Hello again everyone, today's story is part one of a series set in the fictional land of Skyrim (© Bethesda). It is a cold, mountainous region filled with tall pine trees, sparkling rivers, beautiful vistas, and dangerous critters. The Nordic inhabitants are a strong and independent, but mostly good-hearted people. They are facing a particularly dangerous time, however, as dragons have returned to the skies above their ancient home. And now the future is uncertain, especially for the young girl in our story. Her name is Lucia, and she is an orphan who's parents had been farmers before their untimely deaths left her alone. Now she yearns to fit in to her new home and be a part of a family that she can trust to take care of her. But will the family she found be what she needs? Or will its dark secret end up being too much for the girl who lost it all? Only one way to find out, as we read...
Lakeview Manor
A Skyrim Story (part one)
The wagon jolted and Lucia’s eyes
popped open. It had been a long ride from Whiterun, and somewhere along the way
she must have fallen asleep. It was noon when they left, but now the sun had sunk
low toward the west, and its orange light cast long shadows from the tall pines
that lined the road. She stretched and twisted around to loosen her back. The
hard wood of the wagon’s bench wasn’t the most comfortable surface to nap on,
but the warm sunlight, monotonous scenery and rhythmic clopping of the horse’s
hooves had done its work despite all that.
With a sigh she looked across at
her new sister who also lay asleep on the far bench. Sophie’s life had been
similar to her own, before the man who had become their father found her on the
streets of Windhelm and brought her back to live with Lucia and him in
Whiterun. Sophie had been quiet about her past, but Lucia could guess. She
still remembered how it had been when her aunt and uncle took over her family’s
farm after her parents died, and how they kicked her out of her own home,
saying she was useless. It had stung worse than anything, even more painful
than her parents’ death, to then be told she was worthless and kicked out of
the only home she’d ever known.
She’d made her way to Whiterun
after that and lived on the streets for a few months, taking coins from anyone
who would give her one. Then one day she’d met him, the man who would become
her father. He was new in town, and he had a wild sort of look about him like
one who had just escaped death. He wore dented steel armor that had obviously
seen its share of action; and he carried a wicked-looking greatsword on his
back. At first she was afraid to even approach him. But hunger drove her
desperation, and one day she called out as he walked by, asking for a coin. To
her surprise he’d stopped and turned a pair of bright blue eyes toward her, and
she’d found his face held kindness in it. He gave her a coin and asked why she
was begging. She told him her story, and his eyes flashed with a sudden anger
that startled her. “No one should treat a child that way,” he said, and she
found herself believing he actually meant it. Then he nodded to her, “I have
business to attend to, but perhaps we shall meet again.”
Lucia smiled at the memory, as in
her mind’s eye she saw him running up the steps to the Jarl’s hold, Dragon’s
Reach. She had wondered at what kind of man he was and found herself watching
for him each day. It was nearly a week before she saw him again, and then… she shuddered.
That was the day the dragon attacked. There were panicked reports about a giant
dragon outside the city to the west. She’d crouched behind a bench and watched
a group of the Jarl’s warriors run out to face it, and much to her surprise
she’d seen the man with the greatsword running with them. They charged out of
the city and she’d wondered nervously if they would return. But they did.
Somehow they defeated the dragon and came back, and they were calling the man
by a strange name. They called him, Dovahkiin.
She didn’t know what it meant, but figured it probably was something like Dragon-Slayer. She’d watched in
amazement as he strode up the steps to Dragon’s Reach victorious. Soon the
whole town knew him, and the Jarl even proclaimed him Thane of the city. In the
days following he bought a house and settled in. She remembered then the first
stirrings of hope she’d felt in a long time. It had been summer then, but as Last Seed came to and end she knew she
wasn’t likely to survive the winter ahead without a home. Perhaps she could
convince him to let her stay in his new place.
The wagon jolted again and brought
her out of her reverie. She craned her neck to get a look at where they were
going. It was hard to see over the bundle of sacks and boxes in the wagon, but
she could make out the plume of her new father’s helmet and the spiked black
armor on his shoulders. If anything, he looked more fearsome now than before.
The wicked Orcish armor he had now made him look like a monster. But beneath it
all she knew was the same kind face, and so she feared not. She knew it was his
enemies that had to fear, not her. There was a quiet comfort to that, and it
made her smile.
Sophie stirred across from her and
Lucia looked over, wondering how her new sister could still be asleep. She
seemed to be able to sleep through anything. Lucia smiled, remembering when her
new father had first brought the girl home. It was in the middle of Sun’s Dusk. Lucia had been living at his
house in Whiterun for about a month, and one day, as the nights were growing
longer and the temperature fell, he came home with a shadow in tow. Sophie was
thin and frail when she first arrived, but with a warm bed and some hot meals
she’d regained her strength in no time. The man’s wife, a skilled huntress
named Aela with blue war paint on her face, had taken a surprising liking to
the girl and made sure she was welcomed and well cared-for.
The little house in Whiterun became
a bustling home as the new family came together. By the end of the month the
man and his wife had finalized the adoption papers and both girls were now
officially part of the family. It had filled Lucia with joy, and she went to bed each night, thankful to the Nine that she had a home once again.
