Yay! Had my last exam today, so I thought I'd get this one out. This was fun to write, even if I wrote the second part before the first. Apologies if Divayn's name alters a little throughout this, I changed his name about five times before I found something that fit. Enjoy!
They stopped in front of a rotting wooden door and Senethys headed in first.
Inside, two male Dunmer were standing, talking in deep tones. They looked up as she walked in and the closest one immediately scowled, his face twisting.
"What the hell do you want, Nord?" he growled. "Come to gloat?"
Kyra was taken back for an instance before she realised he didn't recognise her. Neither of them did. That wasn't too unexpected though - many had never met her in person and it was only her eyes that triggered their recognition. But his immediate response to a Nord walking in angered her; the Nords of Windhelm obviously hadn't made their hatred towards them a secret.
"No, actually. The complete opposite," she said gently.
"Why would-" He cut off, staring at her. "Nightingale?"
She nodded and Senethys stepped forwards.
"Virend, she helped me with the Nords. They came up to me again, as always, but she made sure they backed off."
Virend just grunted but the unnamed Dunmer inclined his head in respect. "It's good to meet you in person, Nightingale. I've heard tales of you - we all have - but I never though I'd have you standing in my inn!" He grinned and stepped forwards, offering his hand. "I'm Divayn, the owner, and he's Virend, as I sure you gathered. He's a little prickly but don't mind him." He grinned again as Virend grumbled. Divayn continued talking. "It makes a nice change though, having someone in here who isn't trying to insult or bully us. There's only been one other person who's even tried to accept us. A Nord, like you. She's staying in this inn at the moment actually, has been for the past few days."
Kyra narrowed her eyes in anger. "One person? Out of the entire city, only one person?"
"People don't want to come here. This place is disgusting but Ulfric won't do anything about it. Still, better him than that bastard Tullius," Virend said, the hatred evident in his voice.
"It sounds like you have a personal grudge against him," Kyra said, leaning against the wall.
"I tried to go to Solitude before I came here. It had a better reputation: cleanliness, wealth, options for work. I set one foot through the door - one foot! - and I was arrested by the bloody guards and thrown out." Virend slammed his mug down onto the table, his fist clenched so hard she could see his knuckles turn white.
"There are no Dunmer allowed in Solitude," Divayn explained. "Even if we're kept in squalor here, at least we're allowed to stay. And we're in a better place than those Argonians. They're forced to stay on the outskirts of the city, but that's more for their own safety from Ulfric's army than anything else."
Kyra tried to keep the scowl off her face but didn't succeed. "And no one's tried to do anything about it? Before the Civil War started, it didn't use to be like this."
"It wasn't. Although Ulfric has no love for foreigners, he has respect for anyone who can lift a sword to defend Skyrim. But when he killed the High King and set his sights on driving the Empire out, his army started their xenophobic views. They thought Skyrim was for the Nords only and that any foreigners must be driven out. But Ulfric only wanted the Empire out. It's reached a stage that if Ulfric did try to do anything, his army would start to doubt him. He won't let that happen," Divayn said, his face grave as he leant on the table.
"How the hell do you know all that?" Kyra asked. "I doubt you marched up to the Jarl's palace and demanded he tell you."
"You manage to pick up these things when no one cares about you," Virend replied, his voice low and gravelly. "Bits of conversation, the tone of people's voice - it's obvious if you know how."
"Virend's the one who told me about it," Divayn said. "He's good at getting information and reading people, even if he does insult them at the same time."
Kyra nodded, looking around the dingy room, and took in the grim expressions of the three Dunmer. Virend looked irate as he glared as his mead and Divayn was wearing a smile but his weariness was evident. Senethys hadn't moved during their conversation - she seemed as though she was only just holding herself together. Resolve hardened in her. "I'm going to talk to Ulfric. Maybe my status as Dovahkiin will give me the upper hand. I'll see if I can't persuade him to at least change something here. Make your lives a little easier."
Hope flickered in their eyes. "You would do that for us?" Divayn asked.
"Of course. I'm Nightingale, aren't I?"
Senethys looked as though she was about to cry. She jolted forwards, hesitated, and then launched herself at Kyra, sobbing into her shoulder. Kyra awkwardly patted her on the back and looked over at Divayn, mouthing at him. Was it something I said?
