*OUTSIDE SOLITUDE*
HAAFINGAR, SKYRIM
Why am I climbing the side of a mountain again?
This was your idea, little Tala.
I only said we had to get to your bones. I never said I wanted to climb a fucking mountain…
This is the quickest way to my Sanctum. My body should still be there, that is, assuming that fool Cephorus honored my final wishes and left them there. It would be just the thing he'd do. Honor was always so important to him. Anyway, for our little plan to succeed, we need my amulet.
Tala's brows furrowed. She didn't remember anything about the amulet in the game…
Why do we need the amulet?
It was a gift from my mother. It contains the soul gem of a werewolf my father and mother killed together. It was how they fell in love, you see. The weaker-minded of my enemies say that the werewolf's soul steeped into my own while I was still my mother's womb.
"That isn't true?"
No, dearie. Nightmare stories men tell each other to make themselves feel better. A woman proved to be cleverer and more cunning than they were, so obviously dark magic had to have aided her, isn't that right?
Men….
Exactly so. I did enchant that particular amulet heavily, however, with a powerful charm spell. It proved very useful against the weak-minded, and Molag Bal willing, it will again… Ahh, here we are! Now, wasn't that easy?
Tala looked down at the steep cliff face she had just ascended to get to the narrow crack in the mountain surface. If it hadn't been for Potema, someone could've searched the cliff for years and never found it.
Now what?
We go in…
Taking a deep breath, Tala squeezed herself into the narrow crevice, forcing her way forward, while at the same time forcing her claustrophobia down. After what seemed an interminable amount of time, Tala emerged into a large throne room. A single throne sat at the top of a raised dais, overlooking two rows of great thrones on each side of the long hall. Draugr death-lords and wrights sat motionless, still gripping ancient Nordic swords and axes. A skeleton lay on the throne, with a seemingly simple copper and moonstone circlet on the dried skull.
Oh, my. I never thought… it's different when you're looking at your old body, isn't it?
Tala felt genuine emotion from Potema for the first time since arriving here on Skyrim as she reached out and took the circlet in her hands. It tingled, even as she placed it on her own head. There was a momentary pulse of energy, like a shock of static electricity.
Oh…. Wow…. That feels… that feels….
Powerful, isn't it? Yes, darling, we're going to do great things, you and I…
Suddenly there was a slight stick as a sword-point was suddenly brought to the small of Tala's back.
"You picked a horrible place to get lost, girl."
Tala brought her hands up, slowly, also turning around to face whoever had snuck up on her. A young Nordic girl about her age looked back at her, only… her eyes….
Vampire. Thrall, by the look of her.
The girl grinned at Tala, a murderous glint coming into her eye.
"Of all the tombs you could have snuck into, you chose absolutely the wrong one."
Tala smirked. "I don't think so."
Recalling her Krav-Maga training, Tala brought up her dagger in a blindingly-quick motion, knocking the sword aside and closing with her attacker before she could bring the shield in her other hand to bear. The dagger Lydia had given her was at the girl's throat in an instant, and Tala brought her foot around behind the other girl's, forcing her to bend backwards and take a knee, rather than falling flat on her back.
"Lost? No, girl, that's where you're wrong… I've come HOME…"
Tala felt her eyes burn as Potema's voice overpowered hers, and the thrall's eyes turned white as she stared into the Wolf-Queen's face.
"What….what?" she stammered helplessly.
"What is your name, dhampir?" Tala/Potema demanded.
"El…Elfri…Elfridda Whitemane, m-my Lady," the terrified thrall answered.
"Where is your master, Elfridda Whitemane?"
"Here."
Tala didn't even look, just shot out her left leg, slamming the fast-moving vampire in the stomach before turning and seizing the winded monster by the throat and pointing the dagger at his right eye.
"KNEEL!"
The master of the coven proved to be a Dunmer vampire. He was dressed in something that looked like it might have been elven armor at one time, but now it was heavily patched and rusted.
"Who…who are you?!" demanded the Dunmer, staring at Tala incredulously.
"I am Potema Septim, and I have returned to my Sanctum from the other side of Oblivion!" Potema's voice echoed in the chamber. A purple light shone on the vampire's face.
