#jazbay

[elderscrollsconceptart]

Jazbay Grape

In-game asset for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Asset by Megan Sawyer

Megan was responsible for creating all the harvestable plants and their ingredients in Skyrim

[whitegoldtower]

Getting my base sketch of Miraak down 💅💅

[chaosintheavenue]

I would have tea with Paarthunax

He seems chill.

I agree!

[priafey]

gwilin + popsicle = :D

_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–

pose referenced from this work

alternate version (dark sclera)

[jovishark]

my favorite skyrim potions recipes

giants toe + creep cluster + wheat = health/carry capacity

salmon roe + nordic barnacle + garlic = the best potion in the game. keep these to sell. health, waterbreathing (nb can be subbed for histcarp or chickens eggs)

dwarven oil + taproot + jazbay grapes = trust me bro

nirnroot + vampire dust + mudcrab chitin = invisible and fun

theres a bynch more im missing

[merrimentsmight]

Cicero and Listener gathering flowers for Mother, then killing people who're bounty hunting the Listener and then just having a cute camp/picnic while still covered in blood,,,,, that's my favourite daydream of Cici

Mother needed dragon's tongue, Cicero said. He would always bring her flowers, and make sure they were fresh and fragrant. It was sweet, and it made him happy. The Listener suspected it made Mother happy, too. So they were picking dragon's tongue off the side of the road south of Windhelm. The Listener was being careful, picking only a few blossoms from each plant to keep them growing and healthy. Cicero was less calculating, and picked whichever ones he thought best, even if that was every flower the plant had to offer. When they had a full basket of flowers, the Listener rested, sitting on the side of a stone ledge, and began to pick wild jazbay grapes, popping some of the sweet berries into their mouth and adding some to the over-crowded basket.

Cicero kept gathering flowers. They watched him flit about in the late afternoon sun, mumbling and laughing to himself and looking, gods bless him, content. “And there was the one with the, no, no that won't do, too crass. Oh, terribly, terribly crass. But perhaps if I reworded it...” he mumbled to himself, following a train of thought whose beginning and end were as obfuscated to himself as anyone else. They were so caught up in looking at him that they didn't notice the quickly approaching footsteps on the road behind them, despite the fact that they were far from stealthy.

“Well!" said Cicero sharply, catching the Listener's attention, “It looks like we have company. Should Cicero set another place at the table?” The rest of the world came back into focus, and they hopped off of the ledge to stand next to him.

“Perhaps it's nothing," they said, as the group approached, "perhaps they'll just keep walking.” They both hoped that it was not nothing, and that they would be stupid enough to make trouble. They both got their wish.

“You! We know who you are,” said one of them, a thick-accented Dunmer near the front.

"Oh?” They asked, clutching the basket of flowers like an innocent youth. A sentiment undercut by Cicero's grim laughter.

“Yeah.” He returned, stepping dangerously closer, “and ever since what you did to the Emperor you've got a mighty fine price on your head, too.” He was in leather armor, as were most of his cadre, and the leather was from cows and not netches. They hadn't traveled too terribly far for the bounty. The Listener wondered how far rumors had spread, and who was spreading them. They had gone to great lengths to remove witnesses in the past.

“Do you have proof, or are you going to execute me on your hunch alone?” They asked.

“Please. You have the jester with you. There's only one little redheaded jester in all of Skyrim, far as I know, and he's your one.”

“Oh! Cicero feels terribly special,” he said, knives already drawn. But he did like that idea of possession, that even strangers knew who he was, and who the Listener was, and that he was theirs.

The Listener smiled in that way they did, sharp and nasty, that made Cicero's heart start beating even faster than the thrill of the impending fight did. The good name of the Dark Brotherhood had been tarnished so badly that these poor men had no idea what they were up against. The man reached for the sword on his belt, and Cicero, like a well trained attack dog, pounced.

He cut the man's throat before anyone knew what was happening. A spray of blood issued from the wound and covered Cicero and the Listener and the basket of flowers, which the Listener set gingerly behind them before drawing their own weapons and advancing to join Cicero in the throng. They made quick work of the rest of the bounty hunters, who reacted slowly, as if they had been expecting the assassins to surrender when outnumbered.

“Mash and bash and swipe and clash! Ha!” laughed Cicero, sidestepping to avoid overturning the discarded baskets of flowers, “nobody gets the best of the Dark Brotherhood.” The Listener allowed themself to laugh with him. When it was all said and done, they were ringed by the bodies of the dead and dying, sitting among the flowers and leaning on each other to laugh like children. By the time they stopped fighting, and then stopped laughing, the moons had come out.

“Oh,” said the Listener, pushing away from where Cicero had clutched them in his helpless mirthful peals, “I suppose we'll have to set up here for the night.”

“Mmhm,” said Cicero, still giggling. He lowered his bloody head onto their lap and popped a blood-splattered grape from their basket into his mouth. “Whatever you say, my Listener.”

[hircines-hunter]

WIP Wednesday

Hi hi hi! 😊 have a preview of the thing I’ve been working on for the past 3 days. It’s now like 14k idk if I’m gonna post a long one shot or divide into chapters yet. But either way. It will be eventual Ralof/OC. But for now, it’s kind of in the air

Gonna tag : @umbracirrus @madamefluffnstuff @thequeenofthewinter @bostoniangirl21 @vivifriend

@rakaiawriter @oblivions-dawn

“Ci? Ciara?”

