Yay!! She's alive! :celebration:

How very interesting! Well worth the wait...And there is still more to come! Oh I cannot wait!

Maxical stopped pvssyring. "Anus?"


Bad girl!! Now I wonder where she learned that from...

mALX!!!! This was soooo good! What a PERFECT mix of power and poignancy laced with absolutely the perfect pinch of humor.

On kooma indeed! As should befit the significance of the ocassion, let me tell you this was as good or better than anything you have done - and that is saying a lot.

I loved it! :trophy:

WooHoo! Maxical's back!

So Maxical wakes up in typical Maxical style!

How Maxical!

Can't wait until she gets out of bed and starts causing havoc again!

Maxical is not the only one living in a fog. What have they done to our lovely forum??
Personally I blame Anus. If he hadn't killed Maxical, then the ceremony would not have taken place and the forum would not have been ruined by the Gods above.



I love the POV changes in this chapter. It worked perfectly. You captured the hazy fog surrounding our kit oh so well.
Awesome writing mALX.

@ Jacki Dice - Sheeees Baaaack !!! Thank you so much Jacki! I was going to put a link to your story in, but you have it in your signature (Yeah!) AWESOME first chapter, I hope everyone gets to see it!!!!!
***
@ Arcry - You ROCK! There is still a bunch of stuff that has to happen before it slows back down...or does it? ROFL - just teasing. Thank you Arcry! I hope your 360 gets back to you soon, I feel your pain!
***
@ Foxy - First off, let me say that you are right, I did write that specifically with you in mind...you TDY'd last year, returned to the Janus storyline, and it was the first thing you said. I had to put it in there, and second let me say that I knew you would see it, ROFL. (of course, I upped my chances by capitalizing the A, lol.) - That one was for you, a tribute to let you know how much I appreciate you...wait...I show you how much I appreciate you with an...OK, maybe I should change that, ROFL !!!! - Just kidding. Thank you so much Foxy - and I don't think that is foam, I think someone was trying to put a smiling mouth on it and those are teeth. (or maybe he was eating snow, lol) Just in case someone thinks that is a bad comment, I will post it and let them determine what they think the white stuff is, ROFL :

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb226/celestialgaurdianfox/fox-1.jpg

***
@ Acadian - Thank You, Thank You !! Now that is what I was hoping to hear!!
***
@ Hauteecole Rider - I can't wait for everyone to finally meet her MOTHER! She gets it from somewhere!!! Lol. Thank you so much Hauty!!!
***
@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so very much Wolf !! Bobg asked a long time ago if I would have her remember the period while she was dead and write it - so I did, and I thought it was the most powerful aspect of that whole chapter (So thanks Master Po! ) - you are so appreciated Wolf !!!

*

Chapter 89: On Returning To Life

　

I pushed my heavy eyelids open and was struck by the sight of an ancient man sitting on the bed looking down at me. I remembered him from a text at the Arcane, there was even a drawing of him, and it looked quite like the man looking down at me. Funny what your mind does when you are ill.

“I dream of Master Divayth Fyr? I dreamed of a Dwemer lately too. I must be smarter than everyone thinks I am!” My eyes were shutting again even as I spoke, and he answered but it was lost in the darkness that overtook me then.

***

When I woke up next the giant and ghost Khajiit were back. My eyes opened a little easier, maybe because I was dreaming the whole thing. The giant and ghost sat down on the bed and were staring at me. The giant was smiling, and his slanted eyes were lit with mischief. Other than the goat horns sticking out of his head, and the fact that he would dwarf an Orc, he was pleasant to look at; the liveliness in his eyes was intriguing. He wore a vest of green over a bare chest, and his chest was well muscled. I reached out and pinched it to see if I would be able to feel something.

“Who are you supposed to be? Aren‘t people in your dreams supposed to stand for someone you know in real life?” I asked in Khajiit, and he answered in Khajiit.

“I am Clavicus Vile, Maxical.”

“Where is your dog if you are he? Have you come for my soul then?” I continued pinching his chest. “I dream of a pleasant giant that speaks in Khajiit, and who I can feel. This is a strange dream.”

Clavicus laughed, but then got serious. “Maxical, I have to tell you something and you must remember it. It is very important. Will you stay awake for a minute?”

“You want my soul?”

