"Morning Lucille, already working, that's the spirit! Once you're done with your bedroom, go upstairs and sweep the floor too. Other than that, are you liking your new golden cuffs?"
"Greetings Mother, I will take care of it. And yes, I quite like them, they match perfectly with my collar, thank you!"

 

 

A few days had passed. I obviously had no intention of doing Mother’s chores, so I waited for her to walk away before sneaking into her private library. I was trying to figure out how to move one of the bookshelves when I spotted a small, unusual altar. When I pressed the eye icon on top of it, I heard a click, and something happened.

 

 

The back shelf began to slide into the ground, revealing a small room hidden behind that left me astonished. So Mother really did keep a secret garden of her own!

 

 

I stepped inside, gazing at the chests likely overflowing with gold coins. Mother had a desk with a ledger and maps of Skyrim and Tamriel. A Thief’s outfit was displayed neatly in the room’s corner, along with a statue of a deity that attracted me somehow.

 

 

I took a closer look; it was Nocturnal, the goddess of the night and darkness. Why did Mother have a statue of this deity hidden away? ? Speaking of the devil, I heard her voice coming through the back.
"She’s magnificent, don’t you think? The oldest and most mysterious of the Daedric Princes, who promises fortune to those worshipping her."

 

 

"Enough with the mysteries, Mother! I'm a grown woman now, and I refuse to be kept in the dark any longer! Tell me everything about your shady activities. I just want to help you and get involved!"
"I guess you deserve a proper answer... Alright, let's have lunch first and I'll fill you in completely, I promise."

"Come on, Lucille, eat up! Your body needs those nutrients to stay healthy!"
"I'm not feeling that hungry... Also, forgive me, Mother. I shouldn't have yelled at you earlier..."
"No worries, you've got spirit! I'm glad my daughter can defy authority even though she's supposed to be enslaved. Anyway, bon appétit!"

 

 

After lunch, we went out onto the terrace overlooking the lake. I listened quietly to Mother's narrative.
"Your father and I met when we were enemies in the Reach conflict. We fell in love, dreamed of a life away from the war, and you came along. Unfortunately, that foolish Madanach was captured, and your father tried to rescue him. I never saw my husband since. I got you to safety, then I vowed to uncover your father's fate, whatever it takes. Thus, my Eclipse persona, my connections, and lately, I've turned to the mystical with Nocturnal. Now you know pretty much everything... Come on, let's go for a walk!"

 

 

I followed Mother down the stairs to a small dock. She stretched, unburdened by the weight of her past actions.
"Where are we going, Mom? Shouldn't we get changed first?"
"Oh, who cares! All that honest talk put me in the mood for a dip!"

 

 

Mother got undressed and headed into the water. She didn't give a damn about her modesty, much to my shock and discomfort.
"Mom! People might see you naked!"
"Stop being so shy, Lucille! Take off that dress and come join me, or I won't tell you about this afternoon's surprise."

 

 

Once in the lake, I no longer worried about my nudity. The water was refreshing, and Mother quickly made me feel at ease.
"What are we going to do this afternoon, Mother? It feels weird to say it like that, I'm so excited!"
"Do you remember when Sammy came by to give me a note? That was about a time and place for a meeting with a Skooma dealer. This afternoon, in the Ratway. You're coming with me, but I'm going to remind you of the rules. Out in public, you're my slave and I'm your mistress, so you'll have to behave accordingly. No one will bother you since I'll be around. If you don't play your part well..."

 

 

She moved closer, grabbed one of my arms, and placed her hand on my stomach.
"I'll tickle some sense into you, got it, Lucille?"
"Ahahah! Okay, okay, I'll be good!"

We went inside the Ratway, to one section called Beggar's Brawl Arena. Mom knew the place and showed me around.
"Welcome to the vice's lair! It's quiet during the day but crowded in the evening. You can gamble, play games, fight in the cage or drink. Don't mind the blood on the floor though."
"You could at least provide me some footwear, it's not very clean down here..."
"Sorry, but I have a policy: all my slaves must be barefoot. It’s to remind them of their status, alongside the collar around their neck."
"Yeah, and definitely not to check out their feet, right Mistress?"