Who called her? It sounded like Ralof. Ciara groaned. She lurched forward. Her eyes fluttered open. Too bright. She went to shield her face, realizing her hands were bound. “Divines.” She mumbled.

“Thank the Divines. You’re finally awake, Ci.”

“Ralof?” She blinked. “What…? Where are we?” Ciara looked around. She saw the gate down the road. Helgen? She looked around the carriage. Her eyes widened when she saw Jarl Ulfric sitting next to her. Gagged, bruised, and bound. “Divines. Ralof….” She felt tears roll down her cheek.

“You're a civilian. And about to marry Hadvar. I’m sure you’ll be okay.” Ralof’s face darkened. He leaned over on his knees.

“This is…. The Empire can’t do this.” She whispered. She looked over when Ralof laughed. She bit her lip until she tasted blood.

“It’s amazing how easily that view can change. This is how they’ve always been, Ci.” Ralof looked at her. He hadn’t seen her in five years. How had she changed so much physically? “What were you doing out there?”

“Alchemy. Jazbay grapes. Canis root. Creep cluster.”

“You haven’t changed.” He smiled a bit.

Ciara looked at him. She looked over when she saw the gates open. She saw General Tullius.

“Damned Elves.” Ralof spat as he saw the Thalmor.

Ciara looked around Helgen, trying to find a familiar face. Would they even listen to her about being engaged to Hadvar?

The carriage came to a stop. She followed the Stormcloaks off the carriage. Her heart stopped when she heard a familiar voice. Her eyes instantly welled.

“Ralof of Riverwood.”

Hadvar held the list. Is there where he’d been stationed for the past month? More tears rolled down her face. Hadvar’s eyes widened when he saw her—dressed in rags. A bruise and dried blood on her temple. “Ciara? Captain, she’s not on the list!” Ciara took a few steps towards Hadvar.

“She goes to the block.” Ciara’s heart stopped. She stared at Hadvar and then the captain.

“Captain, that’s my…. She’s my fianc-” Hadvar stammered. His heart pounded in his ears. He felt sweat bead on his forehead.

The captain turned towards Hadvar. “Are you a traitor as well? If your woman is one, that makes you one as well. And I can add you to the list. Think about your next words.”

“She’s not a traitor. She’s a healer.” He tried to explain.

“She goes to the block. Don’t ask again. Or you’ll join her.”

Hadvar bit his lip. He briefly looked at Ciara and wrote her name on the list. “Ciara Finley of Riverwood. I’ll make sure your family gets your remains.”

Ciara stared in disbelief. Her jaw slackened. Her vision wavered. Her heart pounded with rage. With pain. She turned away and stood next to Ralof, leaning against him. “Fucking coward.” She clenched her jaw. She pulled on her magicka reserves—a fireball formed in her palm.

Ralof reached over and put his hands on her arm. “Save it. Wait.”

A roar pierced the skies.

Ciara looked up. As did everyone else.

“Next the Breton!”

Ciara didn’t move. She readied another fireball in her hands. She held her hands up at the soldier who approached her. She released the fireball. It exploded in the soldier’s face. He fell back, screaming and clutching his face. Ciara readied another fireball as another soldier charged at her. She ducked.

Another roar.

“What in Oblivion is that!”

A dark shadow blocked out the sun. A dragon landed on the tower. Half of the structure collapsed.

“Ci! The gods won’t give us another chance!” Ralof grabbed her arm and dragged her through the mayhem. They made it inside the keep. ��Was that…?”

“A dragon.” She finished.

[tastesoftamriel]

The All-Saints Inn

The Temple District's iconic gastropub

Starters

Battered pink oyster mushroom chips, with spicy chorizo marinara

Horse carpaccio, with jazbay grape and roasted pepper jelly

Butternut squash arancini, with buffalo mozzarella filling

Polenta, rosemary, and pecorino wedges, with creamy four-cheese dip

Mains

Pan-fried sweet potato gnocchi, with brown butter sauce, pine nuts, and shaved pecorino

Venison osso buco, with mushroom risotto

Colovian salmon and slaughterfish pierogi, with sour cream and crispy fried onions

Stuffed duck breast, with orange brandy sauce and smoky clove jus

Dessert

Jumbo white chocolate cookie, served warm with cranberry jelly or dark chocolate gelato

Cinnamon apple pie, with spiced cognac and Jerall maple syrup custard

Nirn's Best cake, made with meringue-topped sponge, whipped cream, amaretto custard, and sliced almonds

Blackwood lime pie, with whipped vanilla bean cream

[elenwen-and-ondolemar]

Is there anything in Skyrim that you actually really like, and might miss when you eventually go home? Any specific food, places, whatever. It’s easy to be negative, but surely there’s something nice!

Elenwen: I hope I haven't given you the impression that I dislike Skyrim and its people. Nothing could be farther from the truth. From the moment I stepped foot on the Solitude docks, I've been invigorated by the fresh air, beautiful scenery, and the unfailing courtesy of the Nords. Your Jarls have made me feel so welcome in their homes, and are regular visitors at my little gatherings.

