Legacy
- 4 years ago
- 15
- 0
Leah woke me from my slumber. “Pardon me, are you ... officially ... here?”
I smiled up at her, then took a bite from an apple on my nightstand. Then I pulled her down to me, giving her a deep kiss. “Good morning, Leah. I’ll be down shortly for breakfast after I get dressed.”
She hurried down the stairs, excited. I could hear her saying, “Get everyone ready for breakfast, Martina has returned to us!”
I lazily got out of bed, luxuriating in feel of my own bed without any deceit after so long. I was only wearing my smalls, and the fur from the rug by the bed felt good between my toes. I stretched a bit, then went to the chest beside the bed. “Surgus, you can quit being a pervert and watching from secret, I’m just getting dressed now.”
As I opened the chest and began removing the armor stored there weeks ago, Surgus said, “Okay, how did you know I was here? Seriously.” He sounded disturbed. “And when or how did you get your gear here? I thought you’d left it in High Reach.”
I started slipping my underthings on, then my dragon scale on over that. Since I no longer had a helm and I didn’t want to wear the Jagged Crown just yet, I put out an enchanted circlet. Time to show my face to everyone. “It’s simple, Surgus. My gear has been here since two days after I left High Reach. I have some fine companions, do I not? Able to send things via courier secretly.”
“Yes, but that still doesn’t tell me how you knew I was here,” he was petulant.
“Seriously? You think I didn’t know you’ve been following nearly my every move since I left High Reach? Or just how irritated you were to have me disappear from your sight in the Blue Palace? I’m just curious, what did you think when I went into the Void and returned with Astrid.”
“Son of a bitch ... you knew I’d follow you!”
“Surgus, you may be a Psijic monk of the highest caliber of skills, and even a wonderful assassin. I’m still Dragonborn, and more importantly, I’m still a woman. You could do nothing else. Not and remain true to your Order.”
He shook his head. “Formidable. I am so glad you are not our opponent. I almost pity the poor Thalmor. Very well. What would you have of me now?”
“Well, I plan on going downstairs and enjoying a leisurely breakfast, spending a bit of time getting formally reacquainted with my friends and subjects here. When I’m done with that, I’m going to get on my horse and go help Malacath with a problem he has. Before the military campaigning season gets fully underway, we need to deal with a couple of Daedric issues.”
I started walking to the stairs, buckling my sword belt on. “So what I’d like you to do while I’m eating is open a little channel between here and High Reach. Get Lydia, Jordris, Argis, Annekke, and Serana, and bring them here. It’s time for the High Queen of Skyrim to start resolving some of the problems of her subjects. I’m actually glad my helm was destroyed. The people should see my face.”
“Don’t you think that they may recognize you as the assassin from the Dark Brotherhood who was recently was crossing Skyrim?”
“Assassins don’t wear dragon scale, do they? Nor do they act publicly, they kill from the shadows. What do your threads show now?”
He quietly followed me downstairs, then held my chair for me while I was seated. “Damn, I hate being wrong,” he muttered as he pushed my chair in.
“See you shortly, Surgus. I’m hungry, and it looks like I have a wonderful breakfast waiting for me here.” He moved off, still muttering under his breath, then vanished into a tunnel leading to High Reach. In the meantime I ate my food.
I had just finished eating when the tunnel opened again and my companions came out. Surgus was nowhere to be seen, which was what I’d expected of him. “Thank you all for your patience with me. I had a few things I had to do, obviously. But the time for subtle action is over. The war for control of Skyrim by the Daedric Princes has a couple of battles to be fought. I understand we need to talk to one of the Gray-Mane family in Whiterun first. Then we’re going back to see Atub, get the Orc issue resolved, then to Dawnstar. How soon can you all be ready to leave?”
Lydia spoke for everyone. “My Queen, we are ready ... now. We’d like to give you a welcome home kiss first, if that’s not too much. And if you need healing from any injuries, ah ... we’re ready to help that way, too.”
I laughed. Gods, it felt good to be back with together with them all. “Come here, all of you. Kisses around. I ... erm ... well, someone else has found a space in my heart as well, she was able to heal me. So when we’re done, we’re ready.”
I reloaded on arrows that Adrienne had been faithfully making while I was gone, and then we went into Whiterun. The guards recognized me, of course. I heard a lot of greetings from everyone, guards and citizens alike, as we walked through town. I walked up to a simple house, belonging to the Gray-Manes, and entered.
Fralia greeted me. “Welcome to our home.” From behind her, a man wearing armor holding an axe came towards me. Fralia shouted, “Avulstein, stop! She’s here to help.”
“Who are you? What are you doing here? Are you working with the Battle-Borns? Speak now, before I put you in the ground,” he threatened.
Fralia looked askance at her son. “You could try, boy, but you’d fail. Not against her, you’d stand no chance. Now, please, put your weapon up.”
“Fine.” He sheathed his axe. “Are you here to help?”
“I received a missive from your mother that one of her sons was missing. I would presume that’s not you.” Behind me, I knew my companions were still ready should they need their weapons.
