The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Fourteen

The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Fourteen

                                                Chapter Fourteen

     Iriisii and Rigmor walk up the wooded steps to Casius tent. He notices them approaching, rises from his chair, and moves to greet them.

     Iriisii: "Casius Varon?"

     Casius: "Yes, you are the messengers that Baa' Ren-Dar said would be coming to see me with important documents?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am Iriisii Starborn."

     Casius: "Well met, and I can then assume this is Rigmor with you?"

     Rigmor: "Hi Casius."

     Casius: "Well met. I knew your father in the Great War, and I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Please come in, sit down, and have some refreshments."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, you are very kind."

     They find seats around a small table and Iriisii hands the documents over for Casius to peruse. As he flips through the pages, catching the most importants parts, he then looks up at Iriisii.

     Casius: "Has Yngol seen this already?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, he has. And he has agreed to discuss them with Ulfric. He says that he has concerns because of your presence here at the border with the 'Pale', and your 'testing' of his 'fortifications'."

     Casius chuckles, "Yes, I do like to cause him a few sleepless nights when opportunity presents. But the reason I am here is not to provoke him, but rather to deal with some bandits that have taken possession of a fort near here. They are raiding out into the countryside across the provincial border then retreating back where they are safe from the Jarl's men."

     Iriisii: "Yngol is having the same problem but with a different group of bandits. His bandits raided an Orc stronghold and slaughtered all within it. I took it upon myself to aid him in dealing with the scum. If you would like, we could help you with this group of human excrement as well."

     Casius: "Are you suggesting a special operation? If so, I like the sound of that."

     Rigmor: "Just the three of us could slip across the border, clear the bandits out, and be back across before the Jarl even knew anything happened. And we would need no more than the three of us to do this. I am capable of taking on several bandits by myself, and my 'Guardian' is better than I am. Even though she is teaching me how she was trained, it will be a long while before I reach her level of expertise, if I can at all."

     Iriisii: "Rigmor, do not sell yourself short. I have encountered only a very few two-hand swordsmen or women for that matter, better than you are. You just need the inside training to match your outside capabilities to become matchless. Mainly you just need more training in choosing your situations better. You will get there, I promise."

     Casius listens carefully to the conversation, picking up on Rigmor's evaluation of her Guardians skills. He then wonders if true, where did she get her training? How narrow or wide is her skill focus? And how is it that he has never before now heard of her? Someone with the talent that Rigmor believes she has should not have been able to hide that talent from being noticed. There is obviously more to her than meets the eye, and in his estimation there is a great deal here that meets the eye. Worth the effort to look into, but should also keep a fair distance until more solid information is available.

     Iriisii notes his interest, but knows this is not of any concern to her. As long as he does not come between her and the work she is called to do, there will be no problem. If he does, she will set him straight in short order as a favor to Rigmor and his regard for her and her father.

     They get up from the table and mount up on horses he has provided. They make their way to the bandit occupied fort. Once they get within sight but not too close they dismount, tie the horses to some brush, and walk to within earshot of the fort. Casius begins the announcing of his intentions, giving the bandits the option to leave on their own. She personally disagrees with such, but she knows he is following Imperial protocol. She just hopes he has a true understanding of the 'Rules of War', not the ones that politicians and scholars write down in heavy tomes and call 'policy', but the quite simple rules she was taught by the Blade Dancers' Battlemasters. You fight, whether a battle or a war, to win. You gather and use any advantage to further your position and cause. You leave no enemy behind you to get up and fight another day. Do all within your power to separate the innocent from the combatants. But above all keep in mind, if you fall, there will be no one to stop your enemies. Do what you must to survive, no matter how your actions will be perceived by others. If you must commit a lesser evil to prevent a greater, do not hesitate. The cost to bear a lesser is forgivable and much easier to bear, sometimes the greater ones can be enough to break even the strongest of souls. These tenets have served the Blade Dancers well over their entire existence, the fact that they have survived tough times, pogroms began against them when they would not bow to political pressure, when the innocent had no one else to stand for them the Blade Dancers were there. And so the innocent know the truth about them, know they can call upon them in need and they will answer.

     Iriisii listens to the banter from the bandits. The attempts to boast of their numbers against only the three standing before them. The taunts meant to demean and intimidate, to send them slinking back to the camp, their tails between their legs like a beaten dog. Iriisii stands stoic, showing no response, not fear, not anger, readying herself to totally commit to what must be done here. Some will fight to the last breath, some will cry out for mercy, even though if their places were swapped there would be no mercy, so Iriisii knows all must die within those walls. She looks at Rigmor, who can read past Iriisii's lack of expressions to know what she intends to do here. And Rigmor gives a slight nod of her head, which is enough for Iriisii to know Rigmor stands with her.

     Casius salves his conscience by giving the bandits a chance to disperse. Iriisii knows that even if they had, they would have gone and joined yet another group and continued their previous ways. And so now, many future victims will not fall to these bandits' weapons. It is enough.

     As she sees Casius draw his sword, she is leaping forward, drawing her own blade as she moves. The first few that come out the door are cut down by her, even as Rigmor passes Casius on the run with her own two-hand blade held high. Iriisii slips on inside the fort leaving those still moving out for Rigmor and Casius. She looks for and kills the archers first, the last one looking in amazement as she grabs his arrow from his bow before he can release it and drives it through his aiming eye and on into his head. Then she leaps along the palisade to reach those farthest away and work her way back to her comrades.

