Chapter One

As I drew back the bowstring, I could feel Raphelm's eyes on me and I had a feeling it wasn't to critique my stance. Growing up, I always had the feeling that he was attracted to me. My father, Valindor, used to always tell me how lovely I looked. He said I was a spitting image of my High Elf mother, Sarethi Sarano, rather than his Wood Elf lineage. I used to spend hours gazing at the portrait of her and her olive skin, dark, flowing hair, and lovely bone structure. Her ears, like all elves, were the pointed sort. Her most remarkable feature, however, was her piercing light green eyes that stood out from her tan skin and dark hair. These were the same eyes that Raphelm was looking into now. As I take note of my body's position, from my head to my toes, I line my very slender body up with the bow. Though my mother had the same thin figure, she was nearly taller than my father. I, however, can't look a horse in the eyes and felt ridiculous with the long bow in my arms.

Though my father has raised me with Bosmer traditions, I'm technically considered an Altmer due to my mother's lineage. These are just two of the many races that can be found in Cryrodiil, which is considered the melting pot of Tamriel. The other races are Imperials, who are the royalty and nobles of our region due to the fact that they are such an old and powerful race; Redguards, who are typically the warriors, knights, or guards; Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, and Orsmer, who are the four elf races, though they differ greatly from one another; Bretons, who are a mixed Imperial and elf race; and Argonian and Khajiit, who are classified as "beast" races and are typically considered a lower class. It is said that there are other rare races in further regions of Tamriel, but that could just be a rumor.

My mother passed when she gave birth to me, and I was raised by my father until his passing two years ago. He was a respected man in our community and an excellent father. However, he treated me like a child. He didn't train me in any of the skills that I would require to live on my own. Perhaps he expected that I would marry a rich man and would never have the need to care for myself. If that was the case, he couldn't have been more wrong. There are no rich men in Gweden Village, and I don't have the time to go out and entice one. Even if I did have the time, I wouldn't choose to. I have found myself rather comfortable with my little farm and selling my crafts in the market a couple days a week.

Now things have changed and I must learn to defend myself against attacks. Rumor has spread to our tiny village that dragons have attacked towns and villages in the northern region of Skyrim. Most believe it to be false, saying that dragons became extinct nearly a century ago. However, I worry that Kvatch or Anvil, the nearest cities, will be in danger soon. Once a city is attacked, chaos will soon spread south to us. These fears of mine are what have led me out into the woods with Raphelm. Raphelm, a Bosmer like my father, is a year my minor and a tall, well-built boy whom I have been raised alongside of. His dark hair and eyes give a slight mystery that his young, round face covers up. It is not that he is unattractive, on the contrary many young women in the village consider him a viable option for marriage. However, I can only view him as the young boy who used to throw apples at me when we were children.

I glance over my shoulder to seek approval on my stance, but find the vacant expression on Raphelm's face that signifies his daydreaming. I give him a slight huff to draw his attention back to the task at hand. He blinks a few times in attempts to bring himself back to his surroundings. Without his consent, I hold tightly on the bow and pull back the string. I suddenly, and sloppily, let the arrow fly and it misses the target by a good six feet.

Raphelm quirks his mouth to one side in thought and says, "Emi, Are you sure you want me to teach you? Your brother is more skilled than I am."

I give him a sharp look and snap back, "Yes, and much more skilled at drinking too. I probably couldn't pull Syndus out of the pub for long enough to explain why I want to learn." After taking a deep breath, I try to give him a small grin of apology for my outburst, "I promise you I'm a fast learner! All I'm asking for is the basic skills. You don't have to teach me more than that."

He ran his rough had over his face as if he were trying to change his frustrated expression. I never know what to expect from him. Sometimes he's the sweetest boy, but other times you can see his father's scorn in him. After spending some time staring at me, Raphelm startles me by asking, "Why did your father name you Emerald?"

I give a small smile and tell him, "My father said it was because my eyes look like small emeralds shining from dirt and rock."

"Well, Emerald Floramer, you have a lot to learn. You're not even holding the bow right." He walks over to me and positions my arms correctly. He pulls my shoulders back, and then glides my right arm to my rear. "No, no, no. You want to hold the arrow like this." He repositions the arrow so my fingers are not on the feathers and the front of it aligns with a little scratch mark he made the previous day on the front of the bow. "Let us see if your shooting improves now."

