Icy cold winds did not seem to affect the young woman as she walked through the snow, her Nord blood helped greatly to ease the sting of perpetual winter. Behind her trailed a crimson cape, edged in gold with a black wolfs head stitched onto it. Brekahn Daebrien, Thane of Solitude walked swiftly through the light, powder snow, stopping only at the top of the large mountain to observe the shrine of Azura that crested the opposite peak. Long ginger hair flowed out from under her iron helm, and sky blue eyes glinted in the setting sun. Light fractured into the sky as night and day fought for power, though it was inevitable that the black abyss would win this round.
A small whinny caught the warrior's attention, her brown gelding stood a few feet away. He whinnied again, shook his head, and then blew through his nose. Atronach's flaxen mane and tail were knotted with clumps of ice, and his thick fur was snow covered. Brekahn looked back to the twilight queen and then turned to face the rising moons, their glow already visible in through the faint, dancing, Arora. Woman and steed stood together for a time, until the warrior turned and began to make her way down the opposite side of the mountain from which she had come.
The slope on this side was, thankfully, nowhere near as severe as the previous trek had been, yet still the two had to focus greatly on where they placed their feet for fear of hitting a snow covered crevice, or worse, hitting a patch of invisible ice. Once the two reached the base of the mountain, the moons had already risen into the sky and the sun was nowhere to be seen. Dark creatures with blood soaked fangs would soon be prowling the forest, with this in mind, Brekahn mounted up and began to ride for Winterhold.
In the short trip form the Shrine of Azura to Winterhold, the desolate icy land yielded only 2 ice fox; the pelts of which she could sell for a few septums. The College rose from the horizon, a shadow cast against the starry night. The young rider slowed her mount to a walk as they entered the capital of Winterhold. No one walked the streets at this time of night, the town's scant inhabitance tucked away into their homes. No, the only business still open was The Frozen Hearth. It was here that Brekahn stopped and dismounted, handing her horse off to a teenager that worked the stalls.
Warmth emanated from the large fire pit set in the middle of the stone and wood building. Most of the patrons to the inn were asleep, or passed out drunk in their seats; that was one of the only problems with the cold temperatures, people resort to alcohol as a means of staying warm.
"Brek, good to see you again! Did you find what you were searching for?" The bar keep, Dagur, greeted the warrior-maid while wiping down his counter. The blond Nord had not aged well, and the stress of the lack of business and money flow was obvious in his strained features.
"Yes, finally my ventures have proven fruitful. The Sword of the Gale if finally mine!" Brekahn drew the enchanted Ebony sword from her belt. It glowed with a slight blue tinge, the blade itself ice cold. The two marveled at it, how long it had taken the warrior to procure; but it was worth it.
"That blade will serve you well. I must admit I know not of such weapons, but I have a good feeling about it." The barkeep smiled and slapped Brek on her shoulder. "A room for the night? This ones on the house."
"Thank you, Dagur. You've been a good friend to me." She smiled and sheathed the blade. As she stood, the sudden weight of the day's adventure hit her like a horse. Her legs felt weak, her arms limp, and her head pounded faintly. "Yes, yes it is time for sleep." She smiled weakly and waved at Dagur before closing the door to her room.
The small bedroom held a bookcase, nightstand, chest, and bed. It wasn't much, but it was the bed she'd been sleeping in for the past 2 weeks. The quest for the Sword of the Gale had not been a short one. Across the country she'd traveled from her home of Falkreath, to the icy regions of the north in search of this mysterious and powerful blade.
All that was over now, thankfully. She could sleep in peace knowing that the sword was in her possession. Sleep she did, after laying her armor on the chest, and crawling into the warm blankets, Brekahn closed her eyes and shut the rest of the world out. Sleep came slow, painfully slow, but when it did she was out like a candle in the wind.