“No, it’s my brother Thorald. He was fighting for the Stormcloaks, and went missing. Everyone assumes he’s dead. But he’s not. I know it. The Imperials captured him, and they’re holding him someplace. The Battle-Borns know where.”
I was puzzled. “Why do you assume the Battle-Borns know anything?”
“They’re the Emperor’s biggest boot lickers here in Whiterun. Their connections to the Empire and the Legion are well known. When Thorald didn’t return home, there was no question in my mind. They knew Thorald supported the Stormcloaks, knew he was going to aid them in battle. Made sure he didn’t come back. Locked him up someplace to get back at my family. I’m sure of it.”
“I’ll see what I can find out. In the meantime, just ... stay here. There’s been enough blood shed in Skyrim already.” I left their home and went straight to the head of the clan Battle-Born, Olfrid. Since his home was just behind that of the Gray-Manes, it was a short walk. He and his sons were sitting at the table, eating lunch.
He saw me come in. “Yes, Dragonborn, what can I do for you?”
“I’m here under my other title today, Olfrid. What can you tell me of the fate of Thorald Gray-Mane?”
“Your other title?”
“Are you going to tell me that you, a citizen of Whiterun with all your connections, are unaware of my official title here in Skyrim now?” I crossed my arms.
He sighed. “No, my Queen. It’s ... my apologies. The death of the Emperor, things are changing here rapidly now. The enmity between the Battle-Born and Gray-Mane are relics of the past that need to change as well.” He looked at his sons. “Idolaf, tell her.”
“Yes, father. Thorald and I are ... were ... friends. When he was taken prisoner, I used my contacts to find out what had happened to him. He was taken by the Thalmor. He’s being held in Northwatch Keep. He’s as good as dead, no one returns from there. I ... I didn’t tell Fralia this because his brother would try to save him, then they’d both be dead. I’m sorry.”
I stared at them for a moment. “You have been friends of the Empire. By your words today, you remain friends of the Empire, and of her Empress.”
Olfrid gulped. “Thank you, my Queen. But ... how can we help?”
“Keep growing your crops, support Jarl Balgruuf, and as you said, end the issue between your clans. I’ll handle this from here.”
I returned to the Gray-Manes. Avulstein looked puzzled. “You just left a few moments ago, surely you don’t have an answer for me already.”
“He’s held prisoner by the Thalmor, at Northwatch Keep. I’ll get him out. You stay here, protect your mother. And talk to the Battle-Born clan. You’ll find they’re not as bad as you think, and it’s time for you to put your grudges away.”
“How can I do that when they’re the ones who put Thorald in danger in the first place?”
“Ulfric Stormcloak put him in danger, with his war. I’m not going to get into whether it was right or wrong for him to do so. But since I am going to put an end to it, one way or another, then you’ll do as I say.”
He laughed. “How can you put an end to the war, even with your followers?”
“By killing every Thalmor in Skyrim, since they’re the cause of it in the first place. Why would I do anything else in my realm?”
The blood drained from his face. “By Ysmir, I’d heard rumors, but discounted most of them. I mean, I knew you were the Dragonborn, but...” His mother slapped him on the back of the head.
“Now you know, you stupid boy. Ulfric Stormcloak is not your ruler. She is.”
Shortly after that, we left for Largashbur. As we rode, my companions asked me questions about what I had done while I was apart from them. I deflected many of them, I didn’t want to get too deep in explanation while on the trail. We stopped and camped at the Heartwood Mill as it was getting late. There was no privacy to talk, though. The next morning we approached the Orc camp.
Another giant was attacking it and we killed this one as well. I apologized to Atub for taking so long in returning. “Things take time, I understand. We must get Yamarz now so I can summon Malacath,” she replied.
She headed into their longhouse. An Orc warrior in full armor was waiting inside. “Yamarz, we have the items needed so that I can summon Malacath now,” Atub said.
“Why have you brought this outsider here? What do we need Malacath for? I am the chief here. We can handle things,” he boasted.
“You know we are dying. Come, let me perform the ceremony.” He grumbled some at her insistence, but finally followed her. Once outside, she walked to a rough altar in the midst of their camp. “Great Malacath, we summon you to help us in our time of need.”
Yamarz jumped when a loud, disembodied voice said, “Just look at you. You’re losing to giants! Yamarz, you are weak! Go. Kill the leader of the giants in Fallowstone Cave and bring me his club. Then I will lift my curse.”
Atub intoned, “Malacath has spoken!”
Yamarz came up to me. “You, outsider! You got me into this, you’re going to get me out of it. Meet me at Fallowstone Cave. You have more than enough troops with you, you can keep me safe from harm, and I’ll kill the giant and come back a hero. I’ll make it worth your while.”
I thought about how Yamarz was quite possibly the worst example of an Orc I’d ever seen. It’d probably irritate Malacath if I killed him now, but it’d improve the breed. “Fine. We’ll do what needs done. Let’s go.”
