Elder Scrolls: Doltborn
Chapter 1: Unbound
Ruby rose was many things, a genius smith, daughter to one of Cyrodiil's mightiest Mercenary leaders and a pro marksman with a Crossbow… She was also now a prisoner based off of her bindings and company upon a carriage.
"'sigh' thank the Brothers she woke up."
"Quiet traitor!" Her vision coming back the first thing she saw was some Nord yelling at another.
"Its Jaune actually." Well the one not yelling was a soilder, the one who was looked to be a prisoner like her… Wait, prisoner?
"You are no Arc 'boy', the Arcs were proud Nordic warriors of Skyrim, not the turncoat cowards you and your sisters aim to be following like that patriarch of yours."
"We choose our side Stormcloak… I'd rather be a traitor then Skyrim's own White Fang or Thamor like you lot." Wait what!? These guys were nutjob racist like those group!
"How dare you-"
"Eep" Crap! She panicked!
Both figures turned to her, one a man across from her in the carriage while the other was a younger one looking around her sister's age on a horse dressed in fine heavy armor.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross into Skyrim at the borders right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there." Rolaf glared at Jaune who looked away guilt clear, a smile slowly begun to show on Ralof face but Ruby recalling the event saw things differently as she looked to Jaune.
"Thankyou." The blonde seemed perplexed by her gratitude.
"Huh? Me?"
"Yeah, you shielded me from one of your soldiers right?" She then looked to Ralof her eye's squinting.
"Besides he wasn't the first to attack me, It was one of you, something about all Imperials being the same. The man at least had the shame to look away, clicking his tongue while Ruby turned to Jaune.
"I think he called you… Juan, right?" The knighty looking Nord groaned.
"Its Jaune! Jaune Arc, short and sweet, 'heh' ladies love it." She quirked a brow.
"Do they…"
"… 'sigh' In my dreams… just, call me Jaune, and you are?" She smiled.
"Ruby Rose of Cyrodiil, Patch specifically."
"Huh? That's pretty far away."
"So… Um, how much trouble am I in…" His wince was telling.
"It shouldn't be too bad, I mean sure crossing the borders is bad but at least you weren't planning an ambush like them. At most I'd imagine you'd get a pretty steep fine. Her head drooped.
"Oh… Like 20 gold or something? The Blonde Nord winced at the question, not having the heart to tell her the more likely amount she'd be paying. Thankfully the man beside her decided now would be the best time to speak up.
"Damn you Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you, I could've stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell." He looked over to Ruby then panic in his eyes.
"You there Imperial girl. You and me – we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants isn't that right Traitor?" Jaune's eyes narrowed and seeing that the man caved in a note of fear obvious but honestly he'd gotten sadly use to the name and answered.
"It is, especially the higher ups like these lot and…" He looked meaningfully at the one who had bindings over his mouth gagging him earning Ruby's notice. Ralof chuckled though at the thief's complaints.
"We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief." An imperial turned to the lot of prisoners.
"Shut up back there!" The man looked ready to cut down the Stormcloak then and there but Jaune sent him a meaningful glare making him back off. Ruby looked around, these Stormcloaks looked pretty hated here but none more than the man who was gagged. Everyone in the imperial group but Jaune was glaring at him
"So… Who's he?"
"Watch your tongue Girl. You're speaking about Ulfric Stormcloak, the true High King!" Again the soldiers glared except Jaune who looked almost… conflicted? But The thief unlike the rest had something to say.
"Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion… But if they've captured you…" Sweat ran down the paling man's face despite the blistering cold.
"Oh gods, where are they taking us?"
"I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits… You hear that traitor, the lands of Skyrim's heroes a place closed to your lot." If Jaune was offended he sure didn't show it.
"… I know full well where I'll going Stormcloak…" He looked up to the twin moons solemnly.
"No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening."
"Don't worry our captain may be tough as nails but I doubt she'd sentence you the same as these lot." Nervous sliver eyes meet his gaze as Ruby parted her trembling lips.
"You mean it? And in response Jaune smiled cheerfully.
