Skyrim is for the Nords.
At least that's what they claim.
Striking fear in those who are different
Beheading them at every sight
Leaving them out as a reminder
That those who do not share their blood
Are doomed the same fate
Are you a believer of hope?
If so, welcome to the block.
Death awaits you as darkness consumes the rest
The ten year old Breton dragged her fingernails along the edge of her journal, her bright hazel eyes shining through the dim candle. A hand dropped gently on her shoulder as she gazed up at the Nord boy who hardly left her side.
"The storm is coming," the twelve year old Nord boy spoke, "are you ready?"
Fire began growing throughout the Reach. Screams of those falling echoed throughout the thin air. The Nords kept moving, blades in hand. Uncaring of the crunch underneath their fur boots of the burnt corpses as they continued to move in a horizontal line.
"We drink to our youth, for the days come and gone.
For the age of oppression is now nearly done.
We'll drive out the Empire from this land that we own.
With our blood and our steel we'll take back our home." The Nords chanted the familiar Bard song as they neared Makarth.
The Jarl of Windhelm rose his sword, telling his followers that the time was coming. They would reclaim the land they fought for many moons ago.
"Open the gate!" He commanded, his husky voice unharmed despite the smoke.
The Makarth guards couldn't even come to grips with a choice. Two rebellions had already chopped their head.
"Today we kill for our freedom!" Ulfric Stormcloak spoke once more before pointing his blade in the direction of the opening stone gates. "Tomorrow we bask in peace we have almost gained!"
Each Stormcloak rebellion began yelling as they sprinted into the stone city. It didn't take long for the screams of women to be heard, following the husbands who tried to save them.
"Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run,
So we'd both be free.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree."
-Hunger Games: Mocking Jay
The children came out of the Warrens. The Breton girl gasped at the sight of her city burning to the ground.
"Isobella! Sebastian!" A rasp voice of an Orc hollered, "what are you doing!?"
Ghorza gra-Bagol sprinted towards the two children, unaware of their plan to fight. She tackled them into a corner, "It's dangerous out here!" She panted. "Stormcloaks have invaded!"
Isobella placed her small hand on the Orc's cheek. Suddenly Ghorza's breath began to return to normal as she calmed her.
"It will be okay Ghorza." She murmured. "If death comes to us now, at least we went down fighting."
"But you two-"
"Shhh," Sebastian soothed, placing his hand on the Breton's back, "Get into the Warrens. It's to dangerous to head to Understone Keep."
"A-alright," the Orc agreed, unknowing of how reluctant she was just a few moments ago. They ushered her through the door, pointing towards a vacant room.
Sebastian grabbed the Breton's hand. They gazed at eachother for a brief moment before embracing tightly. Knowing this could be the last time they could. They thought Forsworn would be their only issue, never this.
Despite their young age - they were different than any other child in Skyrim. Their intelligence exceeded even most adults. Their power was even excelled beyond most. The Nord could already fight better than a warrior, the Breton could cast magical spells of all types with ease.
They knew if they were to show this to the world - they would become a target to some. So they stayed in the shadows, planning for the day of a Forsworn invasion. They never anticipated a Stormcloak invasion.
They crept up towards Ghorza's forge, hoping she left some weapons out. To their relief - she left out an iron mace and a steel dagger.
"No shield..." Isobella sighed, glancing over at Sebastian. "No armor either."
The Nord forced a small smile, "I'll be alright Bella."
"I told you-"
"Just give me this day." He interjected through a loud breath.
Piercing screams echoed throughout, causing them to wince. With one last nod towards eachother - they began running in the direction of Understone Keep.
Isobella stuffed the dagger in the pocket of her robes, pulling the hood over her small face. A yellow light began shining from her left hand as she saw the people she had grown up with fall.
She casted a healing spell at them, dragging them to a hiding place if possible. Her eyes then met a familiar Nord's. Water filmed her eyes as she sprinted over to the man who took care of her after her parents abandoned her. As soon as she was close enough - she placed both her hands on him.
Ogmund coughed. "I'll be alright, do not fret over me child."
"No," her voice was shaky, muffled, "you'll live through this."
He smiled at the Breton. "I will, I'm already starting to feel better." Suddenly she began putting the pieces together.
"You want to play dead." It wasn't a question.
He nodded slowly. "I don't see another survival method."
"I could kill you for scaring me like that." Isobella sniffed. "Whose blood?"