Our destination was just beyond a place we’d already been to, so finding it wasn’t difficult. The trolls were out in full force, though, almost like they’d been placed as an obstacle for us. That simply made it easier to gather more ingredients from their fat, as they all died. Once at the cave, Yamarz surprised me by charging into combat against a giant we encountered soon after entering the cave. Of course, I had to move in as well. I don’t think the giant even knew what hit it – what little Yamarz was able to do, as well as my sword blow, four arrows, and an ice spike.
A bit further into the cave we ran into three cave bears. Yamarz again showed he must have had some courage, as he charged into combat. The bears quickly died, of course, but I was more encouraged. From there we went into the main cave. Yamarz looked at me. “So, how would you like to make some extra coin, kill that giant for me?”
“You’re supposed to do it to make Malacath happy,” I disdainfully told him.
“Fine. Wait here, I’ll only be a minute.” Yamarz started running down the hill towards the waiting giant.
“He’s gong to get smashed to a pulp, isn’t he?” asked Lydia.
I nodded. She was proven right very quickly, when the giant smashed Yamarz in the head with his club. His armor held, but his skull didn’t. His eyeballs literally popped out of his head. I readied my bow and noticed a large shrine to Malacath just behind the giant. A flight of arrows from us was all it took. Malacath then spoke from his shrine. “Yamarz was a fool, a conniver, and weakling! He was no chief of mine. Take Shargrol’s Hammer back to Largashbur and let’s see about whipping the rest of them into some sort of shape.”
That hammer must have been the magical one the giant was carrying as loot. We gathered the things, including the armor from Yamarz, and headed back out. Argis rinsed the helm out in a stream before we packed it. Once outside we ate and slept again. It was an easy ride back to Largashbur. Atub was waiting by the shrine.
“I have returned, with Shargrol’s Hammer.”
“So I see. But what of Yamarz?” She quickly realized the truth. “He ... died well?”
“He fought bravely, but the giant overwhelmed him.”
Atub sighed in relief. “That is good to hear then.”
Malacath decided to butt in. “Yamarz was a coward and a weakling. His deceitful ways have cost you all dearly. But I am willing to give you a chance. Gularzob is the new chief. You, you are the only one who’s shown bravery here. Place the hammer on my shrine.” I did. The regular hammer vanished, with the token of Malacath taking it’s place. I retrieved Volendrung.
“Thank you, Malacath. I’ll see what I can do to help your Orcs when I can.”
“Use it well in combat. Show the giants who is in charge here.”
I chuckled. “That would be me.” Upon hearing my rather cheeky statement, my ladies laughed as well. “Atub, here’s the armor that Yamarz wore. Give it to Gularzob to wear in good health, or sell it for money to help your tribe.”
She thanked me for my generosity, giving us some food and drink for our travels. We headed out, our next destination Dawnstar. We stopped at the Nightgate Inn again for our evening meal. Hadring greeted us warmly.
“It’s been weeks since I’ve seen you. I’m glad to see you’re all doing well. We had a bit of trouble here recently, I’m glad you weren’t here for it. One of my guests decided to come up missing one day. He must have made someone mad, they killed him and stuffed his body in a corner in the basement. No idea what that was about.”
He shook his head. “Ah, who knows? Anyway, I’ve some fresh horker stew on, and my girls put new straw in the bed yesterday.”
We ate and then moved into the bedroom. Argis took outside guard duty. “Okay, we know we’re going to Dawnstar and presumably after the Thalmor after that ... we’d like to know what we missed,” Lydia said.
I sighed. “I had to do some things I’m not particularly proud of. Obviously I took care of Titus Mede. There were ... other things ... and other people, that I had to kill. Some of them deserved it, some of them...”
Serana looked at me pity in her eyes. “It’s different with you now, isn’t it? Before, it was your destiny and you were reacting to things without having to think about them. If you failed, then the world would end, so you had no choice. Now, though, you’re having to advance your own agenda, your own plans. There’s a cost involved.”
“Exactly. I actually considered just quitting everything and just ... living ... with all of you. I decided that it wasn’t feasible, unfortunately. It’d be sweet, just not ... doable. I was not cut out to be a farmer.”
Jordris laughed. “Oh, that’d be rich. I could just see you, Arvak hooked to a plow.”
“No, your Majesty. You’ll lead us into battle, we’ll willingly follow you because we love you, and we’ll gain your throne for you. You’re not Nord born like we are, but you’re ours, no matter what.” Annekke’ voice was choked up a bit at the end.
I felt the tears welling in my eyes. “Come on, let’s get some sleep. We have a long, cold ride tomorrow.”
The next day we traveled west, then north along the roads to Dawnstar. As we entered town from the southern edge, a dragon thought it would be a good day to attack the human settlement. Just as he was getting ready to land on the roof of the inn, I used Dragonrend to ground him. Half a dozen arrows and Argis was packing some bones and scales for later smithing work. It was ... nice ... not to have to hide anymore.
