Chapter 4: Monsters

Yawning, Delric stretched his right arm as he looked at the morning sun. He watched as it rose above the waves and began its slow crawl towards its throne in the sky. Yawning intently again, he picked up the light brown knapsack next to him. The bag was made of a cow leather, and multiple holes where poked through the sack. Rummaging through the bag, he managed to remove a dusty green apple. Placing the knapsack back onto the ground, He took a large bite from the fruit and sunk down slightly into the boat as the juices swam within his mouth. Finished with his apple, Delric threw the small core into the ocean and began to sit back up straight.

"It's been hours and we still haven't found land yet." He muttered as he removed his dagger from his pocket and began picking at his nails with it. When Gilfre didn't reply, Delric looked up and saw that her body was turned away from him, facing towards the direction of the rising sun. It had only been five hours since the duo had hijacked their boat from the Imperial Prison ship known as the Carcere. Since then, Delric had not seen Gilfre sleep. Instead she had stared out into the ocean from the time he closed his eyes, to the time he had opened them. Remembering what she had said last night about the Empire being her family, Delric could only feel a slight twang of remorse for the woman. Her family pretty much wanted her dead and what was more amazing about it was the fact that it was over something out of her control. Moving slowly, in hopes of not disturbing the ship and causing it to capsize, Delric moved next to Gilfre and placed his hand on her shoulder. She flinched initially from the sudden personal contact, but quickly relaxed.

"I'll slice off your head and use your intestines as fishing lines if you ever get any ideas." She said bluntly, her eyes still focused on the morning sun. Delric laughed tensely as he removed his hand from her shoulder and looked towards the sun as well.

"I do appreciate the comfort however." He looked at her quizzically and then turned back.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Maybe another time, when we know each other better." She said, a lock of her golden hair falling onto her face. Delric turned towards her, placing a hand on his lap.

"Then why don't we get to know each other now?" He asked. "I'll start. My name is Delric Hawksmith."

"Delric Hawksmith? Haven't I heard that name before…?" She asked, her face scrunched up in concentration. He watched as she tried to recollect her memories, the face causing him to utter a few chuckles.

"Huh? What is it?" She asked, looking at him with a confused look on her face, which caused Delric to laugh even more.

"You just look cute when you're confused." He said, covering his mouth in an attempt to stifle any more laughs. Gilfre's face turned a bright red at the accusation.

"How dare you! I am a warrior! Not some ditzy Breton girl from Daggerfall! I would like an ounce of respect from you!" She exclaimed, her voice rising slightly in pitch as she borderline yelled at Delric. He raised his hands in mock fear, laughing as he did so.

"Oh please don't hurt me! I am all but a fragile Breton! I stand no chance against an Imperial warrior such as you!" He said through a fistful of laughter. Gilfre punched him in the shoulder and turned her head away in embarrassment, her hair flowing in a sideways arc as she did so.

"Gilfre, come on I'm just joking around. No need to get flustered!" Delric said as he wiped a tear from his eye. She turned back around, punching Delric again as she did so. Delric winced a bit this time, as the punch hit a lot harder than the previous one. Satisfied that he looked to be in legitimate pain, she whipped her head back towards the horizon. After regaining his composure, Delric cleared his throat.

"So as I was saying, before you so rudely interrupted me, I am a Lion Guard. Protector of the King of High Rock, the land in which I lived most of my life in."

"Interesting. I suppose that is why your fighting style is so defensive?" Gilfre replied. Delric looked at her with a look of shock.

"My fighting style is certainly not defensive." Delric countered. "It's a fighting style my father taught me when my brother and I were young."

"Your brother?"

"Yes my brother. His name was Vincent. We spent a lot of time together, along with our adopted brother Leo…"

"Wait, did you just say Vincent? As in Vincent Hawksmith?" Gilfre asked, her mouth nearly agaped.

"Yeah… So…?"

"Isn't Vincent Hawksmith the you know… King of High Rock? Or am I missing something here?" Gilfre inquired as her brow again became scrunched up in confusion.

"Well...I suppose he is. I just consider him more so my brother though you know?"

"Sure." Gilfre said dismissively as she feigned a small yawn. "So does that make you like the prince or something?" Delric scratched his head as he gave Gilfre a brief look.

"Uhm… No? That's not how monarchies work. Doesn't Cyrodiil have a king?"

"No. We have an Emperor, not some pretty little Princess" She replied jokingly

"First off, my brother is not a pretty little Princess… My god…" Delric began standing up in the boat and looked off into the distance. Gilfre also stood up next to him, her face contorted in a look of sheer shock. In front of them they saw the coasts of Morrowind, or what was left of it anyway. The entire coast seemed to be on fire, and although they were still a ways off from the coast, they could see large beings moving through the fire and flames.

"Is… Are those… Daedra?" Gilfre asked as she continued to stare at the burning monstrosity before them. Delric looked at her, he saw the flames of death glint off of her brown eyes.

"No… Those are monsters." He grabbed at the sail, directing it towards a part of the beach that seemed to be relatively clear. With the raft now heading directly towards the shores of Morrowind, Delric slowly sat down again and watched as he met Oblivion.