Title: Eldunari
Author: Katarin Kishika
Characters/Pairing: Haruno Sakura X Uzumaki Naruto
Type: Continuous (Incomplete)
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine.
READ ME: Oh, right, THIS IS AU! I know I still have a few projects but I really wanted to write this one. I used a combination of the Tamriel culture (languages, religion, etc.) of Skyrim and some Ancient Languages from the Inheritance cycle. Enjoy!
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O_O_O
Eldunari
(Heart of Hearts)
O_O_O
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PART I:
A Lullaby
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Blood.
It coated his clothes, underneath his nails, caked his boots. The land beneath his feet seeped the blood red life-giving liquid. The bodies all around him discarded like ragged dolls. All coated in blood – all unknown whether allies or enemies. That's the funny thing with war; when it came down to it, dead bodies were merely just that – dead bodies. It didn't matter what those people fought for especially when the life faded and their eyes dulled; coated with blood, mixing with the other. All that would be left would be the deeply ingrained scars and grieving families and friends that would be left behind.
He chuckled bitterly. Was that really it? Would all really be forgotten? He desperately hoped not. He fought for independence from this forsaken country; Freedom from a puppet monarchy. He fought because he believed that his countrymen deserved better. Was that too much to ask for?
It stung. The wounds that he got from the latest battle stung and hurt deeper than the superficial appearance. A deep slash at his back from the enemy's general still flowed with blood; an arrowhead still deeply embedded on his right shoulder and a deep slash on his thigh, the wounds screaming with pain, the blood long gone dry and curdled; A few broken ribs and a twisted ankle. It was a big mystery he could even walk, even breathe for that matter.
But of course he knew. Even with help, he wouldn't survive the fortnight.
He didn't bother to apply pressure to his wounds. There were way too many for his two hands. So he did the next best thing – he found a place to spend his last moments. He dragged his half-dead body away from the battlefield, away from the stench of too many blood, too many lives lost. His steps staggered, a lot of times he almost fell face first. But still he went on.
His breathing was laborious, it came out in puffs. The dropping temperature of early winter didn't help and soon he found himself collapsing a few meters from the bloodshed, on the edge of the surrounding forest. He settled himself under an old sentinel, used its roots to get himself comfortable.
And then he waited.
He waited for death to claim his life. May Arkay be welcoming to his soul and may Talos look out for his family. What he only wished for is that for his family to find happiness – even if he was gone, even if life would be harsher for them from now on.
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Moments later, was it hours or minutes after? He didn't know; he woke up to the sound of light footsteps. And belatedly he realized he was cold. The world around him was dark; he could barely see his hands draped on his knee. But he could feel the snow falling, touching his cheeks, his hands, and leaving him more bereft and colder. His vision was a lot blurrier than earlier; his breathing more haggard… more desperate. And he asked the Divines, why wouldn't he die when he was asleep? Why did he have to wake up?
The footsteps stopped beside him and he saw pristine white cloak trimmed with ebony fur, small, delicate feet wrapped on hide boots on his peripheral vision. His dazed eyes travelled upward and he concurred a young woman was in front of him, her hood was up but he could see that her features were delicate – her eyes flashing with something. Regret? Pity? He didn't know. The woman-child kneeled beside him. Her pristine ivory cloak immediately got tainted with his blood and the dirt beneath. She reached out a pale hand and swept his bangs aside. Her hand – cold and warm at the same time covered his eyes; her other hand reaching out to held his. Heedless of the thick dried blood coating it, never minding that he might have killed someone she knew out there. What he only felt was the warmth seeping from her hand to his. It was nice.
Tears prickled and escaped from his closed eyes and he choked up a question, so desperate was he to know the answer. "Why?" he asked.
He heard her inhale, felt her body move but still her hands didn't shift. Her voice, so young, didn't waver and never hesitated. "Because nobody deserves to die alone… Whatever you have done, you did it for a reason. It is not my place to judge you from past actions." Everything stilled with her words. The temptation of wrenching her hands just to peek at her face was great; his curiosity overwhelming.
He could feel unknown girl weigh her words and when the silence stretched, he decided to ask for a favor, "I'm dying." The young girl hesitated for a bit, "…I know. I'm sorry we couldn't do anything." At this, he smiled. She has such a pure soul. It took a lot from a person to offer help to a stranger – Someone who might be after you or your family. Her innocence was admiring but foolish. Very foolish. " I have a favor t-to ask." His voice trembled, blood dribbled from his mouth. At the girl's slight sound of affirmation for him to continue, he said, "I have a family. My wife and my son." He coughed, the words much harder to get out and he felt himself fall in and out of consciousness. "I couldn't protect them. Not anymore. Please, I beg you. Find them… keep them s-safe." He tightened his grip on her small hand using all his remaining strength.
