A/N: Takes place during the Alduin attacks on Skyrim
Bedtime Story
Chapter I: Arrival
Eli
"Anastasia!" I could hear my brother call from the other side of the road, frantically waving his hand. "Ana, dear sister, look!" He began to wave his sword around carelessly in front of my face.
Nearly ducking out of the way and almost having my head chopped right off I pulled the hood of my cloak up.
"Dear sweet brother Alexander," I paused and pinned him against the wall, my dagger at his throat. "When are you going to learn to stop waving dangerous weapons around my face?" He was mostly shocked, but he loosened up quickly. He knew I was only kidding anyway. Once he calmed down I let him go.
"No but seriously, Anastasia, I'm now with the Stormcloaks!" His face splitting grins always made me smile right back at him.
"Good for you champ! Maybe one day you'll be fighting alongside Ulfric Stormcloak!" giving him a pat on the back we began to walk away from the public streets of Windhelm. It was a bit too chilly for me; it was one of the biggest snowstorms of the year.
"Alright Ana, I'll see you at home later tonight!" He began to jog off into the northern part of the city. We own a fairly large home the townsfolk call Hjerim.
The people here don't like me very much however. Being Bosmer certainly has its disadvantages. The Argonians and the Dunmer have to live in separated areas in the town, I believe the Dunmer are taxed higher too…or something.
Alexander and his family are all Nords, incase you were wondering they adopted me from my homeland, Valenwood.
I looked up at the sky the snow was beginning to fall harder. It was time for a drink at the New Gnisis Cornerclub, they accept me more there then out here on the streets.
"Ambarys!" I walked into the bar and shouted out at the owner; sometimes it just felt good to see his face.
"Ah, Ana dear!" He quickly grabbed me a bottle of wine and set it on the counter. "Only the finest for our most beautiful gold eyed customer!" I laughed at the remark and sat at the bar quickly just wanting to get this drink in before going home.
My head was killing me and the dry mouth certainly was not helping, I turned over on my side soon to realize I wasn't in my bed.
Where am I?
"Well, well, well." I heard an unfamiliar woman's voice making me jolt up out of bed making my head throb more. We seemed to be in some kind of abandoned shack.
"You're finally awake…Good." She pulled out a dagger making me stand on edge; I quickly put my hand on my own dagger. "Don't you worry, I won't hurt you." She paused as she licked her lips. "Now, let's get down to business. You killed Grelod the Kind, this pleases me and saddens me at the same time. You have killed one of our contracts that belong to Mother. So now you must repay your debt." She pointed to the opposite wall I was facing making me turn around slowly to face three people with burlap sacks over their head, on their knees and hands tied behind their backs. I gasped and stood up, still silent. "Silence, mysterious, I like it…you see, there's a contract out on one of them, and that person can't leave this room alive. But…which one? Go on, see if you can figure it out." I took a deep breath taking in all of the information. A kill for a kill? Seems fair. This isn't the first time someone has died at my hand, every death as traumatizing as the next. Breaking my spirit and good-natured soul.
"Make your choice. Make your kill. I just want to observe…and admire." She rested her head against the wall; you could almost see the smile behind her mask.
I remained silent.
"Am I to take your silence as acceptance?" She spoke softly almost to coax me into speaking, yeah right. "Then you know where we stand. Make your kill, and we're square. Repayment of your debt is but a discreet knife thrust away."
I stayed silent and turned to face the three people, not that they would see me.
Walking up to the first man, I realize he's a Khajiit. "Who are you?" Having a little bit of nervousness in my tone of voice.
"Ahh..I am Vasha…obtainer of goods, taker of lives, and defiler of daughters-" In that very moment without thinking I slashed his throat quickly. He spoke so lowly of women. He deserves to die just for his attitude.
This darkness was bubbling up in me, an overwhelming feeling…to see blood on my expertly crafted elven dagger, someone dying by my hand. It felt so…good.
Proceeding to the next person I realize it's a woman. "Who are you?" I ask again with a more dominant tone of voice. She goes on to explain that she has seven children, although her attitude is rather bitchy I let her live, I felt pity towards her children.
Walking to the last and final person I asked the same question, he was a man and spoke nervously. A mercenary? That would be competition.
He is now dead by my hand also. Two men are dead and one mother will walk away, hopefully with a better attitude or I'll have to hunt her down myself.
"The timid warrior and the sly Khajiit. Must have been one of them, right?" The woman tossed me a key to what I'm assuming is for this little shack. "If you're interested…" She handed me a map with a red-circled location. "Stop by…" And with that she left the shack.
I opened the door and she was nowhere to be found. I let out a deep sigh and cleaned my dagger off in a stream nearby.
What was that all about? This location on the map, it must be somewhat close.
I guess this starts a long and hard journey.
"Oh thank the gods that you're alive!" Finally walking through the door into my house my mother nearly jumped on me, teary eyed as usual. She's always over emotional. "I thought you were dead!"
"Mother, no offense but if I was gone for more then an hour you would think I was dead." I sarcastically said pushing her gently away. "I'm okay, just thought I'd venture outside of Windhelm for a few days." Lying, I seem to be doing more of this every day. "Sorry I didn't tell you." I hung my head in shame, or pretended to do so.
"Well don't do it again! Me and your father were worried sick!" I smiled sheepishly at my father while he just shook his head.
"Mom!" Alexander came bursting through the doors into the house. "Dad!" He looked over at me. "ANA!" He grabbed my arm quickly. "The Dragonborn is here! Quick! You have to see!"
…What?
I thought the Dragonborn was just a bedtime story parents told their children.
Guess not.