AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I don't own either The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim nor Fallout: New Vegas. They both belong to Bethesda Softworks, and no, I don't own that either. I also don't own any of the songs, games or movies which may or may not be quoted in this story, just to be clear, since they belong to a lot of people.
Yes, yes, yes, I've been away for a billion years and… I haven't done that much, really. I've changed the format, though, since I've been told chapters with an average of eighteen thousand words are pretty exhausting to read. So I split them up, gave them a look and kept writing just to have something to post.
I have to thank two people in particular: "doesthiscountasusername" for pretty much everything in the way of ideas, help, support, impressions about new chapters and all that stuff; "icewolfheartsmuffins" for having embraced the way of the beta and handling the tedious work of correcting grammatical mistakes, stylistic notes and giving me a deep analysis of what works and what doesn't in the story for the chapters' definitive release. I'd like to thank two other people who might not want to be mentioned, but who have set this story on the right tracks. Also, huge thanks go to my brother for the cover!
Anyway, this is a crossover I'm writing for fun and into which I'm pouring considerable effort and care. Don't really know if it shows, but hey, at least I'm having a good time. Hope you will, too. Older chapters may be subject to change for the aforementioned beta reasons.
Oh, and don't forget to tell me what you think about it, either via PM or review. Any ideas, suggestions, or criticism are much appreciated. I'll answer via PM as soon as I can.
Rated M for violence, language, and the possibility of adult themes.
Have fun!
P.S.: This disclaimer won't be repeated, I'll just leave it here in the first chapter. I suppose there's no need for me to write it and for you to read it each time, right?
Blackreach was quiet, the dark stone of the endless grotto finally undisturbed, the Dwarven ruins finally left in the peace they deserved, and the grand fungi shining like multi-colored moons over the entirety of the cave. The automatons there rested forever, either recently destroyed or long deactivated. One might've said there was silence… except for a small spot, just outside the entrance to the Tower of Mzark. Those were the high crags above the lake of Blackreach.
An Argonian stood upon a boulder, his eyes scanning for enemies and his feathers raised. His light armor gleamed under the natural light, in contrast to his matte blade. The colors of his scales and feathers was nigh indistinguishable, warped as they were by the blue and purple light radiating from above and around him. He rotated his shoulders and grinned.
"Come on, Brelyna, move up!" Keram-Rei called as he slid down the small cliff, masterfully avoiding the largest rocks and jumping down on the last Falmer below him. Although blind, he had the funny impression the thing stared at him amidst his slaughtered brethren. He jammed his blade into the Snow Elf's open mouth, wrestling it free just a second later with a spurt of dark blood.
The corrupted creature was no match for him, especially after years of hard training and endless questing. During the last year or so of his life, however, raging battles, Dragon killing and Oblivion exploring had added to the mix.
All in all, the things were no more dangerous than bees, if the corpses sprawled before him were anything to go by. Some were charred, some dismembered, and one turned to a tiny pile of ash.
"Ah, there you go." Keram-Rei sighed out loud, sheathing his blade. "You have indeed missed all the fun."
The Dunmer mage carefully climbed down the steep path, but lost her footing near the end. He readily sprung forwards and caught her in his arms, and both remained completely still for a few moments. Then, he burst out laughing.
"What is it now?" Brelyna asked angrily. He could tell she actually wasn't. She never was with him.
"You aren't going to get used to this any time soon, are you?" Keram-Rei asked, letting her go and tilting her Malachite pauldron back into place.
"I've never done anything like this before, Keram, and I don't even know how I could find all this adventure business so fascinating back when I joined you." Brelyna ranted, and adjusted her gold circlet over her hair, now a complete mess of black tufts sticking up every which way. "The College of Winterhold, and all of Morrowind's magic schools I've ever attended to, has never made me step out into the wild. And let's not talk about fighting outlaws and creatures, much less exploring ancient ruins! Or fight outlaws and creatures as I explore ancient ruins deep in the wilds, in this case."
"...Apart from Sarthaal." The Argonian replied with a smile. "That was quite an adventure, was it?"