The girl in all her kindness, Akatosh bless her soul, agreed. "I'll do what I can. What is your name? Your family's?" Her voice was gentle, soothing.
"Minato. Namikaze Minato. My wife, Kushina and my son, Naruto." He whispered. Feeling at peace that at least someone would take care of his family, or at least look out for them, Minato asked the young girl's name.
"Sakura." She said. Her voice carried a bare hint of waver, he might have imagined it. And then she started to sing. The song used for those who were leaving; a song of parting. A song done for those dying, for those who would be eternally sleeping. Her voice was gentle, pitch so soft. She sang of meadows so far away, of a warm and safe place. She sang of a place where he could rest his woes and a place where he was loved.
Minato smiled his last one and breathe his last breast but before he died he said those two words that he really wanted to say since she came and accompanied him on his last moments, "Thank you."
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"What carnage." Ino said with obvious distaste to the battlefield they passed by. She and her charge, the princess of Tamriel, Haruno Sakura was on their way back to the Imperial city, the capital of Cyrodiil. Her charge was sent to Solitude, one of the holds in Skyrim, to seal an alliance between the Empire and Solitude against a small fraction of rebels that wanted independence from the Empire's sovereignty. And as the Blade assigned to protect her, Ino accompanied the princess. The civil war, in her opinion was a foolish act. Something Ino thought was all for naught.
Skyrim, the province that wanted to break away from the Empire, needed their help. They couldn't stand on their own, even Ino could see that for herself. Yes, the Monarchy was nothing but a former shell of itself since the queen died and that Snake, Orochimaru, was whispering things on the king's ears and controlling him like a puppet but everything would be alright. The princess was doing whatever she can. She was even planning on negotiating with the rebels and with her birthday near, so was her coronation as the ruler of all Tamriel. If only these impatient people could wait.
She huffed as they continued their journey, but Sakura ("There's no need for titles, Ino. We are friends, right?" as what she would often complain) stoped, her steed abruptly halted. The princess got off her horse, Ino scrambling to do the same. It seemed like her charge found something. Sakura walked a few meters away from the battlefield and in there, beneath a large oak tree, nestled on its huge roots, a man with blood coated blond hair lay. He was alive, barely. Ino wanted to reach out and stop Sakura but she knew that the man with his now couldn't even lift his great sword. And besides, Sakura could also defend herself. Ino stood a few feet away, always on guard in case something happened. Her eyes trained on her charge and their surrounding; swiftly seeping it for threats and whatnots. Finding none, she focused her baby blue eyes on the conversation between the two. It seemed like the man was an enemy… but now, he was just a dying man giving his last request.
"Minato. Namikaze Minato. My wife, Kushina and my son, Naruto."
Ino heard the man say those words. Her eyes widened with the discovery. Namikaze Minato was the name of the man leading the rebels – the man Sakura was supposed to meet if the plan went alright. And now here was the man in question, dying on her charge's hands. What would they do now? Most of the plans Sakura had made was depending on this man's decision. What the hell would they do next?
So lost in her thought was she, Ino didn't catch the last of the conversation between the two. She looked up when Sakura stood up, her robes once white was now stained with mud and blood. Determination lit up on her face, her chin set and with a commanding yet gentle voice she did not often used, she said "Bring me a parchment and release Volaan. I need to deliver a message to Solitude. Order the men to dig up graves for those who died."
"As you wish, my Kulaas. Will there be anything else?" Ino asked.
Sakura nibbled her lower lips, a clear sign of indecision, of nervousness. But at last, she squared her shoulders and with a resolute and unwavering gaze to her appointed Blade, she said, "I need to find someone. And there would be shifts to the original plan."
Ino looked bewildered. Voicing out her confusion, she asked, "And what would those be, my Kulaas?"
Smiling a small secretive smile and with her mind obviously running different scenarios a mile a minute, Sakura cryptically answered, "If all goes well, I might find a husband in the near future."
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O_O_O
つづく
O_O_O
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Here are some terminologies:
Akatosh: The Dragon God of Time
Arkay: The God of Life and Death
Kulaas – princess
AN 1: Another one. Yay. I really hope you would support this one too. There wouldn't be any dragons and this would focus more on the political aspect unlike the adventurous one of my other fic Dovahkiin. Anyway, if I receive at least 5 reviews, I'll update this one and Dovahkiin next.
AN 2: I know I still have a few projects but I really wanted to write this one. I used a combination of the Tamriel culture (languages, religion, etc.) of Skyrim and some Ancient Languages from the Inheritance cycle. This is set on the world of TES but with less influence, only the culture and the political aspect of the game.
AN 3: I'm still grasping things (again). And I don't know when the next update is. Review and it would push me to make it sooner, lol.
I would love to hear from you and again THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME TO READ THIS and PLEASE READ AND REVIEW and NO FLAMES please.
~Katarin Kishika