(Disclaimer: I do not own Skyrim; just Xana)
-Two months later-
Despite Odahviing's dismay, Xana had been summoned to Whiterun at the request of Jarl Balgruuf. He was hosting an honorary feast within Dragonsreach to celebrate her victory over the World Eater and to commemorate her achievements as the Dragonborn. In light of the occasion, she had traveled to Solitude nearly a month prior to commission the Radiant Raiment sisters for a custom dress, which she was now wearing.
Said dress was in fact, an elegant burgundy ball gown that enhanced her wide hips and large breasts, however; she couldn't help but notice that it felt rather tight across her midsection. Odd, considering that it had fit her perfectly when she was being measured and fitted for it almost a month ago. The sleeves came down to her elbows and the back was securely laced up. It was low cut across her chest and exposed most of her cleavage, much to her dismay, but she did love the way it complimented her hourglass figure. Along with her dress, she had her crimson hair woven into a stunning fishtail up-do and wore her Aetherial crown to complete the look.
At the moment, Xana was currently sitting across from Jarl Balgruuf and his court while they partook of the grand feast. There were Jarls from other holds, along with their Thane's and Housecarl's as well as several of Xana's closest friends and comrades who had all received personal invitations from Jarl Balgruuf.
As the feast carried on, the young Dunmer felt her head starting to spin. She shook herself of the nauseating feeling and gently clutched her amulet of Talos that rested atop her breasts in defiance of the Thalmor's ban of his worship. She was by no means a Stormcloak or an Imperial soldier, but she would not allow the Thalmor to dictate her beliefs. If nothing else, her amulet was a boon to her shouts.
After the nauseous feeling passed, Xana took a sip of mead before Farengaar's voice caught her attention: "So, Dragonborn, have you encountered any other dragons since defeating Alduin? I would very much like it if you could obtain some scales for me the next time you slay one."
She calmed the sudden urge to slap him and clenched her fist underneath the table as she glanced over at him, "Yes, Farengaar, I have encountered other dragons since Alduin's defeat; however, they have not shown aggression towards me and have made great efforts to atone for their past deeds. Therefor, I have no desire to slay any of them unless I don't have a choice in the matter. The scales and bones that I do possess within my home will be respectfully buried in the hallowed grounds where the dragons fell by my sword and my bow." She felt her cheeks burning up from the sudden anger she felt towards the wizard but thankfully, she kept her composure, "I would greatly appreciate it if you would drop the subject and forget you asked me such an appalling request."
He raised a brow from underneath his hood, "But what about that dragon you captured? Surely you dealt with him after Alduin was defeated."
She calmed herself and answered in a neutral yet annoyed tone, "His name is Odahviing and he is still very much alive and under my protection as I am under his protection. He has agreed to aide me should I need his assistance out in the field. All I need to do is call out his name and he will come to my assistance should I deem it necessary." Xana suddenly felt lightheaded again but pushed it aside as she glanced over at the Jarl, "My Lord, may I please be excused for a few minutes? I shall return momentarily once I've cleared my head."
He gave a nod, "Of course, Dragonborn. We shall be here when you return."
She gave a nod of appreciation before standing up and leaving the table, to which she then headed up the stairs and out towards the Grand Balcony where she stood by the edge and breathed in the fresh air. As she gazed up towards the Throat of the World, Xana felt a wave of nausea sweep over her frame. Bracing herself against the stone railing, she involuntarily purged her stomach of its contents until nothing remained. Afterwards, she shakily stumbled away from the ledge and made her way back towards the grand doors leading inside the palace when a wave of dizziness overcame her, causing her to collapse upon the stone floor.
After several minutes of absence, Balgruuf discreetly sent a guard to search for the Dragonborn. Upon entering the Grand Balcony, the guard found the missing Dunmer lying motionless upon the floor. Kneeling beside her, he noticed her face was a slightly darker shade of blue than normal, indicating that she wasn't breathing. Thinking quickly, he removed his helmet, rolled her onto her back and tilted her head up to which he pinched her nose and administered oxygen until the color returned to her cheeks.