It was still mid-afternoon when we walked up to the house of Silus Vesuius. A woman was arguing with him outside the house. “I beg you, don’t do this, Silus!”
“It’s my heritage. And if I’m not mistaken, here comes my first visitor to my museum.” Silus was wearing robes that looked very familiar to me based upon descriptions I’d heard from mother. “Please, come in and browse the displays, and we can talk. I have a job that you look perfect for.”
“Yes, show me what you have inside.” I went into his home. Half the home was full of display cases. The walls over the display cases held many tapestries. Silus seemed pleased by his items. “My family were in the Mythic Dawn. My museum in our legacy. One of my forefathers was even chosen to assassinate Uriel Septim himself. These tapestries were from their headquarters. In this case are several of the robes that were worn by members as they went about their missions.”
‘Twenty below with the wind-chill,’ announced the weather reporter on the local PBS radio station. ‘A perfect day for a funeral in Chicago,’ Ed thought wryly, as he gazed from the darkness of the window in the second story brownstone. His cold blue eyes noting how the snow fell upon the dimly lit brick street, as the ancient barren Oaks stood watch. Compact cars lined up on both sides, parking, as people do in the city, bumper to bumper. The steady stream of people, entrepreneurs, socialites,...
+ + + + + Weblink: Nestled in the Berkshires, ‘The Virgin and the Unicorn’ Bed and Breakfast sports some of the most beautiful scenery of the Northeast. As featured in ‘Haunted America’ tours, perhaps as you sip apple cider this Halloween, you will be visited by the couple reputed to haunt the grounds. Local folklore holds that this working farm and manor house was built by Ethan Verence to impress the woman he wanted to make his bride, Corrine Parsons. + + + + + Rowan Knapp was at her...
Sweat trickles down your forehead. The thought of your entire future and dreams depending on the contents of the cold piece of paper in between your hands is almost enough to make you not want to look at it. Let me run you guys through the process behind this. The year is 2420 and humans are now capable of doing extraordinary things. After the gruesome, yet quick, war of 2070 countless died bringing humanity from the billions, down to hundreds of millions. The radiation followed by the atomic...
FantasyIt was a very sad day when you heard the news. You're favorite relatives, eccentric Uncle Benny and his sister, your Aunt June, had passed on. Most of the family mumbled their good riddance's under their breath, even speculating that Benny & June were incestuous lovers. You didn't care though. Uncle Benny was a scientist and always around to help you with school and while Aunt June wasn't around as much, she always made time to sit and talk when she wasn't on one of her archaeological...
Mind ControlAmy Schiffer was staring at the trees as they raced past her, trying to ignore her mother by turning up the volume on her phone’s earbuds. She had ceased being mad and angry at what was happening and had resigned herself to simply sit in silence and let her mother worry about whether she was making the right decision about her daughter’s future. She was done arguing and fighting. She just wanted to listen to her music and think about Greg. “I know you think I am being a bitch and that I am...
John found himself at a somewhat large seaside town, just two days later. The group that had intercepted John had been the local baron and his men. They were checking the area for bandits. Complaints had come to the Baron, and he had responded by going out with one of four groups of men to put a check on the bandits. The Baron, Jaston Brevor, was the hereditary lord of Breverton, which was the port city. They were just ten miles from the Duke's home city of Candon. Duke Candon was lord of a...
The place that John was given was huge. It had been a warehouse, housing the overflow from the farmers. Now that the farmers had better locations that were more centrally located, this one had become an out of the way nuisance. The first thing that John was going to need was a furnace, a very large one. It would need to be bigger then any that had been built, to date. Also needed, were containers large enough to hold the molten steel when it was made. The forms were to be made out of...
The main section of the farm house was three stories tall. It had two wings that were two stories each, and there were several out-buildings on the property. Two barns were connected by a corral. Close in pastures held horses to do the farm work, and a small heard of cattle. A chicken coup, a blacksmith shop, an ice house, tool sheds, and two root cellars completed the set-up. The chickens supplied fresh eggs and meat, and the grain silos stored the grain that was harvested. The house was...
For the next three weeks, John stayed at Foxworth Manor. He liked the place, and with everything growing as it was, there was something new to see almost every day. All the plowing and planting was done. The flower gardens close to the house itself, were starting to bloom with a riot of colors. John considered some improvements to the house almost on a daily basis. It was impossible for him to do otherwise than to want to improve things as best he could. Some were simple improvements. Others...
"How much do you know about the political situation here in this land?" Count Treff asked John intensely. "I have no political knowledge, and I am not looking to get involved in any jockeying for position. I am a newly made baron, and probably the most apolitical person you might ever know," John replied firmly. Count Treff pursed his lips, and looked thoughtful. "I had hoped to convince you to join my group, in trying to pressure the king for Lords Rights," the count mused loudly,...
The interview with the king had started out cordially enough, until he started asking John about his meeting at the inn with the count. It went downhill from there. The king asked point blank if John was supporting the king's position or the lord's position. John tried to point out he was totally not committed to either side, but assured the king he was not for the lords. The king paced a bit in thought then told John outright if he was not for him, he was against him. John said he was...
