(Disclaimer: I do not own Skyrim; just Xana, Brii and any other OC's I'm melded into the mixture.)
(Authors Note: Hello dear readers, fellow writers, fangirls, fanboys and fellow gamers. I apologize for not updating this story sooner but life has been rather hectic lately what with my anxiety attack, one of my former coworkers/adopted aunt being struck and killed by a speeding SUV and my sister about to have her first child in a few days...my mind has been focused elsewhere, but I haven't abandoned this story and I don't plan to. Oh no. I still have more to add onto it. Now, I can't guarantee that I'll post another chapter as quickly as you all might like, but I will get back to it as soon as I am able to do so. In the meantime, feel free to review and comment (no hate, please), for I appreciate your positive feedback. Thank you for taking the time to read this latest chapter :) Until next time, stay awesome!)
Upon arriving back at Lakeview Manor, Xana and her family spent the next three weeks tidying the place up and planting in the garden. Meanwhile, Odahviing spent the majority of this time as a dovah since he had spent so much time as a joor. Of course, he still offered to help his mate and her kin around the homestead by clearing away fallen debris and branches from the roof and surrounding grounds, as well as hunting wild game to replenish their meat supply. He also drove away a pack of wolves that had wandered too close to the homestead and even prevented a bear from entering the territory.
No! He refused to let any harm come to his mate and kiir.
Speaking of Brii: she was currently napping in a large flower basket with Light-Amidst-Darkness, while their Monah's washed a load of linens and clothes. Sea and Shore were down by lake fishing for tonight's supper, while Odahviing was casually lying nearby and draping his wing over the slumbering infants as a means to shield them from the sun.
"So, Xana, I've been meaning to ask," Nessie stated as she began scrubbing another tunic, "..do you ever miss adventuring around Skyrim and doing Dragonborn things like fighting off monsters and exploring ancient crypts?"
"Of course," the young Dunmer replied as she wrung out a pair of trousers and hung them over their makeshift clothesline. "But I don't miss the pressure of having to save the world looming over my shoulders."
"I can't even imagine the stress you must have felt."
*sigh* "No one truly can. Even before I found out that I was the Dragonborn, I was stressed. Reason why is because I was about to be executed for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Imperials thought I was in league with the Stormcloaks, so they thought that it would be better if I was executed...I mean, who would miss a skinny, redheaded nobody like me anyways?"
She then wrung out some linens and hung them up on the clothesline while feeling her mate's gaze upon her figure. "But then, Alduin came and inadvertently saved me from certain death. The next thing I know, I'm tasked with retrieving the Dragonstone from Bleakfalls Barrow. Everything just spiraled out from there, to which I then discovered that I'm this supposed hero of Nord legend and suddenly expected to save the world."
A small smile crossed her lush/dark lips as she returned to scrubbing laundry alongside Renessie. "But after reading Alua's journals, I can't really complain much, seeing as how she clearly had it worse off than I. I mean, she was tasked with delivering the Amulet of Kings, finding Uriel Septim's lost heir, liberating the city of Kvatch and expected to enter the gates of Oblivion and close them...on multiple occasions! I cannot even begin to imagine the horrors she saw. At least when I entered Sovngarde to face Alduin for the last time, it was beautiful and not filled with blood, ash and the dismembered remains of men, mer and beastfolk."
"You shouldn't have to compare your feats to those of your Monah," Odahviing finally spoke up. "You both accomplished incredible and near impossible tasks in order to save this world and all of its inhabitants from certain demise."
"True," she shrugged while a fond smile lined her face as she felt him nuzzle her back.
Meanwhile, Renessie lightly shook her head and emitted a chuckle, "You know, I still find your relationship ironic, yet poetic at the same time."
"Same here," Xana agreed with a smirk before feeling Odahviing's hot breath tickling the back of her neck, to which she reached over and lovingly scratched underneath his chin, which caused him to emit a deep grumble that sounded almost like a purr.
"So, Xana, do you still plan to track down your birth Father sometime?"
"Mhmm," she nodded. "I was actually hoping to travel to Solitude tomorrow and ask General Tullius about his status and location. I can't guarantee he'll have the answers that I seek, but maybe he can at least point me in the right direction."
"So, what'll happen if you do end up finding your birth Father? What will you say to him?"
