Hello from Oblivion, all. So, it's been far too long since and update but here you go! Another chapter to the adventure. I hope to be doing a lot more writing in the near future. Read, review, and enjoy!

FUN FACT: Chimera's middle name is Bear, after the nickname for Ulfric's father, The Bear of Eastmarch.

Chapter 36: Camp

Hiccup fidgeted with his coal pencil again, twirling it around in his fingers as he stared at the blank parchment page in his journal. He groaned, leaning back against Toothless and running a hand through his hair. Setting it aside, he stared out forward.

Cora and Chimera were fashioning tents they had been given from the Guild in Riften, chatting lightly and at times giggling. Cicero was off gathering firewood for the night.

And he smiled. No matter how close the world was to ending, no one could take this moment from him. His heart beat faster, and the new adrenaline jerked his papers back into his lap. With warm fingers and a cold sweat, Hiccup jotted down his thoughts.

Dad,

Hiccup sighed, hand shaking. Biting his lip, he rephrased the first part.

Dear Dad,

He grumbled again, crossing out Dad.

Chief Stoick the Vast,

I cannot marry Helga from North Island.

Another sigh and pause.

Even though the Cliffs of Forever are beautiful this time of year, I have fallen in love with another…Her name is Cora Moonbrooke of Valenwood. She is the daughter of a previous councilman, Gadnor Moonbrooke. She is fierce, I know you will love her. She is the one Freyja has sent for me. For me! If you can believe. Give her a chance. I look forward to returning home for you to meet her.

Your talking fishbone,

No no no. He crossed that out as well and changed it.

Your son,

Hiccup Haddock

"Whatcha writing?" Cora said, plopping down next to Hiccup with an open mead.

He jumped, slamming his book shut and running a hand through his hair with a coy smile. "Oh, you know, dragon stuff…" He was blushing.

She raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Dragon stuff? Like what?"

He dropped his hands and sputtered. "Oh, psh, you know, the usual. How they breathe fire and all that fun stuff. Shoot plasma balls. Yeah, I'm what you call an expert, you know."

"And I'm supposed to buy that?" Cora smirked, taking another swig of mead.

Hiccup sighed, dropping his shoulders and hunching forward. "No, of course not."

He glanced up as Cicero returned with the fire logs, his face erupting in an ear to ear smile at seeing Chimera. She was laughing at something he had said, and she gave him a soft peck on the cheek as he set down the wood. Hiccup had to look away.

"I just wish that things were simpler, I guess."

The wind whistled against the trees as dusk began fading into twilight.

"You and me both," Cora replied. "So much has happened in the past few months. I went from almost being killed by Imperials, meeting and falling for the Dragonborn, confronting the man who murdered my father and then watching him die." She paused. "And learning he wasn't the man I loved as a little girl."

Hiccup nodded, pressing his lips together. His heart ached.

"And now I feel like I'm a brand new person…with a new purpose and a new calling. I've never had a calling before, Hiccup. Before it was murder or be murder, steal and survive. That's what I'm used to."

"You know I can't forgive myself. Your life was uprooted because of me," Hiccup said somberly. "With your father."

Cora smiled. "True, but where am I right now? About to save the world with the Dragonborn of legends, a real dragon, and the High Queen of Skyrim. If I was still in Valenwood, I'd be washing dishes and running a shop when all I'd want to be was free with a bow and arrow in the trees. This is the stuff of my dreams, Hiccup."

"Where you could be killed," he countered.

"You really think I got this far because I was afraid of death?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Then why did you need to ask?"

Hiccup sighed, turning to face her and take her free hand in his. "Because you might not mind dying, but I'd never forgive myself if this was the reason why you did."

"Call me a martyr Hiccup, but I'm willing to die for this cause. For you."

"Cora, I-" He stuttered, gulping hard before pulling his hands away. "I just want you to be safe."

Red eyes stared into his, almost like a plea. She chose to not match her words to her feelings of love and desire for him. "I will be."

He ground his teeth together before clasping his hands together. "Well, I think we both need some rest before, you know, that whole march on poisonous earwigs and zombies for a piece of paper."

Cora tipped more mead down her throat before wiping her mouth on her sleeve. "You're probably right." She stretched upward and yawned in a strangely elegant way, arching her back backwards.

Olive skin of her midsection peaked out from under her tunic, and Hiccup's mouth went dry. But he narrowed his eyes on what seemed to be a bright black blue bruise just next to her hip.

She turned her extended arms into a point to the left, seemingly oblivious to his notice of her injury. She put her arms back down, and he brought his eyes back up to hers. "That one is yours, Hic. Goodnight."

And with nothing more, she stood up, wandering to her tent and crawling inside. She blew out the candle, the inside going dark.

Hiccup groaned, tipping backwards and laying out flat on his back in the dirt. Toothless tilted his head in curiosity before turning around and putting his chin on his Hiccup's stomach. He petted him affectionately.