“HASKILL!” “Yes, Lady Sheogorath? How can I assist you today?” “Have I told you how much I hate this job?” “In the last year as they measure time on Mundus, that would be one thousand, three hundred, and forty-two times. Forty three if you count Sun’s Dawn the 2nd twice, since you seemed to enjoy that day enough that you lived it twice.” “Well, it IS the traditional summoning day for Sheogorath, after all. But I digress, as I find myself wont to do after these centuries of either filling...
I was glad to see it was still daylight when I finally left the cave. I knew how easy it was to lose your sense of time while underground. In the distance, to the north, I could see the roof of a building. I guessed that to be Riverwood, based upon what Hadvar had said. From where this cave entrance was located in relation to the town, it would be easy for the bandits to spy on the town and prey on unwary travelers. I’ll tell the city guards about it so they can make sure it doesn’t happen...
The sign over the door read ‘Riverwood Traders’. Simple and unimaginative, like the rest of the town seemed to be. Time to see what the locals know about Bleak Falls Barrow. I opened the door and walked in, right into the middle of an argument. A blonde Imperial woman wearing simple robes was standing in front of the counter, talking loudly to the man behind it. “Well, one of us HAS to do something!” she said. The man behind the counter shouted, “I said NO! No theatrics, no adventures, no...
I emerged into daylight, looking around as it was nearly mid-day. You can truly loose track of time while underground. I was on a ledge, about halfway up the side of the mountain, overlooking the river. I could see my breath, which is not what I usually expected for any day in Last Seed. Further south this is usually the hottest month of the year. I carefully climbed down the ledge, to get closer to the river so I could follow it back towards town. I presumed this was the same river I’d seen...
I wasn’t paying attention to what Irileth said to her troops, instead I was thinking back to some of the children’s stories I’d heard while growing up. In the old days, even before the First Era, there had been a war between man and dragon. But that was thousands of years ago, and it was said that Akatosh himself had intervened to end the war. But what about today? Certainly we still worship Akatosh as the first of the Aedra, and I’m living proof that he exists now, but still... I realized...
The next morning we left early, before dawn. A good rest before what would be long journey was always the best preparation. But I didn’t totally sleep well. My dreams were of the people I had met since arriving here in Skyrim. Perhaps it’s because of the life here, but in all the months traveling through Cyrodiil to actually get here, I never felt close to anyone I had met there. In just a few days, I had met and fallen for Camilla, I felt an attraction to Irileth, and in my last dream, the...
We awoke early. My plan was to start up the mountain while it was still dark down at ground level, but where the rising sun would illuminate our pathway as we neared the top. That’s what I hoped would happen, anyway. Before we dressed, I took Lydia in my arms, kissing her again. “We have many wonderful adventures awaiting us, my dear. I’m glad to share them with you.” She blushed. “It is my duty, my Thane. And ... my pleasure.” As quickly and quietly as possible, we donned our armor. The...
It was late afternoon when we reached Ivarstead again. I saw Klimmek fishing by the river. “Your delivery has been made.” “Quite a climb, isn’t it? Thanks again for the legwork.” He tossed a bag of coin my way, and went back to fishing. “Let us get something to eat at the inn again, and rest a bit. I’m still a bit upset with Arngeir, I am not his lackey to go hither and yon at his beck and call.” Lydia responded, “So what do you think, My Thane?” “Back in town again, yes, you’re correct...
The circular mound rose from the moor, open at the top, with a set of stairs set into the curved wall descending to the bottom. The body of a bandit we had not killed lay sprawled below. “My Thane, I’ve never heard of bandits cooperating with wizards before. We should be careful, we could be walking into a war zone.” I smiled. “Excellent. Let them kill each other, and we can walk through unhindered.” I paused. “Of course, if this is like every OTHER crypt in Skyrim I’ve been in, I’m sure...
The fire in the center of the main room at the Kynesgrove inn was cheery, as were the regular patrons of the inn. They had been scared by the dragon but were now drinking and singing because it was dead. Things were not as cheery at the table where the three of us sat, bottles of mead and plates of food in front of us, free and courtesy of the grateful innkeeper. The shock at my revelation to Delphine had been too much for the grizzled warrior, and she had fainted. Since the inn was so...
“So, my Thane, what do you think Delphine will tell us when we get to Riverwood?” We were talking as we left Whiterun. “She’ll probably have some detailed plans figured out whenever we finally get there.” Lydia started when I turned left at the intersection instead of right. “But she’ll have plenty of time.” “We’re not going to Riverwood, then?” “Not just yet. And it’s not that I don’t trust Delphine, I do. It’s just...” I paused in both speech and in step. “I ... I don’t think I’m ready....
We beheld the College of Winterhold before us, across what could charitably be called a stone causeway. The problem I saw was that massive chunks of that causeway were missing, such that for several yards, no railings would prevent someone from falling hundreds of feet to their death, and in one spot the pathway itself was barely wide enough for one person. The building itself resembled a giant fortress, stone walls rising high into the sky for defense. Yet the rock it stood upon narrowed...
