A/N from moosesaregreat: Hey guys! I know it's been some time. We miss you so much! We have not abandoned this fic, and it is *almost done*, but I have been working 70 hours a week, and the fantastic alyssa_cousland has had some setbacks as well. We're almost there - thank you to everyone who has been with us, and for those of you just joining us on this journey as well. We love you, and that's why we're here.

Thanks to Zikarn Krais, Graymalkyn, FoAteAZombie, thepkrmg, EilonwyCousland QueenofTragedy, bokka501 and KnightOfHolyLight for all the awesome reviews, but I'd like to say super-extra-you-get-an-internet cookie thanks to thepkrmgc for getting the Stark references :), and those who have faved/followed. We love you all!

Props to Bioware and Bethesda for giving us this stuff. We love it and love you.

Chapter 41

Alessia was already in a foul mood about having to walk the distance to Nightingale Hall. She missed riding the countryside so she visited her horse at the stable daily and curried him herself, but she was far too big to consider riding with the risk of falling off and hurting the baby, let alone trying to clumsily climb onto the saddle.

She looked at the position of the sun and the rocks around them, judging them to be most of the way there and huffed. "This trip wouldn't take nearly so long if I didn't wobble the whole way," she grumbled. "I'm fat as a cow and a cow walks faster."

Brynjolf rolled his eyes for what seemed the tenth time at her complaining. "You're not fat, and you're not a cow."

"Mooooo," Alessia said, scowling as she slowly climbed the last of the trail to the Hall.

Brynjolf chuckled and held the door open as they entered. Following the pathway down to the interior, they were met partway by Karliah. The dark elf was ecstatic to see them, hugging Alessia and giving Brynjolf a peck on the cheek which made Alessia raise an eyebrow.

"First Sapphire and Serana, now you two?"

"You have a way of bringing people together, lass," Brynjolf smiled.

"That's why I'm here and not at the Sepulchre, to be closer to the both of you," Karliah replied with a grin. "I'd like to be there when the babe comes. How are you doing?"

Alessia wrinkled her nose. "Sweaty and cranky and I don't have ankles anymore, but other than that, fantastic."

Karliah laughed and led them to the summoning chamber, where they had taken their oath to Nocturnal long ago, and stood to the side. "Since you didn't know I was here, I assume you're here for Nocturnal." Alessia nodded. "We'll leave you to it. Come find us when you're through."

The large room she entered had three arching pathways leading to raised platforms, the paths intersecting at the end with the Nightingale symbol etched in the floor. Alessia followed the arching pathway to the platform with a crescent moon engraved into it. She knelt with some difficulty, and removed a glove to touch the symbol in the middle. A purple glow enveloped her, changing her gift from Subterfuge to that of Shadow. As much as she loved casting Subterfuge to make her enemies fight each other, this gift would allow her to remain unseen for a time to protect her and her unborn child for as long as she needed. Alessia dug around in her pack for a suitable offering, but the room began to glow blue and a woman in draping robes with ravens perched upon her shoulders appeared above the Nightingale symbol - the visage shimmering and tall enough to reach the high ceiling above her.

"Surely the child of an alchemist and a talented one herself would know better than to burn nightshade in such a...delicate condition," Nocturnal intoned, smirking down at Alessia.

Alessia awkwardly stood and raised her chin confidently, unperturbed at speaking to a Daedric Prince. "Actually, it was hawk feathers and bleeding crown. And what do you know of my condition?" Alessia shot back.

Nocturnal nonchalantly put a hand to her shoulder and stroked the raven atop it for several moments before responding. "What day was it that your lover left you?"

Taken aback by how blunt the Prince had been, Alessia took a minute to respond. "The third of Hearth Fire...my name day," she whispered around the lump in her throat.

"Something that, in a way, we share, Nightingale." Alessia looked up at Nocturnal, confused. The Prince sighed. "You three claim to serve me, as well as the rest of the dimwitted cultists that believe I will give them favor for espionage and thieving in my name...oh, fear not. You are not dimwitted or you would not be my Champion. I merely find it troubling that none of you know and worship my holy day. A day that I give favor to those who truly embody what I stand for. A day that we share."

