Ok this is a new story based off the ideas of another Skyrim story that I once wrote named Last Soul of Akatosh. It has many features from the old story but this one has begun a new struggle against power and domination. Yes hopefully it'll fold out into a long and surprising adventure. So I hope you enjoy the story and please review.
Chapter One: Thieves of the Night
SELENA ELMRIA
Selena cast her eyes from the bowl of oats to glance at Ralof who was standing by his bed, eyes positioned upon a leather bound book. Selena was always curious at what Ralof happened to be doing, it was always something mysterious and unheard of for a Nord to be doing such things. Like yesterday Selena caught Ralof practicing the Dunmeris language in the backyard of Gerdur's house. And that day before that she'd caught him summoning a simple fire spell from an ancient Nordic text that was banned from Nordic society. Now he seemed to be intrigued by a small section upon the book, a section that was no doubt illegal in Nordic culture. But in all of those things Selena became more attached to the muscular Nord. Selena found Ralof's facial expressions very adorable, when Ralof was puzzled his face would turn into a frown but it seemed more peaceful than when he was angry. But then there was the difference in the race. While Ralof was a Nord, Selena was a Breton a mixed race. Selena knew about the ancient ancestors mixing, the ancient Alyeids and the ancient humans who mated and breed a new race. But then Selena remembered that her cousin had married a Redguard and had a child not that long ago. Ralof suddenly shut the tome and placed it in one of his bedside draws, and then he stood and walked over to the table. Selena quickly cast her eyes to the bowl and shoved a few spoonful's' of food. Ralof passed Selena and smiled at Selena, a good morning smile, nothing more but as usual Selena took it too her heart.
Selena finished her bowl of oats and quickly got dressed into clothes that Gerdur had offered her, offered her because Selena saved Ralof's life back on the road. They were simple clothes of perfect fit. White underclothing that had been soaked a few times in its lifespan, a pale blue dress that was ripped at the knees for easier moving around the mill, horsehair leggings and weather worn boots made of black deer hind. Selena felt comfortable in the clothes that Gerdur had offered and the only clothes that she could wear since her armor was being repaired by the blacksmith across town. Ralof was dressed in a linen shirt and normal horsehair leggings which seemed to be the fashion around southern Skyrim. He had a small wood axe in his left hand as he moved wood into position with his right. Then he grabbed the axe with both hands and pulled the axe over his head and thrust it down with force. The wood never stood a chance; the axe splintered through the wood and sank deep into the wooden block underneath. Selena smiled and Ralof caught her in the corner of his eye.
'What are you smiling about" he said in an amused tone and Selena tried to act confused but gave up the hope of being undetected.
"I was smiling because you use a wood axe like a war axe, same amount of power behind the swing and not enough balance as if you were in combat" she said, snapping back to the present and going with her instincts.
"You picked up on that. To me every tool is a weapon, you just have to choice when to use it as one" Ralof said still flashing his grin at the Breton. Selena smiled and set off down the road, pushing a lock of fiery red hair out of her eyes. She continued down the road until she reached a small wooden bridge that lead across the river in front of the mill. The bridge was an easy construction with a simple design and was stable enough to carry huge amount of weight but too small for anything wider than a single person to cross. Selena crossed the bridge with her eyes cast down into the swirling current of the water, but she only say her reflection, a reflection of the person she'd became after the events in Helgan. She tore her eyes away from the delicate water that was now shimmering and made her way over to Gerdur. Gerdur had a knife in one hand and was slicing it across the table's surface, carving images and symbols into the wood.
"Morning Gerdur" Selena said as she approached the Nord woman, trying not to spoke the middle aged female. Gerdur was a few years older that Ralof, while Ralof was around twenty seven she was in her early thirties but she was still had many beautiful features and some small grey streaks in her hair.
"Morning to you as well Selena" Gerdur replied as she turned around to face her guest, Selena was surprised at the look on the Nord's face. A look that was between anger and peace.
'Gerdur are you ok" Selena asked in a worried tone that made the other woman flinch. Gerdur looked up at Selena and knew that the Breton could be trusted.
"When you came from Helgan with Ralof and the Ulfric Stormcloak, I couldn't believe my eyes. Ralof looked very ill and yet you were as calm as anything even though you just witnessed hundreds of deaths. And seen the first Dragon since the Dragon War of old. However you set Ralof on the bed and stayed with him for a day and a night, your magic healing his wound but you were tired and growing weak throughout the day. And when night came Ralof was getting better and you were collapsing because your strength was failing. Why did you do all of this for a rebel that you hardly know, well now you know him very well but back then you didn't" Gerdur replied with a question and the colour was drained from Selena's face. Selena thought about webbing a convincing lie but knew her secret wouldn't stay hidden for much longer.
