King-Fall

V. Restitution Bound

"Leave us." My wife commanded the guards. Finnian about left as well but Elisif added,

"Finnian. Stay."

I sat under the pained gaze of my wife as she shook her head at me.

"I can't believe you did this."

I kept silence, unable to meet her eyes.

"You shouted-" she shook her head, "after what happened to my deceased husband you shout an innocent man into pieces! In my home!"

Your home? I thought as I met her eyes.

"I shouted Ulfric to pieces." I hollowly tried to justify.

Elisif stood up, "Ulfric is dead! He has nothing to do with this! You held a priest of Meridia by the throat and-"

I stood in response, "I know what I did, woman!"

"My liege, my lady, please sit." Finnian softly pleaded.

My hands shook as I sat down. Elisif collapsed into her chair and cupped her shaking head in her hands.

"It's like I'm reliving my husband's death."

"This all could just be War-Shock-"

I interjected, "Everything is not just War-Shock, elf!" I couldn't help standing and knocking my chair back. "Wrongs have been done; restitutions must be made." I couldn't look my wife in the eyes as I uttered, "That's why I was planning on going to Meridia with peace offerings."

"Like what?" Finnian asked.

"The Dawnbreakers."

Elisif just watched me, shaking her head numbly. Finnian sighed, and plead,

"My liege. Even the Dawnbreakers, of which you slain numerous draugrs with on your way to Sovengarrd to defeat Alduin may not be enough."

"It should be enough to get a great errand to do for my atonement."

But lo, they don't know half of the neglect I have done towards Meridia, Boethiah and Hermaeus Mora. I looked at my wife's face and Divines the pain I had caused her. I set the chair back in it's place and tentatively walked backwards.

"Talion-" her ethereal voice said, "I still love you... but you cannot come back until your errand is done."

"Such is the law," I bowed, "my love."

Once I closed the door behind me I heard something clatter, as if plates were thrown in frustration, before sobbing came through the door. I rested my head on the door a moment, guilt impaling my very being when I began to go towards my quarters. I packed with fervor and I armored up as well. My Bloodskal blade was vertical on my back today and the Dawnbreakers crisscrossed under my cape. I also tied the Rueful Axe to my bag which I stocked with a few days supplies and extra potions just in case.

The only thing I didn't take was the Black Books in my personal war chest, I actually forgot where I put it. I would also have to make another trip to Solstheim, or could I just burn them? Something bumped into a prized Cudgel of mine I got from Fort Frostmoth but I didn't see anything.

"Paarthurnax," I droned, "invisibility scrolls are quite expensive."

"Ugh," a totally caught voice groaned, "I used a muffle scroll to."

Once the effects wore off I saw my son's sad face.

"I'm coming."

I groaned and simply stated, "No."

At this point he teared up and then threw himself at my legs. Tears were flowing down his face as he cried,

"I'm going to miss you dad."