Xana suddenly sat up and gasped for air, "…What…happened…?"
*sigh* "Thank the Gods you're alright, miss. The Jarl was wondering where you vanished to. I found you lying here on the floor. You weren't breathing."
She looked at the guard and asked, "I wasn't? How? Why…" She started gasping for air again and the guard realized what was happening: her dress was too tight. He moved behind her and unlaced her dress, allowing her to breathe easier. "Thank you." She blushed at her current state, "Umm….Could you lace it back up to where it's not too tight? I still need to wear it if I wish to return to the gathering."
It was his turn to blush, "Oh, right. Pardon me, miss." He gently laced her dress back up and helped her to her feet. "The Jarl will be relieved to know that you're alright. He was worried something happened to you."
"Well, I'm glad he sent someone to look for me. Thank…" she suddenly felt lightheaded and started to collapse but the guard caught her before she hit the ground. Picking her up bridal style, he brought her inside the palace and sat her in a chair while momentarily leaving her side to inform the Jarl of the situation.
Within minutes, Jarl Balgruuf made his way over to the Dragonborn with Danica Pure-Spring by his side. The healer quickly examined her and asked the guard, "Can you carry her over to the bedchambers? I need to do a more thorough examination, but I think she would prefer to be out of the public eye.
"Of course." He then looked over at the Jarl, "My Lord, do you wish to remain here or accompany the Dragonborn?"
He emitted a sigh as he looked upon the young Dunmer, "I will return to my guests after tending to Xana. She has done a great service to Skyrim in ridding us of Alduin. The least I can do is be there for her in her time of need."
"Understood," he then gently picked the unconscious woman up and followed Balgruuf and Danica into the bedchambers where Xana was gently placed upon the Jarl's bed. A warm glow filled the room as the priestess administered a healing spell on Xana, coaxing her from her involuntarily slumber.
"Where am I now?" She asked in a tired voice.
Danica smiled at the young Dunmer, "You're in the Jarl's chambers, but fear not my child: it's not what you think. We just moved you here so I could examine you without causing unnecessary attention from the other guests."
"Did I faint again?"
The guard nodded, "Aye. You were thanking me for assisting you when you started to collapse. I caught you and brought you back inside where I then informed the Jarl and Danica of the situation. Afterwards, we moved you here so Danica can examine you and cure your ailment."
*sigh* "I appreciate the concern but I'm fine, really. I probably just didn't sleep well or maybe my dress is still too tight."
"Hmm…You look pale. Have you been feeling nauseous lately?" Danica asked in a professional tone.
"Well, yes, actually. I hate to admit it, but when I stepped onto the balcony for some fresh air, I got sick and purged over the ledge. I've actually been feeling nauseous off and on for nearly a month now but it's never been to the point of physical illness." *sigh* "I've also been really tired lately and I don't know why. I used to go days without rest but after defeating Alduin, I've been sleeping every night. Maybe it's just my body trying to adjust to a calmer lifestyle."
She rubbed her chin, "Hmm…Interesting." Danica then looked over at Jarl Balgruuf and the guard, "Would you two mind stepping outside of the room for the time being? I need to ask Xana some questions. You know, woman to woman." Thankfully, they got the hint and left without asking, to which she then asked her, "When was your last menstrual cycle?"
*sigh* "I can't really say for sure. It's never been regular and when it does happen, it only lasts about three days."
"Hmm…When was the last time you had intercourse?"
Her cheeks turned a bright shade of crimson, "Umm….well…that would've been almost two months ago."
"I see. Would you lie still for me while I run a quick spell over you?" Xana rose a brow but nodded at her request to which she laid perfectly still while Danica used her magic to run a detect life spell across her body. Bright tendrils of light covered Xana's form but the one that stood out the most was a separate swirling ball of light within her lower abdomen: it was no bigger than a snowberry and pulsed with new life. "Just as I suspected," the healer warmly smiled at the young Dunmer.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Fear was laced in her voice though she tried to keep calm, to which Danica gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Nothing is wrong my child. The Gods have chosen to bless you with a precious gift. You're going to be a Mother."
