Chapter 3: Blood of the Dragons


Hira let out a yawn. Her muscles ached and her head felt like it had been kicked by a horse. It wasn't bad enough that the events from that morning had worn her out, but both the Arch Mage and the Jarl were busy until tomorrow. These two things threw off her plans. There were also the survivors from the ship. Normally she would leave them at the closest town then continue on her way, but Jyggalag's cryptic message kept playing in her head.

"Protect the ones from Thedas. They will be playing a pivotal role in the events to come. If you don't, Nirn will be taken by creatures of great evil."

The headache doubled and Hira rotated her head back with a groan. A sharp pain hit the back of her skull when bone met stone. Gasping, she clutched her head and a string of profanity flowed past her lips.

"You haven't changed a bit I see."

It took several minutes for her eyes to stop watering and when they did Hira couldn't help but smile at the man who was standing across from her. He was tall; well, taller than his Nordic brethren anyway. The traditional mage robe was draped loosely over his body as if to emphasize the lean and muscular frame beneath. The gray and ash-blue leather was losing its color and the metal loop holding it up looked rusted. The laugh lines around his sea-green eyes deepened as he smiled.

"Disappointed Odmund?"

Odmund pushed away from the stone wall. His footsteps echoed as he sat next to Hira.

"Not in the least. I'm glad to see you haven't become a milk-drinking Thalmor puppet."

Hira's eyes narrowed and a quiet growl escaped her lips. Closing her eyes she gingerly rested her head against the wall again.

"I may act like a Nord at times Odmund, but I am an Aldmer at heart."

Odmund laughed. "Then your heart must pump mead and snow my pointy eared friend."

"And yours spiced wine."

Odmund smiled as he looked at his friend. She was distracted however, with what he wasn't sure and knowing Hira she would never tell him. Hira then opened her eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder, fingers nudging the worn silver clip.

"Congratulations on making novice."

He sniffed. "Nothing to celebrate about."

Her eyes sobered and a hard tone crept into her voice. "Learning to master your craft is nothing to laugh at."

The man leaned away from Hira as she spoke. "Gods, you can be scary."

A hand placed itself on her shoulder.

"Try traveling with her." The voice chortled.

Hira's smile widened at the comment. Turning she looked up at the warrior-priest. His eyes sparkled in amusement as he smiled down at her. Strands of ash colored hair fell from his short pony tail, with strong fingers he moved them behind his ear.

Hira's reached up and placed her hand on top of his. "Valgus."

"Greetings, my lady…" his lips parted once more, then he looked at the young man sitting next to her. His smile vanished and his face became unreadable.

"Odmund."

The blond haired man gave Valgus a sweet smile; the special kind you reserve for your in-laws, the bad ones.

"Ah, Valgus, care to join us?"

"Of course."

Valgus's posture was ridged as he stared daggers into Odmund's brow. Sensing the tension Hira shifted forward in attempts to separate the two men.

"How are the two below?"

Breaking his gaze Valgus turned his attention to the stairs that lead down to the Healers Chambers.

"Collette is doing an excellent job. The man who had the arrow in his shoulder woke. He's asking for you. I think his exact words were, 'Where is that beautiful elf who saved me?'" Valgus huffed slightly as if repressing another laugh. "I think the others were shocked at this news. The… um… elf part I mean."

Hira tilted her head. "Sure he called me that, and their companions are elves, why did they think I wasn't?"

Her reply was a shrug from Valgus and a pat on her shoulder from Odmund.

"I think you should go say hello to your admirer Hira."

She sighed and stood. "Alright, let's go Valgus. I shouldn't keep them waiting." Pausing she looked back at the young wizard. "Talk again?"

Odmund swallowed, "Sh… Sure, I would like that."


-xox-


Their footsteps echoed down the stone stairs. With each step the runes carved into the stone pulsed with a warm glow. The smell of parchment and ink filled Hira's nose as she reached the second level of the tower. She continued down brushing her fingers against the wall carvings; from the tip of her finger to the base of her feet Hira felt content and relaxed as the enchantments washed over her. Looking back she smiled at Valgus; the spells purifying effects appeared to remove the lines of worry on his face.

She suddenly stumbled and the next thing Hira saw was stone rushing toward her face. A jerking motion stopped her and she was quickly spun into Valgus's chest. His hands were placed gingerly on her arm and waist holding her tight to his chest. She marveled at the warmth resonating from his broad shoulders and griped them to regain balance. When she finally looked up Hira let out a snort.

"What is it?"

Water began to form at the corner of her eyes. "Sorry, it's just this is the first time I had to look up at you. Though I was hoping it would be a different scenario." She stood up taller and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, for saving me again my priest."

