Author's note:
My dear readers, here I am with a new update to this extremely long story of mine. As MeanE correctly predicted, things are about to get really dangerous for Agda and Steinarius, therefore I ask you to read with caution. First, however, let me thank each and everyone of you readers for your support.
ShpperofTrashyShips was right when they said that things are about to get tense soon. Also, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who visits this website while they're at work. You have my sympathy, so worry not for the short review!
As for Elspeth's comment, I'm glad you think Vigdis is cool. She is a very complex character and one day I would like to write a whole story centering about her life with Steinarius. Also, Farkas and Vilkas are definitely going to have a more active role in this story.
Last but not least, I wanted to thank Valtieri for pointing out that the previous chapter was probably too confused and confusing. I have the tendency to reveal too many things at once, so I will have to keep it in mind for the future. Also, I'm glad you pointed out that Vigdis is difficult to trust. There's a reason why Agda didn't take her warning seriously!
As for this new chapter, it has a warning for violence. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think and have a nice weekend!
23rd of Last Seed, 4E 203
Steinarius tried to sneak out of the house as slowly as he could. It had been a week since Agda left for Winterhold and ever since then he'd been busy turning the main terrace of Dragonsreach into a huge cage for dragons. Also, he'd been very busy training with the Companions.
Steinarius had felt very unease upon entering Jorrvaskr for the first time in years; yet, when Kodlak had invited him to dine wit him and the others, he had been unable to turn down his offer. The interior of the ancient hall hadn't changed in the slightest, the Dragonborn had acknowledged - and the same was true for his former shield siblings. Sure, Farkas looked even bulkier and Vilkas seemed more aggressive and broodier than ever, but everything else - the food, the weapon racks by the door, even the plates and the goblets of wine - everything else was exactly the same way as it had been years earlier, when the Dragonborn was but a young whelp who had just joined that legendary group of warriors. When the door to the training yard slowly creaked open during dinner, Steinarius even expected Vigdis to walk inside the room, smirk at him and sit down by his side, war paint on her pale face and a look of love in her beautiful black irises. Upon recognizing Aela, however, the Dragonborn had sighed. Those happy times were over: now he had a different job, a different life, a different woman by his side - and said woman was the reason why he was sneaking out of Whiterun long before sunrise.
During the previous days Steinarius had noticed that people seemed to keep a very watchful eye on him: Vilkas and Farkas always wanted to be informed as to his whereabouts, the city guards accompanied him whenever he took a walk outside the city, Lydia organized his days so that he wouldn't leave the safe walls of Whiterun without her supervision. Also, on the previous day the Dragonborn had caught a glimpse of a warrior who had strangely reminded him of Faendal from the Blades. Feeling observed, the man was keen on leaving the city as soon as possible so that he could prepare a wonderful surprise for Agda's return.
When he slowly pushed open the door to his house, Steinarius smiled. The air smelled of rain and the roads of Whiterun looked completely empty. After drinking an invisibility potion, the Imperial giggled and walked towards Jorrvaskr. He didn't want to leave the city through the main gate, just like he didn't want to travel to Riften with a horse; for this reason he walked into the Underforge, stuffed his clothes in a bag and turned into a werewolf.
When the transformation was complete, Steinarius looked around the small room. He could feel the strong scent of Aela and Skjor's beasts and the fainter traces left by Farkas and Vilkas' rarer changes. Also, as he caught a glimpse of the altar in the middle of the forge, Steinarius remembered the day of Vigdis' first transformation. He remembered the anxiety in her eyes, her nervous heartbeat, the way he had kindly taken her hand and turned into a werewolf in front of her eyes; he remembered following her during her first hunt, taking her to a little tent after she shifted back into her human form and passed out from exhaustion, stroking her hair as she rested after that night full of emotions; at last, Steinarius remembered smiling to her when she came to, making love to her for the first time, claiming that wonderful woman for himself and wishing she would never leave him.
With a low growl, the man forced himself to abandon those thoughts and leave the Underforge. Vigdis was his past - now, his heart and mind and soul belonged to the little mage he wanted to propose to.
Fueled by that thought, Steinarius travelled through Skyrim for most of the day. The rain made it difficult for travellers to walk through the planes of Whiterun and the woods of the Rift, so the man reached Riften without any risky encounter. He shifted back to his human form about one mile away from the city, he put on his plain civil clothes and his knapsack, then he continued the journey to his destination.
Steinarius wasn't fond of Riften. The city had a great potential, laying as it was in the middle of the lushest forest of Skyrim and on the shores of its most fascinating lake; yet, the natural beauty of that place faded because of its dirty houses, its stinky canals and its high rate of criminality.
As Steinarius pushed open the doors to the city, a Khajiti woman gave him a long, weird look. The man thought she was probably a thief who was evaluating the chances of pickpocketing him, so he didn't pay her any mind; yet, when other people stared at him in a similar way while he was walking in the marketplace, he brought his hand to the hilt of his sword and sped up his pace.
