A/N: Hello all and welcome to the next chapter of Whispers of the Night. I do apologize for my delay; I have sadly been working a lot more hours recently and have been preoccupied with a lot of other stories, meaning I don't have as much time to write for this as I want to. I am trying to get more of this out to start 2020, though, so hopefully we can get to at least into the beginning of the final arc.
I should probably have said this earlier, but this arc will most likely end up being the longest one. There's just so much to do and we haven't even started the main storyline for the Dragonborn DLC. I admit that's my fault and I keep getting sidetracked with constant exploration, but hey, I like my world to have depth to it. Plus Solstheim is a lot of fun to explore!
Whispers of the Night
Summary: One year after Serana died and she left Astrid, Alana has left for Solstheim to be alone and never harm another innocent. Enemies new and old are rising, and it is never easy for one to free themselves from the shackles of their demons…
*Book 2: Oblivion Walker Part 5*
Alana shielded her eyes as the ocean winds whipped up a layer of ash, temporarily blinding her. She grimaced and bit back an annoyed hiss, continuing to trudge through the ashy wastes towards the citadel where the Ulens' forces lay. 'On days like these, I really do wonder why the hell I decided to come all the way here. Then I remember the guilt that forced me to do so.'
She wouldn't lie to herself; she did still feel somewhat guilty about Serana's death. But she knew it wasn't her fault. Serana had chosen to protect her out of her own free will. 'She made her choice, and I've made mine. I may not like it, but it's the truth.'
She spotted a rustle of movement out of the corner of her eye and out from the ashy soil popped out one of the island's more prevalent creatures, an ash hopper. The insect wasn't very difficult to get rid of and its shell was used to make chitin armor, but a single bite from one was enough to pass on the disease known as droops. It sapped away at the victim's strength, leaving them weary in battle. Not particularly deadly like brain rot or rockjoint, but it would definitely be a nuisance if she caught it.
Rather than taking that risk, she reached for the crossbow that always dangled from one of the belts on her vest and grabbed nothing but air. Alana cursed herself for such a mistake. In her haste to find out those plotting the assassination she neglected to grab her choice of ranged weaponry. 'Well, great. Looks like I don't have a choice for this one. Dammit.'
'Or do I?' It had been a very long time since she bothered to use her magic, preferring to rely on her sheer brute strength alone. However that power still coursed through her veins, meaning she was capable of it. She just had to try. 'Been forever since I attempted to use my magic. But Father said I still have that power inside me. I hope he's right.'
Alana focused her magic until it was beginning to flow like blood to her fingertips and they became covered in an icy aura. With enough power built up she thrust her palm forward and a single jagged spike of ice left her hand. The Ice Spike spell wasn't as powerful as she had hoped, but it did the job of killing the insect before it got close enough to bite her. It easily punctured its tough exoskeleton and it fell in pieces, bits of it rolling down the ash.
Alana let her hand fall and let out a soft breath, relieved she was still capable of at least apprentice level magic. She wasn't as skillful with it as Saoron was; the man could easily take on an experienced necromage and win. Even for a Breton, he had a remarkable grasp of magical theory. 'My magic is still there. I just have to learn how to use it again. I should see if Saoron and I can spar with it, just to get my strength back to where it once made even powerful mages envious.'
Alana was at that point once, when she was still the Arch Mage of the College of Winterhold. Savos Aren himself often praised her abilities, saying she had the makings of being more than worthy to perhaps succeed him. She inevitably did when he and Mirabelle Ervine were killed by that traitorous bastard Ancano, but she only took the position when Tolfdir turned it down, saying her skills were better than his. That may have been true, particularly her skill in both destruction and illusion based magic. But his knowledge of the alteration school was unmatched. She was able to see why he was considered one of the very best in Tamriel before his untimely passing.
The blonde let a smile appear on her face as she recalled some of the many conversations she had with him. Not just about magic, but about life experiences in itself. He had essentially been a second father to her, even though he was much older than her own. Many times she had gotten back to the college after destroying magical anomalies and found the old Nord waiting for her in the Arch Mage's quarters with a hot meal and that grandfatherly smile on his face. 'Honorable and loyal to the end. I hope you found peace in Sovngarde.'
