It had all been a blur, the dragon, the fighting and the escape. Now, standing in a pre-dominantly Nord settlement…she could feel the tension building inside of her. Ralof had been kind enough but she had learned that her kind was not tolerated in many of the main towns in Skyrim. She had come from Morrowind seeking her brother, who had fool heartedly believed in Ulfric Stormcloak and was killed in the process, until she had to burn his remains and placed them in a pouch for burial. She could never bury her brother in a country full of enemies. Her luck had never been the best and when the Imperials had found her sneaking behind Ulfric Stormcloak and his guards it seemed she was fated to die in a land that abhorred her with every fiber of their being. However, her luck had looked up when a dragon attacked Helgen and burned the settlement to the ground as she made her way out of Helgen and to Riverwood with Ralof. Why she had chosen the Nord was a mystery to her. Ralof was a large Nord, not that largest she'd seen, and he had typical long blonde hair that framed his face. The man looked exhausted as he finished talking to his sister, Gerdur. The woman was nice enough to give her a few things that would help her in the quest to Whiterun and the items she had looted from the dead would fetch a decent bit of coin in the nearby shop.
"Whiterun is not far from here, head out of town and try your best to follow the road. I think I'm going to go inside and sleep." Ralof slowly stood up and looked over at the dark elf woman near him.
"Thank you Ralof." The Nord man gave her only a nod.
"What is your name elf?" His rough voice asked her when she had begun to walk in the direction of Riverwood Trader.
"Selyna, of House Redoran." She watched the Nord's body tense up before she turned and went to the front door of the Riverwood Trader.
"You will not!" A male voice yelled as Selyna stood in front of the door,
"Pray tell, how will we get it back brother?" A woman's voice yelled back.
Selyna opened the door to the Riverwood Trader to see two people, an Imperial man and woman who were similar in their features were arguing about something.
"This discussion is over." The man ground out, the woman crossed her arms over her breasts and walked over to a nearby small table and sat at it with an angry pout on her pretty face.
"Oh hello! Here to do some trading?" The man feigned happiness when she could see the woman and himself were very angry at one another.,
"Yes. I have items to trade. I overheard an argument, is there something wrong?"
"Camilla and I were robbed naught but two days ago, the thieves stole nothing but our prized possession. A Golden Claw." He heard a snort from his sister and flung her a dirty look.
"Lucan has shown it off too much and he was surprised when thieves stole it." The woman, Camilla had her braid in her hand and was fixing it as she either ignored or avoided her brother's glare.
"Ah, is there a chance that you know where the thieves had run off to?" Selyna asked as she looked from the brother to the sister.
Her hands quickly delved into her knapsack, pulled a few gems from one pocket and handed them to Lucan.
"Someone told us they had seen shifty characters heading up the mountain towards Bleak Falls Barrow." Lucan answered as he handed her 15 gold in exchange for the gems.
"I will look into it for you for a price." Selyna told Lucan.
"We will give you a few items from our last shipment." Camilla promised,
"Camilla-" She silenced him with a glare and her brother nodded.
Selyna left the building and sold a few daggers she had found along with several hides to the smithy, he was thankful and he provided her with amble coin. So, she bought herself half-decent armor and a new long sword. The settlement was small and it seemed that all of the townsfolk knew one another even if they did not like them.
"Hello." Selyna turned her eyes to the right to see a Nord man leaning against a beam to the Riverwood Trader.
Not much taller than herself, slender feminine features with a hairstyle that resembled a woman's. Selyna swore if only the man had breasts that he could impersonate a woman wonderfully.
"Hello." She was ready for a fight if it came down to it, so she was cautious.
"I see that you came out of the Riverwood Trader. I was wondering if she spoke about any one in particular." Selyna shook her head; the man had to be a bard.
"Damn, I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I have been vying for her affections for some time now but that damned elf thinks to gain the upper hand on me for her heart. I would like for you to give her this letter and say it is from Faendal." He held out a note for her and she took it.
"I would like to go and see Gerdur first if that is alright with you." She told him, giving him the falsest smile she could procure.
"That is fine." He smiled back at her and wandered over to the inn.
"Definitely a bard." She murmured to herself.
