On a small farm within Whiterun Hold, Ariel Ginter, a Nord girl 12 years young, helps her mother Dezi tend to various crops such as cabbage, corn and tomatoes. A few feet away in the yard, Ariel's older brother Tyrus, practiced sword techniques. Tyrus was 20 years young, training to pursue a journey in which he would travel the world, documenting various forms of wildlife. A journey that came with many dangers.
Ariel stared on in admiration as she loaded cabbages onto a wheelbarrow, rolling it to their shed. She often wanted to join Tyrus in what little adventures he's already had. Every night she begged her brother for a story, even ones he previously told. Like when he witnessed a bear go toe to toe with a saber cat or when he came across a spider's den, almost becoming dinner.
"What an exciting life to live!" She thought, swiping her blonde hair behind the ear.
However, two things stood in her way. A lack of swordsmanship and her father Garris. Garris wasn't strict, but his love for Ariel was. You see, Ariel was his only child. Tyrus, his son by marriage to Dezi. Even though he loved Tyrus just as much, Ariel was his everything. She became hesitant to ask her father, a former mercenary, for permission to join Tyrus. With her birthday coming up soon, she wanted nothing more than a steel sword, just like Tyrus.
Garris walked with a limp after getting into a nasty fight with a troll, forcing him into early retirement. With all of his savings, he purchased a piece of land to start his farm. Once a week, Garris delivered vegetables to Whiterun by wagon. He'd be gone for a few hours at most. Tonight, he returned with a huge smile on his face. Coming home to Dezi setting the table for dinner. He clutched his wife by the waist and swung her around.
"Garris! What's gotten into you?"
"A large bundle of joy. Love, you're not going to believe this. Ariel, Tyrus. Please come down."
The kids joined their parents as Garris joyfully paced. He had a look of excitement that couldn't be contained.
"What's going on father?" Asked Ariel.
"As I was riding into town. I saw a sign saying, 'Linus farm for sale'. So, I talk to the owner, and he wants out of the farming business. Get this, he's willing to sell me his piece of land for 500 gold."
Everyone was taken back.
"What a steal." Said Tyrus.
"I couldn't believe it myself. Prime farmland right next to Whiterun? It was legitimate. He'll be packed up by next week and we'll make the deal then."
The Nord family exploded in celebration. Plenty of hugs and kisses to go around. Garris turned his attention towards Ariel.
"I know your birthday is next week, but I couldn't wait."
Ariel's eyes lit up in anticipation. This was going to be it. All of the subtle hints she'd thrown over the past few months will finally pay off.
"I've decided that I'm going to put you and Tyrus in charge of the new farm. With the extra gold coming in, I can hire more help and we'll be living on easy street. You'll be set for life."
The fire in her eyes went dim. Disappointment falling across her face. Expressions of joy and glee quickly went to confusion and worry.
"Is something wrong?" Asked Dezi.
Ariel shrugged. "I don't want to sound ungrateful father." Her hands balled up in a stressful manner. "That's not what I want."
Garris leaned back on the wall. Lips twisted. Eyes locked forward. "I don't understand."
"She wants a blade father." Heads turned as Tyrus chimed in. "She wants to tag along on my animal crusade. You know, learn the swordsman's craft. I'd be willing to teach her if-"
"Absolutely NOT!" declared Garris.
"Father that's what I want!" Ariel cried.
"You want to follow Tyrus and get yourself killed? Are you mad?"
"That's not gonna happen!" She snapped back. "Tyrus can protect me."
"Tyrus can't always be there to save you."
Ariel angrily folded her arms. Dezi's eyes darted back and forth between every family member. Tyrus respectfully held his tongue. Garris carefully kneeled down, taking Ariel by the hand.
"Ariel, please listen. I've seen things that will haunt me for the rest of my life. Things that have left others like me in poor physical and mental condition. I can't let that happen to you. The answer is no."
No further words were spoken. Ariel pulled her hand away and ran upstairs, slamming the door. She skipped dinner and would not be heard from for the rest of the night.
