SOLITUDE

The night had fallen heavily unto Solitude, the clouds drowned Masser and Secunda in dark fog. Silence was heavy throughout various parts of the city, lit by fire inside the street "lamps''. But the Blue Palace and its surroundings were filled with yellow-golden lights and blue lights.

Music came from the Blue Palace. The Western Nobility of Skyrim danced, schemed and indulged themselves in whatever pleasure was trendy in Cyrodiil.

Consti Basil Dragaéologo, stood silent. The chattering made his ears irritated, the nobles danced and chatted. Many of the Nobles wore extravagant wears, they were made of wool and pieces of silk.

Consti was of fair skin, his eyes were emerald coloured they gave a blue and green like glow with dancing bolts of lightning around them. He was tall and lean, he was handsome in a way despite his finer and more delicate features. His hair was blonde; Short and curled.

He wore a black jacket with a purple double-headed eagle sewn onto his jacket's pauldron, he wore dark-navy blue pants, black boots and a purple shirt. Consti's emerald eyes ignored all around him as they connected to another pair of green eyes.

She wore a less formal gown compared to the other ladies. She had a small cape held by a eight-pointed star pin, she wore an almost armoured gown coloured in black and red.

Consti thought that it was the Volkihar royal armour, or at least from their royal days. The lady wore a black necklace with a bat skull. Her hair was black and short, on top of it she had braids tugged like a crown. She was pretty Consti admitted.

She was a Nord that was for certain, but she had a more delicate beauty to that of a Nibenese or Breton woman. But her eyes and demeanour was of a Nordic lady, her eyes to Consti looked red like blood for whatever reason and she looked Consti in the eyes.

She had no expression on her lips, almost as if she was neutral. She had plenty of suitors near her, they were all Nords but they all were far away from her. A fear was present in their eyes, it was of her.

Consti's gaze was on her for a minute, her suitors gazed at him with jealousy but there was fear. Of course they would fear him, Dragons feared Consti why would they not fear him. Consti left the gaze of the lady, he left the noise of the ball Elisif had hosted and left towards the balcony.

It was dark outside the room, it was almost pitch black, the sea was barely visible. The fog covered below the world that was the courts of the west. Consti looked at the sea and stood in silence.

He heard steps, they were very far; more so than any person could hear. 'Are you alone?' A woman spoke, Consti turned around and saw the lady from a few seconds before. Consti shook his head; 'Are you?' Consti replied, the lady shook her head.

'Your eyes are green but at the same time they are red' Consti spoke, the wind started to breeze in a slow fashion, the lady seemed surprised she widened her eyes for a few seconds but quickly put a neutral gaze. 'Must be a potion. You inquire too much when you have not known my name' She said.

Consti was too speak but was cut short. 'I know who you are, everyone does. Ysmir "Stormcrown" Wulfharth...or at least that's what some of the peasants of my hold call you. Consti Basil Dragaéologo? Right?' She said, Consti seemed a bit taken aback. 'Indeed, it's Consti, not Ysmir. You seem to know mine, and yours? It is clear you are a Volkihar…Eloisa Volkihar?' Consti said.

The Volkihar lady seemed to scowl; 'Serana Volkihar, the heiress not the one who has to kill me to become the heiress' Serana spoke; 'She's my cousin, she is around there playing heiress. Maybe she'll get favour with our cousin Elisif'

Consti nodded; 'Your age may I ask what is?' Consti asked. 'The same as yours' Serana said. 'You are sixteen?' Consti asked, Serana gave a small smile; 'Yes'.

The two teenagers stood in silence. 'Your suitors seemed to fear you. Why is that?' Consti asked. 'Superstition' She said; 'Many seem to believe we are Daedra worshippers; Others seem to believe we have connection with "Vampiric Volkihar" of old myths, that we are sons of Vampires. There lies, clan Volkihar is old and descendant of Ysgramor as any ancient clan in Skyrim' Serana explained.

Serana gave a look closer to the balcony and gave a graceful step forward, Consti almost instantly appeared next to her he placed his hands on the ledge, Serana raised her eyes; 'The rumor was true' She whispered, Serana moved herself to a distance between her and Consti.

