Chapter 14- holidays
"To the left! To the left! That's right! Good, now shout again before he takes off!" Silandra commanded from where she stood with Serana off to the side as they watched little Aralas take on his first dragon. Silandra was practically bursting at the seams with pride. Every now and then the pair would throw or shoot a projectile off to distract the dragon and give the boy a chance to recover.
"This is humiliating!" the dragon bellowed as he was dragged back to the ground by the force of Aralas' dragonrend shout.
"It's Your fault"Silandra shouted back, looking as smug as a mother watching her child slay their first dragon could be. Serana looked on with amused eyes and a broad grin as she fired off an ice spear into the dragons right wing.
Aralas ran forward and leapt up on to the dragon's skull. "NIID!" the dragon roared as he bucked and writhed in an attempt to dislodge his passenger. Aralas clung to the dragon like a limped and after a momentary fumble he lifted his blade high and drove the three foot long sword into the dragon's eye before sending a surge of magic through the sword in the form of electricity into the dragon's brain.
The dragon roared in agony and its death throes threw Aralas away. Serana moved faster than any mortal and caught him neatly, saving him from smashing against one of the massive boulders that dotted the area. He grinned up at her, his face flushed and his hair matted with sweat from his exertion. He grinned, showing a newly missing tooth and a large bruise developing on his forehead where he had banged it against the dragon.
"Look Aunty, I lost a tooth!" he informed her proudly, even though his eyes were crossed from the harsh impact of his skull on scales. She smiled fondly and shot a healing hand's spell through him to cure the concussion before she set him down to watched with pride as the dragon's now cooling corpse light up with the golden aroura and began to pour into Aralas.
His mouth opened in a silent scream and his forest green eyes ignited, glowing with power. Silandra swaggered over, her stance unworried though her eyes betrayed a slight nervousness for her hatching. The glow stopped and Aralas blinked in confusion.
"Woah" he remarked before his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed. Serana darted forward and scooped him up, cradling him against her chest with a tenderness she had not known she possessed before his birth. "First time is really intense" Silandra admitted as Serana rocked the young boy in her arms. She worried about her little dragon sometimes. Away at that school where she couldn't reach him easily, surrounded by students much older than him mentally. True Aralas had always been a mature child, but Mer took longer to mature then men, this was a well known fact.
He would be in his twenties before he reached the same maturity as his classmates at seventeen. And even then it would be cutting it close. She gently brushed stray hairs from his forehead and looked up at Silandra. The Bosmer had a similar expression on her face she looked at her son. "Sil" Serana began but the she-elf simply nodded. "I know. I worry about him too" she answered simply. "But he likes it there and he has friends, something that he had few of here. Being the Dragonborn's son is not easy for him" Serana sighed, knowing it was true but not likening it in the least
. But she nodded, understanding her sister's choice. "I guess we can only protect him, I just hate having him so far away all the time" she informed her sister who nodded before turning her attention to the withered scale clad skeleton of the dragon with an air of renewed pride. "His first dragon. I'm going to have to make him something from this" she declared, walking over to the skeleton and beginning to harvest it.
"I'll take him to camp" Serana told her and Silandra nodded, knowing her little hatchling would be safe with his godsmother.
Their camp was off the road in a small elbow of cliff. Three bedrolls made of thick furs lay in a large tent made of hick waterproof canvas and the fire was smoldering in the center of a stone ring. A large chunk of venison was sitting on a spit over the coals, small flames leaping up when the fat dripped down and ignited. She laid the now lightly snoring Aralas on his small bedroll between hers and Silandra's and tucked him in neatly, smoothing the thick furs around him in a habitual manner and smiling softly as he snuggled into his special ice wolf fur with a contented sigh.
Snowpaw had been watching the camp and now curled up at the boy's side with a loud purr rumbling from his growing body. One the tent pole Hedwig hooted in content before she tucked her head back under her wing, happy now her two friends were back. Serana smiled down at the three, feeling the faint tickle of tears in the back of her throat. Gods how she had missed this, hearing the tiny snores and snuffles of her nephew as he wandered through his dreams. It seemed like only yesterday that she had watched her little one sleep in his dragon bone crib, swaddled in the luxurious furs that she, Aela, Lydia and Jordis had brought home in a desire to ensure their nephew was as warm as he could be in the frigid north.