Selyna was not fond of doing something as low as this but having him show such disdain over the elf (and that he was a womanly bard) make her see the man was not fit for the strong, independent woman in the traders. Faendal had greeted her happily when she had come into the village like they had been long-lost kin, she appreciated him. Added to his kindness, he gave off such strong aura and being a hunter could be very profitable. Selyna grinned; when she wanted to she could be very, very cunning.
Selyna knew the three fighters did not expect a dark elf to come over to the giant, taking a powerful swing at the giant to try and bring it down. It was wounded and an arrow to the head from the painted Nord woman brought it tumbling down. The same painted Nord woman slung her bow over her upper body then walked over to Selyna,
"You show promise; you could be a good Shield-Sister." The woman sounded like she was boasting.
"Shield-Sister?" Selyna looked at the woman quizzically.
"Yes, we are a part of the Companions."
"Oh, the Companions. I shall have to come and prove my mettle to your leader then." Selyna told the woman though, she was trying to be rid of this country long before that.
Selyna caught the only man in the group staring at her. He was a large Nord, bigger than Ralof and much more intimidating and handsome. Golden eyes, strong, weathered face with a muscular body. This man was accustomed to fighting daily and honing his skills. He had a few visible scars on his face and neck and she was sure his war paint around his eyes covered one or two scars up as well.
"Yes, we are located in Whiterun. Any of the town's people can direct you to Jorrvaskr." The woman didn't say anything else so; she turned and walked away towards the town on the hill.
Selyna watched them all begin to leave, except the handsome Nord who had his eyes on her.
"We could use a woman like you. I'm Farkas by the way." His voice made the space between her legs wet, she did not know that sexual attraction could be so….quick.
She could have sworn that his eyes narrowed like a predator hunting its prey,
"I'm Selyna, Of House Redoran." This Nord understood who she was but did not seem to care.
"I hope you can join the companions Selyna of House Redoran." He told her then left her alone to her own thoughts.
"Nerevar guide me. I need it now." She whispered to herself before continuing to Whiterun.
"Halt! No one is allowed in the town except for official or trade business because of the dragons." The guard gave her a look that told her he wouldn't let her in even if she did have official business as she came up to the large door.
"I bring news from Gerdur in Riverwood; she is concerned for the settlements safety." It wasn't a lie.
"Then the Jarl will want to hear her plea. Go on up but, be mindful of your actions." Selyna wanted to roll her eyes.
Years of her ancestors fighting off Nords in the Velothi Mountains hardened her opinion of the whole race and she would only deal with the brainless oafs if she had to. Thankfully the town was made up of different races and it made her a bit more comfortable in the town. Finding the Jarl was easy but since she was in his Hold, he dragged her into helping his court-wizard who then proceeded to tell her that he wanted her to find some sort of stone in Bleak Falls Barrow. Selyna had no choice but to accept the quest she was given. Selyna was thankful the Jarl was sending a few more guards to help out Riverwood just in case a dragon so happened to attack the town. But, for tonight, Selyna was thinking a hot meal and with a warm bed was feeling just right for her.
Farkas stretched as he walked down the steps to the market place just after the sun had risen. He was going to be leaving Whiterun for a quest somewhere else in the Hold. He wasn't prepared to see the beautiful dark elf he had met several days ago was looking at the fruits and vegetables at Carlotta Valentia's stall. He was surprised she was wearing her armor still; he could smell the strength and years of battle on her. The House of Redoran had been known to most Nord children when he was younger but he had not cared for history like his brother had at one point. He watched her barter with the young woman for one fruit and two vegetables he did not care for. There was fierceness in her that seemed to awaken the wolf inside. High cheek bones but a full face and full lips, two scars coming down from her left eye with war paint coming off and down the ends of her eyes and finished close to the middle of her throat that was the color of her eyes but very lighter. Her lips were only a shade lighter than her blue/gray body and he just found himself licking his lips as he stared at them. Simple brown hair pulled together by two braids from each side, it made her very lovely pointed ears stick out so everyone could see them. Farkas found everything about the well-toned but curvy woman attractive despite her race being known for not having attractive people.
"It is nice to see you again." Selyna uttered a curse under her breath as she turned and found the Nord who had haunted her dreams for the past few nights standing behind her.
"Yes, it is nice to see you as well Farkas." She stood at attention and tried to disperse the fluttery feeling in her stomach and the wetness that pooled between her legs.
