AN: Inspired by 'A legendary Quest'. Written by mrsmiawallace88. Seriously if you haven't read that I suggest you do :). Anyway let's get down to business. I don't own the Hobbit or Skyrim (sadly) so any and all kudos goes to J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson and Bethesda Games (accept for my Nord Elsif!). I will be following the movies for the most part but I will create new events along the way.

Please leave a review for I just adore feedback and I will ALWAYS write back to you in a PM :).

Oh FYI "Ulv" is "Wolf" In Norwegian. Now that's out of the way I hope you enjoy the show!


The hour had grown late over the township of Whiterun hold but that did little to dampen the spirits for the people within. Even the guards couldn't help but smile at the sounds of rowdy jubilee almost pulsing from within the halls of the Bannered Mare. While it was true that many were still rebuilding their homes from the damages of the civil war as well as several dragon attacks, there was still plenty of reasons for the people of Skyrim to celebrate. Being alive was one of them. The end of the war was another. And of course, the most important reason of all… The black dragon responsible for the destruction of Helgan had been slain.

Eorland Gray-Mane descended the stairway away from the Skyforge. The cool night air blew his long grey hair into the old Nord's eyes, obscuring his vision greatly until he used his calloused hand to remove it from his sight. His muscular chest breathed a deep sigh of sorrow as his eyes rested on what was left of Jorrvaskr, the mead hall of the Companions. It had been burned to the ground when the civil war reached Whiterun. He knew every member personally for he had forged their arms and armours for years, an honour indeed.

He knew the burden of their passing weighed heavily on the Harbinger's mind for she had convinced them to pick up arms to battle for Skyrim's freedom. If was her first… and last act as the Harbinger of the Companions. She now spends her nights in the Bannered Mare, when she is in town, and rarely speaks to anyone. Merely stares in silence, lost in the memories of her past. He had tried to help the young Nord, for she had aided his family back when she was a newcomer to their town by saving his son from the Thalmor. She was a good lass and undeserving of the hardships she faced and will continue to face until Sovngard calls her… but she is also stubborn and refused his help.

So Eorland did what he always did before turning in for the night. He headed for the Bannored Mare to sit with the legendary Dragonborn in silence… No one should drink alone… Not even a wounded hero who believes she should.


Elsif sat in her usual spot in the corner of the tavern with her back to the hearth, eyes on the door. Call it an old habit for that's exactly what it was. The young Nord has had a price on her head for quite some time now and was not about to let some no good assassin kill her by her own complicacy. She was dressed in what is now her usual attire of leathers and furs, keeping her modest enough and light on her feet. She had no wish to wear her ebony armour unless it was time for war once more. Nor did she carry her usual arsenal of two ebony swords, quiver and bow. No. The only weapons she had was her Thum… and the beast that was always writhing within.

She sighed as she fidgeted with the single braid she kept in her shoulder length golden hair. Her unnatural silver eyes fixated on a tankard of meed. The face of Vilkas stared back within the honeyed beverage until she blinked the image away. They… He… often haunted her yet she did not see their spirits. Not truly. Or there would surely be a blue glow around their transparent bodies. Nay. What she saw was merely her memories. But that was enough to add nightmares to her restless slumber. She wondered if the spirits of her shield brothers and sisters cursed the very ground she walked on, or did they await her in the next life? Nevertheless… She would not join Vilkas in Sovngard… Hircine saw to that.

Such thoughts prevented her from seeing a strange yet unassuming man sit down across from her. He looked to be of Breten decent with short dark brown hair and a mischievous smirk. He was dressed in a simple black robe and appeared to be unarmed. He carried two tankards of what seemed to be ale and pushed one towards the distracted Nord.

"You look like you need a drink" Stated the stranger with a friendly smile.

Elsif grumbled without looking up. "Already got one."

"I can see that love but this is the ale to render all ale's obsolete. Guaranteed to sooth any ache of the mind, body or soul." Claimed the stranger confidently.

The word "love" made Elsif glance up at the Breten who was now invading her space. She narrowed her eyes at his claim and was tempted to shove her fist into his face. "I'd watch your use of such a friendly term stranger, for it is likely to get your head knocked from your shoulders around here." She warned sternly.

The stranger merely laughed and shook his head in amusement. "Perhaps in Markarth beautiful." He winked, further pushing his luck with Elsif before grinning and offering his hand in greeting. "But where are my manners? My name is Sam Guevenne and I was wondering if you would like to join me in a drinking contest for a magical staff."