"Please, you got to venture in and battle Draugr." The Dunmer grunted. "I deciphered runes all day… and no matter what you say, I still found it to be-"
"-Far more boring than this." Keram-Rei interrupted. He grinned and spread his arms to make her look at the incredible cave behind him. "Come on, you know how much I like reading and studying myself, but would you ever choose a life locked away behind books and scrolls over a single day of this?"
"I'm seriously starting to reconsider the first option." She muttered, shaking her head. "If only you didn't drag me through monster-infested caves and bandit coves…"
"But this place is beautiful, isn't it?" He retorted, still not completely serious. "Apart from blind, corrupted, and evil Snow Elves that want to take over the surface. That was implied."
"Alright, you win… stupid spellsword." Brelyna smiled, and then pressed her soft, dark lips over his scaly ones in a passionate moment. How had he gotten used to that warm feeling, to her smooth skin, to her silky hair… he didn't know. The sheer idea of kissing her had been a dream until what? A month ago? And now there he was.
Things had changed pretty quickly over the last few weeks, eh?
After breaking the kiss, her smile broadened. "Beautiful."
Keram-Rei ignored her gold circlet and ruffled her black hair even more, earning one of her childish giggles. Then, he turned to have another look at the breathtaking view that was Blackreach. He sighed, taking in everything like the first time.
Gigantic and gleaming the mushrooms cast their blue and purple light over the entire cave, towering over even the largest Dwemer ruins. Some, the most massive ones, even went as far as to grow through and around them. The mighty metal and stone were of little concern to their colossal roots.
The lake below, its waters a mesmerizing crystal blue, sparkled under the natural light of the enormous fungi. The faint shimmers of Red Nirnroots barely reached them from this high up. The ancient roads and buildings had survived surprisingly well throughout the millennia, and he thought the fact that even the most severely damaged ones hadn't crumbled to dust to be simply outstanding.
Keram-Rei's gaze followed all of it: cracked stones, dented metal, dusty towers, crumbling fortresses, and all the way to the black stone they walked upon… then, he looked back at her. She was just as enraptured as he was the first time he'd opened the large doors that led into this hidden gem. Unknown, encrusted deep into the earth, hidden away from prying eyes. He had to admit, it wasn't so dissimilar from her. Beautiful and yet unseen by everyone.
He could say he had a good eye for this sort of things.
The Argonian remembered why he'd taken her here in the first place. And so he cleared his throat, gaining her attention. This would've been pretty easy, if he played it right. It was just a matter of… finding the right words. "As to why I've brought you here…"
Brelyna nodded, focusing back on him while sweeping a tuft of hair away from her eyes. Yes, good start. "Oh, right, right. Is there anything we need to fight? Artifacts ready to be recovered? Lost knowledge to bring back into the light? Or all of them at once, perhaps?"
"No, something far more important." He responded, clenching both hands tightly. He felt the metal hidden in the gauntlet and in an instant the leather over his palms was replaced by two small metal shapes. One was held in his left hand, the other in the right. Nervous, he felt too damn nervous, but he had to mask his nervousness. He had to relax, he had to think of it as just another fight – calm down. It was damn near impossible, but he tried. "Our lives will depend on this, Brelyna."
"You've never said anything like that before." She stammered as she nodded again. "You're scaring me, you've never been this serious before. W-what is it?"
Now or never.
Keram-Rei drew a deep breath, then knelt before her. A master-crafted gold ring sat on his right palm. It was finely decorated, with floral etchings dancing across its whole surface to symbolize the lively and blossoming new times to come. And at the front, a sapphire and a ruby had been carved to form two roses, their stems intertwined and representing the eternal bond between the two souls.
"Will you marry me?"
Brelyna gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. A muffled shriek of surprise escaped her lips, her watery eyes darting between his face and ring. She ran a hand through her long, ebony hair, chuckling in amazed nervousness as she did. He couldn't help but smile at it – it had worked! "By Azura, Keram, I don't know what to say…" The Dunmer whispered, pure emotion dripping from her voice. "I… I… of course I will! Yes!"
She hugged him tight, and his smile seemed to widen even more as he wrapped his arms around her. She said yes! It was the only thing he managed to think, laughing joyously with her. Yes, yes, yes!