Something I would miss when I return to Alinor? Alto Wine is famous throughout Tamriel, one of the rarest and most expensive historical vintages. It's rumored that Emperors of Cyrodiil once reserved the entire harvest of Aalto-grown Jazbay Grapes for their own use.

There are plenty of lovely Jasbay vintages here in Skyrim that are commonly called Alto wine, but you probably have never have had the privilege of tasting the Alto wine from the original historic vineyards in Eastmarch. I keep a few bottles for special guests, if you would like to sample. They pair well with a sweet Skyrim dessert.

Ondolemar: The Reach does make good cider.

[oblivions-dawn]

Virana Flower Crowns

Because as much as I'd love to go into all the flower crowns I have in mind, my girls come first WHEEZE

Vigdis: snowberries, deathbells, gleamblossoms

Snowberries represent Vigdis' childhood. For those of you that have read Petrichor, you probably remember that her father used to call her 'little snowberry.' Not only do the berries reflect this, but their red colour is akin to the shade of blood. She feels that her father's blood will forever stain her hands; that she is at fault for what happened to him. Deathbells are symbolic of her life after her father was killed. She was involved with bandits for over a decade, where she became numb to human emotions and murdered many people. The transition from the red of the snowberries to the cool violet of deathbells also represents her life losing its once vibrant colour. Deathbells are also found in Morthal, where Vigdis' journey in Petrichor begins--so while they symbolise the passing of one aspect of her life, it also marks the beginning of another. Gleamblossoms are found only in the Vale. In Petrichor, it's Serana that notices them for their strange beauty in such a dark place and admires them, briefly unaware that, for a moment, Vigdis watches her do so. The flowers ultimately represent Serana herself for Vigdis, for the vampire has become this soft, unexpected light in the hunter's darkness. It's also one of the moments where Serana starts to truly break through the thick walls Vigdis has constantly kept up to protect herself. It's a symbol of hope for them.

Serana: jazbay grapes, harrada, gleamblossoms

Before you yell at me and tell me I should've used nightshade or deathbells, hear me out. Jazbay grapes are a purple berry plant found in Eastmarch, in the volcanic tundra. They grow nowhere else, as they are extremely difficult to cultivate. The grapes, then, represent Serana's struggle to thrive while living in Volkihar Keep. Her parents had expectations that she felt she could never meet, and thus, suffered for it. However, like the jazbay grapes, she persevered--although she ends up paying a very heavy price for doing so. Harrada is a thorny plant found in the Deadlands. I chose this plant to represent Serana's connection to the Daedra, and thought this plant was also fitting because she eventually does obtain Mehrunes' Razor in Petrichor. I find it rather fitting that a previous worshipper of Molag Bal ends up with the Prince of Destruction's dagger, especially since Serana more or less destroys everything her family once stood for. The sharp thorns are also symbolic of the pain her decisions ultimately cause her. And, of course, the gleamblossoms. Vigdis is the same unexpected light to Serana, who approached the vampire hunter because she saw no other way to stop her father from enacting his plans. It symbolises the relationship that slowly blossoms between them, which both most likely had considered impossible. But of course, even in the darkest places, life is hopeful, and always finds a way to thrive.

[kookaburra1701]

1, 5, and 18 for Calder :3

From the asks here! Calder the housecarl will be answering for himself. :)

1. Which areas of Skyrim do they find most beautiful and most dangerous?

"Most beautiful is easy--the Aalto! The mineral springs come in every shade of green and blue, and there are very few farms so the wildflowers never get plowed under. Not that people haven't tried to grow crops there, but other than jazbay grapes, nothing else takes hold. It's easy to see why the valley is where Kyne's sacred forest is: the caves that shelter the Eldergleam tree are there, and game is everywhere.

"Now that I'm a housecarl with the court of Windhelm, I'm permitted to take game from Kyne's forest. My favorite pastime is hunting in the morning, and having a soak in the hot springs afterwards before heading home.

"Most dangerous...there's a lot to choose from in a place like Skyrim! I was going to say the 7000 steps, because so much of the time you're climbing with a sheer cliff on one side and an ice wall on the other, and one wrong step could send you over the edge! Then there's the caves and tombs, and ruins...those are filled with all sorts of nasty traps and other things that will have you dead before you hit the ground if you don't keep your wits about you. "But I suppose the place I'm most on edge...is the College of Winterhold. Thane Khemor would hate to hear me say it, but the place is awful. There are students flinging spells at each other--I almost caught a fireball to the face once when I was coming around a corner--the bridge is only passable if you've got a way to melt the ice and ward away the wind, so if you're not a mage you'd better hope you can convince one to let you ride their robes across."

5. Would they be able to live off the land if they were lost in the wilds of Skyrim? How skilled are they at foraging and hunting?

"I suppose I could keep from dying, depending on where and what time of year it was. I know the game and wild forage decently well in Eastmarch, where I grew up. In the Stormcloaks I learned a lot about reckoning my location, how to set up a camp so that it is well hidden, that sort of thing. But I always had my fellow soldiers around to share duties. I suppose Falkreath or Riften in the Summer would be easiest to live in the wilds, but if I was stranded alone in the ice fields between Winterhold and Dawnstar I'd be a meal for a frost troll before too long.