Realization dawned on Alessia's face and Nocturnal chuckled. "Yes, your name day. You asked, and I gave. Even if it had not been a day for rewarding those who truly deserve it from me, I would have given it freely, for Alduin would have destroyed everything we have worked so hard to achieve. You, of all mortals, deserved a gift."

Alessia's face grew wet with tears as she listened. "But Your Holiness...I never asked…"

The room grew brighter and between the two a vision of Alessia sitting on the porch of Honeyside wrapped in a blanket with a tear-stained face slowly appeared. Her arms were around Bran and she was holding a bottle of mead in one hand. "He's going to leave, and all of these memories just aren't enough. Everything we've been through, even if it was hard...it's been the best time of my life and him not beside me will kill me. I just...I wish I had a piece of him to keep forever."

"And now you do," Nocturnal said as the vision dissipated.

Alessia gasped. "The raven! It was you!"

The Prince gestured to the raven on her left shoulder, who cawed indignantly and shook, ruffling its feathers. "Yes, I saw through him. He was rather cross at you for the name calling and throwing a bottle at him."

"I'm...sorry, raven. It sounded like you were laughing at me," Alessia mumbled, chastised. The raven squawked and cawed again, before turning its head.

Nocturnal smiled. "He accepts your apology. Now, if there is anything else?"

"Do you...happen to know anything of Anders?" Alessia asked hopefully.

"I do not," Nocturnal sighed. "I can only see my realm of the dead, Nightingale. I do hope he succeeds at his endeavor. The darkness in Skuldafn is a threat to us all. We Princes do speak amongst ourselves, and know what is happening in the realm of men. I have seen your conversations and heard where he is from - the troubles there. He has helped you with Alduin, and is helping in Skuldafn...the seed growing in your womb is a gift to him as well."

And with that, Nocturnal disappeared.

...

There was a thunderstorm the day that the babe was born. The lightning that streaked across the dark sky was only interrupted by the thunder that rumbled quickly afterwards. Since Alessia was so close to the birthing process, Serana had moved to Honeyside and kept a close watch on her dear friend - ready to run to Herluin in case the need arose.

Serana was busy making potions in the basement as the wind howled outside. Alessia had instructed her to make more of the crimson nirnroot potions as well as healing draughts, so she was hard at work when a piercing scream suddenly interrupted her.

She ran up the stairs two at a time, the alarm she was feeling making her stumble as she reached Alessia, who was thrashing on the bed.

"It's time," Alessia gasped - her brow covered in sweat as she screamed again.

Serana quickly left to find Herluin, and found Brynjolf and Karliah on the way.

"It's time!" Serana blurted out the words. "I'm off to get Herluin!"

"We'll let ourselves in and start heating water, lass," Brynjolf nodded. "Hurry!"

Both Brynjolf and Karliah made it to Honeyside in record time, and Karliah hurried to the huge bed in the next room, while Brynjolf busied himself at the fire, setting a large pot of water over the flames.

Karliah took one of Alessia's hands, her brow furrowed with worry. The bed was stained with blood and it wasn't looking good. Alessia was wailing and clutched the mattress, her hair now plastered to her face with sweat.

Herluin arrived with Serana and they both rushed over to Alessia. His eyes widened slightly with alarm, just as Brynjolf carried the pot of hot water over to him.

"The babe is too big for her - I'll need some soft, clean cloth and your help," the old man whispered as his glowing hands traveled over Alessia's bulging tummy.

"What do we do?" Karliah asked, a tremor in her voice. Serana blinked several times as she saw the bloodstain slowly get bigger.

"Hold her down. I'm going to need to make a few cuts to facilitate the child's birth," Herluin said in a rush. "I'll try to ease the pain with a spell or two…" Herluin broke off, looking directly at Brynjolf. "What are you standing around like that for? Bring me some more water, you dimwitted idiot!" he barked.

Brynjolf started and rushed off. From what he had seen, it didn't look good. He wasn't a very religious man, but suddenly the prayer burst from his heart as he busied himself

"Hold this cloth above her belly and quench the blood when I say so," Herluin said, handing a towel to Karliah and casting a sleep spell over Alessia. "You folks won't like this but it has to be done." He drew his belt knife and made an incision under Alessia's belly, drawing through her tissue to her womb. He immediately shoved his hands into the womb and drew out a writhing, squalling mass. "Hold down the towel!" he cried, throwing every healing spell he knew at the prone form before him. It wasn't enough. Alessia grew pale and blue, shaking at the loss of blood.