Divayn smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "She's just had a bad time recently. Her experiences have been somewhat more traumatic than the rest of ours." He didn't look as though he wanted to elaborate and Kyra didn't press him, instead properly embracing Llorosi. There was only so much Nightingale could do, after all.
After a few minutes, Senethys drew back, hastily wiping her eyes. She looked embarrassed. "I'm s-sorry Nightingale. I didn't mean for that to happen. It's just that you're prepared to do some much for us and-"
Kyra cut her off, not unkindly. "Think nothing of it. I can't promise anything but I'm going to do my damnedest to make this better for you. For all of you."
Divayn came forwards and put his arm around Senethys. "On behalf of everyone, thank you. As a small token of what we can offer, please stay here for as long as you wish."
"I may just take you up on that. Do you have a spare room for the night?"
Divayn laughed humourlessly. "They're all free. All of them. No one ever comes here."
Kyra winced at her lack of tact. She was normally better than this.
"Forgive me." Divayn sighed. "I didn't mean to cause offense. My sense of humour has steadily been getting darker over the past few months. And there actually is someone else staying here. The Nord, as I said. It slipped my mind."
"Of course. Do you know her name by any chance?"
"It began with an A. Or maybe it was an L? No, I'm pretty sure it began with an A. Aside from that, nothing. Nord names all sound the same to me. Apologies, Nightingale."
"Why are you calling her Nightingale?" A new voice sounded from the doorway as cold wind swept through the open door.
Kyra frowned as the familiarity pulled at her mind - she knew that voice. She swung around.
"Alaedra?"
Alaedra was standing in the doorway, a smile tugging at her lips. Her long hair was wind-swept and her cheeks were a faint red.
Kyra paused and turned back to face Divayn. "Wait. This is the other person? The Nord?"
Divayn nodded. "I'm…assuming you both know each other?"
"Yes," Alaedra said.
"No," Kyra said at the same time.
They both paused, looking at each other before Kyra sighed. "Well, kind of. But we've only met once, and even that wasn't for very long."
Alaedra walked into the room, shutting the door behind her. "But the circumstances weren't exactly normal, were they?"
Kyra didn't need to look at Divayn and Senethys to see that their faces wanted an explanation. Virend was busy drowning his sorrows with mead and didn't look up. She shifted her position, leaning back against the wall again and tried to act nonchalant. "She was there when the dragon attacked Whiterun and was the first person to see me become Dovahkiin. We didn't really get the chance to talk much though and I haven't seen her in over three months."
"It's a nice coincidence to meet up with you again though. I assume you're hoping to join the rebellion here?"
Kyra made a face. "I was going to. But a chance encounter led me to seeing the state of this place, and now I'm having second thoughts."
"It's shocking! I don't know how this is allowed." Alaedra's tone was full of indignation. "I've tried to do something about this but I haven't got anywhere. No one is willing to listen." Alaedra frowned and glared at the floor, her nose scrunching up.
"They will," Kyra promised.
Alaedra looked up. "What do you mean?"
"I'm planning to talk to Ulfric directly and I'm going to make the most of my name. Being Dovahkiin means that there is a lot of influence behind me, especially as far as the Nords are concerned. If nothing else, I at least need to try!" The words exploded out of her as anger rose up again. She took a deep breath but Alaedra looked as annoyed as her.
"You're right. Ulfric will have to consider it, and his men will too." Alaedra paused. "I assume Virend has already told you that Ulfric isn't as against foreigners as you think? It's the Nords in his army that insist on driving out the foreigners."
"Divayn did actually, but yes. I know." She sighed. She wished it hadn't come to this. Even when she had last been in Skyrim, over six years ago, there had been a lot of anti-foreigner feelings brewing. They were kept below the surface, but evidently all it had needed was someone to stand up to the Empire, and suddenly everyone was misinterpreting the action and discriminating against anyone who wasn't a Nord. Naturally, Argonians and Dunmer had received the worst of it. There weren't enough Khajit for there to be much violence towards them, and perhaps it was better that way.
