Dragonborn Saga

519 Lord, Land & Family

"Wife, is it done?" I asked as we stood in front of Breezehome.

"It is done. Took us quite the resources to make, though." Alina replied.

What we were talking about was the project I entrusted her with. When I was in Cyrodiil, I sent many messages to my people and associates around the continent telling the specific instructions or asking for favors and information. My wife had the task of purchasing all the Player Homes across Skyrim which were five in total along with other three places for the holds that had no player homes.

"Aside from Falkreath and Dawnstar, we have completed the network." She added.

"What happened with Falkreath and Dawnstar?" I asked.

"The Jarls are not friendly with us, you know. Jarl Skald the Elder and Jarl Siddgeir are not your biggest fans."

"I get it. Dawnstar is actually closeby and Falkreath suffered from the attack on Helgen so the situation is not that bad at all. We'll figure it out."

Now, inside Breezehome. We walked in as a party of twelve. It was me, Alina, Jull, Nefertiti, Wulfur, Aela, Miranda, Mirren, Isha, Jax, Beth and finally, Lydia. The house may not be vast enough but that wasn't the idea here.

Breezehome was redecorated by the careful touches of Alina who transformed the old thing into a nice and cozy place to rest in. Still, the most important thing was that gate-like object which was added in the small room on the ground floor.

A Portal Station.

This was the intended purpose of purchasing all the player homes and that is to make a Fast Travel network that takes me between the hold the fastest way possible.

"Lydia, I know it is illegal to Teleport and Levitate inside the city but I don't give a damn, are we clear?" Jon asked Lydia with a dangerous smile.

"Al… alright."

"Perfect. This is for the betterment of the world anyway. You will be using it a lot and also… watch out for cliffs, dear. They are so very tempting." I said warning her about something that may or may not happen.

"…"

"Now now, husband. Don't scare our new Housecarl." Alina interfered after she activated the portal pushing me away then looked at Lydia, "You report to Jullanar."

It seems that my dear wife will activate the policy of keeping all unauthorized females at a safe distance from me. I wasn't thinking of anything anyway.

Either way, I was now just facing the portal that will take me back to Winterhold. Truthfully, I have complicated feelings at the moment. It is just… it is complicated.

"Just go ahead, will you?"

Alina lightly pushed me forwards and I stepped in the portal trying to think positively.

***

Winterhold, the historical capital of Skyrim and the home of knowledge and politics that long since sank under the sea of ghosts. Winterhold of the past was a sorry place plagued by hate and skepticism between the common folks and the mages but one man reformed that waste into a power that can't be looked down upon.

Winterhold of today is a Massive Trading Hub that sits upon the coldest parts of the Sea of Ghosts and the Capital City of Magic in Skyrim. The docks have expanded further and further to rival that of Solitude and Windhelm to the point where it extended between the small islands to the north. The Shipbuilders of Winterhold now have a guild of their own separate from the Dare Dragon Company but still loyal to the House of Dare. The town expanded yet past the old walls giving birth to newer districts and slums. The buildings started to take a new form to contain more residents by stacking apartments on each other rather than building independent houses.

This was no longer a city but rather a machine powered by various races and origins. Rather than having the time to be racist against each other, work and money were the aspects of the community in Winterhold.

Either with force or reason, advancements took place when people needed it. Businesses took places outside the umbrella of the dominating Dare Dragon Company and diversity became a theme.

This, of course, wasn't the end of it. With positivity comes negativity and as money increased, so did crime. With a war raging outside the hold, refugees hoarded outside the city. With the work market endlessly demanding workers, many businesses lost and many kept struggling.

It was a merciless place yet the Haven all wanted. The original natives of Winterhold couldn't be distinguished anymore but they are now living on the better side of the community being envied for being here first.

That is the way of life in the new Winterhold.

The bloodiest image of Capitalism was incarnating in that city and everyone was getting addicted to it.

On the other hand, Whispering Town became larger and larger, taking away the stone quarry business from Saarthal. With Jarl Korir and Thane Alina instructing the southern road to be fortified, the new quarry was set up near the mine and the Dare Dragon Company hired a lot of Dunmer to start digging. Alina was even smart enough to allow the construction of a temple for Azura under the shade of Azura's gigantic statue to gather the support of the Dark Elves even though it was against Alina's own faith.

