Chapter 6: The General, the Village, Cockiness, the Jarl's decision, and A Dark God's temptation.
The travel to Solitude was going alright so far. Alavia seemed to have a bored expression her face but that changed when we saw a bunch of Bandits on the way. She pretty much pulled me along and I joined her in slaughtering all of them. I felt kind of bad for them but, they had sold their souls away to crime and evil.
I wonder if Alavia was a Dragon in a past life if such things exist as reincarnation.
Along the way people greeted me, pretty much everyone knew who I was now. I wonder if Mom would be happy now. How I missed her.
I wonder if Alavia missed her parents as well, whether she wanted to say so or not. I think she pondered what I had said earlier about hope. She had a contemplating look in her eyes as she stared at the sky at times.
Speaking of the sky, I have never seen a hostile Dragon since Alduin and Sahloknir if I remember his name correctly. Opening the door to Castle Dour, we walked in to see Tullius standing over a table.
"General. We have the crown, not a single casualty on our side!" I said happily. A pleased look crossed Tullius.
"Good, men we could still use for more missions. Do you have the Crown with you right now?" I pulled it out. He eyed it neutrally.
"Excellent work soldiers. I have to my admit, I had my doubts it even exited. I will get the full report from Rikke soon then." He said as he placed it on the table.
"Ruigus and Alavia, soldiers. I need someone I can trust to deliver a message of great importance to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun." He said, pulling out a note from a drawer.
"We have it on good authority that Ulfric has raised enough men to attack the city of Whiterun. The Jarl, however refuses the Legion's support as you know." He said quietly.
"This missive should convince him to join our side. Be aware soldiers, these documents contain sensitive intelligence for the Jarl's eyes only." I accepted the letter going into my hands.
"The Stormcloaks are making a move on Whiterun, we expect a battle in 12 days at the least, a small detachment is already near the city itself for when Balgruuf accepts us in." My eyes widened.
"Good luck you two, make the Legion proud." He said walking away to some important business as I saw a few officers run in urgently, sweat coming down their faces. Alavia took me past them and outside. Everyone was carrying on like normal, as if the words Tullius had said meant nothing.
"A war….This is exciting!" My friend said as I looked at her somewhat horrified.
"Don't look at me like that, you enjoyed fighting with me before." I shrugged.
"But they were all evil people." I stated, the Stormcloak soldiers I fought I knew were not evil, perhaps I should not have said such a thing. Somehow she grinned even more.
"And they are the traitors to your Empire." Couldn't argue with that however, although there was….Something about that honestly does not sit right with me.
"I know, I just don't want anyone to die Alavia." Surprisingly, she hugged me from behind the warmth and comfort was amazing, I think I felt her breasts pressing into my back. Despite the Ebony armor she had on they felt like a pillow and it was….Perfect. Godsdamnit all.
"I know that, weakling." She said with a hint of playfulness.
"Hey! I will have you know that I have wrestled over 20 Dragons and challenged Talos to a brawl!" She let go and laughed, the sweet sound filling my ears as we were going down the road from Solitude to Whiterun.
"You know Alavia, I think I love Skyrim. It may be weird compared to Cyrodil but I think it has grown on me." I said suddenly, almost aside to nothing.
"Heh, probably because it is way different with it's tone, even if it does seem bleaker here, there's just much that can truly be done here.." I laughed sadly. She looked at me, a strange emotion on her face.
"I would like to visit your homeland one day. Perhaps even meet your Mother and any other members of your family too." I gave a small smile.
"It is just me and her, I still wonder how it would have been to have brothers and sisters." I said softly and almost regretfully. I really wish I did have them.
"I had many brothers and sisters. I think my time with you has made me miss them." I chuckled a tiny bit.
"Getting tired of me after all this time? I think I may take that as a compliment after all that has happened." My hand waved to the side while I spoke comfortingly.
"I am not tired of you." The blood rushed to my cheeks.
"Aw, thanks." She smiled.
"Alavia, do you truly think I am weak?" She looked at me, a conflicted look on her face for once. We were now crossing Dragon bridge.
"Physically I think you are weaker, mentally…..I think you make up for that weakness Ruigus." She said, much to my surprise.
"I do not truly know what to think of you Ruigus." She whispered, almost to herself.
"If it means anything, I think you are the strongest and most powerful person I have ever met. The only thing that I would think is even close to your power is Alduin, the Dragon Goddess that destroyed Helgen." She looked at me for a few seconds as I shyly looked back.
A confident smile came to her face as she inched a bit closer to me, threatening to bump into me. My heart was pounding a lot. It was all to difficult to understand her actions, she spurred something inside me however, there was nobody else in this world like her I think.
I was shaken by the sounds of Crows. The both of us looked at the road in front of us. Smoke in the distance along with hundreds of birds flying above. My mouth gaped open.
Secantius had told me about this, wherever there were un-buried bodies there would be crows and vultures. Many people had died wherever it was. I rushed towards the smoke. Alavia yelled at me, but I kept running.
I ran through the bushes, plants and the open field like it was nothing. A dozen of burnt buildings were in front of my very own eyes. A broken sign laid on the floor.
'Trunburg' It read.
And right next to it was a dead body, a clean stab right into the chest. Birds were on another body as I moved closer to the deceased man. There were even more in front of me. Some covered in ash. It seemed thorough, but I did not think it was a Dragon.
Frantically I began to look for any survivors. Hysteria was setting in as I checked bodies of ash and found the one cause that made this village burn to the ground.
A shrine of Talos. I hit the ground, tears falling from my face.
Alavia came from behind me. She had seen everything that had happened to these people, that I know.
"…...Ruigus?" Her voice was concerned, she approached me. As I stared at the Shrine in knowledge of what had happened here. Thalmor Justiciars.
