It was a rainy night in Whiterun. The famous Dragonborn, hero of legend and savior of Skyrim, was in town. He and his friends arrived from Solitude that morning. They were going to visit a nearby ruin to recover some artifacts to send back to the Dragonborn Gallery. Auryen was excited to get some new objects to add to the museum.

Hendrick Inventus sat on a chair near the main table inside Breezehome. He was excited for the next morning, intrigued to see what discoveries he could make inside the unexplored ruin. Both the Empire and the Whiterun Hold gave the necessary permissions to excavate the recently discovered site at the base of the Throat of the World. Hendrick and his friends were going to meet Auryen and the rest of the Explorer’s Society outside the site.

For now, he was ready to get some rest to be ready for the next day. But the night was still young, and his house was full of his friends who decided to follow him, be it for adventure, for treasure, or for both. The house was full of noises, with around twenty people of different races and sizes bantering or speaking with each other, making jokes, and enjoying each other’s company. Hendrick could only smile at the sight. During the last year he got used to the chaos they made. It just felt like home, and he couldn’t imagine his life in Skyrim without his friends.

Caryalind, Nebarra, and Taliesin sat at a corner, speaking about the latest gossip they heard once they arrived in the city. Apparently they were speaking about Nazeem and his wife, and how she was cheating on him. Xelzaz, near the cooking pot, was preparing everyone’s meal with the aid of Kaidan and Gore. They were already discussing next day’s breakfast and how Gore and Kaidan could help. Flint joined them a few moments later, hoping he could get the first portion of the night and expecting he could go early in the morning to hunt something for everyone to eat.

Near the alchemist’s room, Remi unpacked some ingredients she brought with the help of Val and Redcap. She wanted to show Xel how much she had improved in alchemy thanks to the Lawman’s help during the last months, and she kind of forced both Val and Redcap to aid her in preparing some potions before dinner. Just out the door, Thogra exchanged some sword techniques with Lucifer, as they have done for the last few nights. Varrick and Inigo were close to them, discussing some of their life experiences. Varrick was especially interested in listening to the Khajiit’s hardships during his bandit life, hoping to understand him better.

Sharing Hendrick’s table were Lucien and Khash. Some days ago, both Val and Gore told Khash they were going to teach her to swim and overcome her fear. Xelzaz tried to encourage her, but she was still terrified. Nonetheless, they told her they were going to start to teach her right there, in the White River. She was afraid, but Lucien tried to give her some comforting words.

Finally, Hendrick glanced towards Artigun and Auri. The Half-Dovah was bombarding the Bosmer with questions about her life in Valenwood. For some reason, he started to be very interested in how the other provinces were. He first asked both Hendrick and Lucien about Cyrodiil, then Xelzaz about Morrowind and Black Marsh, Remi about High Rock, and Cary about Alinor. Hendrick just thought he wanted to know how much the world changed after so many centuries.

Hendrick adored how alive the little home was, despite how crowded it felt. It was home away from home when he was with his friends.

But he quickly noticed that someone was missing. Before he could get up to look for her, someone approached him.

“Hendrick” greeted Xelzaz, standing in front of the red-scaled Argonian. “Dinner’s almost ready. Where is Lydia?”

That’s the question in the mind of the lukiul Argonian. He stood up, making a quick search around the place to be sure his housecarl wasn’t there.

“I don’t know, Xel. Perhaps she’s upstairs? I was about to look for her, actually”.

“Right” answered the Telvanni. “She was awfully quiet on our way here. Is she alright?”

That was something Hendrick noticed as well. Lydia, despite being the latest addition to the crew besides Artigun, who joined them just a day after Hendrick was named Thane of Whiterun, was the most isolated of them. But when Hendrick confessed to her that he was a Talos worshiper as well, she started to socialize more. She even started a great friendship with both Inigo and Lucien. But, out of nowhere, she became distant again once they left Solitude. Despite Inigo’s attempts to joke with her, she still kept her distance.

“I’m not sure. I think she hasn’t spoken with anyone”. Hendrick was very worried. He grew very fond of her after these last months. He just hoped he didn’t do anything to bother her.

“It may be wise if you spoke to her. She’s your housecarl, after all, and your relationship is the closest she has with anyone else here”.

“Yeah, you’re right” admitted Hendrick, not knowing what to expect with his conversation with Lydia. “Thanks, Xelzaz”.