The Temple of Mara was just like Steinarius remembered it. He had visited it with Vigdis a long time ago, shortly after Thorygg's wedding. Maramal still remembered him and said he was very pleased to know that Steinarius had found another woman; yet, the Imperial couldn't help but think that the priests' happiness seemed to derive from the fact that he had just purchased two very expensive Amulets of Mara rather than from a real interest in his wellbeing.
Done with the shopping, Steinarius returned to the marketplace. It didn't take him long to locate Madesi, the man he wanted to talk to - and it didn't take him long to convince the Argonian to close his shop for the rest of the day and have a good tankard of mead in the local inn. Ever since Steinarius had helped him sort some troubles with his supplies, Madesi considered him a loyal friend and protector.
"I'm here because I'd like to ask for your advice", Steinarius told the Argonian after some small talks. "I need to smith a jewel for my girlfriend".
Surprised by the revelation, Madesi burst into a loud laughter.
"You finally listened to me and found yourself another woman! I'm so happy for you, Crepusculus!"
Steinarius blushed at that unexpected display of sympathy, then he proceeded to tell Madesi about his ideas for an engagement ring.
"Agda likes beautiful clothes, but her job requires her to wear simple things ", he explained. "That's why I want the ring to be beautiful, yet simple. Also, I want it to symbolize something".
"Have you aleady chosen the materials?"
Steinarius nodded, then he showed Madesi some of the precious gems he had in his knapsack. The Argonian was very surprised by their quality and shape.
The two of them chatted for most of the afternoon, then Steinarius bid Madesi goodbye and paid a visit to Balimund, the local blacksmith. The old man welcomed him with a smile and invited him to have dinner with him, then he allowed Steinarius to use his forge as long as he wanted to. Knowing that he had everything ready, the Imperial set to work with renewed enthusiasm.
Agda's engagement ring was going to be the most beautiful jewel of Skyrim.
Steinarius worked for most of the night. The local guards seemed surprised by the sight of that shirtless Imperial who was busy at Balimund's forge, but they didn't ask him any question. Undisturbed, Steinarius completed the ring as the first rays of sun shone on the city. As he looked at his handicraft, the man smiled: he was probably partial, but in his opinion that ring was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
The jewel was formed by three bands made of ebony and silver. On each band laid a different gem: a ruby, a diamond and a sapphire. Steinarius had chosen those stones together with Madesi: the ruby indicated passion, the diamond stood for eternity, the sapphire was connected to beauty. Steinarius first thought he might have exaggerated but now, as he looked at his creation, he felt that that small jewel was the perfect gift to Agda. Now he only needed to go back to her, fall on his knee and ask her to marry him - and as he thought of that, the man realized that the idea of proposing to his lil' mage scared him even more than the upcoming fight against Alduin did. He was sure that Agda was the right woman for him - yet, he was afraid he wasn't the man she deserved.
Trying to forget about his worries, Steinarius headed to the local inn for a quick breakfast. He took the chance to show the ring to Madesi, Keerava and Talen-Jei - and when the only woman of the party let out a pleased squeal and said she wanted a similar jewel for herself, the Imperial felt relieved about his decision to make such an expensive gift for Agda.
After breakfast Steinarius thanked Balimund for lending him his forge, then he took the long road back to Whiterun. The man was tired, but he was too excited to spend some hours of rest in Riften. He kept the ring he had smithed for Agda hidden in a secret pocket in his shirt and he made sure to sell all the other gems he had carried with him to Madesi, so that people wouldn't think of following him outside the city in order to pickpocket him.
As Steinarius reached the stables of Riften, a family of peasants asked him where he was going. Surprised by the question, the man mentioned he needed to get to Whiterun - and as soon as he did, the farmers asked him whether he could travel on their carriage in order to protect them. Unable to believe his luck, the Dragonborn accepted the chance to travel to Whiterun in such a comfortable way.
Along the road, the Imperial made better acquaintance with the people who had seemingly mistaken him for a sellsword. The party of peasants was formed by four people: two old parents, their teenage daughter and his Imperial boyfriend.
The journey went by calmly for most of the day; upon approaching Valtheim, however, the older farmer stopped his carriage and turned to Steinarius.
"This area is said to be full of bandits", he said, concern well evident in his voice.
Taking the hint, Steinarius hopped off the carriage with a smile.
"Don't worry", he said. "I'll take care of them my..."
The Dragonborn never finished that sentence: as the older woman cast a paralyzing spell and burst into a laughter, he could only curse his naivete and hope for the better.
