Before anything else, i would like to say that this is my very first fanfic ever, a retelling of the main quest + Dawnguard, you have been warned. I'm not a native english speaker so i apologize for any grammar inconsistencies and the like. The story progression is a bit slow at first, but will develop in further chapters. So, there you go, I hope yo guys will enjoy. Also, I do not own Skyrim. I do in another universe.
The tavern was loud and rowdy like any other night. Raunchy tavern music, the scent of roasting meal, men and women in uniforms, rags, various armor types and even a stout naked drunkard dancing in one corner, surrounded by his cheering audience, overall shows the usual homey vibe of a public Nordic establishment. The night outside is chilling, the waxing moon provided light to the dark roads. A shadow came closer to the tavern, as if it was in a hurry, limping towards the steps. He entered, the light from the inside was blinding despite his hood reached halfway over his face. The light from the bonfire overshadowed the soft, features of his face hidden under the fur headwear. He walked towards the corner of the room, sitting in a lone table for one. You could tell from his body movement that he was in pain, blood running down from his hands clenching his stomach to his elbows. The crowd went on with its merrymaking, without noticing the peculiar stranger. Not long three burly men, with weapons strapped from their backs, an overall image of someone who kill people on a regular scanned the room, one of them went directly to the innkeeper, exchanging some words. When he turned his gaze towards the dark corner, the three men followed.
The stranger mentally cursed, seeing his pursuers coming closer to his direction, until the three men shadowed him. One was gripping the pommel of his sword, the other cracked his knuckles with a smirk on his face. The leader, the bald guy in the middle, looked down at him, his face unamused.
"Not so clever now, are you, letting us follow a trail of blood while you bleeding like a pig." The man taunted. "I guess we beat the boy's wits out of him." They chuckled. The leader, leaned his wide, rock arms on the table, leaning in closer to the stranger's face. "This is your last chance, now, tell us where he is, maybe we'll save you the pain of dying eh?"
The stranger looked up, glaring at the other's eyes, his face stern but delicate "Fuck you." He smirked.
The other returned the look of mischief, and suddenly grabbed the smaller man by his collar and pushing him against the wall. A small portion of the crowd close to them watched the ruckus, as if expecting a show.
"You tryin our patience you little shit? I'm gonna beat it out of you then," The stranger could smell the man's awful breath, the way their faces are almost a few inches closer to each other. He tried to reach for his dagger strapped behind his hip, but slipped right out of his blood soaked hands.
The man watched the weapon dropped to the ground, then angrily locked his glare at him, "Forget it, we find the sissy deserter ourselves, and kill this fool."
"Get away from her!" A jar of fresh mead swung in the air and shattered on the intimidator's bare head, his body unshaken from the sudden action. Dripping wet from the wasted beverage, his shiny head turned around to the source. A pulpy barmaid, small in stature compared to an average redguard, showed a mix of confidence and then regret from her bold move.
"You shouldntve done that, girly." One of the two men, with a scar deeply carved into his right blind eye, intimidated as they walked closer to the woman, their hands on their weapons. The stranger took a chance from the distraction, and headbutted his pursuer, letting out a loud disgusting crack from his nose. While his opponent was disoriented and whimpering from the pain, he grabbed his dagger and stabbed him on the chest, the other two unable to catch up from the sudden events. But a strong bludgeoning pain brought him to his knees, after his opponent landed his huge fists on his belly. Blood sprinkled from his mouth while he coughed, trying his best to get back up on his feet, another wave of numbing pain traveled on his face.
The battered stranger lie helplessly on the tavern floor, the whole establishment fell in silence.
The bloodied marauder grabbed him by the collar, throwing the limp body to a a couple of drinking patrons who scurried away as he landed. He grabbed his axe from its sheath, his face now red with blood and rage.
"Hold it right there." The local guards came to stop the chaos, which concerned patrons probably called during the disruption.
The men backed away from him facing the guards, smiling as if they were on friendly terms. "We just havin a little fun here, sers. Nothing but a friendly brawl."
"With deadly weapons? I don't think so." One of the guards turned to the body under a rubble of wood that used to be a table. "you three need to leave or we have no choice but to take you in to custody for public disruption."