Away from the east of the hold, the heart of Winterhold was Saarthal or Neo Saarthal as officially called. Saarthal had a new Temple for the Nordic Divines and many clans moved there including the Moonblades after the destruction of their home after the Battle of Winterhold. The Firemanes also constructed a massive manor which where Jonrad and Hilda Firemane. Aside from the housing, the Nordic population of Saarthal increased massively in celebration for the revival of the Ancestral Home of Mankind itself. All was good and fine but what impacted the city the most was the Museum of Saarthal, the grand building that was under the direct supervision of the House of Dare managed by their retainer Silus Vesuius. This Museum became a hot spot for the scholars and mages around Skyrim, High Rock and Morrowind.

The three main settlements of Winterhold had a fourth town constructed half a year ago by Clan Moonblade, Hsaarik Head Town also known as Hsaarik. This town was built to the west near Dawnstar as an expansion for the overflowing dock of Winterhold and to harass Dawnstar economically. Hsaarik was a natural fortress from the sea and a very secure location on land. It already had a lighthouse constructed ages ago and run by a Redguard family that Alina managed to save from a Falmer attack. Hsaarik was not just a dock and a sea fortress but had a very significant historical value as this is the place where Ysgramor and the 500 Companions landed from Atmora, a sacred spot to the men.

Jon promised to exploit Winterhold not only by its resources but by its overall value. Alina followed those plans as the current head of the company and added her passion as a Nord to it. Following her example, many clans put their heart and soul into the land making something Jon couldn't even imagine. His dreams on the painting were beautiful but in reality, he wasn't the only painter with endless love for Skyrim and Winterhold.

On the end, not only the Humans were the ones who participated in Hsaarik but their neighbors were the giants who herded their mammoths in the artificial groves nearby. These Giants were the ones that were chased from the Pale by Jarl Skald of Dawnstar and were forced to live in the ice wastes of Winterhold until Jon and Alina grew the artificial groves for them.

The Artificial Groves is an ambitious project that Jon didn't have the chance to finish but with the help of Alina and the Cult of Kyne, it was intended to grow a forest north to Saarthal. Alina and her cult started to put the Pine saplings in the snow wasteland but it was too hard to grow anything so she asked the Guardians of the Grove, a branch of the Cult of Kyne residing in Kynesgrove, to transfer Spriggans to Winterhold. The process was dangerous and almost impossible but no one gave up on the dream of building the first artificial forest. With the ambitious project greatly helping the Giants who reside between Saarthal and Hsaarik, it was separated into multiple groves to further manage them without hindering the trade routes.

With a strong alliance with the Giants, Winterhold was no longer a place any could challenge. It hasn't just grown but overgrown and attracted all the Clans around it, swearing loyalty to the House of Dare as its banner-men and shield-thanes.

From that point, many coveted Winterhold. Organized Crime and Espionage were the main themes of Winterhold's trouble, thus steps in the guardians of Winterhold. The Black Pigeons, also known as [Team 0], the ghost that doesn't exist. Jullanar's private force and anti-espionage unit in the Dare Corps. Imperials, Stormcloaks and Thalmor spies were systematically discovered and executed through the hold. On the surface, Winterhold may be at peace with all but in the shadows, there were rivers of blood curved into the pure snow. With Alina leading Jon's dream, Jullanar was protecting it from the shadows.

Understandably, the shadow unit was not enough to protect Winterhold as it is very limited to Intel Gathering and Anti-Espionage so the main striking force of Winterhold was quite the issue. After the Battle of Winter. The Empire and Solitude realized how cunning Winterhold was in the matter of regulating recruitment in the Dare Corps which meant that not only they can break the legal limit but also muster quite the force, it led to a very strict regulation to manage and control that force and the Dare Corps wholeheartedly complied to be limited to a 1000 Dare Trooper. The Guards of Winterhold were former Dare Troopers which meant they had divided loyalty but they were also limited by law to quite the same number. This meant that the Empire was limiting Winterhold to 2000 units in total but was that truly a thing? Jonrad and Hilda Firemane were their little project behind the scene and by little project, it means the Warband of Winterhold consisting purely of the members of the new clans and sneakily a lot of former Dare Troopers. This force was unlisted and completely unofficial divided on all the clans but in the secret documents under Alina's pillow, that's 10'000 units ready to huff and buff wherever she points.

This is Winterhold.

Winterhold City, the Capital of Commerce and Magic.

The Whispering Town, the Mine of Fortune.

Saarthal, the Cultural Home and Impenetrable Bastion.

Hsaarik, the Thriving Port.

With many villages, giant settlements, training camps, work spots and unearthed treasures spurting all over; the Hold was in its best image for the arrival of its Boss… the Big Boss.