Are those my eyes? Tala wondered, but didn't have time to dwell on that question. The vampire master's eyes went as white as his pallor seemed to, and he immediately bent his head, bringing his right hand to his chest as Tala released his neck.
"MY QUEEN. A thousand pardons. I… we…. We did not recognize you… in your current… form."
"What is your name?" Tala asked again.
"Your humble servant bears the name Icando Damn-rune, my queen. I am grand-spawn of Tyrek Alexandros. "
"Tyrek… I remember the name. He was one of the most valiant of my generals."
"Indeed, my lady," Icando agreed. "He taught my maker, who in turn instructed me, to keep this Sanctum and its Refuge safe and secure, in…. memory of you and your glories."
Potema looked around the room and its crumbling walls and facades with something like contempt.
"Clearly… you have been most successful of late."
"We are few in number, my lady, and growing fewer of late," Icando stated, apologetically but not cringing, she noted with satisfaction. "We had not the numbers to keep this Sanctum in its former glory."
"And what of my generals? My inner Circle? You have left them to slumber?"
"My lady… they have not stirred for many years. They stood guard for many long years, yes, but one by one they resumed their seats upon the thrones and fell silent. Even my powers of necromancy could not rouse them."
There was a sudden stamping of feet, and three more figures burst into the Sanctum: a tall Nord armed similarly to Elfridda (in fur armor with a hide shield and iron sword), and two other black-robed vampires.
"HOLD!"
Icando's shout brought the three to a halt.
"KNEEL BEFORE YOUR QUEEN!"
"My queen," Icando stated as the three knelt, confusion clearly stamped on their features, "May I present the other three members of our coven: Skoberth Black-Song, our bard…"
The tall Nord nodded at Potema.
"And night-sisters Angeline and Carmella Delarosa."
The two vampires glared at Tala, but nodded all the same. Tala/Potema gave the slightest of nods at the three new arrivals.
"My lady…." Icando inquired softly, "We are delighted to see you arisen once again. But… but…"
"How is this possible?" Tala asked for the poor confused vampire, who only nodded in confirmation.
"My name is Tala Niwot," Tala said slowly. "A group of necromancers attempted to resurrect and bind Queen Potema in Wolf-skull Cave."
A smile from Potema crept across Tala's face.
"They were half-successful."
Then the Wolf Queen turned and walked up the dais, turning to face the kneeling coven. Then she slowly sank down on the throne she had left almost five centuries before.
"Well then, Icando… let us see if my warriors remember their mistress' voice…."
A massive bluish-purple glow swelled around Tala's frame.
"Arise, my warriors!
Your oath, which is eternal, binds you!
Stir up your strength again,
Lift thy broken and battered blades
To strike down the foes of old!"
The beam of power fired forward, striking each of the six seated draugr. The ancient warriors' fists clenched around their weapons, and suddenly, with wild, jerking motions, Potema's Inner Circle arose once again arose, Ancient Nordic great-swords and war-axes in hand. Draugr deathlords, bound by their blood-oaths to their sovereign, and their queen. They opened their breathless mouths, and their words echoed in the open chamber.
"MU AAM UNSLAAD, UM JUD."
The ball of necromantic energy made its way fired forward, sending a wafting wave through the halls and the narrow corridors of Potema's Sanctum. Skeletons long abandoned began to suddenly be knit together, and Nords long buried in the catacombs stirred once again their queen's call.
"Now, coven of Icando Damn-Rune, you have seen my power," the Queen addressed the group of kneeling figures before her. "Will you serve and pledge your blades and lives to me, as your Queen?"
The draugr deathlords each took a slight step forwards. Icando looked left and right, then back towards Potema's gaze.
"My Queen, we are yours; from now until our final day."
"SWEAR IT."
The Dunmer paled slightly, but drew the short dagger at his belt, his followers copying the motion. A deep cut was sliced into their hands, and their undead blood dripped onto the floor, sealing the pact from a mere collection of words into a spell of powerful proportions.
"We live for you, Queen Potema. We die for you."
Tala inhaled deeply, a powerful feeling washing over her like a powerful narcotic.
You see, young Tala? So our reign of power begins…
Six vampires and a gaggle of undead do not make a kingdom, Potema.
Quite right, little one. Quite right.
"Now," Tala said aloud, leaning forward. "We must prepare for our next move."
*SOME TIME LATER*
"We cannot stay here. Solitude is not ready for your return."