“Well, we will discuss that later. This is something else, and it is imperative you hear me.”

“You have wicked imps in your eyes.” I said and he laughed again. “And you like Khajiit, you have one hanging off your butt all the time and speak the tongue well.”

Clavicus roared with laughter. “Yes, well. But right now I have to tell you something important.”

“Okay. But it seems like it would be a pleasant thing. Oh, is that Khajiit Barbas? Has he changed forms?”

Clavicus nearly choked. “No, it is not Barbas. That is Shivani. You will meet both Shivani and Barbas soon enough. Are you listening?”

“Yes, Clavicus Vile. I will listen to you. I won’t mind if you want my soul, though. I think you must be a lot of fun to be around.“

“Well that is kind of you, but you won’t have to worry about that for a long time. Right now I have to make sure you are listening to me. Are you?”

“Yes, Clavicus Vile, I am listening.” I emphasized each word with a pinch on his chest.

“She thinks I am still a dream. Should we wait to tell her?” He spoke to the Khajiit Shivani.

“No, she will remember it, I am sure of it.”

“Maxical, I want you to look at this ring on your finger. See this? It is imperative you never remove it for any reason. Do you understand?”

I tried to look at my hand, but it was a blur. Clavicus Vile lifted it closer to my face.

“Can you see it now?”

“Oh, look! The ring has an engraving of a dog on it! Is this Barbas? I love it, thank you!”

“You understand that you must never remove it? Look at my eyes so you can see how serious I am about this.”

“Your eyes still smile, how does that tell me you are serious? Is this the ring that tells my soul to go to you, like a promise ring?”

He cleared his throat loudly. “Ahem. No, it is a ring that will keep you alive a long, long time. It is a very special ring. And you also have a necklace you must keep on at all times as well.”

“No one has ever given me jewelry before…don’t think it will buy you privileges with me. I am already…in love with someone.” Maybe I was just realizing it for the first time.

“Child, you are a gem! But do you understand what I told you then?”

“Yes, I must never take these off no matter what. May I see the real Barbas?”

“One day very soon. Don‘t take this lightly, it is very serious.” He put on a serious expression that did not reach his eyes.

“Your eyes are still smiling. Spit on your hand or I won‘t believe you.” I tried to smile but couldn’t, and I was beginning to feel very tired. “This is a pleasant dream. Thank you for the jewelry, Clavicus Vile.” I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer.



******* Clavicus Vile

Clavicus turned to Shivani. “Your daughter flirts when I am trying to be serious.”

“Your eyes do smile, Clavicus.”

“Between you, your daughter, and that fainting vampire, I don’t know when I’ve been so entertained. But I can‘t think she took me seriously. I want Kagrenac to seal these on her.”

***

“Kagrenac, seal the pendant and ring permanently so the child can’t remove them. She is easily distracted and may forget.” Clavicus Vile said in Dwemer, watching Maxical twisting the ring in her sleep.

When Lord Kagrenac went to do the incantation on the ring his eyes widened. “Where is Sage Vardengroet?” He asked, but continued doing the enchantment to seal the ring on Maxical’s finger.

“He had to return home suddenly.” Clavicus said in short tones.

“Home?”

“Have I stuttered? Do I not speak Dwemer clearly?” Clavicus’s tones had become sharp.

“You don’t suspect, he wouldn’t…” Lord Kagrenac started to defend his friend and then remembered his own suspicions when he had seen the blood conflicting in the vat.

“Ah yes, we have an understanding, do we not?” The slant of Clavicus’s eyes seemed more pronounced than ever.

“I understand you.” Lord Kagrenac said. He left the suite with a look of heavy concern.

　　

******* Maxical

Clavicus was back when I awoke, the ghostly Khajiit still clinging to him. His eyes lit with mischief when he saw I was looking at him.

“I like your eyes, you look like you could get into more mischief than even me. Do you?”

Clavicus ignored the baiting. “Maxical, I want you to meet Shivani. Does she look familiar to you?”

“Yes, of course! She is the one that was touching your butt…”

Clavicus choked. “Not that. I am talking about from your life.”

“I still haven’t figured out who you are supposed to represent in my life. I thought Agronak at first because of your size…”

“You know we are not a dream now, don’t you?” Clavicus’s slanted eyes met mine.