He licked his lips, his beard causing him to wince. He flickered his eyes over to a fallen Stormcloak. "I made sure he squirted so I could cover myself."
"You are a strange man." Isobella forced a small chuckle.
Ogmund knew there was no use in asking the Breton child to join him in his plan. He knew her almost as well as Sebastian. He knew she was going to fight until her last breath. Despite how solicitous he was about it - he didn't want to waste his breath.
"Isobella," he grabbed a hold of her wrist as she attempted to stand up.
She cleared her throat roughly. "What?"
"The Thalmor are coming." He warned, his grey eyes piercing her's. "You know what will happen."
His warning may have seemed vague to prying ears, but she knew exactly what he was referring to. If they saw her power - they would capture her.
She released a slow breath as she used her other hand to grab the hand holding onto her off. "I love you Ogmund, I'll see you soon."
"I love you to Isobella." He choked out the words. Almost wishing he was actually dying. The last thing he wanted was to lose her.
Sebastian grasped both hands on the mace as he began slamming it into the rebel woman's head. Blood covered his face as he swung it around to hit the other rebel coming for him.
Suddenly a firebolt went straight past his face, barely missing him by a few inches. He followed it with his vivid blue eyes as it hit the rebel about to pierce him with an arrow.
The Nord shot a thankful look at Isobella. She shook her head, fighting back a laugh. If they lived through this - she knew she was going to get a mouthful for almost hitting him later.
They began moving up the stairs towards Understone Keep. Isobella tripped, hitting the left side of her face at the edge of the stone step.
"Ow," she wheezed, placing her hands to force herself up.
Sebastian grabbed the back of her robes, forcing her up quicker than she preferred. He shook his head at the blood dripped from her underneath her eye.
"You are a clumsy witch." He deadpanned.
Her eyes narrowed, opening her mouth to speak before Sebastian clapped his hand over her mouth.
She rose her hand to set his hair on fire, before spotting the High Elf exiting Understone Keep. She recognized him. He was always there, trying to catch worshippers of Talos.
He slowly made his way down the stairs - she assumed the Dominion had arrived.
Her head cocked as she pushed Sebastian out of the way, racing up the rest of the stairs.
She wasn't sure why she had this sense of urgency when she spotted four Stormcloak Rebellions coming for him, but she wasn't about to have him die at their hands.
Despite her hatred of the Dominion, he was always pretty friendly towards her. The robes she wore were given by him. After her parents left, she was out in the rain in nothing but her under garments. He was the first one to show her kindness.
Maybe because he knew her parents were Forsworn. He knew she was abandoned because she refused their lifestyle.
As she approached him she leaped him front of him, sending a chain of lightening at each of the Stormcloak Rebellions coming near him.
The High Elf was unaware his life was about to end as he stared at the Breton child on the stone ground. His breath grew heavier as more of the realization hit. It wasn't just because a child saved his life, but the power he just witnessed.
His eyes grew wide as he spotted Elenwen. Her mouth hung slightly open as she witnessed the event that just unfolded before her. He knew that look. He didn't like it.
Isobella shot up at the sight of the Thalmor wizards approaching her. Sprinting towards Understone Keep.
She yanked the heavy stone doors open, she spotted Ulfric slowly making his way up the stairs.
Her head cocked to the side as she saw Stormcloak Rebellions come out from the left and right. She took one last glance behind her before she began casting a spell.
Igmund would not fall at the hands of these people. She would make sure of it.
Part of her was relieved no one would give a child a second glance as she rose her hands over her head. Flames began exploding from her as she dropped down on her right knee.
Ulfric whirled around mid-step, gasping at the sight. The only thing that caught his gaze through the flames were the hazel eyes that caused it.
"Not possible..." He gasped.
The heavy stone door opened, Isobella shot around, sighing with relief when she saw it was Sebastian.
Blood covered the Nord, catching Ulfric's eyes. It didn't take him long to see the Thalmor who followed close behind him.
Isobella realized the Nord boy was ushered by them.
Ondolemar shot the Breton a sympathetic look before one of the wizards scooped her up.
"Let her go!" Sebastian screamed, as two of the Thalmor solider grabbed him.
"Sebastian!" Isobella screamed as they began to drag her away.
Elenwen spotted Ulfric, suddenly her concerns of him were no longer the priority. She also knew the sight of her would cause him to flee.
