A Jester and His Boy

5.) Loreius Farm

Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone of the Elder Scroll series. I did not create Skyrim, though if I did, Cicero would be able to dual-wield anything.

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The first two hours weren't bad, but I got progressively weaker. We weren't even halfway out of the snow when I started getting sick. I was given more fruits and veggies over time, but I didn't get much better. Thankfully, I never threw up my food - though I hardly ate any - and I got minimal stomach pains, but I randomly got hot flashes and started sweating, or I got chills and froze my butt off.  I would also cough very randomly and badly.

I was so thankful for Papa. He waited on me, hand and foot. He made sure I was comfortable in any and every way. I knew nothing about my Papa but I loved him. I really did.

I often wondered what Papa did for a living. I noticed he always carried a dagger and that made me curious, but then I thought: who wouldn't carry one? After my time at Fort Dunstad, I was considering one for myself.

Whenever I tried to ask him about himself, he would pat my head and say, "Wait until we get to our destination, sweet Dovah. I will answer all of your questions there. Cicero has too much on his mind right now."

So I would wait. And that was fine.

...because I really did love my Papa.

We were almost out of the snow when I pitched my first coughing fit. It wouldn't stop. He pulled over the cart, brought me into his chest and just held me. It calmed down after a few minutes, and we continued. Still in his arms, I could hear his heartbeat. It was a very soothing sound. For a while, our heartbeats matched. I fell asleep to it after a minute or two.

I was abruptly awakened by a sudden lurch.

"Damnedest wagon wheel!!" I heard Papa shriek.

I wasn't awake for long though. He got off of the cart, laid me down on it and I was asleep again.

I woke up again when Papa was talking to someone. Well, more like begging with someone. I poked my head over the cart, and Papa was there, along with another man. The other man was standing there looking very annoyed with his arms crossed. He was taller than my father, a man of darker skin, and he had no hair on his head. He was wearing average farmer clothing: a ragged shirt and trousers with dirty boots.

"Mister Loreius, please! Cicero is begging you!"

"No. For the probably the tenth time: no."

"Cicero can pay you! Oh yes!"

"No."

"Why, oh WHY won't you help poor Cicero?!"

"Because I don't believe anything you say. Talos only knows what's actually in that box. Could be weapons, contraband... you could even be hiding a body in there!"

"Yes! Yes, it's the body of my poor, sweet mother!"

"Your MOTHER? You've gotta be kidding me."

"Cicero never jests about Mother!"

"Well, it could even be the mother of the Emperor for all I care. No."

Papa's eyes darkened. He looked to the side and saw me. I lowered my head a bit in a kind of fear. Perhaps I wasn't supposed to be listening? And what would Papa do with such dark eyes? They were a bit unnerving.

He crossed his arms and spoke again.

"Do you see the child peeking his sweet, little head over the wagon?"

Loreius looked and saw me.

"So? Did you abduct him?"

"That is MY SON. He's very ill. Why would I have," he made air quotes and said "'war contraband,' if I had a CHILD with me? If you don't help me, I honestly believe he will die. And if he does," his eyes darkened all the more. "I will make sure to let you know."

Loreius gazed at me for a moment and thought.

"Please," Papa added.

Loreius still stood firm. "No."

The darkness in Papa's eyes grew darker still. I could tell he was thinking intensely. About what, I still wonder.

"FINE!!" Papa suddenly shrieked. He threw his arms up and stomped his feet. He resembled a troll. I ducked my head behind the wagon out of fear. "BE OF NO HELP TO ME!!" He continued. "I HARDLY CARE ABOUT ME!!! BUT TO REFUSE MY MOTHER?! OR EVEN MY SON?! YOU, SIR, ARE MORE DESPICABLE THAN SITHIS HIMSELF!!!"

After a half second of silence, I raised my head again and saw Loreius with his nose in the air.

"Hmph! I won't let you trick me! Son or no son!"

In a flash, I saw Papa reach for his dagger. He had his hand on the hilt of it when I shrieked.

"PAPA!!"

Loreius swiftly turned around, but Papa had already let go of the dagger.

"What-what were you-?!"

"Cicero will wait right here if Loreius changes his mind," he said darkly. I noticed that he'd dropped the "mister."

"Fine! Just-" he started fearfully "just quit bugging me and leave me alone, you crazy little man!"

Loreius swiftly returned up the hill to his home, and Papa returned to our cart.

"Oooh that Loreius..."

I looked at him almost fearfully. He saw this, and put a look on his face that said "whoops."

"Oh, my dear Dovah, I didn't mean to frighten you. Mister Loreius just made Cicero angry, that's all. Cicero is sorry you had to see him so angry. Cicero is glad you stopped him because he probably would've killed Mister Loreius! Ha ha ha ha ha ha haa!! But that doesn't matter now, does it?" He extended his arms to receive me. After a momentfs consideration, I extended my arms. He picked me up and gave me a big bear hug. He took a deep breath and placed me back down. He asked if I needed anything. I wasn't hungry; I had no appetite. I just requested that I sleep some more.

"Yes yes! Of course! Rest your little head! I do wish you'd eat, but I suppose you can't help it can you? Now sleep, sweet Dovah, sleep!"

But before I could sleep, I needed to ask him something that was on my mind.

"Papa?"

"Yes, my little Dovah?"

"Is your mother REALLY in that big box?"

He paused for a moment.

"Yes, little Dovah, she is."

"So, does that mean she's my grandma?"

His face looked troubled.

"We'll talk of this when we get to our destination."

"But-"

"No! Sleep now. Don't trouble yourself with matters that have nothing to do with you." I laid down my head and he quietly added, "Yet."

Before I could ask, he had walked to the back of the cart, and began muttering to himself.

I laid my head down and wondered what he could've meant. After barely any wondering though, I had fallen asleep.