"Ruigus?" She asked again, crouching next to me as she now hugged me. The concern was written on her face.
"Those monsters! How could they!? How could they!?" I cried.
"Who did this Ruigus?" She asked me, stroking my cheek with her hand in order to calm me down, and it was working almost magically.
"The Thalmor, that Shrine of Talos was reason enough for them." I said, tears still falling from my face. Could they even do this without punishment? Were they just going to blame this on Bandits or rebels to whoever questioned them?
"We will get them for this Ruigus, we will have revenge on them for this." She said selflessly. I looked up at her, my eyes twinkling with tears.
Suddenly I heard the cry of…..A baby? We got up. Stepping over dead bodies I reached the source of the sound.
I laughed happily out of the surreal like craziness out of the situation, this baby was the only survivor, tucked away in a little blanket. I cried again, happy. And in this I reached up and grabbed her, at least I thought it was a her.
Alavia looked amazed at the baby, a soft realization came on her face as I offered her the baby as she whispered something. Perhaps to the baby or herself.
"What do we do?" I asked, almost stuttering, the mad look in my eyes as I continued to look at this beautiful thing of nature that miraculously survived.
"Give her to the Blades, they can take care of her properly. She will be raised as one of their agents." A somewhat sad fate, but it was better than death.
"Okay." The baby was still in her arms as she held it the way my mom said she did all those years ago. The tears were drying as I was still shaken up.
This child would be an orphan. I sadly looked at the ground. I still checked for anything else left in the village, there was nothing but ash.
"Where did they go?" I said to myself, this attack was recent. They had to be close. My hands were unsteady as Alavia motioned me to leave and I followed her. Her direction was to Sky Haven Temple.
The baby became asleep a little while after as Night came. We were a day away from the Temple. But I had confidence we could get there and to Whiterun quickly.
Alavia rested the baby next to where I and she would sleep. She seemed to have made it to where I would be closer to her and the poor baby.
"We should kill those who destroyed that village." I nodded at her words.
"I want them all dead." She put her hand on my shoulder, it was as soft as her voice now was.
"I know." She moved that hand and cupped my face, her eyes looking into mine. Again I thought about her lips.
But I noticed something in her eyes. For a second they seemed gold and snake-like, almost like that of Alduin…..
"Stay strong Ruigus." My thoughts were erased from my mind as I looked at her again. She made a soft order and my body felt inwardly warm.
"I will so long as you are the same." A blush crept onto her face. Did she love me?
"Ruigus, this child has made me think about something; how do you feel about having a family?" I could feel even more blood rushing to my face and I felt as I were to have a nosebleed for some odd reason.
"I and my Mother talked about this at one point, I think I want to have as many kids as possible. Just going to be hard having to show my love for all of them." I spoke from my heart there, I could barely think straight and even so it seemed that the both of them were in cahoots together.
"That is admirable Ruigus." A smile came about from her. It was really the most darned alluring thing I ever saw. Even the aurora in the Throat of the World was nothing compared to this smile…...Or even her itself.
Her face leaned in a little bit. My heart skipped a beat as I thought she was going to kiss me. She might have well just before her expression changed for the worse and I felt myself being pushed onto the ground.
"I hear something!" She whispered. We got up while behind some cover made by the tents and rocks around us on a plain. I heard multiple footsteps from different sources.
"Ruigus Kessel, you seem to have brought a friend with you. Good to see another enemy of the Thalmor that shall be killed." A voice behind us that could only be associated with a Thalmor Justicar came into view.
"Oh and by the way I was not the one that destroyed your fellow heretical village of Trun- whatever worthless name it was anyways. Ondolemar did, a shame you will never be able to kill him for this is your end. Know that it was Justicar Estmoro that killed you. Sorry, this is just the business of the Thalmor; and your deaths must come." Estmoro said, a bunch of guards next to him. I counted at least 22. I clenched my fist while Alavia gave a growl.
"You are an arrogant annoyance!" She said in a rage. The Thalmor soldiers surrounding the hurried Justiciar had their weapons and magic drawn. This was going to be a harder fight than a Dragon, but I had Alavia with me.
She counted more than anything in a fight.
"So any last words? I will write them dow-" He was cut off as a blast of ice came his way from Alavia killing a couple of soldiers. I made a run and quickly cut one of the Soldier's legs, he instinctively reached down as I slit his throat. I made a furious dash for the unprotected Justiciar.
"Die damn you!" I screamed as he deflected one of my blows, a fierce look on both of our faces came as a few more Thalmor soldiers joined the fray; replacing the losses inflicted by Alavia as they either bled or burned to death.
I bashed Estmoro onto the ground, he rolled after kicking me as I was about to jump on him.
"Hold still Kessel! I will make this a quick death along with your friend. I will ensure that the orphan remains safe, he cannot be a true witness after all." I growled. He had some honor but was a murderer of innocent men and women of the Empire. I kicked and went in for a strike with my sword leaving a deep cut in his skin as blood oozed out of him.
He let out a cry of pain as I felt a strange sensation to the right part of my body, he had stabbed me in the lower right abdomen. I think I already lost a lot of blood. Maybe he had gotten me when I laid on the ground? I had one trick that I had almost forgotten about.
"Fo Krah!" Estmoro could not move, his frozen form stood in front of me as I now stabbed him, the ice breaking as his blood came pouring out profusely. He had died quickly.
The searing pain hit me, I could tell by all the blood on the floor that I would die soon. I heard a yell and I turned to see a Thalmor soldier come towards me. Looking around I saw that Alavia was struggling with a few of them. My vision began to black out as I fell to the floor.