I quickly release the string and watch the arrow slice through the air. A smile spreads across my face as I see it in the middle of our makeshift bull's-eye. "Told you I learn fast."

"We must see if you can do that twice. It may be beginner's luck."

I was able to do it twice. As well as a third time. Every time I released an arrow it went very close to my target, if not exactly where I aimed it.

Once the sun begins to set, our lesson comes to an end and we begin our walk back home. "Tomorrow we will see if you can get an arrow in a moving target," Raphelm says, and after seeing my slight grin adds, "I mean a woods creature. I'm not volunteering for that." I gave a slight chuckle but quickly grew grim as my mind wondered.

The closer we came to Gweden Village, the more worried I became. The latest rumor of dragon attacks placed them outside of Bruma in northern Cyrodiil. It would be a long, tedious journey for a person, but how fast is a dragon? Do they stay around a place for long? All I know of dragons has been from legends, the same legends that said dragons were all dead and never returning.

"Raphelm, I would like to buy this bow and at least ten arrows. I know you have more in your home, and I'm willing to pay generously. I can even trade you some goats milk or perhaps some fresh vegetables."

He stopped in his tracks at my question. The sun was sinking fast and a chill was swirling around my body. The approaching night made me feel very uneasy and I wanted to keep moving. "Why do you want to kill so badly, Emi? What are you afraid of? Is it Syndus? Is it that deadbeat Badnir? I swear, Emi, if one person even lays a finger on you…"

"No one has threatened me," I say calmly, cutting him off before he has the chance to work himself up more. "Why would you be so defensive over me if I had been threatened?"

Even in the darkening light, I could see the blush spread over his face. I always sensed his feelings, but was he really crazy enough to go up against someone fast like Syndus or big like Badnir? "When your father became ill, he asked that my father watch over you for your safety. That responsibility has been extended to me as well. For Valindor's sake, that is. He would probably roll over in his grave if he knew what I have taught you today."

"Do you think your father would punish you if he found out?" It had never crossed my mind that Raphelm may be taking a risk by teaching me things to defend myself, because after all, that would mean I would be more willing to put myself in situations in which I may have to defend myself.

"He has never specifically spoken of it, so maybe if it remains our small secret no harm can come of it." He gave a small chuckle and began walking again. He swung his gaze to my eyes, admiring the glow they appear to have in low light. "I can tell him I have misplaced my bow. Perhaps I dropped it when running from a large bear…" He pondered on, "No matter what I tell him, it can't be that I have sold you a weapon. Also, he would whip me if I bring home your items without saying that I traded you anything in return. No, no, that would not be good at all."

"I could say it was a gift for Syndus?" I pleaded. I needed the bow. It wouldn't matter what lie I had to string along to people, as long as I insured my own safety.

"My father would never believe you would gift Syndus with this nice of a bow. The drunken idiot left you to starve when Valindor passed!"

I let out a long sigh and stomped on a small branch in my path. I could hear a small woods creature scurry away from the noise. The reminder of my brother's actions after my father's passing caused the hot coals of anger to ignite within me. "So I guess you do not want to part with your bow?"

That is not it, Emi. Honestly, I think it would be safest if I give it to you. For nothing in return, that is. Consider it a gift." There wasn't a smile on his face as if he was joking. There wasn't any emotion there at all to give away his intentions. He only peaked at me out of the corner of his eye.

"I couldn't do that to you. It's not right!"

He stopped again, but this time within sight of the village, and put his hands on my arms. This was a gesture that I was unaccustomed to, but could tell it was a friendly one. "I do not know what you're so afraid of. I can see in your eyes there's something that you're not telling me, something big and scary. If you will not allow me to defend you, it is my honor to assist you in defending yourself. Please, take the bow. Do it for me." I could see the sincerity in his deep brown eyes. He was honestly afraid for me. He was honestly trying to help me.

"You said you wanted to know what my fear was of. Let us return to my home and I will put on some tea and explain it all to you. It's something we should all be afraid of."