"We are ready."

Alina spoke as she looked past the door of a new residence at the edge of Winterhold City. This was the new house which will be claimed by the Dragonborn in the future as his base of operation in the city.

Inside the house, everyone gathered with Jon in the center. He was immersing himself in the sensation of homecoming while the others were covering themselves with heavier clothes, it is summer alright but Winterhold is called with that name for a good reason.

"A lot has changed… I truly missed a lot." Jon finally spoke as he opened his eyes.

"No." Alina replied and held his hands, "Everything you love was never misplaced. Your people, your family, your clan. It just rose up to your level, my Dragon."

Jon smiled and got closer to his wife.

"You outdid me."

"No. Only one person would dare to start all this and he started it alright. You know what, the past two years almost doubled our population so not all of the people know you. Why don't you go and claim the spotlight on your own?"

Alina's words were tempting as they filled Jon with pride. He looked past the door and he could no longer resist it.

His spotlight, his stage, his scene, his crown and his rightful throne.

The town that was just some broken buildings surrounded by some walls and buried under snow and corruption. He arrived at it when it was void of hope and had nothing left to lose. He built a bathhouse to make the money circulate and invested in any trade or labor available. Even with the Jarl against him, he put him down smoothly and took the lead, establishing a company. Then the pirates came and he fought them at that cliff and in those waters, that cliff which is covered by wide stairs and those waters which are filled with trading ships. He went wider and taller expanding to every direction, he brought a master Alchemist to the town and regulated business and enhanced it. The East Empire Company tried to devour him early on but it ended in bed somehow, Windhelm and the Empire wanted to devoid the cake with him and he sent them home empty-handed with a fleet that dominated the water with no sails going against the current and defying the tide for all it cares about. He expanded further and further making his pocket reach as deep as the Royal Coffers. They called him a monster, an irregular, a beast; he took these names to the heart and never stopped. Those who hated them for no reason were gladly given some real reasons to hate him as he emptied their coffers and grew Winterhold further. And when an army came to his door, the army was buried at the gates of Saarthal.

Jon Dare and Winterhold, there was never a better match. He is its soul and she is his body. He loved her and she loved him… and he missed her so so much.

As he opened the door to meet his dear, a hand stopped him so he looked back. It was Wulfur giving him that thing.

"Ah! Right."

Jon Dare had a particular robe. The red sleeveless one with red plates on it. He always wore it open. Last time he wore it was at the Battle of Winterhold and it was torn badly. He had to dress for the occasion.

"Your beard is a bit overgrown and please let your hair loose." Jull said.

"Can I go now?" He was being held back for trivial things but the others were as excited as he is so it must be perfect at least.

"You are perfect. Hurry before they remember anything else." Aela pushed him past the door and he was finally outside the manner.

Truth be told, he was barely ready.

The Manor was directly on the main street so no one stopped for him. He was noticeable for his height and clothing but seeing the Firemanes in Winterhold was something very common. Life didn't stop for him, people didn't applaud and girls didn't throw flowers in his ways.

That was nothing to him, he didn't need applauding or recognition, he only needed to see the people, the buildings, the life. He looked at every person working around, carrying wood or hammering nails with great pride. He was moved by their sight as they were the extension of his will and the echo of his work. A step further would bring him to more life and advancement. More and more, the things people built, the steps they took after him, he could see himself in them. There is nothing he wouldn't do for those people.

He walked in the street as if he was touching the air that flowed around him, he knew this place by heart even though most of the building went up by a level or two. Some eyes fell into him, he smiled even if he never saw them before. They felt him as much as he felt them. That bond was strange and powerful, they never understood it but they knew he was someone they trust. Someone who walks on a great path for all of them for selfishness and selflessness.

Jon's presence was strong in this place, he was too noticeable and too attractive. He was felt by those who feel bonded to this land like him, those who see Winterhold as home. He was also felt by those who lurk in the shadows as the shadows were strangling them. He is not just a man, inside Winterhold, Jon is the Man. The Law. The one who ascended to protect the land thus the landed ascended for him in return.

This was as anything else, a Magic.

It was not Jon's Magic or the Magic of any Mage. It was the Magic of the Land. Jon loved Winterhold and she loved him back, that is the Magic.

Talos used the same magic to convey his love for his Legion, Talos told them that he will reshape the land which is his for them. Jon was the same, he was drawing the hearts and the eyes after him.

He is no Divine but he was once a Demi. The Love that makes the Divine powers him now. He is there bathed with it and the more people see him, the stronger it gets.