With no father to help her in the early days Silandra had turned to her shield sisters for help, relaying on them to help her learn how to care for the child she had never thought she could have. Unfortunately they all had duties beyond staying at Lakeview manor to help their sister-in-arms raise a child. Except for Serana, she had left the ruling of the Volkihar vampires to her mother who had revelled in her power and freedom whilst Serana had stayed in the comparatively warmer south. She had moved out of castle Volkihar and into Lakeview manor the moment she had found out. Determined to aide her sister in arms in any way she could, taking the night shift to let the exhausted Silandra sleep for more than a few minutes and caring for Aralas in the night hours.
She had held him close as she sat on the roof top of the Manor, the infant wrapped in his thick wolf pelt, rocking him to the pattern of the dancing lights overhead and pointing out the constellations that shone clear and bright overhead. She had told him tles and sang songs that the rest of Skyrim had forgotten in the millennia of her imprisonment, happy to be passing on the things she had learned as a child in a happier time. She had been as constant a parent as Silandra, and now saw him as her own son.
She would defend him to her last breath and she had happily joined Silandra as they hunted down the bandits and Thalmor who had thought to use her child against Silandra on several occasions. While she was his godsmother, in truth she had been as constant in his life as a second parent, filling the void that a father should have occupied in the young boy's life. When she had become a vampire she knew she would never have children beyond what fledglings she could create, but that had never appealed to her. And for centuries that had been ok.
With Aralas' entry into their lives she had discovered her maternal side and unleashed it on the little one in a tidal wave of maternal love. He was her son, just as he was Silandra's and she would happily tear the world apart and dance round the flames as it burned if it meant that he was safe and happy. She kissed his forehead gently and turned away to the fire, sticking a cast iron kettle filled with water on the coals and stirring them with a stick before she added a thick log and buried it in coals. Silandra came back almost an hour later, hauling a massive travois loaded down with bones and scales. "Making him armour already Sil?" Serana asked with a smile.
"Absolutely!" Silandra replied back happily. "One should always have armour from their first dragon. Why I myself have a lovely cuirass and boots from mine" she replied and Serana snorted. "So I assume we will also be attending the midwinter party at the Longbottom's?" she asked in curiosity and Silandra smiled. "yup, apparently it's required best finery, so you might need to dig out some of those baubles and jewelry I know you have stashed around. I think raiment's can make us some new stuff. They are always quick, efficient and tasteful" Silandra remarked as she began to wrap the scales and bones into bundles and storing them in the wagon they had brought just for this purpose.
"Robes or dresses do you think?" Serana wondered and Silandra snorted "I'd think dresses would be best. Those Terrans like their robes far too much. It would be nice to spice things up. I'm thinking of a nice green dress with fur. You can't go wrong with fur" she replied and Serana rolled her eyes "It's always black or green with you Sil. Why not pick something a little more... I don't know, colourful?" she asked as she leaned back against on of the logs they had set near the fire. "Oh like you're any better miss blood red or sin black. You might as well get "I'm a Vampire" tattooed on your forehead with the outfits you wear." Silandra threw back with a smirk.
"Black and red are classics" Serana replied haughtily, though her eyes twinkled with mirth.
"So are green and black" Silandra replied, looking pleased with her retort. Serana snorted "Hardly" she replied and Silandra mock scowled.
"Fine, I'll pick your dress and you pick mine. We both pick Aralas'" she decided. Serana grinned evilly. "Oh dear sister, you shouldn't have said that. Deal" she answered and a faint look of fear appeared in Silandra's eyes.
"Oh Akatosh what have I done" she groaned as her sister laughed.