"Arc's word." And while his words proved enough for her for Lokir…
"As if I'd take the words of a traitor! Oh by the eight divine!" Ruby glared but the man didn't care already far to consumed by terror. Ralof though showed some humanity as he spoke to the terrified man.
"Hey, what village are you from horse thief?
"Why do you care?"
"A Nord's last thoughts should be of home." There was silence for a moment before the man spoke.
"Rorikstead. I'm… I'm from Rorikstead." It was then they could see it, the walls to Helgen, Ruby's head drooped, she'd tried to reach Marcarth where she heard the best experts on Dwemer research was but now it seemed she was growing further away from it.
An imperial spoke to the man beside him, a man covered in armor looking quite impressive with his stern eagle like gaze.
"General Tullius, sir! The headsman is waiting!" Ruby froze, headsmen… She looked to the Stormcloaks not helping but to pity them. Above the man was eager to push them in and have the deed done with. The horse thief's panicked seemed to multiple by the second.
"Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh. Divines, please help me!" Ralof looked up though disdain in his eye from the impressive man above.
"Look at him, General Tullius, the Military Governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this." She could hear the hate in his tone, she knew who the Thamor were and would never call herself a fan but the venom in his tone at the word Elve made her guarded against him and opposite to him Jaune glared at the Nord. However as they entered the city they were greeted with an empty road, people staring. Some in fear others in anger.
"This is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here. Wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in." Jaune spoke to the man then.
"She is…" Ralof looked to Jaune, he looked about on the urge of another ill spitful word to theblonde but bit it back at the last moment.
"Ah… I see, that's good."
"… Would you like some, it's a bit of a favorite of mine." Slowly the younger nord rose a bottle and Ralof looked to it suspiciously.
"Is this you seeking atonement Arc?" Jaune shook his head.
"Not atonement, it's just, what's the harm in showing kindness to a man whose fate is near…"
"'Heh' I see, I'll take you up on that offer then." And with that he took the bottle in his bound hands taking a mighty swig, but as the alcohol left his lips, as he looked to the city from his youth and recalled it all…A note of sadness shone.
"Funny, when I was a boy, the Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe…" Jaune didn't speak, seeming to share in the man's somber. A boy called out curiously only to receive his mother's scolding, others stared in terror and yet more anger.
"Damn Stormcloaks!" A bottle flew through the air towards them only to shatter against Jaune's shield. The Arc glared among the people who turned away as they continued they're voyage to the town's square where to their horror a man in black stood, a glorified sack over his head and a Great Axe in hand. The Carriages stopped as the passenger's blood ran cold.
"Why are we stopping?" Ralof finished the bottle and spoke.
"Why do you think? End of the line." The proud Nord glared at the Imperial Captain.
"Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us." He moved out the cart, no hesitation in him as he did. Lokir though was not nearly as contained.
"No! Wait! I'm not a rebel!" Ruby moved to calm him.
"Don't worry, like Jaune said we'll be fine right?" She looked to Jaune for reassurance to which he happily agreed.
"Of course, just listen till we get this all sorted out."
"'Heh' Face your death with some courage, thief." Jaune glared.
"He's not on sentence for Death!" But the damage had been done and the man so close to snapping that the seams lost himself to fear turning to Jaune grabbing he Arc desperately, fearfully.
"You've got to tell them! We weren't with those glorified bandits! This is a mistake!" Again Jaune tried to calm him.
"Easy there, it'll be fine I promis-"
"Lies, Lies from a Traitor…" Before Jaune could try to calm the man anymore the Captain spoke.
"Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time." Ralof snorted.
"Empire loves their damn lists."
"Arc!" Said blonde took stance.
"Yes ma'am." Stepping forward Jaune opened the Scroll and reading though it.
"Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm." The gagged man nodded, Ralof spoke as his lord stepped forward.
"It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric!"
"Ralof of Riverwood. Lokir of Rorikstead."
"No, I'm not a rebel. You can't do this!" Jaune paused his reading to try to again calm the theif.
"Everything's fine we're just confirming whose here-" Before he could even finish the man abruptl;y turned heel and ran for it.
"Halt!"
