Game dialogue and characters are property of Bethesda Softworks. I am not even sure I own my own character.
A young woman sat on her bunk reading as the ship she was on pulled into port. She looked up to a knock on the door frame to see an argonian smiling up at her. The blue scaled lizard woman Moves-With-Waves said to the young woman "Well Champion of the Hist, we have arrived in the dry-skin city Windhelm at last. Are you ready to return to your homeland?"
The woman gave a small smile and climbed down. The lizard looked at the small nord. Standing at only 5'6 with light brown hair and icy blue eyes, she did not look like your typical nord who are usually rather large and blond. Nor did she have their booming voices and brash nature but instead was quiet and more thoughtful. Emotionless some of the Argonians might say but never has anyone reported her denying help to those in need, she had a kind soul.
The woman, Hilda, always smiled sadly when she hears that. In truth she has no soul, at least not a full one. She was just one small step above the usual Soul Shriven, the mindless soulless slaves in Coldharbor. Hilda wasn't even her real name, at least she doesn't think is it, it was a name given to her by the woman that rescued her from Coldharbor almost half a year ago. The woman, Lyris, has become like a big sister to the younger woman, always offering advice and sending letters when it is safe to do so. Even Lyris' un-proclaimed love Sai Shhan, seemed to treat the girl as family.
It was weird going around with no name at first, most people just ended up calling her Lassie until she received her new name. She was still grateful to Lyris for giving her a name. Lyris said that a battle maiden should have a powerful name so she named her warrior.
Now here she was almost half a year later returning to what is thought to be her homeland. Thoughts of finding her real family danced in her mind before she quickly shot them down. For all she knew her family were amongst the Soul Shriven or dead. She sighed depressingly before letting out a small hallow laugh. If Lyris was here she would be scolding her for letting despair get to her, a warrior should never bow to anything especially their own fears. But still she could not help but wonder who she really is…. Oh well back to work
Thane Mera Stormcloak was not a happy woman. She had too much to do and think of to be one. Most would think the cause would be the duties that came with making sure the Kununleikar went well or even the presence of the Stormfist Clan. On some level it was but there was also a personal matter that not many really knew about. But as always her duties to the Skald King came first as she was his Thane.
Things were looking up though. She has just received word that the artifact the Argonians were giving to the Pact has just arrived, as well as the hero that helped retrieve it from the Covenant. And according to her sources this hero has been causing quite the stir, it would seem he alone was responsible for seeing the survival of the Pact despite all who would fight against it. Reports have been coming in for half a year now but seldom do they match. Not even the gender or race matched, sometimes it was a powerful male nord warrior with Kynn's blessing while other it was a beautiful dark elven mage woman favored by Almalexia. In short this person was an unknown and an unknown can cause problems. That is why Mera asked to the steward to send this hero to meet her as soon as the ship docked.
Apparently this hero was a bit amazed by all the activities that came with the festival as it was almost half an hour before a voice was heard "You wanted to see me, my lady?" Ah a women's voice, a young nord one too.
The Thane smiled before turning around, only to be caught off guard by the face in front of her. But Mera quickly recovered before saying "Aye, I did. As you well know I am Mera Storncloak, Thane of Windhelm. And you are, lass?"
The young woman bowed slightly, her face eerily composed "A pleasure. I am called Hilda. Is there anything I can help you with?" The older woman frowned in thought before asking for her family name. Hilda shook her head and answered with a hint of sadness "I do not have one. At least none that I remember, I have lost all my memories of the time before my adventures began."
Mera felt a cruel twinge of hope before squishing it down. Getting back to business she told Hilda of her suspicions of the intentions of the Stormfist during the Kununleikar. Hilda listened to her with unfailing concentration before asking several questions, Mera was pleased to see she only asked what was necessary instead of the frivolous questions that others would ask. Once satisfied with the information the young woman set out on her giving mission.
The Thane watched as the young woman pulled up her hood and attached her face guard while she walked. Every movement was controlled and fluid, like a dancer. Mera Stormcloak was left shaking with longing as she whispered "No it couldn't be. Get those pies out of your eyes, Stormcloak you are a warrior not a milk-drinking child. You need to face facts. My Asta is gone."
Still she must say she was impressed by the efficiency and the kindness Hilda displayed. She quickly went to the Inn and recovered the cashes of weapons and methods of cheating at the games. Then she agreed to run a race, a contest she willingly lost to aid a fallen competitor. Then she hunted down the poor man's killer before stopping a giant invasion. All within a day. As much as Mera wanted to see the girl resting she knew there was still things to see to before any of them rested. So she sent the small woman to a final mission before sending out her own spies to do a bit of checking of her own.
It was a simple matter finding the Hall of Trials as soon as she entered the old tomb she could hear the ringing of swords striking against each other in combat. Well if ever there was a place to stage an ambush it would be it since weapons are to be expected here. The final fighter was standing victorious as Hilda finally entered the large room, quickly downing a stamina potion to keep her energy up for the coming fight. The festive feeling was short lived when one of the guards announced that the other competitors were poisoned. The female warrior haughtily announced herself as a follower of the king's traitorous brother Feilgor.
The champion gave the signal to attack and about twenty Stormfists appeared and attacked the King's guards. Hilda launched herself into battle, quick as lightning she dispatched the first men that tried to surround the king. True since they were normal nord males they were much bigger than she was and with bigger blades but what Hilda lacked in size she made up for in speed and agility. With the ease of a dancer Hilda weaved through the large swords and kept catching her opponents by surprised until only the so called champion remained.