Keram-Rei looked into Brelyna's eyes and kissed her, more ardently than he'd ever done so before. And he felt all the smoothness of her hair and skin under his fingers, the sheer beauty she seemed to radiate whenever he saw her, her hips, and what would've awaited him when the night would come.
And he savored it, he savored every instant of what he could only describe as the best moment of his life. Nothing else could cloud his mind right now, absolutely nothing at all.
She moved back slightly, still beaming. "This is the best day of my life, Keram!"
He smiled back, when a clawed hand clutched at his pauldron and someone behind him breathed out a raspy sigh. "Time's up, Keram-Rei. Get out of bed."
Keram-Rei woke with a start in his bedroll, groaning, as he was instantly blinded by Blackreach's blue light. Fuck, not again. He thought, growling in annoyance. I'm going to build up the courage and tell her what I feel, someday. Definitely not today though. The Argonian quickly added, getting to his feet and scratching his feathers as he avoided one of the dozens of runes cast clockwise around his bedroll. He just needed to… think about the right words. The right words were hard to find.
Needless to say: he woke up alone.
That was him. That was the mighty Dragonborn, the savior of Nirn, the slayer of Alduin and all that. Sure, he'd done those things. He'd slain Lord Harkon and Miraak, he'd fought and stopped the Stormcloak Rebellion to bring peace to the Empire. He was relentless when there was an enemy to fight, ruthless against dark mages and necromancers, unforgiving towards Daedric cultists. A warrior, a soldier, a Dawnguard, a paladin, a hero – and he still couldn't approach a female. That was… certainly not fine, but 'accepted' by him. The farthest he'd gone with one had been a few exchanged words (about war and magic, of all things), a little imagination and an aching wrist afterwards. So much for the Dragonborn.
He was probably the most famous loser of all Tamriel, come to think of it.
The Dragonborn shooed those thoughts away, rolled up the heavy pelt he'd slept on and fitted it into his enchanted satchel, where he put most of his belongings. Apart from his mansion near Falkreath, of course, since it just wouldn't fit.
And he'd tried.
He sighed. He'd had to rebuild it again. The sheer thought of the work he'd had to face still gave him nightmares. Oh, and Falkreath's inhabitants always sneaking near the smoldering ruins in groups of five… no, it was just a change of style, yes. He just didn't like the first house, which was the perfect explanation for a purple mushroom cloud in the middle of the night.
Yes, and I'm Titus Mede II. You couldn't have possibly come up with anything worse.
He shook his head with just enough force to tear it off his shoulders. We're off to a bad start already.
Anything else, however: armors, blades, robes, hammers, gems, gold… all perfectly fine for the satchel. He simply had to put a hand inside, use a spell to visualize what he carried with him and subsequently think about the item he desired to make it appear in his hands. It couldn't create anything from scratch, but it was infinitely better than backpacks and countless pouches. The only downside was that the whole process took nearly five seconds, so he had to leave his Dragonbone broadsword on his hip if problems arose.
Keram-Rei didn't mind though, since he considered it a pretty terrific sight when paired with his Stalhrim light armor. And to think it had been worn by the infamous pirate Deathbrand himself. Crazy, bloodthirsty asshole. He growled mentally, unpleasant memories replaying in his mind. Finding it had been a pain in the ass - literally, thanks to that damned Reaver archer. It had sure been worth it in the end though.
Just… not for the archer.
The armor itself was simply perfect. It was light, it kept him warm in the glaciers and kept him cool in the marshes. It was enchanted to increase his strength and endurance, and to make it so that his strikes were faster and deadlier. It almost felt as though it weren't there, and yet it hadn't bent in the slightest under a troll's fist. His blade, white and hooked along the edges, felt much heavier than any other sword he'd ever wielded, but it was surprisingly balanced in his hand. The mighty Dragonbone, however, allowed him to cut through his foes like butter – be them bandits, Storm Atronachs or Dragons themselves.
Keram-Rei walked up to the lake and washed his face with the ice-cold water, then looked at his reflection. A sleepy Argonian battlemage looked back at him, sapphire blue eyes surrounded by emerald green scales, the spiked brows crowning them creased from sleep. Crimson feathers grew between them, spreading across his forehead and then back to the nape of his neck, where his two horns protruded.