"No! You're not going to kill me!" The terrified criminal turned to run, Jaune reached out to him.
"Wait!" Without wasting a beat the Imperial Captain roared.
"Archers!" Jaune halted looking back to his captain shocked.
"What! No! He's not a-" Before he could finish it was done with, an arrow slamming into the coward's defenseless back and through his heart. He fell to his knee's dead before he hit the ground. Ruby froze at the sight while Jaune stared wide-eyed.
"Anyone else feel like running?" Jaune snapped from his shock turning towards the Captain anger clear in his eyes.
"Why would you do that! He was a mere Horse thief!" The Captain though saw things differently, speaking up against her now unruly subordinate.
"Or was he? He happened to appear on a stead just as we were closing in the leader of the rebellion, too coincidental if you ask me…"
"What… But that's ridiculous! That's circumstantial at best!"
"Perhaps, but it is done, now finish reading the list Arc." He glared her way unafraid and very angry at the word broken to the man even if not by his own hands.
"That was the list…" The Imperial woman looked to him skeptically.
"Was it now, because I believe I see another prisoner or am I going blind?" Her eyes turned on Ruby who froze and Jaune's eyes widened in slow realilazation.
"What? No! She's not involved in this! She's not on the list!" She nodded to Jaune's words but the captain seemed not to care to listen any further.
"Forget the list. She goes to the block." Ruby's heart almost stopped.
What!?
The captain turned as if it'd been decided.
"No." But Jaune would not let it end there, she looked back finding Jaune glaring defiantly.
"Are you disobeying my orders Arc?" He didn't even hesitate.
"If they're to send an innocent girl to her death then yes…" Above another man spoke, Tallius himself.
"You Arc boy! Stand down! And let the Prisoner face her deeds." And too his surprise Jaune glared up at him as well.
"Are you serious! She was crossing the boarder! Not aiding these people!"
"Hey watch your tongue, you are speaking to the Military Governor show the proper respect." Usually, Jaune would cave to rank, but that was not when he was faced with injustice like this, and slowly but meaningfully he stepped before the petite Imperial Girl whose nose was red from Skyrim's chill and glared up at the General.
"I'll show respect to those who've earned it, my Jarl Glynda of Solitude, Housecarl Port or her steward Oobleck. But not some man who'd so brazenly kill an innocent." Tullius looked down at him, his eyes fixed upon the Arc Scion before recalling Pyrrha, his mightiest soldier and pride of Cyrodiil closeness to the boy.
"Very well, I will act with amity, have the girl pay her fines 'after' the execution of these traitors." Jaune nodded before turning towards the Stormcloaks, Ralof looked at him with a smirk.
"'Heh' I suppose even traitors have some pride as Nords." Ruby watched as Tulius stepped forward before Ulfric.
"Ulfric Stormcloak. Some here in Helgen call you a hero. But a hero doesn't use a power like 'The Voice' to murder his king and usurp his throne." The man's only response was a narrowing of his eyes and a muffled retort none could hear.
"You started this war, plunged Skyrim into chaos, and now the Empire is going to put you down, and restore the peace." Ruby looked to Jaune, and while others in the army looked proud and even somewhat excited the Arc just looked as if he'd begrudgingly accepted it all…
They heard it then, what it was was a mystery, the roar of a trumpet, the call of a beast… regardless it drew all their wills to it for several minutes.
"What was that?" To the question the general spoke further.
"It's nothing. Carry on." The captain saluted her general.
"Yes, General Tullius." The Imperial woman looked over to the Priest.
"Give them their last rites," Said woman nodded, the old crone parting her lips for service.
"As we commend your souls to Aetherius, blessings of the Eight Divines upon you, for you are the salt and earth of Nirn, our beloved-"
"For the love of Talos, shut up and let's get this over with." Brazanly the Stormcloaked advanced, not willing to having his final rites be preformed without Talos. The Priestess's nose crinkled at the man's tone as he stepped forward.
"'Hmph' As you wish." The Proud Nord showed no fear in the face of death as he kneeled.
