The Coward
Chapter 1:: Farewell Sweet Maiden
Disclaimers:: All intellectual properties attributed to Bethesda regarding Elder Scrolls is their sole property, this is a work of fiction and is by no means an attempt at earning any monetary sum from this project. This is a work for free and for enjoyment to entertain whom ever reads this project.
Author's Notes:: Before I start writing the main story line revolving around title I thought it would be good to have a few warm up stories. These also can be used to get an idea of several OC's that will occur within the main story line and also to shorten the length so it doesn't get bogged down during certain points. Furthermore the main character is based off of my character that I have played within the game itself, so there are of course time skips. The following stories that I will be putting out will be chapters that will explain some moments during those time skips. Considering the nature of these stories, the main character will be more of a secondary character that enters the lives of the following characters featured in these stories who will make appearances throughout the main story line.
Anyhow due to the nature of this particular character's back story this story eludes to an event so this will be most likely mature. This one is also based upon a character I made in Skyrim and though I never really wrote a story line till now for her, I felt she was interesting enough considering how I played her throughout the game and felt this would be the perfect time to flesh her out as well.
[Break]
A cave, a simple cave, not an extraordinary cave but a cave that you could probably find anywhere else within Skyrim, so a very simple and very ordinary cave. This particular cave has what most caves have and that is several tunnels that empty out into larger caverns that could be say used for rooms if one had a mind to use them for that purpose, and since we are making some good progress lets start thinking of some of those purposes that caves could be used. If its a troll then you probably will have a bunch of bones and the left overs from what ever hapless traveler or animal was lets just say was that particular's troll last meal. Good, very good you can picture the scene of visceral that trolls leave in their dens, the bloody bones, the blood stained clothing, the remains of a person that is large enough to make you realize it was a person that your boot just went squelched.
Perhaps we can now go towards more human occupants, oh yes, lets start thinking about nercomancers and how they tend to decorate their little holes in the walls. Oh that was good, you just made it a slight joke, that is a very good sign of progress, though it was a bit weak but we won't be too critical. So again back to the necromancers, rotting dead bodies that should have better sense and remain dead. The smell of rotten flesh, the sound of buzzing flies that flick around us as we move deeper into this quaint little home. Oh and yets not forget that insufferable amount of incense necromancers tend to use in copious amounts that seem only to aim to smother any chance of fresh air as it competes against the smell of putrid flesh, or the scent of long decayed flesh that always makes us sneeze. Flickering candles that make every shadow jump out at you just as a cold dried hand lands upon your shoulder, oh god, that just made us jump a little. Yet, yet behold a tiny little smile, a little thought of asking directions from said hand to where the treasure is located, wait we can't really hear you too well, wait didn't your tongue just fall out.
Excellent, this is a lot of progress, yets go take that final step and turn our thoughts towards band-
"NNNnNnnOOoOoooO!", with a shriek, her mental walls crumbling Cynthia wrapped her arms around herself, tremors shaking her body within the tatters of her clothing. I-I just can't do it...not yet, mentally repeating that phrase for the tenth time as her eyes shirvel around the tiny room within the bandit hideout they shoved her into after that night. Not knowing how long its been since her group was ambushed and slaughtered to just her, nor how long that night lasted before she finally woke up within this tiny barely lit cell.
Why couldn't she control the beating of her heart, the tiny gasps of air that just weren't enough to keep up with her heart that was intent on beating out of her chest. She was stronger than this, wasn't she a warrior that faced up against vampires and necromancers, didn't she stood upon a stair holding a wave of draugr while HaJanga readied his spells, for Lilith to line up her shots to take the front down by the knees to slow down. Cynthin knew she did not blanch or tremble as the undead washed up against her shield then but now she couldn't stop her shaking as she tightened her arms once again around her.
"I-I am stronnnger, this can't-can't beat me...I-I refuse to yet it.", a weak chant at best between teeth that couldn't stop stammering as once more she felt those tears, those god awful tears welling up, but she refused to yet them fall. With a wrenching movement she tore her right arm, why was it so hard and why did she feel so tired as she wiped angrily at her eyes.
