~ Chapter Ten ~

The Friends Along the Way

Irileth did not bother looking up from her book when the knock came at her door.

"Enter, sera."

The young woman backed in with a tray - hot shepherd's pie, a bottle of wine, and a fresh cream tart.

"How are you feeling today?" Luz asked, waiting for Irileth to put the book aside before placing the tray on her legs.

"Better," Irileth said, careful to smile. She'd learned the girl didn't take well to her rather impassive speech, and she'd been making efforts to make her feel more comfortable.

Despite her insistence that Luz had saved her life at the watchtower four days ago, Luz had taken it hard when the Kynarethian priest had told her that she had five fractured ribs. The priest had needed to rebreak them and stuff her full of healing poultice - and a week of intolerable bed rest.

Ever since, Luz had been visiting every mealtime, bringing Irileth food, books, and even snuck her sword in so Irileth could clean and sharpen it properly.

She'd been surprised and a little put out by the girl's willingness to serve her, but after the customarily heated debate with Balgruuf - which she lost only because her ribs hurt too much to scold him down - he had told her about all the errands Luz had been running for him, taking on many of Irileth's minor duties for the last couple days, and helping keep the kitchen.

"Eda told me that's just the way she is," he had said. "Only happy doing things for others."

"Then she needs to stop it," Irileth had replied. "I am not an invilid."

"Yes, you are."

"When I can swing a sword without gasping," Irileth had said, raising a warning finger and stuffing down a grunt of pain. "I'm going to make you regret those words."

Balgruuf had laughed, sternly told her that if he catches a sword in her hand before the end of the week, he'd personally lock her in her room with Luz has company, and departed.

Now, Irileth gestured for the girl to sit and dug into the pie. "Have you eaten?" she asked, bluntly.

"Oh, ah, no. Not yet. I was going to grab something a bit later."

"It is midday." Irileth cut the pie in half. "Eat."

"No, it's okay," Luz said. "Honestly, you need it more than me."

"You are thinner than a whip, girl." Irileth handed Luz the fork. "Now, eat. I will not ask again."

"Yes, muthsera."

Irileth blinked. "What?"

Luz looked up, hesitantly holding the fork. "Did I pronounce it right? I was asking Farengar how to address you properly, and he gave me this old book…"

"Surprisingly, yes," Irileth said, leaning back a little, her scowl more confused than angry for a change. "But I am not your master, girl. Edalyn is your kena, your teacher. I am the one subjected to your kindnesses. I am certainly no one's muthsera."

"What should I call you then?"

Irileth studied her for a moment before moving to pour herself some wine, her crimson eyes not leaving Luz's. "Sera or Housecarl, if you must. Though after the battle at the watchtower and saving my life, Irileth is also appropriate."

Luz nodded, taking a bite of the pie. "That's really good."

"Good." Irileth offered Luz the cup of wine. "Drink."

"Irileth," Luz said, holding up a hand. "This is for you. I can't-"

"You can. You will."

"Yes, ma'am."

Irileth allowed a small grin to pass her stoic mask as Luz made a face and handed the cup back. "Not one for wine?"

"Not really," Luz said. "How can a liquid be so dry?"

That made Irileth bark out a laugh, and nearly double over. She waved Luz away but did accept the fork back, seeing that Luz had already eaten more than half of the portion she'd given her.

They sat in silence for a moment, Luz fidgeting a little.

Finally, she took a breath, held it for a second, and turned to Irileth. "What can I do?"

"Sit still or get out." Irileth instantly noticed the droop to the girl's shoulders and tried to not roll her eyes. Imperials were so fragile. "My apologies. I am very blunt."

"No, it's okay." Luz stood, fiddling with an amulet around her neck now. "I shouldn't have stayed, I'm sorry."

"Wait," Irileth said. She somehow felt like she'd just kicked a puppy.

While Skyrim's massive wolf-hounds were a bit too wet for her liking, Balgruuf favored two of them and she had become partial to the slobbering beasts over the years.

