TBATE-ONESHOTS

Honorbound 9

"Good morning, Sweetie," Merial greeted her daughter as Tessia, Kristine, and Arthur walked into the sitting room. Merial closed the book she was reading and sat back into the chair she was sitting in, "Where are you off to?"

"I was thinking of going to the bookstore," Tessia said with a kind smile as she stood behind one of the couches and rested her hands on the back of it. "Is there anything you would like me to get you while I'm out?"

Merial hummed and looked to the side, thinking before she shook her head, "No, there's nothing I need."

Tessia nodded, "Alright, then I'll be off."

"Before you go," Merial said, catching Tessia as she was just about to walk off. Merial gestured to the seat beside her, "Take a seat."

Tessia raised a brow before walking around the couch, toward the chair, and sitting down, "What's up?"

Merial looked at Kristine and Arthur, "Leave us for a moment, please."

Arthur and Kristine nodded before swiftly leaving the room, and Arthur closed the door, giving Tessia and Merial some privacy. 

Already sensing what this was about, Tessia sighed, "This is about me and Dad, isn't it?"

Merial looked at Tessia and smiled, "It is." 

Tessia rolled her eyes, "I don't want to talk about it."

"I know," Merial said softly. "But this is a discussion that must be had."

Tessia narrowed her eyes on her mother, "What, are you going to take his side now?"

Merial sighed, "It's not that simple, I'm afraid."

Tessia scoffed, "How is it not that simple? Dad is literally trying to sell me off like some common who-"

"Tessia Eralith!" Merial yelled, and Tessia flinched from her mother's tone and intense glare. "Your father is doing no such thing!" Tessia sat there, speechless, looking at her mother wide-eyed. Merial sighed, closing her eyes and calming herself down, "Look. I get it. You don't want to be with someone just because tradition dictates it. Don't you see that's why he is setting up these meetings, so you can try to get along with them?"

Tessia sat straight, composing herself, "Yeah, all because of this stupid elven tradition."

Merial's eyes flicked to the floor, "It's not stupid to some."

Tessia rolled her eyes, "Like my father."

Merial's face tightened, "Tessia, your father has fought hard for you, even if you don't see it."

Tessia's eyes flicked to her mother and narrowed, "What are you talking about?"

Merial sighed and looked at her daughter, "Your father might be king, and what he says goes. However, there are some things that are out of his control. For example, the matter of elven tradition."

"Yes, yes," Tessia said, flicking her wrist and looking to the side. "I must marry to rule. Honestly, who even cares about that."

"The elder's," Merial said, her voice tight.

Tessia's eyes shifted to her mother, filled with confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Meiral shifted in her seat, thinking of how to carefully approach the subject, "As you know, the elders of Elenoir hold great influence over the kingdom. One of the things that they have decided in the past is who would be next in the right of succession to the throne."

Tessia studied her mother, seeing how uncomfortable she looked, "What are you saying? Just spit it out."

"She's saying," a voice began, and Tessia and Merial's heads whipped to the entrance, seeing Alduin had snuck into the room and standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. "That as of right now, the elders do not acknowledge you as my heir."