My thoughts were of mother and Alavia. I suddenly remembered the mission Uncle Tullius had given to me. I had to come back and give the letter to Jarl Balgruuf! If I did not many would die and the war would last for too long of a time, so many more lives would be lost while the Thalmor would wait for the perfect moment to close in for the kill on our Empire! That is what I know would happen, right?
But I could not get up, for now at least. Was I still alive? Was Alavia alright? She probably was too good to die. I would have smiled if I could. I loved her even in such a short time I did know her, and she was even more mysterious than a God or Goddess, more damn enigmatic than one, more of an idiot like me, but a smart one.
"Ruigus…." I got up, the entire area around me was darkened with no visible light. I was stepping on darkness incarnate. The whole area I was in was darkness. Had I died?
"Save….The…..Empire… Your home." The voice echoed around me. It sounded as if it belonged to a man who sounded majestic, powerful and God-like despite the faintness, I couldn't recognize even if it was someone or something I knew.
"Who are you!?" I yelled.
"Rise….Up..."
"Is Ruigus alright!?" A voice yelled. As my eyes opened. I was in a bed in some kind of medical ward. Some footsteps came and I saw Delphine getting on a knee next to me.
"He is awake!" She yelled, her head turned towards a few figures that I could not make out on their identities.
"Are you alright Ruigus?" She asked me. I tried to raise my hand, but it was too weak.
"Where is Alavia?" My vision began to clear up a little bit as Delphine's expression softened a little.
"She is around here, it was good that you saved that baby. We will be able to take care of her. Now how are you Ruigus?" My mouth twisted a little bit trying to form a smile.
"I feel as if I was hit by a Dragon and left for dead. But I am glad I live." I said with a few coughs. Her disciplined look returned.
"Good. Can you walk?" She said as another Blades member walked in.
"Charles, help me get Ruigus up if he needs us." I nodded, the Blades member was helmetless with short blonde hair, a Breton like Delphine. He had a younger face than her but I could make an inference that he was in his 30's.
"Anything for the Emperor, give us the signal Ruigus." He said, his voice was definitely a Breton one as he had the somewhat more elegant accent that natives of High Rock had.
"Do it….." With a nod at both of them, I began to get up and turn to my left. My body aching as I did so while they readied to assist me.
"Alright I am getting up now." I began to stand up, pain and weakness surged in me but I fought on.
"By the Divines it feels as if I am being stabbed with a bunch of daggers made out of rocks!" Charles gave a chuckle.
"I know how that feels my Emperor." I really have to tell them to stop calling me that.
"Ugh." I gave a grunt of pain
"Delphine, Charles. Tell the other Blades to just call me by my name, I do not want to feel like an Emperor when I have not even earned the right to be one much less even am one." They gave me support as I now stood up, steadied.
"Thank you my friends." Both of them looked slightly confused at that status I gave them.
"Friends Ruigus?" Delphine asked.
"Are you not being of great to me? You have done all that a friend would do and more." I said, my energy coming back to me. I heard some footsteps and a few Blades and Alavia entered.
She gave a hug that was now crushing me due to how she held me so close to her. Her breasts were once again pressing into my body, cushioning the pain from her hug. I let out a tiny yelp as a couple of the Blades were cackling with laughter.
"Alavia….You're hurting me." I said weakly as she let go, some worry on her face.
"Ah! My mistake." She said kindly. I gave a weakened smile compared to the other ones I had before I almost turned into a corpse.
"It's fine." I said, turning to the Blades Delphine now said something.
"Thanks to you killing Thalmor Justiciar Estmoro our brothers and sisters in arms can breathe much more easily now." She informed as the Blades extended their arms in praise.
"And thanks to this confidence boost, we can now have multiple bodyguards with you at any time. We will send a member of ours to follow you from a distance, you can send him off to go call in for our backup when you need us. And thanks to the direction you gave us on the issue of the Forsworn we now have more members, and a need for a new location for us to use as a hideout." I gave her a curious look as I motioned us out of the ward and into another more bigger room. I felt like an Imperial Officer with this group of Blades agents following me.
"That is amazing! Do you know where we can place our 2nd base of operations in Skyrim, an outpost?" I was pleased with the news that the Blades were getting stronger. Perhaps one day they may come back to be at the side of the Emperor and the Empire and strike down the Thalmor invaders.
"A good location would be the Ratway in Riften, there are some locations that have quick exits in and out that should prove very helpful in any call for help though it is too far to the South…..It's about time we started expanding anyways though." Charles said. I noticed Esbern was among the Blades with and he had something to say.
"When I was but merely struggling to find Sky Haven Temple I searched inside the Ratway trying to find any clue of where the location of this site would be. During my time there I grew acquainted to it, there are many passages in and out of there and many spots for us to take up. That is if you cleanse it of the vagrants and vagabonds hiding about." The old man spoke.
"Then let us to it! Er actually I cannot really do anything about it yet…..Uh I hate to have you do all of the work but can you?" Most of the Blades smiled, happiness on the veteran's faces.
"Of course we can." Delphine said.
"Great. I need to talk to Esbern for a second." The Blades gave a bow before resuming to their normal posts, Alavia then walked to the entrance of the Temple. Her eyes were trained on me.
"What is it Dovhakiin?" Esbern said. I hadn't been expecting him to have said something in Dovahzul.
"Do you know where an Elder Scroll is here in Skyrim?" I asked him with a cough and a deep breath.
"An Elder Scroll….The most I have heard is of one in an unknown Dwemer ruin, but I do not know the location." He said.
"I am sorry Ruigus." The elder Blades member said with sorrow. I coughed again.
"It is fine Esbern, it is amazing that you know as much as you do now." His expression brightened despite his old features.
"Thank you Dragonborn. I would say if you want to find the Scroll, get into the College of Winterhold." Stormcloak territory….