A loud scream awoke Tyrus the next morning. He rushed outside to find Ariel on the ground, curled into a ball. His steel sword laid nearby, blood dripping off its side. Tyrus rolled Ariel over to find a gash on her right forearm. He scooped her up, rushing back to the house. Tyrus sat Ariel in a chair, then ran for bandages. Garris and Dezi made their way down, hearing all of the commotion. Upon seeing Ariel, Dezi flew over in concern.
"What happened Ariel?" Asked Garris. No response. Garris moved closer, towering over his daughter. "Answer the question."
Ariel's face stayed glued to the floor. Nonspeaking. Just small whimpers of pain. Tyrus returned with a pail of water and a rag. Dezi went to work cleaning the wound.
"I'm going to ask you one more time girl. What...happened?"
Ariel finally lifted her head. "I-I wanted to prove that I could handle myself. I borrowed Tyrus' sword to practice before anyone woke up. It was heavier than I thought. I swung, lost control and..."
Garris threw his hands up. "Maker help me. The sun has barely risen, and my child is behaving like a fool."
"Now calm down dear. At least be happy she's alright," said Dezi.
"Is she?" He shouted with authority. "Because I thought she was smarter than this! You could have KILLED yourself!"
Ariel whined loudly and pouted, scared of what Garris might do. Her head sunk lower than the depths of a dwarven ruin as Garris smacked the dining table. Tyrus could feel shaking while wrapping his little sister's arm. Garris opened his mouth but decided to step outside as he continued to rant.
Tyrus knocked on Ariel's door later that day. The sun had set, and she locked herself away once again, unable to face Garris. Tyrus knocked once more. The door slowly opens, and Ariel looks up at Tyrus. Her eyes glazed in bright red.
Tyrus smiled as wide as possible. "I brought you a sweet roll."
Ariel stares at it. She mutters a 'thank you' before dragging herself back to bed. Tyrus pulls up a chair, sitting next her.
"If you're not going to talk then listen. What you did today was indeed very dumb, but it showed me that you are serious about learning swordsmanship." Ariel's ears started to perk up. "I managed to calm father down. After some rough negotiating, he agreed to let me train you."
Like a wolf at feeding time, she mauled her brother with affection.
"Seriously! I get to train with you! I can't believe it! When do we get to go explore caves and-"
"Hahaha, slow down. You aren't going anywhere."
Her excitement died. "Oh."
"Here's the deal. We practice every morning before the sun rises. That also includes finishing your chores and taking care of a few of mine as punishment for your little stunt earlier."
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" She chanted.
"I'm not finished yet. If you quit on me, then that's the end of it. Me and father want to hear nothing else. If you succeed, then I'll take you to hunt skeevers. So, give it all you got. Deal?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Ariel hugged her brother tightly. A few tears even slid down her cheeks. Across the house, Garris was weary, but smiled, hearing the excitement from his daughter.
Days slowly passed as Ariel adjusted to the extra workload. Rising earlier than the birds to take a beating in training. Tyrus showed little mercy, cause others you may face will show none. Once she finished helping Dezi tend the crops, Ariel chopped firewood, rolled hay bales and helped Garris make repairs to their home.
Every night Ariel collapsed in exhaustion, but was up the next day, powering on. Her muscles hardened. Her brain expanded while reading Tyrus' journal from front to back. A journal she had read ten times over by this point. The section on spiders was her favorite.
Sometimes Garris watched as his children sparred. He taught Tyrus well, shadowing all of his moves with ease. Ariel didn't fail to impress either. Getting knocked down repeatedly. Taking multiple hits from a wooden sword. Constantly finding the strength to get back on her own feet. Her resiliency was impressive. Although she held her tears back until no one was looking.
A part of Garris wanted her to give up. To throw away this child's dream and choose the easy route. The route he worked his entire life for. All of the blood spilled. Battle scars and sleepless nights that made this worth it. A life that can be passed down for generations. Maybe it wasn't meant to be, but Ariel was happy. That's all he could ask for.
