Cymbeline took a deep breath as she looked up, the Hall of the Elements loomed over her, casting its long shadow in the white snow as the wind picked up, tugging on her apprentice robes and freezing her to the bone. Long had she dreamed to standing on the grounds of Skyrim's infamous College of Winterhold, ever since she had been a little girl just beginning to dabble into the mysterious world of magic, she had her eyes set on this feat.
Winterhold was a big change from her home city of Bravil, much colder and harsher than she was used to, probably due to the lack of walls and buildings in the hallow shell of a once grand city. She had quickly discovered through wayward glares that her kind was not welcome, her kind being a mage, despite there being a college just outside of the city, the people of Winterhold's few remaining settlements resented the college and its applicants. Cymbeline felt herself lucky that she had been able to pass the entrance exam with ease, the wrenching feeling of having to hunker down in the ruins of old homes that night were a dark thought she had pushed far away, for now she had a room in the Hall of Attainment that was warm and well furnished, perfect for her work.
She had received her robes upon initial tours of the College, little to no one was around save for herself and Mirabelle Ervine, the Master Wizard. Cymbeline had yet to meet any of her fellow classmates, but was told they were already in the Hall of the Elements, just about to start their first class.
Taking a deep breath, Cymbeline plastered a warm smile across her face and pushed the heavy doors open, the moment she stepped in warmth surrounded her, the hum of magic was present in the air, but it was only a whisper in the back of Cymbeline's head.
She had entered a small chamber that was scantily decorated, two heavy wooden doors were on either side of her, no doubt leading up further into the tower. An iron gate stood before her, the college's eye decorated the closed gate, staring straight at Cymbeline as she strode towards the gate, growing more excited as her smile grew larger, a bounce surfaced in her stride that she tried to repress with her smile, she had to be professional.
Three students stood before her, a Khajiit, a Dunmer and a Nord who looked slightly disappointed at Cymbeline. An old Nord man stood before the students, she assumed him to be Tolfdir, one of her instructors.
"Welcome! Welcome, we were just about to begin, please stay and listen!" Tolfdir greeted as Cymbeline stood next to the Nord whom glanced over for a few short seconds before returning his attention to Tolfdir.
"So, as I was saying, the first thing to understand is that magic is, by its very nature, volatile and dangerous." Tolfdir continued "Unless you can control it, it can and will destroy you."
Cymbeline felt a shiver run through her body, she knew the affects of magic backlash almost all too well.
"Sir I think we all understand that fairly well, we wouldn't be here if we couldn't control magic." The Dunmer interrupted, lifting her hands slightly to further push her point and focus attention on her.
"Of course my dear, of course." Tolfdir defended, "You all posses some inherent natural ability, that much is not being questioned."
"What I'm talking about is true control, mastery of Magic." He continued, voice carrying around the Hall of the Elements, "It takes years, if not decades of practice and studying."
"Then what are we waiting for? Lets get started." The Khajiit spoke up, his voice thick with his native accent as Cymbeline shifted her weight from foot to foot, this was starting to become out of hand.
"Please! Please, this is exactly what I'm talking about!" Tolfdir loudly said as silence befell the apprentices.
"Eagerness must be tempered with caution or else disaster is inevitable."
"But we've only just arrived here! You've no idea what any of us are capable of!" The Nord to Cymbeline's right added, a smile forming on his face as he leaned back "Why not give us a chance to show you what we can do?"
Cymbeline was almost thrown back by this, not only had the Nord proved a valid point, he had brought up a suggestion neither of the two previous apprentices had before. She was intrigued.
"You've been quite so far.." Tolfdir trailed, looking over at Cymbeline, "What do you think we should do?"
She thought about it, safety was the most important, but also learning spells to counteract would prove useful in the long run.
"I think we should learn something practical. Perhaps a warding spell." Cymbeline suggested, having made her decision as her classmates smiled at her.
"Is that so?" Tolfdir sighed.
"See? She agrees with us too." The Dunmer added, motioning towards Cymbeline, "Why don't you actually show us something?"
"Alright, lets settle down. I suppose we can try something practical." Tolfdir took a breath "In continuing our theme of safety, we'll start with wards."
"Wards are protective spells that block magic, I'll teach you all a ward and we'll see if you can use it to block spells. Alright?" A collective nod came from the apprentices as Tolfdir once again turned to Cymbeline.
"Would you mind helping me with the demonstration? Are you at all familiar with ward spells?" To which Cymbeline nodded.