Luz's face was the same one Skhol had when the Housecarl had accidentally stepped on his tail.

"I… appreciate the company. You have been kind. I am… not used to that. Kindness has always been a mask to achieve things, to take."

"I…" Luz hugged her arms. "I'm just worried. Trying to take my mind off things. Wanted to keep busy. All this stuff with Martin… I just don't know what to do with myself. Sorry if I've been… using you as a distraction."

Irileth blinked a few times then motioned for Luz to sit on the bed again. "That was surprisingly selfish. I didn't think you had it in you."

"You say that as if it's a good thing," Luz said, rubbing at an eye. "Mami always said-"

"Lucaeda," Irileth said, interrupting her and gesturing at her tray of food. "I used you to test my food for poison because now would be the best time for assassins to attack me, or, more importantly, Jarl Balgruuf.

"That was not a good thing for me to do, but - in the large scheme of things - it was the right thing to do. A selfish act, but one that had good reason."

Luz looked at her incredulously for a moment, then smirked. "Want me to check that tart for you too?"

Irileth narrowed her eyes and returned a small, close-lipped smirk of her own. "If you insist."

The next day, Luz brought two bowls of soup and fresh bread, which they shared at the table at Irileth's insistence, though forcing herself to sit up was exhausting.

Though she was frustrated with how pitiful her body was right now, Irileth reminded herself that Astrid was still paid off for the next month or so - no professional assassins would be coming for Balgruuf any time soon.

As she finished, Irileth nodded to Luz's belt. "You do not keep your weapon with you?"

"Didn't seem polite while we were staying here." Luz got up and retrieved Irileth's sword from its mount on the wall, then the cleaning components from the desk. "Besides, no safer place in Whiterun than the Jarl's house, right?"

Irileth scoffed. "You'd be surprised."

"Don't say that. I just had a good night's sleep last night," Luz said, but her sarcasm caught against the truth in her throat.

Irileth accepted the sword, oil, and rag and allowed Luz to douse the rag for her, but she paused and glanced up at her. "Would you care to learn?"

Luz seemed taken aback. "I mean, sure. I always like learning new skills, but I don't use a sword, and Eda just seems to magic one up if she needs it."

"Hmm," Irileth said, presenting the rag and sword to Luz. "Merely wipe own the blade, not too thick, nor thin.

"The function is the same. Binding a lesser daedra into an item still means that the item must be of use to you. I always preferred the feel of solid, ashland steel when plunging it into my foe."

She caught Luz's eyes, wide and concerned. "Make sure you work the oil into the haft there, around the snake motif."

"So… you've… killed a lot of people?"

"More than I care to count."

"Did you…" Luz paused, clearly with a question on her tongue, but unsure if she should ask. When Irileth made no move to stop her, Luz continued. "Did you like it? Killing people?"

"No," Irileth said, taking a sip of her water, cupping her hands around it, pensively. "I can't say I enjoyed the taking of life. But I found purpose in my work. Many people I killed did not deserve to live - yet, as many did not deserve death, or deserved a better one than I offered."

Luz had finished working the oil into the blade, and while she turned it around, her fingers triggered something on the pommel. A small, cylindrical tray popped out, empty.

Luz carefully met Irileth's gaze, who stared back at her, face untelling.

After a moment, Luz dabbed some oil into the tray and worked the cloth around.

"Who better to protect the Jarl?" Irileth continued, sipping her water again, leaving the word unsaid.

Assassin.

"You hesitate," Irileth said, bringing the stick down onto Luz's overhead block, driving her back a step. "Do not."

"You're still not recovered," Luz said, tapping the training stick away and skipping back a pace or two. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You cannot even touch a wounded warrior," Irileth said, keeping her posture light - her stamina and ribs were much improved since yesterday. The priests' salves were working, but not fast enough for her tastes.

"If you cannot hit me once, you have no hope on the road."

"I'll have magic," Luz quipped but yelped as Irileth smacked her stick from her hand, sending it clattering out onto the moonlit balcony. "Ow."

