Part 1: The Blue Palace (Inside)
Selene had been married to Hugo for a long time before he died. In this time, she had learned of all the noble houses in Skyrim.
House Cromwell ruled Whiterun, with Alexander Cromwell leading the city with a fair hand. Perhaps too fair and too trusting for the High King's throne but he was a good pillar that kept Skyrim in order.
House Rostova of Windhelm, with their shining black hair, ruled Windhelm. Pavel was a good man but Selene has heard whispers of his children and what they did in their spare time.
House Kelly of Morthal was a quiet house. The Jarl of Morthal, Angus Kelly was an old man who tried to be fair. But Selene had a sense he would do anything to keep his house in power. His wife, Kathleen was barren. She never produced an heir for him. Because of this he had a bastard son who lived in their house, much to Kathleen's dismay. It was a matter of time until his House would be taken out of power.
House Andersen of Winterhold ruled firmly but justly. Jarl Erika Andersen was a middle aged woman who was smart as she was strong. She had a son named Holmes who came with her to the palace.
House Floras of Markarth was a favorite of Selene's. Jarl Junia Floras and Selene were great friends. Selene planned on speaking with her little daughter Olivia, who admired Selene a lot, while she was in the palace.
House Black ruled Falkreath but Selene didn't really care about them. She had done political favors in the past for their house and severals others when rebellions dotted the cities around a decade ago. That is part of the reason why Selene was sure that Elbert would be named the next High King.
House Dreshner of Riften was not that interesting also. In fact, Selene disliked the strange Jarl Sherman Dreshner and his son who stayed to rule over Riften in his father's stead. But she would need their support in the meeting to come.
Then came the last house, House Ofcharsky of Dawnstar. Jarl Apolonia ruled the city with love instead of fear. Apolonia would be the deciding factor of whether Selene would get her wish at this meeting. That is why Selene was going to see her at this moment.
It was early in the day but by noon the Jarl's council would have started. She needed the support of House Ofcharsky in order to get her way. In order for House Valmont and only House Valmont to rule Skyrim forever.
Selene briskly swept through the halls, with her black hair blowing slightly in the wind, until she came to Apolonia's quarters. She knocked respectfully and waiting a few seconds before Apolonia opened the door to reveal her long red hair and blue eyes staring into Selene's green eyes. Apolonia gave a shy smile.
"Lady Selene!" she said as she straightened out her gown. She clearly was not ready for this meeting. Apolonia was a shy and sweet woman. One Selene could easily manipulate.
"Jarl Apolonia" Selene said "May I come in?"
"Of course!" Apolonia said.
Selene walked into her quarters, which were quite big. Every jarl had to have one big enough for them and whoever came along with them. Each one was the size of a small house, with several bedrooms, a bath, and a dining room. Selene and Apolonia were in her small dining room with doors going to the said bedrooms and bath. Selene sat on one of the wooden chairs at the table followed by Apolonia who closed the door and quickly did the same.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" asked Apolonia
Before Selene could get a word out, the door from the bedroom opened and there stood a girl who looked vaguely like Apolonia. She had her red hair but she also had a more angular face and no freckles. The girl yawned as she saw Selene and rubbed her eyes.
"Is this your daughter?" asked Selene
"Yes" said Apolonia "This is Bianca"
Apolonia gestured for Bianca to greet Selene. She did so by doing a poorly executed curtsey.
"Lady Selene" Bianca said with a hint of annoyance
Selene turned in Apolonia's direction.
"I bet she will be a great beauty when she comes of age" said Selene
"I don't think so" said Bianca flatly "Mother always said I took more of my father's features who wasn't any such thing"
The room entered an awkward moment of silence because no one really thought Bianca's statement needed a response.
"Why are you here?" asked Bianca to Selene
Apolonia looked to Bianca in shock and fright.
"Bianca don't be rude, go take a walk around the palace. Me and Lady Valmont must talk"
Bianca gave an angry huff and opened the door quickly and closed it when she left.
