Chapter One
Avyanna moaned in her sleep, feeling the familiar sensation of Farkas pressing his lips against her neck as they both slowly woke up. Shifting to face him, Avyanna found his eyes staring into hers, a lazy smile on his face.
While she wanted to enjoy this moment, the pressing matter of Azura kept pressing into the back of her mind. Two nights ago, Azura and Meridia informed her that she was to travel to Winterhold and recover Azura's Star from a necromancer called Malyn Varen. She would have gone already, but she had to wait for Einarr to return from a job as he was to accompany her.
"Do you think Einarr will be back from that job?" Avyanna asked, biting her bottom lip and Farkas shrugged his shoulders, not liking it one bit. Avyanna had told him the following morning after the dream and he protested. But when she pointed out to him that Meridia wanted it, he begrudgingly agreed; never wanting to piss off the being that saved him.
"I still don't like that I won't be going with you," he growled, pulling her close until her chest was pressed against his bare one. "Not that I'm doubting Einarr's skills, but I'm not exactly comfortable with the idea of sitting here while you go kill a necromancer."
Avyanna buried her face in his neck, soaking up the feeling. "I know, but this is important." She reminded him, sitting up and he sighed, looking up at her with a smirk. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, can't I take notice of how beautiful and tempting you are right now?"
Avyanna blushed, climbing out of her bed and disappearing downstairs. It had been a month since they had gotten together, but they had yet to…do it. She sadly had to admit, it was partially her fault. Avyanna was scared and unsure, not knowing how it worked and it didn't help that she was a virgin.
Rohan was sitting at the table, eating breakfast when he saw his sister come downstairs and offered her a warm smile. "Morning, Anna."
"Good morning, Rohan," she smiled, ruffling his hair as Farkas joined them downstairs, covering his chest with a white linen shirt and his black trousers. "Are you training at Jorrvaskr today?"
Rohan nodded and greeted Farkas with a warm smile. "Einarr and Kiraya got back this morning from the job."
Avyanna and Farkas exchanged a look. "Alright, I'll go see Einarr later. I need to talk to him about doing a job."
"Will you be long?"
"Nay, hopefully it won't take too long. Same rules apply though."
Rohan nodded and got up, having finished his breakfast and left Sparkshire for Jorrvaskr. Avyanna let out a tired sigh as Farkas kissed her forehead, hand on her waist.
"Looks like I'll be gone sooner than I had hoped," she murmured, leaning back into his chest. "Could you watch out for him?"
"Always, be careful though." Farkas replied and she nodded, heading upstairs and getting dressed into her hunting gear. Farkas came in and dressed himself in his armour before the two of them left, after Avyanna had stocked up on health and magicka potions.
Farkas glanced at Breezehome further away and chuckled. "I wonder if my brother and Rina are going at it like hounds again."
"Knowing them, yes." Avyanna laughed slightly as they entered the mead hall. Immediately, she found Einarr eating breakfast at a table and approached him, earning a smile from the Harbinger.
"Avyanna, Farkas, I trust you two are having a good morning," he smiled and saw the looks on their faces, dropping the smile as he frowned in concern. "What's wrong?"
"I need you to come with me to recover Azura's Star," Avyanna informed him, her mark glowing a bit in his presence.
"This is sudden," he admitted and glanced at Farkas. "Why aren't you going?"
Farkas growled slightly, still not like being reminded. "Because Azura and Meridia wish for you to accompany her. Don't ask me why, but I'm not too keen on it either."
"When do you want to leave?" Einarr asked Avyanna who bit her bottom lip.
"As soon as possible, if it's not too much trouble."
Einarr waved it off, drinking his mead and standing up. "Never, you need my help and I'll gladly offer it. Let me just tell Aela and Kiraya."
Avyanna nodded and turned to Farkas who held a dark possessive gaze in his eyes. She knew what it meant and cupped his face with her hand, he leaned into the touch.
"I'll try and come back as soon as I can," she smiled to him. "I always come back."
"Aye, but it doesn't mean I don't want to throw you over my shoulder and tie you to a pole so you can't move."