Closing her eyes, once more she gripped herself tightly, though it was drafty in cell her shivering was more mental as she once again attempted to calm her breathing. Letting herself instead focus upon the ambush, the conversation and jokes she had with her two best friends within this cold and cruel world. It felt like years but it was probably only a few days ago from the pain emanating from her stomach, the dryness of her throat as she delved into her memories of that day.
[Break]
"HaJanga says he gets the gems of souls, yes HaJanga always right on this for HaJanga is most capable, yes most capable. So HaJanga wins already, so lets go and get Hajanga's gems of souls right now.", shaking her head, Cynthia couldn't help but smile at the boasting of the cat man, as she finished up tying up her arm guards upon her arms as she yet her gaze drift over to their ranger Lilith. She couldn't quite get over that name, every time she yet her mind dwell on it for a second she kept thinking mage.
"Oh do please shut up HaJanga, I mean literally its not like you are the only one who can use soul gems especially if they are filled. I mean where do you think I charge my bow with, happy thoughts, good ideas. Oh wait perhaps its moon sugar, you know since with each shot it makes a person a bit addled.", despite the jibe, Cythina could see Lilith's lip turning up in that corner smile as she gazed with fondness towards HaJanga, with a more subdued tone then before, "HaJanga will share with Lillith...and HaJanga only tried it once.", the last faint, though with wood elves sharp hearing Cynthia knew without a doubt that Lillith heard the last part perfect.
"Oh yes, because you are such a good kitty. Aren't you HaJanga, good kitty, very good kitty not using that nasty stuff again ever since kitty got stuck in a barrel for a night. Kitty definitely learned his lesson after that night.", even for Cynthia, seeing Lillith saunter up to HaJanga, hips swaying as she reached over to rub a gloved hand along the spot between HaJanga's ears, voice teasing and playful at the same time, nearly had her burst out laughing.
Shaking her head, long black hair swinging freely for a few minutes before tying up it into a simply pony tail, "Okay you two, enough foreplay because I for one don't want to wake up late at night hearing what I heard last night. I mean literally no one should have to be subjected seeing a Khajit's tail used in such a fashion, I mean I literally can't see a cat's tail in the same manner now because of that.", smiling before leaning forward to place one hand upon her knee, her gaze fondly looking upon her two best friends. Lillith sticking her tongue out as HaJanga simply smiled that kinda of scary smile with his overly large canines.
"HaJanga would mind much if Cynthia also joined, more fun with three then two yes, tail can be used and something else for double the work for one.", Cynthia swore that she had never saw a Khajit leer before till now, and thankfully before she could club HaJanga upon his dirty minded head Lillith beat her to the punch literally.
"Now you naughty kitten, you say that to our venerable leader again that is more maid then woman and I might have to do something to a particular area. Oh and since you still have a tail it wouldn't make you entirely useless to me at night either if say something gets cut.", with Lillith's expression and HaJanga's going pale, Cynthia couldn't quite get how Khajit's could pale with all that fur, with a shake of her head she strapped her simple steel sword to her hip.
Smiling, her brown eyes twinkling just a bit in that sense of companionship she felt around those two, she reached down to snag her steel helmet before fitting it over her head. "Okay you two its time for us to wipe out this small bandit cave, collect that pitiful bounty knowing we will make a lot more septims from what we loot and all but hey that's the life of an adventuring band. So before we lose more of the day, I say we get this done and end the day in the Dead Man's Rest over some mead and Narri's excellent venison stew she was working on this morning before we left. I for one would love to sleep in an inn this night with a full belly of food and mead as any Nord would.", with a playful glare at the two, "And if any of you say that I am also an easy living Imperial because of my blood I will tie you both up and leave you both outside.", with that said Cythnia unstrapped her bonded iron shield before making sure her iron armor was secured before following HaJanga who would cast detect life before they entered the cave the bandits were holed up to figure out where most of them were.
