Ahnasha's answer gave Fendros time to rebalance and calm. He was once again glad to have her with him. Unfortunately, for all the time Calia gave Ahnasha to speak, her expression did not change far from stern.

"I will speak in simple terms, not to insult you, but to be upfront and specific," Calia said. "You are Khajiit. We are Dunmer. We do not marry Khajiit, we do not make children with Khajiit. Our bloodlines are too sacred to muddy in such ways. Unless Hircine sees fit to transform you into a Dunmer, your worship of that him shall never change that fact."

There was a moment of apparent finality, interrupted by the looking around of both Llarasa and -- surprisingly -- Monderyn.

Monderyn spoke first. "Mother, you're angry," he said, putting a hand on her forearm. "You can't change what's already happened. Can't you just try to accept this?"

Fendros peered to Monderyn with surprise at how calm he was.

"Please don't hold contempt, mother. Monderyn's right," Llarasa urged. "This is like how you were with father when Fendros left. Please don't put yourself through that pain again."

Calia stared at the wall behind Llarasa for a few seconds. Fendros' eyes flicked to her and he noticed a way he might be able to appeal to her.

"Look, mother, you and Ahnasha might have more in common than you think," Fendros said in a low voice. "We've been able to live more than ever because of each other, and not just because of the love, but because of the thing's we've seen. We've spoken to Daedric princes, we've gone to the corners of the continent and back." Fendros opened his palms. "I know you're upset, but I still love you, mother. I don't want to push you away and I don't want you to push me away. Even if you don't like how things turned out, this is me now, with my fiancee. I know you can choose to see the good in it. Please."

Calia's stern face remained, but her shoulders lowered with a quiet outward breath. Carefully, but without struggle, she put her fingers to the table and stood up from her chair. She stood for a second longer before speaking. "I am fatigued." Her voice was flat. "I need to lie down."

Monderyn offered to take Calia's arm as she turned to leave, but she carefully brushed him off. She navigated by sliding her hand along the wall and shuffled out of the room. She didn't stop for any words.

[hr]
Harriet's eyes went down. "Nah," she mumbled and shook her head. "Don't worry about it."

Without any further words, Harriet turned back around to the bench, produced a paring knife from a basket within reach, and quietly began to peel the potatoes in front of her. She didn't even ask for Meesei to leave, much less further acknowledge her existence.

[hr]
"Hey, you might be right about Harriet, but that 'kid' doesn't deserve that," Janius quickly responded. "Look, it's probably not yours. Knowing Harriet, she's probably just trying to save her own skin. But still..." Janius dipped his head to one side. "Say it was your daughter, what would you want do to?"