Alana continued on her way through the ashlands and she felt her heartbeat speed up when she saw the ruins of Fort Frostmoth loom in the distance, their height attempting to puncture the sky. This was the same spot where she took her own life. The blonde eyed the tower she had jumped from and she remembered just how desperately Saoron had tried to save her from it. The thought of it sent a shiver down her spine and she banished the horrifying memories to the back of her mind.
'No. I'm not the same. I'm not a weak girl running away from her past. I'm Akatosh's chosen one.' She shook her head and took a deep breath. 'And I refuse to let the daedra dictate my life anymore.' Alana would fulfill her promise to Serana.
She walked along the sandy beaches when she suddenly started to hear the sounds of fiery explosions. 'What the hell is that? Sounds like someone's casting a Fireball spell.' She couldn't think of anyone who'd come all the way out here just to practice magic. Her hand found the handle of Clockwork and she tightened her grip on it as she approached the sounds.
She peeked over the edge of a large ash dune and ducked back down to avoid a wave of Ice Storm magic. 'That was a lot closer than I would have liked.' With an annoyed growl rumbling in her throat she looked over again to see two Bretons throwing adept level destruction spells at each other. Both were in the traditional black robes of necromancers and they yelled curses as their spells continued to hit their opponent's wards.
'Necromancers. I should just let them fight and wait until one of them is killed before I strike.' She narrowed her eyes. The remaining one would be weaker and make it easier for her to dispose them. But she was meant to be more than just a warrior. She was Akatosh's chosen savior, on her very way to divinity.
'Remember what Akatosh said to me. Use my powers not as a means to destroy the daedra. See them as a means to protect.' Alana carefully drew her massive sword, the broad triangular blade gleaming with deadly promise, and she leapt from her cover to join the fray. Both necromancers were too busy attacking each other to notice her and she was able to cut down the first with a mighty swing. Clockwork's heavy blade cut through his torso, cleaving him in half and spraying blood everywhere.
The two severed halves of his body hit the ground and his fiery magic died with him. The mage wielding ice stared for a brief moment in both shock and horror before coming to her senses, casting two Ice Spear spells at her. Alana spun her sword in her hands to block the magical attacks and rushed the mage, kicking up ash in her wake.
With one heavy swing Alana split her in half at the waist, the necromage's eyes bulging in shock. She wobbled a few steps forward and fell in two separate pieces, her magic dying. The blonde warrior watched as blood slowly dripped off of Clockwork's blade and spun it above her head before sliding it back into its sheathe.
"May you find atonement in the next world." Alana's hand glowed with magic and she let loose a blinding light from her fingertips. Ribbons of white magic swirled around the two fallen bodies and enveloped them. It felt much different from the magic she was used to casting. Illusion spells such as Invisibility made her shiver, whereas destruction spells like Fireball or Ice Spike made her body burn. This magic felt very, very strange. A slight burning sensation nipped at her fingertips but she made no effort to cease. Instead, she closed her eyes and continued. It was cleansing in a way.
When the magic died from her hands she opened her eyes to see that the two bodies had been reduced to shimmering piles of white sand. 'Is this what I can do as Akatosh's chosen one?' She knelt down to study the sand and scooped up a handful of it, letting it fall between her fingers. It was lighter to the touch than the blankets of ash she was accustomed to seeing and something about it gave off the idea that it was purified. No evidence of corruption of any sorts was able to be found.
'Interesting. I never knew I was capable of this kind of magic.' She stood up and let the sea winds ruffle her hair. 'I've been so focused on thinking I could only use my powers as a way to kill and further my own end. But now…now I can save others from a horrible fate.'
Alana felt her lips turn upwards and she was a little confused by it. A smile was something she was not completely familiar with, due to her past experiences. The only ones who got to see a genuine smile from her were Saoron, Astrid, Brynjolf, Ulfric, and Serana. And yet here she was, a genuine smile on her face. 'How long has it been? It feels like it's been years. I guess being dead for a day makes the past seem longer.' Even though it was only a few days ago that she was being constantly plagued by nightmares and hallucinations, it felt so damn long ago. She felt like a different woman.