So it happened she was in the perfect spot to both hear, "But HaJanga gives Lillith double pleasure with tail and...guhiisssss", and so Cynthia got to hit HaJanga after all.
[Break]
"No, no no no no...HaJanga, HaJanga open your eyes, please by the love of Mara open your eyes!.", Cythnia couldn't look behind her to see how HaJanga was, but she knew it wasn't good at all seeing where the arrow entered and that rattling wheeze of breath the Khajit made before falling backwards into Lillith, who dropped her hunting bow to cradle HaJanga's head in her lap, her golden wheat hair falling from her hood to drape the Khajit's staring eyes.
"Oio ho boys, tha cat spell slanger is doan. Push da warrior wrench na, oh an Hiss Upon the Air grate shut, we can naw rush dem wit our numbas.", waving his battle axe the bandit chief signaled his men forward to rush their position in the narrow tunnel that they made their last stand, its walls charred by the flames that till now held back their numbers.
What went wrong, this was suppose to be an easy raid, like any other raid, those thoughts running through her mind with an almost dagger like quality as she brought up her shield, her sword sliding along its side to stab the foremost bandit whose war axe fell futiley upon her shield that opened him up her quick thrust to the gut. With a grunt she pushed the wounded man backwards before making a quick slash against his knee with the flat of her blade, the sound of bone shattering followed by the bandit's sheer scream as he fell down. The dying man giving her scant seconds to catch her breath, hoping that soon Lillith would return to the fray, they had a chance as long as they took the bandits down smartly, to clog the tunnel so they would have enough time for Lillith to pick the lock that barred them from freedom.
Again, even as another bandit vaulted over her fallen comrade's squirming body only to end up skewered by Cythnia's sword before she could land, her mind rushing to how this went so wrong. How did they ambush them so quickly, its like...almost like they were forewarned but how, we only stopped at Falkreath for an hour to pick up the notice at the inn. With dawning horror, as she slid the dead bandit's body from her blade to lie upon the dying man from before, the signature, the seal of a Jarl bounty wasn't written upon the writ. It was blank, did that mean that this was a set up from the start and we took the bait the moment we tore the note down from the wall.
Growling, more at herself than at her enemies, Cynthia would berate herself later, now it was time to fight and perhaps live through this immense blunder. "Lillith, he's dead and if you don't by Shor's bones want to end up like him and ensure that his death wasn't for nothing. You better damn well get yourself together and show what an angry wood elf looks like when her favorite pet has been hurt!", shouting over her shoulder as she parried the great sword a nord bandit overextended with in order to attack, the stench of offal strong in the air from the two bodies lying upon the ground infront of her.
"Farewell HaJanga for now, I will find you soon.", even though the din of battle, the shouts of men and women and the clashing of metal upon metal, those words brought a chill to Cynthia at how dead sounding the usual chipper wood elf woman voice was, nor the sound of two blades being unsheathed as the scent of the wild woods seemed to spring out of nowhere.
"Lillith!?", unable to take her eyes from the front, the blades of her enemies seeking her, so she coudln't see what Lillith was doing. It was with some surprise, her mouth opening in shock seeing her surprise mirrored by the bandits as she felt a light weight land upon her shoulders, the soft touch of a cloak before feeling as Lillith launched herself forward into the midst of the bandits, twin swords of glass flashing in torch light.
She was moving so fast, her blades flashing a sickly green as the enchants upon them flared with each strike, one enchanted to paralyze and the other enchanted to poison. Cynthia couldn't keep track of Lillith's movement as she danced amongst the assorted men and women, a slash to an arm, then a slash to a leg. Never killing, no Cynthia remembered Lillith explaining that she prefered death by degrees as the poison ramped up in a victim's system, the helplessness that followed from the paralyzing effect. It chilled her when the merry wood elf explained that the poison bypassed the paralzye and the pain that followed got stronger the less a person moved.