Steinarius came to in what looked like a cave. He was kept upright by some chains connected to his wrists and he had been gagged so that he could not use his Thu'um. Someone had taken off his shirt and, when Steinarius noticed that, he felt rage rise within. Whoever had forced him into that uncomfortable stance had better not touch the ring he had smithed for Agda.
Probably alerted by his angry scoff, some people slowly approached the Dragonborn. Steinarius recognized the farmers he had accompanied to Whiterun, some gruff warriors he had never met before and a group of tall men who looked at him with a chuckle. When he took in their black robes and chiselled features, the Dragonborn felt his heart skip a beat: he was in the company of some Thalmor agents.
"Sweet, sweet revenge", one of the Altmer whispered. He made to approach Steinarius but, when the man tried to break free from his restraints, he seemingly changed his mind.
"You are right at being angry, Crepusculus", another Thalmor added. He was tall and slender and seemed to be in charge of the other men. "After all, we didn't even introduce ourselves. My name is Rulindil and I am one of the most important emissaries of the Thalmor in this country. You know, I think it is very fitting for me to be here: Ancano and I were very close, so it is good to get a chance of killing the man whose lover murdered my best friend".
Steinarius made to snarl a reply, but the gag prevented him from speaking.
"Oh, my friends here did warn me that you could be, shall we say, feral in your behavior... Luckily enough, we gave you some silver extract while you were unconscious, so that you won't be able to turn into a furry monster".
Confronted with those words, Steinarius suddenly stopped fighting against his restraints.
"You're surprised, aren't you?", Rulindil smiled at him. "Well, you have every right to be. No one would have thought the mighty Dragonborn to have so many enemies - no one but me and Elenwen. While asking questions about you all over Skyrim, we discovered an old story about you and your former girlfriend, that Vigdis. You moved in with her after she was kidnapped by a band of criminals - and those criminals called themselves The Silver Hand. After hearing about that gossip, it wasn't difficult for us to get in touch with them and discover why they were so mean to that poor girl. We were rather surprised when they said that the Companions are werewolves - and we were rather pleased when they volunteered to help us capture you so that they could avenge everything you did to them when you were one of Kodlak's men".
As Rulindil spoke, the family Steinarius had mistaken for farmers gave him long and evil smiles. Only then did the man realize that the people inside the cave were either with the Thalmor or with the Silver Hand.
"You're probably wondering why we wanted to capture you, aren't you?", Rulindil asked.
As he spoke, the man laid a hand on Steinarius' cheek, causing him to try and bite his fingers. Chuckling, the Altmer reacted by casting a paralyzing spell.
"It is very simple, Crepusculus: you and your lovely Agda have been causing quite a lot of troubles as of late. You kicked the Thalmor out of an important council, you killed one of our colleagues, you acted as though you were the chosen savior of Tamriel... What? You say you actually are the chosen savior of Skyrim? Well, sorry to disappoint you, Crepusculus, but we think we have found an alternative. Her name is Laenara and, although she's very young, she's already much better than you. She's strong and powerful and beautiful - and most of all, she is a pure-bred Altmer. She's come to Skyrim two weeks ago and she's already killed her first dragon. Also, after months of training she's already learned her first Shout. Sure, Laenara might have a lot to learn about the whole 'absorbing dragon souls' business, but she is a very promising Dragonborn. Give her six months time, and I'm sure people of Skyrim will love her much more than they ever loved you".
As he heard those words, Steinarius felt panic tug at his soul. That Laenara, or whatever her name was, could be as talented and brave as she wanted, but she couldn't be considered dragonborn unless she knew how to absorb dragon souls. Rulindil couldn't be serious and believe that an Altmer brat could replace him just because she had learned to use a Shout!
Noticing the fear and the disgust in the eyes of the Imperial, Rulindil smirked.
"You don't think Laenara will be up to the task, do you?", he asked with a low chuckle. "Well, I'll tell you what, Crepusculus: if someone from an inferior race like you can defeat a God, an Altmer like Laenara can become a God herself. Now, however, I think we're done talking. We can't allow ourselves to have you around while our own little Dragonborn tries to find her place in the world - and this is why your life ends here, Imperial. We have already lost enough time and we cannot wait to see you beg for death. After all, I think it's high time we sent you to meet your dear Vigdis".
As he heard those words, Steinarius tried to use a Fire-Shout despite his gag. Unfortunately, the silver running through his veins was making it hard for him to rely on his powers; also, it was making him feel unfocused and lightheaded.
Laughing at the way the Dragonborn was weakly trying to get free, Rulindil motioned for the oldest member of the Silver Hand to approach him - and when the man hit him for the first time and Steinarius tried to react with another Shout, the Thalmor was quick to renew his paralysis spell. He had made his best to make the Imperial unable to move, but he didn't want to run any risk.