Irileth drove home, planting the stick into Luz's chest, and carried her to the ground. She panted, angry at the strain such simple exercises took, but was still able to grab Luz's tunic before the girl cracked her head on the stonework.

"Spellcraft is no different than martial effort," she said, helping Luz to her feet, taking careful breaths, much deeper than yesterday. "You cannot rely on what is unpracticed."

She did not reference the obvious element of their sparring. Luz had let slip that her magicka was stunted. Irileth had given Luz her old training journals that night. She was a startlingly quick learner, having only had the books for a day or less.

"I guess so."

"How do you plan to defend yourself from bandits?"

"I… hadn't really thought about it."

"Hmm." Irileth nodded to the balcony railing, where Luz had set their water jug. "Let us rest if you so insist."

Luz smiled knowingly and walked with the taller woman to the chairs, glancing up at the night sky and its swirling lights, then back and up at the open-air hall.

"This is strangely open," she said, pouring them both some water. "Do you know why?"

"You'll have to ask Proventus if you want details," Irileth said. "I understand it is something to do with Numinex. An ancient Nord king captured the dragon here."

"Wow," Luz said, unable to stop her grin. "There were so many heroes in the old days, huh?"

"No more or less than now."

"But this Nord king, he was a hero right?" Luz sat down opposite Irileth, her gaze intense but focused, unlike usual. "And then there's the Champion, and his companions and Martin Septim, let alone the Blades and Archmage Travin-"

Irileth held up a hand. "And what of the Nerevarine?"

"I'm not familiar," Luz said, bashfully rubbing the back of her head. "But if they are a Dunmer hero, I'd love to hear about them."

"And Ulfric Stormcloak?"

Luz paused, narrowing her eyes. "This is a trap."

Irilith allowed herself a smile from behind her cup. "Heroes are remembered when they attain victory in the public arena. Bards sing their praise and write their stories until it is no longer profitable to do so. Their true nature is lost to us.

"I am no great student of history. But Ulfric Stormcloak, the Butcher of Torygg, might very well be remembered as the Hero of Skyrim, should he win his war.

"Or perhaps General Tullius, the brilliant tactician who out-maneuvered the scattered rebels.

"Or, as some of my guards are saying, the Dragonborn will unite Skyrim under one banner to defeat the dragon threat."

She shook her head, sadly. "Heroes are what we make of them, sera. They were all mortals, and have lived imperfect, messy, mortal lives. Respect their ideals, but leave room to learn who they were on their own."

They sat in silence for a while, before Luz spoke. "Irileth?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you believe that Martin is Dragonborn?"

"I've seen and heard of stranger things across Tamriel. Hard to deny that he is something special. But I don't know anything about Dragonborns."

"We heard something yesterday," Luz said. "A terrible sound echoing down from the mountains. The Jarl thinks that it's these Greybeards, summoning Martin to High Hrothgar. He's just a kid, Irileth. How's he supposed to… defeat dragons?"

"Hmm," Irileth said. "Is this why you've chosen to learn?"

"I… don't want to be a burden to them."

Irileth nodded. "I cannot say I understand. I am an asset to the Jarl, and… a trusted friend. We have done great and terrible things in the name of protecting the ones we love.

"Learning to defend yourself is key to defending others. This is a noble goal, Lucaeda."

Luz didn't look at her, but the Dunmer woman could hear the smile. "Thanks, Irileth."

"You must first overcome your desire for mercy." Irileth stood and nodded to Luz's discarded stick. "For when you put yourself between your charged protection and those that would harm them, you cannot be yourself. You must be their sword, their shield, their arrow.

"There can be no hesitation, no fear. These are killers on the battlefield. You must practice until each block and blow is a reflex. Until you can read an opponent like a children's book, know where they plan to attack and how before even they do."

Luz stood opposite Irileth, sniffed, and wiped her face with the back of her hand, readying her stick. "I can try."