Shaking herself from the chill she felt, Cynthia felt hope renew within her breast as none of the bandits where a match to Lillith's skill or speed as she had already laid five of the bandits low upon the ground. We can win this fight, we can live, hope's flame blossomed in her heart as she struggled to move over the bodies of the two already felled by her sword to join her friend.
Hope is the carrot that is held before a beast of burden, it dangles in front, just out of reach and so a beast of burden will focus upon it not realizing what was happening around them. Not realizing that as it moves forward it doesn't see that its crossing over a chasm upon a single log, not knowing one false step would lead it to its doom.
So with all desperate acts that moment when it shatters in one second, a second so fragile that for those who put so much weight upon that moment seems to slow down. Cynthia saw the agronian slide up towards Lillith who was dancing with two bandits, a slash of red upon one's thigh from the poison blade, a cut along an arm of the paralyzing blade upon the other. She wanted to scream, warn Lillith some how, to move in an instant, anything to stop that moment from continuing, eyes pleading as she saw Lillith's head twist around, their eyes meet for a second, god that second dragged on for eternity. Whipping her arm in a snap Lillith sent her poisoned sword screaming towards Cythnia.
Upon the release of that sword time sped up as Cythnia watched the blade of the argonian slide into Lillith's back so sickenly easy though the glass cuirass that Cythnia knew Lillith wore underneath her cloak of green. The arching of the wood elf's back as her last sword dropped from sudden nerveless hands as the life faded from her green gaze. With that scream, it tore into Cythnia's heart, and yet it also told her mind that the sword spinning towards her would impale her point first through the neck where neither the armor or helm covered.
Cynthia could almost hear Lillith explaining that if the poison ever entered a major artery, a fatal wound it would kill instantly, "Like getting socked right out in a fight Cynthia, a huge flash burning pain then blackness, you get it right...a mercy killing", words floating within her mind as she accepted that this was the last gift from her friend, to die instead of being captured alive, "Thank you...", with a smile she prepared to accept her friend's last gift.
It would later come as a nearly soul shattering shock when instead of sudden pain she felt something slam into her iron breast plate sending her stumbling backwards ontop of the corpses of the bandits she killed earlier. Eyes widening even further in shock as she stared up at the rock ceiling of the tunnel, the feeling of blood soaking into her clothing from the dead bodies beneath her. How, a simple word echoing in her mind as she felt a shadow fall upon her, the feeling of a weight smashing into her gut that sent all the air of our lungs. Coughing as she felt her shield and sword torn from her hands before the feeling someone roughly being dragged to her feet.
"Hoi Hiss Upon the Air, ya slamy reptile being my econd cammand no, aye ya a sliv wort keping.", the voice of the bandit leader, the smell of his breath as her eyes fell upon the agronian, blade still within the body of Lillith and his tail wrapped around her arm that threw the sword. "Yesss masssster isss my honor.", strange except for the hissing that agronian spoke pretty clearly, Cynthia thought randomly as she felt herself lifted upon broad shoulders, the last she saw of Lillith's body was of the agronian sliding the corpse from his blade before reaching up to close the staring green eyes. The scene whirling to show the locked door, the bodies of the bandits and HaJanga, his arms folded upon his chest, no sign of the arrow, his feline yellow eyes closed as well. All that followed was blackness...deep blackness filled with pain and shame.
[Break]
Gasping, Cynthia snapped her head up, a twinge pain from her neck as she heard a faint crack as she jerked herself from her memories, or lack there of. Wrapping her arms tighter around her tattered clothing, it taking very litte thought of what happened, especially since though she still wore the same brown shirt even if it was torn down the front, she was wearing an entirely different set of pants that were several sizes to wide. At least they gave me a pair of pants after ruining my last ones, she thought grimly to herself, probably a good idea not to let their prize die of the cold.