“Don’t mention it. She’s our friend too, after all.” Xelzaz then headed to the pot once again. Nebarra and Flint were the first ones in line with their bowls to receive the soup Xelzaz prepared.

While everyone got ready to eat, Hendrick went upstairs. He turned to the bedroom on his left, noticing it was empty. He then headed to the master bedroom. The door was closed, and he decided to knock on the door.

“Lydia?”

“Door's open”.

At least he found her. The Argonian opened the door. Once inside, he found Lydia sitting on the table near the corner of the room. She had a book on her lap.

“What are you reading?” asked Hendrick while he sat close to her.

“Of Fjori and Holgeir. My apologies, Thane. I brought it from the library back in Solitude”.

“Hey, no worries. I’m glad you’re reading as well. We could make a club! You know, with Xelzaz, Lucien, Remiel, Kaidan, Val. We could invite Gore, Flint, and Khash too!”

“If that’s your desire, my Thane”.

Hendrick stared at her for a few seconds. Since they started bonding and knowing each other, she started to use his name instead of calling him ‘Thane’. She was trying to create distance with him.

“Lydia, you’ve been acting…weird. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, my Thane”.

“Lydia, we are all worried about you. We’re your friends. Please, talk to us”.

“It’s…” Lydia stopped herself, not knowing what to say.

Hendrick looked at her eyes. Despite being an Argonian, he was good at portraying his facial expressions after living almost all his life among Imperials. He wasn’t judging, but he was worried about her well-being. That made Lydia feel a little bit safer. But she wasn’t ready to explain everything that crossed her mind during the last weeks.

“...I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. I just need some time to…arrange my thoughts”.

Hendrick didn’t answer right after. He wished she spoke to him. He couldn’t bear seeing Lydia exclude herself, fighting against her inner enemies alone.

“Do you remember the day we met? When you promised to carry my burdens?”.

Lydia nodded. She remembered that day well. Her excitement at meeting her new Thane, the shock and disgust once she discovered he was an Argonian, the uselessness when she had to follow his little army, not knowing what she contributed to the team besides one extra mouth to feed.

But, during their travels, she learned Hendrick was a good soul. He may be weird, liking to read all the time, in love with his career choice. But she believed that, although he was an Argonian, his soul was one of a true Nord. She started to change her mind about him after that night in the Rift’s forest, when he showed her that Talos amulet he carried with him everywhere.

“Well…” Hendrick continued, staring down at his own claws. “I want you to know it goes both ways. I’ll gladly carry your burdens as well. I care about you, Lydia. I won’t press you if you’re not ready to talk, but please, I beg you to talk to me when you are. Or with anyone else. We’re all your friends here”.

A beat. Lydia took a few seconds to reply. She smiled slightly, turning her eyes to meet the Argonian’s.

“I…thank you, Hendrick. From you, it means a lot”.

Hendrick smiled, showing his teeth slightly. He was still worried about Lydia, but at least he got her to admit there was something wrong and open up a little. He could give her time. He would always do it for her.

“Alright” the Argonian stood up before her. “Xelzaz says dinner’s ready. Are you coming? I can bring you a bowl, if you don’t feel ready to go down, yet”.

“No, I’ll go” she replied, smiling back at him.

Lydia once again joined the rest of the team. The night passed by quickly with dinner and the jokes. After that, they all went to bed, so they could be ready for the next day.

As always, Lydia was the first one to wake up. She got into her steel armor and went downstairs. She navigated through the room, trying not to bother her friends that were sleeping there, since the house was too small for so many people. Quietly she opened the front door. The roads were wet after last night’s rain. But, to Lydia’s surprise, she wasn't alone. Xelzaz was on his way back from…somewhere, carrying a couple of bags on his claws.

“You should have slept. We have a long day ahead of us”.

“I was lacking in alchemical ingredients, and I couldn't wait for Arcadia to open”.

Xelzaz, keeping his secrets, said nothing else about the matter. He was, instead, interested in something else.

“So, Lydia, Hendrick spoke to you yesterday. Is everything alright?”

“I…actually want to talk to you about it”.

“I am all ears” replied the Argonian.

Lydia took a moment. She wasn’t ready to talk about this, but she needed to share it with someone. Hendrick was out of the picture, since it involved him. And, although Xelzaz was his closest friend, she could trust the Telvanni with the secret.

“I…I think I like Hendrick”.

Xelzaz smiled, confusing Lydia. He should be shocked.

“I’m surprised it took you this long to realize that”.