     Rigmor is well aware of what Iriisii is doing and why. She knows it will make it easier for her and Casius to keep those close engaged, so that none escape them and start tongues wagging. Casius does not have time to think about what Iriisii is doing. He has fallen into the routine drilled into him through the years by his own training and many battles. Then it dawns on him, the fighting is done, all inside the walls are down and the three of them are standing tall. He spys the tavern over against the wall and moves toward the door. Iriisii moves to intercept him, but he is too close and opens the door. Iriisii can hear the clang of swords against each other as she enters the tavern herself to see Casius start down the steps of the stairs to the cellar room underneath.

     Swearing under her breath, she leaps for the stairs down, slides down the far end grabbing the edge of the upper floor and using the downward momentum, swings herself to roll to the cellar floor, coming up and drawing her sword just in time to block a strike coming at Casius while another had him engaged. The bandit chief stands next to a pair of bodies on the bed beside him. He is wearing carved Nordic Armor, just one step below full plate such as a Knight would wear. Iriisii makes her move while he is watching Casius, noting he is a fool for thinking that the most dangerous warrior here has to be a man.

     He does not even realize he is dead, when she drives her blade into one of the few chinks in the armor he is wearing. Her blade sliding between his ribs from the side through both lungs and his heart. She draws her blade from him, as Casius drops his enemies, and sees the Bandit Chief drop to his knees, then fall flat on his face, the blood beginning to run from his body and pool a few feet away. Casius then realizes that Iriisii has just saved his life, for the Bandit Chief was obscured from his vision by the others he was fighting, and would have skewered him as soon as an opening showed itself. She had read the room in a split second, identified the greatest threat, and took care of it before the Chief even knew what hit him. He thinks to himself, 'How did we miss her? Where has she been during this entire war? Is it too late to try and recruit her?'

     She knows what he is thinking, it is not hard at all. But she has no intention of answering his questions. He has not earned the right to those answers, and besides, she has her own path to follow now. Even if his and hers travel together right now, she knows they will separate soon and she must go her own way. They walk back up the stairs and Casius sits at a nearby table, thinking about the needless slaughter that went on here. That so many innocents had to die and for what? Iriisii and Rigmor sit for a few minutes.

     Casius: "Rigmor, as I said I knew your father."

     As he goes on to regale her with a few stories of what he had seen him do on the battlefield. His stories sounded a lot like the ones she heard from Yngol, and others she had tracked down and asked of their memories of him. She then knew for certain that what was done to him, the stories told about him, that made him out to be a war criminal, were nothing but a pack of lies, self-serving lies the Thalmor made up to advance some agenda of theirs. When Baa' Ren-Dar said they feared him, he was right. They went to a lot of trouble to clear him off of the board, so that he would not be there to intervene. But they did not count on his daughter, a daughter mad enough, skilled enough, to draw upon those who knew her father, and forge them into a force to be reckoned with.

     Iriisii: "Time we got back, we do not want to be seen here if someone wanders by."

     Casius: "You are right, we are done here."

     They all rise and make their way outside.

     Rigmor: "It was all such a waste, the couple downstairs did nothing to deserve what happened to them."

     Iriisii: "You are absolutely correct, they did nothing. It was the bandits decisions that caused what happened here. And so you see what happens when good people do nothing when evil comes calling. It is why I was brought forward, in part to answer things like this. I know it makes no sense now, but later it will. And then we will know what it is that we have to do."

     Casius: "What is it that you have to do?"

     Iriisii: "Right now? Help Rigmor until our paths part, then I go after Alduin. What I will have to do to accomplish that only the Gods know, but they will tell me when they decide it is the right time."

     Casius: "How can you...?"

     Iriisii holds up a hand for silence.

     Iriisii: "It is not for you to know at this time. Rigmor knows, as do a few others. You will know when you need to know, not before. And it is not I who makes these decisions. I see the unasked question on your face, you know the answer to this question if you will open your eyes and see, listen with your ears and hear, silence your tongue and not drown out the faint, still voice that speaks to you in the quiet moments. Now let us return to your camp, soon we must leave to continue our journey. Time waits for no man and we grow closer to our goal."

     Casius looks to Rigmor and she just shrugs her shoulders, then moves to catch up with Iriisii. Casius wonders about Rigmor's Guardian, where she came from? Who she is? He knows she is a supremely trained and equally talented warrior, and if he does not miss his guess, in close contact with the Divines, and may even be a Seer, all wrapped up in one person. He shakes his head to clear out his musings, she is right that they need to return to the camp. So he goes to his horse, mounts up, and starts back.

     They ride back with no unduly encounters, continue up to the steps to his tent. As Rigmor and Iriisii stand outside, Casisu walks in toward a chest of personal valuables. He opens the chest and looks for a specific item. He does not know why he feels led to do this, but it does feel right to him, as he picks up a necklace that belonged to his now deceased mother. He stands for a moment looking at it, remembering how she looked as she was wearing it. He also remembered that she never said where she got it from or when she acquired it. Now he will likely never know.

     Standing outside with Rigmor and Iriisii.