"I must heard there immediately, my wounds are little in the way of saving the Empire and Nirn." I could not forget the Divines either, but the people always come first, wasn't that a saying?
"I think I must hurry Esbern." I breathed in a little bit with difficulty.
"Good bye Dragonborn." He stated, And with I made it to Alavia.
"Thank you." I said to her. She looked at me, a caring look in her eyes.
"Do not ever be so cocky again Ruigus." She said with a soft scold.
"I know…." Walking slowly out of the Sky Haven, I noticed she kept her eye on me.
"How was it having to drag my bleeding carcass for a while?" She would have laughed normally but the strict concern was back.
"You had me worried for once in my entire life." She said, looking out into the sky.
"In any normal circumstance you should have died…..Like so many others. But you didnt!" She suddenly yelled, I was confused.
"How!?" She demanded, I had to tell what I saw, or rather heard I suppose.
"I think a Divine spoke to me and must have saved me." Was all I know that could explain it, at least I think so. told her as her eyes widened.
"Who!? Even I couldn't, Ruigus!" She demanded and stated, slightly more calm than before though at least.
"I don't know but it belonged to a man, but it was ethereal like that of a Divine. Maybe I've lost it perhaps." I told her as my voice was weak again, the concerned look made a return.
"What did he say?"
"He said that I need to save the Empire." Alavia's expression changed a tiny bit.
"The Elder Scroll I need is in a Dwemer ruin of that I don't know, but we would need to go the College of Winterhold in Stormcloak territory."
"Let me pick you up." She had me in her arms again, I did not find it as embarrassing as last time.
"We must give the missive to Whiterun first. We need to warn them, their safety should come first." She looked at me, as if staring into my soul.
"You are so fixated on saving everyone Dragonborn, why is that?" She said, I could feel her hand on my head as if she were to pet me. Divines, this was going to make my heart pump too much.
"I want them to live, I want to give them hope for a better tomorrow. I want to see the sad and depressed expressions given to us by the wars gone completely. I want to give them the fire that will make them free. I may only seek this for our own human people and our allies but I wish for anyone else to do the same. Alavia, I have looked at the faces of every person we have walked by and there were signs of despair. The very thing that the people of the Empire have fallen victim to, it is the very thing that has haunted me ever since I was born. I cannot bear the thought of another child that was the same as I was back then living through it any longer!"
Tears started flowing through my eyes as the burning memories came back to me, the depressing air that seemed to flow around Skyrim and Cyrodil had affected everyone. Whether they showed it on the outside or inside no matter who they were in terms of status: the Emperor himself, a Knight of the Empire, a Shopkeeper, a child, a father and mother, a Farmer, and a Priest. All had that same despair. I had it too.
I guess a reason why I was so afraid of Alduin when I first saw her was because she radiated that despair no, she was the incarnate of it.
Alavia said nothing, whether out of contemplation or respect for my words or anything else she felt about them.
"I will not allow you to ever die." She suddenly said, I was surprised at her protectiveness as I stared upwards at her. Rain was falling down as we became the ever more closer to Whiterun.
"Alavia…." I whispered, I took a breath again.
"Take a nap, we will be there soon." She ordered, the domineering look was in her eyes as always again.
"If you say so Alavia." I said both tired and sincere as I shut my eyes.
"Ruigus, why is it that you give me such a strange feeling that I never have felt before in my lifetime as the Dov Goddess, the World Eater?" I asked him, but he was fast asleep in my arms. He and everything were so light enough that they did not affect my speed at all.
"Why is it that you speak so much of hope? You explained it to me yet I do not understand it when I should."
"Why is it that I feel….Empathy towards your people despite what they have done to me all those years ago that despite the time feel like days and minutes before?"
"Why is it that I felt something when I held that mortal human baby?"
"Why is it that I…..Care for you?"
…..
Upon reaching Whiterun I could feel my strength return and Alavia put me down. I had a blush on my face yet again.
We would now give the note to Balgruuf. We also talked a bit on how we were going to get to the College, the Blades had given us the cloaks they said they would give a week ago as I recalled.
Entering Dragonsreach I saw Balgruuf sitting on his chair a pleasantly surprised look on his and Irlieth's face manifested.
"Ruigus! What brings you back here?" He greeted.
"My Jarl, I have joined the Imperial Legion and have been tasked to deliever this note to you. Your eyes only as the General said." He gave a sigh, not at me but the mention of the General rather as he took it.
"No doubt requesting to garrison his men in my castle. How many times must I deny him?" He said as he now opened it.
"Ulfric plans to attack my Jarl, Tullius wants to lend troops to help you when he does. And he will attack." His eyes widened slowly both at my words and what was on the note.
"Hmm…...These are interesting reports….Terrifying even….." The Jarl said, looking at Proventus.
"Proventus, what do you make of all this? If Ulfric were to attack Whiterun..."
"As in all things. Lord, caution…..I urge us to wait and see." The cowardly talk from Proventus raised up again.
"Prey waits." Irileth simply said.
"I'm of a mind with Irileth." The Jarl told Proventus.
"It's time to act." He said with conviction.
"You plan to march on Windhelm?" Proventus almost exclaimed. The Jarl gave a dismissing wave of the hand.
"I'm not a fool, Proventus. I mean it's time to challenge Ulfric to face me as a man, or to declare his intentions." The Steward gave a shocked look.
"He'll do no such thing!" Irileth scoffed.
"He was rather straight forward with Torygg." Alavia was listening curiously.
"Torygg? He simply walked up to the boy and murdered him!" That is what he would do to the Jarl.
"That 'boy' was High King of Skyrim." Irileth stated factually.
"I'm not the High King, but neither am I a boy." The Jarl replied.
"If Ulfric wants to challenge my rule in the old way, let him."