There is no longer a need to point and say this is Jon Dare, it was already known. He was followed by men, women and children. He was followed by his wife and his friends. They all felt the land with him.

He walked the news streets, the old streets, Shalidor's Plaza, the Market square, the Temple of Kyne. Every place recognized him as much as he recognized them. Hundreds followed him, more watched him from the windows. Elishka recognized him right away and almost panicked, she seems to have put on a lot of weight those past couple of years, Ongeim saw Jon and dropped whatever in his hands, Trudvar was on the verge of tears, the vendors and the masons who worked with him before anyone else are now the wealthy influential the influential who came running to walk right behind him announcing that they are the first lackeys.

Everything about this cold piece of land on the northernmost edge of the continent was just warm.

Soon, Jon was in front of his house. He wanted to go in as he felt many presences there but something stopped him. Not far from the house, there was a small platform made of earth with a sword stuck on it.

"Bloodskal?"

Jon felt the powerful connection with that sword awakening after a long slumber. What is this sword doing here? The last time Jon had that sword was when he infused the last of his Divine Power inside of it and sent it above the Tower of Music to protect the land in his stead.

"Not long after you left, some Nord brat from a big clan came and annoyed Alina. Seemed like he said something about you to her causing her anger to boil but before my hand or Alina's eyes got to him, a bolt of red lightning came down and split the boy in half. What we saw after was this sword stuck in the ground." Wulfur said.

"We tried to remove it from the ground but it was impossible to lift. Wulfur had to spend a whole week lifting the ground under it to make an earthen platform and not harm the passers-by." Alina continued.

"People came from all around the place trying to pull it out but no one ever could. The sword would then fly from its place whenever there is some big fuss, solve the trouble by creating big holes in the ground and swoosh return back." Jullanar demonstrated.

"Hehehe! That's classic."

Jon laughed as he remembered the will he left inside the sword. It must have caused a lot of trouble but now… it was time for it to rest.

"You exhausted too much power, didn't you?" Jon held the handle and pulled it out, "Time to rest, old friend."

With the sword being effortlessly pulled out, the earthen platform it slept in crumpled but that wasn't the only aftermath.

A strong cheer came from everyone who followed him. Many tried to pull the sword to the point where a few legends were formed about the sword but now as it is finally out, only one truth remains.

Winterhold progress will never end.

***

"Jonhild."

"Mother."

Here was it. The hug I waited for. I may have grown strong but I'm still overpowered by Hilda whenever she finds me. How blessed I am!

"Cousin!"

"Jonhild."

"Boy!"

It was Hilda who came out first from the house. It seemed that Alina called for the whole family to gather here today. Following Hilda were my cousins and my uncles. Even my grandmother is here.

"People! I'm back."

As soon as Hilda let me go, I was held by Hafthor and Vladimir who pulled me in. Uncle Tyr was there as well.

"This is impossible! No one told us you're coming."

"Man, it is really you."

"Drag him in quickly. Someone send those people away."

The situation was too chaotic and hectic. All the relatives were here and none of them expected me.

"It is good to be back. How are you all?" I asked.

"Good."

"Great."

"We're fine."

I was surrounded by my people in my house, most of us are red-haired and blue-eyed to the point where it caused the newcomers to get scared. I can see Mirren hiding behind Isha from the too much Nordness in one place.

"Bring him some meat. He looks thin."

"Grandma, wait!"

"Eat!"

There is no refusing it when Grandma Jenna stuffs the food in your mouth. Just let me chew.

It was a messy yet warm situation. Everyone was here and everything was interactive. Even the kids were causing an absolute mess but it was fun to watch.

"Hey, leave Jon alone you stupid bunch. Jon, come and see." Hilda who disappeared for a minute after I came in was dragging me away from the gathering.

"Where?"

"Here."

"Hey, Jonhild." The one who greeted me was Bjorna.

"Cousin, so nice to see you. Wait! Don't tell me…"

I saw a child in her arms and I was almost freaking out.

"Beowulf." Wulfur introduced me.

"You son of a gun. Come here."

I held the boy carefully from Bjorna and he seemed unwilling to be taken by unfriendly hands.

"This is your uncle," Wulfur said.

"What's up?"

Wulfur and Bjorna had Beowulf not long after I left. The kid is two years old now and he looks like Wulfur almost to a scary point.

"Congratulations, brother." I handed the boy back to his parents.

"Thank you. Will see what kind of a demon spawn you will bring to this world." Wulfur joked carefreely and the other laughed but for some reason, Alina and I were facing each other at the moment and it didn't feel like a laughing matter to us.