'Rumor?' Consti asked, his gaze towards the dark sea was heavy. 'That you were fast as lightning. In a moment you were in one place and another you were much sofar' Serana explained; 'You are not social are you? Many nords probably would have expected the Dragonborn of old to dance and sing as if Sovngarde had cometh to them, to indulge in mead and tell stories' Serana said; 'But here he is alone looking at the sea'

Consti kept his silence, his face was neutral but in a melancholic way. 'I am not alone, you are next to me' Consti said, Serana seemed to ignore the answer; 'But are we truly here? Are you with me, as I am with you? I doubt it,' She said.

'Your eyes, are they red or green?' Consti asked, Serana did not seem to take the question well. 'You ask a secret of me, when I do not know anything of you' She said, Serana felt a small breath over her ear. 'I tripped when fighting Alduin; I was trying to chain him and bring him down, but I tripped and fell on my face,' Consti told Serana, trying to keep a laugh out. Consti made a distance between Serana

'That is not a secret,' Serana said. 'It is, only I knew it' Consti said, there was silence between the two. The ocean started to get chaotic, the waves could be seen rising and hitting the fog as they cleared it. 'I once wondered how Cyrodiil is. My mother says it was very cosmopolitan; Cities of marble; Roads of gold and crystal; Rivers of diamond water; But no jungle anymore from Alessia and Reman's time. Just hills and grasslands; Patches of only cities,' Serana said.

'In some ways, there is still jungle covering the Nibenay the most; Colovia is more like you described it, but it has jungle in various parts. Cyrodiil is very much green, despite all my life and all the dozens of millions that live in Cyrodiil you could only find empty landscapes and burned hamlets to the south' Consti explained, there was melancholy in his tone.

Consti looked down the to his feet; 'Skyrim is the same in a way, it has a large populace too but it all feels empty; The snow and the large forests seem to be inexhaustible; As I child I never expected to see so much' Consti told, Serana nodded, Consti heard steps, they were light and drunken. Elisif soon appeared.

She was a bit drunk to say the least, she wore an elegant gown it was colored red and grey, she wore a wolf necklace she stumbled a bit, she hugged Serana; 'I gave a lavish party, justs as Torygg promised he would have brought me too' Elisif said sadness was heavy in her tone.

'Maybe had Ulfric not killed Torygg there would be more like these. You were younger in those days, everything seemed normal back in the days prior to the civil war. I wished it all was normal again' Elisif said, tears falling from her eyes, Serana narrowed her eyes in sympathy. Elisif quickly left, she returned to the false comforts of Solitude's ball.

'There was no normality' Serana said; 'I remember those days far better than her or my cousins. There was always tension as far as I could say back prior to my first decade. Tension was present even more than between the west and east. Istold kept the peace but for how long? Even than there was talks of war; Even if all remained "normal" there was still the Dominion to worry about'

Consti was silent, his eyes raised to see Serana. 'I still remember it was very quick. Torygg got engaged to Elisif; Torygg and Elisif married. Ulfric and Galamar Stone-Fist were there in the wedding, along with all his allies. They blessed and spoke of peace; They defiled and spoke of war years later: Istold died, Torygg became High-King he was challenged and Torygg died' Serana said anger was in her voice.

'I still remember those days. I remember the wedding in Castle Dour when it was not the Imperial Headquarters. Elisif always looked more Imperial than Nordic; Torygg did look like a Nordic king. Little Torygg, my cousin was still a small child who could not walk, my cousin Eloisa was not always so jealous. The mead was always plentiful, and the food too. It smelled good and tasted good but I rarely ate and drank even then' Serana said, to Consti there was a feigned nostalgia but there was sadness and melancholy to the previous years.

'Torygg was stupid as Elisif still is. He should have prepared for it, he knew it was coming the day he would be challenged by Ulfric, his steward always urged and even demanded him to always carry ebony armour under his garments and a blade of mithril to his side. He would not listen; Elisif still carries herself as if there was no war. She throws a ball when war rages on, I hope she learns quickly to become Jarless and Queen if she can win. Skyrim is united by a "common enemy" for now but when she wins she'll have to deal with resentments, deal justice, out maneuver her enemies within the shadows, rebuild the ravaged country side and maybe even you' Serana spoke

Consti had no expression. He wondered why Serana mentioned him. 'Your cousin is in good hands. She has good advisors' Consti said, he spoke truly. 'In court you must learn how to carry yourself too. Elisif was always sheltered, my uncle and aunt had her sheltered.'

