Our Dragonborn Mariel has just been named Thane of Hjaalmarch, and has been assigned a burly housecarl to do her bidding, but what the heck is she supposed to do with him? Rating this one M because I'm pretty sure our Dovahkiin and Valdimar will be getting their freak on at some point. Reviews encourage me to write faster! Just saying…
"I name you Thane of Hjaalmarch, and assign you Valdimar as housecarl." Jarl Indgrod motioned towards a man standing in the shadow of the balcony. Firelight glinted in his honey colored eyes as he stepped forward.
Mariel's gaze swept him from bottom to top and back again in disbelief. This hulking Nord man, she had been assigned by the Jarl as housecarl (whatever that was), was practically a cave troll. He stood at least 7 feet tall with muscles bulging out from under his bear fur and chainmail armor. His face was covered in scraggly blonde whiskers, and his skin was bronzed and covered in thick patches of golden hairs. She didn't see a weapon other than the massive axe he had been using to chop wood just before the Jarl had called him inside. Sweat was dripping from his brow and pooling in the hollow of his neck. Mariel gave a slight shudder thinking about the smell of the matted fur around his neck.
There was no way she was going anywhere with him. He would absolutely ruin any stealth advantage she had, and that was her only real combat edge. Mariel was a 5 foot 2 inch tall, very lightly armored dark elf. Her skin was the color of slate, her hair hung in a long curtain of pale silver, and her eyes were solid black pools of darkness, giving her the appearance of a living shadow. She was not particularly strong or learned in magical arts, but she could slip silently among the shades of night, passing like an invisible spirit past the most watchful sentry, and her ebony tipped arrows flew like deaths own whisper. What on earth would she do with this clumsy beast clunking about at her heels?
"Mistress" The Nord spoke in a deep rumble, kneeling before her in the warm glow of the Jarl's longhouse. "I am at your service and will protect you with my life." From a hidden scabbard behind his back he drew a surprisingly fine silver sword, one of a pair she now saw, and held it out to her with his eyes downcast. Mariel hesitantly reached out a delicate hand and laid it on the Nord's head with a feather light touch. His hair was like corn silk, soft and smooth, cool to the touch like the wings of a night bird. She suddenly felt shame for her judgement of him and for her lack of compassion for one whose very life she had just been given as a careless gift. She took Valdimar's blade and pressed it to her own lips, saying a silent prayer to Azura for his safety. Where the blade touched her skin, she felt a strange energy, as though the metal was alive. She had no time to ask about the strange sensation though, as the Jarl's steward practically shoved them both out of the hall and into the snow.
Mariel kicked a black leather boot into the closest tree in frustration. She was tired of the Skyrim with its freezing snow and even colder receptions. The only place she wanted to be thane of was a hot bath in her own house, but that was hundreds of miles away in Morrowind, and who knew if she would ever see it again.
The hour was late and the sky was dark, but Mariel wanted to be off immediately. Valdimar begged her leave to gather his few possessions and prepare for their journey, which she readily gave. Mariel watched as he went to the rear of the longhouse and, to her amazement, crawled into a small windbreak made of thin sticks covered in mud, providing a crude and nearly useless shelter. Had Valdimar really been sleeping outside in this miserable weather? If she was shocked at this revelation she was utterly dumbfounded when she saw him emerge, neatly stack some items on a stump near the water, and then strip to his small clothes, plunging into the ice crusted waters of the Hjaal River. The man was insane. He would freeze to death. She ran over to the river bank in time to see a bright glow emitting from the water. The light was coming from Valdimar, who seemed to be enjoying his swim, and not turning into a Nordic ice cube as expected. She stared dumbfounded until he emerged from the water and changed into a set of dark brown leather light armor, this one had no fur and was very well made. He strapped his double silver swords onto his back and added a light pack filled with his remaining belongings.
"I am ready now my thane. Shall we go?" he asked without a hint of explanation as to why or how he had emerged from the icy water completely dry.
Mariel tried to hide her astonishment to keep herself from looking like a complete fool, but she couldn't help asking.
"Valdimar, how is it you aren't cold or even wet from the river?"
"Oh, that," he said looking somewhat sheepishly as they walked towards the stables "I, uh…know a few magic spells." He looked very nervous, as though he was confessing a terrible secret.
"I see, well that would explain it then." Mariel replied. She had very little spell knowledge herself, but being Dragonborn, had some natural magical talent. She had heard around Skyrim that a lot of Nords were afraid of magic, and shunned those who use it. Perhaps Valdimar was ashamed of his talent. Mariel decided that a little Thu'um demonstration was in order, but which one?
Mariel mounted her horse Orion and Valdimar his own Fergus, then proceeded north towards her newly purchased property. Once they were out of sight of Morthal she made a comment on the thick snow flurries that were blowing in their faces, half blinding them. Then, almost casually, she said the words for the clear skies shout.
"Lok, Vah, Koor."
Suddenly the snow stopped and the sky cleared to show a million stars before blooming into a brilliant emerald aurora. Valdimar stopped his horse, staring in wonder at the heavens.
"By Talos, what magic is this thane?" he whispered, turning the Mariel.
"I'm Dragonborn" she said, smiling "Dovahkiin, a mortal born with the soul of a dragon."
"Just like Talos!" Valdimar said with wonder.
"Yeah, I suppose. I'm still trying to figure it out myself. I just wanted you to know that magic was nothing to be ashamed of." She smiled and so did he. Valdimar lifted a hand into the air and from it came a blue glow that swirled and arched forming a sparkling fountain of ice. It twisted into the shape of a rose and he held it out to Mariel. She took it and made a show of sniffing at the icy bloom. They both laughed. Maybe this partnership would work out after all.