"Though I suspect he'll prefer to send his 'Stormcloaks' to do it for him." The Jarl was right.
"True. He's already proven his personal strength. Now he seeks to prove his army's." The Housecarl said. I suspect that he is rather just afraid.
"Then might I urge you to consider General Tullius's request? I mean, if you are bent on offending Jarl Ulfric..." He was cut off by Irileth once more.
"Ulfric is the one who has offended." By the blood of Torryg he has.
"But, Proventus has a point. Ulfric has made it clear. In his mind to refuse his claim is to side with the Empire." She turned to the resting Jarl.
"And what harm is there letting a few legionnaires die in place of your own men?" I glared at the Steward with his words words.
"It seems cowardly." Balgruuf said.
"He is a coward." Alavia whispered to me. I tried not to burst out laughing, my expression accidentally turning into a big and rather comedic grin as struggled to become plain.
"Was it cowardly then to accept the White-Gold Concordat?" The mention of that fixed me, my expression darkened once more. The Jarl gave an angry sigh.
"This again!? That was different. Was I given a chance to object to the terms of the treaty? No." He is indeed correct.
"The Jarls weren't asked. We were told. And we had to like it." Some worry crept into my mind, perhaps he was to be a traitor.
"The chests of gold didn't hurt." Proventus said plainly. The Jarl fumed.
"Damnit! This isn't about gold!" He yelled.
"It's time to decide." Irlieth's calm voice said.
"Lord,wait. Let us see if Ulfric is serious." Proventus warned.
"Oh, he's serious. But so am I." The Jarl said getting up and paying full attention to me.
"I have a message for you to deliver to our friend, the esteemed Jarl of Windhelm." Balgruuf said, looking at me.
"Deliver this axe to Ulfric Stormcloak." My eyes widened, he had joined us.
"Do you need me to say anything to him?" I asked while Alavia took it.
"Men who understand one another need not waste words." I nodded and bowed.
"There are but a few simple truths behind one warrior giving another his axe. Ulfric will know my meaning." He said wisely.
"Understood my Jarl, Divines be with you."
"Once you are done get back here. Ulfric isn't bluffing, I'll need every able body to defend Whiterun." I would need to get the Scroll and come back here.
"I will not abandon my brothers in arms Balgruuf! Hail to you."
"Good luck friend." And with that I left him.
At the main gates of Whiterun Alavia stopped me.
"I must stay and defend Whiterun, Ruigus while you were out I encountered that Blades messenger they mentioned. Your backup will be at the College." She would be staying?
"I….Alavia, I know I will be back but I want to say that out of anyone I met. You have been the greatest warrior and friend I have ever known. Just don't let Hadvar or the others know." I said with sad laughter. She gave me a hug.
"I will see you soon." She said, I felt myself being crushed again but I choose not to report it, it would probably be a couple of days before I saw her again.
"Good luck, Ruigus." And with that she walked into the city.
I will make it back.
With my cloak on none of the Stormcloak patrols really noticed me. I now was walking up to the College of Winterhold. This area was an icy hell that threatened to freeze me to death. I was glad I had the oppurtunity to hide in the inn and warm up here in Winterhold. The town was in disrepair, if the Imperial Legion were to attack this place we would be slowed down and exhausted by the snow and weather. But whence we arrived we would easily conquer this city.
I now walked on the stone bridge that led to Winterhold. A female Altmer appeared to greet me.
"Cross the bridge at your own peril! The way is dangerous, and the gate will not open. You shall not gain entry!" She warned.
"Please I am the Dragonborn! I must have entrance to the library so I can find an Elder Scroll that will allow me to defeat the World Eater!" I said, she eyed me testingly.
"Oh, forgive me. Can you use one of your 'Shouts' to prove you are the Dragonborn of the rumors?" I nodded and looked upwards.
"Fus Ro Dah!" A force of energy moved skywards as wind was pushed up with it too.
"You really are! You may come in, you are also welcome to join us as well." The Altmer said. I could not join them.
"I will think about it, thank you!" Crossing the bridge past a few magical spells that seemed to light up the area I finally found a room that said it were a library. Walking in I could smell the stench of an Orc.
I walked up to him, an old one at that and he seemed to be reading a book himself while at a desk.
"Excuse me sir. You wouldn't happen to know where or happen to be in possession of an Elder Scroll?" That was something I was never expected to come out of my mouth in my entire life.
The Orc looked at me as if I were mad or foolish.
"And what do you plan to do with it? Do you even know what you're asking about?" He asked, understandably taking me as a fool, I nodded.
"Ugh, you think even if I did have one here I would let you see it? It would be kept under the highest security." Well I really wasn't asking if he had it…..
"The greatest thief in the world wouldn't be able to land a finger on it." Didn't an infamous criminal known as the Grey Fox get it once?
"Do you at least have any information on them?" He nodded.
"Of course, I will bring everything we have on them, but it is not much. So don't get your hopes up." He stood up and went over to one of the bookshelves that were stacked to the brim with books, as they should be.
He brought two books over.
"Here you go." He said. I now read one of them, the effects of an Elder Scroll it said it was about. It was nothing I had not known.
The next one was curious 'Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls.' Reading the pages of the book it was heavily laced in insanity and madness, did the man who make this book read one himself?
"This 'Ruminations' book is insane!" He gave a chuckle of agreement.
"Aye, it is the work of Septimus Signus. He's the worlds master on the nature of Elder Scrolls. But, well…...He's been gone for a long while, too long." Odd.
"Where did he go?" The Orc shrugged.
"Somewhere up North, in the ice fields. He said he found some old Dwemer artifact. But that was years ago…...Ragh, haven't heard from him since." I would have to walk myself and search. I needed to be quick about this.