“Sort of.”

“Shivani and I will be leaving soon, and I want you two to get acquainted first. I‘m going to step out and find the lad.”

I felt uncomfortable, and Shivani seemed nervous. She had been around me a lot, dividing her time between clinging to Clavicus’s butt and sitting beside my bed. If I was awake she would talk to me in Khajiit. She is very educated and smart.

“Maxical, do you know who I am?”

“Clavicus Vile’s girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Well, you touch his butt.”

“I do love him, but that is not what I mean.”

“I hope so, since you are always hanging off his rear end. Why aren’t you his girlfriend if you love him?”

“I am just a soul, a ghost.”

“Well, I haven’t been able to get a boyfriend alive, now I find out I won’t be able to dead either. What is the point of eternity then? Were you sent in to cheer me up?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve had my blue show for three years and haven’t ever…you know. And now I find out I can‘t as a ghost either.”

“Who told you that?”

“You just did!”

“Wait, are you talking about…I didn’t mean you can’t…you know.”

“What did you think I was talking about? Geez!”

“Have you wanted to?”

“I think so. I don’t really know…anything. I didn’t listen in class when they taught us. I’ve only seen it done once, but that was two men. Somehow I thought my privates should be involved. I’m kind of scared not knowing what is supposed to…happen. I‘ve only been hugged by friends and my father, and only been kissed twice. When you were my age, had you…you know?”

“Yes.”

“Geez, even a ghost gets to do it before I do!”

“I wasn’t a ghost then, I was a girl just like you.”

“You…were? Well maybe then it’s because I’m albino or mixed race or something. I‘ve never had a boyfriend.”

“I’m sure it is neither of those things. You are beautiful, and fun, you have a lot of personality…maybe your profession keeps you from meeting people.”

“I’m not good for much else. I met Janus in my job.”

“With your education, you could join the Mage’s Guild. You love to fight, there is the Fighter’s Guild. You could go back home and meet some nice legionnaire who comes into the Inn for a meal. You and Alix could work as a team giving blade training. You could join the Blades or the Palace guards and protect the Emperor. They both allow women.”

“If I worked around Ocato carrying a blade I may be too tempted to use it. But the others, those sound like good ideas. So what did you mean when you said you aren‘t his girlfriend?”

“Well, I gave my soul to him, like you were talking about with him. He kind of owns me, but it is very pleasant.”

“Did you love him first, and swear your soul to him? How romantic!“ I pulled myself up to watch her face.

Shivani laughed. “No, I was a ghost for a long time. I gave my soul to him in exchange for a favor, but fell in love with him afterwards.”

“That is still romantic. What made you fall in love with him? Because he is so funny?”

“He treats me better than I’ve ever been treated. I had a very hard life.”

“That’s hard to believe. You are well educated, cultured, you have the poise and grace of an Empress.”

“A good education doesn’t bring happiness.” Her voice was shaded with echoes of remembered pain.

“Boy do I ever know that!” I slumped back, scowling. “The Gods see me as a white blemish in their perfect world and go out of their way to make my life miserable. Did you get picked on by the Gods too?”

“No, by men…a male Khajiit.”

“I would never date a Khajiit, I heard they have barbs.” I tried to sound worldly, hoping for some information.

“They do.”

“They really do?” I pulled myself up to look at her. “I thought Delphine was making it up, but I wasn‘t taking any chances. I learned a dirty poem about it and I got in trouble for repeating it.”

“There was an old male Khajiit
Whose sword hung down to his feet
When his barbs would grow
They would stab his toe…”

“Maxical, who taught you that?”

“I learned it at the Arcane University!”

“They taught you that?”

“Well, no.” I tried to picture Irlav Jarol reciting it and choked. “Delphine taught it to me. She was my best friend.”

“No wonder you got in trouble for saying it.”

“Is it very shocking? Like the curses I use sometimes?”

“Yes it is. And the curses are too.”

“Well, then I will have to say it to S’Krivva, I like to shock her. I may say it to Janus too, he is funny when he is shocked. He tries to sound stern but his voice gives away that he is laughing. If I say bad things to S‘Jirra I have to be able to run fast, she washes my mouth out with soap if she catches me.”
　　