"I know!" Serana cried, digging in Alessia's pack. "The nirnroot potion!" She found the appropriate bottle and handed it to Karliah, her hands dripping with Alessia's blood. She uncorked it with her teeth and poured it down her friend's throat, hoping that it would work as Alessia's child began to wail.

Her frantic breathing seemed to calm, and the blood subsided as the wound across her belly seemed to will itself shut. Herluin cast his hand above her and gasped. "It worked...she will live! Ha!"

The babe cried, but everyone else heaved a sigh of relief knowing that Alessia would live.

...

Doesn't anyone get tired of stew in Skyrim? Alessia wondered and shrugged to herself as she stirred her and Brynjolf's dinner. Syra squirmed on her hip and reached her chubby arms out to Brynjolf, who was sitting at the table next to the hearth. At almost six months old, the girl had charmed every member of the Guild - eliciting happy coos and tickles from even grumpy Dirge and nose-in-the-air Vex - but none were as affected as her de facto grand da.

"Wee lass!" Brynjolf said in a high pitched voice as he rose to take her from Alessia. "You love old Bryn, don't you? Yes, you do. Yes, you do!"

Alessia gladly handed over Syra, who immediately grabbed a handful of Brynjolf's beard and pulled. "Funny how I get her toys, but she doesn't like any of them as much as the toy on your face!" Alessia laughed, rubbing her knuckles into her lower back. "You'll be a natural for when Karliah brings your own!"

"Oy, I didn't think anything could be worse than when you were pregnant," Brynjolf scowled. "Why do you think I'm hiding here?"

Alessia's chuckle was cut short by what seemed to be an earthquake, the house rumbled and groaned as it shook and a faint, "Dovahkiin!" was heard. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at Brynjolf, before dashing to the corner where her weapons were kept. She quickly buckled on her sword belt with her daggers, and slung her pack with potions and quiver over her shoulder and grabbed her bow.

"Lass, are you sure-" Brynjolf began.

The house quaked harder as the word "Dovahkiin!" came even louder.

"You know I have to. Keep her safe," Alessia replied, before hurrying out the back door with Bran at her heels. She ran down the porch steps and up the hill to the path that led to the gates of Riften. Three guards stood with bows aimed upward, and she followed their gaze.

Two dragons circled high above them, just outside of their bow's reach. The setting sun behind them lit one's scales red and gold, and Alessia's keen eyes spotted the sun's meager dying rays shining through tattered holes in the other's wings, and this one seemed to have something in its claws.

"Hold your fire!" Alessia told the guards, watching as the dragons circled. Two of the guards immediately obeyed, lowering their bows, but the other let loose an arrow, coming perilously close to the darker dragon's burden. Alessia turned and angrily shoved him in the chest. "I fucking said hold. Your. Fire!"

The guard sneered. "Why the fuck should I? I'm guarding this city and-"

"Stand down, man. It yelled for the Dovahkiin and that's the Dovahkiin," one of the other guards said, putting a hand on the offending guard's shoulder.

He roughly shrugged the guard off and stepped closer to Alessia so they were nose to nose, Bran growling and ready to lunge at her side not stopping him. "The day I take orders from a knife-eared bast-" He didn't finish the insult as Alessia's fist met his chin, and he fell to the ground. The other guards immediately stepped away, holding their hands up and everyone looked to the skies.

The dragons continued to circle, but gradually came lower. I know those wings, and every dragon's name can be called…"Paar thur nax!" Alessia shouted, hoping to let him know that it was safe. It worked as the dragons immediately descended. Odahviing landed to the side with a rumbling thud, but Paarthurnax took his time, laying his burden on the ground before her as delicately as he could before flapping his wings once and landing behind it.

"ANDERS!" Alessia cried, running towards the body on the ground and landing on her knees next to him. She put a shaking hand to his throat and felt a weak, arrhythmic pulse.

"Krosis," Paarthurnax rumbled sadly, "We brought him as fast as we could. Lightning from a dragon priest…"

"It's okay," Alessia said, digging in her pack for one of the few crimson nirnroot potions she had, and slowly dumped it into Anders's mouth. He didn't cough or seem to swallow, but it went down. With tears in her eyes, she looked around. Brynjolf was standing off to the side, holding Syra and scowling at Anders's prone form. Alessia rushed to him and took the child. "I need Herluin and Dirge ten minutes ago!" Brynjolf nodded and with a last look at Anders, took off running.

