Author's note: Thanks for your patience while I was off line. After this, I hope to be back on the regular Friday posting schedule again.

Chapter 21 - Valerica

It took Yssha a few seconds to realize what was different when Nevan and Serana entered Lakeview Manor, then she had to hold back a Shout of joy. "Serana! No crutches! And you are wearing Dawnbreaker!"

Serana grinned. "Yep. I'm fully functional again. We didn't want to share our progress until we had something major to show. Now we're starting to work on stuff more delicate than legs, like arms, hands, and fingers."

"And medical isn't the only place we're making progress," Nevan added. "It's just the most important, for a lot of people."

"We shall have to celebrate your recovery," Yssha said. "Does your mother know yet?"

"Not yet," serana replied. "We wanted to let you know first."

"Then we need to visit her," Yssha said with a smile. "She is worried about you, you know. And she and I have become friends, though I rarely have time to visit."

"Not surprising, with your shared interest in alchemy," Serana said. "Sure, let's pay her a visit."

"And we won't be needed in Blackreach for a couple of months," Nevan said. "Since your uncles are escorting King Imiril around the Empire, mind if we tag along with you and Marcurio for a while?"

"We would welcome it," Yssha said happily. "We have missed having you adventure with us, and I would like to complete my collection of Dragon Priest masks before I am too far along to wear my armor."

Serana chuckled. "A problem I hope to share fairly soon. I don't have a friendly Divine to bypass my cycle, like you did."

"I am sure Mara and perhaps Dibella will smile on you soon," Yssha said with a chuckle-purr. "We leave for Castle Volkihar in the morning, then."

Odahviing gape-grinned when he saw Yssha and her original team emerge from Lakeview. "Serana, it is good to see you walking again. Will you be accompanying my thur for a time?"

"Until we're needed in Blackreach or Andreius and Sorcalin return, yes." She chuckled. "Much as we enjoy our research, it's kind of nice to be in action again."

"Just try not to lose another body part, brod-briinah," the dovah said, then turned his attention to Yssha. "Where to, thuri?"

"Castle Volkihar, please. We wish to show Serana's mother that Serana is fully recovered."

Odahviing landed on the causeway between the landing and the gatehouse. When his riders dismounted, he looked quizzically at Serana. "Are you planning to wear that sword inside?"

Serana gave him a blank look, then flushed. "You have a good point, brod-zeymah. Mother probably wouldn't appreciate having Dawnbreaker in her home. Would you mind taking care of it for me? If it wouldn't hamper you too much, of course."

"Certainly. Fasten your sword-belt around the first large spike on my back. I will take care of it for you."

When that was done, he left, and they headed up to the gatehouse. When they got there, the guard on duty saluted. "Welcome, Stormcrown. Please come in, you and your companions. I'll have Lady Valerica notified you're here."

"Thank you." Yssha and her team followed him inside, then down to the main floor where she'd first met Lord Harkon. He left to get Lady Valerica, and Serana chuckled.

"Quite a change from the first times we were here together," she commented. "I told you Mother would clean the place up."

"Indeed, and she has done an excellent job. Even most of the damage from the last battle with Harkon's clan has been repaired."

Valerica appeared then, and embraced her daughter. "Serana! It's wonderful to see you on your feet again! How do you feel?"

"Wonderful, thanks." She grinned. "And you? Been up to anything interesting lately?"

"Always, darling. The garden is still pathetic, compared to what it was, but at least it's clean and weed-free; I spend an hour or so a night out there. And I'm importing alchemy ingredients from the rest of the Empire, experimenting with new formulations." She turned to Yssha. "Would you like a copy of my notes? One of my thralls has respectable handwriting."

"I would like that very much - thank you." Yssha smiled. "I fear my own research has been limited, so I have nothing new alchemical to share."

"You've been busy with other things," Valerica said. "I understand." She turned to a nearby thrall and ordered him to bring refreshments. "What would you care for?"

"Tisane for Nevan and me," Yssha replied. Marcurio opted for mead, Serana for a sweet wine.

"Mead for me as well," Valerica said. She took a place at the dining table, and the rest joined her. Once their refreshments arrived, she turned to Serana. "I've been doing some serious thinking about what we discussed at Ysmir's place." She hesitated. "It's been ... difficult."