"My apologies for my daughter's behavior" said Apolonia
"It's quite alright" said Selene "I was a bit of a troublemaker at that age"
They both laughed lightly.
"What did you want to speak about?" asked Apolonia
Selene face turned to one of deep determination.
"We are friends, aren't we?" asked Selene
"Of course" said Apolonia immediately
"Good"
Selene and paused a second and then spoke again.
"I remember when uprising plagued Skyrim a decade ago. The peasants of our country ravaged the streets in several cities, I could only imagine how bad it was in Dawnstar"
"It was bad" replied Apolonia "I'm still grateful for your help in that matter. You and your husband"
"That's comforting to hear" said Selene "Your house called for help at a difficult time, now my house does the same"
"What do you mean, my lady?"
"Today at the Council we will make history. With your vote, House Valmont will be the ruling house of Skyrim…. Forever"
Apolonia's face was surprised. Selene figured that to the other jarls, this would be a radical suggestion. But she had to convince Apolonia to support or everything will fall to pieces.
"But my lady… that will contradict eras of Skyrim's politics" said Apolonia
Selene's face became stern.
"What of it? The old eras are done and I believe this will be the best for our future" said Selene
Apolonia paused a second as it rattled in her mind.
"Honor must force you to give me your support. You must do for me what I have done for you. My son Elbert will rule greatly and son will his sons and their sons" Selene said
Another pause ensued.
"Promise me you will do this and make the right and honorable choice" said Selene
Apolonia looked at Selene, trying to hide her fear and shock as best she could.
"I- I will vote in your favor Lady Valmont" said Apolonia
Selene smiled
"Good. I was beginning to think you did not have your priorities straight"
Selene got up and started walking towards the door.
"My lady! You must know that if this does not work, Skyrim could be in open war. They would call us treacherous!" said Apolonia
Selene turned around.
"I assure you, my friend. If it comes to that, the opposing houses will be destroyed. Anyone will say anything to knock us out of power. That will not happen to me or my allies in the meeting to come"
Selene turned.
"I will see you at the meeting, Jarl Apolonia"
And with that, she left.
Part 2: The Blue Palace (The Red Room)
"It's just not possible Lady Selene!" bellowed Angus Kelly's voice in the Red Room.
Instant objections were what Selene had figured would happen. But she would have to remain firm and stubborn for her plan to work. She was seated at the head of the table in the Red Room, with a nervous Apolonia on the other side. The other lords and ladies of Skyrim were on either side of the table She cracked her knuckles on the table.
"Why not?" asked Selene
"You will disregarding centuries of jarls who had faith in elections. Do you really think that we will let your house commit treason at this council!" yelled Angus
"What I think Angus is trying to say is that elections have always been the way High King's are picked, the thought of it is a little radical" said Lillian, who was next to her husband.
"What of it Lady Lillian? The past is the past. If we only live by the old ways, how can we prosper?" asked Junia Floras, Jarl of Markarth.
"Jarl Junia how can you be so inclined to turn against the politics of Skyrim?" asked Angus angrily.
Junia gave Angus a look.
"You should be the last one to tell me about loyalty to politics" said Junia
"What do you mean?" asked Kathleen Kelly, who was getting as angry as her husband.
"Your house has ruled Morthal for a long time, Angus" said Junia "But you have no heir. Your hold will collapse as soon as you die"
"How dare you criticize House Kelly! That business has nothing to do with the likes of you" yelled Erika Andersen, the Jarl of Winterhold with greying blond hair and eyes as cold as the climate of her city. House Andersen and House Floras had a long feud with each other, and everyone knew the conflict would reignite here.
"On the contrary, it concerns all of us" said Junia "Without an heir to Morthal the city will fall into chaos and that will be the time where House Kelly will die and no one will take it's place that has noble birth. Do you really want the savage peasants to the the halls that belongs to the nobles?"