Valgus coughed lightly but he didn't let go of her. His skin began to warm and turn pink when he looked back at her. "You are welcome my lady."

He slowly let go of her and they began their journey down the stairs once more. After about twenty more steps they reached the lower part of the tower. The runes began to pulse stronger and the two could sense the necessity of focus on their goal stronger here. Hira was also pleased to feel the skull-splitting headache began to disappear. The smell of Blue Mountain flower and Gleamblossom drifted to their noses. When they reached the bottom of the stairs a woman in her early twenties with green skin rushed past them; robes catching the wind behind her like wings. A few seconds later a man with white hair and blue-gray skin followed, shouting something about the focal points and tuning.

Hira watched the two as they rushed out of the building. "I see Mugnor and Drevis are getting along just fine."

Valgus nodded, he lightly gipped her shoulder and pointed up. Above them were strips of brightly colored light that moved and waved as if they were ribbons in the wind. Hira gasped in excitement at the sight. The aurora borealis turned a soft shade of blue then purple.

"Julianos's Ribbon!"

"What?"

Hira blushed lightly at this and looked away. "Julianos ripper of the skies and patron of magic, every time I see those strips of light I always think about him. So I call them Julianos's Ribbons."

His gray-blue eyes smiled at this thought. "Beautiful."

Her blush deepened and she began to fuss with her armor which began to feel warm. "Let's go… I think everyone is waiting for us and we can't keep them waiting."

"Indeed."

With those final words the pair walked into a large round room. "The Main Hall" as healers of the tower had come to call it, was circular with several arches that lead to patient care rooms. The largest arch opened up to a pair of double oak doors, which in turn opened to Winterhold. Three arches down a large group began to form, all whispering about the man who claimed to be a dwarf.

"I assume that is where we are going?" Turning to her male companion she pointed out the large crowd.

He nodded and began to walk through the throng of people. It took several moments to get into the triangular shaped room, and because of the curvature of the main room they had just stepped out of, gave the care room a keystone-like appearance. When they stepped into the room, the smell of Gleamblossom and Mountain Flowers became stronger. In the center sat a bed on legs about three feet tall and covered in thick furs. The group that Hira and Valgus rescued was standing around the bed, smiles on their faces and laughter on their lips.

A man with dirty-blonde hair was sitting in the bed, arms raised in a dramatic gesture and a grin that told everything yet nothing. When he looked towards the people who walked in, his honey-colored eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Ah my gorgeous hero has arrived. How are you my dear?"

The man's enthusiasm made Hira smile. Slowly she wedged herself between the blonde mage and the ginger haired warrior. "I don't know about gorgeous, but I am doing well and I am glad to see you are feeling better."

The man let out a huff. "So am I from what the healers tell me, I'll be out tomorrow morning."

Sebastian eyes were hard. "These people are mages."

The mage looked up at Hira. "What is this place? When we asked people just looked at us and laughed."

Merrill quipped. "Varric told us that you were an elf is that true?"

"Can you believe that the guard used bandits to help rebuilt the town?" The copper haired woman asked.

"I saw a man named Odmund, I wonder if he likes poetry…"

"Hold on everyone!" Varric called, holding up his hands to emphasize this statement. "Give her some breathing room."

Hira blushed slightly at the attention. After a few moments of shuffling her feet and hair fidgeting did she finally look around to the group.

"This place is called the Hall of Restoration it is part of Winterhold's college. There is a tower called the Hall of Repair." Looking down at Varric she smiled. "The healers are most likely going to send you there tonight. It is a place to train the muscles that they had to regrow."

Varric nodded. "What's the point of being healed if I am crippled at the beginning of the fight."

Hira looked at Sebastian, her eyes darkened for a second. "This place is a facility for learning the Arcane Arts. They can be practiced freely and publicly, as long as you follow the moral rules and Nordic burial customs."

The archer's brow furrowed. "Why do you have to honor burial customs?"

Hira sighed, it was obvious that this man wasn't from around here or he would have realized what she meant. This is going to take a while…

"Let me put it as simply as possible… If you are caught raising the dead the penalty by Nord standards is death. I don't agree with the punishment but I agree that it is an immoral thing to do"

Hira pushed away from the bed slightly, giving herself more room to fiddle with her hair. Using a leather strap she pulled her hair back into a simple braid. This hair style allowed her ears to be more visible to everyone; and no one in the room missed the gentle swooping points her ears created. It was the other elf who reacted first to this. With a squeal she was around the other end of the bed and hugging Hira in a death grip.

"It is so nice to see another elf here other than Fenris… well I guess that he isn't here either since he is still asleep. But I am still happy."

The dark skinned woman calmly pulled Hira out of the hug and patted Merrill on the shoulder. "Come on Kitten, give the woman some breathing space."