The sun was starting to go down as Lydia and I left Whiterun. “You’re very bad for me, you know. Going to lead me all astray, make me forget things, and end up at some point or the other have me doing all sorts of strange and perverted things.” “My thane, if you’ll recall, you’re the one who got the jam out and spread it over my breasts and started licking it off.” “How can that be true? I thought it went well with the honey that you had dripped into my slit and hair and then licked...
Lydia looked bothered as we climbed the pathways of Markarth, heading for the alchemy shop. She continued to look upset after I purchased some supplies from Bothela, and agreed to deliver a potion to the steward. It was only after we left the Understone Keep and were walking back to the stables that she finally broke her silence. “Martina, my love, what happened? In the Warrens, I mean.” “Why don’t you tell me what you saw and heard, so I can explain if possible.” “We went into the...
If anyone ever tells you that getting hit in the back by a frost troll is a pleasant experience, they’re lying to you. I slammed face first into the rock wall of the cave and felt blood gushing from my nose. I saw stars for a moment. The troll apparently simply ate whatever bodies that the Thalmor threw down here and must have thought I was another easy meal, which meant that for a moment, he simply, stood bellowing his thanks for the food presented to him. His mistake. I got turned around,...
The narrow canyon walls would have been perfect for an ambush, or to hold off a determined enemy. Whoever chose this as a location did well, presuming the enemy couldn’t fly. The canyon went on for quite a while, which caused me concern. Where were the guards? As the canyon opened up into a valley with a glacier fed lake ahead. I could see the high and impassable peaks of the Velothi Mountains beyond the lake, reaching far into the sky. A young farmer was sitting alongside the path. “Oh, hey...
“I’m really getting tired of this mountain. Now I understand why Klimmek wanted us to bring supplies up here.” “Look at the bright side, my Thane. It’s doing wonders for our legs and thighs.” “True. Yours were very nice when wrapped around my face last night.” Either Lydia was blushing, or the cold from climbing the mountain was bringing color to her cheeks. “I could say the ... Watch out!” A bear rose from where it was resting beside the path. I quickly ran to my right. “FUS RO DAH!” One...
As we were walking back, Lydia was curious about something. “I don’t understand something, my Thane. We can SEE the College of Winterhold from here. Why is it that if Urag or any members of the College were concerned about Septimus, they didn’t just go out and look for him themselves?” “It’s simple, really. Think about yourself for a minute. About the you that was, before you met me. How far outside of Whiterun had you actually gone?” “Well, I’d been to the meadery, and ... that’s ... I’d...
The gates of Whiterun lay behind us. We had spent a day and a half getting ready to go back underground, and I thought it was time well spent. I’d made some slight improvements to our armor, even finally getting Lydia a Blades sword to match her armor. She was so happy with that present we had to delay our preparations for an hour while she thanked me properly. I had also taken some of the things we’d found in Alftand to Dragonsreach and learned their enchantments. That enabled me to use the...
“I’m pleasantly surprised, Lydia.” “I bet Arngeir has no idea how close he came to, uh, having issues.” “That’s what I mean. He didn’t actually piss me off this time. I wonder if he made this trip to talk to Paarthurnax and got told something by the one being he respects.” “We’ll find out soon enough. There’s Paarthurnax waiting for us.” We got closer and with his deep voice, the dragon spoke. “You have it. The Kel – the Elder Scroll. Tiid kreh ... qalos. Time shudders at its touch. There...
It was two days later before we entered High Hrothgar again. Arngeir was in mediation near the entrance. “Arngeir, we need to stop the war. And while I am Dragonborn, the Nords respect you.” “You misunderstand our authority. The Greybeards have never involved themselves in political affairs.” “Ah, but you you misunderstand why we need to stop the war. Jarl Balgruuf won’t assist me while the war rages.” “I see. The dragon will lead you to Alduin, but without the Jarl’s help...” “Exactly....
I didn’t know that a vampire could faint. You learn something new every day. Lydia was laughing a bit. “ Remember Delphine? Seems like every time you get with an older woman, they have this reaction to you.” “Technically I’m probably older than Delphine, but not really, so I suppose you’re right. Here, hold your dagger tip out, so I can prick a fingertip.” She did, and I let a drop of blood well up. I held my finger under Serana’s nose. That worked like I hoped. “Oh, my. Sorry about that. I...
The entrance to High Hrothgar was before us. I couldn’t delay things any further, so I opened the door and entered the home of the Greybeards. The four of them were waiting in the entrance hall. To my surprise, two familiar faces to me had apparently walked in just ahead of me. Delphine said, “So, Arngeir, is it? You know why we’re here. Are you going to let us in or not?” “You’re not invited here. You’re not welcome here.” Arngeir said, true to form. “We have as much right to be at this...