"Jarl Junia is right" said Jarl Graham Black of Falkreath
"Agreed" said Graham's wife Georgina "We should have this matter settled now"
"What would you have them do, idiots?" asked Pavel "The Lady Kathleen can't bear children and even if that was not true, she's too old". House Rostova and House Black were two houses that were also at each other's throats. Rivalries were big in Skyrim, especially among the nobles.
"You will hold your tongue!" said Georgina furiously
"Or what?" Pavel countered
"Fool!" Said Graham "You would let the streets of Morthal be torn for what? We need an heir for the Kelly throne and we need it now!"
"But we don't have any children for the hundredth time!" yelled Kathleen
"Aye" said Angus "But we do have an heir"
The jarls looked at Angus curiously.
"Who?" Asked Selene
"I want to send a courier to Morthal. Tell them to find my son Fairbanks. Tell him that by my power, I name him my heir" Angus said to Selene
The jarls fell dead silent. A bastard? As a jarl? People have gone to war for less. Kathleen immediately was infuriated and tried her best not to show it but it was clear to everyone she did not want Fairbanks to be the jarl. Selene snickered.
"What is it?" Angus asked Selene
"You put your bastard on your throne, yet you are so quick to criticize my house for wanting to stay in the Blue Palace. If you do this, it will be by royal decree. I will be willing to convince my son to do this is he gets throne and House Valmont stays as the royal family" said Selene
"My lady, a bastard can not be on the throne. Everyone knows that" said Jarl Sherman Dreshner of Riften
"You are all missing the point!" cried Apolonia. Everyone looked to her. In a long history of these meetings, she never shouted. She barely even spoke. Selene smiled and nodded in her direction.
"What I mean is that perhaps it is time for change in Skyrim. We could change it for the better" said Apolonia
"Jarl Apolonia, I agree with your view of a need for change, but I think we should take it one step at a time" said Alexander Cromwell
"My husband is right" said Lillian "Too fast of a change can ignite a spark that sets the whole country on fire"
"We are the jarls of Skyrim and this is our country. We will do what we see fit to keep order and if we all vote for House Valmont to stay in power, we will get that" said Apolonia
"Enough deliberation ! It is time to vote. Whether it be in favor of my house or not, we must make a decision now" said Selene "Jarl Apolonia, if you will go first"
Hence started off the votes. Even though the jarls and their spouses were invited, only the jarls could vote on such matters. The rest must remain silent.
"I vote that House Valmont should become the ruling house of Skyrim, now and forever" said Apolonia
"I vote no" said Alexander "This is too radical of a change at this time"
"I vote yes" said Angus reluctantly "If it means Fairbanks could be my heir"
Kathleen let out of huff in frustration.
"I vote no" said Erika Andersen "I don't wish to betray centuries of High King. We were fine with the old ways, we should not change what is working"
Selene started becoming nervous. What if her plan were to fail?
"I vote yes" said Julia Floras "Hugo Valmont was the greatest ruler in recent memory, his kin should rule in his stead"
"No" said Pavel, angrily without explanation for his choice
"I vote yes" said Graham "House Valmont will bring greatness to this realm, I'm sure of it"
Pavel let out an audible sigh in response to Graham.
"I also vote yes" said Sherman "Riften owes House Valmont everything but the way Hugo and Selene helped us when the uprisings started"
Selene smiled a smile of victory.
"It appears that the matter is settled. Five house against three voted in my favor. House Valmont remains the ruling house. Now and forever.
The reactions ranged from happy to angry to shocked. No one had been able to do this before, but yet here they were.
"Ser Curtis" said Selene
Curtis lifted his head up. Prior to this point, the advisors were frozen and anxious. They were only there to provide any assistance when called upon.
"Send a rider for Morthal. Tell Angus's son of his new position and give him safe passage to Solitude at once" she said
"Yes, my lady" said Curtis. He left the Red Room to do this action.
Selene cleared her throat.
