Chapter 1: Aan Wundun Wah Nid Prodah
The snow covered everything, crystals of ice and frost twinkling and tumbling down from the star-filled sky, reducing the trees and distant buildings to mere shadows, silhouettes of what they are. Branches loomed over the path, bent and twisted with the weight of the ice that was thrust upon them by the storm. Two cloaked figures traveled along the mountain pass, their footprints disappearing as they were made, the storm refilling the small prints.
The pair were obviously twins, each having the same white-gold fur running down their back and arms, the same long, pointed ears. The same feline tails, flicking and twitching, twisting this way and that with each change of mood. The same clawed fingers and olive skin, with oval, catlike eyes peering out from under the hooded cloaks.
Not to say that there weren't any differences. Habaura had pale blue eyes that glinted like ice when the light hit them, and long white hair like strands of snow. Inorahin glanced at her surroundings with deep blue eyes, reminiscent of the depths of an abyssal ocean, and her chocolate brown hair was cut short.
The two trudged into Winterhold, snow crunching beneath their boots as they walked through the small town. The castle that loomed over the town became clearer the closer they got, passing Faralda, the acting gatekeeper, who retreated deeper into her thick cloak to lessen the cold. They ascended along the bridge, stones crumbling along the edges, and the gates emblazoned with the College Eye creaked open, iron worn and rusted from frost.
The pair ducked into the Hall of Attainment, sighing in relief at the warmth that greeted them. Peering around the empty living quarters, Habaura snarled, bad mood heightened by the distinct lack of inhabitants. The leather satchel slung over her shoulder rustled, delicate items clinking with the sudden movement as her tail lashed and she swiped at the nearby barrels in anger.
"Could the others not even be here to greet us as we arrive? Or must we be forced to head back into the blizzard to search for them?" Habaura hissed, slinging the pack off her shoulder to drop it heavily onto their bed.
Inorahin raised her hands, attempting to calm her sister down. "Relax Habaura, it has been three weeks, far longer than the expected travel time. How could the others have known we would arrive today?"
Habaura turned her icy glare into Inorahin, before her eyes softened, and she let out a sigh. "They would not have known, no." She turned to look out the still open door, watching the snow swirl in the air. "They might be in the Arcanaeum. Or- no, the Midden sounds more accurate, does it not?" She turned to face Inorahin again, eyes questioning.
Inorahin nodded, turning and walking back out into the storm. Habaura trailed behind—after picking up the satchel, and shut the door to the Hall behind her. Inorahin had already hefted the heavy trapdoor open when Habaura arrived at the wall it was concealed by, and the twins descended the ladder into the gloomy depths.
The sounds of their boots tapping on the stonework drove away mice and other vermin, the pests scuttling to hide inside the cracks in the stone that were home plants and pests alike. The pair walked through the labyrinth of damp tunnels, following the memorized path to the chamber where they prepared to open the portals that fell into disuse eras ago. Inorahin pushed open an old, worn door, hinges squealing with the effort. The voices that previously emanated freely from behind the wood ceased, air growing tense as the pair stepped into the room.
The room was large, cobwebs nesting in the corners, books and papers covered in scribbled notations scattered about the floor. An alcove in the far wall held a large stone platform, words etched into the surface in Daedric which shimmered softly with an ethereal glow.. Something akin to a moat circled the base of the platform, currently filled to the brim with hot coals, and with a box of—seemingly— Dwarvish make set on top of them. The tense atmosphere came from the three figures sitting rigidly in the room, hands glowing ominously. They all stared at each other before their eyes lit up in recognition and came over.
"Inorahin, Habaura, welcome back!"
"We were worried."
"Ignore the furless' jabbering. J'zargo was not worried."
Brelyna all but snatched the satchel from Habaura as she neared the two Khajiit, ripping open the flap to peer inside at the cargo. "This should be more than what we need. Come the-" She stopped, and lifted a soul gem from the pouch, the dark jewel glinting ominously as it caught the torch light. The room fell silent as they looked at the gem that caught her attention.
"Are- are they all like this?" Onmund questioned, pausing as Brelyna nodded mutely, before continuing. "Well, at least we know what took you so long now. You really don't spare any expense do you?"
J'zargo spoke up with a question of his own. "Where did you even get these? J'zargo can't get them anywhere, even from Enthir."
"This one has connections. And Enthir never leaves, hardly the illegal trading hub, no?" Inorahin answered him from where she leaned against the doorway. "Anyway, if we stay down here for too long, the others will get suspicious. And this one misses her warm bed."
Brelyna paused, before nodding and putting the black gem back in the satchel, setting the whole thing delicately on the floor. "Yes, it is getting late. We should all go to bed. The moons will be in line on the twenty-first, so we should meet up then."
The group left the room, retreating back to the Hall of Attainment.
The weeks before the deadline sped by in a blur, filled with scholars and students alike decorating the College for the New Life Festival. Habaura had retreated into the Arcanaeum—having been updated via Brelyna on what she had missed—to consult the books held there and catch up with the rest of the class. Inorahin seemed to have become mysteriously richer at around the same time many high value items disappeared from Birna's Oddments.
Until the second Fredas arrived.
A deafening roar tore through the air, causing Habaura to jump upright, eyes flicking about the small bedroom. Inorahin too jerked awake, tumbling off of the bed in surprise at the ear-splitting cry. The fur on the nape of Habauras neck stood upright when another roar sounded, thundering through the air, each noise growing louder. Growing closer. She jumped out of the bed, outfitting quickly in simple mage's robes, strapping a dagger sheath to her hip and running out of the hall.