With a small throwing knife she got the other woman's attention away from the king and onto her. Hilda did not waste the opportunity and threw herself at the traitor. The larger woman blocked the first attacked with her broad sword but that was to be expected. As was the woman's attempt at a counter attack, Hilda blocked that in return before disappearing in to the shadows.
From the shadows Hilda managed to get behind the woman before stunning her by hitting the back of her head with the pummel of her daggers. But it would seem this warrior was better trained than her men. Hilda only managed to get one hit in before the warrior recovered. From there it was a matter of spinning out of reach of strikes before trying to get one herself. After a half a year doing feats that many had considered impossible Hilda was the far more superior fighter but still she knew that a statement must be made.
With that in mind Hilda switched her stance from offensive to defensive and began to lead the warrior to the recovering Skald King. While Hilda had a hard time understanding the logic of nobles even she knew it would make a powerful statement if the king cut down the champion of the Stormfist himself. So with a slight nod to the king Hilda spun out of the way as the King's own battle ax fell upon the warrior's neck, killing her instantly. The Skald King was victorious.
Jorunn wasn't a dim-witted man, he has traveled all over learning what he can before he became king after the death of his sister. Nor was he so blinded by his damn pride to not see that without this small woman in a Dunmar hood he would have been dead. Still he had to put on a show for his people "They sent their best fighters after me yet I am still alive! And in no small thanks to you. Come champion, let me speak with you." He observed the girl as she walked closer. "This was a message from my brother. One I wasn't meant to survive. I feared this day would come."
The small woman spoke "Are you all right, King Jorunn?" Aw, that was the voice of a young nord woman. Softer than most but still has the accent of those who had grown up in his frigid lands. But there something about her voice that was hauntingly familiar, but surly it could not be she.
Rolling his shoulders he waved of the concern "A mere scratch nothing more. The Stormfist clan's assassins are dead, and that's good enough for now."
Anything else he was going to say was forgotten when a young man burst into the hall "Father are you alright? I heard there was an attack from the Stormfists!" The King could not help but smile at his only son and heir. Standing at over six feet he looked like a giant as he stood next to the tiny rogue. His strawberry blond hair was recently cut short to fit underneath his helmet so it framed his face. Irnskar was every nord fathers dream; if only he was more tactful when speaking with their allies.
Jorunn sighed, thankful his savior was a nord woman for she was an elf or an argoinian his son would not be as courteous as Jorunn would prefer. "I am well my son, thanks to this hero. Forgive this old king, I forgot to ask for your name miss…?"
The tiny woman looked down almost shyly before bowing "I am called Hilda, your majesty."
Irnskar looked down at Hilda with a suspicious look on his face before asking "Remove your face guard. I would like to see the face of the woman that saved my father."
Hilda hesitated for a second, for reasons she did not know, but still did as the prince said. Jorunn watched as the young woman detached the face guard to reveal the face of a beautiful nord woman before she pulled back her hood and showing the braided light brown hair. She had full pink lips that held an extremely weak nervous smile, a heart shaped face, delicately small nose, and large icy blue eyes. Jorunn remember a similar pair of eyes that sparkled with life but these orbs only held a faint spark. He glanced at his son, the poor lad looks like he seen a ghost. And for all purposes he could very well be.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts Jorunn asked "Alright, and which clan do you come from? I am sure they would want to be notified of your bravery." He didn't know if he was hoping for or dreading a particular answer.
Hilda sighed and looked down with a weary look, poor girl did look rather spent. "I do not remember. I have no memories from before my adventures began. A woman who has helped me gave me the name I use, but I have no idea if that indeed is my true name." Jorunn could not help but smile at her answer, it was so practice like she had answered the same question many times.
But still it was something, and so much more than they had before…. So he smiled and came to a decision "I know I would be honored to hear more of your travels, or adventures whatever you want to call them. In fact why don't you honor us with your presence at the palace, just until you have to leave of your next quest? My son Irnskar here would be more than happy to escort you to the palace, and maybe give you a tour. He can even help you gather your belongings."
Hilda blushed slightly and said "All I have is my pack that I left at the entrance. I have been traveling for half a year so I have lived out of my pack. Besides usually I am given a new mission so quickly that it is impossible to rent a room for the night. I really do not want to be a bother, to you or the prince."
Irnskar finally snapped out of whatever trance he was in and dismissed "A bother? Ha. It would be the least we could do after you saved my father's life. Besides it is late and with the Kununliekar going on all the rooms are probably taken. And a hero such as yourself returning to your homeland should not sleep on the streets." Jorunn raised a brow, he half expected his son to balk at the thought of being the guide to a supposed peasant. It would seem Irnskar suspected the same thing.
Hilda bit her lip and agreed though it seemed a little reluctantly, really it was hard to tell with her voice so monotone, "As you wish, your highness. I will be honored to stay at the palace for the night before heading out once more."
Jorunn watched at the two young people walked out of the hall, he snickered as his son awkwardly offered his arm to the young woman which she took just as uneasily. Jorunn sighed before turning to one of his spies and ordered "Find out about that woman. Where did she come from and what has she done?" The man saluted his king before running off. For the first time in over half a year, Jorunn truly felt hope that one of his favorite subjects was alive.