Alright, here is chapter two. Not much to say here. Hope you enjoy!
-=]I[=-
Azalea had quickly become accustomed to living as a dovah. She lived in a cave in the mountains, too small for the dov to have cared about before. What few possessions she had left were stored in there. Her weapons, extra armor, a few books, and the Elder Scroll were carefully laid out inside around a pile of furs she used as a bed. It wasn't nearly as nice as her home in Riften, but she couldn't bear to step foot inside that city again.
Alduin hadn't used her for much yet. Her primary job was to use Dragonrend to shout any defectors into submission. It was a powerful shout, and even Odahviing dreaded its use against him. Mostly she listened to Alduin's plans. He was still raising dragons from their burial grounds to increase his numbers.
It was odd, how focused he was on building up his strength. Azalea attributed it to the Empire. While Alduin was powerful, surely not even he could take on an entire army on his own. Not until he had built up enough strength in Sovngarde. He wouldn't be met without resistance. Surely, no matter their differences, the Stormcloaks, Empire, and Aldmeri Dominion would band together. They couldn't rule the world if there was nothing left to rule.
Most of the dov regarded her with suspicion. Bringing her, the destined slayer of Alduin, into the heart of their operations was about as wise as trusting a Daedric Prince. The only ones who didn't call for her blood were Alduin himself, and surprisingly Odahviing. Initially cynical, he had grown almost warm to her after hearing her story. Strange, coming from him. Azalea had been taught by the Blades that the dragons were emotionless beasts.
The Blades. Azalea knew from the moment she found the note in place of the horn of Jurgen Windcaller that something was wrong. They weren't renowned guardians of the emperor, nor were they famous dragon slayers. They were a weak, failing, crumbling organization that saw her as a tool, as a weapon, to achieve their own ends. Delphine couldn't see past her own intentions. Sending her into the Thalmor Embassy on her own, allowing her to handle any and all dragons, even small things like constantly talking down to her and treating her like a child. Delphine had always thought that she was Azalea's superior, that she'd been in the field longer and was therefore more experienced, and that she should be the one calling the shots. One conversation in particular rang out in her memory.
-Delphine, I don't want to go into the Embassy. You have no idea… the things they did to me… this scar on my face is courtesy of the Thalmor. I can't go somewhere like there… I can't relive those years again.
-You need to quit doubting yourself. You'll do fine. Besides, the Thalmor will recognize me, I can't go inside. You're the Dragonborn, you can handle a few elves.
-Delphine… please. I can't do it. The Thalmor took away my sanity. I can't do it! Listen to me!
-I'm the one calling the shots here, Azalea. Now, go find Malborn and prepare.
Azalea felt her hands shaking in anger. She couldn't wait to finally exact revenge on Delphine. The usual technique she used, a simple, merciful slash to the throat, wouldn't be enough to repay it. If she ever saw the bitch again, she was going to make sure her death was slow and painful.
Esbern was another story altogether. He was snobby, always acting superior than her, smarter than her. He seemed to think he knew more about the Dragonborn than the actual Dovahkiin did. He was infuriating, although he wasn't as horrid as Delphine. Perhaps she wouldn't slowly rip him limb from limb with her dovah strength.
And then there was Arngeir and the Greybeards. They viewed her as a child, who didn't know how to control her abilities. Always scorning her for using her Voice in combat, never trusting her with the information she needed. For the Divines' sake, she hadn't found out about Paarthurnax until it was one hundred percent necessary for the fate of the entire world.
Paarthurnax was the only thing that had stayed her hand at first. The only thing standing between her and bringing the scroll to Alduin. His wisdom was helpful, but he would never stand for what she intended to do. He wouldn't condone her destroying anyone and everyone who had wronged her.
Azalea shook Paarthurnax from her mind. It was bad enough that she had betrayed him and had allowed Alduin to fly free. It was bad enough that she had used Dragonrend on him instead on on Alduin, thus allowing Alduin to retreat when he was wounded. It was bad enough that she had attacked him blindly, cutting a new slash through his right wing. He was already haunting her dreams. He didn't need to haunt her waking thoughts as well.