His mouth was opened in a yawn. More bone spikes on his jaw and chin acted as a sort of beard, but they were never as sharp or white as his fangs. Some idiots could've mistaken him for a vampire, but he'd always reminded them his scales wouldn't have been as bright or nice as they were now. His teeth would've also surely come out of his mouth. Not to mention the fact his eyes were an electric blue, not a ghastly, almost blank bright red. But that didn't prevent that Dawnguard rookie from pinning my tail to a wall. He narrowed his eyes in frustration. Good thing Isran got between me and the boy in time.
Now that he gave it a better look, he noticed he hadn't even bothered to take his armor off to sleep.
Again.
He grunted, stretching a little to ready his muscles. Keram-Rei needed to be prepared for anything. He wasn't as bulky as a berserker, nor was he as wiry as a mage: he was a battlemage. He was athletic, as fast as a viper when he struck with his blade, as merciless as a storm when he cast his spells upon the enemy. And it required a little exercise every day, in order to avoid muscle tears during a fight. Brutes were always fighting, so it was pretty pointless, and mages just didn't need physical might. But then again, he was a battlemage. He combined both's strengths and weaknesses. And, in his own words, the first's good looks with the second's brains.
Some of his friends told him he'd gotten that mixed up. It had all been started by his sister.
Nah. I wouldn't have set my eyes on you two if you looked ugly, and you know it.
He ignored him. Right now, none of that mattered. He was just a sleepy Argonian, and it was going to be like that for about... fifteen minutes, possibly twenty. No, I can't waste all this time, I need to move now. The battlemage thought, taking a few steps back. If I want to be quick and explore the place again, I have to do it now.
Every time his feet moved back, Keram-Rei knew he would've regretted it terribly, he just knew it, but there wasn't any other way to get ready in time. So, he pointlessly drew in a deep breath… that nonetheless aided him in preparing for it.
This is going to be fun!
He dove into the lake.
The icy water immediately barreled its way through the Stalhrim plates and the leather suit. It mercilessly and relentlessly stabbed at each of his nerves, and his eyes instantly snapped open. His gills immediately started working, filtering oxygen from the water as his lungs sealed. Once he'd overcome the initial shock and he'd sworn at his stupidity in Jel, Dovahzul, Common Tamrielic and what little he knew of Dremorazek, Keram-Rei slowly swam back to shore. There, he quickly used an Alteration spell to get dry again. It didn't prevent him from shivering, however.
Now the Dragonborn truly was ready for battle and perhaps for a few minutes, a little less… manly. He gritted his teeth, focusing to ready a fireball in his left hand and holding his broadsword in the right.
Ready to go.
Wait – something's wrong. Can you feel it?
Keram-Rei halted before moving even a single step, scanning the ruins surrounding him in surprise. He'd been to Blackreach a thousand times, and had explored every single pebble that sat there. Only, now he could tell something was off. He couldn't quite wrap his mind around it, but there was definitely something strange, something… new about the place. Or maybe, something which had only decided to reveal itself now.
At first, he'd just come down to collect some Red Nirnroot for potions and slay a couple of Falmer for the sake of it, but now that he'd noticed the disturbance, he couldn't think about anything else. Now he couldn't have left without finding it, that much was sure. He looked around, but a strange surge of energy made his head snap towards the ancient fortress, perched upon the highest cliff and overlooking the entirety of Blackreach with its massive walls and its guard towers.
There.
It came from somewhere near the orange, glowing… orb hanging from the cave's ceiling. Surprisingly, it was the one with which he'd inadvertently summoned Vulthuyrol. How did an Ancient Dragon get here in the first place, anyway? He reflected a couple of minutes later, frowning as he passed the Dragon's carcass and entered the Dwarven fortress's courtyard.
The occasional rotting Falmer lay on the cracked ground, along with the corpses of several other people driven to insanity. He hadn't wanted to kill them, but there had been no other way. Their madness couldn't have been healed.
Keram-Rei sighed, murmuring a prayer to the Divines for their souls and stopping at the center of the yard: right below the shining orb. It hung from the ceiling, its glowing orange core surrounded by a dark metal 'cage', unreachable from any point of the ruin.
