This is my first attempt at FanFic or infact actually publishing any of my writing publicly, I hope you like the story and afterwards maybe leave me some honest reviews as i am trying to better myself as a writer (But not too honest hehe) thank you for taking the time to read this over and enjoy.

Journey to Pale Pass

Ask yourself, how is it that mighty gods die, yet the Daedra stand incorruptable? How is it that the Daedra forthrightly proclaim themselves to man, while the gods cower behind statues and the faithless words of traitor-priests? It is simple... they are not gods at all – Mankar Camoran

The early morning sun rose high over the province of Cyrodiil bathing it in a comfortable warmth, drawing the early morning farm workers outside to begin there daily duties, It was such a fine day that many people didn't mind the hard labour they were about to endure instead they walked together in high spirits talking and laughing as they went. The cities bustled with shoppers and storeowners were swamped with customers bartering and some stealing. On a day as bright and glorious as this people could forget the horrors of the outside world, of the gates of oblivion and maybe for a while they could perhaps feel safe.

Stooped behind a large moss covered boulder Raspion tilted his head up to the sky and enjoyed the sunlight that broke through the thick canopy above striking his face driving away his irritation with the gentle breeze. The tiredness seemed to flow from him leaving his aching frame feeling fresh and revitalized bringing a smile to Raspion's face which was strong boned and handsome despite his middle age. He sat waiting, as he had been since before the dawn silent and lost in thought the Nord had missed sunrise. Most people these days didn't have the patience of Raspion; content was he to wait an age for an ignorant deer to pass through the clearing, but he was a man born of solitude, his own company was enough and so found a home in the wilderness away from the bustling towns and cities which had only grown more in size, since the opening of the oblivion gates that plagued the land people feared the beaten path and those who did step out rarely traveled beyond the patrols in fear of the hostile land.

Hostility suited Raspion fine, the wilderness was his home and he would defend it from the vile creatures that emerged from the hellish plains beyond. He had seen many abominations emerge from such portals that turned the sky red for miles, creatures with no names and many faces, creatures he had sent back to hell.

A rustle in the undergrowth caught his attention and Raspion pulled on the black hood that hung around his neck into place, and for a moment the world lost its focus and then everything grew clearer and more vivid. He saw beyond a stand of trees out of sight to the naked eye, the life forms of a family of deer slowly making there way toward his hiding spot. Lifting his bow he slowly notched an arrow and waited, the first deer broke through the trees it was old and so Raspion ignored it the meat would be tough, a young doe came next its legs were powerful and well muscled and its coat was smooth and healthy. Raspion stood silently, holding his breath he pulled back the arrow, and that's when he heard the scream.

It was high and shrill, that of a young woman's, so sudden and unexpected it was that Raspion's arrow went wild slamming into a nearby tree tearing deeply into the thick bark where it set, quivering. The family of deer fled with such sure footedness that they barely disturbed a leaf. Swearing softly Raspion turned and saw the forms of three or four men grouped closely together around another figure about a hundred paces away, cursing his bad luck once more he made his way toward the group. Standing just inside the tree line he saw three imperial watchmen surrounding a young woman, she was blurry and obscured effects caused by the hood he wore but he could tell she was defiant, pride fired through Raspion

'You owe the city a fine bounty pay us, or you can rot in the cells, make yer choice' snarled one of the men

'I would rather rot in a cell than hand over my gold to a rotten puss sack such as yourself' cried the woman

A large bearded man stepped forward and kicked the woman in the chest she fell back gasping and panting, winded.

'She looks better than most of the whores in the city Brun perhaps we could have some fun with her, and teach her why you should respect the imperial guardsmen. Yes she will lose her fight before night fall'

The man named Brun nodded his agreement. It was then Raspion showed himself, the large bearded man noticed him first and charged without warning his lips pulled back bearing his teeth in a sinister snarl the man outweighed him and stood an inch or two higher than the Nord who calmly stepped to one side, the big man had too much momentum and ran past him as he tried to turn he stumbled. Raspion caught him with a blistering right hook sending the big warrior crashing into the hard earth his helmet was dented and blood trickled out from under it slowly. Turning Raspion drew his one-handed long sword the two men came at him from opposite directions trying to confuse the large man, the one named Brun charged and swung his blade in a vicious downward arc, Raspion parried and aimed a kick to his knee, it bent backwards with a sickening crack, Brun fell screaming. Spinning away from a thrust to the torso Raspion backhanded the last man who dropped heavily and slid several feet down a steep embankment a large tree saved him from a surely fatal drop as the man became entangled on its roots that grew twisted and gnarled from the ground. Sheathing his sword he saw the woman sit up and rub her head groggily looking around in disbelief.

'How?' She asked simply looking at the three incapacitated men.

Raspion shrugged

'Are you ok?' he asked, The woman nodded stood up and drew her dagger, Raspion stepped forward and took hold of her wrist.

'If I wanted these men to die the grass would be red' he told her

'They were going to rape me!' She stormed

'Aye, these are corrupt guardsmen who lost there sense of honour long ago, but to kill them would mean death for you. These men will go back to there homes and lick there wounds and if they have any sense will give up there hunt for you, they have been humbled and they will not want to talk of it to their commanders.'

Sighing the woman sheathed her weapon

'You are right Nord I do not need more trouble'

'No' he agreed 'come I have a camp not far from here you can rest there, there isn't much food but what I do have you are welcome to.'