Her time as Nightingale meant that she felt responsible for Dunmer. She had saved them, and even helped to lead them for a little while. She couldn't just step down from the responsibility as soon as it suited her - regardless of the fact that that was exactly what she had done when she left Morrowind. She couldn't run for any longer. At least, not in this case.
"Should we go now?" Alaedra's voice startled her out of her thoughts and she raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry?"
"You know. Should we head up and talk to Ulfric now? It's probably better if we do it sooner rather than later," Alaedra replied, starting to shuffle towards the door.
"Oh. Yes, we'll go now." She turned to the Dunmer, who were all watching them with varying expressions. "One way or another, this will be sorted. You have my word," she promised, and Alaedra echoed her.
Divayn raised his hand in farewell. "Thank you. To both of you. Even if you do not succeed, you have tried, and that will always stay with me."
She inclined her head and turned away, opening the door. She stepped out…and then danced back in again, frigid snow dripping down her face as an ice storm raged outside. Alaedra backed away but not quickly enough, and a sudden gust of wind blew heavy snowfall into her face. She spluttered as flakes matted in her hair and crystalised on her skin. Breathing heavily, she slammed the door shut again. They looked at each other through dripping snow.
"Maybe we should go later," Kyra suggested breathlessly.
Alaedra hurriedly agreed, both mirth and annoyance sparkling in her eyes. They turned back round again, and were met with smothered grins and muffled laughter from the three Dunmer. Even Virend was smirking, and Kyra's glare didn't do much to save her from embarrassment, although Senethys looked faintly contrite.
"Come on," Alaedra said and pulled Kyra towards two chairs in the corner of the room. They seated themselves as Virend returned to his mead, and Senethys and Divayn started talking in quiet undertones.
Kyra shifted in her seat, unsure of what to say to Alaedra who seemed quite content to sit. Something serious? Something joking? Both of them were generally characteristic of close friends. She decided on safe topics. She could do them.
"So," she began, "what were the plans you mentioned?"
"Hmm? Oh, I joined the Companions. I've only done a few tasks for them so far, but I've earned quite a bit of money already and it's a good way of practicing my fighting. Had a little difficulty at the start though."
"How come?"
"Most Nords don't like magic, and even if I am a Spellsword, it took quite a few missions before they accepted me." Her smiled faded. "And I still don't think they have completely. There's…something weird about them."
She leaned forwards, tilting her head in interest. "What do you mean?"
Alaedra grimaced. "I don't know. It's difficult to put your finger on, you know? It's just been small things so far - conversation completely stopping when I walk in the door, whispers and stares behind my back."
She hummed in thought. "It could just be because you're the newcomer? A lot of people are suspicious at the start before they get to know people."
"No, it's completely different to what you do." Kyra frowned and opened her mouth to ask what she meant by that, but Alaedra carried on talking. "It's more than that. Like…there's a secret they all know and I'm the only one who doesn't. And they get so angry at times." She paused and started to grin. "Plus they eat like animals!" She giggled, and Kyra softly laughed too, covering her mouth with her hand.
"What about you then?" Alaedra asked. "Did you meet the Greybeards in the end?"
She nodded. "It turned out to be fine. I spent over three months there but it seemed like a lot less - it's just so removed from everything. Discovered there's loads of things I can do, now that I have a Dov soul."
"Such as?"
"Well…let's see. I can smell emotions, I have super-strength, and I can also create shouts."
Alaedra laughed, and then paused. "Wait, are you serious?"
"I often joke, but this isn't one of those times. I'm not even exaggerating, believe it or not."
"You can smell emotions?"
She nodded. "Including when someone is lying. I found that out some months ago."
"And you can create shouts?"
"It takes some effort depending on how powerful the whole shout is, but yes. I can. Using two words is generally better for a smaller effect though. It's pretty useful," she said and watched disbelief dance Alaedra's face.
Alaedra leant back in her chair and crossed her arms, smirking. "Prove it."
She tilted her head to the side. "What would you like me to do?"
Alaedra looked briefly shocked, as though she had expected Kyra to refuse, but covered it quickly. With a smooth motion, she drew her sword and laid it gently on the table. "I know my sword. I've had it for the past three years. You've never even touched it before. There's no way you can trick me." She glanced at Kyra and continued. "I want you to levitate it."