"Sorry, sorry."

Hira smiled at the elf. "I don't mind. It is nice to see another elf at times as well. As for your other questions..." turning towards the ginger-haired woman; "A group of people suggested that bandits should be put to work instead of just placed in jail. By giving them work we pass on a skill that could be useful and more productive in other areas of the realm. It also teaches the men the value of things like meals and clothes. At least that is the hope."

Aveline pursed her lips in thought and then nodded.

Hira looked at Isabella playfully. "As for Odmund, he really likes poetry."

Varric coughed and tapped her hand. "This is all well and good but…"

A scream could be heard from the other side of the hall and robed figures began to run to and fro in front of the door. Stepping away from the group Hira looked out into the main hall.

Waves of silver-blue energy washed over her. Closing her eyes Hira tried to find the source of the energy; as she searched rage began to fill her soul, unexplainable rage, hatred, then sadness. It took all her power just to break from the bond connecting her to the strange energy. It was then she recognized this energy. Looking over to Valgus she could see he recognized the energy as well. A dragon priest… here?... This is bad….

Ignoring everyone else Hira rushed out of the room, panic rising in her chest. When she got into the main hall she stopped in her tracks. To her surprise the energy was inside the building. Looking around she watched the flow of people, knowing they were running away from the mysterious energy. Two doors down she could hear shouting and several healers running back and forth trying to cast calming spells into the room. Collette, the Restoration Master, was trying to heal those who were injured and the Illusion Master was standing a few feet away from the chaos, eyes wide with shock.

Collette smiled grimly at Hira as she approached. With her arm raised she began to shout above the screams of her healers. "Valgus, Drevis with me! We're evacuating. Hira, distract him!"

At the sound of Collette's calming voice everyone jumped into action. And following her orders Hira cautiously stepped into the room. The elf with silver hair stood not five feet away from her, back turned and glowering down at a pair of cowering young apprentices. His skin was glowing the same silver-blue energy she felt earlier.

I don't think he is like me…. I don't sense the same energy, perhaps this was one of the volbur, father told me about.

With this knowledge Hira touched the burning power that boiled in her blood and spoke to the man standing in front of her.

"Drem yol lok, kiir do yol. Vahr los iidah hin saviik?"

The man froze and turned around to stare at the woman behind him. The two mages slowly snuck out of the room. The elf's eyes began to glow brighter when they passed but he didn't shift his gaze from Hira.

She moved closer, closing the space. "Vis hi mindoraan zey?"

His brow furrowed as he continued to stare at her. This confused Hira, if he was truly one of the changed he would have understood her. Also, two more things were also clear; he was young, and he was scared. She had also had this kind of rage before, its only cure was space. Hira slowly raised her hands and began to back out of the room.

His eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

Her eyes widened as the glow on his skin died revealing deep silver markings. The man began to shake and a sneer appeared on his face.

"What was that poisonous tongue you just spoke? Why does it sound so familiar?"

Hira stopped and took a deep breath; at least he was talking and not trying to kill anyone. "My name is Hira. You were in a shipwreck. My companion and I brought you here to be healed."

He glared at her dubiously. "What about my friends?"

"They are here. But you caused such a ruckus Collette had to evacuate everyone."

"You still didn't answer my second question."

Hira simply smiled, then in one swift motion she was at the entrance of the room.

"It doesn't matter…" he heard her whisper. "You didn't understand."

The elf gritted his teeth as he watched her leave. Then deciding the best way to get answers was with this "Hira" he cautiously stepped out of the building. The doors creaked and the spring air bit into his skin. The elf shivered and wrapped his arms around himself as he stared at this strange new world. It was the color of stone and lifeless. The sound of the ocean reached his ears as he looked at the group in front of him. Once again it was Merrill who reacted first by running up to him and giving him a hug. In normal circumstances the elf wouldn't tolerate her touching him but at this particular moment she was warm and he gladly accepted the heat. After being hugged by his fellow elf the man looked at toward the people who were on the ship with him. His eyes narrowed then he sighed.

He then turned and faced Hira. "I… apologies, for my actions. My name is Fenris."

Hira smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you Fenris. Welcome to Skyrim."


Dragon language translation…

volbur = Change or the changed (Hira is referring to the markings on the elf's body and how they resonate with the energy of her dragon brethren.)

Drem yol lok, kiir do yol. Vahr los iidah hin saviik? = Greetings, child of fire. Why are you attacking your saviors? (Child of fire referrers to children of dragons, Hira believes that Fenris is a dragon priest.)

Vis hi mindoraan zey? = Can you understand me?


Hello everyone!

So far you may notice some major changes. Or at least I hope so...

Please comment. It helps me become a better writer.