This is my first story, so please go easy on me. I'll do my best to keep updating this. This is a short chapter, but it's only the beginning.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and it belongs to Bethesda

Prologue

"For the last time, Aranni Noash, stop leaving your hunting bow and arrows lying around! Endras keeps trying to take them into her room!" her father, Gerrad, boomed from the floor below.

"Sorry, father! I'll fetch them right away!" Aranni shouted back from her room. She ran down the stairs and walked into the living area.

Her father was scolding her younger sister for trying to take the bow. Aranni walked behind them and loaded the arrows back into her leather quiver and attached the quiver onto her back. She then grabbed her hunting bow and turned around to go back into her room but a grip on her arm stopped her.

"I need to speak with you, Aranni. Follow me," Gerrad instructed as he turned away and started walking to his small library area. Aranni was confused because her father's library was restricted. Hesitantly, she followed.

Gerrad stopped at his desk and unlocked a drawer. He rummaged through paperwork and pulled out a note. He paused briefly to read it and turned around to face Aranni.

"Your twentieth birthday is a fortnight away and I was supposed to give you this note then, but you are mature enough now," her father said and cleared his throat to speak again. "Your mother sent that note to me from Cyrodiil. If you read the note, she wants you to come live with her and to study alchemy. Of course, it is your choice, Aranni," her father said with a slight hint of sadness.

He stretched his hand to give Aranni the note. She grabbed the note and opened it.

Aranni,

Hello, my daughter. I know you're probably confused and frustrated that I have written to you in the first place. I instructed Gerrad to give you this on your twentieth birthday but knowing him, he gave it to you early. Anyway, the reason I have written to you in the first place is because I want you to come live with me. I know your love of alchemy and I have my own lab and garden ready for you. I miss you, Ari. I really do. It has been ten years and I want to catch up. Please at least consider my offer. I love you, my dear child.

Your mother,

Arenara

Aranni didn't know what to think. Her mother, that had been gone for almost half her life, wanted her to come live with , the thought of having a free lab and garden to study alchemy enticed her. There was no harm if she did leave to Cyrodiil. Her father still had one daughter there. Endras was sixteen, and having Bosmer blood would help her survive. She was also an excellent archer and could handle herself if something were to happen. Plus, her father was a soldier in the Legion in his younger days.

"I want to accept her offer. It'll give me a chance to bond with mother and a chance to study alchemy. She's been gone for ten years, father. And...I want to reestablish our bond together. She may have left but she is still my mother," Aranni said as she tried to convince Gerrad.

He sighed, "I was afraid you would say that. And as much as I want you to stay, you are your own person. Just know that both Endras and I, love you. And we support you one hundred percent."

Aranni walked up to Gerrad and hugged him hugged her back with the same force as she hugged him.

"I know this is hard. But I'll always write and try to visit you and Endras. Take care of her, Dad. I'll be back before you know it. Skyrim just has that effect on me. I should go pack my things and say my goodbyes," Aranni said as she let go of her dad. Her dad simply nodded and walked off to go tell Endras of the news.

Aranni walked back upstairs and into her room. She packed her knapsack with a couple of tunics and pants along with food and ale. She also picked up the elven dagger off of her night stand. Of course, she had her elven arrows and hunting bow already packed.

Once she was sure she had everything, she started to head back downstairs. She was met by her father and Endras at the front door. Endras looked depressed while her father kept a stoic expression on his face. Aranni walked up to Gerrad first.

"Well, I guess this is it. Traveling to Cyrodiil alone..." Aranni trailed off and looked down.

"Don't worry, Ari. You'll be just fine. This isn't your first time traveling alone," her father said as he put his hand on her shoulder.

"I know, father, but this is my first time traveling to another province. I'm used to traveling to the cities of Skyrim. I guess it's because I'm not coming back home that is making me feel uneasy about this whole ordeal." Her father pulled her into a hug.

"I promise it will all be fine, little one. You can take care of yourself. Just, don't forget about us and your homeland. I love you, Ari," he finished as he pulled away from their embrace. Aranni simply nodded her head and walked over to Endras.

"Hey, sis," Endras said as Aranni pulled her into a hug.

"I'm gonna miss you, Endras. But I know that you will do fine. Take care of our old man, okay?" Aranni asked as she cupped her sister's cheeks.

Endras chuckled and continued on to say, "Of course, dear sister."

Aranni stepped back and reached for the door. She hesitated a bit before saying one final statement.

"I'll be back, soon," Aranni said as she walked out the front door.

As soon as she stepped out of the house, Aranni was hit by the howling wind and snow. Since the house was built in the Falkreath Hold and close to the mountains, this was the normal weather.

"By the gods, I need to invest in a hood or mask," Aranni thought as she wiped the water from the snow off of her tan face.

She walked for an half hour before she finally was close to reaching the Skyrim/Cyrodiil border. By now, the snow had stopped falling and the wind calmed down until it was a gentle breeze.

Her stomach started growling. She stopped by a tree beside the path and opened her knapsack. She searched through and pulled out a red apple. As she ate her apple in peace, she failed to hear an Imperial sneak up behind her. She took another bite of her apple before the handle of a war axe hit her head. All she could see was black and she heard talking before unconsciousness took her.

So, what do you think? If there are any grammatical or spelling errors, please let me know. I'll try to follow the story line with my own twist.