"Ah ... would you prefer to discuss this in private?" Yssha asked delicately.

"No, but thank you for the courtesy," Valerica replied. "You're Serana's other family, so you have a right to know. We were talking about her decision to return to humanity, and whether or not I should do the same."

"Have you come to a decision?" Serana asked quietly.

Rather than responding immediately, Valerica studied Yssha briefly. "My decision has hung in the balance since her injury and our first discussion, and I'm still not positive. On the one hand, I like my Vampire Lord powers, and I very much want to see my garden thriving again. I've also worshiped Molag Bal for thousands of years, and that is something it will be difficult to give up."

Yssha didn't say what she was thinking; it wasn't her place to interfere in Valerica's decision. But it was hard not to point out that Bal had violated her, her husband, and her daughter to make them into pure-blooded vampires, in a ceremony that, according to Serana, few survived.

Then Valerica continued. "On the other hand, as Serana pointed out, the 'immortality' he gives us isn't the real thing, as many vampire deaths have proven. I could live another several thousand years, or I could be killed in the next hour, in which case I would end up in Coldharbour with Harkon. That is not an outcome I particularly care for, as you might imagine."

Yssha nodded.

"And accomplished mages can live well past their race's normal lifespan." At this point, Valerica was clearly thinking aloud, rehearsing things she'd argued to herself - something Yssha understood, because she did that often enough herself; it could clarify things better than simply thinking them. "If I return to humanity, I could still see my garden thriving again. In death, I would go to Sovngarde, which is better than Coldharbour, even if Serana goes elsewhere. I would have to choose a different deity to worship, but some of the Nine attract my interest."

"You would be welcome in Stormhaven," Yssha said cautiously. "You are Serana's mother and Nevan's mother-in-law, so I would welcome you happily."

"Yes ... Serana said you had a realm in Aetherius, and that is definitely tempting. Which makes the decision even closer. But tell me about the massacre at the Markarth Orphanage."

Yssha sighed, bowing her head "It is still painful, I am afraid. Molag Bal's champion, a man named Honmund, slaughtered all the children, their caretaker, and the Legion guards on duty with Bal's re-made mace. He confessed and wished to atone for his sins, so Nevan sent him to a special realm of Aetherius where that can be done."

"Would I have to go there?"

Yssha shrugged. "Not to enter Stormhaven; I am too flawed myself to require that. For some other realms, perhaps you might."

Valerica sighed, then smiled. "In that case, my decision is simplified. I'll join my daughter in becoming human again."

"Good!" Serana exclaimed, reaching into her belt pouch and handing her mother a filled black soul gem. "You'll need this; Falion will use it to retrieve your own soul from Oblivion."

Valerica accepted it with a smile. "You were that confident of my decision?"

"Confident? Say cautiously optimistic and very hopeful, instead." Serana returned the smile. "I've been carrying that ever since our discussion. I'm pretty sure you have some of your own, but ... well, you know."

"I think so ... and I appreciate it, darling." She grimaced. "I hope I don't lose my thralls over this, though. They've worked out better than I expected, and I've actually gotten to like the ones I currently have. I rarely have to compel them any more, and when I do, it's minimal."

Marcurio grinned. "Then it sounds like they're serving you willingly as it is, more servants than thralls. But you might want to start paying them if you want to keep them."

"Is that so? It's been millennia since I had servants instead of thralls, and I think they only got room, board, and two sets of clothing. Oh, and a half-day off every week. Occasional gifts, as rewards for unusual, or unusually good, service."

Marcurio laughed. "Things have changed quite a bit, then. These days they get paid - how much depends on whether you provide what you said, and how valuable the person's services are. And they'll expect a full day off a week."

Valerica frowned. "How does that work? Some things can't simply be let go for a day."

Nevan chuckled at that. "Actually, almost all work can ... back in the Empire I came from, a few religious groups were prohibited from any work on their holy days. And some had very strict rules on what comprised 'work', too. For individuals, that required pre-planning; for something like the military, it just meant a bit of skill in scheduling who did what when."