She ran out into the untouched snow, sending clumps of it flying with every footfall, racing down the bridge into the frost covered town of Winterhold. The town was filled with people flooding into the snow and ice, trying desperately to escape the pillaged settlement. Several bodies already lay motionless on the street, frozen solid by the icy blasts of the dragon.
The beast circled over the town, it's blue-white scales sparkling like ice as the sun hit it. The town guards tried in vain to damage the beast, arrows bouncing off the scales as they were unable to pierce the dragon's armor. Habura watched the dragon, eyes tracking it's chaotic dance over the town, waiting for an opening. After a moment that seemed to stretch on for hours, the dragon dived, tucking its wings closer to its body as it hurtled through the air, alighting heavily on top of a house, causing shingles to fly off and the supports to groan with the added pressure.
Habaura snapped into action, fire flaring in her palms as she shot off a fireball at the dragon, the attack hitting the beasts wing membrane, burning the skin. The dragon roared in fury when the fire struck, managing damage where the arrows failed. The dragon crawled off the house, it's white eyes meeting her blue. A guard charged the beast, managing to stab the beast between the scales, and drawing the dragon's ire. It's long neck twisted around, placing the guard within biting range. And bite it did.
The world seemed to stand still, the guards frozen in their own charge that they had begun when they saw the sword sink into the dragons hide. The snow around the dragon had stained red with the dragons blood and the unlucky guards. From the corner of her eye Habaura could see her sister nock an arrow in her bow.
The arrow sank into the dragon's eye, causing it to cry out in pain and rage, head whipping over to look at Inorahin. As it opened it's maw frost began to coalesce in it's mouth. Habaura snarled, and her eyes blazed as smoke poured out of her mouth, shouting at the dragon with as much malice as possible contained within the single word.
Yol.
The flickering tongues of dragon fire filled her vision as the inferno rocketed towards the dragon, striking the side of its face. The flame burned away at it's skin and scales, causing the dragon to retreat, attempting to escape the torrent. She charged at it even as the shout tapered off, the Winterhold guards following suit. Habaura ripped the sword out of its side, and clawed her way on top of the beast. She gripped the hilt of the blade tightly, stabbing down at the beast's skull. The dragon surged upward with a final roar, causing Habaura to slip off of it's neck onto the ground, before it fell limply to the earth, blood soaking into the stones. Dead.
Habaura laid on the ground by the dragon, panting. The guards cheered, before stepping back in shock as the corpse burst into golden flame, scales and skin burning away. The flames swirled around the dragon before flying through the air at Habaura, surrounding her and sinking into her skin. She rose, feeling the familiar surge of power caused by the dragon's soul, before she wrapped her arms tightly around her form. It felt as though frost crept through her veins, freezing her blood solid, and it's so cold. She opened her mouth, not even consciously aware of her actions, shouting a word unfamiliar to her.
"Fo!" And suddenly the word made sense. A blast of frost of her own tumbled out of her mouth, sending a layer of ice across the dragons bones. It seemed to take all the cold along with it, the chill leaving like it was never there. The guards all gaped at her, looking as though they saw a ghost.
"Dragonborn!"
The reverent whispers followed her as she walked out of town, trying to escape the already swarming guards. Inorahin staved them off, and the two walked back along the bridge, retreating into the safety of the college.
"Crazy morning, no?" Inorahin chuckles, running her hand along the ice.
Habaura glares, speeding up "This one is going to sleep for the next era."
Habaura had avoided venturing into town after that debacle. The townsfolk were still abuzz with the news that the Dragonborn lived just out of town. Of course, there were rumors, whispers about the Dragonborn having returned to Skyrim, but that was all that they were thought to be. Whispers and tall tales. Every couple years they would crop up, be it mountains half-seen in the fog, or adventurers that seemed to be too good at their job, and all people would talk about would be warriors of old slaying legendary beasts and rescuing babies. She snorted. This one has never saved a baby in her life.
She gazed down at the town below, leaning against the courtyard balcony. The skeletal dragon had been removed in the days after, most was appropriated by the Jarl, the rest sold to other towns. Habaura sighed, breath puffing white in the cold moonlit air. Both Secunda and Masser were full, and drowned the mountain in pale light. She straightened, and turned from the ledge, walking across the snowy courtyard towards the familiar trapdoor.
The chamber was awash with the soft glow of candles and smoldering embers. The books and papers had been gathered up and unceremoniously stuffed into a tall wooden cabinet that sat adjacent to the doorway. Inorahinn and the other apprentices were already here, holding the many different components required for the ritual.
"Ah, you've arrived. We can begin"
Brelyna stepped forwards after speaking and placed several of the soul gems into the Dwarven box. J'zargo and Onmund followed suit after she had retreated, placing their own components within the bronze container. The twins looked at each other, nodded, and stepped up onto the platform. As Inorahin carved a new rune into the stone, Habaura drew her knife across her palm, allowing blood to drip out of the wound onto it when her sister finished. The others began to chant in Daedric, holding out their hands and channeling magicka into the carvings.
Habaura stepped back as light began to flicker into existence, expanding to the size of a doorway before faltering. She started to back away, clasping her hand in Inorahins, as the others pressed themselves against the wall. The spell exploded outwards, engulfing the twins and the rest of the room in blinding white light.
The three apprentices blinked, dazed, and attempted to refocus their vision as the light faded away, leaving only the flickering candle flames. They looked towards the forge, noticing two things as they did so.
The embers had gone out.
And the twins were gone.
Habaura blinked, vision swimming as she lay spread-eagled on the cobblestone. As she looked upward she registered astonishment through her fuzzy mind even as her vision grew dark once more. Hanging far above her head, nestled among the glittering stars, was but a single moon.