Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. The storyline is inspired by Bethesda's "Elder Scrolls" series (specifically "Skyrim"). While some characters are of my own creation, they are created using the mechanics of Skyrim, and must be attributed to Bethesda. Nirn, Skyrim, and other places found in this story do not belong to me, nor do many of the (hopefully recognizable) NPC's that play small and large parts in the story. This work is purely for the entertainment of the author, and, hopefully, some of the readers. I receive no monetary compensation for this work. I will endeavor to make it clear when parts of the story are canon, and when parts of the story are non-canon. As I am new to fan fiction, I hope you will take the time to critique and review. Thanks!
The Bard's College of Solitude was very well known for its library. It was the largest in Skyrim, and immaculately kept – that is, when the fledgling bards weren't leaving the countless annals of the rich history of Nirn scattered about. The only reason the library was kept in any semblance of order was thanks to Tanis Brallion, the youngest apprentice of the Bard's College. He was, more often than not, regarded as a servant to the rest. He was a foundling, who had been raised collectively by the bards since he could remember. He had an affinity for story telling that could only come from years of listening to the masters. The heads of the College knew that one day he would rise to the top, and go down in history as one of the greatest bards who had ever lived. But, in an effort to teach a lesson in humility (afterall, a good bard knows his place - he is but a mouth piece to tell someone else's story) they allowed the treatment (with careful supervision).
Tanis had been carefully shelving volumes all day. They were in more of a disarray than usual. A great celebration was approaching, during which the apprentices of the college could present a work of any sort in an attempt to impress the masters. If they succeeded, they were granted the rights and title of a full-fledged bard. The apprentices, each eager to prove his or her skill, and been frantically searching for lost stories or songs to breathe new life into.
As he was placing one of the last books (a particularly heavy copy of The Book of the Dragonborn) he noticed a rather small, dusty volume pushed against the back of the shelf. The cover was a rather bland brown color that blended into the shelf, which would explain why the book seemed untouched. The title was scribed in faded gold – "The Apprentices." Intrigued, Tanis pulled the book from its hiding place and, after making himself comfortable, began to read…