"You were oddly quiet back there, bud. Was it just me or did that seem strange to you? She wasn't…herself. We've never talked like that before. And she looked hurt."

Toothless only grumbled and closed his eyes, a wispy spiral of smoke escaping from a small part in his lips.

"You're right Toothless, probably nothing," he grinned. "Maybe even a step in the right direction. I just hope she's OK." Just then, nothing had ever seemed so clear.

He turned over on his side, opening his journal and jotting another something extra on the note to his father: Dad…I have to follow my heart. This woman…she will be the wife to the new Chieftain of Berk.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Cora blew out her tent candle, made sure it was sealed tight, and collapsed onto her sleeping bag in pain. She grabbed at his midsection, trying not to scream or cry and call attention to herself. She had been gnawing a hole on the inside of her cheek all night and pretended to ignore it, but now it was just too much.

Shadowy pools of ink swirled under her skin all over her stomach and chest, specifically around her heart. It tinged her veins with a darker hue, the power of Sithis racing in her blood stream.

Murder. Kill. Die.

Sithis begged her.

"No…" she muttered into the darkness. "I refuse."

Then the darkness was choking her, traveling up her neck and constricting her. It hurt to breathe and tears welled in her eyes.

You must not refuse…you are cursed…and I desire a soul.

Cora kicked her feet out under her, suddenly seeing doubles and blackness on the edges of her vision. "Who?" she sputtered.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III…I desire the soul of the Dragonborn.

And suddenly the presence in her mind felt more than familiar. Cora grasped at her throat, blood vessels threatening to burst in her forehead.

"As…trid?"

And everything went black.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Goooood morning, Dragon Troupe!" Hiccup said, skipping out of tent.

Toothless let out a squeak, jumping to his feet in a catlike way before arching his back to look at Hiccup. The dragon narrowed his eyes and grumbled, tossing his head.

Hiccup play grumbled back, hands on his hips. "Come on, Toothless, we have a castle to storm."

Chimera cocked an eyebrow. She had been up for a few hours, taking the last watch of the night. "What are you so gay about this morning?"

Cicero popped his head out of the pair's tent, red hair sticking up and out, sleep still clouding his eyes. "Someone is gay this fine morning? Without the company of the jester?"

Hiccup smiled. "I figured things out, Chimera." He threw her a wink.

The dark elf smiled. "I knew you would." She gave him a curt nod.

"When are we heading out?"

"Ready when you are," a low voice muttered.

All eyes turned to Cora, suddenly standing silently next to the Dragonborn.

Chimera narrowed her eyes. "Are you alright, Cora?"

The elf had dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept in two days. Her hair wasn't straight and silky but instead bent in odd places, bridle, and dry. Her eyes were hazy rather than alert and scanning her surroundings. She adjusted her flight suit.

"I'm fine, ready to get this Elder Scroll," she said. She closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, her cheeks a slightly pale color.

Cicero adjusted his hat as he emerged the tent, moving to stand next to Chimera. His eyes widened when they fell to Cora. She glanced up at him miserably.

"Oh, dear Sithis. Cicero does not mind keeping poor Cora company while his Listener and Haddock Dragonborn retrieve the Elder Scroll and rune the Lexicon for old Septimus," the jester said.

Cora narrowed her eyebrows. "No, I'm not sitting this one out," she said. She turned and coughed into her arm.

Chimera's eyes flashed to her hands, where dark color stained her veins and ran up her neck, and she knew exactly who was responsible. She looked to Cicero, who nodded. "No, Cora, Cicero is right. You need to get some rest. We can handle this."

Toothless grumbled low in his chest, coming up behind Cora and nudging his head under her arm. He closed his eyes and rubbed against her side.

Hiccup smiled. "See? Toothless will stay here too." He moved forward to put his hand against her cheek. "We just want you to be safe."

Cora shuttered, the touch of his skin flaming against hers. Briefly, her red eyes flashed with passion and strength before dissolving again back into agony. They pleaded to him.

Hiccup opened his mouth and creased his eyebrow. "Cora, are you alright?"

She wanted to say no. She wanted to cry and fall next to him and die. Die after she said she loved him. Instead, she pulled his hand off her face and fought against the knowledge that she was going to be forced to kill him. "I'm fine."

Hiccup took a step back. "Please, Cora…stay safe and try to feel better. For me."

She nodded, before taking her bow off her back and casting it aside. "Fine. I'll stay here. With Cicero."

The jester jumped and clacked his ankles together. "Cicero cannot wait for all the fun and games!"

Chimera stepped forward. "You know as well as I it's better that you do."

Cora turned around. "I don't think you-"

Chimera glared at her.

She quieted, eyes darting back to Hiccup. "Understood."

Hiccup raised one eyebrow. "Okay, something is going on here that I don't think I understand."

Chimera sighed, turning to him. "I will explain it all to you la-"

"Well well well, if it isn't the woman of the hour."