"If that is all my lords, I have a coronation to plan" said Selene
Part 3: Riften (The Thieves Guild, Training Room)
"No, no, no!" said Immanuel. He voice bounced off the walls of the training room. Etta was handling a light wooden sword in her hand and trying to hit the dummy how and warrior would do in battle. Etta put her hand down and scratched her short black hair ad looked at Immanuel. Not only was he the leader of the Thieves Guild, he was also a master swordsman. Two things that normally did not combine into one man.
"Do it again" commanded Immanuel
"I've been doing this for hours!" exclaimed Etta as she gave a clearly annoyed look. She had underestimated how hard it would be to learn how to use a sword when she proposed the offer to Immanuel. She had to go behind her brother Dorian's back just to do this. A part of her felt bad for lying to her brother but she knew he would never allow it. She loved her brother, but he kept treating her like a child. The reality of it was that they both are living in the Thieves Guild and they probably would never leave. But that did not mean that Etta could not gain new skills to possibly do other things for the Guild.
Immanuel smiled at Etta's facial expression.
"You look just like your brother when you make that face" he said
Etta felt a pang of guilt. It was their second or third lesson together and Dorian still was in the dark.
"You won't tell him, right?" asked Etta
"I've answered that question numerous times" said Immanuel.
"I feel bad about lying to him"
Immanuel sighed.
"Of course you do" he said "When I found both of you outside of the Thieves Guild that day, both of you were babies. You were less than year old and Dorian was 3"
He paused
"I know I'm not your father but I'd like to think I could guide you down the right path" he said
"You're more of a father than a man I never met. Both of my parents are strangers to us" Etta replied
"You're right" he said "I know how you feel about lying to the only piece of real family you have, but you know as well as me that you must keep this a secret until further notice"
Etta nodded. She felt inclined to try the technique Immanuel had been teaching her. She raised her sword. Her movements were sleek and quick, like a thief of the Guild. She continued to make calculated swipes at the dummy.
"Good" said Immanuel "More force!"
She listened and made her tired arms stronger. Her thought were running wild of tales of warrior woman, the ones she read about in the books Immanuel would steal for her. She soon would be like one of them, a great warrior who wa-
"What is all of this?" a voice asked
Etta whipped her head to the right and her heart sank as she saw her brother standing there, with an angry face. Immanuel spoke what Etta wanted to say.
"I'm training her" said Immanuel
"Why?" asked Dorian, getting angrier with every word.
"For life. She won't be a child forever" said Immanuel bluntly.
Dorian looked at Etta.
"Leave us" said Dorian
Etta tried to say something but figured she'd be hurting more than helping. She left the room in a huff. She will give her brother of piece of her mind later.
Dorian and Immanuel stared each other down for a second.
"This will never happen again" said Dorian
"Why?" Immanuel countered
"Because she does not need to be out in the tundra of Skyrim, swinging swords. What if she dies? Did you ever think of that when you went behind my back?" said Dorian in a flurry with angry tears approaching.
"Dorian I-"
"How long has this been going on?" asked Dorian
"We've only had a few lessons" said immanuel
"Why did you do this?" asked Dorian
Immanuel paused.
"You are both in the Thieves Guild. You need to know that she can get hurt just by being connected to us. You need to accept that" he said
"No" Dorian said flatly
"You can't stop her from becoming who she is"
"And who is she? A murderer? A common sellsword? Do you really think I will let you change her into one of the thieves of the Rataway?"
"No. That's why we didn't tell you"
"Then considered the trust we once shared, gone. You won't talk to Etta about this anymore. She's my sister, not yours"
"Dorian try and understand"
"What I understand is that Etta is the only kin I have. I will protect her even if it means turning against you"
Dorian decided that he had had enough of this. It was almost night, maybe he could talk to Akeem or go out with Miriana to let out his thoughts. He won't break down in front of them who betrayed. A man he trusted. He turned and walked briskly away from this man.
"Stop!" Immanuel said
Dorian didn't. He kept going until he was out of the Guild and had a breathe of the night air. He blinked back tears as silently started cursing in the dark night.