"You will."

"Good to see you about, Irileth," Balgruuf said, smiling as she strode into the great hall. "And not a day before the end of your bed rest. I have to say, I'm proud of you, and a little disappointed that I don't get to hold you sneaking out early over your head the next time you catch me at the Bannered Mare."

"You requested that I rest," Irileth said. "I could not deny my Jarl."

"Hasn't stopped you before," Balgruuf muttered. "Come! Sit! Eat with us for a change. We have missed your company these last several days, and there are matters to discuss."

"I shall stand, my Jarl. My duties…" she trailed off as he waved his hand and she smiled to herself.

Everything was back to normal.

She made a sweep of the room, ending up in the kitchens where Fianna and Gerda were bustling about, finishing preparations for breakfast. Hrongar was politely shooed away from the freshly baked honey goods by Fianna, laughing through his full mouth as he passed Irileth.

Martin, his black hair dusted with flour, bumped into Irileth's legs as she made to enter the kitchen itself, her keen eyes checking to make sure there were no strangers about, nor bottles out of place.

"Oh, sorry," he said, trying to hide a honey cluster behind his back. "Nelkir said-"

"I don't care," Irileth said, standing aside and pointing toward the table. "Out."

"Yes, sorry." And the small boy ran off, snickering, believing he had gotten away with something.

Irileth shook her head. Almost back to normal.

She spied Luz next, likewise caked with flour, arms deep in a series of pie crusts. She caught Irileth's eye and smiled. "Good morning Irileth. Want anything?"

"You don't work here," Irileth said, trying to be stern but unable to keep the edge to her voice. "The Jarl said you were performing some of my duties. I don't remember baking pies."

"Oh, I've been up for ages," Luz said. "Did your walk of the ramparts - some masonry damage to the south wall, near the Skyforge. And also checked all the locks in Dragonsreach with Caius. Figured I'd make sure all the crusts were done too, so these two fine ladies could just stuff them later. After I'm gone, that is."

"We'll miss the youthful enthusiasm," Gerda said, smiling at Luz. "It's been a right treat having you the last few days."

"Yes," Fianna grumbled. "Like a flitting bird. Never cleans up after herself."

"Oh, dosh, Fianna. You'd gripe about your own cleaning if you ever put down the broom."

"You're leaving?" Irileth asked, letting the older maids bicker over the kettle in the corner. "You did not mention it last night."

"Aw," Luz said, grinning. "Are you going to miss me?"

"Not at all." Irileth picked up an apple, turning it over for signs of applied poison oils. "You just chatter a lot. I assumed you would have mentioned it."

"Well, yeah," Luz said, her impish grin fading into a sad smile. "We're heading to High Hrothgar today. Eda has been loathed to admit it, but we don't know how to help Martin. Maybe the Greybeards do?

"She's been making excuses for a week now. First, the dragon skeleton - which, to be fair, has taken her three days to get all she's satisfied with. Then it was preparations for the trip, but there was a storm up near Riverwood, so that pass is a mess, but Balgruuf - sorry, the Jarl - said that there have been bandits along the eastern road, near the Twins - like, that pair of towers, down the river?

"But she really hates owing the Jarl anything, and he's been teasing her about making her a thane or something, and she and Farengar have been arguing about dragons all yesterday…"

Irileth changed out the apple, examining a fresh one. "Snowy mountain passes or bandits. No matter the choice, dangerous. A tough decision, full of questions."

"Yeah." Luz had paused with her sixth crust, and Irileth noticed that there was enough dough to make another two or three, though Luz had run out of pie bowls.

"But not the one on your mind?"

Luz glanced around, making sure it was just the two of them. "Eda… said something about the Winterhold College yesterday. She and Farengar got into a fight about… well me."

"I was wondering what he was raving about." Irileth started to reinspect the apple she had started with. "Had to close my window."

