Book1: Her Early Life.

The Twins.

Turdas 10th, Hearthfire, 4E 180

  Bellona woke up earlier then the rest of her family. She got out of her bed and looked out of the bedrooms window. The autumn fog was just rising above the ground and mixed with the early sun the area was given a beautiful and mysterious setting. She debated on changing out of her white gown but sided against it and just put on a faded red jacket. She turned around and made sure she didn't wake Ivy. She quietly tip toed down the steps and into the kitchen. She paused to make sure no one was up and she climbed on a counter to search through a cabinet and fished out a gouda slice. She slowly made her way down and silently stepped on the floor. Bellona then crept out the front door and began to roam around the house while eating looking for a good spot to start an alchemy garden.

  She found a good flat spot near a fence and under a large oak that overlooked down the hilltop. The shade the tree provided would be ideal for the ingredients that required shadowed places to sprout. She mentally noted to tell her mother whenever she woke up. After tending to the carriage mules she decided to go for a walk. Down the hill she ran into Gweden Farm and took notice that the inhabitants are already awake. In the small field she could see a white furred Khajiit woman in dark orange robes swinging a hoe at the potato plants. Closer to the house Bellona observed two younger dark tan furred Khajiits in brown overalls and white sleeved shirts carrying baskets full of potatoes and tomatoes into the house. Bellona walked closer and the two Khajiits walked out and greeted her.

  "Hello." the Khajiit girl said. While the boy walked over to his mother.
The boy said something and the mom who jogged the short distance over. She walked up to Bellona.

"Hello dear are you lost?"

  "Hello, I'm not lost. My name is Bellona Heartlily. My family moved into the lodge on top of the hill. I just walked over and saw you."

  The older woman's ears perked up. "Heartlily you say? Are you related to Yoric Heartlily?"

"Well yeah."

  The Khajiit adult smiled warmly. Well, what Bellona guesses was warm. "Your Uncle is such a kind man. He respects us well and the rent is low. You're always welcome here. My name Jo'la." She extended her arm. "My cubs are Sha'lere (girl raises her hand) and Sa'ma." (boy raises his hand.) "If you need anything dear let me know." Jo'la walked away and back to field.

  The two Khajiits walked over to Bellona. "We're finished with the harvest of the day. Do you want to play with us?" Sa'ma asked. "Of course I do. I need to go write a letter though telling my parents where I'm at. Want to go with me?"

"Sure." The twins said in unison.

  After leaving the manor again and letting Ivy tag along with a shovel and three wide buckets. The youngsters started to roam the grasslands and stopped when they reached a field of flowers at Bellona and Ivy's request. The other children helped Bellona mark down what type of plants are in the area.
"That's Bergamot." Reported Sha'lere.
"Ber ga mot." Bellona sounded out while writing down.
"This is Arrowroot." Sa'ma said. Bellona looked up from her mother's plant journal as the Khajiit boy held the gangly weed up. "May I see that." Ivy walked over and plucked the plant from Sa'ma and observed it's roots. She smiled and sat the plant down beside her as she pushed up her baggy green sleeves and began to shovel some dirt and then plopped the arrowroot down into the large bucket. "This is a good start." The brunette elf looked up.

  Around mid morning the group had dug up three arrowroot, four tiger lilies, two bergamot, and five milk thistle to get their surprise garden started. As well as mark down the plants they didn't dig up yet. The kids were now sitting around the buckets and they started asking questions to get to know each other. "I got one, how old are you two?" Ivy asked while looking at the twins. "Sa'ma is seven. Same as Sha'lere. What about you?"
"I'm ten. You Bell?"
"I'm eleven. Next question, what's your favorite story? Mines about the Dwemer."
"The Creation story." Ivy responded.
"Sha'lere enjoys the stories of the Arena Grand Champion."
"Sa'ma likes the story of the Wolf Queen."
"Our favorites all sound neat, maybe we should bring the books next time and we could read them to each other." Bellona suggested. The other three nodded in agreement.

  "Oh! The plants are starting to wilt. Let's hope mom is still alseep." Bellona got up and the others followed.
"Look, there's Cicero!" Sa'ma almost yelled in excitement. The rest turned and Bellona could faintly see his red hair across the fields. "He's a really cool boy. Maybe we should ask him to play when he isn't busy." He lived near Anvil. Sha'lere mentioned. They all watched as he faded into the forest.

  They began to walk back to our homes and Ivy asked: "We've heard that his family are Sithis worshippers."
"Maybe he is maybe he isn't. To us Khajiits all Deities are the same. It's not our place to judge." Sha'lere blatantly stated.

  Before they knew it they were at Jo'la's house. The Khajiit looked at them through a window and waved as the kids made their way inside. Jo'la finished setting the dinner table as the twins took their seats at the table.

  "These ones had fun today. Hope to play with you again. Bye you two." Sha'lere happily said. The Khajiit was proudly baring her fangs in a smile. Sa'ma looked up briefly and slightly grinned before returning to his pheasant and sweatcake.

  "It was great to have fun with you as well." Bellona said equally happy. "We'll gladly stop by again." Added Ivy.

  When they were about to leave Jo'la stopped them. "It's good to have other children here now that aren't almost always busy. Here's some extra sweets I made and like I said previously you are always welcome here. May you always walk on warm sand." Jo'la handed Bellona the basket and the two girls finally were off. Bellona would occasionally look back at her younger sister to make sure she wasn't struggling with the added weight of the dirt the plants are in. She was currently balancing the shovel across her shoulders and balanced buckets one bucket on either side. She had to admit Ivy wasn't struggling that much. She looked frail but she could handle a fair amount of weight. She stifled a laugh as Ivy tripped over the him of her skirt.

  Now home the sisters stopped by the oak tree and Ivy settled the buckets on the ground and began to dig up holes for the plants. While Bellona went inside and placed the treats of taffy, sweet rolls, and honey candy on a counter. Her mother didn't pay her any mind as she was to busy hanging deep red wall drapes on all of the walls. Bellona looked at her mother and then left to help Ivy.

  In the process of planting the new alchemy garden the girls saw their dad walk by coming from somewhere. A few minutes later their mother came out and was surprised by the pleasant gift her daughters started for her. Ivy and Bellona got up and wrapped their arms around their mother's waist.

  "Thank you two so much. This makes it less work for me. Ivy, you planted the flowers in the correct spots they would grow best in. Bellona thanks for writing the plants down in an extra journal for me. I appreciate that so much."

  Their dad decided now would be a good time to mention the news. "Your mother and I have some exciting news."

  "What is it?" Both girls asked. As their mother looked up from them to look at her husband.

  "Well your aunt decided to buy a vacant building in Anvil and starting first thing tomorrow your mother will be working there."

  "Care to join me girls?" Their mother asked. The two eagerly shook their heads.

I'm really neutral about this chapter. I hope you enjoy though. Cicero will make his official debut in the next chapter. If any of you know anything about Khajiit words tell me what Jo'la means. (I already know the meaning) I'm just curious on who all else knows the meaning, especially the first word.