Alana supposed she was, in a way. She was the same person, but with no outside influences to make her think she was constantly under attack. No dark voice telling her she needed to die, no haunting whispers that kept her awake at night, nothing. It was a lot more soothing than she was used to as of late.
She could spot a trio of netch floating over the ocean by the coastline, dipping their long tentacles into the tainted waters to find weeds and other plant life to feast on. The creatures didn't even turn in her direction to take notice of her, continuing to feed.
She turned away from them and continued on to the citadel where the traitors dwelled. The letter said they had plenty of forces training in the building, but she doubted they would prove to be much of a threat. She had slain a hundred of the Empire's finest soldiers in one night singlehanded and defeated one of the world's most powerful vampire lords with a broken arm. She could easily handle whatever lurked within the crumbling tower's ruins. 'Arano was right in choosing me for this task. As good of a fighter Saoron is, even he would have trouble handling more than five opponents at once.'
The Breton man was probably being called to help defend the settlement in case any stragglers managed to escape her. He was better suited for defense than offense. In a way, he was completely the opposite of Alana. He was the shield to her sword, defending while she attacked. It was why they worked so damn well as a team. She could trust Saoron to provide cover for her while she went in sword swinging and vice versa. They always had each others' backs from the time they were kids.
Alana walked through the ash wastes and came across a massive mushroom structure. It loomed at least a hundred feet high, its massive canopy providing it protection against the elements, and she could see several doors located in various spots in its vast trunk. 'Wow. What the hell is this place? Is this the home of the Telvanni wizard Saoron mentioned when we found that book in Raven Rock Mine?'
Just outside she could see a young dunmer mage flicking through the pages of a dirty and beaten up old book, mumbling in annoyance. His hand glowed with conjuration magic and he stomped the ground in frustration. "Why won't this summoning work!?"
'Must be the wizard's apprentice. I seriously doubt that a master wizard would have trouble with summoning something,' she mused. Behind her, a strange insect-like creature let out a low growl, and she eyed it suspiciously. It didn't appear threatening, but she knew looks could be very deceiving. Another dark elf sat next to the creature, eyeing it with fondness that one would give their child.
'Suppose it couldn't hurt to get better directions than the ones I was given.' She shrugged and approached the dunmer and he cracked a smile when he saw the blonde warrior approaching him.
"I take it you've never seen a silt strider before?" he asked.
"No." Alana shook her head. "What is it?" 'Silt strider? I've never heard of them. Must be a creature only native to Morrowind.' It wouldn't surprise her all that much; plenty of the creatures she encountered on the island in the year she had lived here were only found in Morrowind, such as ash hoppers or netch.
"They used to be commonplace all over Vvardenfell. They were used primarily as transport for people and goods on the island," he explained. "However, that was centuries ago before Red Mountain erupted. The blast wiped most of them out. I found old Dusty here hiding in a cave. A silt strider has a very tough exoskeleton that can block out the elements. I came here and she's retired now. A few people come by to get a look at her, but most travelers are looking for Master Neloth in Tel Mithryn over there." He pointed at the giant mushroom structure.
"Tel Mithryn? That's where the Telvanni wizard lives?" Alana's eyebrow rose a little skeptically. "He lives in a giant mushroom?" 'I've seen plenty of strange things in my life. But that seems a little farfetched. How could anyone live in something like that?'
"That's right," he answered. "Only master wizards of House Telvanni know how to create such a thing."
"I see." Alana brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. "I need to find Ashfallow Citadel. Where is it? The directions I was given…weren't exactly clear, if you get my meaning."
"The old fortress? Why, it's right over there." He pointed into the distance, just beyond what appeared to be another standing stone. "Keep walking northeast after you pass the Sun Stone and you'll find it. Not hard to miss. Should be a twenty minute walk from here."
'Twenty minutes? Good, I'm almost there. As pretty as this island is, I can't stand walking through this damn ash. It gets bloody everywhere.' She briefly took off one of her boots to shake some ash out of it, coughing as some of it got in her lungs.