But it wasn’t long before their
little house began to feel overcrowded. With the man, his wife, the two girls,
and the housecarl Lydia,
every available space was taken. One night she’d woken up to hear her new
father and mother arguing about it in the living room. They had discussed it
for some time, then finally he’d agreed they needed a bigger house. The following
morning he’d left, saying he had a lot of work to do, and for the next few
weeks she barely saw him at all. He would come home late, if at all, and leave
early the next morning. But finally he came back, as the spring sun began to
melt snow in the city, and said it was time to move. They were going out to
live by the lake in a special house he’d built. She had been nervous, but
excited as well, and the idea of living out in the forest by the lake was one
to make her mind race with the possibilities.
With that memory fresh in her head
she craned her neck to get a look at the lake, but it wasn’t quite visible yet.
To the right of the wagon road a steep hill rose up, and to the left the trees
ran off as far as the eye could see. It was a pretty remote place, she thought.
Then a smile crossed her face. At least out here they wouldn’t be bothered by
that bully Braith! The girl had been insufferable, taunting her each day. Lucia
could take it, but it had been especially hard on Sophie, who was a lot more
sensitive to harsh treatment. But all that was behind them now. She could
hardly wait.
With a final jolt the wagon came to
a stop, and Lucia jumped to her feet even as Sophie stirred awake. Ahead of
them the road curved to the left, and there in front was a great tall house
standing among the trees. Its foundation was solid stone, and it had huge
wooden beams running up the sides of white walls. To the right the ground rose
up in a steeply sloped hill, and nestled between the house and the rock was a
garden, and beyond that she could make out the shapes of a furnace and metal
forge. She heard a snort and looked around to her left. There was a stable
there, and a horse! Her heart raced as she turned back to face her sister.
Their eyes met, and they both grinned as it began to sink in. This was their
new home!
With a whoop they jumped out of the
wagon and raced across the ground to the new house, their little feet barely
touching the frozen soil. There was so much to explore! Then sun was almost
gone, but she wasn’t tired anymore. She’d slept most of the way out and now was
full of energy as she ran. The cool air was fresh, and the scent of pine was
strong. Suddenly she heard her sister yell, “Hey! There’s a balcony over here!”
And she raced around the corner to see.
Sure enough around the left side of
the house there was a set of stairs leading up to a large porch-like balcony.
She took the steps two at a time and found Sophie standing by the railing,
staring out through the trees. Running up next to her, Lucia looked out to see
what had her attention, and her breath caught. “Whoa…” she whispered in awe. Through
the trees there was a brilliant blue, glinting in the light of the fading sun.
It was the lake, stretching away to the northwest. The bright blue water
shimmered as tiny waves moved across its surface, dotted here and there with
patches of white where the ice hadn’t melted yet. She wondered what kind of
fish were in the lake, and if it would be safe to swim. Turning to her sister
she caught her eye once more and they both grinned again. This would be such a fun place to live, she thought.
Just then the wood creaked behind
them and she turned, half expecting to see her father coming up to see the
view. Instead, she saw a woman with frightfully dark skin, hard iron armor, and
two wicked scimitars strapped to her belt. And in a moment of panic she
screamed, Sophie’s voice joining hers as she turned and saw the fearsome
figure. Was this a bandit!? she
thought, waiting to kill and rob them?
And where is papa?
As if in response her father
suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs, his piercing blue eyes darting
around for the cause of the screaming. Then he quickly crossed to them and
placed his hands on their shoulders, seeming not to even notice the fierce dark
figure. He looked into their eyes. “It’s ok girls,” he said stepping back, his
voice calm. Behind him the woman was standing, her arms crossed on her chest
and a frown on her face. Puzzled, Lucia looked to her father, the realization coming
to her that this probably wasn’t a bandit after all.
He father nodded then,
understanding. “Lucia, Sophie, this is Rayya. She is my housecarl from
Falkreath, and she is the steward of my house…” he paused, then corrected, “of
our house.” Stepping aside, he gestured with his powerful hands allowing the
girls and Rayya to get a proper look at each other. “She helped me procure
supplies to build this house,” he continued, “and she stays here to protect it
when I am away. Know that with her around, you will be in no danger from
bandits or other threats.”
Lucia looked up at him suddenly, a pang
of sadness passing over her. “You mean you won’t always be here papa?” she
asked.
He shook his head, “not yet my
girls. There is still a danger out there, and it is my duty to see it dealt
with.”
“You mean the dragons,” said Lucia
quietly.
“Yes the dragons,” her father
replied, “and… other things. But don’t you worry about that. You will be safe
and happy here. We will fill this house with music and laughter, and our family
will grow strong here.” He squatted down and looked them both in the eyes. “And
I will always come back to you. I promise.”
Sophie
whooped with excitement, and Lucia had to run to keep up with her. As they dashed
back down the stairs the man stood up to watch them go. This is a good house, he thought. They will do well here. He sighed, his gaze drifting over to Aela
who stood some distance off, sniffing the breeze like she’d caught the scent of
something disturbing. A line of worry furrowed the man’s brow as he considered
what lay ahead. And I pray the remoteness
keeps our secret so the girls never have to face the one thing they cannot be
allowed to know. Turning back to the railing he gazed out at the lake as
the last ray of sunlight disappeared below the horizon. Lakeview Manor, he smiled grimly, Indeed.