Walking outside of the College of Winterhold I was greeted by….Lydia, Charles, and one other Blades member.
"Sorry we were late Ruigus." Charles said.
"It's fine, actually you came at the perfect time. We need to go North and search for a man who may know where and Elder Scroll is." I said to them.
"I am Florin." Said the unknown Blade agent, he was an Imperial who had black hair and seemed young. Judging from the name he seemed to be from Morrowind.
"Good to meet you!" I offered him my hand and he shook it, I noticed he had an Akaviri-like rapier something I could never know was possible, and a spell readied, just not for me of course.
"Ah you have noticed me weapons, as you are wondering my Emperor I am a mage hunter. Our version of a Justiciar in terms of magic and without the misguided views." He had a voice that seemed like he would be one.
"I will also be your 2nd in command for these missions unless if Delphine is with us. Charles here is a duelist with his two swords and a bow, and Lydia here may use a Sword and Shield but she is well trained in heavy weapons. This seemed to be a well rounded team then!
"We will follow your lead Ruigus." Lydia said.
"Good." I made a hand gesture in the direction of the North where the rogue scholar may be.
"Let us head out."
After a while of moving through ice covered snow and even more ice. We saw torches in the background.
"I see some lights that indicate life." Said Florin.
"That should not be too hard to reach." Charles stated confidently.
Our path was full of broken ice that had separated from the other sheets. One bad step would send us falling into the freezing water.
After having to jump multiple times and struggle to stay afloat we had made it to a little shed that seemed to lead into the underground.
"Careful, this outpost reeks of vile Daedric corruption. Evil is within here." Florin said warily.
"Understood, let us clear out anything that threatens us." I gave the order.
We went in through a perfectly carved out path and into a room with an odd structure in an ice wall and a small encampment. A person in robes was walking about.
I sheathed my weapons while my accompanying bodyguards kept their weapons drawn as they fanned out.
"Dig, Dwemer, in the beyond. I'll know your lost unknown and rise to your depths." The man said, I think he was Septimus. Lydia stared suspiciously at the man.
"I heard you know about Elder Scrolls." The insane man shrugged in agreement.
"Elder Scrolls. Indeed." Thank goodness.
"The Empire. They absconded with them. Or so they think. The ones they saw. The ones they thought they saw." What was he trying to say?
"Hmph, only expect a short answer followed by illusions of a madman." Florin said.
"I know of one. Forgotten. Sequestered." His voice reeked of madness as he said those last two words, they changed into near-whispers.
"But I cannot go to it, not poor Septimus, for I…..I have arisen beyond it's grasp." Okay…..
"So where is the Scroll?" I asked him. Knowing already what I was dealing with.
"Here." My hopes shot up, this would be finished quickly.
"Well, here as in this plane. Mundus. Tamriel. Nearby, relatively speaking." Anger and disappointment crept into my emotions. This man was infuriating me with his mad babbling.
"On the cosmological scale, it's all nearby." At this point Charles walked up to him with one of his swords up to his neck.
"Don't make me hurt you. Just tell us where the Scroll is." He said threateningly.
"Oh, a brutish one. Septimus has no fear of you. But as one block raises another, perhaps ourselves could help us each." I sighed.
"What do you want?" Charles was still ready to slit his throat.
"You see this masterwork of the Dwemer. Deep inside their greatest knowings." Hmph.
"Septimus is clever among men, but he is but an idiot child compared to the dullest of the Dwemer." Yet there are those more creative than them, and that is the very reason why Humanity and the Elves have outlived them. While we were not creative in the technological sense as they were considering their great artifacts and ruins, we thought on survival.
"Lucky then they left behind their own way of reading the Elder Scrolls." Did wherever he wanted to send us have the Scroll?
"In the depths of Blackreach one yet lies." He stated. Our looks at him narrowed.
"Have you heard of Blackreach? 'Cast upon where Dwemer cities slept, the yearning spire hidden learning's kept." What in Julianos's all knowing mind was he talking about?"
"Where is this 'Blackreach'?" I heard Lydia ask suddenly. The lunatic turned to her.
"Under deep. Below the dark. The hidden keep. Tower Mzark."
"Aftland. The point of puncture, of first entry, of the tapping."
"Delve to it's limits, and Blackreach lies just beyond." He rambled on and on.
"But not all can enter there. Only Septimus knows the hidden key to loose the lock to jump beneath the deathly rock."
"Alright then, how do we get in?" I asked, he smiled crookedly.
"Two things I have for you. Two shapes. One edged, one round." What?
"The round one, for tuning. Dwemer music is soft and subtle, and needed to open their cleverest gates." That makes sense to me?
"The edged lexicon, for inscribing. To us, a hunk of metal. To the Dwemer, a full library of knowings. But…...Empty." That actually seems to be one of the more sane things he has said.
"Find Mzark and it's sky-dome. The machinations there will read the Scroll and lay the lore upon the cube." He now handed me the objects he talked about.
"Trust Septimus, he knows."
And with that we quickly left the outpost.
"Trust him enough not to get us killed." Lydia grumbled. I laughed a bit with Charles.
"He certainly was the sort of madness." He mused.
"That is for sure!" I and Lydia both said at once. Florin had a stern face.
"His little hovel reeked of the Daedric influence that belongs only to Hermaeus Mora." He stated I was stunned at that name.
That one? Who took advantage of those who wanted to keep learning?
"We best not return to him again. If we are to, we should merely slay him and escape." The Mage Hunter remarked with caution.
"I agree, let us get to Aftland get the Scroll and go home." With a murmur of agreement, we left.
Entering into the ruin of Aftland through the Glaciers we proceeded. All was quiet and empty as our path moved us forward through the frozen Dwemer pillars and other constructions.
Our swords poked through each door as we continued, waiting for any sort of surprise or trap.