18. What is their stance on taking a life? Do they kill without a second thought, in the name of a god or daedra, or do they adhere to pacifism?

"To tell the truth, it depends...the first time I killed a man it was in a skirmish with an Imperial patrol. If I'd had anything in my stomach I would have been sick. But he was about to stick a spear in me, and all those hours of drilling with the commander came in useful. I didn't even think about it until later when I realized I needed to clean the brains and hair off my axe. But I don't think I could ever be a headsman, or anything like that. Just...killing someone helpless and begging for their lives, even if they deserve it, would be more than I could take. Even though that Corrium man killed so many women, I had nightmares about his execution for weeks after.

"Now that I'm a housecarl, there's much less call for me to actually go killing people...usually just standing behind my thane and scowling is enough to get anyone giving us difficulty to back down. But Gregor and I still train every day. We have to be ready to fight to defend our thane and his family at any moment."

[mareenavee]

*standing at the counter like a McDonald's*

Uhhh I would like 🍓and 🍕for Nyenna and Tel

For Nyenna and Teldryn? But of course! (: Sorry it's taken me so long. I had chaos, which was then compounded by more chaos. And then I decided to ignore it all and write half a chapter. As one does. I appreciate the patience!

Without further ado:

ODD OC asks for Nyenna and Teldryn from my fic The World on Our Shoulders!

ask game is here.

🍓: Does your OC have any particular scents they like? Or hate?

Nyenna finds calm in floral smells. She's known how to make soap, skin care and hair care (such as it is) from flowers and plants for a very long time. In Whiterun, lavender is pretty easy to source and very inexpensive, so that's a favorite scent for her.

She is terrified of bunches of skeevers gathering around her, even though it's not the kind of fear that will make her run away from them. But they gross her out worse than even undead thralls, especially ones with all kinds of obvious rotting happening. So the unique stench of a pack of skeevers will definitely be something she hates probably above most other unpleasant smells.

Teldryn won't tell anyone this because he prefers to complain about smells rather than compliment them, but he likes canis root tea just as much as Neloth does. (In my hc, canis root tea is simply the Tamriel equivalent of chicory coffee.) Geldis pretty much always makes it for him whenever he's stuck at the Netch, but he buys the pre-ground stuff. Neloth's people make it all freshly ground, which smells infinitely better. But either way, canis root tea is the best smell.

He hates when anyone, even himself, starts to smell too much of the road -- so really, of unwashed bandits. I don't need to go into why. He once left a patron because the man refused to bathe!! The nerve of some people, really. The unwashed smell kind of lingers in certain slums he's been through, and it just does not sit well with him and he will absolutely let everyone know exactly what he thinks of their lack of personal hygiene once he gets annoyed enough by it.

🍕: How does an OC spend a lazy day?

Let's pretend Nyenna lets herself have a lazy day. Someone has hidden all her books and ledgers so she can't study or plan. They've stopped her from training or running errands, so she's not about to craft anything strenuous. Maybe she gets to stay home all day for once. IF that was the case, she bakes! She doesn't always stress bake. Sometimes she just likes to make good food for her friends and family. Generally her favorites to do are nice, easy peasant bread or snowberry crostata, but she's open to other recipes. (Like this one for Jazbay Crostata, for instance.)

Teldryn is similarly restless, but perhaps not to the same degree as Nyenna. He's pretty socialization-averse, so he'd certainly not end up in any kind of party, perish the thought. He doesn't have the time or focus generally to read much. Finding new material that isn't boring as hell isn't that easy these days, but when he gets to Whiterun, he finds some good things to steal from Nyenna's collection. I think he'll definitely read The Locked Room for kicks, though he's almost certain he read at least most of it before. (I swear I've seen someone write him reading it before lol so it's fanon now) And for the record, if Nyenna figures out he stole the book from her collection, she'd absolutely spoil the ending. He'd deserve it. But yeah, if the book is good enough and he is given the chance to actually rest, he'd read for once.

[valthari-andari]

Illyana (he/she)

DEITY OF: Renewal, Eternity, Energy, Invention, and Hope

REALM: Everlight/Deadlight

ASSOCIATED WITH: Chains, breaking of obstructions, clouds, infinity, deer, and doves.

SACRED PLANTS: Blue Yarrow, Jazbay, Heather

SACRED STONES/GEMS: Diamonds, Amethysts, Sapphires

COLORS: teal, blue, black

ACCEPTED OFFERINGS/WAYS TO HONOR: burning any of his sacred flowers and or Incense and prayering at shrines, aiding beggars and orphans, giving those who need it hope, fighting worshipers of Mehrunes Dagon, Molag Bal, and Hermaeus Mora. Aiding and respecting followers of Arkay, and practicing magic.

[mydnite-the-space-wolpertinger]

Love how the lady that tells you to bring her 20 jazbay grapes says they're very rate like bitch have you walked to Windhelm before? Just keep your eyes on the ground there are so many just right there! You are so close to them!!

