\u201cNow then,\u201d he said, turning to Lydia.\u00a0 \u201cSit down for a moment.\u00a0 There\u2019s something else I want to discuss with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
She took a seat at the desk and looked up at him.<\/p>\n
By the Nine she is a beautiful woman, Dardeh thought.<\/p>\n
She was. Lydia was well-built and muscular, as one might expect of a warrior.\u00a0 She also had dark hair and eyes to match, fine features, and one of the most perfect mouths Dardeh had ever seen, made up with a deep red cosmetic of some kind.\u00a0 If I had intended to imagine a beautiful woman, he thought, I would have imagined one like Lydia.<\/p>\n
She looked up at him with an odd look.\u00a0 Wary. Slightly distrustful.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u2026 something wrong?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, my Thane.\u201d She shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m just waiting. I want to know what you expect of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d he said.\u00a0 A moment passed, and then Dardeh realized what she was getting at.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh! No, no, Lydia, it\u2019s nothing like that.\u00a0 Trust me.\u00a0 You\u2019re my housecarl, because that\u2019s what our mutual friend Balgruuf ordered, and that\u2019s how it\u2019s going to be.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t be concerned.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t ever\u2026 take advantage of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lydia looked down with a small smile, obviously relieved.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry that I had the wrong idea, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDardeh.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled up at him.\u00a0 \u201cDardeh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow then, let me tell you my idea.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be awfully dull for you to sit in here and guard my ten ingots of iron all day long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lydia laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have something else in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
They talked for a long while.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a good man, my Thane,\u201d Lydia said, smiling at him.\u00a0 \u201cWe are lucky to have you in Whiterun.\u201d<\/p>\n
He tskd.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did I tell you about Thane-ing me?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest.\u00a0 \u201cIn this particular instance, Dardeh, it seemed appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed.\u00a0 \u201cAll right. You win.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
He wandered around Whiterun for a good half hour or more before he finally spotted her, sitting on a bench under the dead Gildergreen tree, the huge centerpiece of the Wind district. She noticed him and gave him a big smile.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2-1-14-3.png\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cHi Mister!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi Lucia,\u201d he said, smiling.\u00a0 I hope I know what I\u2019m doing.\u00a0 Thank the gods for Lydia. I couldn\u2019t do it otherwise.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to ask you a question,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, are you still sleeping outside or sitting by the fire in the Bannered Mare?\u201d<\/p>\n Lucia was very good at trying to keep a stiff upper lip, that much had been clear from the beginning; but her face fell at that question.\u00a0 She nodded, looking miserable.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026 don\u2019t know what else to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to have your own room?\u201d<\/p>\n Her eyes snapped up to his.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could adopt you, if you want.\u00a0 I have a house in Whiterun, now, and it has a place that looks like it would be perfect for you. I have a housecarl, because the Jarl decided I should have one. Her name is Lydia and she\u2019ll watch out for you when I\u2019m not here. If you would like that. The only thing you have to promise to do is keep your room clean.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucia\u2019s eyes got very wide, and then very misty.\u00a0 She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh knelt down in front of her and took her hands.\u00a0 \u201cYes, sweetheart.\u00a0 You and I can take care of each other, is that ok? And we won\u2019t be alone anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes!\u00a0 Thank you!\u00a0 I\u2019ll be the best daughter ever, I promise!\u00a0 Thank you Mister\u2026 Papa!\u201d\u00a0 She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.<\/p>\n \u201cOk, now you run down to Breezehome.\u00a0 Lydia\u2019s there already and she\u2019ll show you where your room is.\u00a0 I have some things to do, but I\u2019ll be there by tonight, and I\u2019ll tuck you in.\u201d<\/p>\n Lucia flew down the stairs toward the market.<\/p>\n Dardeh sat down where she\u2019d been, and struggled with himself.\u00a0 It took him a few minutes, and several swipes at his eyes, before he felt composed enough to go about his business.\u00a0 He needed to see Farengar about a better healing spell, and borrow his enchanting table and alchemy station to prepare for the trip to Riften.\u00a0 And, Dardeh thought as he climbed the steps to Dragonsreach, I think I saw one of the Khajiit caravans outside the gates.\u00a0 I wonder if they would have something like a doll to sell.\u00a0 I know they sell wooden swords, but I\u2019m not ready to teach my daughter swordplay yet.<\/p>\n He shook his head.<\/p>\n My daughter.<\/em><\/p>\n I just adopted a little girl.<\/em><\/p>\n ______<\/p>\n Lydia smiled at him as he slipped into Breezehome, and held her finger up to her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was exhausted,\u201d she told him quietly.\u00a0 \u201cWe cleaned the place up and organized a little, and worked outside in the garden.\u00a0 Oh and we went shopping and such.\u00a0 By the time she ate she was nearly asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Lydia.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t possibly do this without your help.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked toward the door of Lucia\u2019s room and smiled again.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I always thought it would be lovely to have a child, but it\u2019s not likely to ever happen.\u00a0 This gives me a chance to play at being a mother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know what you mean.\u00a0 I\u2019ll never have children of my own.\u00a0 My ma passed not too long ago.\u00a0 Now I feel like I have a family again.\u201d<\/p>\n Lydia gave him a long look.<\/p>\n She wants to ask why, but she\u2019s too polite.\u00a0 Well I think that\u2019s something that\u2019s best left unsaid.<\/em> He reached out and patted her on the arm, smiling, and then went to Lucia\u2019s room.<\/p>\n She was sound sleep.\u00a0 He reached into his pack and pulled out the doll he\u2019d bought for far too many septims from the Khajiit merchants, and slipped it onto the bed next to her where she would find it in the morning.\u00a0 Then he sat down on the floor and watched her sleep, for a long time.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t like adopting an infant.\u00a0 She was half-grown already.\u00a0 But for a few years, anyway, he would be able to give her a warm, dry, safe place to live.<\/p>\n Talos guide me, Dardeh prayed silently. I seem to have a family.<\/p>\n Busybodies were going to talk. They were going to assume things about him and Lydia and their relationship.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n That night, Dardeh slept in his own bed, in his own home, and it was the best sleep he had enjoyed since before his mother died.<\/p>\n Breezehome wasn\u2019t much in terms of being a house fit for a Thane. But, Dardeh thought as he led Lydia inside, it\u2019s definitely a step up from Ma\u2019s little shack out in Markarth.\u00a0 There was a cozy little sitting area with a fireplace, a nicely arranged kitchen, and plenty of chests and barrels and so … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2-1-14-4.png\")
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