Paralyzed and unable to defend himself, Steinarius had to watch as each and every member of the Silver Hand covered his body in wounds. The poison running through his body was temporarily numbing the pain, but the Dragonborn was sure that the effect wouldn't last long - and when one Thalmor used a fire-spell on his torso, Steinarius realized that his fears had been funded.
The Dragonborn passed out multiple times as an effects of the beatings, but every time Rulindil forced him awake with a spell. Steinarius had to watch as the Thalmor and the Silver Hand did their best at destroying his body, then he had to listen as Rulindil took his chin and began whispering into his ears.
"Now you know how Agda felt when she was tortured", he evilly smiled. "And you know how she'll feel when we pay her another visit. It's all her fault, Steinarius: had she not killed Ancano and kicked Elenwen out of the meeting at High Hrotghar, we wouldn't have come up with this idea at all".
Despite the pain in his body, Steinarius tried to shake his head. The Thalmor were evil creatures as they were, therefore Agda had nothing to do with what was going on in that cave.
Unwilling to let him rest, Rulindil spoke to Steinarius once again. The man had suffered quite a lot of blows to the head, therefore the words of the Elf echoed extremely loudly through his ears.
"Do you know the best thing about this?", the Elf whispered so that the members of the Silver Hand couldn't hear him. "Once we're done with you, we'll force your farmer friends and their colleagues to dress up as Imperial and Stormcloak soldiers, then we'll slaughter them. Once the local guards retrieve your corpse together with theirs, the Legion will blame Ulfric for killing you, whereas Ulfric will blame the Legion. In that way, all your efforts to bring peace to this land will be in vain".
As Rulindil burst into an evil laughter, Steinarius felt tears of pain and frustration well up in his eyes. They couldn't ruin his life just like that, not after all he had done for others! How could the Gods just stand there and watch as such evil creatures roamed the world?
Lost in those thoughts, the Dragonborn whimpered in pain when the Thalmor resumed torturing him with magic. At last, when the Imperial thought he couldn't take it anymore, Rulindil laid his long fingers on his temples.
"You know, Steinarius, we Thalmor think that the worst kind of torture is the mental one - which is why we would love to turn your best memory into nightmares as we wait for you to succumb to your wounds. You're already losing a lot of blood and in the next few hours we'll make sure to hurt you even more".
As Rulindil spoke, Steinarius felt as though the long fingers of that evil creature were searching through his brain. All of a sudden he felt as though he was back in Riverwood, Agda's lips pressing against his own and her eyes full of love and attention. When the mage made to unbutton her dress, however, Steinarius managed to resist Rulindil's intrusion inside his memories. That unexpected act of resistance earned him a very strong kick in the nethers, which almost caused him to bent his body despite the shackles keeping him upright.
"I see we haven't broken you enough", the Thalmor snorted. "That is not a problem, however: we have the rest of the day to ourselves".
And when he passed out as a consequence of another strong spell, Steinarius couldn't help but think that the man was terribly, horribly right.
Steinarius didn't know how long they tortured him. When they finally left him alone for a couple of minutes in order to take a break, his face hurt so much that he couldn't even open his eyes. The man was sure that his shoulders had been dislocated by the chains used to keep him upright, whereas his wrists had been injured by the raw edges of the shackles. His back had remained untouched, sure, but his chest was a canvass of black, red and pink from where the punches, the knives and the fire spells had hurt him. As for the lower part of his body, Steinarius didn't have the strength to think about it: his legs were broken in different points and so were his hips. Also, he had the vague sensation that all his chances of becoming a father had vanished because of a particularly evil fire spell.
Trying to take a deep breath, the Dragonborn started coughing. No one gave him water, no one tried to shush him: as blood from his nose dripped into his mouth and seemed to suffocate him, his torturers simply chuckled and laughed.
This is the last phase, Rulindil had mentioned while tracing a series of little cuts all over Steinarius' body while using a poisoned dagger.
The venom was about to cause Steinarius' organs to stop working, all while giving the Thalmor enough time to cause him horrible nightmares by altering his memory. Hurt and broken and battered, the Imperial thought of his happiness from that morning, as he had thought about Agda and his desire to make her his wife. Now, instead, he could only hope she would retrieve his corpse and give him a decent burial.
Lost in those thoughts, Steinarius didn't notice the way his torturers suddenly started screaming.
Maybe the Thalmor are killing the Silver Hand, he simply thought - but when he recognized Rulindil' shrill yells, the Dragonborn made an effort to open his eyes.
In front of him paraded an unexpected scene: a black werewolf was tearing his enemies apart one after the other. The creature seemed invincible and soon left a long trail of death behind.
By the time the beast approached Steinarius, all his torturers were dead. The man looked the werewolf in its perfect silver eyes and noticed that they were strangely familiar. Yet, when the creature freed him from his chains and his body fell to the ground, Steinarius stopped thinking altogether: as broken as he was, he could only drift into darkness and hope his little Eidan was there to welcome him.