"Wuld-Nah-Kest!" (Whirlwind-Fury-Tempest)
"Su - Grah - Dun!" (Air-Battle-Grace)
I am quite enjoying testing out the two new shouts the greybeards have taught me today. The usefulness of these in battle aside, I quite like the way these winds flow in my movements and my battle dances. Everything feels lighter, faster and vitalized.
I must say these suit me well, the gifts fuel my steps with energy to complete the next quest from the Greybeards, they did promise to teach me more shouts. But for now, I enjoy sprinting down the mountains at a much faster pace than the way up here.
Behind me, Paige, the physically challenged Mage is trying her best to catch up but every few steps she has to pause and catch her breath. We are going downhills too for the love of Shor what is with this one's stamina, I grinned while thinking that, not acknowledging that my pace is probably beyond what's considered normal with the Dragon shout.
"Hmph, hmph…Would you mind not going so fast." Paige lifted the bottom of her robe to not get caught in the snow trails and she skipped a few steps and almost fell to her face a few times. I silently laughed at her awkwardness and stopped for her to catch up.
"What? Too fast for you my princess?" I said playfully, "would you rather if your humble servant takes the time for you then? Your highness? Or shall we call a carriage? Does your royal shoes need polishing?"
"Can you stop that already? It's not like we are going to be making any more distance beyond Iverstead tonight, what's the rush!" Paige wiped away the sweat on her forehead with her hand lightly, and casted quickly chanted something that seem to make her cool down a bit. These mages like to take the easy way out every time, what kind of world would we live in if this is what everyone strive for: to make sure they can eat, live, sleep and die without having to lift a finger?
"Oh relax a little, I am just testing these out" While acting all nonchalant about, I steadied my pace and went slower. "They didn't teach you how to build up your stamina in the fancy magic school? Do you guys ever walk outside of your stoned walls and libraries?"
"The masters of Arcane arts do not trouble ourselves with the meaningless practice of pure brute and force. The flesh fades but the thoughts and knowledge prevail through centuries."
"Paige, if you don't stop putting the snarky out of your sentences, you would be punched in the face these days." I am only half joking when I said that, and I thought to myself, I would probably be one to do it.
"Many have tried" Paige gave me a look, the kind where you raise only one eyebrow instead of both, "but all of them failed."
I glanced back at Paige and we shared an understanding. I laughed freely, now this fierce lady is someone I can stand with. She and I are different, but also similar in some senses.
"So, now you know who I am and where I am from even who my family is, yet I still know little about you beyond that you are the Dragonborn? What is your story, who is Alvanna, beyond being the prophesized savior?" Paige seemed to have become a lot more tolerable and chattier once we have breaking past the icy exterior that separated us from the moment we met. There should probably be a term for that, anyways.
It was a great question indeed, it feels, almost like a lifetime away, and seldom do I have people interested about knowing all that. I reminisced a little about it, "I was an orphan of War, not as impressive of a family like yours I am afraid. I was adopted by Tonendy, a Red guard general on her way back to Hammerfell after the battlefront in Cyrodiil is concluded. She raised me in the great city of Sentinel, and trained me as a fighter. I remember the merchant boats came often in the summer and they bring many gossips around from the other side of the Iliac Bay, where I would learn your name, the Saffire of Glenumbra." After saying that, I glanced at Paige again, trying to get another reaction, but she didn't seem to react much to it, must have been used to people bringing it up around her.
"And what have brought a warrior of Hammerfell to Skyrim?" There are some genuine curiosity in her tone, making it hard to shut her inquiries down.
"Well, you see the crown's prince was trying to court me as Tonendy is a powerful figure in the forebearers. Like you said, political alliances and all. But unfortunately for him, and he don't like to take 'No' as an answer, so I made sure he no longer has the ability to bother other ladies of court."
"What do you mean?"
"I took away his manhood with a Knife." I laughed as Paige seemed to uncontrollably grin and do I detect a bit blush there too sister? "Then I got on one of the fastest horses and fled to Skyrim, found myself a band of merriment who took issues with Thalmors' interference in the Skyrim's business. It ain't so bad you know, I always been wondering about what Skyrim, the land of my heritage was like, and these past few years has taught me close to everything about my own people.
"Sounds like quite an adventure." Paige replied, I am sure that there are some moments there that a runaway princess-scholar would identify with. Almost immediately, she took out her crimson note book again and seem to be writing a few words down. The one that she had kept so secretive and protective about.
Seeing that we are bonding now, I yanked the journal straight out of her hand, and read it out loud, she did try to resist and fight back, but without using her magic, her hands felt as light as feathers, as soft too.
"Alvanna, Dragonborn, Volatile, Agitable, Alcoholic, Personable.