"Thanks," she rasped, clearing her throat to get rid of the dryness. It did nothing; her throat remained completely parched and the dunmer chuckled before going through his crate. He tossed her a bottle full of some kind of liquid and Alana eyed it skeptically. "What is this?"
"Sujamma. Picked some up from Geldis the last time I was in Raven Rock," he replied. "Nothing better for quenching one's thirst in these parts."
Alana took the cork out of the bottle, fully prepared to let it soothe her sore throat, but she hesitated. 'I definitely shouldn't be drinking. Not now. I need to have my head clear if I'm to come out of the citadel alive.' She put the cork back in and shook her head. "Do you have anything else? Water would do just fine."
"If you say so." The elf shrugged and took the liquor back, handing her a bottle of water instead. "Had this imported from Skyrim. Gjalund was kind enough to send me some after I put in a request for some for Dusty. The waters around these parts are too tainted for her to drink."
Alana glanced over at Red Mountain across the sea, her lips curving into a small smirk as she opened it. "I worked that out on my own, funnily enough." 'The only source of clean water is in the glaciers on the northern side of the island. But I seriously doubt anyone is going to be willing to trek all the way out there just to grab a drink.'
She took a swig, feeling the liquid pour down her throat. It was lukewarm from sitting in the sun for who knows how long, but to her it was the most refreshing water she ever tasted. It still held the slight tinge of a well in Skyrim, bringing back some feelings of homesickness. Her heart yearned for her to return to her home, but she knew she couldn't leave. Not yet at least. 'There are still some things I need to do before I can go back. One of them is of course stopping this assassination plot. The other is mending my relationship with Astrid.'
Alana went to reach for some of the gold coins in her pockets when the dark elf shook his head. "Don't worry about paying me. I can tell you're busy. You have the look of purpose in your eyes."
The blonde blinked in surprise a few times but lowered her head for a moment. "Alright. Thank you. I'll be off."
She turned her back to him and started to walk in the direction he pointed to earlier. 'I want to get there before another ash storm closes in.' The blonde's hand found the handle of her zweihander and she rubbed it along the length, the cool metal comforting to her gloved touch. It reminded her just how far she had come and how far she had to go to complete her destiny.
'I've done many things. I've slain Alduin and won a civil war. And yet fate had more in store for me. The Divines themselves want me to become the Tenth Divine. The daedric princes are terrified of what I'm capable of. Good. I fell to them once. Never again. I'll never let them dictate my life ever again.'
Her fist tightened around the handle of her mighty sword and she took a deep breath to steady her nerves. 'No. I can't continue to let my rage fuel me. It's good to have emotion to remind me that I'm still myself. But I can't let them control me anymore.'
She let her anger slip away and replaced it with an icy calm determination. She would have to continue to use it to see everything through.
A green pillar of light was shining into the sky ahead and she frowned. 'There's some kind of magical energy ahead. It looks a lot like the energy that comes from the Earth Stone outside of Raven Rock. Another Standing Stone?' Alana closed her eyes and tried to use her own power to detect it. Sure enough, it gave off the same energy as the Earth Stone. However, whereas the Earth Stone was rumored to gift one the ability to have the hide of a powerful dragon, giving them immunity to most damage, this stone gave off an aura of fire.
She closed her eyes as she walked closer to it, drinking in the stone's power. It radiated hotter than the sun, scorching all in its wake, and she heard a soothing whisper in her head. Sun Flare. Her chest burned hot, hotter than it should have, and she winced as the burning sensation spread throughout her body. 'What the hell is this!?'
Alana stopped in front of the stone pillar and touched it. A glowing emblem shaped like the sun was carved onto it and she could feel the heat of fire surrounding her. 'What does this let me do? Is it similar to the master fire spells?' She didn't know how to use it, but she was certain she would find something to test it out on eventually. 'Just what are these damn stones? They are nothing like the Standing Stones in Skyrim. If it has an emblem like this one it, I assume this is called the Sun Stone?'
Alana left it behind and continued on her way to the citadel. She wasn't far off now; the castle was looming into view behind the cover of an approaching storm and she shielded her eyes as the wind kicked up ash into her face. 'For Talos' sake. It never ends, does it? I wonder if I can clear this up a bit and make it easier to see.'
