The Adventures of Oh Hani
By:
Natasha Garrett
Prologue
20th day of Evening Star
"I am an apprentice wizard, not a pack mule! Oh very well, but make it quick."
Oh Hani rolled her eyes at her husband, Marcurio's complaints as she handed him another sword. Her arms were heavy and her body grew numb from the biting chill, so she asked her husband to carry more. It's going to snow soon, she thought. If they didn't make it back to their home in Whiterun soon, Marcurio would complain even more. "I won't ask you to carry anymore, my love," she promised in the sweetest voice she could muster.
He ignored her attempts to appease him, but sheathed the sword she'd given him on his back. "Let's try not to make too much noise. I've heard that cave-ins can start that way."
Though Hani took in two foundlings before she married, Marcurio treated them as his own. Now, a third child was expected during Second Seed and he became more cautious of everything. The babe would be their own flesh and blood, and even during his angry complaints and warnings, Hani saw the glow of excitement on his face. She promised her husband that she'd retire after this last adventure and it was a promise she intended to keep.
Stillborn Cave had intrigued Hani ever since she heard the legends. Some said it held dangerous creatures while others claimed it'd been filled with gold from long ago. She hoped to find the latter as her skills were at an amateur level. Still, with her husband at her side, she felt invincible.
The calm wind caressing her cheek held no sign of what was to come, but a life-changing event would soon come. Normally, Hani would enter first, but Marcurio went ahead of her into the cave. Perhaps it'd been intuition or protectiveness of his wife and unborn child – Hani wasn't sure – but the sudden change of plans by her husband sent a frightening chill down her spine. Her fears were confirmed when she heard the crackling of her husband's lightening magic upon following him into the cave. Spotting falmer, she drew her sword and engaged in battle.
"That'll teach you!" Marcurio shouted as one of the falmer fell.
More came upon hearing their attack and they were quickly outnumbered. "Run!" Hani yelled. She'd been wounded during the fight and with her health fading fast, she had no choice but to use her fire breath. It'd weaken Marcurio, she knew, but she'd rather have him weakened than dead. They both ran towards the exit and as soon as she saw her husband running out, she released her fire breath. At the same time, however, he'd set off a trap and she watched in horror as Marcurio was impaled by an iron spiked gate. She screamed and rushed to his body, but it was too late. She ripped the arrow from her side to cradle her husband in her arms only to realize she'd been poisoned. In the hopes of saving their child, she abandoned her husband's body in search for help.