Serana spoke with sadness that was true. 'I'll help as best as I can if I ever ascend to hold my hold. My father does not seem so keen to help her,' Serana said. 'Why would your cousin have to worry about me?' Consti asked. 'I have heard rumors people would prefer you as High-King to Skyrim...Perhaps even the Emperor of Cyrodiil or even a new Nordic Empire' Serana explained

'I have no ambition for a kingdom. I would prefer to remain neutral in truth. In a way I leaned more to the Stormcloaks' Consti spoke, Serana raised her eyes, an anger was within them, but she lowered her gaze. 'I understand. Some say Ulfric may win, but it has been a stalemate so far. He has more experience than Elisif, but why not join?' Serana asked, curiosity was within her eyes.

'I do not wish to hurt your cousin or Ulfric. I wish this would end in a peaceful manner, that no blood would spill. I wish to break my neutrality at times and to end the war but I can't.' Consti said. 'But perhaps I am not Ysmir as the Greybeards would crown me months ago. Ysmir Wulfharth would have chosen Ulfric, conquered Skyrim and dubbed himself High-King. He would have conquered Cyrodiil and High Rock and he would have conquered the Dominion' Consti spoke.

'I am Consti Dragaéologo sadly. Not the Warrior-King that is the God of War. I can shout like him, fight like him, and perhaps at times look like him. But I am not him' Consti said, regret and sadness was evident in his tone. Consti turned to see Serana, their eyes connected, he raised his hand to Serana.

'We both seem to have burdens that we carry. May I have this dance and may we be free of our burdens that lay heavily in our shoulders' Consti offered, Serana looked at his hand, she raised hers as she locked the hands. 'I would prefer another place. The court would look at us, and though for now the court does not look at us they will. I would prefer no rumors that I danced with you, there are too many assumptions people would make and it would put me in danger of schemes...more than usual at least' Serana spoke.

Consti nodded to Serana's terms; 'Hop on my back' Consti said. 'What?' Serena asked dumbfounded. 'Trust me' Consti said, Serana stood pensive. It was no wonder it was not everyday that a person would get a request like that. 'Fine' She said; 'Turn back' She ordered, Consti turned her back on her, Serana was hesitant but held her hands on his shoulders.

'Hold tight' Consti told Serana obliged and held tighter. Consti started to glow blue, lightning started to surround him, it was rippling and dancing, he crouched and jumped. When Serana noticed they were above in the air, she could barely see the Blue Palace. She wanted to scream, fear was present in her.

'Relax, it's safe. I travel like this all the time' Consti said, his voice was reassuring and calming; Serana relaxed but doubt and fear lingered in her heart and mind. Consti hears her heart beat slower compared to the frantic beats prior to it.

Consti had great control of himself in the air, his leaps were high and he could always control himself in the air, it was as if he was better in the ground than in the air. 'Wuld Nah Kest' Consti whispered, he was propelled forward. The air breezed in her face, it felt good for her, it was as if she was free she felt much lighter as a whole.

She felt well, she heard her companion that carried her shout another shout that propelled them forward, she saw his hands shoot shock spells that launched him forward, the sea was still present, but Consti moved more to the west to where cold beaches would be. Minutes past, and for a moment she could still wonder how it would be to travel like this often.

Serana after a couple of minutes saw land again, the Blue Palace was nowhere in-site no even the eternally lit walls of Solitude. They descended very slowly, it was as if he controlled the air around him, they finally landed. It was a wooded area but it was snowy, the night still was heavy and bleak; the only light there was of Consti's "storm aura".

'Allow me' Consti said, he looked at the trees and snapped his fingers. Nine spheres of blue light appeared over them and they started to surround them but they kept a distance. 'Is your cloak a spell?' Serana asked; curiosity was evident in her voice.

Consti eye's never gave anything to her; 'I don't know in truth, when I first met Alduin it started getting like that, but when I was younger I had small bolts of lightning appear on my hands and feet at times. But I never really know what it was, at least really, I can use at will but I really can't say what it is truly: Full Storm I call it' Consti said as he offered his arm

The woods were silent, Serana gave her arm to Consti. There was quiet between the two, peace in a way. They danced at a reasonable pace, they kept their distance, Consti held Serana by her hands; One raised another lowered.

'Do you request any song? Or rhythm?' Consti asked, averting Serana's gaze. 'Whatever suits you' Serana said. Consti's finger started rippling with lightning and soon a small musical box was away but near to them and it started to play Consti's favorite tune.