It had been awhile since she used Clear Skies, but she knew she still had the power inside her to do so. Her lips parted and the ancient Nordic art dripped off of her tongue. "Lok Vah Koor!" The air crashed with thunder as the Shout rippled in the sky above. Sure enough, the storm started to dissipate and she could breathe a little easier. 'Well, that's that taken care of. Hopefully Clear Skies can keep the damn storm away for a bit.' Alana did not want to go back to Raven Rock covered head to toe in ash looking as if someone attempted to bury her in it. She had a feeling Astrid would laugh for days if she saw her like that.
'Oh please. Astrid could probably use a laugh or two. I thought being moody was my job, not hers.' She rolled her eyes and eventually she reached the steps leading up the fortress's courtyard. They were crumbling and covered with a mixture of ash and blood, the blonde grimacing at the smell of death. Even though she had fought in the war, the stench of rotting flesh was still not something she could tolerate for very long periods of time. 'Another way to remind myself I'm not a monster. Only a beast kills without feeling. I said that to Ralof when we met up in Falkreath and we talked about the Battle for Whiterun. Funny how it remains true, even more than two years later.'
She closed her eyes and stood still, listening for any signs of movement. She could hear something moving about in the ash and she knew she wasn't alone. 'Someone's here. Good. I could use a proper fight.'
Her hand gripped Clockwork's handle and she drew the massive weapon. "I know you're there. You're not as subtle as you like to think."
Alana whirled around as she heard someone sprinting, her attacker yelling out at her. "For the Tong!"
The blonde parried the blow with ease and clicked on the handle to spring the second sword free. 'The Ulens hired the Morag Tong? Seriously? I thought they only dealt with corrupt officials and the Dark Brotherhood!'
She pushed the dunmer assassin back, taking a quick swipe at her. The elf barely ducked under it, part of the chitin helmet being shaved clean off by the aetherium treated blades. 'So, you might be a little bit faster that I initially expected. However it's not enough to prevent your death.'
Alana lashed out with the handle of her zweihander, catching the assassin in the throat. She dropped her elven sword and clutched her throat, coughing and sputtering. 'It's over.' Alana raised her sword up and cut her in two with a jagged diagonal cut through her torso. Her strength and Clockwork's size allowed it to cut through the lightweight chitin armor with ease, the blonde letting out an unimpressed scoff. 'Pitiful. And the Morag Tong is supposed to be able to compete with the Dark Brotherhood? Give me a break. Astrid could wipe the floor with these idiots.'
Alana let the blood drip off the blade and she pushed the door to the fortress open. It slid open with a creak and Alana waited to see if anyone else would come running. Silence answered her. 'Nothing. They must be further inside. They seriously only had one sentry outside to watch the perimeter? Their incompetence is remarkable. How did no one spot this earlier? This isn't exactly the most subtle or carefully laid out assassination plot.'
The blonde warrior rolled her eyes and she stepped inside. The floor was covered in a blanket of ash and several thick chains dangled from the ceiling. A small wooden chest was lying on the stony floor and to her right was a spiral staircase leading down into the bowels of the crumbling citadel.
Alana walked down the staircase quietly and smiled when she saw a single Morag Tong assassin standing idly by a passageway. He was leaning against the wall, humming a low tune, and he looked up when he saw the blonde with sword in hand.
"Who are you!? Answer me!" he demanded. His hands flew to the glass dagger on his belt, but Alana was much faster. The smaller of her two swords impaled him in the chest and his helmet fell off. A thin trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth and he looked down at the silver steel imbedded in him. "N-no..."
"I am the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood," Alana answered quietly, withdrawing the bloodstained weapon. "Hmph. Not like you can hear me anymore, can you?" His body slumped to the floor and she continued on through the passage.