******* Janus

“I left Shivani in the room so she could talk to Maxical alone.” Clavicus said as he sat down across from Janus.

“Is she going to tell Maxical who she is?”

“She is trying to, but so far it is not going as planned.”

“Are you listening in?”

“Of course!”

Janus watched fascinated as Clavicus Vile doubled over in stitches and had to wipe tears that streamed from his eyes.

“They are just alike!” Clavicus roared, doubling over. “My boy, I don’t know whether to tell you to grab that gem of a girl and not let her go or run for the hills! I have never been so entertained!”

*

First Day Up, Look More Dead Than Alive:

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/150/l_e98193fd664d46cf93365c6a0dc57fac.jpg


After Illness, My Eyes Turned Black:

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_c2c3acf2e121447da92387e7a9cb72ec.jpg

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/127/l_56743c3bafa94004b6eccdaa2529d313.jpg


How I Looked Before Illness:

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/74/l_b6c444c7d88345da88061b83505bccd6.jpg

*

"There was an old male Khajiit

Whose sword hung down to his feet

When his barbs would grow

They would stab his toe?"


There goes my Keyboard.

AGAIN!!!

And the rest...I am STILL sputtering, spluttering, sniggering, snortling, and plain flat out SHOUTING with laughter, mixed with snot and spray!!!

Will post again when I have recovered. Say in one week. Right now I am weak, must go eat a leek, ... er...erm..

...*points at Malx* IT WAS ALL THAT MINX'S FAULT!!!!

My goodness, what a flirtatious Khajiit!



:lmao:

Nicely done. I am quite enjoying Maxical, and you are doing a wonderful job of 'reintroducing' her.

Seems like she believes getting rid of that virgin blood is now near the top of her quest log.

Nice natural dialogue. Well done, mALX! :goodjob:

I've added pics of her to the post! I think they may have fixed the editor! (Hopefully)

@ Foxy - ROFL !! Thank you Foxy, and as you already have seen a good bit of my "poetry," I'm sure you know I made that one up, lol. - You ROCK !!!!
***
@ Jacki Dice - I don't think she realizes it yet, ROFL !! I liked that line too - what I liked best about that scene was that she and her mother were sooooo much alike, even after never having met eachother, lol. (I've heard that happens with twins if they are separated at birth too) - Thank you so much Jacki!
***
@ Acadian - I wasn't sure if a part of her didn't retain a measure of mortality - because as you pointed out, she came back feeling like time was past, or running out fast. The conversation with Shivani was free typed to try and pick up natural "Maxical" attitudes and I was tickled to discover how much she and her mom were alike - so I dubbed in the part about Clavicus Vile listening in. The conversation continues but gets serious in the next chapter...the relationship will be revealed to Maxical.

What fun it was to read the conversation between Maxical and Shivani! Like daughter, like mother!

And I'm glad to see Maxical is truly back - she's too delightful to leave dead!

Thank You Hauty! We would have all had to feel sorry for Cyrodiil if there were two of them alive at once, but this way one will wreak havoc on this realm, the other will demolish Oblivion, ROFL !!!! Just Kidding, I don't have any storyline set up for Shivani to take on Oblivion, lol.

Yay, she's back - I have been following her (mis)adventures. Very funny exchange with her and CV, and her and Shivani. I think this section wins for most use of the word "butt"

* SPEW * ROFL !!! I just sprayed coffee all over my keyboard !!! Just for that I have to send you a copy of my latest Black Horse Courier, lol. Thank you so much for your comment, and even more so for enjoying the story !!

See what happens when I leave for a few days . . . all Oblivion breaks loose! I seem to have a lot to catch up on.

:read:
Chapter 88: The Repercussions
Once again I am impressed with your skill in transitioning from first to third person narration within the same chapter. I was just allowing myself to be carried away with the serious tone that you had established when you had to drop an "Anus" bomb on me. :lmao: Maxical recounting her 'nightmare' is some of the finest description I have ever read of yours. I am curious to learn the effect of all of this new blood on everyone's favorite albino khajiit.

Chapter 89: On Returning to Life
I read the entire exchange between Clavicus and Maxical with stupid grin on my face. It's funny, but your writing has been so good and so downright interesting that it wasn't until right now that I realized just how much I missed Maxical's irreverence. It is so good to have her back!