[priafey]

gwilin + popsicle = :D

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pose referenced from this work

alternate version (light sclera)

[sonsofbal]

III. Behind the Sawmill

With the arrival of Seth Athan, a member of the prestigious Silver Blood Clan, the quiet town of Morthal is thrown into a whirlwind of curiosity, and young Alicent's heart is no exception. After a brief but captivating introduction, Seth occupies Alicent's every thought. In the midst of her daily routine, she eagerly shares her fascination with her best friends, Idgrod and Joric, the Jarl's sons. Now that the Mist Festival is approaching, Alicent hopes to have the opportunity to get to know Seth better during Morthal's greatest celebration.

Over the next few days, Alicent realized that her attention was not the only one Seth had caught. Though they had not seen each other again, she discovered new information about him through the whispers of the town's neighbors. She learned that the Athans were one of the wealthiest families in Markarth and that they belonged to the Silver-Blood, a powerful clan with political influence throughout Skyrim. There were also rumors that the Silver-Blood were supporters of the Stormcloaks, but all she knew about the whole affair was that Laelette had left the village to join them.

Maybe Seth knows her, she thought with a smile as she found another excuse to engage him in conversation when they met again. This moment, this reunion, had given her a lot of thought. She wondered if Seth had thought about her. Would he even remember her name? Alicent came out of her reverie when she overheard a conversation between two customers about him.

"The region is not so big. If it's true that he's moved, we should know where he lives by now." Uthna, the miller's wife, commented without modulating her tone.

"It is said that he has settled in Stonehills." Thonnir, the burly northerner who ran the sawmill, replied.

This fact was a source of disappointment and frustration to her in equal measure. Stonehills lay far outside Morthal. Getting there on foot was practically impossible.

"ALICENT!" shouted Lami all of a sudden, taking her by surprise.

She jumped to her feet, dropping the mortar and pestle. She looked at her mother, not understanding what was going on. Lami approached Alicent and showed her the label of the jar with the ingredient she had just added to the jazbay grapes she was grinding. Alicent blushed as she realized she had mistaken bass fins for carp fins.

"I'm sorry, Mom..." she apologized under the worried eyes of Lami, who grabbed her hands to make sure she hadn't touched the mixture.

"I don't know how else to tell you to be careful while you're working, my dear," she scolded, sounding stern. "Carp mixed with those grapes is very poisonous, capable of weakening a strong man. This potion was meant for Falion, Alicent. Can you imagine what would have happened if I hadn't noticed?"

Feeling terrible that she had almost poisoned her master, Alicent withdrew her hands as soon as her mother loosened her grip. She looked down. She was upset. Fortunately, Lami directed her anger at the neighbors.

"If you have no intention of buying anything, please have your conversation elsewhere," she demanded in a serious tone.

Lami had a strong temper, and Morthal's neighbors knew it. They left immediately, keeping their mouths shut. Alicent tried to hide how disappointed she felt. She would have liked to know more about Seth, despite the distraction.

The door to the alchemy shop creaked once more, and Idgrod entered the hut with a look of amusement on her face.

"You should be a little nicer to your neighbors, Lami. They are your customers, even if they don't shop here every day."

Alicent greeted her friend with a broad smile; she suspected she had heard the couple's protest through the entrance.

"Young Idgrod," Lami greeted her with a warm smile, "if I were to allow this place to become a meeting place for gossip, what would become of Jonna?" she asked in a friendly tone.

Idgrod laughed. Jonna was not only Falion's sister, but also the owner of the Moorside Inn. She always said that gossip was the most sought after product of her establishment.

"My brother cut himself during training. Do you have anything for him?"

Lami nodded and walked over to a shelf behind the counter where they kept potions ready to sell.

"Joric's okay, isn't he?" Alicent asked worriedly.

Joric could be a bit clumsy, and Alicent had a frown at his determination to be surrounded by weapons, but he was committed to his future as a soldier.

"Yes, but he cut his hand on the practice sword again," Idgrod replied.

Alicent laughed, her worries leaving her. Joric was stronger than his size would suggest, but he was also a bit brutal. According to Legate Taurinus, Joric would put the Guard out of business if he kept breaking wooden swords at the rate he was. Alicent's suspicion was that he did it on purpose so that they would let him train with the metal weapons.

Lami approached with a small jar filled with a viscous liquid. She placed it on the counter in front of Idgrod.

"This should be enough. The usual price."

Idgrod pulled a bag of coins from the pack on her hip and placed a pile of coins on the wood. Meanwhile, Lami walked over to the ledger where she kept track of the transactions.

"It's all there, Mom." Alicent said.

She put on her best smile when Lami looked at her questioningly.

"Did you do the math?" the woman asked with a scowl.

Alicent nods. She hated counting coins, her mother knew. She was always off at the count.

"May I accompany Idgrod to check on Joric?" She asked in a honeyed tone, feigning a pout.

Lami looked at her in silence for a few moments, then nodded resignedly after a check that the account was correct.

"All right, then, go. I'm sure Joric will appreciate your concern more than any ointment." She commented in a complicit tone, which Idgrod greeted with a short laugh.

"Thank you, Mom. You're the best!"

She kissed her mother on the cheek and left the hut with her friend. Idgrod also said goodbye to the alchemist.