"Farengar thinks I should go," Luz said. "To the college. Eda, obviously, doesn't think that's a good idea, and I'm inclined to agree. I can't really cast spells the normal way, so I don't know if a school is a good idea…"

"And yet," Irileth guessed. "You would like the choice to be your own?"

Luz nodded and sighed. "I mean. It's not like I have a choice. I can't cast spells like everyone else, so I don't even know if they'd let me in. And then, I wouldn't be with Eda and Martin. I'd be… alone. Again."

Irileth polished the apple on her sleeve and took a bite, pondering while she chewed.

At length, she swallowed and took out her dagger from the small of her back. It was black, with a purple sheen to its knapped, obsidian edges. She placed it point down on the table and started to scratch some symbols.

"I learned at a young age that no one was going to give me a chance to prove myself. That I must seize it. I stole my first book of magic - I could barely read. But I taught myself the marks of the Daedra.

"Imperial mages can hem and haw all they like about the dangers of Oblivion, but that does not interpose much between what Oblivion is and what magic becomes." She finished the rune and tapped it with her knife. It glowed white hot and then a small bloom of magelight floated from the carving, followed by another.

"How did you do that?"

"I am no mage," Irileth said. "But you'd be hard-pressed to find a Dunmer who didn't know some minor magics. Many overlook rune magic. It is slow and cumbersome for those that have vast sources of magicka and training.

"But for a half-starved girl, all but homeless on the streets of Mournhold, realizing that all I needed was a knife to make my own magic, it was everything.

"Most don't bother, considering it a lesser form of true casting, or only fit to lay traps and scribe into scroll form, usually to sell on to some brute who can't be bothered to learn more than how to unfurl it and speak the words.

"My knowledge has proven useful several times over, usually against some mage who thinks me to be an exotic pet or common guard." Her fingers flexed around the dark leather of the hilt. "It is not a mistake they get to make again."

"Eda told me a little about runes," Luz said. "But we've been so busy, I didn't really get a chance to ask her about them."

"Hm," Irileth said. " I have heard stories of the Glenmoril Witches, among others. How every witch learned knife-work, and called one her own." She flipped the curved dagger around, catching it by the blade. "You are a witch, Lucaeda. You will need a good knife."

"I can't-" Luz paused as she stared into Irileth's unreadable countenance.

"You will."

"But… it's enchanted."

"Twice over. A gift from an old mentor. It can catch the threads of life from a departing soul, and drinks poison from any wound. Be careful though," she said, continuing to hold it even when Luz hesitantly reached for it. "When it has, it will transfer that poison to the next cut it makes. I have called it Mephala's Bite."

"Ooh," Luz said. "Spooky."

"Very." Irileth let go of the dagger. "I… trust… that you can take care of it properly."

"I will. Thank you, Irileth."

Irileth nodded and turned back to the great hall.

Luz followed soon after, along with Gerda, the two of them setting down cups and trays before bringing out cheese scones and several scores of pancakes.

"Thank you," Balgruuf said, gesturing for Luz to join them. "Sit now. You've done enough. It is time we talked."

The Jarl waited a few minutes for Martin to join them, chuckling to himself as the boy's face lit up at the tower of food, and then turned to Eda and Farengar, who were advancing on the table, pointed words being exchanged.

"Good. I was hoping I could get you all here before you decided to duel in my hall."

"Don't tempt me," Eda snapped, sitting down next to Martin and drumming her fingers on the table. "Out with it, Balgruuf."

Balgruuf held up a patient hand. "Hold now, Edalyn. My dear brother wanted to weigh in on this discussion."

"There is no discussion," Eda said. "Look, I appreciate the hospitality. I do. But I'm better suited to my cottage and my cart. We'll be leaving today, regardless."

"I don't disagree," Balgruuf said. "And your journey from here is of no concern to us. But, I wanted to express my own appreciation, and that of my people, one last time."

"Is this about me being the Dragonborn thing?" Martin asked.

"Eat your breakfast," Eda said. "Fine, Balgruuf. You're welcome. We are even now. My name is clear throughout the Hold, and I promise to keep it that way for a week."