The smile turned into a sour frown, leaving the pursuers without a choice. "We aint done yet, you here." The leader looked down at the stranger, half conscious while the barmaid came to his aid. Everything slowly turned back to normal, music started to play, laughter once again boomed the halls, the silence once again commenced into lively noise.
The stranger was carefully slumped to a bed by the barkeeper, "You took quite a beating there. I'm afraid it's all my fault." He apologized.
"It's alright, Wilhelm." The young redguard barmaid helped her friend sit up from the bed.
"What did those bastards want with you, anyway?" He looked at the hooded figure who obviously didn't want to answer. "You know what, its none of my business. You gonna take care of him, Luisa?"
"I will. " She wiped the blood dripping from the stranger's face, as Wilhelm left them both alone.
Luisa soaked the blood stained rag on the water, washing it off then carefully pressing it to the injured's bruises.
"Did brother came by here?" The stranger finally broke the silence when he asked the woman. "He did this morning. He came to see me, then went off in a hurry." She continued to wipe the blood smears from his face " We should take this off." The black fur hood was detached from his shoulders, revealing the bruised face of a woman. Despite it all, she was stunningly beautiful, a small scar etched on her left cheek and her eyes bluish silver. Her long ash blonde hair messily dangled over her face, some stuck on her sweaty forehead. Luisa brushed it back, even more so exposing her battered beauty.
"Gods, Mourin.." she mumbled. "they really took it out on you." she worriedly said to her friend.
"I had worse." She winced when her bruise touched the cool rag.
Luisa continued tending the woman's injuries. "They had no right to barge in like that. "
"There's no stopping them. The blackblood marauders wont give it a rest until they get what they want . Always been like that."
"Well, next time they come for a visit, It won't be a jar of mead that'll land on their ugly faces."
"Oh? And what would it be?"
The redguard's fingers grazed the nord's bruise, her skin sensitive to the touch. She prursed her lips, fingers rubbing her chin "Hmm, I can always throw Wilhelm's expensive spiced wines. They're twice heavier." She always liked the woman's light and innocent attitude, if it weren't too painful too smile, she wouldn't hold her chuckle.
"I did specifically warned you to never cross with people like them." she continued "Now look what those monsters did to your gorgeous face."
Mourin would've crossed even the gods themselves if it means protecting her younger brother. She has always been protective of him, like the responsible big sister she is, a promise she made years ago to her mother before the grave . Michal ,one day, got involved with the marauders, in a desperation for coin, but later stabbed him in the back when they found out he couldn't repay his debts. They swore to never tell anyone, not even Luisa about his involvement. Mourin killed one of his brother's pursuers, not long they were looking for her too, and the group of thugs wanted them both dead for it.
Luisa's light mood turned into a worried one, "Michal, said he'd return before nightfall, he still hasn't and I'm a little worried."
"Don't worry," the other woman said, "The gods had cursed me to horde all the danger that's come to us eversince, so he's probably going to be fine."She clenched her abdomen after feeling a sudden sting of pain, her hand caught a dribble of blood.
Luisa carefully helped her remove her blood soaked tunic, revealing a horizontal slice at her well toned abdomen. They cleaned, stitched and bandaged the wound, w/c mostly stopped the bleeding.
"Does it still hurt? I can gather herbs and make a poultice to relieve the pain." The redguard hinted with concern.
"It's fine. Nothing i cant handle." She slowly stood up, and went to the wash basin to cool her face. She noticed the redguard staring at her from behind. Mourin looked at the now embarrassed girl, who was playfully fiddling with the sleeves of her tunic.
"Is there something wrong?" Mourin asked the girl.
Luisa glanced at the half naked woman, with nothing but a bandage to cover her torso, " Nothing, it's just that…" The redguard trailed off. The nord raised an eyebrow.
" I very much appreciate what you're doing for us, and i guess, my pathetic way of saving you awhile ago was my way trying to get back, and it's pretty darn useless." The girl blushed in embarrassment.
"As a matter of fact, it was a great diversion. I wouldn't have slipped away if you hadn't done anything."
"You're just saying that."
"No, truly."