She looked at him in surprise. "You…you wouldn't actually do that, would you?"
Farkas nipped her ear lope. "Don't stick around to find out."
Einarr returned, his sword on his belt. "I'm ready when you are." He informed the scarlet haired Nord and she quickly planted a kiss to Farkas's lips, soaking in the feeling into her memory before pulling away. Farkas kissed her forehead before taking her face into his hands.
"Be careful and safe, I'm not ready to let you go just yet, little spitfire." He murmured and she smiled.
"Aye, who would be here to heal your injuries, cabbage head?" she teased as she pulled away, heading out the door with Einarr by her side. As they were at the stables, getting the horses, Avyanna filled Einarr in on what was going on.
"I don't want to be gone for too long," Avyanna grumbled, climbing onto Rosso's back as Einarr mounted his horse. "Missing his twelfth birthday isn't exactly the best thing to do."
Einarr flashed a reassuring smile. "Then we best hurry, aye?" he asked as they took off towards Winterhold.
They had made camp twice and past Windhelm, much to her displeasure, before finally arriving at Winterhold. Avyanna looked around for anything to guide them to Azura's shrine and found herself smiling, a wisp floating in the air.
"Follow that wisp," Avyanna told Einarr, both of them taking off and finding and following the blue light creatures. It took them a little further away from Winterhold and pretty close to the tomb of the Companions. As they found a statue in the distance, at the bottom of the stairs, they dismounted and began to walk up.
"Can you sense that?" Einarr asked her, sensing the power in the air and Avyanna nodded, swallowing the pain at the presence of two Daedric Princes. As they arrived at the last step, a dark elf woman in robes looked over, not surprised to see them.
"Azura has seen your coming. It was fate that brought you here," she said, looking directly at Avyanna.
"She sent me a message, asking for my help." Avyanna informed her and the dark elf nodded.
"You have been chosen to recover her star, champion of Meridia. I know it is all unexpected, but do not worry. All with unfold as she predicted, she had sent me a vision of what you need to do," she said, closing her eyes. "You must go to a fortress, endangered by water, yet untouched by it. Inside, you will find an elven mage who can turn the brightest star as black as night."
Einarr frowned. "That doesn't make any sense, what does Azura want?"
"It is cryptic, I know," she apologised. "But Azura's signs are never wrong."
Avyanna thought deeply for a moment. "A fortress endangered by water, yet untouched by it…That's Winterhold right?"
"Possibly, ask if they know of this elven mage. All of this has been foreseen and we must play our part, you most of all." She informed them. "I am Aranea Ienith, the last of her worshippers."
Avyanna nodded. "Avyanna Halliwell, member of the Companions and this is my Harbinger, Einarr."
"Then I wish you both luck, Avyanna and Einarr."
Both of them nodded and walked back down the stairs, heading towards their horses. "This isn't going to be easy, is it?"
Einarr shook his head, a hard look on his face. "It's never easy when dealing with the Daedra."
As the two of them walked into the Frozen Heart, Avyanna immediately sensed a powerful magicka in the air. The two of them approached the bar and Einarr smiled at the Nord behind it.
"We're looking for an elven mage interested in stars. Do you know where we could find one?" Einarr asked the man politely and he looked between them before sighing.
"If you're looking for mages, go to the College, if they'll let you in," he shook his head. "Then again, Nelacar might know. He's an old timer from the College but he has a room here," he pointed to the one on the left and Einarr thanked him as Avyanna walked in, the door wide open.
"Hey! Don't you know something called privacy?" the Bosmer snapped and Avyanna narrowed her eyes.
"We're looking for an elven mage who studies stars, know anyone?" Avyanna asked him, crossing her arms over her chest.
Nelacar flinched, looking around the room with a worried look on his face. "Who sent you? Was it the College? The Jarl? We agreed there would be no more questions."
"A priestess of Azura sent us," Einarr told him smoothly, knowing Avyanna was going to snap and Nelacar looked at him, obviously thinking he was in charge.