     Casius: "Rigmor: I want you to have this, it belonged to my mother."

     And he hands her a necklace of silver and black diamonds. Rigmors breath stops as he places it in her hands.

     Rigmor: "Please, I cannot take this. It is too valuable as well as being a family heirloom."

     Casius: "I want you to have it. My mother has passed on, and there is no one else to pass it on to. I believe she would be honored if you would take it."

     Rigmor: "It is very beautiful. What kind of gems are these? I have never seen their like before."

     Casius: "They are black diamonds. I do not remember when or where my mother got this from, but she always enjoyed it, whether she was wearing it or just admiring it as she looked at it."

     Rigmor looks at Iriisii as she nods her head for Rigmor to take it. Somehow, somewhere deep inside, she feels it is important that Rigmor accept the necklace.

     Rigmor: "Thank you, Casius. I will treasure it as your mother did."

     Casius: "Good journey to you both then."

     Casius returns inside the tent while Rigmor and Iriisii make their way out of the camp.

     Rigmor: "How much longer do we have to wear these disguises?"

     Iriisii: "Just until we can get somewhere private to change. I really do not feel like giving the soldiers a show."

     Rigmor: "You never feel like giving anybody a show! Well...there was that time at the hot springs."

     Iriisii: "And did you like what you saw?"

     Rigmor blushes and turns her face to the side to hide her reaction. Iriisii gently places a hand on the side of Rigmor's face and turns it toward her own.

     Iriisii: "Never be ashamed of how you feel toward someone, whether you like them or not. Those feelings are yours and you have every right to be proud of them. You do not have to answer to anyone about what you feel for they do not walk in your shoes and so have no right to judge you."

     And with that Iriisii draws Rigmor into a hug.

     Rigmor: "Do you have feelings for me? I know you still love Rose, that will never change, but what about me?"

     Iriisii stands stock still and silent, asking herself that same question.

     Iriisii: "Let us sit for a minute or two."

     They find a sturdy log to sit down on.

     Iriisii: "I guess I do owe you an answer, if you are strong enough to ask that question. Yes, I do have feelings for you. They have come about slowly, day by day, but they are there. Right now I have buried them in my heart, because of my job as your Guardian. I must be ready to do as I think best for you and if I give in to those feelings, I am afraid I would go in directions that you are not ready for. My feelings for Rose, hit me like a avalanche of rocks burying me in just a few seconds. But my feelings for both of you are equal. I would give my life for either one of you without hesitation. I do not know if ever I will see Rose again. I cannot live my life on the hope of maybe. There must be something there, even if it is but a shred that I can hold onto. My grief at Fort Black was real, but even that was not strong enough to dislodge my feelings for Rose, and my feelings for you are just as strong."

     Rigmor looks up at Iriisii, contemplates her words, then moves in to kiss her.

     Iriisii puts a gentle finger between them against Rigmor's lips, who seems quite disappointed and a little put out by it.

     Iriisii: "This is neither the right time or place for that. Well maybe the right place, but definitely the wrong time."

     Rigmor: "Why is it the wrong time?"

     Then she hears the beating of leathery wings just at treetop level.

     Iriisii throws Rigmor to the ground and covers her with her body just as the dragon lets go with a frost breath attack. Rigmor feels the cold, but it is Iriisii whose teeth are chattering, even as she rises and turns to face the dragon. Still astride Rigmor she lets loose with her own fire breath attack, but something is different this time. This time instead of just a single blast of fire she releases a constant stream, hitting the dragon at the base of his neck. As he beats his wings to raise himself up, Iriisii's fire breath stream rakes him all the way down his underside.

     He flies around, hurting and crazed, coming back for another go. Iriisii then knows this is not a named dragon, he is too young and impetuous. An older one taking a hit like that would head away in another direction to heal, before even thinking about a return match. She waits until she can get a clear lead on him, then lets go again, this time catching him along his side and also catching his wings. He cries out in pain as he begins falling to the ground. Iriisii draws her blade to finish him, but as he hits the ground his head drops to the ground and bounces before her. His body begins the process of giving up all that it is to the victor.

     As his soul, his knowledge, and his power flows into her. Her body glows a fiery clear blue and rises up into the air. Rigmor moves out from beneath her as Iriisii drops to the ground and an explosion of power radiates from her. Then as Iriisii tries to walk, she staggers and begins to fall. Rigmor is at her side in an instant, grabbing her and supporting her. She immediately feels Iriisii's weakness knowing this is in no way feigned.

     Rigmor: "Are you all right?"

     Iriisii: "Help me sit back on that log. Gods but he was a bad one."

     Rigmor: "What do you mean?"

     Iriisii: "He was a young one, unnamed, unblooded. He had little knowledge, or power to give to me. But his lifeforce, his future potential had he chosen to go in another direction, that was overwhelming."

     Rigmor: "Sit for a few minutes, rest yourself before we go on. Why do you think this time was different from the others?"

     Iriisii: "I do not know, maybe later, I can ask my Dragonsoul and see if he can answer that."

     Rigmor: "You can talk to him?"

     Iriisii: "From within my mind, yes. It is like having a mental conversation with myself, but also knowing the other is different from me. A very strange feeling, but one I have grown accustomed to."