He may be ready for a war with the Imperials, but not ready for a war with the Dominion.
"Take her to the barracks." She commanded her wizards, then turned to look at the Nord boy. "Make sure he doesn't intervene."
The two children looked at one another longingly. They didn't expect their separation to be this way. Throughout their short lives they never had a moment without one another.
"Forever," Sebastian mouthed to the Breton.
Tears began to fall from her eyes, "I love you." She responded before dropping her head.
"Terror is coursing in me
I can feel it inside of me, it's in diligent watch on everything
Dreading the final moments where I have to dream and
It's a silver hold on my belief, just waiting for the moment when I
Feel you die
In asylum, I live a lie
Don't you know I'm in love with you and I wasn't ready
For asylum, relive a lie
To let go, now it's dragging me into your grave"
-'Asylum' Disturbed
Ondolemar winced as he heard the Breton child continued to get tortured and interrogated. He wasn't sure what they were expecting to get out of her.
His hands bald into tight fists as he heard her piercing screams. He stood behind the wall where the trap door was. After torturing her for several hours in Makarth they finally dragged her to the Embassy.
Now they just had more tools to use.
After taming his shaking frame, he forced himself to come out of his hiding place. Elenwen shook her head as she began asking ridiculous questions.
"Do you work for Ulfric?"
"Are you a Forsworn or believer in Talos?"
"Where did you gain all that power?"
He just saw the child's head drop, turning side to side slowly. Her light blonde hair covering her fragile face covered in blood. His eyes tightened as he noticed the tint of red in her hair. He found her hair color absolutely aberrant. He's never seen anything like it before.
"I think we should just kill her." Elenwen groaned. "She is a liability and has the face of a killer."
"Wait," Ondolemar cut in, trying to hide the panic in his voice. "She saved my life. If she were a threat, would she risk her life for one of us?"
"Doesn't matter, she is a foolish lethal child."
He then eyed the common soul gem on the wooden table next to her cell. Suddenly an idea raced through his mind.
"What if, we could guarantee she wouldn't be a threat any longer?" The High Elf questioned, cocking his arched brow.
Elenwen scoffed. "Please Ondolemar, you haven't developed an attachment to this prisoner have you?"
"No," he held up his hands, slowly making his way towards the wooden table. "But wouldn't you agree the Dominion could use her power? As their own?"
"How would you suggest that?" She folded her arms, the dubious look never leaving her face.
"Trap her magic." He pointed at the gem. "I can do that."
Elenwen dropped her shoulders as she rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, do what you want. I'm done with this." She rubbed her chin, shooting a glare at the Thalmor solider, "watch him, make sure he follows through."
Ondolemar almost felt insulted at the lack of trust she had for him.
The High Elf woman made her way up the stairs, approaching the wooden railing. She placed both hands on top, watching her fellow Thalmor.
Isobella never looked up. She felt a warm breath at her ear, causing her body to shiver.
"I'm sorry, but this is the only way I can save your life," the Thalmor Justiciar whispered in her ear, "consider this the repayment of you saving my life. I'm sorry."
Suddenly she felt a sharp pain on her forearm, causing her to yelp in pain. She could feel the blood drip, releasing another scream as he placed the soul gem on her wound.
He began chanting something incoherently. It felt as though her insides were being poisoned. It just raced throughout, exiting through the wound on her arm.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to scream. Her heart began beating rapidly as she felt herself being drained.
Ondolemar fought back a single tear as he watched the Breton child suffer. He knew she would still have magic, but it would be very limited to her now.
He placed his lips to her ear once more, "do not push yourself, it could just be the end of you." His warning pierced through her ears. Her breathing grew even more uneven as he finished up.
After he was finished, he stood up slowly. Shooting a glance over at Elenwen. He forced a smile - letting her know he was finished.
He licked his lips as he quickly switched the gem with her power with the other one he had in his pocket. Isobella finally looked up as she watched the High Elf whom just stole her magic head up the stairs.
Despite how angry she felt - it couldn't mask the want for all of this to be over.
She heard a door shut then heard the High Elf that demanded all this say, "Finish her off."
Her ears suddenly filled with the Thalmor conjuring swords. She bit her already wounded lip, closing her eyes once more.
Suddenly a growl echoed through the torture chamber. Her eyes popped open as she felt blood splash her bare body.