'When Ralof and I first met in the Imperial Prison cart, heading towards the headsman block, I thought that he was just another Nord who was too high above me to care. But when we escaped into the dungeons with Ulfric and Aetius he decided to let us be his shield-brothers and shield-sisters. In the battle underneath Helgan he cared for every person that he fought beside even Aetius and me. In truth Ralof said that he didn't believe in all of the Nord customs and told me that every race has to accept each other or war will follow after each other and Tamriel will swallow so much of her children's blood. When Aetius disappeared in the woods and Ralof wounded just as I was, I seemed to make sure that Ralof would make it back to you. Not just in the hope that he could see his sister but because I now care for him more than a companion, but as something different" Selena answered and realized that Gerdur was smiling at the speech.
"You're love-struck" Gerdur said with a wide grin and Selena knew that Gerdur was ok with the love between Ralof and the Breton.
"Does Ralof know, I've set some glues these past weeks" Selena asked.
"Yep and he feels the same way about you. But he decided not to act upon his feelings because of the Nordic tradition" Gerdur said with a grim face and turned back to the table and the knife. Selena cast her eyes to the ground and walked back to the house where she's lived for two weeks. Ralof was still out in the front yard chopping timber for the fire so they could be warm during the night, but now he was doing his chore without a shirt. The lust inside Selena nearly burst free from inside her when she cast her eyes upon Ralof's muscular figure. The Nord warrior had a large pink scar running down the entire length of his back, from his right shoulder to his left hip. It was nearly identical to Selena's but hers started at her left shoulder and ran down to her right hip. These scars were a gift from the dragon that destroyed Helgan. Selena collapsed to the ground outside of the gate and memories flashed before her eyes. Memories of fire, destruction and the forever haunting shadow of the dragon, pain flooded into Selena's thoughts and she realized that the scar was hurting for the first time in two weeks. The chopping of wood echoed into her head and soon her vision came back into focus and her mind became clear. Selena stood up quickly and stalked past Ralof without a word, his eyes following her as she entered the house. Selena walked to her bed in a hurry and took off her clothes. She found that her clothes were waiting by her pillow and she tugged them on quickly. The clothes she now donned as her original black leather leggings that she loved, a belt made of leather and had a ruby stuck in the middle, a tan linen shirt that would be tucked into the belt and a black leather jacket that had a hood attached which she pulled over her fiery red hair. She also kept the black deer hind boots and the underclothing. Selena grabbed her longbow from by the bed and a quiver of crow feathered arrows; she slung them over her shoulders and was out the door once again. Ralof stopped at his chore and glanced up, noticing Selena leave the house and stalk by without another word.
"Where are you going Selena" Ralof said loudly in a tone of authority but she kept walking at her pace. "Selena I'm talking to you" Ralof yelled catching the woman's arm as she walked past, the Breton stopped. Selena turned and looked the Nord in the eye.
"I'm going hunting if that's ok with you" Selena barked and pulled her arm away from Ralof, she began to walk when Ulfric appeared across her path.
'Selena you're not going anywhere today" Ulfric said in his authority tone that most people couldn't resist. But Selena only smiled and stared the Nord in the eye.
"I go anywhere I please Ulfric" Selena said, spitting in his face. The Nord wiped his face with the back of his hand and grabbed Selena's arm.
"I command you to stay here" Ulfric said but Selena just continued smiling.
"You must remember Ulfric, that I'm no Stormcloak" Selena said and Ulfric let go, letting the young woman passed. Selena pushed herself along the road and stopped a safe distance away from the house, mind open and magic cast. Her hands glowed a small shade of purple and suddenly she was once again with Ralof and Ulfric in the yard of the house. But this time it was during the present, she'd cast the spell that not many people know.
"Why did Selena act like that Ulfric" Ralof asked dropping the axe to the ground in sadness but Selena didn't feel the sadness that Ralof did. Ulfric grabbed both of Ralof's shoulders and looked into the young Nords eyes.
'That Ralof is the emotions and actions of a broken heart. You will see it many times in your life, or only this once but you must remember that it always hurts" Ulfric replied to his young commander and Ralof looked up at his King.
"If she's got a broken heart now, does that mean I can truly be in love with her" Ralof said and Ulfric now showed the sadness as Ralof did.
"No… it means that she needs time alone and a new start" Ulfric said than disappeared inside the house with Ralof following behind, but he looked happier that before and more of the man Selena had come to know. The spell faded and Selena was back hiding around the corner of the house. So he does love me Selena thought to herself and then sprinted off, eyes searching for prey.