"They are just alike!" Clavicus roared, doubling over. "My boy, I don't know whether to tell you to grab that gem of a girl and not let her go or run for the hills! I have never been so entertained!"

Amen to that, Clavicus! :rock:

Thank you so very much Destri!

# 88 - Bobg asked if I would do a part on what Maxical experienced while she was dead - that was it. I was struggling with it because everything sounded trite and played, I couldn't get the right feel in there and was going to give up. I had a long drive to make alone, and got trying to work that up in my mind, and it started coming out as a poem. As soon as I got home, I wrote the poem (which svcked, BTW) - but when I took excerpts of it and injected it into the story, it worked really well for me - so it means a lot that it worked for others too! Thank you !!!


#89 - My fave line in this whole thing was when Clavicus is introducing her to her mother.



I built a lot of the previous storyline with Shivani and Clavicus based on that quoted text just so I could keep that line in there, I came up with it early on and loved it.

I struggled so hard to strike a balance with this meeting (which is "to be continued") - I didn't want it too sappy or too light - but being who they are, it had to start out with a misunderstanding on Maxical's part as to why she was being introduced to Shivani that way, she had to wonder why it was done like that, and kind of be testing around to figure it out - that was a hard one, most of the hardest part comes next when they get seriously down to things.

I can't thank you enough for all the kind words! You ROCK Destri !!!!

Chapter 90: Meeting My Mother


“You have such a beautiful cultured accent. Were you from somewhere outside of Cyrodiil?” I asked Shivani.

“I grew up in Morrowind.”

“Morrowind? I’ve never met anyone from there before. We learned some about it in school. Will you tell me about it?”

I watched Shivani’s delicate face as she told me about her life. She was the epitome of grace and poise, culture; everything I am not. How I wished I could be like that. I’ll bet she could go up and down stairs without sounding like a stampeding minotaur, I mean before she was a ghost of course.

“I never knew my parents, the earliest memory I had was living in a slaver’s pen. It was crowded with children and reeked; urine and feces everywhere. I think I was around seven when I was sold. They were building an underground tunnel system in a place called Hlormaren on the Bitter Coast. It was a Dunmer Stronghold, and there were a lot of other Khajiit slaves there. I was put to work right away.”

“What could a seven year old do?”

“The children were used to crawl into places advlts couldn’t fit or wouldn’t go. They would beat us if we were afraid or held back when given an order.“ She showed me scars on her ghostly back from the beatings she had received.

A vision of me at that age came across my mind, I was being spoiled rotten by Alix and S’Jirra at that age.

“I hadn’t been a teenager long when a Khajiit slave noticed me and began pursuing. He held a much higher position than I. His name was S’Vandra. He was obsessed with my face. I hadn‘t even had my blue show yet. He had to purchase me to marry me; a slave touching another’s property would be killed.”

“How did a slave get enough money to purchase another slave?”

“He was always doing illegal schemes, extortion and protection rackets. He had enough Septims to buy his own freedom, but refused. He said he would not pay for what he had already earned. He was treated well though, because of his quick mind. He took me as soon as we married, even though I still lacked years of getting my blue show. Afterwards he became cruel. He taught me to con people and rob them, then bring him the take. As I got older and blossomed, he saw in me a chance for a large haul, enough to make him wealthy. He had a woman train me to speak and act cultured so I could schmooze the wealthy and rob them. That is how I met the Count.”

“A Count?” I pulled myself up, and she fluffed an extra pillow behind me.

“Yes, an Imperial named Count Ormellius Goldwine. The Count Kvatch. He was a very good man. His wife died when their daughter was no more than a few years old, leaving him alone to raise her and desperately lonely. I worked for him a long time, we became friends. After a while we became more than friends. He loved me in his own way, but he never would have suffered making public our relationship for his daughter’s sake. She meant the world to him. When he found out that I was with child he sent me away. He was afraid for his legitimate daughter’s future.”

“Just like Tiber Septim and Barenziah! She loved him even after he sent her away and made her lose the child.”