     Rigmor: "I think I see what you meant earlier about the personal burden being my Guardian places upon you. You acted as my Guardian, putting yourself between me and the Dragon, even as you withstood his frost breath. If you had acted as my lover, we would have both been caught by his attack as we were distracted by a kiss."

     Iriisii: "A hard way to learn the difference it requires of me, but one that will be remembered for a long time. Come on, we have to meet Baa' Ren-Dar in Riften. He said to enter by the south gate, and that he would be at the Temple of Mara."

     In Aetherius, Talos and Alessia watched the events as they happened. Talos looks at Alessia, curiosity beginning to form across his face.

     Alessia: "All right, what is it that you are thinking about our daughter?"

     Talos: "She takes after us both in many ways."

     Alessia: "Yes, I can see that as well as you do, but you are thinking of something specific are you not. So let me answer that, yes, I believe she will not be bound by a single partner. Her heart is far too large for one to be able to fulfill her needs. It will be a difficult road to travel, for most will not understand, and some will judge her for it. And as her power grows, so will the number of her loves increase."

     Talos: "So far she has shown a very discriminating taste for those she is attracted to."

     Alessia: "I am not going to anticipate who she will feel attracted to, either male or female. It will be her decision to make, but at least she is choosing ones who can become as she is, able to share her with others, once they learn not to be afraid to reach out and share among themselves as well. And one more thing you should get used to."

     Talos: "And what is that?"

     Alessia: "She will one day have a very large family, and they will be together, not strung out apart. I wonder how many grandchildren she will have for us to spoil."

     Talos smiles and wraps his arms around Alessia, "the more the merrier."

     Alessia: "You say that now, but when you have to run yourself ragged chasing after them you might say differently."

     Talos: "For our grandchildren, I will make exceptions."

     Alessia: "We will see. I hope you do, but we will see."

     Iriisii and Rigmor walk carefully through the forests of the Rift. Wildlife abounds as do the predators that feed on them. There is ample opportunity for Iriisii to show the uses of both the 'Aura Whisper' and 'Kyne's Peace' shouts.

     Rigmor: "Those two shouts used in tandem are truly awesome. Being able to know where the animals are, then make them peaceful to where we do not have to kill everything around us as we move toward Riften. That is very useful."

     Iriisii: "There are quite a number of such pairs, depending on what your goal is. Now take the left fork in the road, it will follow the shoreline all the way to Riften."

     They keep going using the paired shouts to quiet and ease the path ahead until they are in sight of the southern gate into Riften. As they approach the guards instruct them to use the north gate.

     Iriisii: "We are friends of Baa' Ren-Dar, he is expecting us."

     Gate guard: 'All right, we will let you through this time."

     The guard unlocks the gate and they walk through. Following the narrow walkway, they pass by the orphanage.

     Rigmor: "How I wish there was no need of those."

     Iriisii: "I know how you feel and completely agree. But it is what it is, but also better ways of handling this can be used if it is desired strongly enough."

     Rigmor: "Like your boarding school?"

     Iriisii: "Yes. If we get time, I will talk to the one who runs this orphanage, I believe my school has enough empty seats to accommodate these children here."

     Rigmor: "That would be wonderful, that way none need be left behind. Come on, Baa' Ren is waiting and I want to see him before sleep catches up with me."

     As they enter the Temple, Iriisii feels the warmth and compassion that seems to fill every space here. It comforts her greatly and eases her worries about what comes next. She tells Rigmor to go ahead, that she wants to sit a bit and listen to what Mara has for her to hear. Rigmor goes on to the back rooms as Iriisii finds a seat up front. Dinya soon comes and sits beside Iriisii.

     Dinya: "Welcome Dragonborn of Akatosh, Guardian of Rigmor of Bruma, and Champion of the Nine."

     Iriisii: "I welcome you Priestess of Mara, I have not felt such warmth and compassion in too long a time."

     Dinya: "Mara says to tell you, one day all that you endure will be worth the treasure given to you."

     Iriisii: "If it were anyone else telling me that, I would tell them to keep their treasure, but I know Mara does not consider gold and jewels to be treasure. What she does consider to be such are the things I cherish most in this world, and so I will look forward to that day."

     Dinya: "And so shall all of us who know as you do, what treasures she has for us. Soon you must endure a great trial, one that will test you to your limits. Stay strong, believe in the Nine, and they will share the burden with you. Follow the path Father Akatosh has set for you and the Mother's treasures will begin to be given to you to show you her love, the love of the rest of the Nine, and most of all the love of your parents. You are unique in that there has never been one before born as you have. The ones you will bring to you, and the ones you will bring into this world, will bear names that the greatest legends of the past will pale to when compared to them. And your name will outshine them all. Now Baa' Ren-Dar and Rigmor await you."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, Priestess of the Mother, may you be blessed above all others."

     Dinyu: "The Mother has blessed me already by letting me carry her words to your ears. She will watch you, and when needed she will shield you in her arms."

     Iriisii stands, walks over to the 'poor box' and dumps the coins in her pouch into it, then makes her way to the back.

     Dinyu watches her as moves out of sight, "May the Mother give you her greatest blessings and keep you in her loving embrace."