I didn't want to be a mood killer so I smiled and nodded.

"Hey, you still have to meet those two." Hilda pulled me over further in the house and there were the two she wanted me to meet.

"Oh my God! You two are so cute I could eat you. Come 'ere." I ran towards Thor and Idun as soon as I saw them.

My little brother and sister. The cutest in the world.

"Ha!"

"Ahah!"

Once they saw me, they reacted right away. I can't believe how this life is mine so blessed with two little siblings like these, I feel like getting purified and will almost cry right now.

Thor and Idun are my little siblings born during my Second Labour. Say no more about other people's babies, those two are cute all the way to Aetherius.

Thor has short hair and long bangs. He seemed like the kind that likes to suck his fingers but he had the airs of a troublesome child. Idun, on the other hand, had Buffy cheeks and her hair was gathered above her head as she sat on her own and looked at me with her wide eyes.

"Look at that little cutie. You are my little sister? How can our rotten family have such a pure being?" I said as I teased her cheeks but Thor started hitting my hand with his toy.

It was fun to see my little siblings. I bought them a lot of gifts from Summerset and Elsweyr but I never know what is suitable for someone their age.

Still, in this harmonious air, the most undesirable voice was heard behind.

"HANDS! OFF! MY! DAUGHTER!"

Without any warning, I felt a large palm striking my hall back as if the wrath of Fire Titan was trying to go through me.

I almost crumbled from the sudden pain but I endured while standing up.

"Jonrad, what are you doing? You mad?" Hilda shouted at Jonrad.

"Hmph! No one touches my daughter without going through the process of elimination to eliminate all the darkness of the world of their dirty hands. Only then they can come in contact with my daughter. Even Thor knows that." I could hear that idiot of a father talk about something as I stood up.

"For goodness sake…" Hilda was holding her forehead troubled from that idiot.

Fine, I'll handle him.

"HA!"

Out of nowhere, I buried my fist in that man's abdomen making him bend forward.

"Co…ward!" He said agonized from the punch in his guys.

"Ugly me! What's up?"

"Abhorrent child!" Jonrad rose up to face me only to look at each other face to face.

"What on Nirn!"

"Oblivion!"

Us two had a look at each other's faces and to our utter surprise, we had the same hair and beard styles.

"You bastard!"

"Son of a…"

This was a big taboo in our book. The two of us would never share the same style one way or the other but with the same light beard and long hair, this is bound to turn ugly.

"I'll rip that face of yours off."

"I'll tear apart your ugly mug."

We had each other by the face and were digging our nails into the other's skin but all of a sudden, our heads were struck down as soon as we started.

"Stop it, both of you. You're making Idun cry."

We turned around to see Idun's eyes getting moisty. Seeing her father and brother fighting is clearly unsettling for the young girl.

"Dammit!"

"No! Don't cry. Here, Nefertiti."

Jonrad held his head not knowing what to do but I cunningly offered a dose of fluff. Still, she was going to cry.

"Your faces are confusing her. One of you must go and shave now." Hilda said.

"Shave! Right! Where?" Jonrad started running around confused causing me to roll his eyes backward.

"Alright." I said as summoned [Lust] right away.

As soon as it fused with me, I manipulated my beard to disappear and my hair to grow shorter.

"Tada!" With my face looking younger, Idun started to settle down.

"That… was… awesome. How did you do it?" Jonrad was mystified by the miraculous technique I just did so as the others.

"Hmph! It is a technique anyone can learn. The only requirement is to be at least 1% as good looking as me." I replied.

"Damn you, little shit." Jonrad ground his teeth as this is ultimately my victory.

My little sister seemed happy with the trick of making my hair grow longer and shorter. Such a thing is nothing, guess I'll show her how to make a Daedric Titan dance on a ball.

It was too nice to see my family again but as I looked around, someone was not there. Someone I really needed to see. I could feel her getting closer in my heart and as soon as she was close enough, I went towards her as well.

The door to my house was opened and she walked in right away. No one stood in her way and cleared the way between us immediately.

I finally see her again.

I have a lot… a lot to tell her about.

"Jon."

"Nurina."

She is here coming at me with a smile but she suddenly stopped.

Her smile froze.

Her eyes widened.

I feared this would happen. I feared she would see my Chaos. And then again, what really happened in Chaos?

~~~~~~~~~~

• Bonus •

- Don: Gentlemen! Next Chapter is a Chaos recollection.