A random little snippet of writing, of when Aithilo confronted Divayth about the big secret.
Divayth set aside his latest endeavor, ready to slide it into a concealed apartment within reach, waiting to see who it was that had entered his tower. He relaxed as Aithilo rounded the corner, striding towards him.
“Ah, a surprise visit?” Divayth smirked. “Come, my boy. Look what I have now.”
“No, we have other matters to discuss,” Aithilo corrected briskly.
His tone took Divayth by surprise, a frown instantly overtaking him. “Watch it,” he warned. “You may be pushing your 900’s, but I’ll still banish you into a demi-plane for a timeout.”
“About that,” Aithilo grumbled. “So when were you going to sit me down and explain you aren’t my actual father?”
Divayth paused, blinking at him. A million questions raced through his mind, and he didn’t know which to ask first.
“Does it matter?” he finally decided to say. “I am your father. I raised you, I taught you, I was there for every injury, every trial and error. Blood means nothing between you and I- we are father and son, regardless of whatever concepts you now have in your head.”
“I...I don’t disagree with that,” Aithilo breathed, trying to steady himself. It was rare to see him so off center, nearly trembling. “But you should have! Especially…” He glanced around, checking if they were alone, and then lowered his voice. “Considering I’m some sort of demigod abomination!”
“Demigod abom- what?” Divayth snapped. “The only true con to your nature is the nightmares. Other than that, I think your abilities have served you rather well.”
“I’d throw away my entire reality if it meant ridding myself of the night terrors!” Aithilo hissed. “I… I’m the spawn of a murderer, and even more distantly the spawn of a trickster!”
“And why does this effect who you are?” Divayth sharply asked, raising an eyebrow.
“My dreams!” Aithilo exploded, face turning red. “I’ve lived through Nerevar’s murder a dozen times, waking up screaming as my own...my own sire was ready to slice off my face! I-I’ve watched figures crowd me, one aim a bow at my chest and watched as my heart was shot from my body! I’ve heard cursing, screams, horrors from Red Mountain! It always haunts me, even now, the closer I get to it, the worse-”
“Enough!” Divayth ordered. “I never told you because of this exact reason. Before, the dreams were nothing but nightmares, which you had to endure but would wake and soon recover from them. Your days weren’t spoiled, were they? But now you’ll lay awake at night, scared to sleep, thinking you are destined for some idiotic dark purpose!” He shoved a finger into Aithilo’s chest. “Your heart is still in your chest, and your face is clearly intact. The shadows of the past may haunt you, but you decide if they control your future. You… You’re too soft, honestly. Emotional. I tried to help you grow thicker skin, but you’re too… giving.” He rolled his eyes. “For once, please, for ONCE, be selfish.”
Aithilo looked at him, at a loss for words. His eyes misted over, tears welling in the corners as he trembled.
“How did you find out?” Divayth sighed, rubbing his forehead.
“Trechire,” Aithilo whispered, hands curling into fists. “She saw the Clockwork god...with my mother, in a chamber which housed his memories. She saw Sotha Sil pledge he’d be a part of my life...my mother’s one condition.” His gaze grew intense. “Why was there a condition? Why did Sotha Sil not keep his word?”
“I don’t know why Sil didn’t keep his word,” Divayth growled. “I tore his head off for it when Rasulu had you, and I watched myself the life fade from her eyes. No more than a moment later, Sil disowned you. I tried to argue, but in the end I just accepted Sil was Sil, and took you as my own. As for the conditions- Sil wanted your mother as a permanent resident of the Clockwork City. That much I know. So, if I had to guess, Rasulu agreed to stay forever within the city, so long as Sil didn’t close himself off to you, as he always does in general to, well, everyone.”
“He broke his promise,” Aithilo breathed, still trembling.
“Don’t hold onto that,” Divayth warned. “It isn’t worth it. Sil is unpredictable, distant, and at times I wonder if he is all together in the head. He’s brilliant, a genius- but one can be such things and still be completely oblivious to common sense.” He scowled. “I haven’t forgiven him for breaking his promise, and neither should you, but we do not let these things consume and distract us. Understood?”
Aithilo didn’t reply. He still trembled, and now tears slipped down his face.
“Aithilo…” Divayth sighed, tapping his fingers across his desk in frustration. “Get yourself together.” When Aithilo turned his head away, and faint sobs began to slip, Divayth took a deep breath. “Alright, alright.” He extended a hand, and pulled Aithilo into a hug.
Admittedly it had been a while since they’d hugged. What, maybe when Divayth got side tracked in that one dimension for a couple of months and finally came home? Aithilo had been worried sick. Bless him, he actually had feared for Divayth, as if there was a possibility the wizard couldn't have returned. Then again, with his foreseeing dreams, perhaps there had been, and Divayth should have taken note. Regardless, Divayth hugged him tight, Aithilo grabbing onto him and sobbing into his shoulder. He had outgrown Divayth by now, quite tall for a dunmer, but given his bloodline it was no wonder. He stooped down, crying his eyes out, like all the nights he had woken up due to his nightmares and screamed for his father to come save him.
“Far too emotional,” Divayth grumbled, but held on tight. “You’re nothing like Sil, so stop worrying.” He thought for a moment. “Though you are quite cunning, and beyond mischievous when you want to be. Lorkhan might have influence over you after all.”
“Stop!” Aithilo rasped through his crying.
“Well, you might be able to take claim to a moon!” Divayth put in, still holding him. “Imagine all we could do with a moon!”
“Father…” Aithilo sobbed, but Divayth detected a trace of a smile as he dared a glance to his shoulder.
“It would make sense. All these men and women that crowd you, and yet you aren’t interested in either? A cruel, merciless deception,” Divayth snorted. “Robbed me of countless tricks I wanted to pass down to you.”
Aithilo still shook with tears, but a smile seeped through now completely. He took a few minutes, then quietly mumbled, “Thank you for raising me.”
“Completely stupid thing to do, thanking a parent for doing their job,” Divayth huffed, now brushing Aithilo off him. His own face had grown red, and he patted down his now soaked armored shoulder. “Go clean yourself up- but leave that bow!” He pointed to the bow made of random metallic bits and gears clipped to Aithilo’s quiver. “Did you bang it against a thousand trees? Don’t answer that- I already know the answer. Just leave it, and I’ll have it fixed for you when you get back. That was a damn expensive gift, and no son of Divayth Fyr will be seen trotting around the backroads of Blackmarsh with some...some basic bow!”