Cobwebs grew everywhere and she curled her lip in annoyance as some of the sticky white strands clung to her. 'Disgusting. At least there are no bloody spiders around here.' If there was one thing she hated fighting more than Vaermina's demons, it was bloody spiders. She didn't have a fear of them, but they were just so damn persistent. Frostbite spiders could live practically anywhere if they put their minds to it and some of them were massive. She remembered the one she killed that lurked in the ruined tower of Castle Volkihar; it was ancient and starving, making it one of the most dangerous creatures in all of Skyrim. She honestly didn't think there were enough fire spells to get rid of the damn thing.
The tunnel opened up into a larger hallway and the blonde sighed as three members of the Morag Tong charged her. 'They never learn. Why do they insist on charging in to try and take me down? It's not going to work.' "You want a fight? Then let's go. Bring it on."
The first one let out a frenzied yell and swung her iron sword. Alana moved her head and let it brush past her face, clicking her tongue and countering with a heavier strike from her main sword. The two pieces of metal clashed and the force of the blow was enough to make the assassin drop her weapon.
She clutched her wrist, having been shaken by the sheer force alone, and she leapt for her sword. Alana's second sword flashed and the blade protruded from the dunmer's skull. Alana yanked it out and the first assassin was dead. Her body hadn't even hit the floor before the other two attempted to take the blonde down.
Alana spun and let both of their swords hit the broad blade of her zweihander. "Not bad. But not good enough." She heaved her weapon up to make them stumble and Alana whirled around with a hard kick. Her boot hit one in the stomach and she twisted, breaking the ribs.
He collapsed and spat out a mouthful of blood, now disabled. He wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon and Alana could use him for information.
The other had gotten up to her feet and swung her sword. Alana's zweihander met the blade and she shoved her back. 'Right. That's enough defense for me.' Being cool and precise was never her style in combat.
Alana went on the offensive, swinging her mighty blade with incredible power. The assassin was forced back as the blonde's savage strikes became harder and harder to parry, the dunmer becoming sloppier and sloppier.
Alana's blade met its mark and the assassin screamed in pain as her arm was separated from the rest of her body. The severed limb fell to the ground with a wet thump and blood sprayed out of the wound. She clutched the mangled stump that remained and Alana swung again. The assassin's headless body toppled and Alana put Clockwork back together.
She stalked over to the assassin still alive and she seized him by his throat, slamming him into the wall. He groaned in pain, his helmet falling from his head, and his ruby red eyes met stormy blue. "Y-you…bitch. You won't…you won't get away with this!"
He coughed up more blood as Alana's fist thumped into his chest, groaning in agony. The blonde didn't let him go and her eyes narrowed. "How many of you are there? Lie to me and your life is forfeit."
"Ha…don't make me laugh." His breaths were mere wheezes now. "Y-you'll kill me anyway…"
"Maybe. Maybe not. I can help you, or I can kill you. Your choice." Alana's grip didn't falter. "Now tell me what I want to know."
"T-there five more, including Vendil!" he gasped out. "T-they're at the very back of the citadel! That's all, I swear! Y-you'll let me go, right?"
Alana hummed. She didn't need to take any more lives than was necessary. She was not a rampaging monster who slew everything in her path. She was a savior. If she could be redeemed after what she had done, perhaps he could too.
She let him go and handed him a health potion to repair the damage she had done. "Leave this place. Now." 'No need to kill him. If I can be a savior, even after the things I did, then anyone can atone for their sins.'
"Y-you kept your word…" The dunmer struggled to his feet, clutching his chest and downing the potion. "T-thank you. I won't forget this."
He wobbled past her, not looking back. Alana watched his retreating back until he was in the passageway and she let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. 'A warrior does not kill unnecessarily and we hate the ugly necessity of each life we take. It's that which keeps us from being mindless killers.'
Alana twirled her sword above her head before resting it against her shoulder. 'I think this is what Akatosh meant. He wanted me to be able to help others atone for their sins, so they may know peace in the afterlife when they pass. He chose me despite knowing the amount of wrong I've done because he believed no one else could do it.'
She started to walk down the hallway, stepping over the obvious pressure plates the Morag Tong had no doubt set up to ward off intruders. However, one would have to be a complete and utter fool to not notice them; the damn things were bright red for Talos' sake. 'Like I'm going to be so dense as to fall for such a simple trick. You Tong really need to work on your subtlety; this is embarrassing for a guild of assassins.'
