Kayci POV

Without Resh around things weren't nearly as fun as they were before, lots of interesting stuff was happening, but Kayci was too upset to enjoy any of it. Without him there to joke around with her, or to try to convince the guards to call her ridiculous titles.

Not only that but Kayci was sure her decisions were 'sub-par' at best, she attempted to avoid making them, but when she had to she tried not to say anything extravagant like Resh would in case she was wrong.

"Kayci, you can't just ignore us for ever. You were put in charge until Resh retakes his throne, and he made it clear Cidhna mine needed to be sorted out so what should we do?" the guard captain asked her, getting irritated about how she kept trying to deflect her questions.

The Tsaesci sighed. "Okay fine. What were they thrown in for?"

"They're members of the Forsworn terrorist group, and are in there only to mine ore," she was told. "How Cidhna mine works is that you mine silver ore to reduce the sentence."

"So how long have they been in there?"

"Most have been there for years in terrible conditions treated like slaves, I'd say they've all more than done their time," the captain went on, her tone was one of disgust, further highlighting the cruelness and corruption of the Silver-Blood family with how they controlled their problems.

"So here's what you do then, every prisoner whose sentence wasn't going away and is ex-forsworn, you take them into the middle of the country, and just let them loose, no doubt they'll find an outpost to live in. Save their leader though, I should talk to him and see if I can get him to talk to Resh when he feels better," Kayci explained, life was far too long for them to go in jail for, especially as they were soldiers, and the general premise of war prisoners is that they are released afterwards even if they did fight on the wrong side.

"I don't think they'll care about what he has to say… the Forsworn are a bunch of insane fanatics who won't rest until the Reach is their own."

"I'm sure Resh can sort something out, and if he can't we'll just execute him. Maybe try and amass a force to slaughter every single one of the savages, let's just hope they pick the easy way instead of the hard way," she laughed, although it didn't have the usual cheery tone ingrained in it like when Resh was still okay.

"It'll be harder than you think it to do anything like that. There are loads of them in the forests, and they all practice dark magic and work with Hagravens, you'll need an army if you want to deal with them, and one towns guard isn't enough."

"We will just have to see then. Set all the Forsworn free, but keep the leader for Resh, make sure he lives in relative luxury though. Living in the mine can't have been nice," she went on, feeling sorry for the man, even if he was a savage.

"You to have made a lot of changes so far," the guard remarked. "All good that is. Anything else that needs doing?"

"Well I'm not the smart one so there may be more that needs doing than I remember. All that I think remains is trade with Orc strongholds for their mines and blacksmithing abilities, and the planned expansion into Dwemer ruins," Kayci explained, although sounding unsure about what to do.

"What should we do about that then?"

"I don't know. I guess we could send an envoy over to discuss a trade agreement, or get one of them over to talk to Resh about it. As for the Dwemer stuff, we should triple Calcelmo's funding in the excavation, and give him some guards to help him. I don't know all this stuff though, so we just need to wait for Resh to get better," she trailed off, betting that her decisions were probably rubbish.

"Okay then, I'll get to the steward with some of this, and talk to the guards too…" the captain replied, before talking again in a more hushed tone. "I know it's not my place to ask, but why is Resh being a recluse all of a sudden? is it to do with why all the guards in his room were dead?"

"I'm not going to tell you, but yes, that is part of the reason. It's understandable we he is upset though, it's just a shame I have to do this when I have no idea," Kayci sighed, although slightly irritated she was infinitely more sad for her friend.

"If you don't want to run the kingdom in his absence shouldn't you try to bring him out of his state? also, if I were you I would try to cheer him up because he is a friend," the captain said, not liking how morose the palace had gotten recently due to the events of a few days ago.

"Maybe, but he's made it quite clear he wants to be left alone, also that he wants hard alcohol and Skooma, but I'm not so sure about that…"

"Whatever you do don't get him hooked and reliant on something like that, it'll only be bad in the long run. Seriously though, I would suggest talking to him as a friend, it'll likely be the best way to help, and as his friend you should want to help even when he doesn't ask," the guard persisted, wanting to do the right thing for the 'temporary queen' of the Reach.

Kayci smiled, before making ready to leave. "Good point, I think I will! you should be a fucking therapist or something, you want some posh sounding title or more money just ask, although I'd do so before Resh comes down to stop me making bad decisions."

