Sizaan woke up with a nightmare. Her cheeks are wet from sweat and tears. Her blanket is long forgotten on the floor. Her back felt like it was too drenched. Alduin's appearance is inevitable. Unfortunately, she wasn't ready. This encounter will lead to the Greybeards calling on the Dragonborn. I'm not ready. Tears continued to flow while she stares at the ceiling. She knew she couldn't go back to Whiterun. She needs more time. More time to train. To survive. She'll die if she continued. Skjor was right. I'm not ready. Wiping her tears with the back of her arm, she slowly stood and fixed herself before going out of her room.
"No one has defeated you it seems." The voice of the inn keeper made her stop. She was able to slightly opened it. Crouching, she continued to listen.
"Many had tried and still fail. I fear that Malacath, won't grant me the death I desire." Death he desires. For some reason Sizaan, was familiar with the voice of the other. Judging from its way of speaking, it seems that he is an orc
"I see… I'll be on my way then. It's been a busy night. Everyone talking about dragons roaming around. Best to keep a look out mate." The inn keeper left the other at the empty hall, only lit by candles and torches.
"I know you're there." Sizaan swallowed her nervousness before standing up and fully opened her door. There, she saw the orc sitting on the stool in front of the bar with a drink on his palm. Slowly, she walked towards the empty seat beside the orc. Her bare feet padded on the wooden floor.
"I'm sorry for eavesdropping." She sat on the stool beside him and faced the empty counter where the inn keeper usually resides. The orc didn't speak but she knew his eyes are on her. Feeling a little ashamed because of her state, she played around with the strands of her hair.
"You are a child. What are you doing here alone?" Sizaan shrugged her shoulders and leaned on the counter top.
"I'm supposed to survive on my own." The orc gave her a chuckle before sipping from his jug.
"Foolish girl. You cannot survive without any aid from those that lived through death in Skyrim." Scratching her head, she blew the strand of hair that fell from her face.
"I know but he… he didn't act like one… and now, I got caught in the middle of a fight that I'm not ready for." This time, she set her eyes on the orc beside her not knowing he too was looking at her.
"You seemed kind and know your way in Skyrim. Maybe… maybe you could help?" The orc gave her the most judgemental look one could ever make. Sizaan just smiled, her heart getting lighter while she talks to the old orc.
"My name is Sizaan. You are?"
Months had passed, a stranger stepped into Whiterun. Wearing a worned out leather armor along with an iron helmet with a missing horn. A black cloth covering his face. The guards were on their guard as he walks on their road with an orc following him behind. The two of them strode down the road to the stalls and talked to a maiden before handling her mammoth tusks wrapped in a big sack. The people had stopped their tracks as they continued to observed the stranger seemingly going to each one of them to give something from the sack he carries. The pair had finally reached the Gildergreen Tree. He gave it a nod before entering the Temple of Kynareth. As they entered the temple, Danica approached them…
"Hello travelers. Are you perhaps in need of healing?" The face covered traveler nodded his head. Danica led them to one of the stone tables to lie down. The stranger shook his head and sat on the table instead. The orc stood beside him with his arms crossed and resting on his chest. Danica didn't bother and gently removed the broken helmet. The stranger has a long braided hair she thought. As she removed the cloth covering the face, she gasped.
At the Jorrvaskar, Vilkas was busy training the greatsword he had purchased from Eorlund when his twin appeared with a news.
"Two strangers appeared and saved the Gildergreen Tree. They are now resting at the Temple of Kynareth as we speak. Shall we go meet them?" Vilkas gave his brother a sigh before sheathing the sword at his back. Back then when Skjor came back without Sizaan, he blew it. He rushed outside Whiterun and went back to the place Skjor had lost her. Unfortunately, the tracks disappeared because of the rain. He didn't lose hope and went back to Whiterun. Everyday, he waited. When a stranger comes to Whiterun, Farkas will immediately warn Vilkas and both of them will meet the newcomer, hoping it was Sizaan. Months had passed and he gave up to that lingering hope that she'll ever come back.
The twins walked towards the Temple of Kynareth before bumping on to Danica. Vilkas asked,
"Is the stranger still here Danica? We would like to meet him." Danica seems to be confused but still led them to the sleeping stranger. The twins entered the temple and saw an orc leaned on one of the occupied tables. Vilkas knew this is not who they were looking for. He was about to turn around when a gruff voice called his name.
"Vilkas of the Companions?" It was the orc. Vilkas nodded his head.
"Indeed I am. Who am I speaking to?" The orc shrugged his shoulders before looking at his companion lying on the table.
"She wants to come home." The orc gently pulled down the fur covering his companion's face. It was Sizaan.