Elsif stared at his hand briefly before grasping it into a painfully tight grip. She smirked cruelly when she felt the bones in his hands crack under the pressure, causing Sam to grimace in pain. "I am Elsif but I have no interest in magic nor a staff. You had best find someone else to pester." She crushed his hand in her steel like grip before releasing it.

To Sam's credit he neither flinched nor squirmed with the damage done to his hand, merely smiled and shook his head no. "Like a true Nord, suspicious of any and all magic." He chuckled before continuing. "Instead of a staff, how about we drink for something else? What would you wish for Elsif steel-grip?"

Elsif smirked slightly at Sam's quip about her crushing his hand and had to admit, the man seemed like he'd be a fun drinking companion. It was at that moment that Eorland walked in and saw the young lass was finally engaged in conversation. Not wanting to interrupt the potential development of a much needed friendship, he decided to walk to the bar and ordered himself a drink to watch from afar.

Elsif thought about her answer. Her face returned to its normal stoic expression and sighed. She fidgeted with her amulet of Talos as she thought of Vilkas once more…. She truly wanted her husband back in her arms but knew that would never happen. So what she wanted that was not impossible to attain… was to go somewhere she was unknown. A place where she could disappear if she so wished or make a new name for herself. Elsif did not care which. "A clean slate… A fresh start." She clarified.

Sam leaned back with a smile. "Alright, how's this? If you win I'll book passage to Solstheim or another land for you, all expenses paid."

Elsif's brows knotted together, for she was known in Solstheim. Her voice was cold as she spoke. "And if you win?"

He grinned and leaned forward, moving his hands excitedly. "Boasting rights that I could outdrink the living breathing Dragonborn! What say you?" He asked with mischief in his eyes once more.

Elsif rolled her eyes. 'Never in a million winters did I think I would be famous… let along grow annoyed with such fame. Always wondering why people are speaking to you. What their ulterior motive is for their association' Still, a challenge was a challenge and she is a Nord after all. "Alright Sam, you're on!"

Sam clapped his hands once with a laugh. "Excellent! I'll go first" and downed his drink without taking a breath.

Elsif cocked an eyebrow then quickly followed Sam's example. The beverage was unique, not like anything she had tasted before. It was spicy yet smooth, spreading a warmth all over her body. She licked her lips and eyed her empty mug. "What is this stuff?" She mused aloud.

Sam refilled their tankards with a jug Elsif hadn't noticed before. He stated proudly "It's my own recipe" with a bright smile. "Ready for round two?"

Elsif chuckled, already being affected by the beverage "You are so going down!"

They drank their drinks in unison without spilling a drop. Sam seemed to sway slightly. "Ooof I think that's enough for me. Drink one more and you win the bet." He smiled drunkenly as he refilled Elsif's tankard.

Elsif slurred slightly as she spoke. "No problem-f…" and downed the final drink.

"Ha ha! You did it! You won fair and square!" Cheered Sam delightfully. His smile turned into a frown as he leaned forward asking "are you ok?"

Elsif blinked in confusion as the room began to spin on her. Ordinarily she had a much stronger constitution than this, so it was quite strange for her to be so heavily affected by the beverage. She felt odd as her body began to tingle with what she could only describe as magic. She felt like she was falling but her limbs were too heavy to lift. "I… I donth feels-ssso goods…"

She blacked out before her body hit the floor…


Elsif came to with the sensation of lying on something very soft. Softer than any tavern bed, almost as comfortable as her bed in Heljarchen Hall. She was warm too… which was odd because it was approaching winter… was it not? Her sensitive ears heard a multitude of bird-song she was not familiar with and her sensitive nose was filled with scents of unknown flowers and… bakeries? Deciding to put an end to her curiosity, Elisf opened her eyes…. And immediately shut them. She slung her arm over her face to block as much sunlight as humanly possible, hissing at the bright menace. Her head ponded as a reminder of having too much to drink the night before… again. She patted herself down with her eyes shut tight and felt she was still dressed in her furs and leathers. The only part of her body currently exposed (other than her fingers and face) was her stomach.

'Well… it doesn't feel like I got into THAT kind of trouble. Clothes are where they ought to be. I don't feel like I've been… ridden… so whatever I've gotten myself into can't be too bad…' She thought to herself.

With a groan she forced herself to sit upright and heard the crinkling of paper as she did. She lowered her arm and cracked one eye open to see a letter had been placed on her stomach. The wind picked up and almost blew it away but Elsif caught it with her quick reflexes. Now that she had forced her eyes open she could see she was on a green pasture of land. Far greener than anything of Skyrim and that left her very confused. What furthered her befuddlement was the sight of large round doors, seemingly built into every hill of this green pasture… with… chimneys sticking out of the ground?