 

 

Mom and I ended up in a private room where I fulfilled my slave role perfectly, kneeling and staring down as a sign of submission while Mother discussed business with an Argonian.
"I'll buy you a new shipment of Skooma for next month. The usual price."
"I don't think so, Eclipse. Rumor has it you blew your recent business at the cave. From now on, the price just doubled."
"You damn snake! Are you trying to milk me for extra gold? Not a chance!"
"In that case, you can leave. I have other customers waiting. Have a nice day."

 

 

"Keep doing your business like this, and you'll see how karma will come back to bite you!"
"Mistress, if I may..."
"Not now slave. I'll make sure to punish you like hell!"

 

 

As we were heading for the exit, Mother ran into an acquaintance who was having a drink.
"Maven."
"Teresa."
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to become the next Jarl or something?"
"That can wait; I have some business to conduct here first. Now, who's that beauty behind you?"

 

 

Maven inspected me like I was some kind of merchandise. She was intimidating, making me nervous to speak. Luckily, Mother came to my aid. 
"I allow you to speak, slave. You may proceed." 
"I... I'm nobody. I was enslaved by bandits and then bought back by Mistress, to whom I owe my life."
"Interesting. Since we’re in an arena, I’d like to organize a fight. You against the champion. If you win, you’ll be a free woman again. If you lose, I’ll become your Mistress. Teresa, what do you think?"

 

 

"Let's make this combat worthwhile, shall we? I'll step into the cage with her, and I'm betting 3,000 gold coins on our victory. Either you bet the same amount on our defeat, or we're leaving. What do you say, Maven? Don't you want to see me get smacked down?"
"A handicap match? Fine, if you're so confident about your fighting skills, prove it. Beggar's rags only, match ends by submission or knockout."
"Don't worry, I know the rules! Just line up your gold coins; I'll collect them afterwards."

We went down to a dressing room next to the arena to get changed. I was worried, but having Mother by my side gave me hope for the best. 
"Are you sure about this? I mean... I know a few moves, but without magic, I'm powerless."
"Relax, Lucille, I've seen the champion fight before. He's beatable, but we'll have to play dirty. Okay, let's get dressed and warm up a bit."

 

 

I started stretching while Mom practiced her kicks on the training dummy. She looked so composed and upbeat, just like someone with a lifetime of experience to back it up.
"Damn, Mother... I mean, Mistress, I didn't know you were so good at close combat. Where did you learn that?"
"When we're together alone, you can call me Mother, my dear daughter. After more than a decade of training with the Imperial Legion, so to speak, I can hold my own if I have to fight unarmed. But against today's opponent, who is tall and strong, we'll have to use some cunning. Focus on his legs or his nuts. Once he's on the ground, it's game over."

 

 

Mother and I stepped into the arena, under Maven’s piercing gaze from above. The champion was a two-meter-tall giant Nord with arms as thick as my thighs. I was a little nervous, but Mom remained completely unfazed.
"So... I'm supposed to beat up these two women, an old lady and a little brat? Sounds like a piece of cake."
"Bring it on, big jerk, and see what an old lady is made of!"

 

 

The fight began, and the champion didn't waste any time; he rushed to hit us with a double clothesline. His speed took me by surprise, and I fell to the ground, while Mom, being far better balanced, managed to stay on her feet.

 

 

I tried to sit back up and saw Mother attempt to kick the Nord's head. His hand blocked my mom's attack with such force that it shocked her fully.
"Cute foot, woman, but I don't think so. Let me show you how it's done!"

 

 

In the champion's eyes, we were nothing but his playthings. He lifted Mother so easily and slammed her to the ground. I quickly got back up to strike back and targeted the Nord's crotch.
"Hands off my Mistress, you bastard!"

 

 

My move didn't have the desired effect; the champion turned his full attention on me, and I could tell he was really pissed off.
"You little pest, how dare you! Get ready to be punished by a real man!"

 

 

As I tried to run away, the giant caught up with me, lifted me up, and held me still. I was completely helpless, at his mercy. My only hope lay in Mother's assistance to free me from this tight spot.
"I'm going to take my time and enjoy making you submit, slave!"
"Never, you pig!"
"Your Mistress is beaten, you belong to me now!"