'Yes a rest sounds fine right now, but what of these creatures?' She said pointing to the still screaming Brun

'They will not come for us, not this day'

They turned and Raspion led her into the woods and up a steep incline, his camp was inside a deep cave it was well concealed by natural foliage.

'Cozy' She remarked as she stepped into the dank cave. Raspion lifted a small sack and produced half a loaf of bread and some dried meat. Moving to the back of the cave he filled a pot in a natural spring and when he turned the woman already had a fire going. Sitting across from her he lay the pot on the flames, his head had begun to pain him slightly and so Raspion removed his hood, he disliked wearing it for extended periods of time the colours were overbearing and pained him but he was greatly thankful for it as it had aided him many times it was a perfect item to accompany Raspion's keen senses developed by many years in the wild. The wizard who had given it to him had called it Jetala the life seer. When Raspion looked up he gasped, obscured by the swirling colours caused by Jetala he had not seen the woman properly she was beautiful, her hair jet black, her face was soft and yet strong and her eyes, deep pools of icy blue he was lost for words which was not uncommon unused to human interaction as he was but he stared and could not take his eyes off the woman. Uncomfortable she spoke at last

'Why is your hair so white?' she asked lamely instantly embarrassed by her question

Raspion only shrugged and said

'I was born this way.' Running his hands through it self-consciously

'Your parents had white hair?' she asked with genuine interest

'I do not know, my parents died when I was very young.'

Leaning forward Raspion added the meat to the boiling water and seasoned it until it was a thick broth. The smell caused Raspion's stomach to tighten he hadn't eaten in what seemed weeks. Passing the pot back and forth across the fire they ate in silence.

'What is your name?' Asked the woman suddenly, her mouth full

'Raspion' He replied

'I am Anya'

'A fine name for a wood elf' he remarked

'It was my mothers name'

'Was?'

She nodded

'My mother left my father a little while after I was born he never understood it, they seemed to be in love they never fought. The pain of his loss was so great that for many years he could barely look at me he told me I resembled my mother I hated to be the source of his grief'

'So you left him'

Anya's eyes brimmed with tears but she fought them back with steely defiance, she refused to let herself cry.

'He died in the massacre of Waters Edge, defending me'

'Who would attack Waters Edge?'

'The Blackwood Company scum some enrolment mission for there new recruits' Anya shivered

'They came with murder in there hearts, their eyes were inhuman they cried out in glee as they hacked there way through the habitants of our hamlet calling there victims beasts, They attacked with such ferocity that some of there weapons broke and when that happened they took to beating the residents to death with there bare hands. Those who put up a fight found there weapons were of little use, these men felt no pain. My father told me to hide under the bed, and when they burst in he was overpowered, I watched them kill my father'

The tears came then in long choking sobs. Raspion didn't know what to do and so he sat with his head bowed until they stopped.

'I'm sorry' she whispered

'You were the only survivor?' he asked

She shook her head

'Marcel Amelion also survived, I found him standing over the body of his daughter when I told him we had to leave he shook his head, telling me he had to bury his daughter and the rest of the town. But he told me something that confirmed what I had saw that night, as I watched the massacre from under my bed'

'What did you see?' asked Raspion

'One of the killers was the hero of Kvatch, Marcel had seen him also, I know it sounds crazy but I swear to you I saw him.'

Raspion didn't hear much in the wilderness but he had heard of the hero of Kvatch a noble man who had rallied the broken guardsmen and mounted a counter attack into the heart of the town fighting back the beasts and reclaiming the ruined city.

'And so you have been stealing to make a living;

'I had nothing in my haste I took no supplies I made it to the imperial city exhausted and starved, it was so big that I didn't think anyone would notice if I took some bread and they didn't, but it got out of control. You must understand so focused was I on the robberies that I forgot about Waters Edge and my father it was the perfect diversion, but it soon caught up with me I was robbing a jewelers and the guards ambushed me I barely escaped and ran if it wasn't for you I don't know what would have happened to me.'

'A friend once told me that if I didn't stand up to the evils in the world then could I count on the next man to? Those men were evil and had to be stopped' Replied Raspion

'Your friend sounds very wise'

Raspion said nothing and she saw the anger flash across his eyes and sought to change the subject.

'I am tired I think I shall sleep thank you for the food.'

Raspion handed her his travel cloak

'I will stand watch you are safe here, sleep well' He told her

Anya smiled and Raspion saw her relief he was glad to be the one that caused it.

Anya awoke as the sun was setting and the sky turned a deep red. She emerged from the cave rubbing her tired eyes and sat beside the large Nord.

'Thank you' she said simply for the first time in months she had slept a dreamless sleep and it was bliss.

'Where will you go now?' asked Raspion, his demeanor was different withdrawn and cold. She looked up at him.

'I would like to travel with you Raspion'

Raspion shook his head

'I am sorry Anya I am traveling to a cold and dangerous place I do not wish to take you there'

'And where is it you are traveling?'

'I seek Pale Pass'

'Why?'

Raspion shook his head and would say no more they sat in silence awhile longer

'Allow me to travel with you, I am alone here'

'The journey may be long and dangerous'

'No less dangerous than staying here awaiting my sentence at the hands of more corrupt guardsmen. I am a good thief and can pick locks, im also handy with a blade, I will not burden you I promise'

'Alright but if it gets too dangerous turn back do not feel obligated to follow me'

'I wont, I like you Raspion I will come with you all the way'

'Then we shall leave at dawn' he said.