When Alana reached the end of the hallway, she could see that the middle of the chamber was submerged in water. Stairs led into the water and out on the other side, but it would be a little difficult getting over there. Standing on the other side in heavy chitin armor and with four Morag Tong assassins guarding him was the traitor himself, Vendil Ulen.
"You!?" Vendil's eyes widened when he saw the blonde. "You're…you're the one they call the Black Swordswoman!?" His shock wore off and his gaze hardened, reaching for two glass daggers. "No matter. You will die like Lleril!"
"Heh. Not the first person who said that." Alana grinned and spun her sword in her hands. "Bring it on."
"Kill her!" Vendil screamed.
Two of his guards aimed longbows at her, loosing their arrows. Alana rolled under them and hid behind a tough stone pillar for a moment, cursing herself once again for not bringing her crossbow. 'Dammit! I really ought to have prepared more. I don't know if my magic will do much.'
'Wait, I can change the tide of this. I still have my Dragonborn powers.' Her mouth opened and she let loose a Shout. "Tiid Klo Ul!" Time slowed down to a crawl and she made her move, springing out of cover. Alana leapt with her sword swinging, cleaving the two archers in half. Their mangled bodies fell to the ground and she took out a third with a powerful slash through the chest, preparing an Ice Spike spell.
The Shout wore off and time returned to normal. Vendil's daggers were in his hands and he spun, trying to cut her open. The cold malachite brushed against the fabric of her shirt, tearing it open at the stomach.
Alana smiled as her eyes met his, standing still. "You're done for." Vendil looked down and saw the jagged spear of ice currently below where his heart would be. Even heavy armor couldn't resist a powerful spell designed to impale just about anything short of a dremora lord.
He stumbled back, his daggers falling from his hands with a clatter. "House Hlaalu…will have…its revenge."
"Maybe. But not today." Alana stepped back and kicked him into the water. He sank like a rock and the blonde slid her sword into her holster. It was finally over now. The plot to murder Councilor Morvayn had been thwarted.
However something was off. There were only four bodies on the floor. 'Wait a minute. Didn't that one say there were five back here? Where the hell is the fifth!?' Clockwork was back in her hands and she spun around to see the remaining dunmer climbing up a ladder. "Why you…" 'Slippery little bastard. He must have cast an invisibility spell to hide. Tch. Bloody coward.'
Alana ran after him, climbing up as fast as she could. She reached the top of the citadel and curled her lip in a snarl as he peered over the edge. "It's over. There's nowhere for you to run."
The assassin took off his helmet and smiled, facing her. Long silver hair flowed freely and her blood ran cold as she met a set of catlike green eyes. 'Impossible…it can't be! I killed him over a year ago!'
"How very nice to see you again, Alana." He smiled and Alana charged him with a growl. Clockwork swung in a mighty arc, but it hit a magical barrier instead of striking her enemy down. She watched in horror as a long odachi sword formed in his hands and he swung it, shoving her back.
Alana got to her feet and watched him land gracefully on the edge of the tower, glaring. He glanced briefly at her exposed right arm. "So, your curse has been lifted. That's too bad."
"What do you want!?" Alana hissed, gripping her sword tight.
"The ghosts of those killed by the daedra," he answered calmly. "In time, those trapped in Oblivion will circle Aetherius, corroding it. Corrupting it. What I desire, Alana, is to break the barriers that keep our planes separate. With them gone, we will create a shining new future."
"What about this plane?" she hissed.
Her enemy smiled coldly and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, that's up to you, Alana."
The two stared at each other briefly before they leapt, swords clashing. Alana's sword met his and she struggled to keep her footing. He was just as strong as he was over a year ago, whereas she was not. She was still recovering from her wounds from her suicide and she could feel her arm beginning to throb as she blocked a deadly slash aimed at her throat.
'Dammit, I'm not fast enough!' Alana gritted her teeth in frustration and cast an Ice Spike spell at him. The elf sidestepped and cut the frosty spear in pieces. 'What!? How!?'