"So you will need a steward to run the details of your household," Yssha added. "And a cook, if you do not already have one for your thralls. Also, as a noble, you should have a housecarl."

"This is beginning to look complicated," Valerica said, then grinned. "At least I took care of one of a noble's duties several thousand years ago. I have an heir, who is married and - " she broke off and looked at Serana - "will be expected to provide an heir of her own, in a reasonable time."

Serana snickered. "I quit using the anti-fertility potions as soon as the war ended, so when it happens is up to Mara and Dibella, Mother ... but Nev and I are certainly giving them plenty of opportunity to act."

Valerica nodded, chuckling. "That's hardly surprising, darling. That's always been one of your favorite activities. No offense, I hope, Lord Nevan."

"Not at all," the Sandeman replied. "She'd already told me, and for a warrior's-woman, it's expected. But I'm not a noble."

Valerica turned to Marcurio, who seemed to be the expert. "Has that changed as well? Are those who marry a noble no longer considered nobility themselves?"

"No change, but he probably didn't make the connection with himself and Serana." Marcurio grinned at his dark-skinned blond friend. "You've been Lord Nevan since you married her." He grimaced at a sudden realization. "Divines. I suppose I've been Majesty, or at least Highness, since the Greybeards acknowledged Yssha as Stormcrown. Though if anyone uses it to me, I'd probably either deck them or leave. I've made it plain enough I hate being called 'Lord', though, so I doubt anyone would dare."

Yssha decided to haul the conversation back to something less touchy. "Valerica ... will you want assistance gathering your staff, do you think?"

"It would probably be a good idea," Valerica agreed. "I'll see if a dragon will carry me to Morthal tomorrow, then go through whatever ritual is required. Any advice you can provide will be welcome, after that."

Valerica's return to Castle Volkihar was ... different. She flew in on a dragon, feeling both bereft of her powers and oddly free, to find her thralls waiting for her on the causeway. She dismounted and approached them, feeling ... yes, vulnerable.

There was a stranger there in front, though, a pleasant-looking Nord woman, who approached with a smile. "Lady Valerica Volkihar? I'm Lydia, Yssha's steward at Skyhold. She says you'd like a bit of help getting set up?"

"I would, Steward Lydia. It seems I am several thousand years out of date on how things are done, and how servants are treated, so I would appreciate any assistance you could give me."

"I would be happy to, my Lady. While you were gone, I took the liberty of interviewing your current staff - I hope that was acceptable - ?"

"Appreciated, yes." Valerica led the way inside, pleased to find a table set up for a conference, with glasses and bottles of wine. She seated herself at the head of the table, Lydia sitting at her right, and a thrall named Bjarne at her left. "What did you find?"

"First, and possibly most important, Bjarne led the larger of the two bandit gangs you enthralled. He's quite good at managing both people and finances, and seems grateful to have been enthralled rather than killed, so your Ladyship might want to give him serious consideration as your Steward. Unfortunately, I found no one I could recommend as a housecarl - it seems bandits generally lack the loyalty required. I am sorry."

"I'll find someone, I'm sure." Valerica turned to Bjarne. "Is your gratitude strong enough for you to take that position?"

"I'm alive when you could've shown the Jarl my head to claim the bounty ... so yes, my Lady, I am. And I fully expect you to check my books until I prove myself to you."

Valerica chuckled. "Oh, I will, and I have a great deal of experience at uncovering deception. But yes, I name you Steward of Castle Volkihar." She returned her attention to Lydia. "What of the lesser positions?"

"Your cook is ... satisfactory for the simple things like stews and the occasional roast, but if you were accustomed to noble's food - assuming there was a difference when you were eating, earlier - you might want Steward Bjarne to find you a chef, and let your current cook feed the staff, and fill in for the chef on his day off. For the rest ... " Lydia shrugged. "They are adequate as cleaning staff, and if you construct a stable, caring for your animals. Otherwise, Bjarne is as qualified as I am to advise you."

"Then you've given me an excellent start, and I thank you. Would you like to remain for supper, and perhaps overnight?"

"Thanks, my Lady, but I'd rather return to my husband and child, if you don't mind."

"Not at all. Shall I have Bjarne hoist a dragon-flag?"

"Please - I'll wait outside."