Chapter 1
“Tigressa?” Irileth, Father’s housecarl, calls for me. I giggle to myself.
“Hey,” My friend Ysolda sneaks up beside me. My other friend Astrid crouched beside me. “She can’t find us.” We giggle to ourselves and crouch lower behind the bush.
“You don’t think it’s time for me to go home do you?” I whisper. It was probably around noon and I’m sure Father was waiting for me.
“Aw, maybe.” Ysolda peeks out around the bush and sees Irileth. She gently shoves me down, causing me to burst into giggles. “Shh,” She hushes me and we hear Irileth stop.
Astrid was sometimes weird; she would often freeze and stare off into the distance, not quite living in the moment. Ysolda and I would often have to shake her until we saw her clear blue eyes focus again.
“Tigressa, come out of there right now.” Irileth demands and Ysolda and I burst out laughing. Astrid unfreezes, smiling awkwardly as she begins to realize I’d most likely be going home.
“Fine, I surrender.” I climb out of the bush, bristles and brambles stuck in my hair and on my nice dress. I brush my dirty knees off and look at Irileth with a big smile.
“Found me, it’s your turn!” I go to turn and count but Irileth’s hand catches my shoulder.
“Not a chance,” She jerks me back to face her. “We are heading to Dragonsreach- where you are to stay for the rest of the day. You have failed to obey your father’s orders.” She turns and beckons me to follow, marching away. I sigh and get behind her, waving goodbye to Ysolda and Astrid.
Ysolda lifts her hand in a sad goodbye and Astrid waves awkwardly, turning to ask Ysolda what they would play now. I feel a little jealous that they still get to play and I don’t but I guess it comes with the territory. I turn away and continue walking behind Irileth.
I’ll always be dazzled by the beautiful lighting and how elegant the fireplace is at Dragonsreach. Two long dining tables are placed on both sides of the glowing fireplace, welcoming me home. Despite the ceiling structure that allows sunlight to filter through, Father insists on the fire remaining lit.
The maids were sweeping in the lower section of the main hall where Father held his elegant dances for rich and elegant friends- and only rich and elegant. Not once has Ysolda or Astrid been allowed to come despite my pleadings.
“Tigressa,” Father addresses me from his throne. There are five of them; two big ones in the center for my parents, a smaller one on the left, and two lined up on the right. I sit next to Josette- my older sister- on the right because we’re second and third in line. Josette has to sit next to Mother and I feel sorry for her. Mother is a wicked witch but I would never say that aloud, it would land me in too much trouble.
I’m the youngest eligible ruler since I’m only twelve. When I turned ten Father celebrated my birthday by adding the throne. Not like anything will come of my being heir to the throne; Josette is fourteen and my brother Hrongar is sixteen. Both would rule before me, Hrongar before anyone because he’s a boy and he’s the eldest. He occupies the throne to the left, a sign of his upcoming crowning. My youngest siblings are fraternal twins, Frothar and Dagny, and they’re three.
“Yes, Father?” Jarl Balgruuf the Greater of Whiterun, Hold of Skyrim, home of the Nords.
“Why have you not returned as you said you would?”
“Sorry, Father, I lost track of time I guess.”
“Well you need to be more responsible. I can’t have Irileth looking for you all the time.”
“Then send a guard! Father, I don’t want to be treated like a milk-drinking princess!” I fold my arms. “It’s not fair.”
“Maybe if you played with children more in your social class I wouldn’t have a problem.”
“What do you mean?” I unfold my arms, puzzled.
“Ysolda. She isn’t wealthy enough to be your playmate. Not only that but people like her steal. Astrid is close, I’ll give her that, but she’s not quite innocent either.”
“Ysolda isn’t like tha-”
“I don’t want to hear it. Find some new friends or you’ll never set foot outside again. I’m sure Nazeem would be happy to be your friend. He’s always asking about you.”
“But, Father-”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Father clears his throat, excusing me to leave him alone. Since I can’t go outside for the rest of the day I hole up in my bedroom. I lay on my bed with fur blankets looking around my boring room. All it has is a small wardrobe, a chair, and there’s a bookshelf on the opposite side of the room but only Josette uses it even though I enjoy reading.
I don’t know what to do. I’ve never thought of Ysolda as poor. Astrid, either, but now that I think about it I realize they aren’t the best-off. Yet I don’t see why it matters to Father. Does he think his civilians to be peasants? If you don’t make it up to the Cloud District in your life are you classified as poor?
I lay on my bed and stare at the swirls, thinking about the things I’ll do when I’m Jarl to make home a better place. If I ever become Jarl. I do have two healthy siblings in line in front of me.