Sizaan woke up refreshed but stink. Her nose cringed in disgust before stretching her arms. Looking around she noticed that she is no longer at the Temple of Kynareth. She is back in her room at Jorrvaskar. Danica must've called them. There was a knock on the door.
"Sizaan? Are you awake?" She chuckled and didn't answer. The door opened and revealed the other, dragging a wooden tub with a wooden keg on it. When he saw she was awake, he gave her a sigh before entering the room.
"You could have answered." He said as he placed the wooden tub in the middle of the room. Carrying the keg, he removed the lid and poured the water into the tub. Sizaan gave him a cheeky smile before launching herself towards him. The orc didn't mind her arms wrapping around his neck while he continued to walk around the room, trying to prepare her things.
"You need a bath. I could smell you from miles away." He then gently pried her arms around his neck after grabbing some clean clothes and placing it on top of her bed.
"You could come join me. You smell too you know." Kissing his cheek, she kneeled beside the tub and placed her hand on the water. Using magic, she heated the tub.
"Not too hot please."
"Ok."
While warming the water, the orc gently placed her long braided hair in a bun. Both of them knew her hair should be the last one to wash since it is too long to be in the tub. If they were in a lake it would be easy, but for now, a tub will do. This action of the orc never failed to make Sizaan smile.
Vilkas couldn't believe it. Here she is. Sitting on the table along with all of the Companions in Jorrvaskar, sharing her tale. The same Sizaan that left Jorrvaskar with fear in her eyes. She definitely looked different. Scars littered all over her body. Her neck adoring a burnt mark that seemed to looked like a lightning. Her demeanor is still the same. A little stiff towards the Companions but something about the way she interact with that orc.
"And can you tell us about your friend here, my child." Kodlak asked. Sizaan grinned and told them how they met and how the both of them travel around Skyrim to do quests. She continued telling them stories but Vilkas shook his head
"but this I wonder, you were with Skjor. Why was he the only one who came back? He is your shield brother." The girl tense and didn't speak. Unfortunately for Skjor, this action wasn't missed by Kodlak. The old man stood and left his seat. Before he disappeared down the hall, he called on Skjor.
"I require your presence Skjor. Do not disobey me." He said in a firm voice that the Companions haven't heard in years. Skjor didn't want to. Why would he? It was the girl's fault! Glaring at the girl sitting like an innocent babe, he stomped his way to her direction. Thankfully, Vilkas stood in the middle of them.
"You heard the old man, Skjor. He requires your presence." Skjor growled but turned around to meet the Harbinger. Once he was out of sight, Sizaan stood and tugged the orc along with her.
"Morning practice. Let's go."
"It seems that she's being taken care of by that orc." Aela just pointed out the obvious to Vilkas. It wasn't her intention but it does stung Vilkas' heart. Before, she relied on him. Training with her was always fun since her perseverance can even bring men to their knees. She did grew stronger everyday till she made that quest. If he was right, she was suppose to asked him if he could accompany her. He would gladly accept that, if it wasn't for Skjor.
Yes. That ache in his heart is from the fact that she is now dependent on someone else other than him. He doesn't hate the orc. Well, maybe a little but not enough for him to engage with the orc in combat.
"Stop throwing your sword!" That was the umpteenth time the orc called on her fighting skills.
"It works!" she said as she continues to throw her iron sword and caught it. Swinging it with ease, she hit the orcs shield with force but not enough to have him take a step back. Unfortunately, this move of hers left a huge advantage for the orc to use his shield. With a push, Sizaan finally fell on the ground.
"It doesn't work." Groaning, Sizaan stood clutching her stomach with one hand. Being childish as she is, she stuck out her tongue before sheathing her sword.
"You just got lucky. Just admit it."
"There is no such thing as luck, child." As they walk towards the shaded patio of Jorrvaskar, Sizaan jumped on the orc's back.
Yes. Vilkas is jealous of the orc.
Orsimer. That's what the girl calls him. It's definitely not a normal name for an orc. It is a name for their kind and yet, it's what the girl calls him. It's been two days and the Orc seems to settle with the Companions. The last time when Skjor was called upon by Kodlak, Skjor received a long gash on his rib. Two days after, the orc was called by Kodlak. He didn't suffer the same. He even got the approval to stay in the halls of Jorrvaskar!
Why was he even venting his anger on the Orc? Vilkas, the Master of Arms of the Companions is jealous and wanted to see the orc disappear. Those two days he was nothing but cold on the orc. Addressing him only when needed. Ignoring him the whole time.