"You have not come to Jorrvaskr." He simply stated.
"I did not know they hunted their prospective recruits down. I shall be more careful next time." Selyna smirked and she watched his mouth do so as well.
"No. I am leaving for a quest today. But, before I leave I was going to stop at the Bannered Mare for ale or two. Would you care to join me?" Farkas felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest then.
"I would but I've been hunted down by a Companion. I should go up to Jorrvaskr now and acquaint myself with your Shield-Siblings. Perhaps when you return?" Farkas noticed her gray/blue cheeks take on a slight rosy tint.
"I will hold you to your word." He told her sternly before he turned and walked to the Bannered Mare.
Selyna held her head high as the sweat dripped into her eyes. Vilkas, Farkas' twin brother stood before her in a similar state but panting. He had tested her battle prowess and he was impressed by her skill, he now knew she had to have been trained thoroughly from childhood.
"You are not bad for a whelp. Here, take my sword up to Eorlund. Be careful, that sword is worth more than your life." Selyna glared at him, clearly angered by his comment.
"That statement can be proven false Nord." She snatched the sword from his grip and walked off towards Eorlund's Forge.
She made her way up the steps to the Sky-Forge, seeing an older, tall, battle worn, and gray haired man who was hammering away at a sword he had just fired.
"Master Eorlund?" Selyna moved towards the man but he did not speak.
He hammered away until he deemed the sword worthy then dipped it gently in the water next to him then looked at her.
"Yes?"
"I have a sword that Vilkas wants repaired." She pulled the sword from her belt and handed it to the Master smithy.
"The Forge is very beautiful; I have seen none like it." Selyna said to him once he took the sword and her eyes looked up to the large eagle shadowing the forge, as if the statue had a soul that fired each sword, each mace and each shield with its out life force.
"It is rumored that the forge was made before Man or Elf came to Nirn." Eorlund placed Vilkas's sword beside the forge then looked at her.
"A word of advice: you shouldn't be anyone's errand boy no matter who they are." Selyna smirked and bowed her head in understanding.
"I shall take my leave then." She bowed to the Master Smithy then turned to walk away but was stopped by his voice.
"I have a favor to ask of you. My wife is still grieving over the loss of our son and she needs her husband. Can you take this shield I made to Aela?" Eorlund grabbed a shield beside the forge.
Selyna took the shield and smirked at the Master Smithy,
"I thought you said don't be an errand boy?" He gave her a slight smile; she took the shield and bowed to him once more before making her way back down into Jorrvaskr.
She found Aela sitting at the large eating table eating a Shepard's Pie. Selyna walked up to the Huntress and held the shield out to the seemingly wild woman.
"Eorlund asked me to deliver this shield to you Aela." Aela looked up at Selyna, took the shield and inspected it.
"Exceptional work from him as always. I will thank him properly." Aela shooed her away so she could finish her meal.
Selyna had realized that quite a few of the Companions were not fond of newcomers but she ignored them, she was a seasoned warrior probably more so that Aela, Ria, Njada and the twins. She saw Vilkas from the corner of her eye and made her way towards him,
"Anything I can do?" She asked and he gave her a critical eye.
Vilkas looked very similar to his brother except that he was slightly shorter and had shorter hair; he was also not as muscular as his brother.
"I do have work for you. Someone wants a person here in town to stop doing whatever they are doing. I don't want to hear a about a death, understood?" He asked her harshly,
"Understood."
Selyna splashed her face with the cold flowing water from a stream close to one of the farms outside of Whiterun. She had just come from Riverwood and she needed a break, what had happened at Bleak Falls Barrow had taken her completely by surprise. The wind had been knocked out of her and it felt like her soul had been filled by an unknown power. It was intrusive and a part of her felt violated by the power now inside of her body, waiting like an assassin in the shadows to strike. The knowledge plagued her as she went into Whiterun and up into Dragonsreach. It was almost maddening. She found that Farengar was not alone when she walked into his room, a woman with her face covered stood beside him looking at a map. Selyna removed the Dragonstone from her knapsack and handed it to the wizard,
"Thank you! Hopefully we can take the knowledge from this and learn how to maybe defeat the dragons."
