Chapter 1

The gentle sway of the sea and the cold, wintry breeze was what woke me on the ferry.

Groggily I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders and cursed the winter air and rocking floor. My past few years living life in the halls of the Mages College had made me somewhat sensitive to the biting cold that Windhelm was permanently immersed in.

Though Winterhold was located far to the north, the College was warm in the halls and walkways, a gift from ages ago bestowed by a mage from a warmer climate who couldn't handle the cold.
And it had been many, many years since I had lived in cold such as this; far back to my days in Dawnstar when, as a child, I would play in the inlet. Wading in to play with toy boats or as I got older to practice my destruction spells on the small ice blocks that would form around the docked ships

It had only been a fortnight since I had been in the Arcanaeum, pouring over tomes in front of the fire while sipping wine and enjoying the quiet Urag demanded in his library.

I missed it.

I also missed the steadiness beneath my feet. Going to a new city was not phasing me as much as when there had first been discussion about moving to Windhelm, long before I even stepped foot in the college. But after years the nerves had worn away.|

"Aye, Windhelm is just around this bend." My ears perked. Did they just say the words I'd been hoping for all these nights? Sitting straighter I scanned the horizon, my cloak falling slightly down. The cold nipped at my exposed neck and shoulders as a stiff breeze blew my golden hair back. I leaned out as far as I felt safe only to see—rock.

The monolithic structure that was Windhelm was within eyesight! The grey city blended in with the equally grey waters and almost shimmered in the fog that my breath was causing as I beamed with elation.

'Could this ferry move any slower?' I thought impatiently as my insides churned; my hands gripped the seat harder trying to release newfound energy as I watched the ship dock come closer and closer. Soon enough it was stopped and the ferryman threw down a small gangplank. Grabbing my pack, I threw it over my shoulder as the ferryman helped me from his small vessel. I was finally in Windhelm.

My legs shook slightly as my feet touched the solid ground for the first time in a couple of weeks, slowly becoming accustomed to the stability of the rock. The cold started seeping through the soles of my boots and a shiver shook my Nordic frame. 'I will get used to this again.' I hoped. Gazing around the dock I felt misplaced as all the sailors worked on finishing the docking and unloading of their ships; scurrying around knowing exactly where they were going. Except one.

A lone man stood over by some crates, looking around all the occupants as they scuttled around until our eyes met. He was an older man with a full moustache, red hat and smiled slightly as he waved one hand at me.

"Me?" I pointed at my chest, which made the man's shoulders shake slightly with a chuckle as he nodded and walked over.

"You must be Marith Snow-Song, correct?" The man asked, a heavy accent coating his words.

"Aye, and you sir?"

He chuckled again. "No need to call me sir. My name is Jorleif, I'm the steward up at the castle. I came down to fetch you for Wuunferth."

I nodded. He turned and started walking towards a set of stairs I would have never noticed. The grey-on-grey of the rock was disorienting.

Aside from the sound of sailors yelling there was no noise except our feet on the ground, and even the yells became quieter as we rounded the corner to yet another staircase; much taller than the last and it came to an end at a large wooden door.

"So," I started to speak, my breath slightly laboured as I crested the second set of stairs and stopped outside the wooden door. "What can you tell me about Windhelm?"

"Grew up here. Cold as Atmora, but that just grows the beards thicker." Jorleif smiled as we walked inside the gate to surprisingly more stone as he continued. "Lot of history in these walls. We're trying to make some more. It's a lucky time to be alive."

We continued through the surprisingly empty town. "Is- Is it normally so quiet?"

Jorleif kept his gaze forward and stayed silent for a moment. "Aye, this area of town is. Most townsfolk are around the inn and marketplace. Then there-"

He was interrupted by the sound of barrels falling and crashing and some unintelligible shouting. The clanking of armour was soon heard and the shouting ceased. I craned my neck slightly, trying to sneak a glance, but could see nothing down the roadway.

"Down that way is the Gray Quarter." Jorleif sighed. "It's where all the dark elves in the city reside."

Dark elves weren't uncommon on the docks in Dawnstar, but none lived in town. Whereas at the college there had been more than a few through the years. The ones I had met had been as far from rambunctious as it could get, even after a few tankards of ale they would just stumble off quietly to their beds.

We stood silently for a moment, both of us kind of staring off down the lane before the rabble quieted and Jorleif motioned to keep walking forward. He pointed out the inn as we walked by, giving me a short history lesson as a few townsfolk wandered through. The town was grey and confused me with its winding turns, staircases, and lack of landmarks but as soon as we crested the stairs to the castle, I let out a small gasp.

This massive structure in front of me made me feel... strange. More stone upon stone but it looked never-ending. Two massive wood and metal doors stood higher than I could measure, and Jorleif opened one as easily as you would open a small cellar door.

