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Chapter 2 - Catching Up 2

23 First Seed, 5E 3

Lakeview Manor:

Valerica had come to Lakeview Manor the day after Serana's maiming, sharing the nursing duties when Nevan wasn't caring for her himself. She'd been horrified by the injury at first, but after over four thousand years of undeath, she was able to adapt quickly. And now, two days later, Serana was able to sit up in bed and help with her own care. She and Nevan were already making plans to devise an artificial leg for her that was better than a simple peg.

"It'll take some getting used to, for both of us," she was saying. "Thanks to all the healing, I'm in no pain, and it'll be a couple more days, I think, before I'm ready for sex, but losing a leg certainly isn't going to keep me from having your children, now that the war's over."

Nevan chuckled. "Don't rush it, love. I've got plenty of sparring partners, you know. Yssha's going to be trying to get pregnant, too, you know. Depending on how long it takes her, we could have a baby mini-boom here."

Later that day, Grams drew Yssha and Marcurio aside. "You're pregnant," she informed her greats-granddaughter. "Haven't you told anyone yet? Or didn't you know?"

"We do know, and have chosen not to tell anyone for a week or so," Yssha replied. "You smell it already?"

Grams smiled. "I've known your scent for your entire life, child. Yes, I smelled it. I'll keep quiet until you're ready to let the news out, but tell me one thing - are you happy about it?"

"Very, very happy, Grams." Yssha smiled. "Bormah promised I could have a kit after the war was over. He kept that promise the night I got home. I do not know how long a Khajiit-human cross takes for gestation, but ... will you try to be here for the birth? And my parents?"

Grams grinned widely. "Just try to keep us away! I'll midwife you myself - I've plenty of experience - but you might want to get Danica or - no, he's following Fusmulgar's. Get Danica to document your pregnancy; as far as I know, yours is the first authenticated inter-species pregnancy."

Yssha sighed. "All right, if you think I should. But I am tired of being regarded as a curiosity or object of study. After all, I am the Last Dragonborn - though I suppose there could be more Khajiit/Human hybrids." She sighed. "All right. I will take Odahviing to Whiterun tomorrow afternoon."

Grams smiled. "Good. And ... don't worry too much about that Last Dragonborn prophecy. It was in an Elder Scroll, and they're known to change without notice to us mere mortals."

"That is true," Yssha said.

Alinor City:

Andreius rose from his chair as the young King Imiril entered his office and bowed. "Welcome, Your Highness. I'm sorry to be late today, but ... you know."

Imiril returned the bow, with a sigh. "Yes, your injured friend. Is she well?"

"As well as possible with a missing leg," Andreius said. "She and her husband are planning on how to work around the problem."

Imiril hesitated. "Would it be taken wrong if I sent official regrets?"

"I think it would be taken well," Andreius replied. "They aren't inclined to be vengeful, at least not against youngsters. And, no offense intended, but you're barely up to the Nord age of responsibility, years away from what the mer consider so."

Imiril sighed. "You are right, but I wish you wouldn't remind me. I have the title of King, but neither the experience nor the ... maturity for that position." The boy sighed again. "I consider myself fortunate to have you as my advisor, and Military Governor of what I'm still allowed to call my realm."

Andreius smiled. "You're mature enough to realize you're not fully mature, which is a very good sign indeed. Just based on that, I'm pretty sure you'll be a good king. And clearly, I'll help you as much as I can."

The young King smiled. "I'll do my best, and I really appreciate your help. Now, what's on today's agenda? And don't bother with formality, please, in private. Unless you'd rather, of course," he added hastily.

"All right - you'll get your fill of formality in public." Andreius grinned. "Today's agenda is the specific terms of your surrender. The Empire, of course, wants it unconditional, with the Thalmor disbanded and Alinor and Valenwood back in the Empire."

Imiril smiled. "I can give that order, but the Thalmor's as much a religious thing as it is political. So it probably won't be any more effective than ordering the Empire to stop all Talos worship."