"Farengar!" Selyna turned around and found Irileth running towards the room,
"Irileth?" His voice wavered as she moved into the room.
"Another dragon has been sighted, we need you. You, come along as well. We may have need of you yet." Irileth left the room and Selyna along with the wizard followed the woman up a flight of stairs.
Two guards were explaining what they had seen at a nearby watch tower, the Jarl's face paled and his hands tensed at his side.
"Go rest now, you've earned it." The Jarl was in no mood now, the guards left the room slowly and then his eyes shifted to Irileth and Farengar.
"Jarl." Irileth said quietly and his eyes shifted to Selyna.
"I want to thank you for helping Farengar, I will see you it that you received a token worthy of what you have done. Although, I do have another favor to ask of you. You are the only person to come close to a dragon and survive, I would like for you to go with Irileth to the Western Watchtower and help her there." The jarl said nothing more before exiting the room to go out to the porch.
"Come. We have work to be done." Irileth told her as she turned and began to descend the stairs.
"How I am to defeat a dragon escapes me." Selyna mumbled to herself before following the other Dunmer woman.
"I see evidence of a dragon attack but no dragon." Irileth grumbled as they slowly moved towards the broken stair case leading up to the entrance for the Western Watchtower, surrounded by fires and debris scattered around the tower and the field before it.
"Our eyes could be deceiving us." Selyna told her then they both continuously scanned the area and skies as they made their way up to the entrance.
"No! Go back! It's already taken—it's coming back!" The frightened solider had come from the watchtower and as soon as he saw the shape of a dragon in the sky coming towards their position he panicked.
Irileth and Selyna both looked to where he pointed and a roar tore through the skies as they watched the dragon fly towards the tower.
"DOVAHKIIN!" Selyna's head whipped around to look at the beautifully golden, large dragon flying towards the area where she stood.
Selyna watched as its maw slowly started to open with flames welling up in the back of its throat.
"YOL…!" The fire erupted from the dragon's throat and Selyna had to jump to avoid it but only just.
Fire scorched her left bicep and she cried out in pain but she would not lie down like a dog and die. She pulled her long sword from her back, wincing from the pain and the dragon landed not too far from her. So, she charged the dragon and swung her long sword, the blow left the dragon roaring. It took to the sky with a loud rumble,
"Krif krin. Pruzah!" Selyna gasped at the speech, Fight courageously. Good!
"Keep your bows trained on it men!" Irileth yelled.
Her body was frozen in that moment, her soul…every piece of her felt this beast as it flew and somehow she knew it felt her. Her soul ached and she could not fathom her bond to his creature. Arrows pierced the skin in-between its scales and the blood was forming on different parts of its body and Selyna felt the desire to weep for this creature's death which was coming sooner than she had hoped. The guards had shot arrows through the thin webbing of his massive wings and its ability to fly so, now it was grounded. Selyna rushed the dragon; she could feel its death needed to be at her hand. Her blade was lodged into its chest with all of her might and she let the tears flow free from her eyes.
"DOVAHKIIN! NO!" A sob tore from Selyna's throat and she fell to her knees.
The body began to burn up into ashes as streams of white, cream, orange and yellow lights surrounded her. Her soul was being filled and the knowledge on how to use the words she had seen in Bleak Falls and then it was all over. The skeleton of the dragon lay before her and she just couldn't stop herself from crying, her hand reached out and touched the skeleton's snout. His name on her tongue, Mirmulnir, and all of his knowledge now ran through her and she felt stronger. His life had given her power that she couldn't completely comprehend.
"By Talos! You're the Dragonborn!" Her red eyes shifted to the guards who were coming to stand near her as they hung their mouths in awe and wonder.
"Dovah—Dragonborn?" The language the dragon had spoken swam in her head and it was hard to grab onto her own native tongue let alone common tongue.
"Nord Legends, One who is born with a mortal body but the blood and soul of a dragon. Akatosh's chosen." Selyna frowned at this new knowledge before standing up and looking from one guard to another.
"Nonsense, all I see here is a dead dragon. " Irileth said as she walked up to the group,
"Go and tell the Jarl what has been done here, he will want to know that dragons are able to be felled." Selyna sighed, looked at the dragon skeleton then turned and started to make her way back up to Whiterun.
"DOVAHKIIN!"