"I need to get across the border," I almost growled at the Imperial in front of me that was currently blocking my way with a smug look on his face. I had just got to the edge of Skyrim and Cyrodiil when the border watch decided to stop me. Apparently I looked "suspicious", but the dark elf, who might I add was clearly wearing thieves guild attire, in front of me got a friendly "go on ahead." I had rode up on my white, gentle mare; a small smile on my face and a few bags strapped to both Bani, my horse, and my own person. I hadn't even managed to get a word out of my mouth before my path was blocked.
"Can't let you through," a dark haired Imperial said with a bored tone and lazily flicked his hand back towards the path we had come from.
"Why not?" I asked incredulously and sung off Bani, "you just let that man in front of me go." The guard shrugged his shoulders with an uncaring look on his face as many others aband0ned their positions to see what the commotion was all about. Upon seeing me a few of them snickered.
"I've been given direct orders not to let anyone I believe a threat into Skyrim," he told me stoically. My face reddened with anger as my infamous, or at least infamous in the area I grew up around, temper got ahold of me.
"How can I be a threat!? You haven't even searched me or anything!" I exclaimed gesturing first at my own body and then over to Bani and the rest of my belongings. I barely came over the top of the man's shoulders standing at a mere four foot eight inches and even though he was an Imperial, most were usually thin and small, his girth nearly doubled mine.
"There's nothing I can do, you look like a threat to me and in the middle of a war that's all that matters," the Imperial glared down at me and a few of his friends laughed cheerily at his comment, "now be on your way. Back to where you came from," he shooed me once more. Annoyed now I couldn't stop the scowl from forming on my face as my brows knit together.
"You just let that dark elf in front of me pass. Are you not letting me through because I am a Nord?" I questioned with grit teeth and clenched fist. Bani whinnied noticing my rage and gently nuzzled my head trying to calm me down. The damn man had the nerve to chuckle and the rest were in full on hysterics. I crossed my arms to keep them preoccupied and tapped my foot against the frigid ground.
"No, no, of course not,' he rolled his eyes and I couldn't help the growl that surfaced at his condescending attitude. I ignored the sounds of approaching horses and carriages and the chorus of voices; instead choosing to tell the group off in front of me.
"This is ridiculous! Skyrim is my home!" I exclaimed, "I've done no wrong I just want to go home." I crossed my arms and glared at the few members of the border watch in front of me unable to stop the frustrated tears that sprung to my eyes.
"You're NOT getting across you Nord bit-"
"Is there a problem?" a new, but easily recognizable voice interrupted one of the females in the group.
"General Tullius!" the entirety of the border watch snapped to attention; each gave some form of salute. I brought my gaze up to meet the steady eye of the general. I took in his graying hair and dark, wrinkled skin before swinging my eyes over to admire the rather large troop of men and women behind him. Imperials, dark elves, ad even a few Nords and Bretons made up the bunch.
"Are you alright, young lady?" the General finally addressed me after the border watch had finished with their ass-kissing. Silently I cursed myself when I caught the older man paying special attention to my wet cheeks. Ever since I was a child I would cry when angered and I was always made fun of by the local boys and girls for my small weakness, that is until I sent them home crying for their "mommies" it was rather funny at the time. Unfortunately, I couldn't send an entire army back home crying, by Talos I'm only one girl. What they don't know won't hurt them; Damsel in Distress time.
"These guards," I gestured widely to the now scandalized and red-faced border watch all the while making a great show of wiping away a few stray tears, "refuse to let me by." Dramatic finishes are the best after all.
"Why will you not this young lady through?" General Tullius addressed his subordinates with a strong, authoritative voice. A few of the accused flinched; especially the brown haired female Imperial who had been interrupted by the General earlier. Hah, that's what you get for calling me names, or, at least, trying to call me names. The man who had originally refused to let me pass managed to look somewhat embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his neck pitifully.
"She's obviously a threat, General, Sir," a sandy haired Breton sputtered trying to cover up for his friend's and his own actions. The aging Imperial looked down at me with a raised brow and an amused twinkle in his eye.
"I don't see a threat, no, I see a terrorized young girl," he stated making at least three of four guards look truly ashamed and regretful and all the while I was keeping my act up, quite beautifully if I do say so myself.
"Well, she uh... she...," a dark elf struggled to find a real reason to not let me through, a thoughtful scowl planted firmly on his face.
"She could be a Stormcloak!" the same Breton who said I was a "obvious threat" earlier jumped in once more. General Tullius laughed at the sorry excuse as did a few of his followers.
"This tiny child probably can't even lift a dagger," he joked. My right eye twitched painfully at the offhand comment as I somehow managed to control my anger, and with trembling hands managed to keep myself in the role I had created."Where are you going child?" he asked taking a step closer to me. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Oh, yes, the creep is strong with this one.
"I'm on my way to Whiterun to inquire about a house my mother left me with her passing," I explained, only twisting the truth a bit. I was actually heading to the Palace of the Kings to ask Jarl Ulfric about my family home in Windhelm, but if I told him that I'd never get through... and they do both start with W's.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Tullius said inclining his head with a strange look on his face. I said nothing, but nodded my head to show my "gratitude". In the deep, dark recesses of my mind I was laughing uncontrollably at the irony of it all. My mother absolutely loathed the man in front of me during her time with the living. I still remember her long, drawn out rants criticizing the General and his cowardice. He had sold out to the Thalamor, doing all they commanded and cursing the name of Talos.
"My army and I will escort her," he suddenly declared, pulling me from my musings in shock. "That way you won't have to worry, of course," he finished flashing a smile of reassurance towards the cluster of idiots that patrolled the border. Several nods and a few small, quiet "yes sirs" were the only replies he received. "Good," he snapped out, "return to your duties." The pitiful morons practically ran over one another in order to quickly follow his, well, order. Turning to me he didn't even allow a word to pass through my lips before he grabbed me by my waist and lifted me back up onto Bani, drawing a small squeak from me and a whiny from my horse. This made several soldiers laugh especially as my face reddened in mortification and anger. Tullius' chuckles only made it worse since I had to stop myself from giving him a strong kick in the face. Yep, this is the story of my life... I really need to get my anger issues checked out; it can't be too healthy.