A full week later and Ariel was now 13 years young. Garris was off to make the deal of a lifetime, promising to return with a special gift. He kissed Dezi goodbye, hugged his children and told them he'll be home in time for dinner. Dezi and Ariel chopped vegetables for dinner while Tyrus trimmed the meat. Horker stew was on the menu for tonight.
"Ariel dear, can you pass the carrots? Ariel?" Dezi looked over her shoulder to see Ariel's head slumped over. "Ariel!"
"Huh?" she blurted out.
"When are you going to stop with this training nonsense?"
"It's not nonsense mother." She sleepily replied, wiping her pupils. "Tell her Tyrus."
He chuckled. "No, leave me out of this one.
"Oh, child please. You haven't had proper sleep for days. You're covered in bruises and for MAKERS SAKE you're drooling in the vegetables!"
Dezi snatched the bowl away as Ariel began nodding off again. Tyrus pulled her up by the shoulders.
"How about you go get some rest before dinner?"
"Mm, okay. Wait a minute! I left your sword outside."
"Don't worry about tha-"
"No, no I'll get it." Ariel went out to the yard. Dezi waited until she was out of range to begin ranting.
"You and Garris should be ashamed of yourselves for taking advantage of Ariel. How long are you two going to let this go on?"
"I'll be honest, we didn't think she'd hold out this long. Garris had her quitting on the first day. I gave her at least three. The girl's got heart. Maybe we'll have to hold up our end of the deal."
Nightfall was upon them, and Garris still hadn't returned. Strange. Tyrus' steel sword rested in an old tree stump beside the carrot patch. Ariel stirred with anticipation. Finally, being able to wield this blade with his permission. She pulled; it didn't budge. Even with an aching body, Ariel wouldn't take no for an answer. Using both hands, she tore the blade from its wooden grip, raising it above her head in triumph. The fruits of labor had finally ripened. Any day now. Her and Tyrus versus the world.
*Wolf howl* A shock shot down Ariel's spine. Frozen in place as her head slowly turned towards the noise. Two small, glowing ovals appeared from darkness, as if it was an optical illusion. No. They were in fact real.
A 7-foot beast emerged, growling with hunger. Teeth soaked in blood. Eyeing Ariel as its next snack. With her heart beating tremendously fast, Ariel had two choices. Run or fight. Sword in hand, Ariel ran for the house. For every 10 steps she took, the beast cleared in one leap.
Ariel ducked, dodging a vicious claw swipe. It now stood between her and safety. She screamed for Tyrus. The beast charged forward. Ariel blindly swung, slicing the beast across its face. It landed a few feet away, howling in pain. Ariel once again ran for home as Tyrus emerged.
"COME ON!" He yelled.
Ariel took her feet to limit, but the beast returned with a vengeance. Its claws tore across her back, knocking her face first to the ground. She was now completely immobile from a mix of fear and exhaustion. All she could see from this point was darkness and grass.
"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Tyrus yelled, even louder than before.
Ariel could hear struggling. Tyrus commanding Dezi to get Ariel to safety. She could feel Dezi tugging on her arm. A valiant, but wasted effort, as the beast had quickly dispatched Tyrus, flinging his body like a sack of potatoes. Ariel felt the grip of Dezi's fingers come loose, as the beast took its next victim. The screams of Dezi rang inside of Ariel's head.
Although unable to move, her body sensed the beast moving in. Every nerve in her body telling her to move and having no energy to do so. While praying in her final moment, another glowing circle appeared from the darkness. Getting closer by the second. Is this Sovengarde's light preparing to take her away?
The light flew in, over Ariel and struck the beast. It roared in retaliation. A few more glowing circles of magic appeared, doing the same. Knocking this beast backwards. Two men and two women made themselves known, attacking the beast with continuous light. The beast finally retreated as the two men gave chase and the women checked for survivors.
A Redguard kneeled over Ariel and began producing a healing light from her hands. It stung Ariel, who started passing out. The last words she heard were before losing consciousness were, "It's going to be okay, I'm a Vigilant of Stendarr."