     As Iriisii goes to the table Rigmor and Baa' Ren-Dar are sitting at, Rigmor gets up and declares she is going to take a nap and goes into the adjoining bedroom and lies down to sleep. Baa' Ren-Dar has a conversation about Rigmor with Iriisii listening to what Baa' Ren-Dar had observed in her since he last saw her. She agreed with most of what he had to say, but still felt she needed to caution him about withholding information from her. Rigmor calls out from the bedroom that did they know she was just in the next room.

     Baa' Ren-Dar stands and asks Iriisii to follow him outside. Iriisii stands and says she will catch up in a moment. He goes on into the main room and to the front door. Iriisii goes into the bedroom to Rigmor and apologizes if they disturbed her.

     Rigmor: "If I had known the two of you were going to talk about me, I would have stayed up."

     Iriisii: "Why didn't you get up and come in there?"

     Rigmor: "Because then he would have closed up and I would never find out what he was saying."

     Iriisii: "I will go and see what it is he wants to say without you listening, then I will come back and tell you."

     Rigmor: "You would do that for me?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, it would not be the first time I have gotten on to him about keeping things from you."

     Rigmor: "When did you do that before?"

     Iriisii: "At Angie's when we came back from meeting Tilar and his cronies."

     Rigmor: "What did you say to him?"

     Iriisii: "That I liked and respected him but that he should have told you that Tilar was the same Thalmor responsible for your torture. Then we would have been better prepared when we met him than we were. I said if he could not speak to you himself then he should have spoke to me and let me tell you. Then I said if this happened again then we would have problems, because doing things like that affect how well I can protect you. What he said in the next room was his observations of how you have matured. Nothing about any other surprises."

     Rigmor: "Thank you, Dragonborn, for trusting me with all of this."

     Iriisii: "I believe in you, Rigmor. I know you can handle more than you think. But if the load grows too great, I will always be there to share it with you, as you have been there for me."

     Rigmor: "We have each been there for the other haven't we?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, we have, haven't we."

     Rigmor puts a hand on Iriisii's arm as she moves to stand.

     Rigmor: "Do you think this might be the right time and place?"

     Iriisii lets her heart answer, as she leans down and kisses Rigmor. She then stands up as Rigmor sighs.

     Iriisii: "Get some sleep, we will not be long. Then I will join you. Here at least we should be safe."

     Iriisii makes her way to the front door and steps out into the night sky. Only the stars are out right now, and the vivid display is wonderous to behold, stretching from one end of the sky to the other. Just how many stars are out there she asks herself? How many worlds like Nirn are there circling those stars? How many of those worlds have people of whatever kind living on them, raising families, having children, suffering all the problems that we suffer here? Have they found answers to any of those problems, or are they too seeking answers? Do they have Gods watching over then as we have watching over us? Maybe one day we will find out, maybe one day I will find out.

     She turns to the bench on the side of the Temple wall and see Baa' Ren-Dar waiting for her. She moves to him and sits where she can see him.

     Iriisii: "You wished to speak with me, where Rigmor would not overhear us. If she did not love you so, that would be a bad thing to do."

     Baa' Ren-Dar does not comment on her statement, but rather begins talking about his concerns for her future. Iriisii notes them for she too has had some similar thoughts, but she also knows that she will do all she can to help Rigmor through them. Then she realizes he has been talking to the Seers of Corinthe, and what they have told him is at the base of what has him concerned.

     Iriisii: "Tell me what the Seers told you that has you upset. Maybe together we can chart a course to travel."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "They could not give this one solid words, only visions of fog, and words of shadow with no substance."

     Iriisii: "Fog can hide substance, yet a light breeze and the light of the sun will disperse fog quickly. Substance can hide within shadows, yet one who is intimate with shadows, knows how to see inside them to the truth. Speak to me of what was said, and let us see what we can see."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "This one can only feel that my daughter's time on Nirn grows short. She has a great destiny ahead of her, but many trials as well, and once her destiny is done, to be cast aside. They say there may be another way, but they cannot see it. It is being hidden from their sight, hidden even from the Divines themselves."

    Iriisii: "If it is being hidden even from the Divines, then it is of those even higher and more powerful than they. Ones we have no knowledge of, and I feel that is why it is hidden. Not to hide it from our sight so that we do not see the path, but to hide those who own and guide it, to keep it safe until it is time to choose whether or not to take that path. We must not fear what we do not see, but rather remain steadfast in what we do know and trust the Gods to help us as they are able to when the time of choice arrives."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "This one asked if you were a Seer."

     Iriisii: "What did they say?"

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "They said, you were above. That your knowledge comes from beyond where theirs comes. That there is no word for what you are and will one day become."

     Iriisii: "And this frightens them?"

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "Not them, but the Gods out there, yes. They feel the fear from certain parts, where others feel hopeful that you will..."

     Iriisii: "Will what?"

     Baa'Ren-Dar: "Step beyond them. Step into the vast unknown." As he looks into the vast panorama of stars in the sky, "Out there, and maybe beyond out there, where we cannot see and know. Where even Sithis in the Void, does not see and know."

     Iriisii: "Such will come about as and when it will. Then can decisions be made as to where we go, not before. We should not go borrowing trouble from the future that may not exist."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "Wise words indeed. Might this one know what your feelings toward Rigmor are?"

     Iriisii looks out at the stars for nearly a minute before turning her head to Baa' Ren-Dar to answer him.

