Shit, guys. I feel terrible for not updating yesterday, but I couldn't. My school took the iPad they provide us with or Friday and didn't give it back until today, and I use the iPad to write stories and update them and everything. Good news is, I'm almost done sith the last chapter, which is the next one.
How did she even end up here? At the Throat of the World? Her vision was blurry, and she saw doubles. Or quadruples, perhaps? How many dragons were there? Or was that just one?
More arrived. No, Rin thought, definitely more than one.
The winged beasts formed some kind of circle on the fresh, powdery snow around (and above) her. She was trembling; was this the end? Had Alduin's forces come to take revenge?
Well, if that was the case, Rin had no fight left in her. Gods, she was tired. The Imperial woman was still sitting in the snow, eyes half-closed, staring up at the dragons that surrounded her. They made no move to harm her. Sound between fellow dovahs was not made. The only audible noise was the howls of the wind as it swirled around her.
A voice. "You have done well, Dovahkiin." The source came from the left, and her head slowly lifted. Paarthurnax. "Alduin is gone."
Rin's throat was dry as she tore Morokei off of her face. It slipped out of her hand. "You... you don't sound happy about it." The gusts of snow intensified, and she rose her arms in a weak attempt to shield her eyes, already regretting the mask's removal. The hood of the Arch-Mage's robes was blown off her head.
"No, I am not. Alduin was the first of Akatosh, a strong ruler for all dovah." His voice deepened, "But, he went astray. You did what had to be done." He paused. "I apologize, for this is a great victory. My nature distracted me. Forgive me."
Her voice was soft. "It's okay. You don't need to think about that." Paarthurnax didn't hear her, but saw her lips move.
He continued, slowly. "Since the World Eater is gone, the dovah will have no leader. They will bow to my Thu'um now, and I will teach them the Way of the Voice." Paarthurnax was quite close to her, to be honest, so when he flapped his huge wings to take flight, the snow and ice was picked up and flung in her direction. Everything was too bright. Her head hurt.
Through the spaces between her robed arms, she could see the silhouette of the kindly dragon, blocking the sun. The mountain shook with the roars of the other beasts as they followed their new master. It was amazing, but she did not register it. She could not register it.
Rin's eyes fluttered shut, and her body swayed. She collapsed, face-first, into the fresh, powdery snow. Her left cheek was freezing and wet, and her teeth clicked together without pause. The Arch-Mage's robes were soaked and heavy on her, like weights.
She was tired, so very tired. And weak. She could only lazily drift her eyes up to see what was causing footsteps and blocking the annoying, harsh yellow sphere called the sun. The figure knelt down, and Rin squeezed her eyes harder when the light hit her eyes.
"What do we have here?" She felt a hand brush some snow off her cheek. "And here I was, waitin' for you to come to the tea party! Sittin' all alone at the table! And you decide it's nap time? Or death time?" Rin heard a tongue click before she coughed.
"Ah, there's still some life left in you!" Arms snaked around Rin's limp arms, hoisting her up to her feet. "Would've been a shame if you were dead, now wouldn't it?" The voice came from behind her, and the set of arms still held her up. Her head bobbed when she was spun around. The Imperial felt like a rag doll.
"I know just what you need!" A hand tickled Rin's neck as her head was tilted upwards. Her eyes finally fluttered opened, albeit it was a slight, small movement. "It's about time you opened those eyes, lassie! For a second there, I thought I was goin' to have to take them!"
"Please don't." Rin squeaked (Sheogorath had to lean in to hear her soft voice) when his hand moved a bit too close to her face for her liking.
His eyes widened and he moved closer. "Ha! You know, I think I won't take them, now that you mention it. Or I might take them, anyway. Still contemplatin' that." He waved his hands around in an unrecognizable gesture.
The Madgod's arms pulled the woman a bit closer before she coughed again. He rose an eyebrow when Rin's eyes slipped shut. "Somebody's sleepy!" He tickled the back of her neck with his left hand, which made the woman scrunch up a bit.
Sheogorath placed her onto a comfortable, padded chair (where did that come from?) and walked around her. She didn't hear the howling of wind anymore. Through the slits of her eyes, she saw a small, circular table in front of her, along with the Daedra that was currently sitting across from her. His elbows were on the table, holding his head up. The purple, black, and white hues that swirled around them was a nice touch. She could see the outlines of trees and buildings behind the fog.
"So, Rin, how about we have that tea party?" Dishes and silverware (along with food) magically appeared on the table as Rin finally was able to move and speak without tiring out.
"Are you serious?"
"Seriously serious. Just take a sip of some tea!" He slowly pushed the warm cup closer to the Imperial. She stared at it uneasily, and Sheogorath moved it even closer. "C'mon! One sip! Or else I'll make you drink it!"
"Alright!" Rin's hand shook as she brought the cup to her lips. The Madgod looked way too excited when the warm liquid tickled her tongue. The tea tasted fine, Rin had to admit. It must've had magic or something infused in it, because the moment she placed the cup back on its platter, she felt much better.
She pulled her chair in more with her legs. "Pelly said hi." Sheogorath crossed his legs underneath the table and stabbed the slice of cake (which was something Rin only had once) on his plate with a fork. He was still scrutinizing her with mischievous eyes.
The woman chugged down the tea. "Tell him I said hi, too, I guess." Her voice did the shrugging by itself. Sheogorath could almost feel the uncertainty (and slight confusion) as the sentence left her mouth.