Dragonborn's ability appears to be reading and understanding draconic innately, as well as learning Thu'um faster than the others. The extend of which require further observation.
Her aggresive personality could be an innate thing shared by all the Dragonborns or just who she is as a person due to traumatic and rebellious experiences.
Unfortunately, she knows little about her parents, making her true heritage open to interpretation. And the source of this 'Blessing from Akatosh' or ' Dragon's Blood' remains a mystery."
"What in the oblivion have you been doing with this? Keeping taps on me?" I raised my voice, not one folk I know would be fine with someone making sly observations about them and keeping a record in a personal journal. I let her take the journal back but I kept staring at her waiting for the explanation.
"Keeping records on the only Dragonborn I have seen ever in real person? Yes you bet I am, the records on the dragons and Dragonborns are largely missing through the records for centuries now and I would not be doing my job if I don't keep a thorough account of it." I can't say its any surprise that Paige seemed to be completely unremorseful. Are all the mages this entitled or is it just those who were princesses?
"Can you at least leave my name out of it." I caved after an unproductive staring contest, I had to be the bigger woman since I am not really up for an argument with her, she will probably win that one again.
"Sure, when I publish the book, I will just say, the "Dragonborn" from the early era of 4E200s who shall remain nameless."
"Eh, fine. But leave the other personal stuff like my personality and childhood out of it!"
"…"
"PAIGE! Promise me you are not going to lay my entire life out there on the parchments for the world to gander about."
"Fine, I promise that when I finish my book, I will send you a copy to proof read first, before distribution to the shopkeeps."
Knowing this is as much I could ever get from her, I shook my head begrudgingly and accepted my compromise. She is a stubborn one indeed, she does kind of growing on me though. Easy on the eyes too, but anyone who is unlucky enough to find themselves with this princess would be in for quite a ride.
The road is a bit icier than it was on the way up, the snow that was melted with the sun during the day is getting in our way a bit. A short while on our journey, I decided to distract our awkwardness with another topic.
"Have you thought about it, you know, Daggerfall, have you missed the people back there?"
Paige took her fancy crown off and fixes her hair underneath, "of course, of course, it has been a few years and I have not been back. My mother writes to me often. My father is quite stubborn so we hadn't made up yet. Mom says that there's also quite a lot for him to worry about in the Kingdom, the peace we have right now, are more fragile than a thin veil of ice"
I shook my head while stumped my feet a little "Yeah. The empire and Skyrim right now are in a huge mess and every province and kingdoms are feeling the effect of it. Even as far as Hammerfell and Highrock are feeling the effect."
"Indeed, if there is one thing that every generation has in common, its the war of succession and the constant struggle to power. It is quite boring really."
"I couldn't agree with you more. We have the Thalmors to thank for this." Damn those Thalmor dogs, I hate what they have done to the world, to Skyrim.
"Well, not quite, yes Thalmors are incredibly infuriating people but they didn't invent greed and war. Although, come to think of it, if there is a peace-loving king or queen ruling, their subjects are often the most content. Without the constant turmoil, the development in arts and magic are often the best in the eras. If you think back to the founding of the Mage's guild and the psijic order…" The deeper Paige delve into this topic of hers, she seems to be undistracted and increasingly excited.
"Well I know that much, a good ruler always listens to their people and if the people demand art and magic, then so be it." I said quickly, "Skyrim these days, people just want to make it pass the winter, and the next bandit crossing in one piece, not much else."
"I thought you were a bandit." Paige looked at me funny.
"We were just targeting the Thalmors mostly, we are not ordinary bandits you know. They would attack just about anybody, I try my best to discipline my own men, well, tried."
"Yeah don't get me wrong, I have no love for the Thalmors, they almost turned the college into ashes and I lost some good friends and mentors to their plot" Paige said, "a disciplined group a bandit is no longer bandits, the proper term would be private militia."
"I don't know about your fancy terms and definitions, I just like to live life the way I want, not more than that." I get bored easily when it get to the nitty gritty of things.
"And I have no idea why you are the divine Akatosh's champion, prophesized to save the world."
"Yeah, you and I both sister. You and I both." I tried to smile a bit, but the truth is that I have actually been beginning to see my path, the necessity of doing what must be done, "you know, Jarl Balgruff had even suggested that I become the empress of the land, did you hear that part when you showed up the other night.'
"Indeed I did, and he does have a point you know, the dragonborn is a good name and a cause for people to rally behind. But what do you think of it?"
"Hm, I don't know." I leaned on the rock with my back, " I doubt I will be a good ruler."
"What? Have you ran a kingdom to the rubbles before?" Paige smiled, her eyes were clear as waters and shimmering as a gem.