"I knew this was going to come back and haunt me," he shook his head. "Azura's Star, a Daedric artifact that allows any number of souls to pass through it. Malyn wanted to alter the Star. He was dying of disease. He thought he could store his own soul inside and become immortal. It drove him mad. Students started dying, eventually the College exiled him. He took a few loyal disciples to Ilinalta's Deep and vanished."
"Thank you for your co-operation." Avyanna said, turning to walk out but Nelacar grabbed her arm, his eyes full of fear and hatred.
"Don't take it back to Azura. The Daedra are evil, they're the reason Malyn went insane." He begged her and she grabbed her arm back, giving him a cold stare.
"From what you told us, Malyn went mad because of immortality, not because of Azura," she told him before walking out. Einarr followed her, giving her a concerned look.
"You stood up for a Daedric Prince, I thought you hated them," he said surprised.
"Meridia saved Farkas's life, when I couldn't," she told him, looking at Einarr with pained eyes. "And I've only recently learnt that I'm related to her."
Einarr placed a hand on her shoulder. "Then I'll help you, now, shall we head to Ilinalta's Deep?"
They ended up travelling back to Whiterun and staying a night before heading towards the location of the Lady Stone, as it was close to Ilinalta's Deep. Avyanna loved being in Whiterun, even if it were only a brief moment. Seeing Farkas and Rohan just gave her the boost she needed.
Although, as they were having dinner, Rohan requested that he could get a wolf pup for his birthday.
"Why a wolf pup?" Avyanna asked, frowning at her younger brother and he grinned.
"Because then I can have my own pet, like Kiraya has Fang and you've got Rosso," he answered proudly and Avyanna shook her head.
"No, a wolf would be too much. It's better if you think of something else," She had told him and his face fell with disappointment. "And Rosso isn't a pet, he's a partner."
"Aye, and Fang is Lassarina's," Farkas explained with a grin. "I was with her when she found him. He's always with Kiraya because until you came along, Fang was the closest thing she had to a best friend."
Thinking back on it now, she felt bad for him, but stood by her decision as she had something else in mind. Something less messy and he would appreciate more than a wolf pup.
As Ilinalta's Deep came into view, both of them dismounted and climbed onto the fallen castle, entering through a trap door. The place was a mess, bits of water around the place as Meridia's mark lit up even more.
"We're in the right place," Avyanna showed Einarr her mark before covering it up with her leather glove. "If Malyn brought disciples with him, they'll be old College students."
Einarr nodded, figuring out what she meant. "Do you know any wards?"
"Heaps, they'll block you from their spells and you can strike them."
Einarr and Avyanna smiled at each other, having figured out a battle plan as Avyanna's hands glowed a soft, light blue while they walked further into the fallen castle. Hearing noises further down the hall, the two of them stopped and looked over, spying the shadow coming closer.
"Ready?" she whispered to him and he nodded, unsheathing his sword as she casted a ward in front of Einarr. A novice necromancer spotted them and tried to attack Einarr with fire spells but they deflected from the ward.
Einarr ran in, killing him quickly and signalling that the area was clear. This is how it worked out in the end, Avyanna covering him with spells of her own as he killed them swiftly and silently.
As they walked, she could feel the drain of magicka and dug through her bag, grabbing a magicka potion and drinking it, feeling energized once more.
"Look out!" Einarr shouted, pulling her aside just as an Arch necromancer shot sharp icicles at them. Avyanna swore and grabbed a knife from her belt, taking aim and throwing it right into his chest as Einarr ran over and stabbed him in the chest.
"That was close," she breathed, giving him a grateful smile. "I can see why Azura wanted you with me."
He shrugged, turning his attention to the chain and pulled it, lowering the draw bridge. Both of them walked across it, heading up the stairs and unlocking the door.
Einarr held up a hand, obviously using his sharp hearing and held up two fingers. Two necromancers, lovely.
"More souls are needed for the Star. The last one died before he could be harvested," a male dark elf spoke and Avyanna walked past Einarr, unsheathing Dawnbreaker from her belt.
"Will mine do?" she asked them, surprising them as they spun around. Before they could even begin their spells, Avyanna struck quickly, cutting off the head of the female Bosmer and stabbing the dark elf through the heart.