     Iriisii: "I love her, but I must also bury those feelings in my heart as I am her 'Guardian'. We have spoken of this, and she understands why it must be this way."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "Will you tell this one why you must do this? She is in a fragile state and easily broken by a misplaced love."

     Iriisii crossly, "You underestimate her time and time again, because you only know her from the time when she was near death from torture. You truly know nothing of how her father prepared her to endure what would come her way after his death. She has depths of strength pooling deep within, waiting for her to draw from them as she is learning to do. But to answer your question, we were out there in the forests of the Rift coming here. When she asked a question of me. She asked, 'Do you have feelings for me? I know you still love Rose, that will never change, but what about me?'.

     I asked for us to sit upon a log and talk about it, then I told her this, 'I guess I do owe you an answer, if you are strong enough to ask that question. Yes, I do have feelings for you. They have come about slowly, day by day, but they are there. Right now I have buried them in my heart, because of my job as your Guardian. I must be ready to do as I think best for you and if I give in to those feelings, I am afraid I would go in directions that you are not ready for. My feelings for Rose, hit me like a avalanche of rocks burying me in just a few seconds. But my feelings for both of you are equal. I would give my life for either one of you without hesitation. I do not know if ever I will see Rose again. I cannot live my life on the hope of maybe. There must be something there, even if it is but a shred that I can hold onto. My grief at Fort Black was real, but even that was not strong enough to dislodge my feelings for Rose, and my feelings for you are just as strong'.

     It was at this moment we were attacked by a young 'Blood Dragon', one not yet having earned a name. I pushed her to the ground and covered her with my body as his 'Frost Breath' hit us. Then I rose up, standing astride her and defended us both from him. After he died at my hands, she came to me and said, 'I think I see what you meant earlier about the personal burden being my Guardian places upon you. You acted as my Guardian, putting yourself between me and the Dragon, even as you withstood his frost breath. If you had acted as my lover, we would have both been caught by his attack as we were distracted by a kiss.'

     She sees why I must be her Guardian, before I can ever be her lover. And this must be until our paths part and she returns home. For I must stay here, in Skyrim, and deal with the threats that I have still to deal with. After they are done, who knows what the Gods will have for the two of us then. I can not say, but I feel in my soul that we will meet again, and the fate of Nirn will once more be decided by our actions."

     Baa' Ren-Dar is about to say something when Iriisii has some form of premonition about what he is going to say.

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "Who is this 'Rose' you spoke of, and..."

     Iriisii: "Stop! Before you go further, know this! Without Rose, Rigmor would have died of her wounds received by her fall from the cliff into the tree near Riverwood. It was Rose who witnessed her fall, and came to find help in spite of the Thalmor still in the area looking for Rigmor. Rose had no idea of who Rigmor was or why the Thalmor wanted her. She just knew that a young woman needed help, help she could not give alone. And so she saw me on the road to Riverwood and called out to me to render aid.

     She it was who told me what was needed to save Rigmor's life and where I could get it from. It was her camp that I rowed them across the lake to and carried Rigmor to a lean-to where she could be treated and kept safe. It was Rose who went into Riverwood to pick up her cuirass that I had earlier taken to the blacksmith to be repaired. When Rose was betrayed by Morion, a nephew of the Jarl of Falkreath, seeking to curry favor with the Thalmor, and taken to Fort Black. She did not reveal anything to them of Rigmor and myself, instead she escaped on her own, and made her way across the border into Cyrodiil. So you see, Rigmor owes her life to Rose as much as she does to me. And I will have nothing ill said about her."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "This one stands corrected, and must apologize for being short sighted."

     Iriisii: "Apology accepted, it is now forgotten."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "Since this one knows not what the Gods have intended for Rigmor's future, would you consider this favor. This one knows of a place near Ivarstead that is both beautiful and quiet. There if but for a short time, she could find peace in the midst of all this turmoil."

     Iriisii: "Say no more, I would be honored and happy to take her there. For seeing her happy is truly a gift from the Gods."

     Baa' Ren-Dar: "Hearing those words from you lifts the despair from this one's heart. This one thinks to sit awhile and gaze at the stars. They are very beautiful this night."

     Iriisii: "Indeed they are. A little secret between the two of us. If you are quiet and your mind is still. Listen with your heart and soul for maybe the stars will fill you with things you would know."

     Iriisii stands and walks back inside to the back bedroom. Rigmor is fast asleep, so Iriisii carefully prepares for bed, and slips under the covers. She patiently moves to Rigmor's scarred back and snuggles up to her, placing an arm around her to hold her as she falls asleep next to Rigmor. Her last thought before sleep takes her into the lands of dream is that this is the time to be Rigmor's lover and not her Guardian.

     When they awaken in the morning hours, they find Baa' Ren-Dar has already gone, but he has left them a map with the location and a route marked to reach Diamond Ridge mine.

     Iriisii: "Rigmor, look here, this is Northwest Camp where we came out of Haafingar. The mine is back to the west and a bit south. See, here is the border with Hammerfell. It is almost right on the border."

     Rigmor: "So you know how to get there?"

     Iriisii: "There is no direct road or trail marked from the camp to the mine, but look here, these symbols placed along the way. These are cairns, placed there as landmarks to follow. We start from the one at the camp, and follow these in this order, they will lead us to the mine."