"SOLITUDE IS MY HOME. I WILL NOT abandon it to… to that slip of a girl who dares to call herself 'Queen!'"
Tala and Icando, along with Skoberth, stood around a table where Icando had spread an updated map of Skyrim and the surrounding area. Potema's ethereal form stood at the head of the table, separate from Tala for now, but the multiple lines of magicka between her and Tala still showed the binding between her and the Wolf-Queen was still very much intact.
"The facts remain," Tala pointed out, "A Legion is station at Castle Dour, with another in Windhelm. Even assuming our bone-men and the few vampires here could overcome an entire Legion and take over the city, when the rest of Skyrim hears that Queen Elisif is fallen, all the Jarls will unite in recapturing Solitude."
"Lady Tala speaks truth, my queen," Skoberth said slowly. "We need somewhere where we can bide our time and gather our strength before launching our all-out assault. And we must do it quickly: no doubt the dark magic has already been detected by the court mage, at the very least. It's only a matter of time before legionnaires come marching down into the catacombs to investigate."
"There is a castle north of us," Tala said, trying desperately to recall the memories from the game. "It is called…"
"Castle Volkihar, yes," Potema said dismissively. "Lord Harkon sits in his frozen fortress and is content to watch the world crumble around him. I remember him well: he scorned to join his forces with my own. It's unlikely he'll have changed his mind in five hundred years."
"His are not the only vampires in Skyrim, my lady," Icando added. "There are many covens scattered throughout the realm: exiles, divided, hunted, and leaderless. They will gladly join your banner, methinks."
"Of course!" Tala said, pointing out a place on the map. "Movarth's vampires will join us north of Morthal, along with Jarl Vighar and the Bloodlet Throne coven south of Falkreath."
Icando stared at Tala. "Lady Tala… is well-informed of the covens…" he said evenly, but clearly unnerved at her knowledge of vampire secrets.
Potema pouted at the prospects of abandoning Solitude.
I will not let my first act as Queen be to retreat from my home, her voice echoed inside Tala's mind.
You were defeated in the Third Era because you allowed your forces to become divided and surrounded, Tala replied. In the end, you drove away what few allies you had, and you were surrounded in an empty city. This is wisdom, not a retreat. Solitude is ill-suited to house an army of light-hating vampires.
I hate the knowledge you seem to have in abundance. Otherwise, I might be cross at your impertinence.
Tough. I have it, and I will use it for our advantage. We are equals here, Potema. There is no Wolf-Queen without her vessel.
"We need a location where our army can gather in safety and security," Potema said aloud.
"We move west," Tala suggested, putting her finger on the map. "Markarth."
Icando's eyes grew wide and a smile crept across his expression.
"Yeeeeessss…. The Hagravens will join us, along with the Forsworn, making Markarth a Prime target for our army..."
Skoberth nodded as well. "The other Jarls will think the Breton resistance has won, and will hesitate to commit their forces at this time, so soon after the Stormcloak rebellion."
"Despite Ulfric's death, there are many Stormcloak rebel encampments scattered throughout the kingdom," Tala added. "They will be an ample supply of thralls and undead corpses. Nobody will miss them."
"And any reports of attacks will be attributed to them," Icando said, his voice growing excited. "My Queen, it is a perfect strategy."
There was a moment of silence as Potema's spectral form looked out over the map, then to each of the figures around the table. Then her figure joined again with Tala's body in an impressive display of magicka glow. Tala shuddered at the transaction, then opened her eyes. Potema's bright blue eyes looked out, instead of Tala's usual green, and Tala spoke with the Wolf-Queen's voice:
"Then make yourselves ready, my warriors. The War of the Red Diamond is about to resume…"
It took time to arm and equip the remaining draugr and skeletons. Icando's coven was likewise armed and equipped with the ancient Nordic armor that put the rough fur and hide armor they had sported before to shame. It took even longer for the hundred or so undead warriors and six vampires to slip through the narrow passageway to the mountain exit of Potema's Sanctum. Darkness had finally fallen on Skyrim, and the group was ambling along through the woods, headed south, towards Morthal.
Elfridda appeared at Tala's side in the dark moonless night.
"My Lady… The Steed Stone is nearby… my master didn't know if you might wish to visit the Standing Stone?"