I wasn’t sure what to expect, being a living being entering the halls of the dead. I knew from my reading that I was no longer on Mundus, I was probably on the plane of Aetherius. I found myself at the top of a long flight of stairs. Half a dozen statues of someone in robes lined the stai.rs down. It had been midday when I entered the column of light. Now it appeared to be twilight. A rainbow colored aurora lit the sky, and when I looked straight up, there were clouds rotating in a circular...
Well, even though there had been no formal coronation, it appeared that suddenly a lot more people were ready to follow me and accept me as their Empress. “I accept you into my service willingly and without reservation. Arise.” Elise yelled out, “Three cheers for the Dragonborn!” Everyone joined her. “Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!” “Okay, enough. But now, who’s going to explain this all to me?” “It’s quite simply, milady. We followed Balgruuf in battle either during the Great War or when he...
“Martina, I ought to apologize, I think. I don’t know what came over me last night.” “Well, Ysolda, if I were to make a guess I’d say Lydia, then me, then Lydia again, and finally me.” “You’re ... you’re not upset?” “Love, that was just pure fun. Now, how about we get some breakfast, and talk about your new responsibilities.” “I am hungry enough to eat a horker. Wait, what new responsibilities?” “As my personal merchant and trader, of course. Come on, let’s go see what the Bannered Mare...
We left our horses outside the entry to the canyon leading to the fort. The weather was slightly bad, with a light snow falling. Annekke looked around in awe as we walked through the canyon, then at the lake and what lay beyond. “I was a ranger, but we were never this close to Morrowind. This area is a fortress, you could defend it from attack with only a few troops.” “Unfortunately, that’s all there are right now. I’ve talked to ... someone ... and I’m sure the vampire attacks are only...
“This is a nice home, Argis. You’ve done well in maintaining it.” “It is my sworn duty to protect you and your property, my Thane. You ... well, your exploits are those that will be sung about through the ages. I am honored I was allowed to swear to your service.” “Very good. This is Lydia. Just as you are my housecarl for Markarth, she is housecarl for me in Whiterun. And this is Annekke, someone who is following me as we, as you put it, have exploits.” “I was told to expect the three of...
We ended up spending three days in Whiterun getting everything ready to head out again. Argis got to meet Irileth and Jarl Balgruuf when we had dinner with the Jarl the second evening. Proventius was unhappy at the influence I had in the Jarl’s court, and did a poor job of hiding it. Farengar, on the other hand, was ecstatic that I was able to provide him with some samples of dragon blood and bone, courtesy of the dead dragon just outside the walls, and begged for me to do that more often –...
Wolfskull Cave opened into a natural tunnel that then descended into the mountainside. There were a few torches guttering along the hallway. We’d been walking for several minutes when I saw a draugr patrolling ahead. I shot him with an arrow. We continued past his corpse and soon the passageway opened into a larger chamber. There were two figures warming themselves at a campfire along one wall of the chamber. I quickly dispatched both of them. We checked their corpses, they were both human....
The guards in Riften were a bit jumpy. A dragon had flown over the town recently and while it hadn’t attacked, they were concerned. I did my shopping, then we went back to the Bee and Barb for the night. It was peaceful inside the walls, and we weren’t expecting trouble the next morning right when we left town. More vampires were waiting in concealment for us just outside the city. And there were a lot of them with their thralls. Two master vampires, three fledglings, and half a dozen...
We arrived at the gates of Solitude in time to break up a vampire attack. “Okay, that’s enough of this. I thought that helping Sybille would take care of the issues locally. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to find the Thalmor helping the vampires in this.” It was early evening, so we grabbed something to eat, then I sought Viarmo out at the Bards College. “Here’s the verse about King Olaf you were seeking.” “Ah, let me see. Oh, no! It’s aged such that parts of it are unreadable. And...
It wasn’t quite at a run that we made it to the stable but close. “Jordris, grab a horse. Giemund, you know us by now from caring for our horses. We need another.” He nodded and told me a fair price that I immediately paid. “Okay, mount up and ride as if Elisif’s life depends upon it. Which I suspect it does.” We left at a gallop. “Lydia, Serana, this is the way we first went when we headed for Castle Volkihar. Be ready in case of animals, don’t stop, just ride over them.” We actually did...
Climbing down from the ledge was relatively easy. Relative being the operative term, since it was snowing, late at night, and we were all tired. Somehow or other, Annekke Crag-Jumper did not live up to her name and managed to fall and break her leg. “I swear, if I didn’t know any better, I think you did that just so you could share my bed when we get back to Proudspire Manor.” She looked pale from the pain as she took the healing potion I handed her. “Any time you let me share your bed is a...
If Astrid didn’t become pregnant that night, it wasn’t due to lack of trying. After two hours, I was exhausted, and fell asleep with her sprawled across my body, with the toy still impaled inside her. Elisif and Serana had been incredibly supportive, keeping Astrid always at the peak of release while also keeping me supplied with either a drink for energy, or a taste of their own juices for ardor. For the first time in ages, my sleep was not troubled by bad dreams. I did dream, but it was...