"Thank you." Balgruuf looked at Farengar. "And have you written the letter I asked for, Farengar?"

The wizard looked up from his scone and book, mouth full. "Hm?"

"The letter of introduction? For the college?"

"That's not necessary," Luz said. "I'm staying with Eda."

"Actually, kid," Eda said. "I've been thinking. Despite what we might think of each other, Farengar… ugh… has a-" She gagged. "A point."

"A-ha!" Farengar yelled, forgetting himself. "You do admit it."

"I just said I did, alright?"

"Farengar," Balgruuf groaned. "Sit down."

"Sorry, my Jarl."

"As I was saying," Eda said, turning back to Luz. "Regarding a rather private conversion between teacher and pupil, carried out in a very echoey hall - I think you should go to the college. At least for a while."

"But-"

"Luz, the climb up the mountain is dangerous. The Seven-Thousand Steps is no joke. People have died during the climb, to wolves, the cold, or worse."

"Even more reason for me to come," Luz said.

"The exact reason you shouldn't." Eda ran her hands through her mane of silver hair and sighed. "I cannot protect you both at once. If we were just going back to the cottage, I wouldn't even have considered this. You're no adventurer, kid. But I also want you to get started with your training, even if it's not me."

"Despite her reservations," Farengar said, sipping his tea with a triumphant smirk on his face. "The Collage at Winterhold is an excellent place of learning."

"It's half fallen into the sea," Eda said, exasperated.

"I haven't the time myself," Farengar continued, ignoring Eda. "Or I might be inclined to take you on as a pupil. Given your challenges, a fine, principled instruction would be most beneficial-"

"Not if you were the last mage in Skyrim," Eda muttered.

Farengar pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. "Fancy some more wine with your breakfast, Edalyn?"

"Enough," Balgruuf groaned. "You two give me a headache. Farengar, write the damned letter." He turned to Luz. "Consider it payment for saving Irileth's life, in addition to anything she has given you. It is a small thing for the life of a friend, so if there is anything I can ever do for you - within reason -" he cocked an eyebrow at Eda. "Let me know."

"Thank you," Luz said, sounding a little bittersweet. "I will."

"Luz," Eda said, taking her hand behind Martin, who was blithely scarfing down pancakes. "I'm a witch of my word. It really does pain me to make this choice.

"But, despite my dislike for old priests, the ones at High Hrothgar are the best lead to finding out what this means for Martin. And I won't put you both in danger, especially when you're so bright. Being a mage suits you, Luz. You've got the hunger, I can see it. To learn and grow.

"And when we've figured out what's happening with the little guy, we'll come and get you." She grinned. "Teach you proper."

Luz squeezed Eda's hand. "No, I know. You're right. Besides, maybe I'll meet some other students there. It's been a while since I had some friends with similar interests."

Eda caught Balgruuf's slight smile and glared at him. "What?"

"Nothing," the Jarl said, turning back to his own healthy stack of pancakes.

"Ugh," Eda said, standing and stalking off. "It's not like you're the Imperial standard for parenting, Gruffy."

"I will almost miss her insolence," Balgruuf said, with a shake of his head. "Almost."

Authors Note:

I meant to add this to Chapter 5, but forgot, so here it is now (and of course it had to wait until a multiple of 5, what do you think I am? Some kind of normal person?)

Thank you to everyone who has read this much of a pretty niche idea. I plan on actually finishing this story, though I cannot promise the 'chapter a day keeps the dopamine going' pace I've had so far.

I really like this concept - Skyrim, and the Elder Scrolls in general, have long been a series close to my heart, and the Owl House just really struck a chord with me.

When I saw some fanart of Luz as a Skyrim mage, I knew I needed to write this. I've long enjoyed taking characters from other media and figuring out their place in another game, especially RPGs.

Thank you again for taking the time to read this AN, as well as the story as a whole.

Some Trivia:
It is the 6th of Hearthfire at the end of this Chapter.