"Thank you, Elfridda," Tala said. "Lead the way."
What are you doing? Potema asked Tala. The Standing Stones do not grant their blessings to everyone who visits them. They did not respond at all to me. What makes you think that they will grant you anything?
Because I would know for certain before just writing off an entire source of magical power.
This is a waste of time. And when they see the Standing Stones ignore you, our authority will be weakened…
We have an army of the undead, Tala reminded her. If they do not recognize our authority NOW, they never will.
They emerged from the trees, the young Nordic woman gesturing toward the row of stones located in the clearing. Tala walked forwards slowly, taking in the sight of the horse beautifully carved on the stone.
I took these for granted in the game… Tala thought as she stretched out her hand to touch the ancient stone. I'm not the Dragonborn… I wonder if there will be any response at all…
Suddenly, just as Tala's fingers brushed the surface of the stone, there was a sudden snap and crackle of magical energy. Tala's body was lifted high into the air, red tendrils of energy seeping from the stone directly into her body and mind.
WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUU…?!
Tala's metal question was cut off by the sound of an unearthly scream. Raw and unfiltered POWER coursed through Tala's veins, burning and searing. Then there was a loud CRACK, and Tala fell back down to the ground. The Steed Stone quivered, and then fell to the ground, cracked clean in half, top to bottom.
"The HELL?"
Tala?! What happened!?
Tala looked down at her hands, her heart running a million miles a minute. She had never felt so powerful. It was a wild, powerful drug, coursing through her veins like wildfire. She heard a screeching war-cry pierce the night's quiet before realizing that the source was her own throat. Her fist lashed out striking one of the smaller surrounding stones. The stone disappeared under her clenched fist into dust and fragments.
Daedra…
I…. have never felt like THIS BEFORE…
"MY LADY!"
Skoberth, Elfridda, and Icando looked aghast at the sight they had just witnessed. Tala flexed her muscles, feeling like she could crush mountains beneath her fists.
"A… Ah…we've found a scout," the vampiric bard reported, bowing his head extra-respectively. "Looks to be one of the Thalmor: their embassy is nearby."
Thalmor….
Tala snarled, drawing both ancient Nordic swords that were on each of her hips.
"MOVE against the Embassy! Quickly!" She snarled. "BURN IT to the ground and slaughter all you find!"
She was running down the mountainside now, feeling the cold air rush past her. Behind her, she could hear running feet behind her. Draugr and skeletons also were now at her side, all running pell-mell for their destination:
A small gated compound at the top of the nearby hill, where the banner of the Aldmeri Dominion floated slowly in the breeze.
Author's Note:
Thanks, everybody! Leave me a review/PM with your thoughts, compliments, or constructive criticisms!
*"MU AAM UNSLAAD, UM JUD." = "We serve forever, our queen."
Reviewer Responses:
OnkelJo: Thanks! Your story was also pretty great, don't wince! I like DragonAge and Mass Effect also (as my other fics make blatantly obvious), just thought I'd try my hand at Elder Scroll fanfiction.
METALHELLSPWN – Appreciate it! I too was always of the opinion that anything good for you can't possibly taste good. Yes, Tala is essential the host of Potema. Her spectral form can exist outside of Tala, but she is irrevocably bound to Tala's body.
Zeru'Xil – Yeah, you'd think it'd all be old hat in Tamriel by now.
Dreaded Wolf – "Skyrim's Claptrap" LOL
Appbeza – That's totally OK, my friend. I don't mean for Tala to go FULL-on "murder-hobo renegade," but this story is gonna be a bit darker than most of your standard Skyrim fanfics. (hopefully).
Trap3r, griezz- "Gary Stu." :D Thanks, appreciate it! I'll check out "Alternate Start!"
I don't want Tala to be bad just for the sake of being Bad. She is, however, flush with magic and dark power for the first time in her life. That can cause some people to go a bit power-crazy. Plus, having an evil witch-queen literally possessing you can be a slightly negative influence on your psyche, as well. :P
masterdude94 – What? Having a evil witch bound to your soul can be a bad thing? Say it ain't so! Lol
Akshka, The-Only-Temporary-Name, Malhavoc Shadowlord, Koal, Lord Mortem, JimmyHall24, - Thanks! Let me know what you like/like to see in the future!