Andreius laughed. "And we won't be sending in enforcers to monitor beliefs, just actions. We know better than to think we can stop religious beliefs. But the order will be enough, and as your people get to know the Legionnaires and Skyguard, attitudes will change. Gradually, probably, but ... Elven lives can be long, and human memories short. It'll sort itself out."

"Will I ... have to go to Imperial City to sign surrender documents?"

Andreius studied the boy. "Probably. Why? Does the idea bother you?"

Imiril grinned. "No, that part I've gotten used to over the last couple of days. It's just - can I ride a dragon?"

Andreius did his best to hide a laugh at that. "You'd want to ride one, after what they did to your city?"

Imiril nodded. "They destroyed it, to get their Queen and Overlord back, which any loyal subjects would do, and can't be faulted for. But then they put out their own fires, and rescued a great many of my people. I ... have nothing against dragons. They're honorable ... uh, people?"

Andreius smiled. "Wiser than your years, Your Highness. Yes, they're people, sort of - you do know they're immortal, right?"

"Yes. Sons and ... maybe ... daughters of Akatosh." Imiril frowned. "But that would mean ... "

"You have no evidence of descent from the Aedra, just faith. The dovah know they are children of Akatosh, since all dovahsille - dragon souls - come directly from Him." Andreius paused, then grinned. "Yes, there are female dovah, the dovahin. One of them is brooding a clutch of eggs, up in the Eastmarch hot springs; Akatosh blessed her with offspring for cooperating with the Court Mage of Whiterun."

"And the Dragonborn ... I really don't know much about her. I saw her once, after the torture was stopped, but I wasn't allowed to talk to her. Does being Dragonborn really mean she has a dragon soul? That seems impossible."

"It's true, though. She has a lot of them, actually, but she was born with one, yes. The rest come from dragons she's killed."

Imiril shook his head. "I don't understand that, at all," he confessed. "Or how she came to be co-ruler of the Empire - how a realm can have two rulers, even."

Andreius chuckled. "With anyone else, it probably wouldn't work," he said. "She has no interest in really ruling, so she usually only shows up at the Imperial Palace when she needs to talk to the Emperor or on ceremonial occasions. Oblivion, she only shows up at her own palace in Helgen maybe once a week. She actually lives at Lakeview Manor, close to Lake Ilinalta."

"I'd like to talk to her some day," Imiril said wistfully. "She's strange, but I think I might like her."

"Most people do," Andreius said. "She'll probably be at the surrender ceremony; if you'd like, I'll ask if she'd be willing to set aside a bit of time for you then."

"Yes, please." Imiril looked thoughtful. "The way I was raised, I should think her a horrible monster, but somehow I can't. Not after seeing her naked and helpless, and knowing what she'd been through, was still going through."

Andreius smiled gently. The boy had changed for the better, just in the few days they'd been together, and Imiril away from Thalmor influence. He was still apprehensive about Argonians, but treated men and Khajiit at least politely. He seemed most comfortable around the mer, but that was natural, and he couldn't fault the boy for it, or for his obvious fascination with the few Odmer he met.

24 First Seed, 5E 3

Yssha entered Whiterun with Grams at one side, and Whitefur at the other. Adrianne was at her forge, so she stopped by to say hello and introduce everyone, then went next door to Breezehome, where she saw Lydia at the door, smiling. "I thought I heard dragon wings, and hoped it was you - come in, please! I brought little Yssha to visit her relatives at Drangonsreach, and some friends."

Yssha returned the smile, and they followed her former housecarl inside, to be greeted by a squealing - and not terribly coordinated - toddler. "An'ie Yssha! Hol'me!"