     Rigmor: "At last, we have a path to get there. When do we leave?"

     Iriisii: "I have a few things here toi tend to but we will leave in time to reach this place here."

     Iriisii points out a camp near Ivarstead.

     Iriisii: "We stay the night there, and then move on in the morning. We may have to find a few other places to camp along the way or find a neutral Inn. It is quite a distance to get there."

     Rigmor: "Here is a note, Baa'Ren says our wanted status has been revoked by order of the Emperor. The Empire is no longer looking for us."

     Iriisii: "Good, but I will bet the Thalmor are still hot for our heads, so we will be careful nonetheless."

     Rigmor: "I guess you are right about that."

     Iriisii: "They would take our heads and then apologize to the Emperor. He is not in a position to start another war over us, so we have to keep out of sight. If any come upon us, we kill them all and hide the bodies. I have been informed there is a private bounty put out by Elenwen on my head. I do not know how much, but it is being given only to Thalmor. She has also sent for assassination squads to find me. Those I do not worry about, they are rank amateurs and not really worth the trouble, except for just to clear the air of their stench."

     Rigmor laughs at Iriisii's comment.

     Iriisii: "It is good to hear you laugh, many times a good laugh can may things look brighter and feel better, less burdensome."

     Rigmor: "You are right, I do feel better. But I also think waking up with you next to me had a bit to do with that."

     Iriisii: "Come on, do you want to go with me or wait here until I am done.

     Rigmor: "Where are you going?"

     Iriisii: "Into the market first, then I want to visit the orphanage."

     Dinya: "May I ask why you wish to visit the orphanage?"

     Iriisii: "I have a number of seats open at a boarding school I own just to the west of Whiterun. All of the children already there are orphans of the war or plague. When ever I can, when I find an orphan who has no one, I send them to my school. There they are cared for, fed, given an education, and later trained for whatever kind of job they would like to pursue.

     I have a very large library there that I have packed with books I find in my adventures. There are classrooms, a dining hall, dormitories, playrooms, some of the teachers even have a story hour in the playrooms. There are plenty of staff, teachers, guards, cooks, maids, a headmistress to keep things running in my absence. And a few special dragons to keep the more dangerous bandits and such away. One is called 'Snowdevil', he is pure white, and likes to perch on top of my house when I am there."

     Dinya: "It sounds so special, no one else is caring for the orphans like that. But be careful around Grelod the 'Kind', when you visit the orphanage. Something is not right about that place. There is nothing anyone can put a finger on, but although she says some of the children are being adopted, none are ever seen or heard from. One day they are there, the next they are gone."

     Iriisii: "I see. I will be careful and take note of what she says. If I sense something not right, I will look further into it."

     Rigmor: "If she thinks she can get around Iriisii, she has another thing coming. There is no place she cannot go and be unseen, if she really wants to."

     Iriisii: "Might be better to go to the orphanage first, then shop, before we leave. Thank you for the warning, Dinya, I will be careful. Rigmor, if I vanish while there, quietly leave and wait for me outside the orphanage. It will depend on what I feel in there, if things need tending to right away or if it can wait for a bit."

     Rigmor: "Ok, ready when you are."

     Iriisii: "Let us go, then."

     They leave the Temple and turn left to go to 'Honor Hall', the orphanage. At the door, Iriisii looks toward Rigmor.

     Iriisii: "Let me do the talking, look around the place and see if you spot something out of place. If Grelod speaks to you, then answer her without saying anything of note. I especially would not tell her your name, best not to take the chance she would sell you out to the Thalmor. If you can make friends with any of the children quietly, then do so."

     Rigmor: "Ok, do not let myself lose my temper and skewer her."

     Iriisii: "Perfect, ready?"

     Rigmor nods her head and waits for Iriisii to enter first. They hear Grelod's voice as she tries a mix of veiled threats, disparagement, and blame shifting for why they are still there and not adopted. Rigmor already has a solid frown on her face, and Iriisii is resorting to her training to keep her feelings away from her face. She gestures to Rigmor to wait until Grelod is done before showing themselves. They wait listening to the veiled venom in Grelod's voice, twisting and warping these children's view of themselves. Rigmor gets an idea and leans into her ear whispering.

     Rigmor: "Let me be your housecarl, while you reprise being Thane of Whiterun. This will make it difficult for her to deny you adopting any of these children. And it will explain how you could have a boarding school in a way she will accept."

     Iriisii smiles and nods her head, then gives her a sly wink, which draws a smile from Rigmor. Soon enough Grelod dismisses the children and Rigmor straightens herself and walks into the main room. As all eyes turn to her, she announces to everyone Iriisii's presence.

     Rigmor: "My Exalted Lady, Iriisii Starborn, Thane of Whiterun."

     Iriisii stately walks into the room close by to Rigmor.

     Iriisii: "This is the orphanage called 'Honor Hall'?"

     Grelod the kind: "Indeed it is, My Lady. I am Grelod the Kind, and I am tasked with running this orphanage. Children will you please greet our guest?"

     The children all give a chorus of different greetings, to which Iriisii gives a kind and sincere smile, which touches the children and calms their anxiety.

     Grelod the Kind: "Now what might I be able to assist you with today, My Lady?"

