A/N: Alas! Another short chapter! ATTENTION: I AM NOW ACCEPTING OC SUBMISSIONS. PM me with your character's name, race, fighting style, and a short bio about their personality and past. Enjoy!
11
Fredas, 12th of Frostfall, 4E 204
"Legends exaggerate." - Toba beta, Master of Stupidity
Virali
Virali trudged up the city gates, grateful to be here at last. The trek to Whiterun had been a long one, and she was grateful for a chance to sit down and rest. Thoughts of sweet wine filled her head as she walked under the overpasses that marked the city's guarding walls. The only things she had met on her journey were wild animals, which she turned aside with a spell to either calm them or make them run away in terror. A city guard held up a hand in front of her. "Stop. State your business here, elf."
Virali considered how best to reply, and said, "I'm here to talk to the Dragonborn."
The guard let out a shout of laughter. "Ha! That's what everyone wants these days. Why are you so sure that he'll want to talk to you?"
"I have urgent business that requires his attention. Trust me, he'll want to talk."
The guard looked closer at her. "Wait… You're not one of those Thalmor, are you?" At that, the other gate guard stiffened and surreptitiously reached for his claymore.
Virali quickly shook her head. "No! I'm not with the Dominion. I am with the College of Winterhold."
The Nords considered this for a long moment. Then one of them sighed and motioned to the other. "Alright, miss, you can go in. But watch yourself. Don't make trouble in Whiterun."
Virali nodded and walked through the gate. She didn't often have business in Whiterun, save buying soul gems and conversing with Farengar Secret- Fire, Whiterun's court wizard.
On both sides of the crowded lane were small shops, and beyond them, housing districts. The steady clang of a blacksmith's hammer rang out from Virali's right, so she went over and greeted the dirty woman.
"Hello! I am Virali," she yelled over the sound of hammering metal. The blacksmith glanced up at her from the cherry colored bar of iron.
"Look," she began, "I don't claim to be the best blacksmith in Whiterun. Eorlund Gray- Mane has that honor. All I ask is a fair chance. Now how can I help you?"
Virali blinked in surprise. "Er, I'm actually here for the Dragonborn. Can you tell me where he is?"
The woman nodded. "Aye, the Dragonborn. He's up in Breezehome. Or he should be. If he's not there, then he could be up in Dragonsreach."
"Breezehome?" Inquired Virali.
"Next house up the lane, on the right. You can't miss it. But hey, before you go, wouldn't you like to buy something? We have blades, helmets, and pretty much anything else to suit your needs."
"No, thank you. Good day." Virali said, and accidentally backed up into a haughty Redguard.
"Hey! Watch it," he snapped. Virali bristled but nodded and turned up the lane. And I thought we High Elves were arrogant! She thought. Ah, this must be Breezehome. She knocked on the door and stepped back patiently. A minute passed without response. She was about to knock again when a voice sounded near her.
"Looking for someone?" She turned to see a Nord in unremarkable armor looking at her with an amused expression. Thin smoke drifted past his raised eyebrows as he took another whiff on a pipe. Without waiting for answer, he swept past her and unlocked the door to Breezehome with a key. He held open the door and beckoned her inside.
She nodded and went in; waiting as he also ushered in a Nord woman in steel armor and high cheekbones. In fact, her face almost looked gaunt. She nodded to Virali and busied herself at the cooking pot. The Dragonborn closed the door and sat down at a small table, motioning for Virali to do the same.
"Normally, you wouldn't be invited inside. Since becoming famous as the Dragonborn, I have had to be on my guard against assassins and the like. It's a miracle the Dark Brotherhood hasn't poisoned me yet!" He chuckled and crossed his arms, scrutinizing Virali. "But something about you… I can tell this is important. So tell me, Altmer, what brings you to my door?"
Virali stared in wonder. It was rare that she met a Nord with as much racial tolerance and even intelligence as this man. "I am here, Dragonborn, to discuss a possible alliance between certain factions here in Skyrim. I believe, as do the mages of the College, that dark things are stirring in this land, and I shall need your help in stopping them."
Dovahkiin exhaled a puff of smoke. "Go on," he said around his pipe.
Virali told him of the warning signs that she was aware of, why they should be concerned, and finished with, "The Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, and The College all stand together. With you leading us, we shall have a firm base to start discovering the truth about these rumors. What do you say?"
Dovahkiin considered this. "Who else will you be recruiting?"
"I will be going to Stenar Frosthammer of the Companions and Legate Kaius of the Imperial Legion. With his help we will likely gain the support of the Dawnguard, the Imperial Legion, and the Vanguard."
The Nord nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, you would… How sure are you that this is Skyrim's biggest peril right now?"
"Very." said Virali without hesitation. "This is almost as serious as the dragon crisis."
The two Nords glanced at each other, and Dovahkiin said, "If you'll excuse us, my wife and I must talk." They walked back to a small room off the kitchen, where they closed the door. Virali caught snatches of it, but mostly they talked in low whispers. She stared into the fire's depths, contemplating the how's, where's, and what's of her plan.
Of course, they had to learn who the enemies were, and Virali was intensely curious of who was pulling the strings. Who was powerful enough in Skyrim to command all these enemies? This budding alliance she was proposing would have to stay together long enough to defend the holds against any sort of attack.
Just then, Dovahkiin and his wife came out of the back room. He looked grim, and she had a red flush to her cheeks. "My Thane and I accept your alliance, and we will work with the College and the other guilds to stop this threat. Together," said the woman, folding her arms. Dovahkiin shot an irritated look at her and nodded his approval as well.
Virali clapped her hands together. "Good! The others should agree as well. I think… We will need some place to meet."
Dovahkiin thought for a minute and answered, "I can think of two: High Hrothgar and Sky Haven Temple. High Hrothgar has more privacy, and it is where I negotiated a truce between the Empire and the Stormcloaks during the Uprising. It also is easily accessible, and we would have the wisdom of the dragon Paarthurnax to aid us. Sky Haven Temple, the headquarters of the Blades, is more secure. The Blades would also support us in our endeavor." He stopped, but Virali could see that he was uneasy.
"And yet… you do not seem as if you trust them entirely."
He nodded. "The Blades, being dragon hunters, have a natural hatred of dragons. They see them as vicious bloodthirsty animals, not as the complex beings they are. It is something that has always kept me apart from them. And yes, it's true that the dragons have no place in this world now. Their age has passed. But that is not for us to judge. If they can find a niche in Tamriel, or even fly to uncharted lands and exist there, then who are we to deny them life?" He looked down. "Some that die deserve life, and some that live deserve death. The Blades should not be so quick in dealing out death and judgment."
"And what of the Greybeards?"
Dovahkiin snorted. "I shall only say this: During the dragon crisis, they only helped me because Paarthurnax told them to. They seemed fine with Alduin swallowing the world, and said that it may have been Nirn's destiny."
Virali understood. "Well, then. We could certainly use the Blades' ferocity, but I want to hear Paarthurnax's counsel. Or perhaps it would be best to talk to them on their own, and not risk angering one group or the other. We shall see. In the meantime, it is late and I am tired. I take my leave, Dragonborn. She turned to leave, but Dovahkiin's wife spoke up.
"You're not thinking of deserting our hospitality, are you? Come, I have a guest bedroom fixed up."
Virali hesitated and voiced her thanks. Smiling at the couple's kindness, she trudged up the stairs after Lydia.
A/N: Personally, i can't wait until the tale gets beyond Virali summoning the members of the alliance. It gets more challenging to write, but more interesting. I'm sure you feel the same.
