up on the way here, I assume?" Said Einar with a frown as Laverne waltzed into the kitchen.

"Not at all! I bought it with the money you gave me the other day, when you lost that bet." There was something threatening in Laverne's voice. "Do you want me to tell them about it?"

Once again the door was opened, but this time the sound was much more subtle. "Oh, you sure have changed it.."

"Well, it became a bit to cramped with the kids and the new maid, so we bought the adjoining house and knocked out the walls."

"Really? I was referring to the new floor, but in that chase you have really changed it."

"Yes, well.. Oh, let me take your coat!"

With an elegant movement, Kou jumped down from Einar's lap and ran, together with his sister, towards the sound of their father's voice. With a crash and a bang Nika fell through the door to the room, with his two kids clinging to his legs. His smile grew even wider when he saw Althea's amused face.

"Now, now kids, let the poor man up from the floor," said Émile while laughing.

Nika got up, hugged the twins, and kissed Althea before sitting down beside her at the table. Einar greeted them both by pounding them on the backs, and Ragnhild smiled towards Émile, as she always did when he returned. Laverne was too busy inspecting a silver beaker to make any greetings.

In the midst of all the "hello" and "what've you been up to" Ragnhild took a ladle and banged it against the pot. "The food is ready. Hurry up and eat before it gets cold."

They all scrambled to their feet and scooped up stew on their plates.

…

Four hours, two barrels of beer and five bottles of wine later Einar was loudly proclaiming his intentions to marry Ragnhild, Althea and the twins had gone to bed and Émile, Nika and Laverne were whispering and laughing about a plot to "borrow" the new arch-mage's staff.

Eventually, even they had to admit themselves beaten, and went to bed. Émile wanted to sleep in his old bedroom, and when he entered the room he got a funny feeling.

"Yatniel?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

He walked over to his brother and put his hand on his shoulder. What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks. In front of Yatniel lay a rose. A blue rose.

"The Deadric prince pays his regards after ten blissful years," mumbled Yatniel with a distant look in his eyes.

(Finally done with this.. Sorry for the abrupt ending, but I didn't have the energy to finish it properly. Anyway, thank you sooo much for reading this too the end!)