Alana sprung the second sword into her hand and began to swing both heavy blades. The dunmer continued to evade the aetherium treated swords, dodging and ducking with uncanny grace. 'Dammit, even dual wielding I can't take him down!' He was a master of his art; it wasn't a stretch to say that his odachi was essentially a part of his body with the way he used it.
Alana put Clockwork back together and gave a powerful downward slash. The heavy sword hit nothing but the ground and the elf sprinted up it. His odachi glanced her cheek, blood beginning to trickle down the side of her face and the wound beginning to sting.
Alana yanked her sword out and swung again, this time meeting the odachi that nicked her. The two struggled for a moment, only for him to slide his blade down and catch it under the handle. She watched as her blade was ripped from her hands, spinning in the air and landing behind her. She had never been disarmed so easily before.
Before she could react she was kicked hard in the chest and flew backwards, landing next to her sword in a cloud of dust. 'I've had it with this!' She yanked her sword out of the ground and was cloaked in a bright blue aura, positively seething now. She dragged the tip of her sword on the ground as she charged her enemy, leaping up to give a powerful downward swing.
However, she felt a searing pain in her chest and her movement was halted. The magical aura surrounding her disappeared and she could feel her grip on her zweihander loosening, letting out a cry of pain. 'N-no…not like this!'
The dunmer smiled at her, chuckling a little. "The pain I made you feel once before, so long ago. How about I remind you? This time you won't forget."
Alana's eyes widened and the sword was removed from her chest. She stumbled and struggled to raise her blade up to parry another blow, but her enemy found his mark. She let out a weak scream of pain as she was stabbed again in the chest and stomach. She fell to her knees and was kicked again, landing on an ashy hill opposite of the tower.
Blood was pouring out of every wound now and she struggled to find the handle of her zweihander. Crimson rivers dripped down her body and she found Clockwork, using the broad blade to prop herself up.
"Tell me what you treasure most," the elf said behind her, his silver mane flapping behind him. "I want the pleasure of taking it from you."
He leapt to cut her down and the faces of everyone Alana held dear flashed before her eyes. Astrid, Saoron, Ulfric, Ralof, Tolfdir, Brynjolf and Serana. Soon, everything was white and she heard the comforting voice of someone she hadn't heard speak since she died. "So what if it looks hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up."
"S-serana?" Alana rasped. "But…how?"
"Be free. You are in control of your own fate," Serana murmured, brushing one of the bloodstained locks of her hair. "Sure, you've made horrible mistakes. But you atoned for them, right?"
Alana nodded and stood up, finding strength in her words.
"Do you need a hand with him?" Serana asked.
The blonde shook her head, spitting out a mouthful of blood. "No. I've beaten him once before. I'll do it again."
Serana smiled. "There's the Alana I know and love. You remember what I told you, right?"
"That's right. I'll live for the both of us." The world returned to normal and Alana met the dunmer's odachi with her own sword, parrying the blows aimed at her throat. She shoved him back and wiped her cheek.
"I pity you. You will never understand," she growled. "There's nothing I don't cherish!" Her black wing sprung out of her shoulder and she twirled Clockwork above her head twice, channeling her magic through the mighty blade.
Their swords met again and Alana smiled as she pressed on the handle of it. The second sword sprung into her hand and she landed a blow, cutting him through the chest. The dunmer let out a weak gasp of pain and Alana pressed her advantage, landing several more hard blows on his chest, black mist pouring out of the wounds.
Alana finished it off with one piercing blow straight through him and she stared at his slowly disappearing form. "Stay where you belong. As nothing but a bitter memory."
The dark elf sputtered and coughed, but he disappeared in a cloud of dark mist. Alana fell to her knees with her enemy dead, letting out pants of exhaustion as her weariness finally started to get the better of her.
"Thank you, Serana…" Alana looked up at the sky and smiled, blood still pouring out of her wounds.
'You don't hate me. You never did. I think I can finally rest a little easier now, hearing you say you love me.'
A/N: So to make up for my delay, I reward you with a nice 7K chapter. I can live with that XD. Though I seriously wish I had this one out sooner. Thank you all for reading and have a good day! Drop a review if you liked it! See you!
A Lovestruck A2#5371