Sirius stared at the mirror and tugged at his immaculate, black acromantula silk robes. His hair had been brushed back in a roguish style and fine boots made of black dragon hide adorned his feet. The signet ring of house black sat on his finger, the heavy gold band clutching a large black diamond in the jaws of a pair of dragons. All in all he looked a proper lord, downright dashing in fact.
He usually didn't attend the Longbottom Christmas party, but since he knew that Har...Aralas would be attending he decided to accept the invitation this year. Confident that he looked as good as possible, he hopped into the floo and threw down a handful of powder. "LONGBOTTOM LODGE" he called and vanished in a swirl of green flame.
Neville tugged at his robes a little, trying to make sure he looked as presentable as possible. It was four in the afternoon and guest would begin to arrive soon. His grandmother stood next to him, decked in long robes of blue and green silk, the colours of House Longbottom. The same colour he was wearing since he was heir to the house.
"Stop fidgeting Neville. Ambassador Stillglade will arrive fashionably late at five and I have no doubt it will be to show herself and her family to full effect. Apparently she is bringing her son, her sister and two friends. I expect you to comport yourself as is befitting for your station" she informed him sternly, though he could see the undertones of love in her eyes, laced with pain though it was. It was always there, but he knew that his Gran loved him even if she had a hard time looking at him and seeing his parents. The fire ignited and Lord Sirius Black stepped out smoothly, looking handsome in his black robes.
"Lord Black, welcome, it was surprising to receive your acceptance this year" Gran remarked and the younger lord grinned. "I thought I would come this time to meet the good ambassador, Lady Dowager" he replied with a cheeky expression. "Indeed" His grandmother replied with an imperiously raised eyebrow. "Lord Black may I introduce my grandson and heir to house Longbottom, Neville Franklin Longbottom" she introduced, sweeping her arm to Neville who bowed like he had been taught.
"Lord Black, it's a pleasure to meet you" he greeted and Lord Black grinned, his grey eyes dancing with mischief.
"Good to see you again Neville. Having a good holiday so far?" he asked and Neville nodded "Yes, its been nice to be home" he admitted and Lord Back nodded, smiling kindly. "That it is" he answered before turning his attention back to Gran.
"A handsome young lad you have there Augusta. Polite too, much more than I was at his age" he remarked and Gran sniffed, hiding a smile.
"Indeed, I remember that you drove your mother up the wall if I recall" she remarked and the grin returned in full force. "Oh she was already up the wall, it was where she perched in her true gargoyle form" he answered with a wink that his grandmother answered with an unimpressed expression. Neville struggle to stifle a laugh and Lord Black left after exchanging a few more pleasantries with his grandmother.
"Charming fellow...and he knows it" his Gran remarked with a faint sniff that he recognized as one of fond exasperation. More guests arrived and the Longbottom's greeted them formally, Neville did his level best to be as polite and courteous as possible, and struggled not to fidget in his uncomfortable dress robes as the other nobles filed past in a parade of fine silks and elegant fashion.
The clock struck five and there was a swirl of purple light in the entry hall signalling the arrival of the Nirnian ambassador. Chatter drew to a halt and all eyes turned to the entry to catch a glimpse of the highly anticipated guests. When the light cleared the party of five was revealed. In the front stood ambassador Stillglade, her petite form draped in a dress made of sky blue silk with golden embroidery and long sweeping sleeves. A gold circlet adorned with brilliant sapphires graced her brow and her inky hair hung down her back in a sheet of darkness.
On her right stood a tall, pale woman with black hair and glowing orange eyes, her dress was a deep royal purple that left her arms bare and revealed a rather scandalous amount of cleavage. A beautiful silver necklace of purple and amber gems drew attention to the pale column of her neck and her hair fell about her face in a tumble of curls, held back by a pair of silver pins in the shape of swooping ravens with amber chips for eyes. A pair of golden cuff bracelets sat on her wrists, studded with amethysts and ornate runic patterns.