"Well, in that case, that'll be a hundred gold pieces for my services, thank you very much." Luisa's smile was pure and pleasing, her round hazel eyes would twinkle, and her shapely thick lips curved perfectly, anyone would easily be captivated by her.
Mourin neatly hung the wet rag on a chair, then sat beside the redguard on the bed.
"You might want to sit straight or your stitches will tear open." Luisa guided the nord ,shifting her position, the nord leaning her hands behind her.
"Thanks for patching me up."
"Anytime." The redguard playfully bumped her friend's shoulder with her own, Mourin modestly smiling at her.
They sat in awkward silence, a slight tension was felt in an instant, a tension that was slowly building up without them knowing from the moment they were introduced by her brother. Mourin wasnt oblivious to the girls mild advances, some of it may dismiss as nothing more than platonic affection, but to the young redguard, she had intended it to be something more. Mourin knew there wasnt anything that's gonna happen, she would defy any temptation to steal her brother's lover, and truth be told, it s never always that easy.
"Is there another way to stop those thugs from hurting you?" Luisa asked her friend.
"I don't know. " Truth is, it only takes her brother to surrender himself, or give him up, and there was no way in oblivion she would let that happen.
"Cant we leave somewhere safe?"
"They have people everywhere in Skyrim. I doubt there'll be a place safe of them. " the Nord fiddles the edge of the bedsheet, the idea made her slightly nervous.
"Please, be careful. I dont want anything of such that'll put you in more danger." she could read the young redguard's eyes, showing genuine concern for her friend. Mourin couldn't help but stare at her, touched by the thought of at least one person would care if anything ever happens to her.
"I will." she replied with a smile.
"Promise me."
"I promise."
Luisa hugs her friend, the nord slightly surprised by the compassionate gesture w/c she wasn't always used to before. Although the girl frequently does it and Mourin is growing fond of it, somehow it sent a chill down her. Could be that she's half naked and the feeling of her bare skin against hers was sending inapt signals. The feeling only made stronger when Luisa broke free, their eyes met with growing intensity, the touch of her soft hands now cupped to her cheeks. The girl's face was unassertive, but her gaze frequents on the woman's lips, as if hinting something that she's not quite sure of.
Before anything else happened, a door swung open violently, severing the two from the fervent moment. Both scooted away, their eyes avoiding. Mourin was a bit annoyed by the sudden intrusion.
"Sister!" Michal, hurriedly walked towards his older sibling grabbing her by the shoulder. "I heard about the commotion from the men outside. Did they hurt you bad?"
Michal helped her sister get up " I wont lie they fucked me up good." Distress was written all over the brother's face. Their facial features only slightly resembles each other, features they have for sharing the same mother and both looked similar in age due to being only a few years younger than the other.
"Gods... Those motherfuckers, I'll.." he said angrily, his face turning red.
"Its alright Michal, the guards drove them away." Luisa put a hand on his arm, to calm him. He looked at her with a relieved stare, his strong hands cupped her face. The image stung Mourin a bit, even if she's not entirely sure why she's feeling that way. Still, it wast a sight of comfort for her, which she gazed away from.
"Im just glad youre both safe." He kissed her, and Mourin's eyes were stuck on the ground, silently giving them their moment.
"Where have you been? " she asked her brother.
Michal turned to his younger sister, "I found a way out of all of this." He said. "We leave to Cyrodiil."
Mourin furrowed her brow "Cyrodiil? Brother, have you been drinking again?"
" I'm serious. We have a better chance of living there, away from the Marauders. Plus i got a few friends who could help us settle in. Coin and immigration wont be a problem." Michal's eyes twinkled with eagerness " The three of us can finally get out of this backwater province and move to a better more grandeur lifestyle in the Imperial City. No more running away, no more hiding no more bloodshed, just a peaceful noble living."
Michal has always been the brains in their delinquent duo. Neither of them would survive without the other, and because of that, they were inseparable. The idea was indeed too good to be true, and they wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this if it means getting away from the Marauders. But Mourin, always cautious and careful, was a bit dubious by this whole idea and of her brother's sources, a lesson she learned the hard way from living almost half of her life in the harsh streets of Riften,
"How sure are you about all of this?" She asked.