"I've used one before." She mentioned as Tolfdir nodded in approval.
"Now… if you'll just stand right over there. I'll cast a spell at you and you block it with the ward." Cymbeline did as instructed and stepped back a few paces, the spell for the lesser ward was already forming in her hands, it would be perfect for this sort of demonstration.
Before her the apprentices shifted behind their instructor as a ball of fire formed in the palms of his hands, a fire ball. Holding her hand up, she let magicka flow through her body, down her arm and out the palm of her hand, a clear semi circle of magic bloomed before her.
With in seconds of the ward being placed, it was up to full strength, and Cymbeline could feel her magicka draining, but Tolfdir was quick and sent the fire ball towards her. The fire was absorbed by her ward, sending ripples throughout the shield as Cymbeline halted the spell, breathing heavily as magic returned into her.
"Excellent work!" Tolfdir proclaimed with a smile, letting his hand fall to his side as Cymbeline followed suite, "Well I think this is an excellent start. I'd like you all to continue practicing with wards please."
To which the four apprentices did, Cymbeline finding herself setting up an ice spike spell with the Dunmer across from her. They conversed slightly, trading names and stories until Tolfdir had called them off.
"I think perhaps we're ready to begin exploring some of the various applications of magic throughout history. The college has undertaken a fascinating investigation in the ruins of Saarthal nearby." Tolfdir explained, the Nord's eyes lighting up as the old mage continued "It's an excellent learning opportunity, I suggest we meet there in a few hours and see what awaits us inside. That's all for now, thank you."
Cymbeline was excited, she had never been in Nordic Ruins before, the only ruins she had been in were the Ayleid Ruins she had camped in on her way from Bravil to Skyrim. Having passed a few Nordic Ruins on her way through the harsh climates of Skyrim, they were different from what she was used to seeing.
However, by the time she had left for Saarthal, the weather had picked up, snow was being tossed into the wind, crashing against the heavy cloaks Cymbeline wore to stave off the cold. Winter was harsher and more unforgiving in Skyrim than back in Cyrodiil, the bitter wind cut through her clothing, the snow clung to the edges of her gear and the veil of white that blinded her in the churning snows of the mountains surrounding Winterhold's south western border.
She clung to the edges of her cloaks, having a difficult time peering through the blinding veil and keeping up with the other apprentices, the Dunmer named Brelyna and the Khajiit named J'zargo were faint shadows in the icy storm that they pushed through towards Saarthal.
The snow was easy to walk on at least, but hidden patches of ice constantly threw Cymbeline off balance and stumbling into the snow. Now shivering she was attempting to light up a fire spell in her hands, trying to keep warm when she felt her footing give once more. Snow billowed up around her as her hood fell back, her copper hair flying in the harsh winds as the icy cold bit at her fingertips when her hands plunged into the snow.
"Need a hand?"
Cymbeline looked up, peering through the snow at the Nord that stood before her, a hand extended down to her as she took it gratefully and was hoisted to her feet. The Nord had an easier time with the snow and seemed not to mind it as Cymbeline buried her cold hands in her cloaks, bunching the fabrics and furs around them, feeling coming back into her fingers slowly.
"Thanks." She managed out through violent shivers, she hated winter.
"New to Skyrim, eh?" The Nord asked as Cymbeline nodded.
"I'd hoped I wouldn't be the only Nord, but I should've known better." He breathed, Cymbeline looking over at him.
"I noticed that. Why aren't there any Nords at the College?"
"Magic is shunned by most. If it can't be swung over your head and used to crack skulls, most Nords want nothing to do with it. Magic is seen as something for elves, and weaker races." To which Cymbeline frowned and the Nord took notice.
"No offense, of course." He added quickly. She was already beginning to like him, for starters, he had an aptitude for magic despite living in a society that shunned magic users.
"Cymbeline Fire-Weaver." She said, breaking the silence that had fallen between the two of them, save for the crunching of snow underfoot and the howling winds.
"What?"
"My name, thought you'd ought to know." Cymbeline grinned, Saarthal coming into sight.
"I'm Onmund."
And that was the start of a long and complicated friendship between the two, and one of the many times Onmund had to pick her up out of the snow.
Hello there, today I present to you the first in a series of one shots following the story of Onmund and the Imperial Dragonborn, Cymbeline. Chapters will be updated every Wednesday and Saturday, I'd love to hear your feed back and improve on the story, till next time!