At her words, Xana's eyes widened, "I…I'm going to be. How is this possible? I can't possibly be…." She softly placed her hands over her lower abdomen, "What am I going to tell him…"
Danica rubbed her shoulder and sat beside her, "It's alright, my child. I'm sure your husband will be thrilled at the prospect of becoming a Father."
She offered a hopeful smile and emitted a sigh, "I pray that he will. If nothing else, he may be surprised, but…" her smile suddenly faded as she worried her lower lip, "I'm scared. What if my child is hunted down and killed because of who I am or who their Father is. What if they're ridiculed for how they might look or behave. What if no one accepts them into society and they're exiled. What if…" she stopped when Danica soothingly squeezed her shoulder.
"Xana, you shouldn't fall victim to fear or doubts. Why would you think such thoughts in the first place?"
She sat up and held her lower abdomen in a protective embrace as she looked upon the priestess. "I will tell you, but ONLY if you promise to keep this conversation between the two of us. Please. I want to tell you the truth, but I need to be sure that I can trust you." Her ruby eyes were glistening with tears: she feared for her unborn child's safety as well as her mate's should this conversation be made public.
The Nord woman held up her right hand and stated, "Upon my life and duty as a healer and a priestess, this conversation stays with the two of us."
*sigh* "Thank you, Danica." Xana then took a deep breath and spoke in a hushed tone, "The reason why I am fearful for my child's safety is because of who the Father is. You see, my 'husband' is actually a dragon…"
Danica's eyes widened as she responded in an equally hushed tone, "A dragon?! How is that possible? And isn't this whole situation a bit hypocritical: The Dragonborn being bonded to a dragon?"
She softly smiled and shrugged, "You'd think so, yes, but it's true: my mate is in fact, a dragon." *sigh* "I can't say for sure how it happened, but Odahviing and I fell in love with one another after Alduin's defeat. He's so kind and understanding towards me, and he's never tried to hurt me even though he's had plenty of opportunities. He's gentle and protective of me, and if it wasn't for him, I'd never have been able to defeat Alduin."
She kept her hands over her lower abdomen as she continued her story. "It was after we realized our feelings for one another that we consummated our love with the help of a strange potion I had found within the depths of Skyhaven Temple. It was said to turn a dragon into a human, but only for a few days. Odahviing could have ordered me to destroy the potion or just refused to drink it, but he didn't. He wanted to spend those few, precious days close to me without his size becoming an issue. During his time as a human, Odahviing experienced the struggles we mortals endure on a daily basis, but he also experienced a deeper understanding of love."
She softly rubbed her abdomen, "Out of all the people I've met since coming to Skyrim, he's one of the few individuals who actually addresses me by my name instead of my title. I don't mind being called 'Dragonborn' or 'Dovahkiin', but I feel like that's all I am to people. They don't see me as a person with a name and a family. Instead, they see me as someone who is supposed to save the world and live up to their expectations." *sigh* "But Odahviing…he sees me for me. He sees me as someone who is afraid of letting everyone down. Someone who hates the taste of pheasant roast and alto wine. Someone who loves to sing but is too shy to do so in front of people, despite being a member of the Bard's College. And someone who sees dragons as majestic and beautiful creatures who deserve to live among the mortal races."
Danica emitted a sigh as she processed all this information, to which she then offered a smile to the young Mother-to-be, "You really do love him, don't you?"
She nodded, "Of course I do! I feel like I can be myself around him and tell him anything without ridicule. There's no one I'd rather spend my life with than him. He's my soul mate. My best friend. My closest ally and my dearest love."
"And the Father of your child."
At that, Xana blushed and smiled at the priestess, "Thank you, Danica. I'm sorry all this is a bit of a shock to you, but I hope in time, you will see Odahviing as I do."
"Well, the Gods tell us to love our neighbors, so considering he's your mate now, I suppose I'll have to get used to him."