"I sure as I'd bet my life on it. I know these boys, they helped me before ." Michal smiled in assurance for her sister. "They get me out of trouble more than I can count the hairs of my balls, other than you of course. I trust them."
"If that's the case, then when do we leave?" Right now, Mourin trusts her brother's wits enough to give this a go, as they wouldn't have a better chance to escape the brutal organization.
"Tomorrow night, we meet a friend outside the abandoned Riften watchtower, then by sunrise they'll get us across the border through carriage."
"Just like that? Are you sure these men are trustworthy?"
"Stop worrying so much sister," Michal gave her sibling a pat on the shoulder, Mourin winced at the slight tingle of pain. " Just relax, and trust me, yeah?"
Mourin sigh and gave an approving nod t her brother. "Very well" She surrenders her hands in the air, her brother wrapping an arm around her.
The evening was cold and quiet as usual. Only this time, the darkness was deeper, with no moon to provide light on the roads. Nothing but the flare from the torch that casts the path of the three who were on their way to rendezvous with their associates.
"Here we are." Michal shed light on their agreed location, making sure it was the right tower. "My guys will be here any minute. In the mean time, we should sit back and wait." The man was a little tense. Mourin could see droplets of sweat forming on his forhead, in the middle of the freezing frostfall night.
"Are you alright, love?" Luisa held her significant other's hand, cold and shivering. "You look unwell."
"Oh, no. I'm fine. Just getting a bit giddy." He forcefully chuckles. "I cant wait to finally leave this province."
A few minutes later, a carriage stopped in front of the abandoned tower. Two men, who looked as if the kind of people who spend their days doing hard labor, probably Michal's drinking buddies, met up with them.
"Michal, my man, you ready?'" one of the men, a fisherman, a familiar face Mourin regularly sees working at the docks, greeted the younger sibling.
"Yes." Michal briefly replied, masking his sudden uneasiness.
"Good. Good." The man made the mistake of looking at the older sibling, returning him a cold glare, w/c he nervously looked away from.
"I suppose we're good to go, then?" His partner on the driver seat was waiting still, occasionally glancing at the road ahead.
"Indeed." Mourin looked behind to see the men who assaulted her the other night, this time the leader had brought a few of his crew with him."Thanks to your dear brother here, we settled our problems like civil men. See we're tired of chasing you around the province , frankly we had better things to do, so we decided we get the bigger fish instead of your sissy brother." The thug has now a bandage over his cracked nose."You've caused us more trouble than you think, girl."
"What is the meaning of this?"Michal avoided his sister's angry gaze, knowing that he would never be forgiven for this betrayal.
"Michal? Whats going on?" Luisa worriedly asked her lover, but only left her searching the answer in his guilt filled face.
"And you," The thug turned to the brother. "Daegun doesn't want to see your ugly face around here, you hear? Or the blackblood marauders'll feed your corpse to the wolves." He turned to the redguard with a rather unsavory stare at her front." And you don't want to leave your pretty girl all alone will you, or we be keeping her company ourselves." Luisa fraughtly gripped Michal's arm , hiding behind him.
"Of course." Turning to his sister." I'm sorry Mourin. I had no choice." Her mind couldn't grasp the unexpected twist, angry her eyes narrowed at her brother. "Besides, you were always the bravest of us both." It left her disgruntled. She could not believe her own brother, her own flesh and blood, would betray her in the most cruel way possible. The thought of doing the same thing to him had never cross her mind. Her brother always considered her the bravest, and true that she would have a better chance of surviving the worst rather than him. In this way, she still kept her promise to her mother.
"My brave little sparrow," Her cold rough hands gently touched the young girl's cheek. " Please, take care of your little brother." Knees skinned, face gashed , clothes ragged. Her eyes Bluish silver, like her fathers, hair short and messy, her mother gently brushes it behind her ear.
"Promise me, to watch over him." She smiled gently, cupping her hands to the girl's small, round face, tears rolling down her pink cheeks.
"Do not fret, my child. It will be alright. Whatever happens remember that I'll always love you both." She took her small hands to her chest, feeling her mother's faint heartbeat.
The carriage rode through the distance, Luisa looking back, calling out for her. Her vision blurred after a painful blow landed on her skull, and next she was down on the ground her vision completely fades to blackness.