Idgrod and Alicent left the thaumaturgist's hut behind. They crossed the bridge to the backyard of the headquarters. It was a clear day, and although the sun was shining, the cold had already descended upon the region. It was bone-chilling. Alicent enjoyed the feel of the rays on her skin. They might be the last for many months. Soon the misty season would come and, as every year, the stars would disappear until the flowers were reborn.

"Falion is not teaching you today?" she asked Idgrod.

The court wizard also mentored the Jarl's family, and sometimes helped Alicent with her studies. But unlike Idgrod, she often found those lessons terribly boring.

"Hey, did you get to meet the new guy? Seth Athan."

Alicent turned to look at Idgrod, her eyes sparkling with interest. Her friend raised both eyebrows, and Alicent had no need for words to know that Idgrod was expecting some sort of explanation.

"A few days ago, he came into the shop. He's... He's so handsome..." She sighed.

Idgrod shrugged and looked ahead. Alicent realized that Idgrod didn't seem too happy about this.

"Falion had a meeting with him, alone," Idgrod explained.

The idea of sharing classes with the new boy was quite exciting for Alicent, since Seth was probably about the same age as Idgrod.

"Do you think he's going to come to our class?" she asked, a little bit more eagerly than she would have liked to.

Idgrod said: "I don't think so.”

"I overheard Falion's conversation with my mother. He doesn't seem to be in need of any magic lessons. They have a snack meeting."

Although her stomach growled at the mention of food, Alicent wasn't hungry. In fact, the more she found out about the boy, the more impressed she was.

"Falion said that? Wow," she said in surprise.

Falion was rather cantankerous. In his own words, half the mages in Skyrim were useless and the other half were lazy. For him to admit that someone so young didn't need to be taught was so strange that Alicent wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't met Seth in person. It was clear to her that there was something very special about this boy.

"Seth must be very good with spells," Idgrod admitted.

It seemed that they had both come to the same conclusion about him.

Alicent sighed as she realized that the possibility of being in class with him was on the wane. Her friend seemed to understand her disappointment. She put an arm around her shoulders. When Alicent looked at her, she noticed that her disapproving smile had been replaced by a comforting one.

"Don't despair, come on. With any luck, if Seth is interested in alchemy, you might be able to teach him a thing or two. You're the daughter of Skyrim's best alchemist, right?"

A momentary smile lit up Alicent's face. But then, once again, she noticed an odd glint in the way Idgrod looked. It was similar to the rictus that she would always put on when Joric had some kind of crazy idea to pass the afternoon with. Alicent wrinkled her nose, but stopped short of asking what she was thinking.

They traveled the rest of the way in silence. Idgrod was lost in her own worries, while Alicent was torn between the reasons for her friend's concern and the possibility of offering Seth help with alchemy. When they reached the backyard of the headquarters, Alicent noticed that Joric's hand was bandaged; he smiled broadly at the sight of the girls there.

"Ali, did you come to watch me practice?" Joric inquired excitedly.

"I don't think you'll be able to continue your training today," she replied, staring at his wound.

Alicent took his hand. She examined it. She sighed in relief when she saw that the blood did not soak through the bandages, confirming that it was a superficial injury.

"It's nothing," Joric said, trying to play it down. "I could train for the rest of the afternoon." He boasted.

Then Idgrod held out the ointment jar.

"Pour it on. Come on," she ordered.

But Joric stuck out his chest and rejected the glass with a nod of his head.

"Thanks, but it's not necessary. It's nothing, I'm telling you."

"If you say so..." Idgrod replied, shrugging his shoulders and smiling knowingly. "I'll keep it for later. Just in case you change your mind. But are you going to continue to train?"

Joric looked around. Only one guard was still training. He shot arrows at a worn, faded wicker target, practicing his aim. Several tired guards laid their swords on the rack.

" Legate Taurinus has already departed. On second thought, I think I can call it a day.  Let's go to the inn, get some sweet rolls and eat at the sawmill. What do you say?"

The suggestion was well received. The three went to the Moorside Inn, where the aroma of reheated stew greeted them.

Behind the sawmill, the friends sat down on some logs to enjoy their snack.  A peaceful atmosphere was created by the murmuring of the Hjaal River and the rustle of the wind through the scales of the cypress trees. The silence was broken, however, by a grunt from Joric. Alicent saw him look down at his hand. He winced in pain.

"Are you sure you don't want to use the ointment?" Idgrod asked, concerned and annoyed.

"You are such a bore! I told you, it's nothing," Joric insisted as he looked at Alicent. "Legate Taurinus says that if I am to be a great general, I must learn to endure wounds that are far worse than this one. These things happen to us soldiers all the time."

Alicent frowned as Idgrod rolled her eyes.

"That's nonsense, Joric." Alicent replied firmly. "Ointments and potions are there for the purpose of healing wounds faster and reducing pain. Why do you want to refuse to use them?"

"Besides, it is a mistake from a strategic point of view. Who has the advantage if you don't use them and your enemy does?" Idgrod added in agreement with Alicent.

After a few moments of thought, Joric sighed in resignation. He gave up when he could not find a valid counterargument.

"I guess you're right..."

Alicent approached him, seeing an opportunity to help. She had a suspicion that Joric was only pretending to be strong because she was a step ahead of him. The idea of indirectly hurting her friend didn't sit well with her.