Serana narrowed her eyes; 'That does not seem appropriate for dancing tune...It seems more like for when you are pushed to the corner and must go beyond' Serana said, the two despite the nature of the tune kept their slow pace. 'It got me out of many situations; I always liked even if does not seem of this era' Consti said

'Like when you fell on your face when you fought your greatest foe?' Serana jokes, there was a smile on her lips and mischief in her eyes; Consti blinked, his face revealed nothing but there was melancholy in his eyes and the ever present silence of him; 'I...I...Alduin was, is my brother...I mourn him at times…' Consti said with almost fear.

Serana raised her eyes, the dance continued; Surprise was evident in her eyes; 'You mourn him?' Serana said she looked at the. 'Interesting' She muttered, the tune kept playing and it did not match the nature of their conversation. The two averted their gazes for what seemed an eternity.

'My eyes are red but they are also green' Serana said as she cut the silence. 'They are red for a good part of the time. I use illusion magic...Sometimes they are green but for the most they are red...I suppose the myths of Dragonborn seeing more than what normal men see is myth no more. I never knew why they were like that, some say it's an old curse.' Serana said

Consti nodded; 'Pardon me for asking that before. I am not good with words, ' Consti said, Serana shook her head. 'Non to pardon' Serana said. The two remained in silence as they danced, minutes passed and they finally stopped their dance, they sat on a log and stood in silence as Consti stopped the tune

'Is Erikur, is he truly as important as he says he is?' Consti asked, curiosity was evident in his voice. 'In some ways. We all are important in ways, Erikur has a hefty hand over the Solitude docks, but my father has a heftier control over the trade "nod" to the west..It's a complicated system. Everyone is fighting to gain something, scheming and always trying to gain something' Serana explained

Consti nodded, silence once again reigned for minutes; 'When I was young--' Serana stopped herself from finishing the sentence; 'It was nothing...Pardon you it was just some dumb thing from the past' Serana excused herself, Consti blinked; 'No worries. Do you wish to return?' Consti asked, Serana shook her head. 'Can I have a request?' Sereana asked, Consti nodded; 'Can you do those leaps very often? I would like to see Solitude through the air even if it's dark,' Serana said, Consti nodded. 'Hope on then' Consti said, he got up and kneeled, Serana got on his back, Consti again started to glow blue, the air became lighter and the snow below them started to raise itself up, Consti jumped, they found themselves in the air the air breezed. 'Wuld Nah Kest' Consti whispered, it propelled him very forward through the air: To Serana the air was good it breezed and relaxed, but fear was still present when in air she would have no say on what she could do, but Consti he was like a hawk gliding through the skies, even if would not look so, the air was as if was on his command.

Minutes passed the view was still dark but the glow of his body illuminated the skies, he was like a star that shines bright through the void: Solitude after various minutes was in view, Consti lande over a house with a flap rooftop, he shot himself up to the air as Serana held tighter, Solitude was in view, it was beautiful to say the least, above it was lit, the silence of it minus the one of the Blue Palace was enchanting, the calm wind and light above made it majestic.

They descended slowly, Serana observed the Bard's College, it was lit as a few bards could be seen playing the flute; The catacombs and halls of the dead were in view as various manors inside the city had there guards watching over it, the lights sparked throughout the city: Serana was amazed, the city was beautiful from above the sky especially with the calm and quiet, hours seemed to pass as they watched the city over the above, Consti would land on a building and give a great leap once again and continue the tour through the skies.

'That was amazing,' Serana said. They were once again in the Blue Palace, they were sitting on top of a roof of the palace, Consti nodded to her words. 'The world seems so much better the way you can experience it, from the skies and moving like a hawk, a king that can go as he pleases' Serana said as she tried to hide her wonder, the two sat close to each other and looked at the bleak sky. 'It is a shame the sky chose to be bleak this night' Consti said, as he looked above.

Serana nodded; 'It must be late, I better return back to the ball or else my family may worry. Will you return to the ball?' Serana asked as she looked at Consti; A nod was Consti's answer; 'Pardon me but I really am bad at social events, I much rather prefer staying in the sky alone. I never really enjoyed these events' Consti explained, Serana nodded in understanding. 'Could you please get me down?' Serana asked, Consti nodded.

Consti rose up and, he crouched and Serana got on his back once more, they made their way back down as they descended slowly and surely, there was a balcony but behind it the room was empty and barely lit. Consti landed there, Serana got down. 'I know I must ask too much, but could you accompany me towards a more lively room?' Serana asked, Consti nodded and soon they made their way towards a more lively room, Serana was always close to Consti through their way towards it