On the ambassador's other side stood two women even taller than most of the men attending the party. Both wore matching outfits of dark leather trousers, knee high tooled leather boots, full sleeved dark grey silk shirts and forest green sleeveless tunics with silver or perhaps even steel bracer like cuffs on their arms from wrist to elbow, etched in swirling patterns and both bore a broach in the shape of a roaring dragon on their left breast. In fact the only difference between these two women was their hair and eyes. The one on the far left had dark chestnut hair that fell to just below her shoulders and was gathered in a no nonsense half braid, deep brown eyes that had an almost golden undertone watched everything with the intensity of a wolf on the hunt. The other had hair that was paler than even Lucious Malfoy's famous locks but tumbled to just below her shoulders in luxurious curls but were restrained by a pair of braids at her temples.
Her eyes were a bright sky blue that drew stares from the men assembled. Standing in among these stunning, and to be frank, intimidating women stood Aralas. The young boy was safely tucked under his Silandra's arm like a dragonling under its mother's wing and grinning like a madman. He was in a silver shirt with a dark blue vest and black sash over dark grey trousers and black boots. A silver amulet hung around his neck and his hair was held in a low ponytail tied with a dark blue ribbon. "Ambassador Stillglade" Augusta greeted politely, inclining her head in a gesture of respect.
"Lady Longbottom" Silandra greeted with a smile and a short bow of her head. "I thank you for inviting us to this gathering. May I introduce my sister in all but blood: Serana Volkihar" she gestured to the lady in purple whom Neville recognized " And my dear friends Lydia Bright-Blade and Jordis Sword-Maiden" The two women bowed from the waist when their names were mentioned "and I'm sure you remember my son Aralas" she finished, looking down at her son with a proud smile as her little dragonling stepped forward and executed a smart bow with a greeting of "Lady Longbottom" before stepping back under his mother's wing.
"We are so glad to have you here ambassador, this is my grandson Neville" Augusta introduced and Silandra smiled at the young man as he bowed to her with only a faint tremor in his hands.
"Greetings again Neville" she answered with a fond smile. Aralas looked up at his mother with a faintly pleading expression and Silandra nodded, lifting her arm to let her son free.
"Off you go, do try to keep the mayhem to a minimum" she instructed and Aralas darted out with a smile, hugging his best friend. Neville returned the hug before looking up at his grandmother with a similar plea in his eyes. Augusta swallowed the lump in her throat at the look that had once adorned her son's face and nodded, releasing the boy to run rampant with his friend. The two boys darted away into the drawing room. "Come on, I'll show you the house!" Neville told his co conspirator excitedly.
Aralas grinned and followed as they wove through the legs of the adults who either looked scandalized at their hurry or indulgent at their youth. Augusta turned back to the Ambassador and raised an imperious eyebrow. "Minimize the mayhem?" she inquired before gesturing to the large ballroom that held the gathering. "He is my son, and knowing him, he will find trouble without even trying" Silandra responded, following the dowager's direction. "Seeing as it's impossible to keep him from causing trouble, I think it's a better warning to instruct him to minimize how it impacts the rest of us" the Ambassador responded.
Augusta smiled softly, thinking of past antics during this traditional celebration. "Truly a wise Idea" she murmured before raising her arms to catch the attention of all gathered. "Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to our humble festivities. I invite you all to eat, drink and be merry. At midnight there shall the traditional toast. Let the ball, commence" she intoned and everyone present cheered before returning to their mingling.
The small chamber orchestra in the corner began a soft minuet and the dance floor was cleared. Augusta strode forth with her old school friend Ralph Rackstraw. They began the line and other couples joined them, forming the set for the dance.
Sirius caught his breath at the sight of Silandra Stillglade. She looked ethereal, the silk of her dress shining in the enchanted candlelight and her golden skin glowing. Her eyes were laughing and the three women with her had varying degrees of smiles on their faces. He finished off his glass of brandy with a healthy swig and placed the now empty tumbler of a floating tray before smoothing his robes and strutting over to the petite ambassador. "My lady, you look breathtaking this evening" he declared, sweeping up her hand and pressing a lingering kiss to it.