Elsif pinched the bridge of her nose and rubber her eyes with her finger and thumb. "Just where in Talos's name am I?" She remembered the note in her hand and finally opened it to read.

"Elsif, Last night was a night to remember! You really are a fun drinking buddy, unfortunately we will not be able to do this again for this was kind of a one-way trip. You won the bet fair and square. A deal is a deal.

Sincerely, Sam Guevenne."

"Well that does not help. I do not recollect what happened last night…" Elsif mused aloud to herself.

There was something about the wording that made her uneasy, specifically "a deal is a deal." The only people one would make deals with are businessmen, Jarls, witches and… "Daedra…" It was then that Elsif noticed the note had been creased in a strange way. She folded the creases and stared in horror as the name "Sam Guevenne" change into "Sanguine". She growled in frustration as she began to tear the note into tiny pieces, yelling a string of insults in Nordic to the Deadric Lord of debauchery and mischief. She'd had more than enough association with Daedra and would like nothing more than to travel to the plains of Oblivion and slay every single one of them right now.

Her not so little tissy fit was interrupted by a shrill "oi, pipe down you crazy drunkard!"

Elsif stopped to look over her shoulder to see a very small woman with curly brown hair. She wore a rather frilly, fancy dress, to Elsif's eyes, with a strange fabric she had never seen before, ordained with a floral pattern. The woman carried a rake in one hand and the other balled on her hip. "Wha-?"

"No respect for other people's property!" The small woman huffed and pointed her finger accusingly at Elsif. "Bad enough we had to tolerate your loud ramblings about 'marrying a goat' as you staggered about our house all night but now we must listen to your mad ramblings of jibberish!?" She pointed to a hill with a door behind her with a severely trampled garden and several bottles of wine scattered about the property. There was even a bench wedged into the higher branches of the tree… "Look at what you've done to our house! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Elsif looked like a fish out of water. Her mouth gaped as she tried to find her voice and quickly staggered to her feet. "I… I am terribly sorry Mrs…" She had no idea what this woman's name was.

"Sackville-Baggins!" She clarified, still incredibly cross with Elsif but soon looked rather terrified. She had never seen a woman this tall nor with such an intimidating build. If this stranger's muscle tone was any indication to her strength it was no wonder her favourite sitting bench was currently lodged in her tree. She quickly dismissed her fearful expression though.

"Right… again I am truly sorry for the trouble I've caused Mrs. Sackville-Baggins. If…If you would be so kind as to point me to the nearest Inn I shall gather my bearing and be on my way…" Elsif was blushing something fierce from her embarrassment. Here was the mighty Dragonborn… being scalded like a child by a woman half her size.

Mrs. Sackville-Baggins' face twisted into a scowl once more. "Oh no you don't you overgrown lout! You're going to fix the damage you have done and clean up the mess you made or I'll be using my rake on you instead of my garden! Is that clear!?"

Elsif immediately snapped to attention and stated "Yes ma'am!"

Without hesitation or direction, she got to work. Since this was a place, and undoubtedly a land she did not recognise, Elsif figured it would be wise to try and mend the local's opinion of her. Besides… It's not like this small woman was a Nord or a warrior, so they could not settle this dispute with their fists. She began by climbing the not so tall tree and dislodged the bench from its upper branches. It landed roughly, crushing an orange circular produce, causing its innards to seep into the soil. The small woman shrieked and started swinging her rake wildly at Elsif, still sitting in the tree.

"That was my prized pumpkin you rock-for-brains brute!" screamed Mrs. Sackville-Baggins as she swung her rake towards Elsif's leg.

Elsif caught the rake and ripped it out of the strange woman's grip as she jumped onto the ground. She was beyond annoyed and needed to end this situation before she got angry. Things go very badly if she allows herself to become angry… "I've had quite enough of your foul temperament, you incorrigible woman! I had offered my sincerest apology for a grievance I do not recall as well as my willingness to reconcile the situation. But if you are going to wave a rake in my face then I must bid you good day!"

With that, Elsif rammed the rake against her knee, snapping it in half and tossed the parts aside like trash as she turned to leave. Mrs. Sackville-Baggins shrieked again and ran inside her strange underground home, slamming the door shut behind her. Elsif stormed down the stone pathway, not minding where she was going as she tried to bring her temper back under control. She barely noticed the cozy gardens or the more pleasant little folk that appeared to inhabit this area. What she did notice was how they stared at her.