"Levitate?" she asked, slightly incredulous.
"And no magic allowed - just a shout. You admitting you can't do it?" Alaedra raised an eyebrow.
Kyra scoffed. "Never. I was just expecting something a little more…"
"A little more what?"
"Challenging." She contained a smirk as she saw colour rise in Alaedra's cheeks but she still smiled at Kyra.
"Go on then. You need to prove it before I believe you."
She didn't reply, instead searching for the definitions. She needed arise, for the effect, and blade, to focus the shout. Her mind tilted again and the meanings embedded themselves in her mind, glowing faintly.
Power coiling in her lungs, she allowed it to flow along her throat as she spoke, eyes fixed on the motionless sword.
"Zahrahmiik alok!"
The sword shuddered, the tip slowly rising off the table as the pommel and hilt followed suit. It steadily rose through the air until it was hovering level with Alaedra's eyes, which were wide and staring.
Shivering from the rush the release of the shout gave her, she let the sword hang there for a moment longer before slowly lowering it and then cutting off the power. The sword clattered gently to the table and the Dunmer looked over.
"Is that enough proof for you?" she asked, enjoying Alaedra's look of shock and marvel.
Alaedra laughed. "That's amazing!"
A strange feeling overcame Kyra. She sat there as the sensation washed over her and couldn't draw her eyes from Alaedra. She watched as Alaedra's mouth curved gently upwards and the faint freckles on her cheeks scrunched up in amusement. Despite the dimness of the interior, her eyes sparkled with life. She felt the need to keep the happiness there. "That's nothing," she heard herself saying. "Watch this."
It was a shout she had developed late at night in High Hrothgar when she couldn't bear to sleep. It had originally taken a lot of thought to combine the words together, but now she knew the phrase, she could do it effortlessly.
She glanced over at Alaedra, who was watching her with anticipation, and spoke.
"Zii peyt." It came out as a whisper but it carried through the room in a gentle wash of sound, reaching into every darkened corner.
Zii for spirit. Peyt for rose.
As she watched, the air in front of her swirled and condensed, collapsing in on itself. A spiral formed, a gleaming pool of not-quite-colour that twisted one last time before a shimmering rose appeared. It floated in the air, the colours faded as though viewed through a tinted window, but sparkling like a thousand diamonds. They refracted the dim light, casting patches of iridescence on Alaedra's awestruck face.
Alaedra slowly reached for it with trembling fingers but as she brushed against it, the rose wavered and dissipated, wafting into the air before it faded. Kyra followed the wisps of her creation before they became too fine to see and looked back at Alaedra.
She was still staring at the spot where the rose had been, her feature alight with a wonder that Kyra rarely saw in people's faces anymore. Her eyes were shining with an intensity that matched the rose.
"That…" She trailed off, breath catching in her throat. "That was beautiful." She fixed Kyra with an intense look. "Thank you."
Kyra shrugged. "For what?"
"For showing me that something beautiful can be made in the darkness." She hesitated and started to grin. "Oh gods that sounded so cheesy, didn't it?"
"Maybe a little." She hurriedly cast around for a new topic. The strange feeling had passed and all that remained now was faint embarrassment at what she had done. Really, creating a rose for Alaedra? That was the opposite of what she wanted to do. "So, um, anything else interesting happen to you lately?" she started as she crossed her legs.
They talked for a while after the creation of the rose, but they stayed on safe topics. If they did stray into deeper waters, Kyra always steered it back and Alaedra allowed her, although she looked a more intensely at Kyra whenever that happened.
"The snow storm may have stopped by now," Kyra said, just over an hour into their discussion.
Alaedra nodded. "They're generally violent but quick. I'll go and check." She headed towards the door and tentatively opened it but relaxed when it became apparent she wasn't about to be attacked with snow again. Kyra joined her, peering out of the door and watching the last remaining flakes of snow drift lazily down.
They said their goodbyes to the Dunmer once again, and started walking towards the Jarl's palace, carefully shutting the door behind them.
Fresh snow crunched underfoot as they walked, the sound comforting and familiar as it echoed in her mind. It reminded her of childhood - but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. As soon as she made the connection, she tried to force her mind away from thinking about it.
