(Disclaimer: I do not own Skyrim; just Xana, Brii and my other OC's.)
(Authors Note: Hello again my lovely readers! I hope you've all enjoyed the story so far because I've still got future ideas brewing in my mind. Now, I'd like to apologize for the delay in uploading this latest chapter as I have not been feeling well for the past month. I'm actually recovering from a nasty respiratory infection (No, not covid, RSV, or consumption/TB). I'm doing much better, but I've got some painful muscle strains as a result of all the coughing, so I'm pretty sore and not as upbeat as I normally am. Regardless, I'm on the road to recovery and back to work writing more content for my other stories. If you enjoy this chapter, feel free to leave a comment (no hate, please) as I enjoy your input. Thank you all for your continued support and patience! Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, stay hydrated, and stay awesome!)
Upon returning from his (successful) hunt, Odahviing was met with the sight of his daughter and nephew exiting the adjacent forest. While he certainly wasn't thrilled at the thought of them wandering off alone, he was more perplexed as to why his kiir was completely covered in mud. Landing across from them and setting his kill aside, the crimson dragon eyed the pair of youngsters and asked, "Why are you two not with the rest of the brod?"
Tucking her tail between her legs, Brii hesitantly met his piercing gaze, "Krosis, Bormah. We were playing in the field and followed a white rabbit into the woods. It was my idea to chase after it, not LAD's. So, if anyone should be punished, it should be me."
At her statement, Odahviing emitted a 'hmm' sound before an amused look appeared across his face, "Rinik pruzah." Without warning, he then began to lick the thick cake of mud off her small frame, causing her to shriek in surprise before breaking out into a fit of giggles.
"Bormah, that tickles," she shrieked as he continued to bathe her like a newborn foal.
Within minutes, Brii's face, tail, horns, hands and clothes were free of mud, but were now completely covered in dragon spit. As a result, her hair was now sticking up and out in various places, leaving her looking like a drowned rat. Seeing his cousin all disheveled, LAD couldn't help but laugh. Of course, she narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her nose at him, but refrained from saying anything as her situation was rather comical, despite her current disgruntlement.
Picking up his kill, Odahviing wordlessly gestured for the younglings to follow him back to the homestead, which both children did so without protest.
XXXXX
"So, did you learn anything from your little misadventure," Xana asked her daughter while washing the dragon spit off her face with a wet cloth as Brii sat in the heated bath.
"Never follow a white rabbit," Brii answered with a slight frown before slightly flinching as her Monah then rinsed off her hair before lathering it with soap. As this was happening, Odahviing casually lounged nearby and was eating his kill while listening to the conversation between his kiim and kiir.
"Aaand," the young Dunmer inquired.
"And never wander off unannounced or unsupervised."
"Exactly." Xana gently massaged Brii's scalp and emitted a sigh as she momentarily glanced over at her mate before addressing their child once more, "Your Bormah and I just want you and LAD to be safe. We know you two want to explore, but the woodlands here are just as dangerous as the ones back in Skyrim."
"But you said that you used to explore the woods when you were little."
"Yes, but I wasn't five years old." Xana then moved to properly face her child, to which she lovingly cupped her cheek, "Neither you or LAD are old enough to be wandering around unsupervised, nor are you both old enough to face the dangers that come with exploring the wilderness. Do you understand?"
She nodded, to which Xana lovingly kissed her forehead before moving back behind her and resuming with her bath. "So, did you ever catch that white rabbit?"
"Nid."
"Well, it's probably for the best. For all we know, it could have been a forest spirit trying to lure you and LAD into a trap," she noted while rinsing out her crimson hair.
"..What about a daedra?"
At that, Xana thickly swallowed, knowing how likely that could have been the case. "Yes."
"But aren't there good daedra as well as bad ones?"
"Yes, but those are far and few in between. Most of the good daedra I encountered were still pretty self-centered."
"What about the bad ones?"
Shaking her head, Xana was suddenly reminded of her encounter with Molag Bal, to which she shuddered, "..I would rather not talk about that, mal dovah. Perhaps when you're older, but not right now."
"Okay, Monah."
XXXXX
Upon finishing her bath and adorning some clean clothes, Brii headed into the house with her parents (after Odahviing drank one of the alteration potions and donned some clothes), to which she was greeted by her uncles, aunt, cousin and grandmother:
"I see you're finally clean. Would you like some hot apple cider to drink, sweetie," Flower-Song asked, to which the little hybrid nodded her head and took a seat by the fireplace where LAD was sitting.
"..I'm sorry for making everyone worry," she softly addressed the adults nearby.
"Me too," LAD added with a frown.
*sigh* "You both are forgiven; however, in the future, you will be accompanied by an adult while outside the house," Swims-To-Sea answered as he and his twin sat on either side of their wife.