     Iriisii: "I have inherited a boarding school recently. When I went to look everything over, I discovered that there was still some empty spaces for children to have a place there."

     Grelod the Kind: "Oh but I am sure there are no lack of noble children to fill such seats."

     Iriisii: "That will not do, I fear. You see it was in the terms of the inheritance that the school is for those children orphaned because of war or plague. I asked around and this was the only orphanage that anyone knew about and so I came to see how many children you have here. I can see that I still have more open seats than children to fill them, but they will do nonetheless."

     Grelod: "I could let a couple go but no more than that, there are requirements as to bed space, and other things that I must abide by."

     Iriisii: "Beds and space is not a problem, I have twenty-five empty beds. The school has a very large, well stocked library, two kitchens, several classrooms each with a teacher and an assistant. Plenty of guards, maids, gardeners, cooks, rooms for baths, playrooms, and this is mainly just for the children, the staff has an entire level just for their needs. And I have my own private suite on the top floor of the school. I also have a head mistress to oversee the day-to-day activities. We even have dogs and horses. My endeavor is to give these unfortunate children a home, where they can live and learn, as they grow older, training in the trades will be available, so that when they choose to leave they have the skills to make their way out in the world. So how soon can we make arrangements for me to take these children to my school."

     Grelod sits with her mouth hanging open at all of this. She tries to think fast to find a way to deflect this disaster. The children wait with bated breath, for this lady is the answer to all their prayers. One of them raises a hand and Rigmor directs her to ask her question.

     Scherri: "How many other children are in your school, Milady?"

     Iriisii: "Currently thirty, twenty-two boys and eighteen girls, we have had some graduate and leave over the last few years. I understand that one young lady is serving in the Imperial Palace in Cyrodiil, and two of the young men are with the Palace Guards at the Blue Palace in Solitude. So you can see what is possible if you apply yourself to learning what we can teach you."

     Harald: "Do you have any children of your own?"

     Constance: "Harald, that is not proper to ask."

     Iriisii: "It is of no matter, yes I have two adopted daughters, Lucia, who I found selling flowers and running errands for the shopkeepers in Whiterun, and Sophia, who I found in Windhelm, tring to stay out of the freezing wind in an small courtyard attached to a house. They both live in a house I have in Whiterun, my housecarl looks after them, when I am not there. I expect we will soon move to the school as I have a house next to the school with room for four more children."

     The ooo's and aahh's come pouring forth from every corner of the room. Constance is in awe of the possibilities open to these children if it can be somehow pushed past Grelod. She begins trying hard to figure out a way to do just that.

     Grelod: "I will have to verify this before I can let these children go. You have no idea how many would try and deceive me and take them to use for unspeakable things."

     Iriisii: "I understand, how long do you need before you could be ready. I will make arrangements to have the needed records for verification available for you to go through them. I only need to contact Jarl Balgruuf's steward Proventus to have the records copied and sent here by courier."

     Grelod recognizes the names Iriisii spoke of and also knows by the twisting knot in her gut, this Lady is not a charlatan, but is real, and so this offer is also real. She has to think of something in the next few days, or her own plans are going to blow away like a morning fog when the day's sun starts heating things up.

     Grelod: "As soon as the papers arrive I will begin verification, then we can conclude as soon as that is done, if that meets with your Ladyship's approval?"

     Iriisii: "It does indeed, I want to thank you on the children's behalf. It cannot be easy to let them go after coming to know them for so long. I do have other business to conduct, so if there is anything else, Priestess Dinya in the Temple of Mara knows how to reach me."

     Iriisii cannot help herself as she kneels and opens her arms to the children. They all gather around her as she hugs them and takes in a deep breath, memorizing each of their individual scents with help from her Dragonsoul. Now if anything happens and some turn up missing, she can track them down to wherever they are taken.

     Iriisii: "Now I really must be going, but I will see all of you again soon, I promise."

     They all back away looking forlorn and it hits Iriisii hard in her heart. She thinks hard about something and removes her gauntlets, handing them to Rigmor. Rigmor takes them and steps back as Iriisii concentrates and moves her hands in a complicated pattern, then whispering the words to a summoning spell, a glass jar with a bright, glowing, something with wings materializes in her hands. She then holds it out for the children to take. Scherri gathers up the courage and places her hands on the glass. Immediately the little something inside flies up to one of the hands and darts back and forth from one to the other, drawing a huge grin to her face.

     Iriisii: "Take it, it is yours."

     Scherri: "What does it eat?"

     Iriisii: "Just let it get some sunlight from time to time, that is all that it needs."

     Scherri: "Does it have a name?"

     Iriisii: "When you know what name you want to give to it, then you can name it. Once you have named it, I will tell you more about it then."

     Scherri: "Does it have to stay in the jar forever?"

     Iriisii: "What do you think?"

     Scherri: "I think only while it is young, once it grows to know me it can come out and it will stay by me."

     Iriisii looks up at Rigmor and nods her head.

     Iriisii: "Very good. Do you remember anything about your parents or other older family?"

     Scherri: "I am sorry, I was orphaned so long ago I do not remember."

     Iriisii: "It is all right, I know how you feel. I have lost all of my family as well some years ago. So now I am gathering a new family, a big family, so none of us will be lonely anymore."