He looked up at her with a suave smirk that he knew for a fact drove the witches wild, but all he received was a raised eyebrow and an amused expression. "Lord Black, a pleasure to see you again" she greeted him, her amber eyes glittering with amusement. Sirius straightened and grinned charmingly "May I offer you a dance?" he asked, gesturing out to the floor where the next dance was about to begin.
Silandra looked at the dance, cocked her head for a moment and then nodded. "Why not" she allowed, taking his offered arm and allowing herself to be lead away toward the dance floor. In her wake her three friends snickered. "Oh this is going to be fun" Serana observed with a grin. "I don't think he truly knows what he's getting into my lady" Jordis observed before glaring at a rather oily looking young man in black and green robes who had attempted to come closer to their group. The man paled dramatically and beat a hasty retreat from the trio and Serana smirked at the housecarl.
"You know, I think that this will end up a rather entertaining evening" she told the pair, her orange eyes drifting over to where Sirius Black tried, and failed to flirt with Silandra. "Does he know that she is practically immune to charm?" Lydia observed with a grin and Serana snorted "absolutely not, but then she did spend several years at the bards college, if they couldn't charm her, then I doubt anyone can.
"She replied dryly, eyeing up a rather handsome older gentleman with a smirk. "No snacking on the guests Serana, Silandra was very clear about that" Lydia reminded her and Serana pouted. "You're no fun, he looks tasty" she sulked, causing the other two to them to laugh. "Come on, let's find the mead" Lydia told her bracingly, turning to find the open bar.
Augusta Longbottom was pleased with herself. She had been hosting this party since she had married Alsitair Longbottom at the tender age of nineteen. The party was going splendidly, the wine was flowing and so was the conversation. The orchestra was perfectly in tune, a feat with non magical instruments, which was a sign of class and wealth. Her son was still running around with the ambassador's son and she was pretty sure she had heard three explosions in the time they had vanished from the party so she was counting that as a success.
Ambassador Stillglade had danced with several handsome young men and her friend Jordis had punched Lord Malfoy in the face when he had attempted to elicit favours from him so the evening was all in all a rounding success, though she refused to admit that he sight of Lucious Malfoy with a black eye gave her any pleasure (which it absolutely did). Lord Black was now making a fool of himself as he attempted to charm the good ambassador.
The brandy seemed to have hit him hard and he was now gesticulating with his wand as he attempted to aim it at Malfoy through his inebriation to turn the Malfoy's robes a bright fuchsia if she had heard correctly. There was a bang and the room filled with smoke. She sighed, truly this happened every year. Mix the ability to alter reality with alcohol and inevitably some idiot thought it was a good idea to try and turn their rival into a frog.
This was why she kept St. Mungo's on hold for the inevitable need for the accidental spell removal squad. She turned in the direction of the smoke and saw the young lord Dawlish and the elderly lord Mcgibbons facing off with drawn wands. To the side stood the tall woman in purple the ambassador had introduced as Serana Volkihar. She was smirking at the two lords who seemed determined to duel for her favour.
Another bang turned her attention to lord Black and Lord Malfoy who was now sporting robes of a particularly vile shade of green while Lady Stillglade looked on with an imperious eyebrow. Three puffs of coloured smoke drew her to where the other two ladies from the ambassadors party stood, looking thoroughly unimpressed as several young heirs dueled each other. Most likely in their names. Augusta pinched her nose and took a deep breath, this would require tact and diplomacy to deal with.
"En Guard you poxy cur!" declared the elderly lord Goyle, half senile though he was as he sent a particularly nasty curse towards the young lord Devonshire. Augusta took another long breath, careful, diplomacy she reminded herself.
A/N- Hello everyone. I am so sorry all this has taken so long. Its been a difficult year. My Parents have divorced, my grandmother passed on the next big adventure and I am entering my third year of university. I am trying to pick up the pieces however, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind words of support and encouragement. I never thought this story would take off but I feel humbled and awed every time I read your comments. Those kind words have been what has kept me going through this tumultuous year.
Thank you all so much, I hope to be back in the saddle soon.
Travel safe everyone! Trojan Seeress.