Chimera's eyes widened, standing straight up with her back to the voice, eyes filling with black and hands glowing with flame. Cicero's knife was drawn.

"Illuvitaar," she said, turning around to face him. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged, looking down and dragging his boot in the snow. "Here to congratulate you, I suppose," he said evenly. "Should I be bowing before the new High Queen? And King, from what I hear."

Chimera's heart dropped. "You are still my dearest friend, Illuvitaar."

"Years, Chimera. Years, you lied to me," he said, voice teetering on rage. "And I come to discover from our prisoner that you are the daughter of Ulfic Stormcloak." He spat his name.

"I am," she said calmly.

"And you wanted Ancano locked up in our Midden because he was an asset to your disgusting father," he accused, looking up and lowering his hood. "Not because of what he did to Savos."

"That is not true," Chimera countered. "I wanted him in there the same reasons you did. Savos."

"Oh? So it has nothing to do with the fact that you wanted him as a bartering chip to get you back into the rebellion? Don't lie to me, Ms. Stormcloak, I found your manuscripts."

Chimera lowered her hands, the beginnings of tear starting in her eyes. "I did what I had to do, Illuvitaar."

"And that included lying to me?!" he shouted, taking a step towards Chimera. She shuttered.

"No one speaks to my Listener that way," Cicero said, stepping on front of her. He flipped his dagger in his hand, blade outward. He stood in a fighting stance.

Illuviaar scoffed. "She was lying to you too, you know. She is a monster. A heathen, betrayer, and of mutant blood."

Cicero's eyes narrowed. "I knew who her father was all along, Illuvitaar. The difference between you and humble me, is that I love her just the same."

"I love her more, don't you dare question that, you Imperial whelp," he spat. "I've murdered for her. I've destroyed towns, villages, and killed anyone who's stood in my way for her. Because that's what twisted things she loves." Electricity sparked in his fist.

Cicero only smiled. "Oh, you have no idea."

Illuvitaar let out a fearsome yell before hurling a sparking ball of electricity at the pair. Hiccup barely had time to breathe before Cicero leaned back and Chimera threw up a ward to block the spell with one wave of her arm.

The pair didn't waste any time, and while Chimera dove to the side, Cicero charged forward. Illuvitaar threw another spell, this time a flaming sphere, at Chimera, but she swiftly dove to the side as it crashed into the light snow and burnt the ground below.

Cicero spiraled around, attempting a back kick to his head, but he blocked and grabbed his ankle. Cicero used this opportunity to lift his opposite foot and kick him swiftly in the gut, flipping forward and landing on his feet before whirling back around. Illuvitaar stumbled backwards, quickly throwing up a ward to block Cicero's downward blade swipe.

An arrow whistled by Illuvitaar's ear and he looked up, seeing Cora knocking another to aim at his head. She let it fly, the high elf using his opposite hand to cast a spell and spiral it off track. Cicero was relentless, and Illuvitaar needed to concentrate on blocking his swift jabs when another arrow whistled by. Hiccup was even digging in his tent for Astrid's axe, Toothless with flames in his nostrils and his teeth bared.

Chimera reached out towards Cora. "Cora! Stop!"

The wood elf lowered her bow in confusion as Hiccup charged forward with the axe. Illuvitaar shot blue sparks at him, but he pulled the axe down over his chest and the spell reverberated, firing out in all directions and fizzling off into the air. Toothless rushed behind him, readying a plasma blast.

Cora steadied another arrow to cover him.

"Bow down, Cora!" Chimera yelled again.

But she ignored her, letting it fly and catching Illuvitaar off guard again. She knocked another and took aim, but Sithis overtook her mind suddenly, her surroundings fading in grey. Her limbs shook and flushed with freezing cold and she was no longer in control of her movements. She aimed at the back of Hiccup's head.

Chimera panicked, throwing a ward between him and the arrow. It bounced off of the spell but Cora aimed another.

Chimera ran towards Illuvitaar, calling to Cicero currently overwhelmed by Illuvitaar's magical onslaught. "Cicero! Grab Cora! I got this! I have magic!"

Cicero nodded, throwing down one more swipe before turning and sprinting towards Cora.

Hiccup ran past him, raising his axe. "FOS RO DAH!"

Illuvitaar was swept up in the shout, flailing and spiraling backwards. Toothless scooped Hiccup and tossed him onto his back as they continued to run after him.

Chimera reached him lying in the snow and froze the snow to his hands to pin him down. She held a dagger to his throat with one hand and held fire in the other.

"Don't make me kill you."

He smiled like a madman. "Do it, my Queen. I dare you!"

"Chimera!" Cora screamed. "Chimera!"

The dark elf turned away to see Cora on the ground kneeling over Cicero, flat on his back with an arrow pultruding from his chest.

She looked up in horror, hands on Cicero's wounds and tears welling in her eyes. "It's one of mine!"

Ta Da! Another chapter down with some fun cliff hangers hehe. Stay tuned for more, don't forget to shoot me a review and stay updated for more!