Part 4: College Of Winterhold (Hall Of Attainment)
Ian wiped of a bit of sweat from his forehead and sighed. It's been some time since the incident with Harvard in Destruction class and it was his third week in the College of Winterhold. Already he had quite a lot of homework and he was supposed to perfect a simple invisibility spell by tomorrow. He couldn't help but feel pressure, even though his multiple teachers told him to go at his own pace. Nevertheless, he sat in his room looking at several instruction papers on his bed.
"Having trouble with homework?" asked someone
Ian looked up and saw Rachelle and Dalia in his doorway. He was happy to see them. Ian felt like he could trust his fellow peers even though they have only spent a small amount of time together.
"Yes" said Ian "I can't figure this invisibility spell out"
"You and me both" said Dalia
Rachelle took the papers off of Ian's bed and threw them onto his nightstand.
"Why did you do that?" Asked Ian
"You're not gonna learn magic by reading silly instructions!" exclaimed Rachelle "If you want to learn this spell, your going to have to use some hands on experience"
Ian considered this.
"I suppose your right" he said
"Maybe we can learn more by using each other" said Dalia
"What do you mean?" Asked Ian
"Rachelle" Dalia said "Stand over there"
Dalia pointed to a random point across the room well away from her and Ian.
Dalia then took a breath and began using the movements for the invisibility spell. Her face of determination turned into one of shock when she released her spell on Rachelle and she turned into a horse.
"Oh no!" Dalia cried but her cries were drowned out by Ian's loud laughter. Rachelle was a pretty black haired horse who was stomping it's hooves on the ground. This, in Ian's mind, was Rachelle trying to communicate and tell Dalia turn her back into a human and not a damn horse.
"Let me try again!" Dalia said
She did the motion and followed through and Rachelle the horse became Rachelle the flame atronach.
"Whoa!" said Ian. Rachelle was a fiery being that glowed strongly in his room. She moved around a bit, floating through and releasing small ember. She was a beautiful flame of a young woman.
Rachelle held up her hand, signaling Dalia to stop. Ian thought that Rachelle probably enjoyed being a flame atronach. Dalia gave a slight smile.
"Sorry Rachelle" she said
Dalia followed through the motions and the normal, human Rachelle stood there with a pout.
"Why did you that? I liked being a flame atronach" she said. She actually felt sad.
Dalia and Ian broke out in laughter, with Rachelle joining them. The three them laughed for a couple of minutes and slowly started to stop, all in tears. After Dalia's magical mistake, the three spent the rest of the afternoon talking in Ian's room. Ian completely forgot about the work lying on the nightable, the invisibility spell, Halvard, all of his worries left his mind.
"Don't feel bad Dalia" said Rachelle "You'll get it in no time"
"I don't know" said Dalia "Magic comes easily for you, but not for me"
Dalia's face looked a little sad. Maybe for Dalia the whole joke that they all laughed about was also a reminder to her that her magic was too limited.
"We're all in training. We all have skills we need to perfect" said Ian
"Even that small cock Halvard" said Rachelle
"At least you aren't almost burning people alive" said Ian
Rachelle and Ian laughed and Dalia managed a smile.
"Thank you" said Dalia
"Of course" said Rachelle
"I was beginning to think that I wasn't good at making any friends" said Ian with a chuckle
"That's what we are now, right? Friends?" asked Dalia
"Yes" Rachelle said with a smile "We are mages. Mages that are constantly blamed and treated unfairly by the people of Skyrim. But I promise that you won't find any animosity with us, Dalia"
"You're right" Ian said "Aemund told me when I first came that magic was slowly becoming a lost art"
"Not while I'm alive it isn't" said Rachelle
"Or when we are dead" said Ian
The group laughed.
Ian thought to himself that maybe him, Dalia, and Rachelle can save magic in Skyrim. Maybe the three people in this room could change everything. A ripple of change that went through all of Skyrim. But that's in the future. For now Ian would feel content when he isn't almost burning people and Dalia isn't transforming people into horses.