Alessia walked back to Paarthurnax and Odahviing. "What happened?"

Paarthurnax seemed to bow his head. "It was a great grah - battle - with those he calls darkspawn. Many fell, and we had won. But one dragon priest remained, unknown. He felled Anders of Thedas in a time of weakness. He was Nivahriin - cowardly - struck when the back was turned, and we killed him...but we were too late."

Just then, Dirge and Herluin arrived - the larger man picking up Anders as gently as possible for once, and Herluin barking orders. Alessia rose and watched them take Anders into Honeyside silently.

"You did well, my friends. Thank you for returning him to me."

With that, Odahviing took wing, but Paarthurnax eyed her strangely. "This is the tiny dov?" he asked.

Alessia smiled. "Yes, this is our child."

"May I see the kiir -the child- up close?" Paarthurnax asked quietly. Alessia nodded and walked up to the old dragon. He leaned his face in closer, watching the baby curiously. Syra's brown eyes grew large as she leaned out of her mother's arms, reaching a tiny, chunky arm out to the dragon and patted him on the nose. Paarthurnax let out a series of small huffs, a dragon's laugh. "I have never seen one up close. She is kril - brave -...you will have your hands full. I see important things for her."

Alessia reached out a hand to caress the grizzled dragon's snout much as her daughter had, and smiled. "Thank you, old friend. Thank you for bringing her father home."

Paarthurnax huffed. "He is important to you, Dovahkiin. You are the one who kept the web of time held together. We owe you that."

The dragon once again turned to look at the chubby red-haired babe and Alessia could swear that his look was a tender and loving one.

"Peace be to you," he rumbled softly before flapping his giant tattered wings and flying away.

...

A suckling noise woke him up, though he first kept his eyes closed as he slowly started to remember what had happened. Very carefully, he probed for broken bones or other internal injuries - the kind that were hard to heal - but found nothing. He realized he was lying on something soft, so he opened his eyes and blinked several times before he could finally identify where the sounds had been coming from.

Alessia sat in a chair not far from the bed, holding something in her arms. Anders blinked again - twice in succession as a matter of fact, his eyes widening slightly at the scene before him.

That Alessia herself was sitting there when he knew he should be at Skuldafn, was in itself a mystery to him. But what was even more surprising was the babe she held in her arms. Bright and curly red hair told him that she was clearly Alessia's. Had so much time really passed at the temple?

Had she moved on and married someone else? A lump formed in his throat as he struggled to keep the tears from falling.

The look on her face as she watched the child made Anders want to reach out and hold them both tenderly for a split second. He swallowed hard and she looked up - her eyes bright and filled with emotion.

"You are finally awake! I thought you -" she shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. "...never mind that. You're here, finally awake...and that is what matters!"

Anders gave her a weak smile as he tried to sit up, prompting Alessia to stand up rather quickly, the baby protesting slightly with a little cry.

"Oh, really, Syra! You are such a pig!" Alessia chuckled, sitting right beside Anders. She then turned to him as the child regarded him solemnly for a few minutes - as if frozen in time.

"I - what am I doing here?" Anders asked weakly, his eyes still on the small child. "Last I remember, I was fighting darkspawn with Paarthurnax and Odahviing - and won."

"Yes, Paarthy told me. You were brought down by a dragon priest. I'm not sure how, but he called the priest a coward for striking you when your back was turned."

"I remember that now!" Anders said with a shudder. "Electricity. Nasty stuff…"

"Sometimes…" Alessia nearly purred.

He shook his head and chuckled. "Yes…so, when do I meet the happy father of the child you're holding?"

"Anders...it's been over a year. Almost a year and a half…you know him well, really. Look at her. She has her father's eyes." Alessia said, holding the babe towards him. The babe leaned over to Anders and cooed, her chubby hand reaching for his nose and patting it.

Anders felt a rush of emotion sweeping through him as he looked down into the baby's eyes - the tears in his now flowing freely as he realized the truth.

Her eyes were brown – the exact same color as his.

...