As the sky began to darken I figured it’d be a good time to say goodnight to my friends. “May I go say goodnight to Ysolda and Astrid?” I ask Father.
“No,” He answers, as expected.
I want to scream. Sure Ysolda may be poor but does he have to treat her differently because of it? As for Astrid, she’s got some money so why isn’t she good enough? It’s not like they can help their financial status. “This is so unfair!” I shouted and all the plates that were stacked neatly on the table were scattered and broken on the floor.
I turned and saw the damage I’d done, and my hands flew to my mouth instantly. I couldn’t believe what had happened. “I’m so sorry,” I apologize, rushing over to my favorite servant, Briane, who had a shard of plate stuck in her eye. Her hand covered it but blood streamed between her fingers as her breathing became frenzied.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, gently removing her hand from her eye. She’s definitely going to be blind in that eye forever.
“It’s okay,” Briane sniffles, calming herself and me. “Will you guide me to the Temple of Kynareth, my princess?”
I glance back at Father, who nods whilst glaring at me. I turn back to Briane and nod. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Briane and I turn and walk to the grand wooden door. I push it open and we walk outside. I wrap an arm around her, holding her tight as I guide her down the sixty steps. Ysolda and I spent an entire hour counting on a boring day when all the nobles in town were in the Cloud District.
I guide Briane to the Temple of Kynareth where the priestess Danica Pure-Spring- a young Nord woman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes- does a double-take.
“My Talos, what happened?” She asks, taking Briane’s arm and leading her inside whilst beckoning me to follow.
“A plate shattered.” I explain, lingering near the door.
“Ah, that isn’t good. We will perform healing processes immediately. As for you, Princess, I suggest you head home. The Jarl is probably waiting for you.” Danica smiles at me and I briefly return it. Danica turns to a man in a hood, who was resting on one of the stone benches. “Acolyte, help me tend to her.” Danica guides Briane over to the rock bed where she and Acolyte begin tending to Briane’s eye.
I head back to Dragonsreach, stopping by Ysolda’s home to say goodnight in secret. Astrid was probably already asleep and she doesn’t speak to us much anyway.
As I walk by the thrones Mother and Father glare at me. Sometimes I wonder if I’m even her child. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes and Father has blonde hair and blue eyes. I have dirty blonde hair and green eyes. This would be fine if people didn’t tell me I looked like my Mama.
When I get to my room Josette immediately notices something’s wrong. “What’s wrong?” She snapped the book she was reading shut, sitting straighter.
“Nothing,” I threw myself down onto my bed.
“Tigressa, I’m not dumb.” Josette comes and sits next to me. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” I wipe my runny nose on the sleeve of my dress.
“Something happened; you never cry. Not like this. You’re really upset over something.”
“Well,” I sit up and rub my eyes. “Promise you won’t tell?”
Josette smiles. “Of course.”
I sigh. “I don’t even think I’m Mother’s daughter- we look nothing alike and so many people say I look like my Mama. How? You look like Mother but not me. To make things even worse Ysolda isn’t allowed to be my playmate anymore! Neither is Astrid because Father says they’re too poor.” I drop my eyes to the floor and bite my lip, trying to keep from crying.
“Tigressa, of course you’re Mother’s daughter. You’re just a mixture of the two. You’re like a potion!”
“Right.” I sniffle. “I’m a poison.”
“Well,” Josette stands up and smooths down her skirts. “Father’s having a ball tomorrow so you might want to get some sleep so you can look your best.” Josette gives me a hug before heading back to her book.
I sigh and change into my night dress before slipping under the warm fur blankets. I think about Ysolda- I’m not too worried about Astrid and she wouldn’t be worried about me. I also think about what I’ll do when I’m older- all the good things I can do for my city- then my mind wanders to Briane’s eye. I wonder how I did that- what kind of power do I have? I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.
In the morning one of our servants shook me awake. “Tigressa,” Gerda shakes me again lightly. I groan, still tired. “Tigressa, sweetie, you need to wake up. We have less than an hour to prepare you for the ball.”
I shoot straight up. “Less than an hour?” I groan. Why didn’t they wake me up sooner? On my way to the bathing room I pass Briane, who waves.
I wave back. Her hazel eye shone with excitement and I felt horrible for ruining the other one. Her black hair was done into a sophisticated braid and she wore a fancy apron over her tunic.
When I made it to the bathing room, I immediately began peeling off my clothes. I sat down in the wash bin and began scrubbing myself vigorously.
I toweled off fairly quickly then put on my nicest tunic, slipping on a fur coat and a beaded amulet. I walked back to my room and let Gerda do my hair. It was a tangled wet mess. She brushes it and braids it in a crown above the nape of my neck.