"Come on, I haven't got all morning. My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials. Can you say the same? Ruby couldn't help but admire the man's resolve and judging by the utter focus Jaune gave, he'd agree with her thoughts. With those last defiant words though the man's fate was sealed as he was forced to his knees, his head on the block neck all too exposed. The Excecutor's axe shined in the sunlight before coming down all to quickly, bone and flesh tore and his head fell while the Imperial Captain shoved his lifeless body off to the side of the chopping block.
"You Imperial bastards!"
"Justice!"
"Death to the Stormcloaks!" Despite the villager's scream and cheers The Stormcloaks remained proud, Ralof even giving a somber smile to his brother in battle as he laid headless.
"As fearless in death as he was in life."
"Next, Ralof of Riverwood!" Ralof swallowed before looking forward to the block, to his fate, another rumble filled the air like a horn that threatened to make the mountains themselves form in a landside. Jaune spoke up as he looked to the skies.
"There it is again. Did you hear that?" All he earned though was a glare from the armored woman.
"I said, next prisoner!" Jaune looked over to Ralof who looked resolved to meet his fate and stepped forward. The older Nord looked to Jaune then, no hate, nor even anger but a single question.
"Arc, it seems I will be departing… Thankyou for the mead." Blue eyes looked into the deadman before he spoke.
"Sovengarde awaits you…" Ralof smiled.
"That it does, fight well and with honor… perhaps even an imperial Nord can find such a place… If so I'll greet you." No more words were to be said as the man kneeled preparing himself. The headsman looked down at him. It was then his Axe rose and Ralof's fears, regrets and sorrows all just vanished as he accepted his end.
Ruby saw it then before anyone else, but so fast was the figure that it landed before she could even speak out. Dust and snow flew up as it stayed upon the small house overlooking the execution grounds. Jet black with jagged edges all across its form, the only color away from the deep ebony was its eyes that shone like hellish crimson fire. General Tullius was the first to voice his thoughts.
"What in Oblivion is that?!" Finally its eyes found what it sought, landing upon her, hellish red meeting innocent confused Silver, its maw opened and she heard it.
"Fus… Ro…"
The air trembled and somewhere deep inside she could understand the horror of those syllables.
"Dah!"
A unrelenting force let loose from the nightmarish beast, the headsman, Ralof and the Imperial Captain alike were taken by the force, throw about the Headsman body hitting a wall letting loose a deep meaty crack before he fell forever still. Ruby would've been sent flying back had Jaune before her not stood at her front raising his shield. The wind pushed forward nearly sending the Nord flying but at the same time she heard something just before Jaune rose his shield, a voice that made the air tremble.
"FUS!"
Ruby saw how the air shifted before Jaune as he spoke. The Beast roared again and the skies darkened, from them balls of fire descending. For a second it looked conflicted as it seemed to stare between her and the Nord boy. Jaune though had no such conflicting emotions.
"Run! Into the tower! Jaune turned to Ralof then his blade rose high above the fellow Nord and it came down, yet no blood flew nor flesh tore only bindings hit the earth beneath.
"Take your men and go." Ralof looked up to Jaune confused.
"Why would you let us go?" There was no pause from Jaune, the answer coming so quickly and with much sorrow.
"… Enough have died today… Is it so wrong to lower the count as much as possible?" He looked to the beast in the air, his grip tightening on his blade as a urge called from his depths. And with that he turned towards the man, towards the leader of the rebellion that he swore to oppose, to strike down the day he took his vow to the Imperial Empire. Ulfric Stormcloak, the Bear and Jarl of Windhelm and… And Rightful king to Skyrim but not the one he needed. Jaune looked him dead in the eyes.
"Take your men and go… In exchange spare whatever Imperials you can and warn all on your way of 'this'." He looked into the man's eyes challengingly, waiting for his acknowledgment. And when the Jarl gave but a single nod Jaune cut through his bindings. And pulled down the wraps gagging his mouth. Ulfric met his gaze before speaking.
"Fine Arc, but how are we to escape?" He grunted.