"Oh, Rin! Pelagius the Third, the Mad Emperor, says hi, and all you can do is say hi back?" The Madgod looked absolutely scandalized. He even placed an open palm over his chest. "How could you?"
Rin was not amused. She just stared at him, not humoring him.
Sheogorath frowned. "Well, if you're goin' to be like that-" He stopped and blankly gazed at her.
And then, few seconds later, the Daedra jumped up.
"Oh, how clever!" A wide grin formed upon his face as he pointed a finger at Rin.
"What?"
"Nope, not goin' to work! You're stayin'! Can't trick me into makin' you go now, eh?"
Once again, Rin shrugged. "I don't really even know where we are." She wasn't lying, but she had a feeling they were somewhere in the Shivering Isles.
"That's right!" He pointed at her head, and her eye twitched. Either he just read her mind, or he could tell she was feeling that way. Or she said it out loud.
"What's right?" She decided to test the mind-reading theory, and his answer bothered her.
"About us bein' in the Shiverin' Isles! That thought was so loud, I could barely hear myself breathe!" He smiled when Rin looked mortified, and let out a muffled laugh, covering his mouth with his hand. "Oh, I'm just kiddin'! You said you thought this was the Isles!"
"I did?"
"Yes, you did. Don't you remember?"
She shook her head, which made him lean back in his chair. "That sounds... crazy." His eyes flashed for a moment, and Rin stuttered. Did he really just-
"Uh... yeah... crazy." She froze when the Madgod's mouth opened. He scooted forward again, and placed his hands on the table. He was pretty close to Rin's face, considering how big the table was. His eyes were wide.
"What was it like?" Sheogorath's question was completely off-topic and unexpected, which was just like him. Rin inched back; he was almost laying on the table now, pushing dishes and cups to the side.
"It?" She wanted to tell him to get off of the damn table and sit down, but her entrails begged her to think otherwise.
"You know, your battle with the Biscuit-Eater?" He brought his arms up under his chin and held his head up, staring her intently in the eyes.
"Alduin?"
"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, a mortal fighting a god. How excitin'!" He fluttered his eyelashes at her when she crossed her arms and frowned.
"I don't know. I was too busy trying not to get roasted alive to actually stop and smell the roses and take notes." The Imperial answered truthfully, and he roared, laughing like the madman he was.
"Oh, not that! I mean, how did you feel?"
"For one, angry. He, uh, he wasn't very 'nice', you know." She paused. He was drinking in every word that left her mouth, and she felt uncomfortable. "Besides wanting to kill me and all."
Rin felt extremely skittish then, and flinched when he lurched backwards, swinging his legs, and slid off the table. "What else? What were you thinkin'?" He looked like he was baiting her, and she fell for it, feeling like a fool.
"What would happen if I died." She stopped talking, waiting for him to make his next move.
It didn't take long.
"Where you would go, eh?"
She didn't answer, but he knew what she was thinking.
He slithered around the table, a dark grin on his face. "You know," he whispered. "I'm not lyin' to you when I say this: The Isles is the best place you can go to, Rin. Too late for anythin' else."
This again? He was quite persistent. "What do you mean by 'too late'?" She didn't like the way he snaked an arm around her shoulder.
"We all want a piece of you, lassie. You know, it's dangerous to deal with us Daedra. Can't run to the Divines now, can you?" That made her shiver and remove his arm from her.
"That's not the most comforting thing, but I'm aware." It was all Rin could say, in mock calmness, and at that moment she wanted to run.
"Oh, c'mon, you look like you've seen Dagon's realm. He elbowed her in the ribs, and she forced a chuckle.
They were quiet as he stepped back to his seat and casually re-arranged the table, making sure that everything was up-right and in place. He steepled his fingers, watching her fidget around.
"Where am I, really?" Rin stared him down the best she could. It only made him laugh.
"Oh, Rin, I thought you'd never ask!" Sheogorath. smacked his hand against the table, and her left temple throbbed with a sharp jab of pain. Her hand rose to her head, and her eyes squeezed shut.
He continued. "In your mind!"
"What?" Rin screamed, jumping out of her seat. The chair bounded back, and tumbled over. The sound hurt her ears.
"Your mind!" The Madgod grinned when she turned around. "Not much in here, though." His voice was solemn.
"Hey!" She snapped, spinning around and pointing a finger at him. He lifted his arms up defensively, but a childish grin was plastered on his face.
"Aww, c'mon! I was just jokin'! Your mind is very interestin'!" His tone deepened during the last sentence. Rin stomped over to him, seething with anger.
"You," she began, poking him in the chest. "Get out of my mind."
Sheogorath bounced backwards. "Maybe later. After we've had some fun, okay?" He was madly excited, and rubbed his hands together in glee.
"No. Get out, now!" Rin growled at him, and his eyes darkened.
"Oh, no... no no no. How about this? We both stay here, maybe play a few games? 'Till I get bored. Now that sounds like a great idea!"
"That sounds like a terri-"
"Then it's settled! Ha! I wanna play hide and seek!" Sheogorath interrupted her protestations, lifting a hand. His sharp, menacing grin angered her.
"No!"
"Yes!"
Thick, billowy crimson smoke blinded Rin for a moment, and when her eyes finally worked again, the Madgod was gone.
"Are you serious?" The woman held her face in her hands for a moment, taking a deep breath. A voice echoed in her ears, full of annoyingly smug mirth. She wanted to punch the thin air, in hopes that he was still standing there, invisible.
"Yep!"