Yet, thankfully instead of the tremors, she felt a cold anger, yes a cold anger at the deaths of her friends, it felt much better focusing on their loss then the other thing. It was far better as she felt her body cease its trembling, yeah she was feeling better, no better than better she felt more like a new person.
"I will avenge you HaJanga, Lillith...I will kill that agronian.", it was the agronian, Hiss Upon the Air, she would not forget that name, he was the cause of it all. If it wasn't for him none of this would have happened. "My friends would still be alive, and I wouldn't...I wouldn't...", shaking her head, realizing she couldn't think about what happened to her, already she felt the tremors faintly as she tore her mind back to her friends, and that sweet anger and hatred that was warming her, that was chasing those tremors away.
"Kill him...Kill him...", muttering those two words over and over, a chant that she felt was making her gain strength, she almost felt like herself, not quite, no probably will never feel like that woman again, instead of the steady rock presence she felt she was it was more jagged, almost like a cliff. For a brief moment there was the feeling of sorrow, a very fragile sorrow at the loss but it was soon covered up by the anger and hatred that was focused upon that one agronian.
Feeding her new emotions, giving birth to this new person Cynthia's eyes traveled along her cell, taking in for the first time the pile of straw she had been tossed upon. The cracked mug, the wooden plate with stale bread, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of them as she reached over to eat, realization that she must keep her body fed in order to enact her revenge, to hunt down the one that caused it all. Despite the rock like bread she managed to choke it down before downing the fetid mug of water, fed and refreshed she once more returned her gaze to her surroundings.
There wasn't much else besides what she saw first, yet crawling upon her hands and knees, eyes squinting from the poor lightning. A grim smile stretched her mouth into an almost feral snarl as her gazed fell upon a very rusty blade of a dagger, perhaps broken ages ago and its color now made it hard to see. Reaching a hand out she picked up the dagger blade, frowning a bit at how fragile it felt, but it only had to last for one strike she thought, just long enough for her to make use of it to get a better weapon. Keeping the blade in one hand she reached up to her shoulder, grimly satisfied to feel not a single tremor as she tore the sleeve. Shouldn't cut myself now must I, she thought to herself as she wrapped one end of the blade with the cloth, well till I can cut someone else with it she thought darkly.
Now, well now Cythnia just had to wait for the next person to enter her cell, and knowing bandits they would expect a shattered prisoner not a person armed, oh no she thought darkly to herself, the next person who entered would be dead before they realized what happened. So as she waited, and her mental struggle was no past Cythnia could hear the bandit's and their voices through the wooden door of her celling, the flickering of the light of the torches upon the walls that she could see through the very small slit cut into the door. The smell of roasting meat, beneath the scent of many unwashed bodies fighting with the savory aroma of the meat, yells and laughs. Low throated male voices and the pitched voices of females, loud curses and roars of laughter.
All that told Cythnia was that soon her wait would be over, and knowing how bandit leaders acted they would be sitting above it all like a petty king sitting upon his throne as his subjects partied. Once more her lips parted into a predatory smile, if someone was looking they would have seen the gleam of white teeth, and a poor underling would be ordered to bring the king his entertainment for the night.
Oh yes, Cynthia would act the helpless prisoner, beaten into submission and broken, she would rest her back against the back of the cell, legs splayed out before her as her chin rested upon her chest. She could almost picture the bandit smiling, maybe they would take a brief taste if they were male, or if its female they would look annoyed. Either would end up the same way, it was like a script for a play that only Cythnia was privy too, they would move deeper into the cell, maybe nudge her feet with their own. Perhaps a bit of worry, what if the prisoner died of shock, or they realized that they would have to drag the pathetic woman up to her feet. They would lean forward, a hand reaching out to grab the senseless woman, and that would be when Cynthia would grab that proffered hand to drag that person to her.
Chuckling to herself, she really didn't have to think much of how she would use the dagger, a swift upward thrust that even this dull brittle blade could easily pierce. Then after that...well Cythnia would see where she ended up this night, her only real goal was to make sure the agronian died before she did.