Yssha obliged, smiling. "You are growing nicely, little one." She made her way to one of the chairs by the firepit, and turned to Lydia. "This is not to be public knowledge yet, but I am here to see Danica Purespring - " she glanced at the toddler, who was talking now as well, and decided it might be best to talk around her reason. "Ah, let us just say for the same reason you visited her so often. Though not for the same reason, obviously."

It took Lydia a few seconds to catch on, then she grinned. "Congratulations, my Thane. Yssha, quit that!"

Whitefur did his best to look dignified, not easy when a toddler had hold of his tail. He twisted around to lick the kitten's hand, but when she grabbed his whiskers and pulled, he let out a yowl. When she let go, startled, he jumped off the lap and settled on the far side of the firepit.

"I am sorry, Whitefur," Lydia said.

The Alfiq nodded soberly, went to briefly lick her hand, and returned to his position.

"So," Lydia asked. "We heard ... are you all right? And it's Marcurio's?"

"Yes, and yes." Yssha smiled. "Inter-species requires either special spells or divine intervention. This is something Bormah promised me some time ago."

When she climbed the steps to the Wind District, Yssha smiled to hear Heimskr's normal preaching. It wasn't because she particularly liked either Heimskr or the preaching, but it was normal, and that in itself was pleasant.

And the new Gildergreen was as tall as the previous one, and budding - as the Eldergleam had promised it would be, come Spring. Maurice Jondrelle was sitting with his back against the trunk, smiling softly, eyes closed, until she neared.

Then he opened his eyes and his smile grew wider. "It's good to see you again, Dragonborn. Isn't it wonderful!"

Yssha smiled. "It is, indeed. You have done well, tending it."

"So She has told me." Maurice smiled. "I am to go to the Eldergleam next, and tend to it for some time. She will welcome you to Her winds, when the time arrives."

"Which I will thank Her for," Yssha replied politely, then she entered the Temple, to find Danica waiting for her.

The priestess smiled. "You've done very well for Kynareth and Her Temple, Dragonborn. Now I understand there is something we can do for you?"

"Yes, there is. Not something I particularly care for, but it may help others later. Do you have a private area where we may speak?"

"My quarters. Follow me." Yshha, Grams, and Whitefur did so, and Danica took a chair, while the other three sat on her bed. "Now, what may I do for you?"

"This must remain private until I choose to reveal it," Yssha said. When Danica nodded, she continued. "I am happily pregnant, by my husband. I understand it might be well to have an inter-species pregnancy monitored, if only to aid any subsequent ones, though I am less than happy about that prospect."

Danica's breath caught. "Yes ... yes, that would be important. You're certain it's inter-species? That's never been confirmed ... "

"Quite sure," Yssha said with a purr. "But check for yourself; I am here so an experienced Healer can monitor it from the beginning."

Danica did so, looking surprised. "Yes, you are pregnant, with a part-human, part-Khajiit child. At the moment, he appears healthy, but I'd like to see you at no more than one-week intervals, since this is unprecedented."

Yssha sighed. "All right. How about after my weekly audiences in Helgen? That way I am less likely to forget. In the meantime, I need to regain the strength and training edge I lost during my captivity. Do you have any objections?"

"To exercise?" Danica grinned. "No, not at this stage. It'll help with the birth, in fact. Though I may ask you to slow down, later on, when your body starts getting clumsier."

"I will follow your advice," Yssha assured her. "And ... marital relations?"

The priestess grinned. "Safe until your water breaks. Though while you're going through the early-pregnancy nausea and other discomfort, you probably won't want to. Just don't Shout at him, or you'll regret it later."

Yssha sighed. "My dragon side is not so blind. And he is safe from my Shouts anyway." She hesitated. "Though during labor and delivery, I believe I will have myself gagged, to protect everyone else. I prefer not to have my tongue removed again."

Danica and Grams both chuckled. "That might not be a bad idea," Grams said. "You'll probably be in pain, though my line has a history of fairly easy pregnancy and birth. And you have a couple of Divines who bend the rules for you from time to time. If Divines have rules, that is."