"Uh… okay… can I have double pay-"

"Done!" Kayci grinned ecstatically.

"A plot of land?" she queried cautiously, wondering if this was actually happening.

"Done!"

With a bit more courage now the captain spoke again. "Make me a duchess."

"Done!" Kayci shouted back immediately before waiting for more of the womans many demands, Resh was going to kill her…

"Hey Resh…" the Tsaesci asked slowly as she stepped into his room, not wanting to frighten him in his fragile condition, by being too loud. "Want company?"

"No," she heard him sigh. "Just go away, I'll come out when I want to."

"You know I can't do that Resh, I just want to help you get better," she said as she lay a hand on his almost corpse like body, predictably he was in his true form, likely to feel safe and strong. "I know how you feel."

"Yes, you do. But that's not the point, you're completely fine, me though, I'm most certainly not," he murmured, turning his head from her. "Kayce, you're strong, you've been through so much and survived. Not me though, I'm not worthy to be a Tsaesci, I might as well just stay a weak Nord and act like them the rest of my life."

Kayci, turned him back to her and shok his shoulders. "Nords aren't weak Resh, did you not see what Lydia did? I don't think anyone I know could have done that. But that's not the point, you've killed dragons, killed loads of Thalmor, you're a king for fucks sake! there is no way you're not worthy to be one of us Resh, you're the strongest Tsaesci I know!"

Resh hissed defensively getting annoyed at her even though she was only trying to cheer him up. "Don't be so naive Kayce, there are leaders back home who could dismember me without any arms let alone a fair fight, you could as well, even given your muscle damage. To say I am worthy is like saying Elenwen is a good fuck."

"Resh, don't bring her into this. All she's good for now is living a long and painful life, not using in… metaphors, or some shit like that," she snapped, trying not to back down at his new tone.

"It was a simile you idiot, but I don't fucking care! just fuck off, I don't want you to try and pretend I'm such a great guy when it's obvious I'm not," he shouted, getting up and pushing her away.

"What are you doing Resh?"

"What does it look like? I'm leaving, my kingdom is yours, do whatever the fuck you want! turn it into a refuge for whores, or why don't you just personally train your own ones? you have more than enough fucking experience!" he exploded as he tried to get past her. Evidently the emotions had gotten to be too much as he insulted his best friend so carelessly.

Kayci held him still and glared at him. "I'm going to let that slide because I know when you're upset you ignorantly lash out at my… hobbies even when you would otherwise not be bothered.. But you're not leaving this room if you keep up the way you're acting."

"I will hurt you if I have to Kayci, just let me past. I'm going to finish all this dragon shit and then probably get myself killed. My daughter shouldn't have a father so pathetically unworthy he fell this low after something you recovered from just fine," he warned, Resh would avoid hurting her, but if he had to he would.

Kayci laughed, it wasn't one indicating happiness because of the context, but more one of clear surprise at his statement. "Just fine? you think I managed just fine? what happened to you happened to me almost a century ago! and I was in denial almost the whole time up until recently where I had a massive repeating set of breakdowns at the memory. Not just that but do you know how long I was in Thalmor custody?"

Resh frowned at all she had said, but untensed deciding fighting past her was to be saved for later. "Well, for the first three days you seemed to be in an actual relationship with her. But then we didn't see you for a couple of months, thinking things had just gone well between you… evidently not…"

"I escaped after less than a month of the abuse! you know what I did the next two?!" she yelled, prompting the now slightly intimidated Resh to shake his head. "I spent my time crying and trying to convince myself nothing happened."

"Then I guess we're both wea-"

"No." she hissed, slapping him before he finished. "It means we both suffered, and that we both survived harsh torment. And that is what makes us strong! not that we had bad things happen to us, but that we lived to tell the tale. A weak person would be one who immediately slits their own throat after it happened without putting up a fight, and to see you saying you'll try to get yourself killed is pathetic, that is what would make you not deserve to have a child."

A few moments passed and Resh fell onto his bed again in defeated exasperation. "You're right, there's no point arguing it, but you're right. The days when you of all people are right more often than I am is awful."

"So does that mean you're going to come back out and be normal again?" she asked hopefully, smiling as she tried to pull him back up.