*sigh* "I'll figure that part out once I find out whether or not he's still alive. If he's dead, then I'll drop my search and leave it at that...but if he's alive...I'm not quite sure…"
XXXXX
-The Next Day-
Brii was safely tucked away in the hide carrier across her Monah's chest while she sat (strapped) atop of Odahviing as he flew her towards Solitude. Upon nearing the grand city, he opted to land at Mount Kilkreath, to which Xana carefully unhooked herself from the saddle and climbed off his neck with their daughter in tow.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? Do you need me to drink one of those potions and accompany you?"
She warmly smiled up at her doting husband and lovingly caressed his maw, "Odahviing, I'll be fine. And so will Brii. I only need information from General Tullius and then I plan to leave the city. Now, I shouldn't be but an hour or two, so feel free to rest up a bit or do as you please...within reason of course," she winked, to which he emitted a deep chuckle:
"Do not fret, dii brit fahliil, I will refrain from attacking any villagers or devouring their livestock."
"I mean it," she warned before planting a kiss upon his maw. "I love you."
"And I love you," he nuzzled her cheek before lightly tapping Brii's cheek with the tip of his snout. "Take care of your Monah, dii mal dovah."
The tiny hybrid emitted a coo at his gesture, which made both parents fondly smile before Xana headed off towards Solitude with her daughter:
"What do you think, Brii? Are you excited to visit the city with Monah?"
"Oowah."
"I agree; we haven't had a proper outing where it was just the two of us. There's always someone accompanying us and while that's fine, I like the idea of a Mother/daughter afternoon together. Perhaps when you're older I can properly show you around Solitude, but today is strictly for business."
"Abaak."
"Oh? Well I think you'll like the city when you're older. For now, I doubt it'll hold any interest to you. But who knows? Maybe someday you'll want to study at the Bards College. Would you like to learn how to play the lute and sing?"
"Gak."
"Well, we should also have you study The Way of the Voice, seeing as how you're going to have the ability to project your voice into a thu'um like me and your Bormah."
"Agah!"
"Why, you're correct: you haven't met Paarthurnax or the Greybeards yet. I'll have to speak to your Bormah about correcting that issue. Besides, I think you'll like them. Did you know they showed me how to use my thu'um?"
"Gakaa?"
"Indeed. And this was before I met your Bormah and learned more about dovah's in general." Yes, it was silly to think that Brii could understand her at this stage of her development, but Xana enjoyed their banter nonetheless.
XXXXX
Upon entering the gates of Solitude, Xana made her way over to Castle Dour where the Imperial Legion was stationed. As she stepped inside and headed into the war room, her ruby eyes slightly narrowed at the sight of General Tullius and Legate Rikke. Granted, she had no qualms with the Legion as a whole, but these two? They ordered her execution back in Helgen. That was something she wouldn't easily forget.
Upon seeing the young Dunmer woman, the General stated, "Are my men now giving free reign to anyone who wanders into the castle? Do you have some reason to be here, citizen?"
Xana's eyes had a cold look to them as she gazed upon the Imperial man, "I believe we've already met."
"Have we?" He studied her features for a moment before his eyes widened in realization, "Oh. Of course. You were at Helgen! One of the prisoners, if I recall correctly."
"Indeed. Now, my reason for being here is simple: I need to know the whereabouts of a Dunmer named Sevan Telendas. I was told he joined the Legion twenty years ago, but that's the extent of my knowledge. Has that name crossed your desk before?"
"Legate Telendas? He commands the garrison up in Winterhold."
Hearing this, her heart raced: her birth Father was alive and in Skyrim?! Regaining her composure, she gave a polite nod, "Thank you for the information."
"Wait," Legate Rikke finally spoke up, "..Aren't you the Dragonborn we've been hearing so much about?"
Xana slightly narrowed her eyes at the Nord woman but nodded, "I am. Alduin has been defeated. The mortal realm, as well as the realm of Sovngarde is now free from his tyranny. You're welcome."
"You know, we could use someone like you in the Legion…"
"No," she answered plainly. "I've done my part and eliminated the main threat to this land. As you can see," she gestured to the little baby nestled in the hide carrier across her chest, "I have more important matters to attend to than some pointless war. However, if you truly want to win this battle, you should consider who the real enemy is in all this." With that, she sauntered out of the vicinity and exited the castle.
Glancing down at her daughter, Xana smiled when she met her gaze, "I think that went pretty well, don't you?"
"Buwah."
"I know. I didn't want to speak to them either, but I didn't have a choice."
"Agah."
As she walked towards the gates leading out of the city, Xana couldn't help the mixed emotions she was feeling upon learning of her birth Father's whereabouts. Yes, she wanted to see him, but she was a bit nervous about it. How would he even react to seeing her? Would he recognize her? 'Doubtful,' she mentally told herself, 'He left when I was a babe. There's no way he'd recognize me now.' Her mind continued to wander as she exited the city and began her trek back to Mount Kilkreath.