"Well, no…"
"Then nothing, you know that all the first emperors/empress of a dynasty didn't born into their reign. They had no birthright, nothing to their name when they were born. They rose to the challenge and won the love and trust of their people. They were born to rule, they grew into it"
"Well yeah I know, Talos, Saint Alessia…" I disagrees a little, "but I am not like them."
"Sure, the other Dragonborns are good examples too, but you don't even have to be one of the Dragonborns to be become a good ruler, have you heard of the story of Queen Ayrenn of the first Aldemeri Dominion?"
"The Thalmors?"
"No, she's not a Thalmor, rather, the Thalmors are of the third Aldemeri dominion, but you could say that they are related. Hell of a lot of centuries past though. But her story is my favorite, she was born a princess, but she was a peculiar child with vast interests. She rejected the norm of her people but she later brought about innovation and a new era of acceptance and unity."
"Sounds almost like you are talking about yourself." I jokingly said, Paige is certainly the most peculiar princess that I know of.
"I learned a great deal from her but no. She had always wanted to rule, but I am not a ruler."
Turning the question back onto her, "How are you sure that you are not a ruler?"
"I had always enjoyed the arcane arts and the great adventures and cumulating and expanding knowledge, for me the knowledge has no bound and is vastly more important that most things." Paige explained, "I was first in line back at Daggerfall also, I would have the strongest claim to my father's throne had I stayed. Partially why we had such a bad fallout, he had always wanted me to take over from him. But that wasn't me."
"Sounds admirable, you know what, if I ever do become the empress or the High Queen or something, I would make sure you will have all the resources and support you will ever need for your research and magic nonsense." I said humorously, intended to be a joke.
Paige however didn't seem to see it right away, she paused and stared at me, her eyes were glowing with such a light that I can't even bring myself to look away. Then she smiled and bowed, "If this is your promise then shall be so, I, Paige Olcen, the Archmagus of Winterhold, shall swear fealty to Alvanna Windshear, the Dragonborn, future High Queen, Empress or something, and may the divine gods Juliannos and Akatosh bear witness to this bond."
I laughed and kept on walking, this is quite hilarious to me and I thought nothing of it. Behind me, Paige smiled again mysteriously. It is almost like she wasn't there for a second and her gaze was somewhere beyond where we are standing. I didn't notice at that time since I hadn't paid much attention to it.
…...
As we made our way down in the mountains, the night has almost shrouded the entire town with the Inn being well lit and the hardworking folks are back in their own houses. We had wanted to rest soon as we had quite a long trip but before we could even make it pass the town's bridge, two masked men, quite creepy to my liking caught our attention. They held a torch up and seemingly to be hassling the guards until they saw us approaching and they immediately walked up to us.
"You there! You the one they call the dragonborn?" One of them had a sharp tone, the kind that really irritates someone, wonder who taught them their manners.
We are quite confused about who are these two, I definitely never seen them before in my life and from what I can tell, Paige has not either, "Yes, I am Alvanna, the Dragonborn."
"Your lies fall on deaf ears, Deceiver! The True Dragonborn comes ... You are but his shadow. When Lord Miraak appears, all shall bear witness. None shall stand to oppose him!" The other one seem to be a lot more easily agitable, and he raised his hand. A glowing light started to form and a line of fire shot out towards me close range.
Just when I was reaching for my sword, the fire was almost to my face. While brace for a burn that I am too close to dodge, a glowing white light of a shield formed in from of me. I turned to see Paige holding out a finger of hers and from it, a shimmering light is fused to that light warding. The fire hits the surface and seem to have done precisely nothing to it.
"You left I right?" I winked at Paige while not even waiting for her answer, I dashed out with my swords drawn. The masked figure struggles to raise a similar shield than the one Paige did, but before he could do it, I swung my swords in a almost circle and made sure to cut into him where it counts. My blades were met with virtually no resistance, and the one in front of me collapsed down as my backhand slices through his throat. And I glanced to check on my companion.
Paige has a grin on her face, amused maybe? She raised her right hand lightly and with a few mumbling chants, her opponent was immediately hit by a small gust of ice storm. In my awe, I watched as the masked man got swept up from his feet and visibly being frozen into ice and when he hit the ground beneath him, he shattered into a million pieces. No bleeding, just a chilling breeze that reminded a life was taken.
"Damn, that's quite a trick!" I amazed at how efficient Paige was, there's something to be said about the magic users, they barely have to raise a finger and the fighting was done, must have been really nice, but also does explain why they all have terrible stamina and physique you know. Just pointing fingers are no exercises or discipline you see.
"What is going on?" A town's guard came up to us after the conflict, Paige had already started to examine the bodies and tries to look for a clue on the attack.
"Damn them to Oblivion, these people attacked us unprovoked." These days, lives have been lost for a lot less, shouldn't be a surprise to them I think.