“I thought Gelebor was going to try to force things earlier,” Serana said as she finished removing her gown. “I think if it was any other day than today, he might have. But this is one time that my ... what’d you call it, love, adventuring ways ... will not get in the way of family.” Elisif looked up from where she was crouched between my legs, gently stroking my private hair and starting to rub things. “Something like that. But do we have to have this conversation now? I totally drenched...
A very wet and cold group entered the Nightgate inn. “Oh, my, surely you didn’t all fall into a lake?” the concerned innkeeper asked. “No, stupid Dwemer construction, having a water pipe rupture and flood the chamber you’re in is not a good way to stay dry. We’ll need towels and the fire built up a bit to dry off, as well as warm food and drink. Lydia, get dried off first, I want you to get to Irkngthand and bring our party back here.” She quickly stripped her armor and underthings off,...
I don’t mind waking up stark naked in bed if I’m wrapped in the arms of someone I love. Finding myself naked, with my arms and legs tied down, gagged, and with nothing covering my modesty or lack thereof isn’t something I think I care for. That, and seeing a man sitting in a chair near the bed just reading a book. If I’m going to be tied up and on display, at least he could be leering at me, after all. I tried to speak and the gag felt like I was spitting dry sand out of my mouth. He heard...
Everyone at the table sat in deep thought after my last comment. Brunwulf broke the silence. “Seems to me that you’ve been doing what you can to unite it, at least under your own rule.” “It’s not of my original choosing, I’ll tell you that. All I came here, to Tamriel, to do was to find out about my own history. If I had my druthers, I’d have a simple life, work metal, bone, and leather in a smithy, maybe do some alchemy, and be content with the love of my wives as we all grow old together....
“You know, I’ve lived in this town most of my life, and I’ve never been here. This is all new to me and ... what is this? Are you sure this bridge is safe?” “Not really, no. If you mean, do I think it’ll collapse under us, no, there’s magic in play keeping it up. If you mean, am I afraid that we’ll fall off the damn thing because these idiots have never bothered to fix the rails, then no, it’s not safe.” He chuckled at my comment. “That’s ... not what I expected to hear the Dragonborn say...
“I can’t believe you’ve only been here a week, Your Majesty, and accomplished so much for our community, for all of Solstheim. How can we ever repay you?” “Continue leading my subjects as you have, Councilor Morvayn. With the mines open again and the cultist threat eliminated, I think you should be able to keep the Northern Maiden very busy traveling back and forth with trade goods to Skyrim. Hopefully before too long we’ll have more ships plying this route.” Captain Gjalund nodded his...
The lead element of the first column of the Redoran Guard stopped at the rebuilt Traitor’s Post. The bandits that formerly occupied the building had quickly left when the Dragonborn’s Own returned from Winterhold and took to the rebuilding of this post with a vengeance. We had stocked it with food and refreshment for the incoming troops and our cooks were ready. “I am Captain Merano of the Royal Army. My first contingent of troops will be here shortly. From the tables I see you have set up,...
“Pardon my ignorance, but I’m confused. I know that we had planned on going to war against the Aldmeri, at least eventually. We discussed that at your wedding. But you’ve ended the civil war here, and you’re the Empress. Doesn’t that mean something?” “Oh, it does, Jarl Siddgeir. It means that I have a responsibility to all the citizens of the Empire. So while I’ve been successful here in Skyrim, there’s still Cyrodiil, Morrowind, and all the other provinces that are part of the Empire. And...
The warm water in the pool was relaxing to my muscles. I was sitting on the steps, the water up to my shoulders, with Serana in my lap leaning back against me. Astrid was to my left, with Elisif in her lap. They laughed as Serana finished telling them the story of how the brave Njada Stonearm had collapsed in fear. It was rather quiet in my Luxury Suite. Leah was sitting off in a corner, playing soft and gentle music on her lute. Elise had placed a tray of drinks and light snacks near the...
The road leading south from Bruma was packed with soldiers. By now, there were civilians fleeing ahead of them, so the army would no longer have an uncontested march deep through Cyrodiil. But that army was being led by two competent leaders, so while I knew they would have losses, I had no fear that they would see defeat. In the meantime, four companies of troops, five hundred men and women total, were making their way west, away from the main body. Depending upon the resistance we met, the...
“Are you sure about this, Martina?” “No, my love, not really. But it’s the best idea I have at the moment.” With our success in the city, I had a few of the residents of Chorrol that were actually related to members of the Imperial Legion company stationed at Battlehorn Castle and Fort Rayles with our small group, as well as Honditar. The main army had continued on to the west after two days of rest and replenishment to join the Cheydinhal forces. The battlements of the castle were visible...
With a castle servant leading the way, Frea helped support me to a different room further down the hall from where Rona Hassildor had slept for centuries. My legs were still a bit weak even after drinking a potion of healing. Serana held my hand for support as well. “That was a brave and wonderful thing you did for them, my love.” Once the door to the room opened, Serana told the castle servant, “Please, make sure all of our people downstairs are cared for now, that they have somewhere to...