Though she had risen earlier that morning to the sound of Farid, only to spend some quality time with Edith afterwards, it hardly felt as if the sun had inched any higher in the sky, when indeed it had. Once acquiring the new perfume, [i]Troll Scab[/i], which still puzzled her as to why someone would name a delightful smelling fragrance something so...distasteful, fact aside, Edith and her returned to the inn. To her surprise, she had a letter waiting for her from Liliana. Immediately, she set out away from the inn, clutching the sealed letter to her breast, and came to rest underneath an ancient pine tree behind the inn. Safe in her seclusion, her gaze swept over the name scrawled in black ink, her own: Sevine Varg-t’uk. Yet, she did not open the letter right away for her hands began to tremble at the potential news within. The anticipation of reading what her sister wrote nauseated her as it always had. Oblivion be damned, she remembered how excited, but nervous, she would feel when receiving letters from Liliana back in the war, and particularly how she learned of her father’s death.

[i]Dearest Sister, 

I am sorry to burden you with terrible news, but Pa has passed away…[/i]

      There was more to the letter of course, but those words were emblazoned in her mind for the rest of the war, perhaps one of the reasons why she made it through to the end, for her sole desire to see her sister again, and pay respects to her father. Now, the same dread filled her, and with shaking hands, she broke the wax seal on the letter.

[i]Dearest Sister,

With the arrival of the Gazette, I trust you will soon learn what has happened here in our beloved town, perhaps Edith has informed you? 

But first, let me not carry on with the on-goings here at home, for my heart is glad to hear that you are safe despite the threats in Windhelm. Lodjolf treats me well, what a kind man he is, he fancies bringing me bouquets of flowers from his walks into town. Good news. You are to be an aunt! Yes, I only found out myself when your letter arrived, the midwife, Greta, says I am no more than two months along. I am overjoyed! Lodjolf says that whether it be a boy, or a girl, that we will name our child after Pa or Ma. 

Now. If you remember her well, Svari, Edith’s cousin, you will recall that she is fiery in heart, despite her name. We are all safe here in Falkreath, and she chased out ol’ Dengeir! I am thrilled to have her as Jarl, there is not a doubt in my mind that she will do us right. A curious thing to note, she has an Orc housecarl, and a Redguard for a Thane! I've yet to venture into town since the uprising, as my condition is beginning to best me.

Sister, I wish to see your face soon, for I miss your bright eyes, and the sound of you laughing. But I am scared. I cannot lie. With the death of our High King, the invasion from Windhelm, the upset with the Orcs, and even here at home, I fear that I will bring a child into a world wrought with turmoil. I wish I were strong like you. I wish you were here. Write soon, I long for your letters again.

Your Beloved Sister,

Liliana Thorn-Raker[/i]

     With great care, she folded the letter shut, and clenched it in her hands. Awash with emotions, her mind whirled with the news from her sister. Liliana…she wasn't hurt, but she was with child. One hand rose and covered her face as she smiled, she would become an aunt! The idea of returning one day to see a babe in her sister’s arms overwhelmed her, and hopefully, she could return one day to the old family homestead. 

       For what seemed like an hour, Sevine rose from her hiding place at the sound of excited voices. She assumed that those that wanted to see the duel were headed to the dueling circle, and she was right in her guess as she joined the tail end of the crowd. Luckily, or rather unluckily, depending on one’s viewpoint, she managed to claim a spot near the edge of the circle. To her pleasant surprise, Do’Karth found her, his hand in hers as the duel began. 

        She pitied Farid. He killed in cold blood, and regretted it almost immediately, she could see the lingering shame in his downcast eyes. Yet, there was also an apathetic atmosphere in his dark brown eyes as well, one that had accepted his fate, and all that was left to do, was to see if he would live, not that he would want to. After voicing who they were, and their great feats, the newcomer, Daixanos now known, fought with great and impressive skill. 

       A curious figure appeared on the opposing side of the circle, and her heart plummeted into the pit of her stomach. Leif. She could see from the sour look on his face that he knew, just like Thoring had said. While Do’Karth’s warm hand encircled her own, growing tighter, perhaps from anticipation of the duelists, her own hand felt cold, drained of blood. The killing blow, she could not watch, and she turned her head away, Farid fought for his life, despite his dirty tactics, but watching someone she knew die, she could not stomach, at least not on this day. Suddenly, Do’Karth embraced her, and while she wished for it to last longer, so as to soothe her troubled mind, he withdrew and she watched him make his way towards a grim faced Jorwen. She had expected Leif to come for her then, but when she looked to the place he last stood, he was nowhere to be seen. 

       Then, she caught sight of a familiar face making a bee-line towards her, Roze. She grinned and started off to meet her halfway, relieved not to be harassed by Leif just yet this day. “Roze! Tell me, something wicked this way comes, so what have Sagax and you gotten yourselves into?” She teased as she neared the bright eyed woman, clasping her on the shoulder and pulling her into an embrace.