Aside from doing Alduin's tasks, there was one other thing Azalea was focused on. Using her thu'um to heat the forges, she was working on a "project." Occasionally Odahviing or one of the other dov would watch her forge at the abandoned bandit hideout. Odahviing in particular took interest. If Azalea didn't know any better, she thought he was getting attached to her.
"Dovahkiin, what are you working on?"
Azalea, still focused on the forge, spoke. "A long time ago, before Alduin was thrown forward in time, there were mortals who worshipped the dragons as gods. These Dragon Priests were immensely powerful, and so were the masks they wore."
"I've noticed you take a liking to the masks. You wear one in the presence of us dovah, do you not?"
Azalea nodded. "It's from the priest called Volsung. But-" she tossed a daedra heart into the fire - "I'd rather forge my own. One that augments my own abilities. Besides-" she lifted the creation from the anvil and doused it in water- "I don't want to hide my entire face. I'm still human, despite having a dragon's soul."
"So you created your own. What does it do? Each mask is blessed with some magical ability. What have you chosen as yours?"
"I was a thief and assassin before joining you. This mask will make it almost impossible to detect me." She lifted her creation from the water. It wasn't like the other dragon priest masks; it only covered half her face. It was the type of mask one would expect to see at a masquerade, yet the abilities of the daedric metal shrouded her eyes, leaving only black pits. Horned designs sprouted from either side, obviously taking reference to daedric helmets.
Odahviing looked on, impressed. While the dovah were stronger, faster, and more powerful than humans, mortals could still forge weapons and artifacts. The one thing that made them useful.
"Well, how do I look?" Azalea glanced over at Odahviing, adjusting her mask slightly.
"You put the masks of the Dragon Priests to shame. Good work."
Azalea smirked. "Thanks. I lived on a forge when I was young. Picked up a thing or two. Besides… I think it best that I wear this mask. I want to disassociate with the mortals as much as possible."
"That is a wise decision. One, perhaps, that will earn you the favor of the other dovah."
Azalea sideyed Odahviing, her smirk softening into something like a genuine smile. "Hey, Odahviing, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're growing soft on me."
Odahviing snorted. "Hmph. I respect another member of Alduin's ranks. If he wishes to trust you, then I do so as well."
"Sure, sure. I totally believe you." Sarcasm dripped from her voice as she adjusted her mask yet again. "Anyway, I'll be taking my crafting materials back to my cave. Might as well, since I won't be using this forge again."
"Why not?"
"I came here with the intention of making this mask. I don't feel like forging anything new." She held up the weapons she wielded: a daedric bow the Blade of Woe. She didn't really need any other weapons, unless she occasionally decided to forge some new arrows.
"Very well. Oh, I nearly forgot. I was enthralled with our little discussion."
"What is it?"
"Master Alduin seems to want your presence. I do not think it is another disobedient dovah. This is something he requires you for, Dovahkiin."
Dovahkiin. The word seemed to resonate. The first time Azalea had heard the word Dovahkiin, she had been summoned by the Greybeards to High Hrothgar. Now it wasn't a formality or a title. Among the dovah… among her people… it was her name.
She was done listening to the whims of mortals. They were all beneath her now. Below the clouds… below the mountain… they dwelled, unknowingly facing their demise. Azalea would stop at nothing to make sure the world would collapse under her feet.
"Very well, Odahviing. Take me to Alduin."
-]I[-
"Ah, Dovahkiin. How kind of you to make an appearance." Alduin's cold voice boomed across the mountains, causing the very ground itself to tremble.
"Lord Alduin, Odahviing told me that you required me presence?"
"Yes, that I do. Now, answer a question for me."
"Yes, Lord?"
"You used to be an assassin before coming to me, yes?"
Azalea drew the Blade of Woe, staring at the still-bloodied dagger. She remembered the missions… the very first time she killed, all the way to the assassination of Titus Mede II. The rush of blood, the sudden swish of the blade, the way the life in a target's eyes slowly left as they met her own.
The very first time she'd killed, it had been in a Thalmor prison. She had escaped, grabbed a splintered piece of wood, and had plunged it into the heart of the agent who had been torturing her.
Perhaps she should have realized then. She had no remorse for the mortals she had murdered, not an ounce of sympathy for their families. She had only really mourned the death of one person, and he was likely the only person who would mourn her death in turn.
