Beautiful Insanity (A Skyrim/Oblivion Fanfiction) ((ORIGINAL))

The Seer's Omen

"Come along, Regina." Russet tightened her hand on her five-year-old's hand. Her sister was already nine and played with Ysolda's children happily. Regina couldn't seem to make many friends. Almost afraid of others, she preferred to stay inside and read.

"Why did we leave?" the child queried, looking up at her mother with bright blue eyes.

"Mama's here to see her friends," Russet answered, smiling at her dark-haired daughter. Brynjolf, on the other hand, followed a young Karliah as she ran behind a house. Russet was glad he was keeping an eye on the flighty child. "I'm going to leave you with Olava, okay?" Russet bent down and looked Regina in the eye. "Stay with her. If I learn that you left, I'm going to take away all of your books for the rest of Sun's Height. Do you understand me?" Regina nodded rapidly, eyes wide. "Good. Let's go, she's right over there."

"Hello, my dear!" the old woman greeted Russet when she walked over. "Is this your sweet little daughter?"

"It is. This is Regina." The girl hid behind her mother, peeking out slightly. Olava smiled at Regina.

"Would you like me to read your future, Regina?"

"Um... okay," the girl muttered, not sure what else to say.

"Can I have your hand, sweetie? Thank you." The seer rubbed her fingers over Regina's palm, her face becoming one of concentration. She began to shiver violently, and Russet tore her daughter away from the old woman. "Insanity! Madness! Magic, enchantments, the arcane!" Russet put her hands over Regina's ears. "The greatest evil! Divided! Order! A dark path!" Olava continued to rant, and Russet ushered Regina away from the seer.

"What was that about, Mama?" Russet's eldest daughter queried, staring at the old woman fearfully.

"Olava's gone crazy," the red-haired woman mumbled. "Crazier." Brynjolf approached the pair, cheeks flushed from chasing Karliah around.

"Lass?"

"I'll talk to you on the carriage ride. Take Kary and Regina. I'm going to check on Farkas, and then we're going home."

...

Both of their daughters had fallen asleep before they'd gotten a mile away from Whiterun, something their mother was grateful for. Regina was curled up on her mother's lap while Karliah leaned against a concerned Brynjolf. Russet stroked Regina's hair absently.

"What happened?" Brynjolf whispered. Russet stared at her husband fearfully.

"Olava has a gift to see the future. She mentioned magic and insanity, and it's worrying me."

"She's gone senile," Brynjolf joked, patting his wife's hand. "Don't worry about it." Russet sighed, pensive. After a moment, she shook her head and smiled weakly.

"You're right. Regina will turn out just fine, I'm sure." Her daughter sighed in her slumber, and her father reached out to rub her forehead.

"Sleep well, my little princess."

...

Six-year-old Regina hid in the space near Solitude's entrance, shaking with fear. Sparks danced on her fingertips, and they grew louder and more frequent the more frightened she became. "I don't have magic, I don't have magic..." she chanted, closing her eyes and praying to the Nine Divines that it was a dream. Unfortunately, when she opened them, she still held a blue ball of energy in her right hand.

She focused. Eventually, the sparks burned out, and her breathing steadied. When the magic was gone, she felt drained. Regina began to pant as it took its toll. She could hardly keep her eyes open.