Just then she bumped into a small man carrying a bag of groceries. It was piled so high that he did not see the newcomer until they had slammed into each other. Both of them fall to the ground with an "oomf!" and the poor fellow's food scattered everywhere. "Oh blast!"

Elsif pulled herself to her knees to see a smartly dressed man dressed in a fine looking green waist coat with golden buttons. His curly brown hair flicked about as he shook his head, looking particularly upset as he stared at his groceries. "I am terribly sorry sir… I did not see you there." Admitted Elsif bashfully. This really has not been her day.

"How could you miss me?" Asked the man who immediately stuttered when he looked at her. "Oh.. my.. you… you must be new to these parts." He stated, kinda staring until he reminded himself to blink.

"I uh… Yes I am new to these parts… Though I am truly sorry. I should watch where I am going." Offered Elsif with a shrug.

The small man offered a warm smile as he climbed to his feet. He dusted himself down as he spoke. "It's quite alright my lady, we Hobbits are rather small compared to the race of men. No harm no foul." He assured with an even bigger smile.

"Thank you…" Elisif was a little stunned. That other 'Hobbit' was quite hostile towards her but this little fellow seemed to be of a good sort. She smiled as she began to pick up his groceries, returning them to his bag.

The man quickly stooped down and tried to pick up his groceries before Elsif could. "Oh no no, don't trouble yourself my lady, I have this under control."

"Oh but I insist good sir." Elsif finished gathering the last of his items and stood to her feet. The man only came to her waist. Her height was obviously making him uncomfortable but he smiled a friendly smile all the same. "I am Elsif Ulv." She extended her hand to the Hobbit.

"Bilbo Baggins, at your service." He shook her hand.

"Baggins?" Elsif blinked. "Are you per chance, related to Mrs. Sackville-Baggins?"

"Lobelia?" He asked before clarifying. "Only through a distant marriage along the family tree. An insufferable woman if ever I knew one. But don't go saying I said that!" He stated in a mild panic, looking around for anyone to have overheard him. "She won't let me hear the end of it if you do."

Elsif smiled, tempted to chuckle but hasn't engaged in such a feat for some time now. "Your secret is safe with me Mr. Baggins."

He nods with a smile then seemed to be uncertain with what to say next. After a brief pause he asked. "So what brings you to the shire my lady?... and… if I may ask, why did you ask if I was related to Lobelia?"

Elsif pondered the answer for a while, creating an awkward silence as she tried to think of something a little more believable that 'A demon sent me here.' Instead she blushed slightly and spoke quietly. "It would seem my drinking buddy left me here in my drunken state late last night. During said state I trampled Lobelia's garden and made a mess of things. You see Mr. Baggins I am quite lost and have no clue as to how I came to be here… Where is here by the way?"

"Oh my! How terrible!" Stated Bilbo with concern written all over his face. "Forgive me for being so bold my lady but that was a very poor friend to allow you to reach such a state let alone leave you stranded in a place you do not know. You are in the Shire of Hobbiton."

Elsif found herself smiling again at the ever so polite Hobbit. She waved her hand dismissively as she spoke. "No forgiveness is necessary Mr. Baggins for you caused no offence. And yes he was a poor friend." She pondered for a moment, trying to understand exactly where she was. "The Shire you say… Well thank you for your time. If I may pester you for one last request, would you be so kind as to point me to the nearest Inn so that I may find a map?"

Bilbo smiled and shook his head as he spoke. "You won't find a map there my lady but I have several maps you could look over in my home, Bag End." He started walking towards his home, eager to help the strange, tall, lost woman. "With a bit of luck you will find your way home. Nothing worse than being late for tea." He stated cheerfully.

'Tea?' Elsif shook her head and followed Bilbo quickly. "Are you sure I won't be imposing on you?"

"Of course not my lady!" Claimed Bilbo merrily. "To be honest I could use the company. It will be a nice change from my rather odd day. Ran into a wizard of all things this morning. Gandalf the Grey, perhaps you've heard of him?"

"No… I can't say that I have. Uh… are you sure I can't carry your groceries for you? You're doing quite the service for me…"

"No no, it's perfectly alright."

"very well… but please call me Elsif Mr. Baggins. 'My lady' is far too official for me.

"As you wish. Then you shall call me Bilbo."

He smiled as he continued to describe his alarming morning with the wondering wizard. Elsif knew right from the start that she was going to like this Bilbo Baggins.