"That's for you to find out, I only promised to save one person today. Jaune reached to Ruby readying to undo her binds but a roar caught his attention then and he looked up to the beast of old, the true alpha. A Dragon…
"Shit! Run." Ulfric didn't hesitate to comply and his men were all too quick to follow. Jaune pushed Ruby forward as he kept his gaze upon the beast who despite the arrows and Thamor's magic looked to where he stood, no… just past him.
Is… Is it looking at Ruby?
He watched as Ruby entered the tower and heard a cry of the beast.
Shit it is!
Turning he rushed in reaching the door opening just in time to grab Ruby and pull her back inside, seeing it, Ulfric did the same pulling Ralof and another of his man with him. Above the walls broke apart as the ebony monster's head emerged and its maw's spread as it spoke another word of power the world trembling to its voice as Flames ensued the structure. Turning the tower into a makeshift ovan, cooking alive all who were too slow to leave.
The Beast ceased its fury though as the soldier's continued their assault upon it. Rearing its head back it roared upon the bugs who dared get in its way. Jaune looked about to the scene, the walkways closed off by flaming rubble. Ruby however saw the way Jaune didn't in no small part than from the risk-taker inside her. She pointed her bound arms to the tower's way to the hole the Dragon had left.
"We can get out through there." Jaune looked up before slightly paling.
"We really don't have a choice do we?"
"Nope, now hurry!"
"Wha? W-wait! At least let me undo your binds first!" Ignoring him the Rose rushed up the tower knowing at any second the Dragon could return, a hundred thoughts raced through her head but all she knew she needed to focus on was the most important one. Getting out of here now and living to see the rest of the day! Peaking out the hole she looked to see the building below, the celling open with a burnt still flaming top.
Huh, so I'm scared of height… well that sucks.
"AHHH!"
She turned towards the scream seeing a boy and his father, the man standing before him as the dragon landed its gaze upon them. Its maws opened and it surged forward giving only time for the man to push the child to safety as it was caught in its maws. The man cried out as it let go flinging him across the pavement bloodied and ruined. The Boy watched helpless and terrified as the Dragon looked upon him it growled and moved forward.
The man begged his child to run but weather in terror of bravery the smaller soul stood beside him and would till the bitter end. She leaped out the hole thoughts behind her with only actions to guide, running down the stairs she moved with a speed born of sheer necessity to finish the goal she set.
And there she was before it, between the beast and child and as she looked into its hellish eyes, saw its bloody teeth and single thought came to mind.
Oh crude I still tied up!
The air shook once more with otherworlding syllables.
"YOL!"
And flames burst forth, she turned to the child trying to shield him as her last act.
"FUS!"
A powerful wind pushed forth and despite the fires consuming the surrounding land she did not feel its burn. Turning she saw why as Jaune stood proudly before her and the broken man. His shield raised and glowing amber with heat. Magic shifted before the metal, that of a Lesser Ward acting to reinforce it.
His metal heated upon his form as the fames continued, his throat throbbed in pain and should he try again he was sure the heated air would cook his lungs. The man begged even in his broken state.
"Please… My son." Ruby looked to the man at deaths door and then back to Jaune would groaned in pain. It was then it happened.
"Fus Ro Dah!"
A surge of force brushed past them slamming into the dragon and making it pause it's assault. Jaune stumbled only to be caught by Ralof.
"Well now we can't have that can we? You can't make my Jarl's repaying the debt meaningless after all." Jaune didn't pay the tease any mind, looking o his fellow Nord and asking what really mattered.
"Ruby and the father and son?"
"The Imperial girls is fine, as are the parent and child." Ulfric looked back to Jaune then.
"You are no coward Arc, I can say that at least. Now then… Shall we take you with us to heal? The Stormcloaks could use a man like you… another wielder of the Thu'um."
"I… can't, I gave a vow…"
"You Arc's and your word… a pity but had you abandoned it I suppose I'd hardly want you anyways." The group began to make way through the torn apart city the Dragon overhead circling.
"The boy and father." Ulfric spoke with a stern decided tone.
"The boy we can take… the man, he is too close to the Divines now…" But Jaune was not so quick to give up.