Part 5: Riften (Inside The Thieves Guild)
Dorian was laying on top of the sheets of his bed, looking at the ceiling of the Thieves Guild. It was late in the evening, and the room's only light by a slowly darkening candle on the other side from Dorian. He was thinking about what Immanuel and Miriana had said. Maybe Immanuel was right. Dorian never admitted it, but he usually was when the Guild was concerned.
Dorian shook his head. No, he thought, he must remember that Immanuel was also the person who betrayed him. Dorian knew his sister and was right where she was concerned, how could he not see that?
Dorian thought that he should get some sleep. Let the furs on the bed encase him in warmth. Tomorrow he'll leave the Guild first thing in the morning and won't be back for most of the day. He needed to go somewhere other than here for a while.
After about a half hour of pondering, he got out of bed so he could get under the covers. The room was silent as he fumbled with the fur. This silence broke with the sounds of footsteps. Footsteps that got louder with each passing second. Dorian turned around and saw Immanuel, holding a lantern. He look tired but serious. Dorian folded his arms.
"Why are you here?" asked Dorian
"I wanted to talk to you" said Immanuel "I was hoping you would have calmed down"
Dorian said nothing, just sat on his bed and raised an eyebrow.
"You've always been stubborn. Ever since you were a boy" said Immanuel. He put the lantern down.
"May I?" Said Immanuel while gesturing to a spot on Dorian's bed.
"Go ahead" said Dorian
Immanuel sat down next to Dorian in silence for a moment. The room was quiet except for the flickering of the lantern.
"I'm sorry about betraying you" started Immanuel
"I won't here it" said Dorian angrily
"You're angry" said Immanuel "I understand. Give me the chance to explain myself. I deserve that"
Dorian sighed, breathing out the stress from his body.
"Alright then. Go on" Dorian said
"Do you remember that time when you were 7? When you and Etta were playing in the Rataway? I do. You were both there and a big rat started to come after you. You put yourself in front of Etta to protect her. Thank Talos I got there in time to kill the rodent. I never forgot how willing you were to sacrifice yourself for her" said Immanuel
"Why are you telling me this?" Asked Dorian
"Because you have spent your whole life protecting others and never let people protect you. Say you died next week, and you left Etta here, unskilled and unable to protect herself. What would happen then?"
"It wouldn't. I would never leave Etta"
"But what if, Dorian? When you and Etta were left outside of the Guild when you were babies, I took the task of taking care of you, even when the others were against it "
Immanuel put his head in his hand and continued to talk.
"I love you and your sister like you are my own" he said
"Stop" said Dorian "You are a good man"
Immanuel chuckled.
"The leader of the Thieves Guild? A good person?" asked Immanuel
"To me you are" said Dorian
"Thanks"
They both fell into a silence which Dorian then broke.
"I forgive you" said Dorian
Immanuel lifted his head back up.
"Will you let us train?" Asked Immanuel
"I don't know"
Immanuel turned so he was facing Dorian.
"Listen to me Dorian. Etta wants to do this. I know you want to protect her and you can, but do you really want to live your whole life for someone else?" Asked Immanuel
Dorian thought. No, this wasn't what he wanted. He didn't want to look after Etta his whole life. He wanted for only one thing his whole life. Freedom. He wanted to be free to love Akeem and if the time comes, marry him. He wanted to be free to do something other than steal for money. Perhaps it was impossible but if it's anything he ever wanted, it was this.
"No" said Dorian. He got up from the bed.
"You can train" said Dorian
"Really?" asked Immanuel
"Don't make me regret this" said Dorian. He looked at Immanuel.
"But if she's going to train, I want it to be with you" said Dorian with a smile
Immanuel returned the smile.
"Now go" Dorian said "I need to sleep"
Immanuel laughed and got up and left. Dorian went under the fur covers with dreams of his new quest for freedom.