"Come on. Let me apply the ointment before we start lunch," she offered.

A broad smile spread across Joric's face, and without further excuses, he sat down next to Alicent and offered her the injured hand. Idgrod took out the jar and the rolls while Alicent removed the bandage.

"You're the best," the boy said, thanking her in an intimate tone and looking tender and loving at Alicent.

Alicent returned the gesture, but kept her focus on his wound, applying the ointment to the three places where the wood had torn through the skin. For the umpteenth time, Seth returned to his thoughts as she re-bandaged his hand. She sighed and regretted that the sawmill was so far away, wondering if he would still be in town after his snack with Falion. Would she ever be able to have a connection with him like the one she had with his friends? Just the thought of it made her heart race, but then Idgrod unwrapped the sweet buns and the smell of the food made her mouth water and brought her back to reality.

Dusk fell over Morthal. The three teenagers ate their snacks and talked about their day. Then they all relaxed in their own way, deep in their own thoughts.

Idgrod sat on the end of a log in the sawmill, absorbed in her reading. Alicent lay on the same log. Her head rested on the lap of her friend, who absentmindedly stroked her hair. Joric, who was standing, was practicing with an imaginary sword, imitating the movements he had learned during the day. Alicent watched him without paying much attention. Every time he turned to her, she pretended not to look. She had never thought about Joric's feelings. But now that she was experiencing something similar to what she thought her friend felt for her, Alicent found herself feeling guilty that she had not been able to reciprocate.

I don't want to think about it anymore, she decided.

"What are you reading?" she asked Idgrod.

Idgrod looked up from the book she was holding.

"Notes on Racial Phylogeny," Idgrod replied. "It's about the interbreeding of the races."

Idgrod went on to explain the book's argument. Though she spoke passionately about what she had learned, Alicent was quickly distracted by thoughts of Seth and Joric. Of everything Idgrod said, the only thing that stuck with her was the fact that children always inherit their mother's race. No matter how hard she tried, she could not stop thinking about Seth and Joric. She felt guilty and angry at the injustice. When she had never asked for his love, Joric seemed willing to shower her with attention. Now that she understood his feelings, how could it ever be the same?

I should be clear about my feelings for Seth. This might be a way for Joric to forget about me.

Alicent looked up when she felt Idgrod looking at her. She gasped and pretended to pay attention.

"Ah. Yeah. Very interesting..." she muttered.

Idgrod chuckled nasally.

"I'm askin' you what's on your mind, silly. You've been especially quiet today."

Alicent blinked a few times. Then she snorted as she crossed her arms over her stomach.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't stop thinking about Seth," she confessed.

Idgrod began to hum as she put the book in his backpack: "Ali likes Seth!"

Idgrod's words flushed her. She sat up, straddled the log, and glared at her friend.

"Idgrod! It's not that... quite. It's just he's different. There is something special about him, can't you see it? The way he dresses, the way he talks, the way he acts… He's not like any other boy I've ever met..." She rambled.

Joric stopped practicing with his imaginary sword. He approached them with an obvious pout of displeasure.

"Special? But have you seen him? I bet he takes a lot longer to comb his hair than you do, Ali. And with that milk-drinking face, I doubt he's ever picked up a sword," he sneered, crossing his arms.

Idgrod lifted both eyebrows and gave Alicent a look of complicity.

"It's funny, the more you talk about Seth, the less Joric seems to like him."

"Shut up, you idiot," Joric yelled at Idgrod.

Alicent clutched her side and hugged herself. She sulked, annoyed that her friends did not take her feelings seriously.

"Don't be foolish, guys! It's just... You know how it is here. Nobody new ever comes here, and when they do, it's just to stop off before they get to Solitude. Suddenly, this guy shows up at my mom's shop asking for rare ingredients and says he's moving in. I cannot remember the last time someone our age moved to Morthal! Don't you think it's great?"

She looked for their complicity but found only gestures of disbelief. While Idgrod's expression was one of amusement and understanding, Joric could not hide his jealousy and discontent. As the sky began to turn orange above their heads, Alicent decided to open up before the day ended and they had to go to their respective homes.

"Do you think he has a girlfriend?" She asked, breaking the awkward silence that had formed.

"He's single." Idgrod replied immediately, without hesitation.

Surprised at her conviction, she turned to her friend, who was still sitting on the log.

Making no effort to hide her curiosity, she asked, "How can you be so sure?"

"Think about it, Ali, what kind of girl would have a date with a guy who could steal her combs?" Joric threw in.

"Joric!" she complained, annoyed by Idgrod laughing.

"When Seth moved in, he came to pay his respects to our mother. And you know how she is," Idgrod explained with a bit of annoyance. "She was quick to suggest that Seth would make a good suitor. And he didn't mention any previous engagements."

This was a cause of concern for Alicent, who looked at her friend with wide eyes and fear in her chest that Idgrod might be considering this possibility. Idgrod seemed to read her mind. 

"Hush. I have no intention of marrying anyone, no matter how rich or noble," she said.

Alicent sighed in relief, though she quickly closed her eyes and looked at her with some trepidation. How could it be that Idgrod did not like him? She couldn't think of a better option in town. Or any options at all. At least she had Joric, but what about Idgrod?