"Not yet…" He reached out placing a hand to the man's chest and slowly his palm began to glow with restorative light. Restoration magic flooded the burnt Nord's form and slowly he felt his body's weight heavy. Until finally the man breathed in a fresh powerful amount of air. His arm and leg still managed but his ruined side mended.
"By the brothers…" Ulfric snorted.
"Quite versed in healing… You'd make a proud Stormcloak Arc… A Pity." Jaune stumbled as his eyes grew weary, exhaustion taking him. The rest was so blurry, Ruby and Ralof taking him by the sides, the Stormcloaks war cries with the Dragon's roar and finally the sound of a metal door slamming shut. As his vision began to blur he heard Ulfric.
"Should we meet again Arc, it will be as enemies." Ralof to his sides words sounded muffled almost as if he was in water.
"On that day on of us will sends the Other to Savngarde." Darkness took him and when he woke, he laid in a bed and saw a familiar form crouched over a chest.
"Yes Found it!" A petite brunette rose, the Imperial girl smiling as she held up an odd contraption he'd admit to finding peculiar when they confiscated it off her. She rubbed cheeks against the odd-looking tool before digging back into it to pull out a weapon. A Scythe that seemed almost comical in the girl's hands.
Made of Steel a good weapon well forged. He sat up then his body feeling better, his fatigue gone and it was then she seemed to notice him.
"Jaune!" Panicked and worry were in her eyes as he coughed, his throat sore and dry, but honestly he was just thankful he could speak given what he'd used. And with a garbled voice he asked.
"The Dragon?"
"It's gone, it left a while ago while you slept." He hesitated for a moment to ask his next question.
"What are the numbers… do you know, who survived…" Ruby sat silent for several seconds before finally she spoke up.
"Besides the Stormcloaks, just the boy and father." He looked to her shocked.
"What…"
"It… It killed them all… Ralof though, he said Tullius wasn't among the bodies nor the leader to the Thalmor before they left.
"Left?" She nodded.
"The Stormcloaks left, Ulfric wanted me to come, but." She looked to him, their eyes meeting.
"I'm just glad you're okay…" Jaune thought for a moment, far too many thoughts racing through his head but ultimately he knew what was needed.
"We need to warn other cities… Riverwood." He stood up and Ruby rose in concern but it was unneeded as he regained his bearings.
"My uncles there… I need to give them word before it's too late." He dug through his pockets then finding it, he took Ruby's small hand into his before settling a small baggie in her palm.
"What's this?"
"Gold, 50 coins worth… I'm sure a carriage in Whitrun would be willing to take you there, that is where you're aiming for right."
"But… that Dragons-
"Not your concern." He reached out patting her head.
"It's Skyrim's problem… And after how you've been treated it'd be wrong to ask you to put yourself at risk for us…
"What about you, what happens after you warn Riverwood?" He didn't bother lying, instead being honest with the girl.
"I don't know." The War seemed all to small suddenly, with old legends again revived how could it not. But then it came to him, all the lives that must have been lost.
"But maybe there is something I can do… We can't let that beast live, not now. It'll die… No matter the cost." Hate filled his words as he gave them, as he swore them.
-Some Time Later-
He exited the tunnel out of the keep his blade coated in blood both thick and green.
"Damn Frost Spiders." Thankfully his iron plating proved too much for the monster's fangs. However before he could give more thought to it he turned back to see a small form follow.
"Are you sure about this?" Standing there smiling was Ruby.
"Yep. Now lead the way, to Riverwood!" A part of him knew it was pointless to try and dissuade her but he had to at least try.
"But didn't you want to go to Marcarth?"
"Jaune, this is a bit more important don't you think?" He sighed.
"But, 'Sigh' Fine then.. Come on." She nodded, following the defeated Arc with a smile.
"Hey, Ruby…"
"Hmm? What's up?"
"Thank you." And so they begun to trek, the literal first steps of the journey to come.
So yeah here it is Crossover! Yeah I wasn't writing the Unbound Quest was brain-numbing given my hatred for it, so I wasn't about to write the whole dungeon crawl scene from it. Okay note The I'm making the distance between places more realistic now, so Riverwood won't be 5 minutes from Helgen anymore more like a weeks travel.