But the memories had already stirred. They wavered, trying to rise up but she pushed them down. She hadn't felt the dizzying panic yet. She could fend them off for now.
She made light conversation with Alaedra as they walked, both to keep the silence from getting too awkward and to distract her from the tugging of the memories. Those were the only reasons. She definitely didn't enjoy talking to Alaedra. Definitely not.
Ulfric regarded them both with a stern look. He rested his hands on the table and leaned over it slightly, but didn't move his gaze away. Alaedra shifted at her side, but Kyra stayed still, meeting his eyes.
"You…I know you, don't I?" But it wasn't phrased as a question and Kyra nodded.
"I was walking along the pass and was part of the Imperial ambush. We were both at Helgen together when the dragon attacked. I escaped with Ralof."
"That wasn't what I was referring to. There have been rumours circulating of a dragonborn with the most striking eyes. They wouldn't happen to refer to you, would they?"
Kyra clenched her teeth."Well, the rumours are true. I am Dovahkiin," she said shortly.
Ulfric nodded. "I remember you from Helgen too - I'm glad to see you escaped, now it's apparent you aren't an Imperial spy. However, I do not appreciate you marching in here and telling me how to rule my people." He spoke mostly to Alaedra now, who drew in a sharp breath under his glare.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Alaedra open her mouth, no doubt to protest loudly. She quickly spoke over her. No need to get them both thrown out before Ulfric had a proper chance to talk to them.
"We apologise for that, Jarl Ulfric." She hated speaking with such deference but in a situation such as this, it would be useful. Anyone could see that Ulfric was a proud man. "We did not mean to insult your rule. We only thought it best that we inform you of the situation with the Dunmer. Some may be willing to help with the war effort in some way if their situation is improved. They despise Tullius."
"Believe it or not, I am aware of that. But most in my army would take offense to the elves joining the fight. They would question my rule, and I will not allow that to happen."
"Of course Jarl Ulfric. But if you had the backing of someone, say, perhaps the Dovahkiin, they would be more likely to accept it." She was well aware that this was a risk. Ulfric would either take it as an insult and threat, or realise that having a potential political influence on his side could be immeasurably helpful.
Ulfric paused, exchanging a look with Galmar. He didn't look particularly happy with this change of events and was frowning. They seemed to hold a silent conversation before Galmar sighed and shrugged. Ulfric looked back at them.
"I will need to give this some thought. But even if you are Dovahkiin, my men will be more inclined to listen if you have a high rank within the army. Are you both willing to join?"
"Yes," Alaedra said immediately, both conviction and lingering righteous anger in her tone.
Kyra hesitated. She didn't particularly want to be forced to obey orders, especially from idiots who had no idea who she was. But she mostly agreed with the cause, and had promised the Dunmer she would do whatever she could to improve their lives. She hurriedly echoed Alaedra when the silence stretched for too long.
"Before I give you a set of proper orders, you need to prove your skills. I won't have any of my men dying on the first mission." She must have looked affronted because Ulfric felt the need to add, "I need to do this for any new recruits. It's a standard procedure. Galmar will give you your test."
Alaedra met her eyes and smiled, the excitement clear on her face. She found herself smiling too before she caught herself and quickly looked away.
Galmar frowned at them. "You," he said, gesturing towards Alaedra. "There's been reports of a fire atronach near Gallows Rock to the south-west. Kill it and bring back the fire salts." He paused when Alaedra didn't move. "Get going then," he growled.
Alaedra jolted. "Yes sir," she said, and quickly turned to Kyra. "I'll see you afterwards, right?"
Kyra hesitated and then nodded, feeling somehow guilty for the happiness that spread across Alaedra's face as she turned and hurried off to carry out her task.
Galmar faced Kyra. "Dragonborn. I'm giving you the traditional test. Go to the Serpent Stone far to the north and bring back an ice wraith tooth. They seem to flock there so you shouldn't need to search very far."
"I assume there isn't a time limit?" she asked.
"No, but do it quickly. Oh, and dragonborn?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't get killed."
I'm going to aim to get the next chapter out by the 24th, although there'll be a gap between then and the next chapter...I'm going to holiday! But reviews may just give me incentive to upload a chapter before then :) Hope you enjoyed!