“I went home to my husband. I never lied to him that the child was his, but refused to give him the name of the man I had been with. I gave birth to a beautiful little girl. As soon as she was born my husband saw the likeness to the Count’s legitimate daughter in her and knew who her father was. He schemed then, planning to show up and confront the Count with the child, demanding retribution for wronging him. He was sure the Count would pay handsomely to buy his silence and get him to just go away quietly. I refused to go, not wanting the Count to think I would be party to that kind of thing, but S’Vandra had his ways of making you?do his bidding.”

Shivani hesitated, and I could tell she was remembering it vividly. I stayed silent, not really wanting to hear the details of what he did to make her obey; wondering if that was how she died. I found myself holding my breath, not even sure why I did.

Shivani was watching my face, and may have realized I didn’t want to hear harsh detail, for she broke into talking about their trip here.

"We took the Septim's Gate Pass to the Velothi Mountains and used the Shadowgate Pass to cross them. The Valus Mountains was the hardest, the paths were barely visible. We had to gauge our direction by the sun, it is easy to get lost in the mountains."

I let my breath out, relieved she hadn’t gone there. I remembered walking the ridge in the Valus mountains and looking across at the Velothis. They looked wild and untouched. I had been afraid to walk them.

"Hadn’t you always come that way before that?"

"We used recall scrolls before then, but soon after I returned home Uriel Septim signed an order banning the use of magic travel from the other Provinces into Cyrodiil. That effectively sealed the borders, few could make it through the mountains that surround Cyrodiil without magic.”

"Well, if recall scrolls have been outlawed, how did Master Fyr and Lord Kagrenac get here? Are they illegally in Cyrodiil?"

"Yes, that is one reason why they don't want anyone knowing of their presence here. They won’t be staying much longer."

"I wondered why it was a secret. Why did they come?”

“They are friends of Janus, and came to help you get well.”

“And Clavicus is Janus’s friend too? He is amazing, isn‘t he?”

“You mean Clavicus?”

“Well of course he is, being a Daedric Lord! No, I meant Janus. What were the other reasons for secrecy?”

“Lord Kagrenac, being a Dwemer has to stay hidden; Master Fyr just likes his privacy.”

“I can understand that. You don’t have to tell me the rest of your story if you don’t want to, if it is hard to talk about.”

“No, I don’t mind. We reached Cheydinhal and stopped just long enough to load our packs with supplies, then headed toward Kvatch. We were on the Gold Road in the West Weald when we got attacked. We had barely crossed into Skingrad County when it happened.”

“Skingrad! Doesn’t it make you feel scared being here now?” I tried to sway the subject, not wanting to hear details; not wanting to know the rest. I had never heard someone dead tell how it happened before, and didn’t think I wanted to start now.

“No, I’m naught but a soul now, who would hurt me? Besides, Clavicus is a very good protector.”

“I imagine. His chest is quite muscular, and he would tower over any other.” I tittered, feeling brittle and not knowing why. I had the feeling this was somehow poignant to me. “I wish he had been with you that day.” I said under my breath.

“I do too. We were killed by a minotaur.” Shivani stopped abruptly and watched me.

“My parents were killed by a minotaur too. I was just two years old and don‘t remember it.. So?did the Count get the baby and raise it?her?”

Why had I asked that? What if the baby died too? I should not have?

“No. He never?saw her. I always hoped he would one day; and see the resemblance to his own daughter. I was sure if he did, he would love my daughter too.”

Whew, the baby had lived. “Is he still?alive? The Count I mean.” Why had I asked that?

“Yes he is. He is still the Count of Kvatch, which is very near here.”

“Yes, I know it is?er?Well, what about his other daughter?” I tried to change the subject.

“She is just a few years older than you are yourself. Her name is Rumpleteasza. She was sent to Mages school at the Crystal Tower, and has been there for post graduate study since.”

“What?does she look like?” My breath caught under a lump in my throat.

That name?at the Arcane some students from Kvatch had teased me that?but for the tail and whiskers I looked like a girl called Rumpleteasza Goldwine. I had caused them to loose their bladders in the night for it. I wanted to put my hands over my ears and not listen to the answer, but my hands didn’t move.

“She is very beautiful. She has long red hair, and her eyes are the color of a storm at sea. Her skin is pale like yours. There is a wonderful likeness of her done by Mrs. Treydog that hangs in the Great Hall of Castle Kvatch.” Shivani was watching me as she spoke. “What about you, did you ever learn anything about your parents?”