"Thank you," the two of them shared a hug before Xana asked, "May I request that you be my midwife? I don't think I can trust anybody else and you're the best healer I know."
Touched, she curtly nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Of course I'll be your midwife. Honestly, I can't wait to see what your little bundle of joy will look like."
"Me too. Oh Danica, I want to tell Odahviing the good news, but I can't just up and leave the party…not when it's in my honor and the Jarl invited so many people to attend."
She gave her an understanding smile, "You'll have plenty of time to tell him later. For now, you should at least inform the Jarl of the situation. You don't need to tell him the exact details, but at least keep him in the loop before your condition becomes more prominent."
"You're right. Will you be so kind as to send him in? I need to tell him before we head back to the party."
"Of course," Danica then headed over to the door and stepped out of the room momentarily before returning with Jarl Balgruuf.
"My Thane, what illness has befallen you? Your health is my concern and as a member of my court, I will see to it that a cure is made."
At that, Xana shook her head and emitted a slight chuckle, "Actually, my Jarl, I'm not ill. I'm pregnant."
His eyes widened as a smile appeared along his face, "Oh, this is indeed joyous news! I'll be sure to inform the court…"
"No," she interjected. "I'm sorry, Balgruuf. It's just that I don't want my condition to be made public. But, like you, I too have enemies, and if word got out that I was expecting, my child's life would be at risk."
He sighed, "You're right. Forgive me for my eagerness; I was just overjoyed to hear the news. I can only imagine how your husband will react."
Xana felt her cheeks blush at the thought, "Yes, he'll be quite surprised I'm sure."
"Where is he by the way? I thought he'd accompany you to the celebration. After all, it's to commemorate your victory over Alduin."
"He's a busy man and doesn't often socialize with others. We met on one of my adventures recently and really hit it off together."
Balgruuf offered her a warm smile, "He's a lucky man. There are many who'd love to have the Dragonborn as their wife."
"Yes, well, I'm no longer available for marriage." She emitted a sigh, "That being said, I think we should head back down to the party before we're missed."
"Aye, that we should. After all, it wouldn't be much of a celebration without the guest of honor."
XXXXX
Thankfully, no one seemed to notice Balgruuf, Xana and Danica slip back into the crowd. By this point, everyone was too busy conversing with one another and drinking to have noticed their absence. Xana quietly took her seat across from Balgruuf and ate some meat before pouring herself a pint of water to wash it down. Afterwards, she stood up and mingled with some of the guests, enticing their curiosity with tales of her adventures and journey to Sovengarde.
As she finished her story, Jarl Siddgeir approached Xana and asked, "So, why is it that I haven't seen much of your pretty face in Falkreath lately, hmm? Someone like me should be graced by such beauty every now and then…Don't you agree?"
While it was no surprise that Siddgeir was quite bewitched by Xana's beauty (as most men were), he was never so direct with his advances simply because he always considered her beneath him on the status scale, even though her title as Dragonborn outweighed his and should have earned her more respect. She blamed his current behavior on the alcohol as his breath smelled heavily of wine. She turned her head to face him and offered a small smile, "My Jarl, you needn't concern yourself with the likes of me. I'm not some princess to be fondled and ogled like a prize winning mare."
"Mmm now there's a thought," he suddenly slid a hand down her side and placed it across her midsection: unknowingly, her unborn child rested directly beneath his fingertips. Xana's body stiffened as she was pulled against his frame. Through the layers of clothing separating their bodies, Xana felt a hard, prominent bulge poking her in the center of her lower back, signaling his arousal. "What's say we talk for a little while….privately," he whispered in her ear while gliding his hand along her stomach.
She felt the urge to slap him across the face but she kept calm and steadied her breathing. "I'm afraid that I must deny your request, my Jarl," she removed his hand from her midsection, "Please, enjoy the festivities. I shall try to speak to you another time…preferably when you are in a more sober state of mind."
With a huff, Siddgeir left and returned to the feast, leaving Xana to mingle with the other guests and enjoy the celebration.