Azalea shook the memory away. She couldn't get sentimental. The only person in the world who she cared about was dead and gone, and she was willing to destroy anything and everything to get her revenge.
"Yes, Lord Alduin. I was an assassin. The best, I daresay. I am the Night Mother's Listener, and it was I who ended the life of the Emperor."
"Excellent."
"Might I ask why you need to know this?"
"There is a… problem. While my strength is great, I have not yet reached a point where I can defeat an entire army with a sweep of my wing. The Empire from Cyrodiil is strong, yet there is one thing that prevents them from attacking me straightaway."
"The Stormcloak rebellion." Azalea clenched her blade tighter as she said the words. Rumor had it that her brother had been killed fighting for the Stormcloaks. She hadn't wanted anything to do with the war. She hated both sides. The Empire for taking away her worship, for killing her brother. The Stormcloaks for being unable to protect him, and for Ulfric's racial discrimination.
"Yes. Them. You mortals and your armies… I care not for titles. I only see pawns on a chessboard, and you should as well."
"Very well, Lord Alduin. What is it you need done?"
"The war effort has been slowing. There have been… how to say it in mortal words… peace conferences between the two armies. Rumors circulate that they are coming to a consensus. That they are prepared to join forces and attack us when we are at our weakest."
"And you want me to find a way to stop it?"
"Is that not what you assassing are supposed to do? Disrupt the flow of peace in order to achieve the goals of your contractor?"
"Yes. That is what I did. What I do. It will be done."
"I look forward to seeing your results, Dovahkiin. Your successful results."
An underlying threat. Certainly a veiled threat, but a threat nonetheless. Azalea's lip curled into a sneer. She didn't take kindly to being threatened.
"It will be done, My Lord."
-]I[-
"So, Dovahkiin, do you have a plan yet?" Odahviing flew to greet Azalea a few hours later, who was polishing her blade at the forge at the grindstone.
"I do, actually."
"Pray tell."
"My plan is to first sneak into a Stormcloak encampment and grab a set of their armor. The second step is to sneak into the Palace of the Kings. There are bound to be important documents in the Jarl's place of residence. Documents that he's signed."
"I don't follow."
"In my work as a thief, I would break into businesses and change their ledgers. Forge numbers, you know? I got really good at copying handwriting. I think I can copy signatures as well."
"So you intend to forge a contract."
"Yes. After that, I'll sneak into the Blue Palace and kill Jarl Elisif the Fair. I'll get arrested, have them find the contract on my body."
"Are you not afraid of execution?"
"My head had been on the block before. More than once, actually. But I think I can get out of it. A few well-placed bribes, some usage of my Thu'um, and a little help from something called the Skeleton Key." Azalea reached into her pocket and pulled out an ornate key, with intricate nautilus shell designs lining the base.
"That's Nocturnal's artifact, is it not?"
"Yeah. Mercer Frey stole it from the Guild. I was going to return it to the Twilight Sepulcher but…" Azalea trailed off. She told herself that it was because she had devoted herself to serving Alduin, but that wasn't really it. She was afraid. Afraid to enter the resting place of the Nightingales. Afraid to face Brynjolf and Karliah again.
"Never mind. I'll get out of it. I always do."
"Then I wish you the best of luck, Dovahkiin. Hail Alduin."
Azalea smiled, drawing her dagger. "Hail Alduin."
-=]I[=-
So that was the second chapter! Hope you guys enjoy, and see what's to come next. Alduin still isn't at full power, so he's sending Azalea on this mission in order to weaken the forces of the mortals. Anyway, this was difficult to write. I've been going through some writer's block (again. I'm a disaster and I know it) but I managed to type this out. I'll be updating When Our Paths Collide next, so if you like the Zelda franchise be sure to check this out.
Anyway, be sure to review! Your feedback is always appreciated, and if you don't know anything to say about the story, just say hi!
See you around!
~Silver
EDIT: Hello again, after a helpful review from JDLENL (thanks btw) I've gone back through the story and fixed a few mistakes. There were some grammar errors (probably due to me writing at 2am) and I accidentally called the Elder Scroll the "kaal" rather than the "kel." Actually, that's not a "tired" mistake, that's the name of a character in a story I'm helping my friend write. Guess my fingers just automatically type what I don't want them to :p
Anyway, that's it!