Night was falling and Selena handed caught a single hint of a deer or any other animal that could be called prey. The times were indeed weird, clearly with the dragon loose at the moment. Then Selena heard it, a rustle in the bushes. She drew back the bowstring and aimed at the movement but suddenly a figure pushed itself topside. Selena ducked behind a tree and let the tension of the bowstring loosen but not entirely. She glanced around the tree trunk and found the figure of a human, a bandit or thief. Selena watched as the shape clicked its fingers and watched as a small flame appeared in its fingertips. More small flames appeared around the edge of Riverwood, flames that belonged to owners. Selena went to move but was suddenly held back with a strong arm. She turned her head and saw Aetius with his arm outstretched holding her at bay. He saw her move her head in his direction and put his finger to his mouth in the gesture of silence. She nodded and he returned his eyes to the outskirts of Riverwood. Then all at once the people with small flames rushed towards the small town, an arrow sped through the night and struck the bridge guard in the throat. The guard fell from the bridge and collapsed into the water, blood pouring into the water. Then another arrow slammed into the chest of a guard and he too fell from a bridge that marked the beginning of Riverwood. A figure rushed over to the guard and drew a knife across the guard's throat. Selena couldn't hold it anymore. She stepped from the tree and drew back her bowstring, she let it loose. The arrow lunged from the bow and pushed its way through the air until it struck the murderer that knelt over the dead guard's body. The murderer crumbled to the ground without a sound. A second later she released a second arrow which went faulty and struck another figure in the leg, the figure cried out in pain and alerted the rest of the men to stop and take cover. Aetius grabbed Selena by the shoulders and drew her back to the tree, behind cover and away from sight.
"What were you thinking, there is at least ten more of them" he said in a hushed whisper but Selena stared into his beautiful blue eyes and nocked another arrow before he grabbed it from her and thrust it back into the quiver. "Enough, no more until we know what the thieves are planning" Aetius said with a stern voice.
"They are going to raid Riverwood, that's enough for me" Selena said staring into Aetius eyes. He stared into her emerald irises and realized that these Bandits were taking over her new home.
"Fine, take out the sentries first, I'll handle the rest" Aetius said and was suddenly gone. Selena nocked and arrow and a millisecond later the arrow were stuck in the first sentry's throat, a second after than another arrow was flying towards the second sentry. Then it struck and the sentry crumbled to the ground with an arrow lodged in his chest. Some of the bandits saw this happen and know that they were facing an experienced archer, maybe even one of Cyrodiil's rangers. Then the bandits all sprinted as one, knowing that if there was only one archer only a few of them would be taken down. A few seconds later many of them fell, Selena guessed it was Aetius using his shadowic powers to cause death upon the outlaws. A burst of light broke throughout the town and a figure emerged from a house, with a weapon drawn and what looked to be a knapsack strapped across its back. Then the figure raced away without a hesitation and Selena knew that it would have to be the leader of the Bandits. She nocked another arrow and aimed at the figure which was now crossing the main bridge into Riverwood. Selena let her experience guide her and released the arrow. The bowstring thudded around as the arrow lunched across the great distance and thudded into the figure or seemed to. But in the dim light it was hard to tell. The figure continued on and Selena guessed the person who was escaping seemed to either be wearing a strong armor or must of caught the arrow in midflight. Aetius finished with the bandits and was walking back to Selena with a grim look.
"I saw you hit that man, but he didn't fall" Aetius said as he came within earshot. Selena slung her bow over her shoulder and came from the shadows with sorrow in her heart.
"So many had to die and we even failed at that" Selena replied and began walking to Riverwood.
"We did not fail. We simply misplaced our attack. The man who escaped must be heading to Bleak Falls Barrow, if you could track him down you could learn what he was doing in Riverwood with a small army of outlaws" Aetius said and began to walk off.
"What you're not coming with me" Selena questioned.
"No. I have difficult matters to attend to. Our fates are entwined Selena Elmria but for the moment they are separate paths that shall meet at some time. Goodbye my friend" Aetius said and was gone, just like he was when they exited the Helgan caves. Always gone. Selena turned around and headed back into Riverwood, her feet hardly stirring up the dust as she walked the few seconds walk back into her new adopted town. At the gate of Gerdur's house stood a saddened Ralof with his arms across his chest.
"Well seems you know where we live" Ralof mocked but Selena paid no attention to it.
"I'm going to bed" was all she said.
Thanks for reading and please review.
So I hope you enjoyed and this story isn't as boring as this introduction was, but just to set you in my universe of Skyrim this chapter is for. So Ralof and Selena have a romantic entwinement happening in Riverwood while bigger plans are happening throughout Skyrim as every player knows. I began the story here because no one enjoys reading the same Helgan sequence over and over again so I cropped it out. If I get reviews that say people want my version on the Helgan sequence that I can write it out as a flashback of some kind. So who is Aetius the mysterious man who pops up occasionally and has some rare shadowic ability. You'll find out next chapter and you'll also find out why he is always disappearing. As I've said please review, it means so much to me. There is quite a lot of talking in this chapter but hopefully the rest are less talkative. Yes it has many romantic talks and scenes in it because it is a romance. Can't wait for the next chapter to begin. Goodbye for now.