Suddenly we heard a voice belonging to a Khajiit, muttering something incomprehensible.
Charles motioned.
"Let's just ignore him." And we continued stealthily.
Suddenly out a Dwemer pipe came a metal Dwarven automation spider. With a growl Lydia took a Blade's version of a Warhammer and crushed it.
"That was a nice kill!" I whispered in praise. She gave a hearty smile.
"Hm, it seems this ruin still has the machinations of the Dwemer about." Florin remarked.
We moved further downwards and into an ice cave, creeping up we could see the Khajiit lying next to a dead body.
"Charles, take the shot." With my words, an arrow flew right into the back of the Khajiit's head. Charles was almost as good with a bow as Marcus. Funny that.
Progress into the actual ruin had been achieved as we now saw Dwemer ruins not covered in ice. Another Dwemer spider appeared and it was immediately destroyed by Florin.
We were certainly getting closer to where we needed to be as we started seeing cobwebs and Dwemer machinery still being active with pumps still powering whatever they were to power.
"A thorough look of this ancient ground of Dwemer would take months." Came Florin randomly.
"It sure seems that way." Lydia agreed.
"Gah, this seems like a great hideout in case we ever need one, people would get lost easily." Charles chuckled.
"Surely." I agreed. We now went down a winding stairway downwards.
We had made sure to grab every crafting material we could along with money, and anything that just had value.
"Shor's bones! What is that thing?" Lydia suddenly asked. Turning to where she was looking it seemed there was a hunched over creature with Elven ears 'walking' if you could call it walking around.
"That is a Falmer, Lydia." Florin informed as he used a fire blast to burn it alive.
"Former Snow Elves corrupted by their time underground and devolved into madness and blindness so they cannot see but have enhanced hearing. Kill them before they kill you." He ordered.
We encountered more of them, their bony bodies charged at us in their somewhat misshapen ways. They were an odd enemy but perished like the rest as we discovered more and more bodies belonging to humans. A journal revealed an expedition came here that failed, at least judging by the bodies scattered around.
We moved further underground. We encountered spiders and Falmer. Easily felled however.
Everythinng was going alright. Then we reached a curious incline upwards, a giant Dwemer machine had been destroyed by the looks of it and another was hooked up into machinery.
They were terrifying weapons of war the size of well, giants.
"Dwemer Centurions, I have heard about these things before." Charles said.
"They have some good materials on them provided you can rip 'em out a little. Be careful of the hammers and anything else they can do, I think that one right there will activate." And right as he said it, the Centurion came to life.
"Ah thanks Charles!" Lydia said in a disciplined panic.
"It can't take on all of us?" I said questioningly.
"No." Came Florin as he charged up lightning.
"Good, then let us kill it!" I quickly charged under it's legs as the hulking thing came toward, loud footsteps causing a shake in the ground. Steam came out of it's back making it all the more fearsome.
"Iis Slen Nus!" The Machine was frozen almost entirely and could not move. It was slowly being heated up as we did more damage to it. Pieces began to fall off as it now fell over, destroyed.
"That was challenging." I remarked.
"Indeed." Florin calmly said.
"The only way is forward, or down rather." Charles stated with a wave of the hand as our elite team continued into a room with two people fighting each other to the death.
A woman in heavy steel armor impaled a man wearing Imperial soldier armor from Cyrodil on her shield while his sword lay in her chest. Both died right before our eyes as we strolled in.
"That was…...Interesting." Lydia finished with a laugh.
A table lay in front of us.
"Huh, maybe if I….." I put one of the things the madman had given to us on it.
Lo and behold the floor opened to reveal staircases.
"Good thinking my Emperor. Now we must proceed onwards." Florin stated, a bit pleased.
Opening Dwemer double doors, we walked into an amazing sight.
Giant mushroom if not jellyfish looking plants were off in the distance generating an almost turquoise hue. Dwemer ruins were about and so was rock. A road was even down here to a tower off in the distance. Some kind of snow-flake like thing floated around. This place was sure colorful.
"I never expected anything like this." My voice was heard, flabbergasted.
"That is for sure." Lydia agreed.
"Interesting….We must get to that tower, it might be the one the heretical madman mentioned." Was Florin's inquisitive reaction.
Charles stared without a noise, taking it all in.
"The World Eater is not going to sit around, press on." Florin barked.
"Down the yellow cobblestone road." Charles said with a great laugh
We marched onwards, ignoring anything else as we made it to the tower. We still made sure of our surroundings and I saw some very grotesque creatures about, I did not want to mess with them that was for sure.
In the tower was an elevator.
"Let's pray this thing goes upwards." I pulled on the lever.
"Let us pray." Florin agreed.
A minute or two on the thing we had finally reached the top. Checking a room that was clear we came into the main room of the tower, a giant Dwemer ball laid in the middle of the room. There were stairs upwards with multiple floors around it.
Reaching the top there were strange looking glass things at the top that seemed as if they could be moved, buttons were right next to us that seemed they could do something as we now stared down at the Dwemer ball that could now be walked on.
"Not the buttons!" I raged. Everyone else shared my misfortune.
"I will handle this." Said Lydia sadly as she now approached the buttons.
"Just rest for a little bit okay?" She told us, we moved to settle in next to Lydia.
The things started to move over and over again.
"Oh! To Oblivion with this!" She raged.
It had taken us three hours to align the panels. When I said us I mean us because we had to switch around. My sympathy went to my comrades. But now it was finally open.
"Praise Stendarr for ending this torture!" Lydia said, all of us but Florin were almost driven to insanity by this accursed thing as a capsule opened.
There the Elder Scroll was. I went to retrieve it, taking the Scroll felt as if something unknown had dawned upon me.