She gazed up through her hair, gasping at the sight.
"What the-" she began to say before she felt herself drop to the ground.
The werewolf squatted around the High Elves like rag dolls as unfamiliar arms scooped her up.
"Who-"
She attempted to finish her sentence before everything went black.
The Nord warrior sniffed as he spotted a body laying in the tall grass. He glanced over to see his brother scoping out the cave nearby.
He slowly approached the body, his eyebrows rose when he realized it was a little Nord boy. It was obvious the boy was badly beaten. The only question running through his mind was, by what?
His torso moved slowly, alerting him that the boy was still alive. He took in a slow breath before throwing the boy over his shoulder.
"Isobella," the boy choked out in a soft murmur.
The Nord warrior made a face at the name.
"Isobella."
Confusion washed over him, as his brother approached him.
"Find something Farkas?" The brother questioned slowly, raising his dark brow.
Farkas shrugged his free shoulder, "he's still alive. Looks badly injured. Keeps muttering a name."
"What name?" His brother folded his arms.
"Isobella," he answered simply, "what should we do with him Vilkas?"
"Well we can't simply just let him die out here, especially since you already picked him up." The tall Nord answered, gazing at his twin. "We might as well take him back to Jorrvaskr. Ask Kodlak what he thinks."
"Isobella..." The little boy murmured once again.
"I may knock him out again if he keeps repeating the same thing." Farkas groaned. Suddenly regretting his heroic move.
"No need to make the Companions child abusers brother." Vilkas shook his head. "Maybe he has a good arm. Any child still alive after a beating like that must have some warrior tendencies."
"Maybe Vilkas, but he better shut up."
The unfamiliar room slowly blurred into focus as Isobella winced from the pain of waking up. She gazed at her surroundings, then down at her battered and bruised body that was now bandaged up.
She was surprised she wasn't in as much pain as she anticipated if she were to live through it. Someone must have healed her, or attempted.
Suddenly images from the events that unfolded caused her frame to tremble. Sebastian raced through her mind immediately. Was he alive? Was he okay? What did they do with him?
"Sebastian..." She whispered through a thick voice.
"She's awake," a raspy voice announced, causing her head to shoot to the right.
She had forgotten she was in an unknown location. There were other vacant beds in front of her, she was on the one pushed up against the far wall. A dining area was down the stairs with a gargantuan banner of a black hand.
Her head cocked to the side. Where had she seen that symbol before? Her mind began shuffling through the books she had read. Almost impossible to remember all the titles.
A white haired man entered through the door frame right in front of her. She made a feeble attempt to get shoot up, but failed. Her body was still to weak.
"Not going to hurt you beef roast." He held up his hands, "you wouldn't be breathing right now if I were."
Confusion washed over the Breton as she stared at the Nord with a blank expression.
"I'm Arnbjorn." He made a feeble attempt to introduce himself. "What's your name tidbit?"
"Husband," a slick voice entered the conversation, "give her a moment to grasp the situation at hand."
He groaned softly.
The Breton just watched as the Nord woman in red and black armor sat down at the edge of the bed. Her eyes never went back to normal size as she continued to gaze at them with bug eyes.
Her attention went back to the banner of the black hand. It was bugging her more that she couldn't think of where she saw the symbol.
"So where did you find her?" The woman questioned, glancing up at the man.
"Festus and I were working the contract in Makarth to kill that stupid beggar," he explained, "didn't realize the Stormcloaks decided to invade the city the same day, witnessed her fight, saw the Thalmor take her, decided to save her."
"Should have let her rot." Festus interjected, "better than being in the same place as those stupid High Elves."
"Festus..." The woman sighed, then looked at the child. She placed her hand on her cheek, following the child's gaze to the banner. A small chuckle escaped her lips as her glove rubbed her skin.
"What's your name?" She questioned the Breton in a soothing voice.
The child shot her attention back to the three standing before her. "Isobella," she managed to choke out.
"Isobella..." The woman pursued her lips, "I'm Astrid."
The Breton blinked several times in a row as the realization began to sink in. She knew where she was now.
"You...You are..." She choked on her own words. "Why..."
"Smart child," Astrid stated in an approving voice, slightly shocked the child knew about them. "I think the words you are looking for are Dark Brotherhood."
Isobella began shaking.
"Welcome to the family ham shank." Arnjborn said through a snicker. "Hope you enjoy killing."