"Okay," the little hybrid nodded in agreement before Flower-Song reappeared with two mugs of hot apple cider for her grandchildren:
"Here you go. Now, I'd wait a minute or two before drinking it," she advised as both children graciously accepted the mugs of hot/sweet deliciousness from her:
"Thanks, Granny."
"Thank you, Granny."
"Of course, my little ones. Now, supper will be ready in about an hour, so when you both finish your drinks, could you set the table for me?"
"Okay," both children said in unison while the adults headed off to aid her in preparing the evening meal.
XXXXX
-Later that night-
While sleep came naturally to most of the residents within the house, Xana was finding it hard to do so. Her discussion with Brii earlier had unfortunately unearthed some unpleasant memories of her various daedric encounters. One in particular stood out above all the others:
She had just arrived in Markarth and had offered to assist a vigilant of Stendarr with his investigation of daedra worship that had apparently been taking place within an abandoned house. This led her into said 'house of horrors' where after killing the vigilant in self-defense, she encountered Molag Bal, the lord of domination. The very air around his shrine felt heavy and cold, like a blade against her skin. She felt the barbed cage he had trapped her in: the cold iron grazed her skin like parchment, leaving burning streaks of crimson in their wake. She then heard his deep, commanding voice that chilled her soul to the core and dripped with terror in each venom-laced syllable. Although he hadn't physically manifested before her, she felt his presence all around her as if he was deliberately circling her cage.
Odahviing awoke to find his mate shuddering in her sleep while beads of cold sweat lined her brow. "Xana?! Xana, wake up. You're having a nightmare."
Upon feeling a hand on her shoulder, the young Dunmer jolted awake in a panic, to which she began to hyperventilate before realizing that she wasn't in Markarth, nor was she in Molag Bal's presence. Instead, she was safe in her family's home in Blackwind, and was beside the one being she trusted with her innermost secrets and desires. "..Odahviing."
"Geh, dii brit fahliil, Zu'u het," he calmly spoke and held her close as she hugged him and buried her face in his chest while he gently rubbed circles along her back and kissed her hair. Opting to comfort her further, he then scooped her up in his arms and held her. "Whatever horrible visions plague your mind, know that I'm right here and I won't let anything happen to you."
"Promise?"
"Geh," he nodded before pressing his forehead against hers in an attempt to help ease her distress. "Do you want to tell me what your nightmare was about?"
She emitted a sigh and gave him a small nod in response before quietly answering, "It was about Molag Bal."
Hearing the daedra's name, Odahviing mentally snarled, knowing it wouldn't do any good to act out such emotions at this time. But the thought of his kiim, his wife, being tormented by that vile monster made his blood boil. How he wished he could travel to the planes of Oblivion and smite that accursed daedric prince. Running his hand through Xana's long, crimson hair, he knew she likely didn't want to talk about the full context of her dream. And who could blame her?
Stroking her hair, he hugged her close and continued to rub her back while she calmed herself down. As they sat together, they heard a soft knock on their door before it opened to reveal their little girl in her nightgown and holding Blazey (her stuffed dragon) under her arm.
"Brii? What are you doing up," Odahviing asked as she stepped into the room and approached the bed:
"..I had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you tonight?"
"Of course, sweetheart," Xana answered as she dismissed her own fears and focused on her child. Moving aside, both parents made room for their daughter to join them in the bed, to which she was now lying in between them.
"Do you want to tell us what your hahvulon was about," Odahviing asked as he pulled the covers over her tiny frame and tucked her in, while Xana lovingly smoothed her hair.
"..I dreamt about a big wolf chasing me and LAD through the forest. We ran and ran, but it was so fast. LAD fell and I stopped to help him, but then the wolf closed in on us and then I woke up before it could eat us," she admitted with a small shudder, causing both of her parents to hug her.
"Your Bormah and I would never allow that to happen to either of you."
"I know," she softly smiled before emitting a tired yawn.
"Praan, dii mal dovah."
"..Can Monah sing me a lullaby first," she asked with those big, innocent eyes, to which Xana emitted a sigh and smiled before reaching over the side of the bed and grabbing her lute off the adjacent dresser, to which she sat up and began playing said instrument before softly singing:
"Little baby, hear my voice,
I'm beside you, Oh maiden fair
Our young Lady, grow and see,
Your land, your own faithful land.
Sun and moon, guide us
To the hour of your glory and honor.
Little baby, our young Lady
Noble maiden fair."
Upon finishing her song, the young Dunmer smiled at seeing her daughter fast asleep, to which she softly kissed her forehead before glancing up to see Odahviing staring at her with an adoring grin across his face. He loved hearing her sing and enjoyed listening to her play the lute. Of course, having studied at the bards college, she knew a thing or two about music and loved to perform for those she was closest to.
(Another Authors Note: The lullaby Xana sang to Brii is called 'A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal' or 'Noble Maiden Fair'. Now, obviously Scottish Gaelic is not my native tongue, hence why I opted to use an English translation. If it's not translated accurately, I apologize, but regardless, I think this song fits the scene :).)