"I guess so, if I act absent at any point you'll have to do something about it, because despite all this nonsense you've been drilling into my head, I'm still far from okay," he muttered, switching back to a Nord and finding his clothes.

"Hey, don't rag on the nonsense. The guard captain convinced me to bring you back out," she smirked, not wanting the other woman to go unnoticed.

Resh sighed. "I can only assume you did something ridiculous in my absence to reward her. Like increased her pay slightly just for suggesting you cheer me up."

"We're going to have a lot to talk about… maybe you should also talk to the new duchess of Markarth, she has funded plans to build an estate…"

Resh stared at her. "You didn't… do you have any idea how much that'll cost us!"

Resh POV

"Look, I'm really sorry about this, but whatever Kayce has promised you, it just can't happen. We're not in the position to start giving out high up titles to just anybody, or pay increases of such size, or whatever else it was she said," Resh sighed, looking at the now crestfallen woman as she realised she should have known it was too good to be true.

"But she was queen at the time, she's promised me all this stuff and was allowed to," she pleaded, seeing if she could argue her case.

"It doesn't really matter anymore, I'm back in charge, and I can't let a fool like her waste any unnecessary money. I've got a country to run, surely you can see that," he explained, trying his best not to disappoint her.

"But I helped though, I should at least get something," she snapped, lashing out now she was back to her old job again.

Closing his eyes in frustration for a few moments Resh spoke up. "I don't know then, talk to your superior and work something out. Just don't go asking someone as naive as Kayce to make a tonne of promises we can't keep."

"Fine," she ground out, before striding out abruptly, casting a look of accusing guilt at the now embarrassed Kayci.

"Who's next?" he growled, leaning back on his throne and looking at the long line of people, today was going to be a long day, he just knew it.

He was about to address the next person in line, but instead the steward beside him interjected. "Actually, I am. It's about the Forsworn prisoners in what was formerly called Cidhna mine."

"Okay then, tell me then."

"Well, Kayci decided to let them all go as they've long since served their time, especially since the were prisoners of a war already over," Raerek told him, Kayci nodded in agreement as he glanced over to her.

"Fair enough, I can understand that logic. Anything else?" he asked, wanting to move things on as quickly as possible.

"Yes, she decided to keep behind their leader Madanach so he could talk to you, so he is still in custody," he carried on, uneasy about the idea of not just Forsworn running free, but being loose in the city.

"Send him to my quarters so I can speak with him soon," Resh said, prompting a nod from the steward. Looking around and still seeing a crowd of people Resh called out. "If you are here because of something Kayci promised, such as land or money, consider her offer null, I am in charge again, and there will be no bankruptcy in my kingdom."

There was lots of murmurs of dissent and annoyance, but after a few minutes the room thinned out, leaving only his new housecarl Kayci, the steward who remained by the thrones side at all times, some of his guards, and only three more people who wanted things done. Now this was more manageable.

Recognising one of them Resh started with the Altmer. "Calcelmo, what is it you need? anything to help out the excavation you can get it. I'd love to be able to have an extension to the city, and that museum will be great when finished."

"Thank you. You've already done so much already, and I have all the workers I need but there is still one problem. Nimhe, the giant spider I might have told you about, none of the soldiers you've sent are good enough. I've made certain not to put them into danger, but they are used to detaining criminals, not fighting venomous monsters," he explained, Markarth was a mighty country yes, but the guards weren't the legion, they weren't adventurers, it was an entirely different skillset they had been taught.

Resh frowned, thinking it over. "Take Kayce to deal with it, she has a few injuries, but she has plenty of experience with clearing out places like this. Also, any other problems you have she can personally deal with them all."

"Resh," she hissed from his side and seemingly not wanting to go, grabbing his attention. "I can't do this alone, I can fight a person or group of people by myself quite easily unarmed, but a spider? if it's as bad as he says it is I'm not sure if I can. I'm not flexible enough anymore to fight it how I usually would."

"Then you'll have to teach the guards how to do it in that case, just find a way Kayce. You're the best fighter I know, I know you can do this quite easily if you set your… rather limited… mind to it," he chuckled, it would be good to have soldiers with Akaviri training in fighting monsters, especially if they were going to go even further into the Dwemer ruins. There were all sorts down there, Falmer, Chaurus, Dwemer automatons to name a few.