Inside was a long stone hall, empty of any furniture except for a long table spanning the length and a throne, where I assume the Jarl usually sat, was at the far wall. The Stormcloak colours thrown on banners spanning the hall and a carpet of the same blue and grey surrounded the table. Four slit windows were at the far end surrounding the throne, and a few chandeliers hung from the ceiling over the table, casting enough light to see but not enough that it changed the feeling of coldness and unwelcoming.

Jorleif seemed to sense my unease as we stood in the empty hall. "Jarl Ulfric isn't back yet, but he should be soon. Wuunferth wanted you to head up to see him as soon as you arrived," He steered me towards the first door to my left. "Just up at the top and head as far left as the hallway goes. You can't miss it."

I gave him a nod in thanks as Jorleif closed the door behind me. Staring straight ahead at yet another set of stone stairs, only this time I was completely alone. Taking a deep breath, I started to climb, nerves becoming more and more apparent as I got closer and closer to my new teachers' room.

No one at the college could tell me much about Wuunferth, aside from telling me his name and that I was going to learn from a master of Destruction. So I stood outside his door, knowing nothing of what this teacher knew of me, or what he was expecting.

'What if I'm less adept than he thought?' My stomach turned.

There was no turning back now. Going back to the Mage's College was all but off the table. A cough woke me back to reality to see an older man, much older than Jorleif, standing in front of me. His form seemed feeble, his dark cloak hanging off his body and his hood thrown over his white-grey hair.

But the aura this man gave off was… unnerving.

"So, you're the new apprentice. Hmm, not much to look at but let's see if you can do the basics."

"Basics?" I stuttered, nerves still very apparent. Wuunferth grumbled and threw his arms up angrily.

"Yes girl, basics! Can you do any basic spells? Or are you as useless as the last apprentice I was given?"

Nodding, I quickly dropped my bag on the floor and flipped my palms upright. Closing my eyes, I pictured a small orange glow from the right side of my darkened vision, and a small blue glow on the left that jumped and shook in erratic movements. Slow breath in and the two colours expanded; slow breath out and they stayed the same as I opened my eyes to a fairly large fireball resting above my right palm, warm and comforting as it flickered and snapped. Whereas a bright blue ball rested on my left; its small electrical tendrils shot out randomly across and around it. Closing both hands I then effectively extinguished both and quickly opened up my palms again, only for the spells to have reversed. I closed them once more to extinguish them.

"Well, it seems you're not useless after all. Quite surprising for a Nord." Wuunferth mumbled. A small smirk of pride flitted across my lips but soon disappeared as the older mage looked over at me. "Wipe that smirk off your face. You achieved the basics, albeit more than my last apprentices achieved, but still only the basics. We have a long way to go before I trust you to be where Ulfric wants you to be."

"Um, I'm sorry?" I stuttered. "What does any of this have to do with the Jarl?"

"You're here to learn to become the next court wizard should something happen to me," Wuunferth stated before turning to his bookshelf and grabbing a small pile of books that he then forced into my chest. Stumbling back slightly, I was trying not to drop the pile as he stacked a couple more on top. "There, that should be enough to keep you out of my hair for a bit. Read these and return once you've finished them."

He grabbed my bag, hanging it haphazardly on my shoulders, turning me quickly which almost sent the pile of reading flying as he pushed me out of his room. "Oh, and go talk to Jorleif. He'll show you where your room is." The door slammed behind me.

Letting out a pent-up breath I never knew I had been holding, I then started to balance the pile of books, somewhat precariously, on my right arm as I adjusted my haversack on my back. Then I started off to find Jorleif.

Silently I slipped into the main hall, a shiver shaking up my spine almost making the pile of books tip. Spying the steward sitting on the bench at the end of the hall, nursing a cup of mead, I hurried over. Jorlief looked up as I approached. "Ah, I see Wuunferth has given you quite the amount of homework."

Sheepishly I grinned and nodded. "Yes, and, um, he also said to ask you where I'll be staying."

"Ah yes," Jorleif downed what was in his mug and stood, motioning to follow. We headed towards the doorway behind him that was positioned on the same wall as the hallway to Wuunferth's quarters. We entered the room, two men standing around a large map of Skyrim that had little red and blue flags dotted across its land. The large bear-like man facing us became instantly quiet and he mumbled something to the other man as we walked through the door to the upstairs, the sound of the two laughing was the last thing we heard before the door shut.

"Pay Galmar no mind. He's an excellent asset for the war, but his people skills aren't nearly as sharp as his blade." Jorleif joked as they stopped outside what was to be my room. "Well, here we are. Normally we'd put you over by Wuunferth but he wanted otherwise. I'll let you get settled."

Thanking him again, I turned to survey my new surroundings. The room itself contained a simple bed, with two end tables on each side and a candelabra atop one of them. A set of bookshelves stood tall against the one stone wall, and a table with two chairs sat nearby the fire, another candelabra on the table. I walked towards the desk, dropping the books down. A soft sigh escaped my lips as a look of relief crossed my face. Everything had finally started to slow down to a more comfortable pace.

'Alright,' I cracked open the first time. 'Time to show Wuunferth just how surprising this Nord can be.'