Upon reaching the Word Wall that sat across from Meridia's temple, Xana couldn't help the amused smirk that lined her face: Odahviing was casually perched atop the stone structure like a fearsome guardian, or a certain mentor she knew.
"Ada," Brii happily shrieked at seeing her Bormah, to which the large, crimson dragon descended from his perch and emitted an amused chuckle:
"Drem yol lok, dii mal kulaas," he nuzzled her cheek while she happily cooed and patted his scaly maw.
At this adorable display of affection between them, Xana couldn't help but smile, "It's moments like this that I treasure above everything else."
"As do I, dii brit fahliil," he then nuzzled her cheek before asking, "Did you find the answers you seek?"
"I did," she nodded. "My birth Father is still alive and is stationed here in Skyrim. According to General Tullius, he's commanding a garrison of troops up in Winterhold."
"Then I shall take you there," he lowered himself so that she could climb atop his neck and strap herself in, to which he then took off in a plume of dirt and snow.
XXXXX
Not wanting to provoke an attack from the Imperial soldiers, Odahviing landed a fair distance away from the camp and allowed Xana to dismount before he took to the skies once more. Of course, he had no intentions of leaving her and his kiir, so he stuck to simply flying overhead. Thankfully, the soldiers were not so brash as to just attack him on sight. This made Xana internally sigh with relief, knowing they at least had some common sense.
As she entered the camp, a soldier asked, "Did you just arrive here on that dragon?!"
She gave him a nod, "I did. As the Dragonborn, I have some connections to dragon kind. The one you saw me with has allied himself with me. Harm him in any way, and I will not hesitate to level this camp to the ground," she warned in a cold, dark tone that sent a frozen chill down his spine.
"N-Noted...But, may I ask why you are here?"
*sigh* "I need to speak to your commander."
"Y-Yes, mam. He's in the large tent over there," he gestured towards the central tent which was currently being used as a makeshift war room.
Approaching said tent, Xana felt her insides flutter with nervousness and anticipation. Peering into the structure, she spotted a heavy armored Dunmer studying a map with a concentrated expression lining his face. From what she could tell by looking at him, he was well-toned and rather muscular in build, which was not a common sight among elves. His head had been shaven, but Xana could see his hair starting to grow back and judging from his short, well-trimmed beard, she noted that it was dark grey in color.
Seeing the young woman (almost a girl) out of the corner of his one good eye, the Legate looked up from his map to face her, "Can I help you, citizen?"
Her ruby eyes widened: he was blind in his left eye as it was completely fogged over, while his right eye was a blazing Dunmer red. A series of scars marred the left side of his face, which brought a small internal smile to her for she too had an old scar along her left cheek. Focusing on his question, she gave him a nod and replied, "Are you Sevan Telendas?"
"I am. Why do you ask," his voice was rugged and deep, but had a calm and calculating air about it.
"I..I was hoping to find you."
"For what purpose," he studied the young Dunmer curiously: her figure was lithe and slender, yet curvy around her waist, hips, and chest. Her skin was a light blue/ashen grey color, while her hair was a bright crimson red. Her eyes (while Dunmer red) sparkled like rubies and her dark lips were curved into a warm smile. 'She looks just like...No…' He then asked, "What is your name, Miss?"
"Xana," she answered with an air of pride, "...daughter of Alua Borealu, and adopted child of Tenova and Flower-Song."
Upon hearing this, he cautiously approached her and extended a hand towards her face, to which he then lightly cupped her cheek, "...Xana...my daughter...Is it really you?"
She nodded, "It is."
"By the Gods...I don't even know what to say."
"Then don't say anything. Let your actions speak for themselves."
He smiled and hugged her close, to which she reciprocated his action by hugging him as well, while being mindful of her child. At this time, Brii opted to make her presence known by emitting a gurgling coo, to which the Legate's eyes widened upon glancing down at the little bundle: "...A baby?"
She nodded, "Yes...She's my daughter."
"I...I have a granddaughter?"
"Mhmm. Her name is Brii."
"Brii...what a beautiful name." He emitted a sigh and sat down in the nearby chair, "Apologies, this is all a bit overwhelming."
"I understand. Take your time. If needed I can come back.."
"No," he shook his head. "Please stay...I know you have questions."
"You got me there," she admitted with a slight smirk. "And I'm sure you have your own series of questions."
"I do...but you deserve answers."