The Orc seem to notice this action of his and refrained from any interaction. The girl warned him about this certain companion. As far as she knows, Vilkas does not agree with having other races in Skyrim. She may be wrong she admitted. Unfortunately, this action of the companion proved otherwise.
"Orsimer?" it was the female wolf that called him. He faced the woman with his arms crossed and waited for her to answer.
"The Jarl has spotted a dragon at the Western Watchtower. Sizaan asks for you to accompany her."
"You are late! The dragon is done and the damage is done." Sizaan and Orsimer reached the already ruined watchtower with Irileth barking orders to her men.
"The dragon never left Irileth." Sizaan ended her statement by withdrawing her sword. Orsimer draw his bow as well and prepared for an attack. The first few minutes there wasn't any movement. Sizaan thought she might be wrong till a roar from the mountains caught their attention. This time she will face a dragon. A dragon that can tear her apart.
"Aim for head!" She may not have a bow to use nor an arrow to even throw at the dragon flying above them. She can do one thing her colleagues can never do with accuracy. Her eyes searched the ground for any iron sword. There are burned bodies littered across the ground. Guards of Skyrim carried at least an iron sword with them. She can do it. She only needs the dragon to rest on the ground. Running towards the littered corpse with an iron sword at hand, she let her mana flow into the sword. The dragon was more focused on the others than her. Within seconds, the sword was filled with fire. This caught the dragon's attention. The wind from its wings seems to scratch her cheeks as the dragon descended on the ground. With her strength and magic, she threw the sword towards the dragon's head. The sword imbedded in its chest. The pain made the dragon fly again towards the sky to attack through air. Dodging the flame, she grabbed another sword and waited for it to at least be near her.
Unfortunately, this method of fighting is not ideal at the long run. Throwing a flaming sword once again at the dragon swooping down, she was able to hit it once again. This time it hit its neck.
This fight may not be going well with Sizaan. Her mana is almost depleted. Her arms are tired and there is only one sword left. When the dragon swooped down once more, she gave everything she got and threw the last flaming sword on the dragon. It roar once again and flew. I failed. Her knees hit the ground with her head down. Her ears are ringing. She can feel her heart pounding inside her chest. This is it she thought. She closed her eyes and waited for her death.
"Sizaan!" The Orsimer couldn't believed it. The dragon finally fell from the sky! They have defeated it! But the girl… the girl is kneeling on the ground. He scrambled on his feet and run towards the girl.
"Orsimer?" She weakly called him. The orc chuckled and hugged the girl.
"We won." He whispered.
Sizaan finally opened her eyes. They have won. Smiling, she returned the orc's hug. The two shared a moment before the heard a growl coming from the dragon. The two immediately separated. Irileth along with guards approached the dragon. Sizaan pushed herself to stand with Orsimer in tow. As they walked towards the dragon, an iron sword was stuck on the ground. Sizaan grabbed the weapon to end the dragons pain.
Now they are standing beside the dragon's neck, she filled the iron sword with fire once more. Lifting the sword up to her head, she was about to swing it down when the dragon called her.
"Dovahkiin…" Sword hovering in the air, she looked at the eyes of the dragon. Its eyes were beautiful. It was beautiful but filled with fear. Fear because of her. The sword above her head slightly trembled. She needs to end this. Gaining momentum once again, she brought the sword above her head. She looks at those eyes once again. The eyes were now hidden. The dragon has accepted its faith. Her body's trembling. She can't do it.
The fire disappeared from the sword. The weapon lowered to her side. Irileth however, was getting impatient.
"Enough of this sentiment!" She brought her sword up to her head and was about to strike when a fireball hit the ground causing her to fly at least a meter away from the dragon. The guards where shocked.
"Do. Not. Touch. Him." Orsimer, who is clearly clueless to the girls action, still pointed his sword towards the guards. Irileth, grunted in pain as she glared at the girl who dared to hit the Jarl's guard.
"How dare you?!" She exclaimed. The girl didn't bother with the outburst and gave her attention to the dragon that's awake.
"Tell me… what's your name?" she asked.
"Mirmulnir, Dovahkiin." Sizaan closed her eyes. She hopes she will not regret this decision of hers.
"Mirmulnir… if I let you go, would you hunt me down again?" Her eyes are closed but she felt the dragon moved. It took her a minute before opening her eyes to have the dragon facing her. Its wings an neck hang low to the ground but it was still able to stand with it's head near her face.
"Never have I faced a Dovahkiin that asked my name." He weakly said. "My freedom is your freedom Dovahkiin." With that he tiredly bowed his head, waiting for the Dragonborn's decision.
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AUTHORS NOTE:
Finally an update. Yes. Forgive me for the late update. Why? Because I am currently watching TMNT and boy was I hooked.