The guard agreed, "Yeah I got a rough look of what was going on, they attacked you first. Any idea who they are?"
"Not a clue." I shook my head and started to shake the blood down from my blade, hate if I had to get new clothes again.
"Not quite" Paige looked up, gestured for us to get closer, and she showed us a note she found on the body of these masked men, "they were sent by someone else."
On this sweat smudged and barely legible note, writes as follows:
"Board the vessel Northern Maiden docked at Raven Rock. Take it to Windhelm, then begin your search. Kill the False Dragonborn known as Alvanna Windshear before she reaches Solstheim."
"Did you have any enemies in the island of Solstheim?" Paige asked.
"Not that I know of… In fact, I have never even been to Solstheim." I am quite confused, "let alone know anyone there."
"Well, they know of you. Your reputation precedes you." Paige jokingly said, and she got up, "Leave this with me, I will look more into the identity of these people and perhaps in the future we will plan an voyage over to Solstheim to get to the bottom of this."
There's already quite a lot for me to do here in Skyrim, I doubt I will ever find the time to go on that excursion, I rubbed my temple with my thumb, all of these things to dos are starting to give me a bad headache. "Well, we better check in at the inn before they run out of guest rooms then."
As we made our way into the only inn in town, Paige went ahead to book us some rooms, I ordered us some mead and listened to the Nordic Bard girl playing her lute. She didn't quite sing, but the lute is quite lovely, it was a nice change to not hear the same old song "Dragonborn comes" by the same bard over and over again. The bard seemed to recognize Paige right away when we walked in and she went over to talk to her at the counter.
A fellow traveller sat himself down at my table, I raised a glass and he returned the gesture. His skin is green and the two giant teeth poking out from the bottom half shows that he is an Orc (Orsimer). This man is quite muscular, strong, and with an odd-looking weapon at his back, rarely have I encountered a weapon I haven't seen before.
"What is that you got on your back, friend?" I noted to the Innkeep to bring us another round of mead and ale, it is Nord tradition to order a drink to the people you wanted to ask questions from.
The Orc happily accepted the mead, he laughed and untied his weapon from the back and put it on the table, it is made of wood and steel, has arrows on it but not quite a bow. "Never seen a crossbow before, eh? Not surprised. Kind of a Dawnguard specialty. Nothing better for putting down vampires."
"Dawnguard? What's that?" While I asked, paige has returned and sat down beside me but her attention seem to not be in our conversation.
"We're vampire hunters. We search out and destroy those bloodsucking scum wherever we find them." The orc chugged a thing of ale, and scanned me quickly, spent most of his gaze at my blades that are still stained red, "Say, you look like you are a capable warrior, do you want to join us?"
I laughed and shook my head, "Seems like every corner of Skyrim you go these days there are some faction trying to recruit people."
"Well, for a worthy cause why not?" The orc didn't seem to be bothered by my initial rejection. He turned to Paige, and acted as if he understood, "Oh I see, you must be the personal guard to this highborn lady, the roads are a lot safer these days with some capable company."
Paige didn't bother to correct him, she spares little mind in events that are of less interest to her. But I said quickly, "You are mistaken friend, I am no one's guard, and She doesn't need protecting."
The orc took a second glance at Paige, "Ah, you don't see many Mages travelling on main roads these days in Skyrim. My apologies. We don't got anyone like you back at the fort yet, My lady, we could always use your expertise too."
Paige seem to have just noticed the Orc, "I am sorry, what do you want us to do?"
The Ord didn't seem offended, he still maintained the same level of enthusiasm, "To join us in ridding Skyrim of the Vampire Menace!"
"Not interested." Paige immediately shuts him down and turned to me, "It's quite late, I am going to turn I, you can take the second bed facing the door whenever you area ready."
I apologetically looked at the Orc man, and said, "I am really tied up in some missions right now, I can give you guys a hand once I have the other work sorted?"
The Orc didn't seem bothered at all, "Of course! Whenever you are ready, just head onto fort Dawnguard and report to Isran whenever you are ready. Just tell him that Durak sent you and he will help you get settled."
I reached for another drink while I nodded absent mindedly. Will I even remember any of this conversation when I wake up in the morning? Doubtful but we will see.
Durak the Orc is still quite chatty. "You might find our base quite interesting, you know, Gunmar and Sorinne are each working on something, one of them is working on putting armors on trained trolls and the other looking into some Dwemer technologies. Odd people, those two are."
A voice, much to our surprise, "Sorine? Sorine Jurard? She found something new? What is she working on, tell me EVERYTHING." It seems that Paige had abandoned her plan of sleeping early and is now returned and is currently staring right at the Orc and her eyes are glowing with such an excitement that I have rarely seen in anybody. "Did she find it? Did she find Blackreach?"