"Okay then," Calcelmo said, clasping his hands together in excitement. "We should really start this right away if Resh wants this done quickly, so Kayci, come with me."

He had to hold back a laugh as he watched Kayci get dragged off in silent misery by the ecstatic Altmer.

Next was the Orc warrior looking man, Resh had a good feeling he knew what this was guessed. "I assume you're the envoy sent over from the Strongholds regarding a trade alliance, correct?"

"Yes, the chieftains have agreed to it and see it as fair. It's good to see a Nord who doesn't hate us for our race, you our welcome in the Orc Strongholds whenever you so please. Trade will start soon, and I'm sure you will like the smithing abilities we bear, as well as our many mines," he was told. Despite most peoples opinions on Orcs Resh quite liked them, their whole honour system was something he liked, and although they weren't smart, as evidenced by the Orcs way of speaking, they were good fighters and had other skills.

"I'm sure too, let's hope we all benefit from this agreement. If you so choose perhaps consider a job here as an advisor on behalf of the Orc, I'm sure you'll fit right in," he smirked, knowing it would probably be quite the contrary.

The warrior nodded. "I will see…"

"Excellent, go to the leaders and I'll have a place for you ready," Resh said, before turning to the last person. "Now, who are you? you look like a Vigilant of Stendarr, but why are you here?"

"You guess correctly, I come to you because of the abandoned house near the city gates. The last Jarl refused to listen to me about it, and I think it is a serious issue," he complained. "I believe there is a strong Daedric presence in their for a cult of some kind."

"So what? I legalised Daedra worship the other day, as long as it doesn't affect other people then it's okay," Resh sighed, knowing the man wouldn't be satisfied seeing as he just ignored the Vigilants entire code of ethics.

"I know," he growled. "But however much I disagree with you for doing so I know I can't change anything. This place is different though, no one lives there or even goes in, but you can feel evil emanate from it, I know the place is dangerous."

"Fine, get a team of workers to take it apart, and then have some guards check through the rubble, in the daylight too so nothing bad happens, I'm sure that will help. Is that all?" he asked, Resh knew the Daedra weren't inherently good, and in many ways the Divines weren't either, so a place like that would need appropriate cautionary measures.

"Will you rethink your legalisation of Daedra wor-"

"Nothing else then," he cut in, before standing up to leave. "I've got a Forsworn to see."

20 Minutes Later

"You're Madanach right?" Resh asked as he saw the old man. "Leader of the Forsworn."

He glared at who he perceived as a Nord. "The King of rags because of your kind Nord."

"I only want you to see reason here. I'm not trying to belittle you, or lock you away again," he informed the Breton. "My friend kept you here so we could talk, to work things out, so we'll want to keep race out of this."

"What makes you think I want to work things out with you?" he asked, suspicious of the man, not surprising considering what so many years locked away can do. "I won't rest until we have our home back."

Resh sighed in exasperation. "Listen, I'm keeping this country, so that's not changing. But how about the other stuff? I won't have any of your people arrested for what they've done in the past if you have them stop fighting; most of your rituals, so long as they're safe, will be legal, as well as the old gods worship; and we can trade, don't you want that? it'll be so much better for everyone. We can all live how we want to."

The Forsworn took a few steps closer, clearly he wouldn't win in a confrontation, but it was for dramatic effect as he snarled. "I don't care what you offer, I don't want it. I don't want us to be treated like everyone else, I don't want to be 'allowed' to practice my religion, I want the Reach. That's it, I won't let mine and my peoples country be ruled over by a Nord like you."

"What if we get your people something better to live in than refugee guerilla tents?" Resh asked.

"No," Madanach refused stubbornly.

Resh offered more again. "Better education, sanitation and living standards?"

"No!"

"Honestly, I'm fucking trying to avoid having to kill every last one of you here. I don't want to, but you're driving me pretty fucking close to the edge!" he snapped, getting angry a lot quicker than he usually would before the last few days. "How about if I make you an advisor for treatment of your people, like I will the Orcs too?"

Getting angry too Madanach raised his voice. "No, I want the Reach! nothing else!"

"Is most of the reason you're refusing despite the very reasonable offers because I'm a Nord in charge?" Resh asked finally, tired at the man's stubbornness. A few minutes passed and the silence was his answer. "So it is a Nordic King that bothers you. I think we can work things out very easily now…"