"The Divines powers radiate inside that Scroll, I pray we are able to use it wisely to put an end to this crisis." Florin said, his features calm and collected as always.
"Of course." I said.
"Can we just get out of here?" Lydia asked irritably, Charles looked a bit upset himself when we found a door. Then they elated along with me.
Opening the door showed an elevator that now ascended again as we piled on and pulled the lever.
Walking outside of it were now outside again. The night aurora shined beautifully as Florin now turned to me.
"What are your plans now? I will be sure to bookmark this little entrance and have a research team check out the rest of that….Labyrinth so we could learn more about the Dwemer." He stated, I was thinking the Blades could do that too at some point.
"I need to head to Windhelm and deliver an axe from Whiterun to Ulfric Stormcloak. War is to break out between the Empire and the Stormcloaks very soon. After that I will head to Whiterun in case it it attacked." I said with some fear.
"Ruigus, the Stormcloaks have themselves beasts of war." I looked at him confused.
"What?" Snow fell around us as Lydia and Charles secured the area quickly.
"Indeed, they have managed to get the animals of Skyrim onto their side. Beasts such as Wolves, Sabre cats, Trolls, Giants, and Mammoths along with some other creatures are with them." My gaze changed from confusion to insanity as I could not believe what he had just said.
"They are arming them to use against the Thalmor and Empire forces as to reduce human casualties among their troops.." I gulped.
"Thank you for the info Florin." The Witch Hunter smiled for once.
"Indeed my Emperor, we will follow you from a distance all the way to Whiterun. I am afraid we will not be able to help you in case a major battle breaks out." Florin finished.
"Your protection is enough to suffice, thank you." I said as I now stared in the direction of Windhelm, where the traitor sat on a throne.
Adjusting my cloak and wiping off any blood on me, I now walked there.
My stomach growled. Oh by Arkay I had forgotten to eat.
Checking out my rucksack and pulling out an apple in perfect condition, I took a bite.
Windhelm was snowing every bit as much as Winterhold did. I felt an oppressive air because I knew this was the capital of the Stormcloaks, my enemy.
The bridge I now walked on made a grim realization.
Any Imperial force that attacked would have to go on this suicidal bridge that stretched for a mile. The Stormcloaks would sure make a bloodbath out of this place just from the bridge alone as we would have one condensed force trying to get in.
Although there were hills in proximity to Windhelm that looked like great siege-craft postions.
Stormcloak forces marched out of the capital by the thousands it seemed. The beasts Florin mentioned were here, and they seemed armed and armored with Stormcloak given weapons.
I was surprised to see that some of them had no armor at all and instead had markings all over their bodies. They marched with some kind of strange priests that seemed to have markings and runes on them. Were these priests commanding the beasts? The insanity and fear of it all was almost unimaginable. I then went through the gates.
I began walking towards the capital building, I saw many people still walking about normally almost. It was a hard thought to swallow considering all that I had seen. I passed through many streets that seemed to go on forever almost. This city was massive just like the rest yet it seemed bigger in it's own way.
The Jarl's personal guards had stopped me, but I had told them I was from Whiterun and they let me through.
I entered the 'Palace of the Kings'. I saw Ulfric on his throne with an officer of the Stormcloaks next to him. He wore Wolf-Bear skins as armor, at least, on first glance.
They were having a conversation as I walked up to them, Ulfric stopped their talk and looked at me. My heart was pumping a bit.
"Who are you?" He asked, not remembering who I was at all.
"I am Ruigus von Kessel, the Dragonborn." His gaze seemed bored and uncaring.
"Dragonborn, what are you here for?" He sounded like an ass.
"I have brought you a message from the Jarl of Whiterun." An eyebrow of his raised while he rested upon his throne. Features still very arrogantly confident.
"Is that so? I've been wondering when he'd come around." I almost laughed, he would be surprised. I pulled out the axe Balgruuf had given me.
"Oh. What's this?" He said as I gave it to him.
"An axe." He laughed a bit.
"Ahh….You're quite brave to carry such a message. It's a pity you've chosen the wrong side…." He finished rather threateningly. I was ready in case he tried anything.
He pushed the axe back into my arms forcefully. I glared at him like the traitor he was. He scoffed.
"You can return this axe to the man who sent it. And tell him he should prepare to entertain….Visitors." The images of every single Stormcloak soldier I had seen popped into my mind. These visitors would bring blood with them. And despair.
"I expect a great deal of excitement in the city of Whiterun in the near future…." Damn this arrogant traitor and tool. I bet he would be laughing whether he would win the battle or lose it.
"And I expect the same in this one, and your head on a stick like the traitor you are. I know of your connection to the Thalmor Ulfric." His officer seemed ready to tear my throat, he motioned him to stop before laughing almost madly with amusement. I waited for him to cease, but he only did so for a minute within his fit.
"You are quite wrong on whatever it is you believe about me Ruigus, I know what it is they intend to do, and I know my own way to defeat them. Do not mock me or my followers. And next time that we meet, I hope you are able to form your own thoughts instead of that of an Empire zealot." He declared to me, with a most threatening and genuine glare. I could not understand this man.
I walked out of there as quick as I could. The time was day. And it would take me half of one to get back.
I needed to arrive at Whiterun as soon as possible. But I know one thing.
The battle of Whiterun was to begin in a day.
The first battle of the Civil War is to begin, many will die.
And that is all!
Well, other than a few responses.
To Frostwolf: Yeah I noticed it as I was writing this and fixed it, thanks! Yeah she certainly was close, but the Blades and Ruigus (Up until last chapter) did not know she could be 'human'.
To Jason: Thanks man, this is high praise for sure and I will definitely keep writing as much as possible. I kind of find it sad I really could not think of anything else I could have added into this chapter but oh well.