"Are you sure you don't like him? He's so handsome..."

Idgrod's denial was emphatic. Her face, however, had regained the uneasy pout that it had been wearing just a few hours before.

"Of course, Ali. Though... Seth is a charismatic and handsome guy, yes. But his family is one of the richest in Skyrim. I'm not saying you're not good enough for him, but... some nobles have expectations about the status of their mates.

Alicent was struck like an arrow by the harsh reality. Wounded by the revelation, she looked down. It was not something she had thought of.

"I guess you're right..." she murmured, her voice barely able to hide her discomfort.

"That's bullshit! Ali, you're worth a lot more than a bunch of septims. Your mother owns the best alchemy shop in Skyrim, and that's worth as much or more than any surname," Joric exclaimed so vehemently that Alicent thought he'd said it before.

Hearing him say that made her smile.

"Do you think Seth will feel the same way?" she asked with renewed hope.

The question sank Joric, who kicked a pebble in frustration.

Idgrod listened in silence, still with a worried look on her face.

"Look, Ali. I'm not saying that Seth is like this, but... I don't want you to get hoped up and get hurt. Besides, there's something else I can't get out of my mind..."

Idgrod's face flushed. Alicent looked at her suspiciously. She didn't understand why she was suddenly telling her all these things.

"What? Idgrod, are you sure you don't like him?"

"No. It's not that, really. I swear on the Eights," she promised. "I'm just trying to protect you. Listen to me, there are some nobles who don't want to marry someone of lower status, but use their charm to... to... you know..."

Idgrod looked away, uncomfortable, the blush on her cheeks much more pronounced now. Alicent was even more confused than before. She looked at Joric with a quizzical gesture. His eyes seemed to be on fire with anger and she had the feeling that even he understood the situation.

"If this foppish dares to disrespect Ali in such a manner, I will cut off his head with my own sword," Joric vowed.

"What are they using their charms for?" Alicent asked, not understanding. "What's going on here?"

The brothers exchanged glances. Joric snorted and rolled his eyes.

"Ali, seriously... read The Sensual Argon Maiden," the boy said.

Idgrod laughed briefly at Joric's reaction. Alicent opened her mouth to ask a question, but then she noticed that Joric was tense. Idgrod, also noticing, turned to her side without getting up from the tree trunk and gave her a nudge. Alicent protested.

"Look who's coming!" Idgrod whispered.

Alicent also turned, her heart beating faster as she saw Seth approaching their location.

The atmosphere was strange when he arrived. She was the first to break the silence, feeling warmth on her cheeks.

"Hi Seth!" she greeted excitedly.

Seth, though, seemed annoyed. His attention was directed to Joric. Alicent understood everything when she turned to him. The boy looked at the newcomer with a clear defiance.

"Are you all right, boy?" Seth asked in a cold tone that was a challenge in return.

He looked beautiful, though. Eager to get his attention, and also to avoid a more awkward situation, she stood up and placed herself between them.

"Ignore it. He's pissed because he got hurt. Did you need anything?"

Seth held Joric's gaze for a few moments, then nodded his head at Idgrod and finally looked back at her. The intensity of his eye contact made her legs tremble, a trembling that only increased when the boy gave her one of those smiles that made her mind go blank.

"Alicent, I was wondering about the Mist Festival. Is the invitation still open?"

"As you wish. I mean... Of course it is. If you want to," she rambled on, her cheeks on fire.

All of a sudden she felt an arm around her shoulders and she gasped for breath. So focused on Seth, she didn't notice Idgrod standing beside her.

"It's on Sundas, isn't it? I forgot to confirm it in my haste the other day."

Alicent nodded in mesmerism. Seth's voice was silky, but still masculine. Though young, it no longer sounded as boyish as... as... as Joric's.

"Yes. The... Sundas. That Sundas..." she muttered.

She felt Idgrod's hand press down on his shoulder.

"The festival will begin at the first light of dawn," her friend added.

Seth nodded.

"Thanks. You don't mind if I join you, do you?" he asked, looking at each of them one by one, including Joric.

"This will be a good opportunity for you to get to know the people of Morthal a little better," Idgrod said. "I can assure you that you have aroused the interest of many of our neighbors since you have arrived here."

Alicent appreciated her quick response. It prevented Joric from answering first.

"Some more than others..." Joric added reluctantly and in a low voice.

Alicent glanced sideways and saw Joric crossing his arms, his torso turning slightly towards the village. When she looked back at Seth, he was watching Joric, trying to keep from smiling. She was surprised to see that gesture, and was not quite able to decipher what it meant. But the thought faded as Seth turned back to her, his brown eyes catching her again.

"I'll see you on Sundas then. I'll pick you up at your house. Will you be there?"

Alicent nodded, fascinated and stunned at the same time. She couldn't quite believe that Seth was actually going to pick her up.

"I'll be waiting for you, Seth," she replied. She spoke softly, as if her voice would scare him away.

Seth took a step back and forced a smile as a farewell.

"Until the Sundas!" he exclaimed, making sure to hold Joric's gaze a little longer than the others before leaving.

As she watched his silhouette walk away, Alicent let her head fall on Idgrod's shoulder and sighed happily, her heart racing with the promise of spending some time with Seth in a few days.