I exhaled, trying not to let it out in a gust; trying to control the anger that flared up in me suddenly. “No, but I think they were run from the village we lived in because of me. I’m a jinx, being an albino Khajiit. I bring bad luck wherever I go. I think my parents knew how it would be when they named me.”

“What do you mean?”

“My Khajiit name is Ma’Thjizzrini Qa. You can’t get any clearer message than that to tell you that you were not considered a blessing.”

“What do you think that means in Khajiit?” Shivani looked confused.

I looked away. “What the hell did I do to deserve this child.”

“Someone taught you wrong. It means what have I done to be blessed with this child. It means your mother didn‘t think she was worthy of such a blessing.”

“That can’t be right, S’Jirra and Abhuki taught me Khajiit. They wouldn’t say anything to hurt me if it wasn’t true.” Somehow I found myself almost angry, unsure if I was defending S’Jirra and Abhuki or their interpretation.

“The dialects are different in each Province, of course; but most interpret it as I have. I believe S’Jirra and Abhuki must be from Elsweyr then?” Shivani asked, and I nodded, the anger evaporating. Could she be right?

“They taught you in their dialect, but maybe your mother didn’t come from Elsweyr.”

“That would be a nice thought. At least then I would know she loved me and didn’t welcome death to escape the humiliation of my being albino.”

Odd how a fraction of a difference in dialect can change a meaning so profoundly, especially as it impacted my life. To think a few misaligned words can mean one is a blessing or a curse from birth; would I have been different had I known? I don’t know.

I felt very tired suddenly. I didn’t know if I wanted to be alone or let Shivani sit with me like she did sometimes. She helped me lay down, pulling the second pillow out from behind me and covering me with a blanket; then she hesitated, waiting. My hand stole out from under the covers and took hold of hers.

“Thank you Shivani.” I whispered the words.

There was nothing more I wanted to hear, or needed to know. I can’t say which was the most important thing I learned, that I had a half-sister and a father; or that the name my mother gave me didn’t mean?what I had thought all these years. I went to sleep holding my mother’s ghostly hand?there are some things that just don’t need to be said.


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That was a touching chapter. -sniff- Poor Shivani, though I can't say I feel bad for S'Vandra...

So Maxical is a result of a mixed pairing! And I like how you included the dialect differences in provinces. Its just like how in Spanish, there are so many variations depending on where you are. Nice work!

So now Maxical is Dear Rumpie's sister...


I did not see THAT coming!!!


But to that, I must say...


HOORAY and WELL IMAGINED AND WRITTEN!!!


Now off to see if Rumple has updated...

Awww. This was lovely! Nicely done mALX. Hmmm. . . I suspect a visit to Kvatch may be in order at some point on Maxical's busy dance card.

So Maxical just accepts that Shivani is her mother? That she has a half-sister? That her real father is a Count? Of Kvatch no less?

How Maxical! Honestly I couldn't go to sleep after THAT if I were she!

@ Jacki Dice - Thank you so much Jacki! I actually was thinking about the different dialects of Spanish when I decided to do that. At least we know Shivani has found happiness finally, lol.
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@ Foxy - Thank you so much Foxy! I am full of surprises, lol. No, Rumple and I planned this a long time ago, and I think it is Awesome, because they look so much alike! You ROCK
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@ Acadian - Thank you very much Acadian! I appreciate your trip over here, lol. I see Kvatch in her future, yes! Lol. Got to see the latest Mrs. Treydog portrait!
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@ Hauteecole Rider - Thank you very much Hauty! Well, she is quite ill still from being dead, and that whole end conversation was very stressfull and wearing on her. The closeness will take time.

RE: The father: I think the father sending the mother away like that, never seeking the child or acknowledging his relationship with her mother - the father is not going to be that big a draw for Maxical.

RE: The half-sister - that may be a different story, but it would be hard for Maxical to hurt the girl and tell her of the relationship - still she would want to see her, to know she had family; even if they never knew about Maxical being a part of them.

RE: The mother - Maxical has 21 years of thinking her name was a curse that her parents placed on her - she just found out that isn't the case - now she has to undo 21 years of feelings and try to build something new from it. It will just take a little time to do that. I think she made the first step by reaching out her hand.

Sorry for not posting sooner, been busy over here...Look forward to the next insatllation!