 

 

Mother caught the champion off guard with a vicious kick to between his legs. He cried out in pain and relaxed his grip on my chest, allowing me to slip free. 
"No one touches my enslaved girl except me! Is that clear enough for you, champ?"
"Mistress. . . Thank you!"

 

 

We had an opening, we had our shot at revenge! I punched my fists into his crotch while Mother delivered a powerful kick just below his chin. The Nord lost his balance and started to fall heavily.
"Alright, let's end this! A downward elbow strike to finish him off!"

 

 

The mother-daughter duo worked like a charm, much to Maven's astonishment. She never thought the arena's champion would suffer such a crushing defeat.
"Aim for the throat, show no mercy!"
"Yes, Mistress! Here I come!"

 

 

I couldn't believe it, but we had done it, we were victorious! I felt so relieved to have not let Mother down. She was happy for me too, she eagerly lifted my arm high in the air and celebrated our triumph in the arena. Maven, still behind and above us, felt disgusted but kept a straight face to maintain appearances for the few people inside.
"Well done, Teresa. You and your slave fought hard, so enjoy your prize."

We got dressed and then collected the winnings from the match. Maven was waiting at the Beggar's Brawl Arena entrance, but Mom decided to snub her before we headed out. 
"I told you I was going to take that gold from you, didn’t I, Maven? My dear slave, show some respect, will you?
"It was an honor to meet you, Maven, and I hope I proved myself worthy of your time."
"Hmph. We're not done yet, Teresa. You'd better watch your back!"

 

 

Outside, the sunset cast its glow over Riften. Mother and I took a moment to talk about what we had just been through. 
"What's wrong, Lucille? You suddenly look worried. It's because of Maven, right?"
"Yeah, she's really scary. Who is she, exactly? I have a feeling you two have some past history together."
"The matriarch and head of the Black-Briar family. Their mansion is right behind us, by the way. They’re known for their famous locally produced mead, but they also have ties to the Thieves’ Guild and the Dark Brotherhood. Maven has been trying to get rid of me for several years, with no success. Come on, let's go home."

 

 

"Oh, I forgot to tell you! I won the 3,000 gold coins from Maven, but I also made 2,000 gold coins off the Argonian dealer. That’ll serve him right for betting against me... I mean, us!"
"5,000 gold coins in one afternoon... Wow! Must be nice you didn't get your hands on that Skooma shipment. You should thank me, really!"
"Don't push your luck, Lucille! You're still 5,000 gold coins short, but hey, at least it's a step in the right direction!"

 

 

Mom and I stopped on the bridge right next to her residence to admire the sun's reflection upon the lake. 
"Sometimes, I pause whatever I'm doing and clear my mind by staring at the horizon. It gives me hope, for a brighter tomorrow.

Do you ever do that, Lucille?"
"Yeah, I do. When I discovered that my parents could be in Skyrim, that’s when I started hoping to reunite with them. I'm glad I made it happen, despite the circumstances." 
"Me too, my daughter, me too..."

 

 

"You know what? I've decided to give you something Lucille. As a reward for your efforts today, I'm releasing you from slavery. I trust your choices and actions, you are my grown-up daughter, after all!"
"Wait... Really? I... I don't know what to say, thanks, Mother!"
"We're always in public... When I need you as my slave for business purposes, you'll proudly take back this role, understood?"
"Of course, as long as I can stay by your side, I'm fine with it!"

 

 

I was so filled with positive emotions that I threw my arms around Mother's neck. All I wanted right now was to catch up on lost time and work together as a family. 
"I haven't got the chance to tell you this, but I love you, Mother! You're an amazing person!"
"Haha, that's enough love for one day! Let's take off that collar so you can show me your magic skills. Do you have the same orange lightning spells as your father?"
"Yes! So it's hereditary! I knew it meant something special..."

Some background lore, some action, and less feet! I have the next three chapters in mind. There will be rivalry with the Black Briar family, but first and foremost, Lucille’s regaining her freedom is something to celebrate! I wanted to include it at the end of this chapter, but I figured it would be better for the next one. Just wait and see Lucille rediscovering her dominant side. One she inherited from her mother, Teresa... 

 

Speaking of the devil, I'm rather satisfied with how I managed to fit her into Lucille's story. She won't appear in every chapter, but she'll play a fairly important role in Lucille's future adventures.