Whatever energy had been calling out to him was now at its peak, stronger than before, drawing him to it like a moth drawn to a flame. He scratched his chin. A moth… He glanced up, raising a brow.
Keram-Rei groaned, and began to walk away. He shook his head and raised his hands in surrender, huffing in annoyance as he followed his steps back. I don't have wings, I don't know what might happen, and it's incredibly stupid. Besides, I can't get up there anyway.
He stopped abruptly, turning towards the orb. Well, I might as well try doing the opposite. He thought, a sinister chuckle escaping from his mouth. If I can't get up there…
Keram-Rei closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He felt raw, unbound power playing and dancing across his throat, crawling up his tongue to climb up his teeth and lips. A power as ancient and dreaded as the one Dragons wielded, granted to mortal kind by intercession of Kynareth – to him, by the will of Akatosh himself.
"FUS RO DAH!"
The words that left his mouth did not belong to his body, he knew it well. They were the rumble of thunder, the roar of the sea, the quake of the earth. It was pure force given the form of voice.
Unsurprisingly, the orb's chain creaked and shattered at his words. It fell to the ground and dug a crater as it showered sparks all around and onto him. It had hit the exact spot where he'd been standing moments before. But then, after an endless moment of silence, it stirred and…
Opened?
It hissed and spat steam, clouding the view, but he saw it clearly split apart, the two identical halves falling at opposite ends before turning to ash. A sudden gust of air dispersed the smoldering ashes, but a small, shining steel device had been left behind. A truly unusual and out of place thing to find in a Dwarven ruin.
A lever.
Keram-Rei raised a brow in suspicion. Despite its recent fall, it looked like it had always been rooted into the ground, connected deeply into Gods-knew what sort of machinery. Its new, gleaming steel was in stark contrast with the dark, ancient surroundings. The battlemage narrowed his eyes on it, unsure. Should I go and pull it? He thought and bit his lip in doubt. Or should I get out of here as fast as I can?
Keram-Rei shook his head. "What could possibly go wrong?" He muttered with a shrug, knowing full well that hundreds of adventurers had died speaking those very same words scant moments before their untimely demises. He wasn't going to be one of them, though. They hadn't been prepared, he was. The Dragonborn was a mix of any and all heroes he'd heard of in his youth. Although, unlike them, he wasn't a stupid brute, nor an overly-cautious genius. He could think, he could use both magic and swords, and he was an impulsive idiot.
'What could possibly go wrong?' Bah, do you even listen to yourself?
He drew another deep breath, cracked his knuckles, and pulled it.
He immediately unsheathed his sword and rolled sideways. He swiftly took cover behind a nearby rock, while hissing defiantly at whatever creature might've come out of the fortress around him. Possibly a strange beast from a hidden trapdoor in one of the towers, or a gargantuan worm from the underground. Maybe an army of Animunculi from the outside, or… or whatever trap was waiting to spring. Any second now. Any second… come on…
But nothing, absolutely nothing happened for a whole minute, just the sensation of being an idiot washing over him. He sheathed his sword, resigned, and a little bit embarrassed. At least there was nobody looking. The Dragonborn thought as a little thump told him the blade was firmly in place. He brushed a little dust from his feathers and gave his tail a scratch. Yeah, strange feeling my ass. Good job.
Hey, it's not my fault if – hold on, look.
There was a spark.
It was blue, small, and yet almost blinding in its power as it slithered in the dirt. It rolled and trickled along the ground like a very slow lightning bolt, and it wasn't long before it climbed up his foot. The spark spread a warm, unknown and yet… soothing feel all over his body as it crawled up his leg. A pleasant, tingling sensation hit him when it danced across his torso moments before hovering a few breaths from his snout, all this without making the slightest sound. After several heartbeats it vanished in a flash of blazing energy.
Keram-Rei blinked the spots out of his eyes, arching a brow in bewilderment. That's… it?
Just as he thought this, an incredibly powerful bought of drowsiness overtook him. He silently cursed his own carelessness, as he fell to the ground, fast asleep.
Against his rather foolish expectations, something had gone wrong. Nothing unusual there.
He heard a grunt. "You're an idiot. It's going to be dreamless, too."