“Oh, here. Don’t forget this.” She hands me my circlet and I hesitantly put it on. I don’t like wearing my circlet. It makes me feel as though I’m supposed to act better than those less fortunate.
I dragged myself to the ballroom where Father stood patiently waiting for the guests to begin arriving. There was a guard stationed outside with a list of those invited. I had a feeling Nazeem- a Redguard who flaunts his wealth, despite being twelve- would be here. I spot Briane adding the finishing touches to the food table and go over to her.
“Hey,” I watch as she straightens a plate of boiled cream treats prepared by our chef Gianna.
“Well, hello, dear. How are you?”
“I could be better and you?” I fold my arms behind my back, rocking on my feet.
“As expected, I’m going to be blind in this eye forever,” She points to the damaged eye. “But other than that, I’m doing great.”
“That’s good.” I smile. I glanced at the door where guests were slowly filing in. I spot my other friend Lenora. She’s more “in my social class” so I’m sure Father will approve of me hanging around with her. “Well, I guess I better go, Father will be expecting me.” I slip away from Briane, who nods goodbye.
I can’t think of anyone I really want to see here- even Lenora is a bit much for me even though I only see her once every other month or so but hopefully the party will be as fun as Father’s hyped it up to be.
“Father,” I curtsey as I stand next to him. He was talking to an older man who was probably in his fifties. He was wearing a fur cloak. His brown hair was matted from melted snow from the looks of it and his silver eyes twinkled kindly.
“Ahh and here she is!” Father exclaims, clapping me on the back. I smiled awkwardly, not caring to be the talk of the town. “She’s the one! This is Tigressa. She is the one who plays with, er,” Father lowers his voice. “Lower-class people. Like Ysolda and Astrid.”
Father and the man laugh long and hard. The man eventually sighs. “It reminds me of good ole Ulfric. He always wanted to help people. He couldn’t make it. I’m glad he didn’t see all the beggars we passed on the way, we wouldn’t have any gold to stay for a while!”
Father and the man laugh again as if they’ve made the funniest joke in all of Tamriel.
“That isn’t funny!” I exclaim. “They can’t help it!”
Father stops laughing, glaring at me instead. “You don’t know what people can and can’t help; don’t tell me what to think is funny and what isn’t. You are simply young and naive. Leave us be.”
I fold my arms. “You should at least introduce your guest. You introduced me. Here I thought you were so noble.”
Father huffs, flustered by my backtalk. “This is Hoag Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm.” Father waves his hand at me impatiently. “Now leave.”
“Fine.” I turn and head over to Briane, smiling as I approach her. She’ll answer my questions. Besides, Lenora is busy right now. She doesn’t care for these things either but she is with the Thalmor Embassy so she has to keep up appearances.
“Briane, who’s Ulfric Stormcloak?”
Briane looks at me like I’m crazy. “He’s Hoag Stormcloak’s son. A soldier in the Great War and he’s way older than you so don’t get any ideas.”
“I won’t!” I don’t even know the man! “The Great War, what’s that? How long has it been? I haven’t heard anything about it, how come the adults haven’t discussed it?”
“The war started two years ago and I believe that Skyrim doesn’t want to be in it. There’s some evil things and ideas flowing freely, Tigressa. Rights will be taken away and Skyrim is ultimately losing. Don’t tell anyone any of this, these are all my feelings. I feel like this will end soon but with Skyrim under control of the elves? No offense to your friend since she’s just a kid but the adults? They’re wicked, Tigressa. Don’t trust the Thalmor. They don’t have your best interest in mind.” Briane smiles sadly at me and I frown.
“Okay, thank-”
Before I could finish my sentence I heard a throat being cleared behind me. I turn to see Nazeem.
“Well, hello, Tigressa,” Nazeem gives me a brief smile. “Fancy seeing you here.” I roll my eyes. “I live here, remember?”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes, don’t play dumb with me. I’ve lived here my whole life.” I spot Josette sitting alone in a corner on the floor with a book open in her lap. “Anyhow I have other guests to tend to.” I walk away and feel Nazeem’s glare on my back. Why does he think he’s better than me? Who does he think he is?
“Hey,” I stop short of Josette, smiling as she glances up.
“Hey,” She returns the smile.
“What are you doing?”
“Just reading. Not many people to talk to.” After surveying the room- many adults in long robes and gowns, sumptuous meals lined up on the tables, dazzling lighting, and beautiful music ringing throughout the hall- she goes back to reading. She’s right: not many children our age could be spotted and when they were they wouldn’t leave their parents. Except Lenora- she seemed to be begging to get out of her parent’s way. Some people had taken to swaying to the harmony of the flutes.