"Don't be reckless or else Farkas will murder me," Einarr frowned and she gave him an apologetic look. "Come on, I can smell two more and a bunch of skeletons running around."
Avyanna nodded, following him down the corridor and quickly killing one dark elf and three skeletons before heading through the door and up three flights of stairs. Each step they took, Avyanna could sense a Daedra more and more, to the point where her mark burned.
"Another soul for the master?" a Bosmer sneered, turning around as they walked in, their swords at the ready. "Meridia's sword, the master will love eating the soul of her champion."
"Like Oblivion he would." Avyanna growled, throwing a knife as Einarr cut off his head, watching it roll on the ground. Avyanna sheathed her sword and walked over, picking up the broken star artifact that had purple gems in it.
"I'm not really keen on travelling all the way back to Winterhold," Einarr grimaced and Avyanna felt a smile creep onto her face as an idea came to her mind.
As the white light left them, Avyanna and Einarr blinked for a moment, finding themselves back at Azura's shrine thanks to the help of Meridia. Aranea looked at them surprised, even more as she spied the Star in Avyanna's hands.
"Azura's Star! I knew the Lady of Twilight had sent you for a reason," she beamed. "Hand it over to me, I will ask Azura to restore the Star to its original purity."
Avyanna handed Aranea the Star and she placed it at the altar before throwing her hands above her head. "Azura, Mother of Roses, Goddess of Dusk and Dawn. Your chosen warrior has returned your Star to you."
A few moments past before Aranea turned to Avyanna. "Azura wishes to speak with you herself. Place your hands on the altar and you will hear her voice."
"Okay," Avyanna said, stepping forward and placing her hands upon the icy altar. As soon as her hands touched it, her mark lit up and she felt a presence in her head.
"Greetings, Avyanna. You have followed my guidance through the veils of Twilight and rescued my Star from Malyn Varen. No wonder Meridia speaks highly of you."
Avyanna swallowed. "Is there a way to return your Star to its original purity?"
"There is only one option. Your soul must enter the Star and rid Malyn from it forever. You will banish Malyn's soul there."
"I'll have to enter the Star and defeat Malyn on my own," Avyanna informed both Einarr and Aranea. Einarr's face hardened as Aranea beamed at the news.
"I don't like this." Einarr voice his objections and Avyanna gave him a pained look.
"I don't have any other choice, it's the only way," she turned her attention back to Azura's statue. "I'm ready to enter the Star."
"Have faith, Avyanna. I will be watching over you." Azura replied just as Avyanna cried out in pain and blacked out.
Avyanna groaned, slowly standing up and opening her eyes in awe. The entire place was made up of beautiful, light blue gems. A strong magical presence alerted her as she turned, finding Malyn standing further away.
"Ah, my disciples have sent me a fresh soul. Good, I was getting…hungry." Malyn smirked and Avyanna unsheathed Dawnbreaker from her belt.
"It's over Malyn; your time has come to an end." Avyanna declared and he snickered.
"Never! I am immortal! You cannot kill me!" he shouted, letting loose a fury of spells. Avyanna dodged them and ran towards him just as he summoned undead souls.
Avyanna grunted, hating the fact that they were in her way as she quickly killed them with Dawnbreaker before chasing after him and throwing a knife in his direction.
The knife pinned Malyn to a gem wall and he grunted trying to pull free and Avyanna quickly thrusted Malyn through his heart. As his life began to fade away, a small smirk crossed his face.
"You will never find true peace…as long as…you serve…them." He whispered before disintegrating. For some reason, the words struck her as she pulled out her sword and the knife, hearing Azura's voice again.
"The Star is free to purify itself. Don't worry, Avyanna, I will return you before you are cleansed." Azura informed her and Avyanna felt herself warm up, closing her eyes as the world disappeared around her.
Here we are! The sequel to Little Spit Fire: Meridia, this one follows along the storyline of Two Halves: Sovngarde Beckons so enjoy that! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Einarr, Lassarina, Kiraya, Randulf or Fang as Mirage159 owns those nice folks :)