A/N: Hey everyone! I'm sorry for the long wait in between uploads. I've been extremely busy this summer and fall so I cannot guarantee that uploads will be consistent but I will try to get them in when I feel that they are ready. This chapter took ages to get the right feel to it and I'm eager to know what you all think. Please stay safe and I hope that you enjoy this chapter!
*Disclaimer*
*As always, I own only my OCs. The main plots and recognizable characters are from the brilliant minds of Bethesda's Elder Scrolls franchise writers. *
*Dialogue for Hirtel and Savlian Matius lifted from the Elder Scrolls: Oblivion*
Chapter IV- When Life Gives You Oblivion Gates
You have got to be kidding me. Lumi groaned, already feeling a headache growing behind her eyes. Ahead, clearly visible from its spot atop a hill, Kvatch lay in flames. The sky around the city glowed an eerie red while smoke billowed thickly from the walls and into the air. Muffled by distance, the cries of the evacuating citizens echoed faintly, raising the hairs on Lumi's neck. Damnit, the Oblivion Gate has already opened.
She had known that the trip to Kvatch had been too easy. With clear roads and only the occasional wolf or bandit the Nord woman had made great time on Maborel's pinto, Quilt. Now it seemed that all the trouble she had come to expect in traveling had simply been saved for the end of her journey. Joy. Aela would be laughing at her right now. She had always said that she attracted trouble worse than honey to a bear. There go my plans for finding Martin. Now I'm going to have to drag his butt out of there and hope it isn't singed too badly otherwise Jauffre will have my hide. The thought of going through a flaming, daedra-infested city didn't inspire much in the way of eagerness from Lumi. Hopefully, Martin had evacuated with the rest of Kvatch's citizens. Though knowing her own luck, she wasn't expecting much.
The rest of the ride to the foot of the hill Kvatch was stationed on was spent in ever-growing chaos. As she grew closer to the city she came across the growing camp of evacuees. A small sea of tents was being set up by ash covered citizens. They were a mess, eyes either hollow and dull or frenzied with fear. A number had bloodied clothes and fresh wounds. In front of her path, a small child looked around in a daze. Lumi dismounted quickly and approached. With long blond tresses matted down by ash and blood, they were barely identifiable as a very young high elf. With how elves tend to prefer longer hairstyles I have no idea if they're a boy or girl. People moved around the child, somehow not registering the little one staring around in confusion. She was itching to get Martin but no one was helping the elfling. She couldn't leave them to get trampled or left behind by their parents.
With a sigh, Lumi walked the rest of the way and crouched down to the kid's level. The high elf looked up at her and she clearly saw the child's face for the first time. There was a long cut starting from the child's temple and ending by their cheek. As a result, one of the little ones' big green eyes was swollen shut. Anger filled her at the thought of someone hurting a child. Whoever did this, daedra or not, was going to pay. You don't hurt kids. That is a line that you do not cross. Lumi shook her head, trying to ignore the call for blood. It wouldn't do to scare the elfling with a dragon's anger. Were dov even supposed to care about children? She'd never exactly seen a baby dov so who was to say what parenting instincts existed in dragons, if any. Paarthurnax certainly never mentioned anything about that to her. Lumi cleared her throat and smiled at the child.
"Hey, my name is Lumi and this' she gestured at the pinto mare waiting patiently behind them, 'is Quilt. What's your name?"
The battered high elf sniffled, clutching the charred remains of what looked like it had once been a plush wolf but now more closely resembled her brother's attempts at cooking. With a look of great concentration, they straightened their spine and threw back their chin.
"I'm Nerente, of House Elsinthar. Momma says our words are 'Fierce as Wolves.'"
The child was a girl then, and a member of an Altmeri house as well. This was something that she could work with. Lumi wasn't entirely certain how House Elsinthar viewed non-Altmer but the child hadn't run away when she'd seen that her would-be helper was a Nord woman so there was that going for her. Looking back down at the plush wolf that Nerente had displayed proudly, ignoring the chaos around them and the detritus coating the animals fur, Lumi had to smile a bit.
"The wolves I've faced were quite strong. House Elsinthar is wise to look to them for guidance."
Nerente nodded enthusiastically, hair getting in her face with the force of her movement. "That's what I think too! This is Sceolang! He is super tough! One day I'm going to have a real wolf just like him!"
The little girl's enthusiasm warmed Lumi and she couldn't help but grin in response. Nodding along, the woman motioned at the plush wolf.
"Ah, but if you have Sceolang then you must also have Bran! They are brother and sister, no?"
Nerente appeared thoughtful before nodding her head seriously, a toothy smile stretching across her face, already picturing her future furry companions. Lumi started at a particularly loud shout. The Oblivion Gate. I need to find Martin.
Shaking her head, the Nord looked back at Nerente, who was watching her curiously, seemingly having not heard the shout that had drawn Lumi's own ear. That is slightly worrisome. Aren't elf ears more sensitive than those of men?
"Do you know where your mother or father are, Nerente?" She questioned, already figuring what the Altmer's answer would be but hoping that maybe she could remember a direction at least.
The child looked around in confusion before shaking her head. Okay, no direction then. Shit. Martin, you better not die before I can get to you.
"Okay, do you mind if I stay with you until your family gets here?"
Nerente shook her head and Lumi brought Quilt closer before ground tying the horse. She rummaged through one of the saddle bags, giving a triumphant shout when she found what she was looking for. Looking down at the Altmer child she smiled, holding up a sketchbook, charcoal, and a small rag.
"Never go anywhere without a sketchbook or a journal, Nerente! You never know what you're going to encounter in life that you want to record. I have so many of these back home, I think my sister might end up stuffing them in a crate and chucking them out of a window eventually." She chuckled, remembering how annoyed Tuule would get when she'd buy yet another spare journal.
'I don't understand what you could possibly need thirty journals for. You write in such small letters that you shouldn't need to replace your journal for years!'
'Smaller letters mean more space to write, Tuule! And more space to write means I can jot down anything that I find interesting. I'm of the opinion that if something causes even a moment of interest, it warrants being remembered, no matter how mundane.'
'Just don't come to me for money when you spend your last septim on a notebook.'
'No, I'd just go bother Unni or Arto.'
'And they'd give you a septim just to leave them alone in peace for a minute.'
'Exactly! Easiest coin ever made.'
The memory of her sister made Lumi ache with homesickness. The easy bickering was common between the two women, especially when they were little. Oh, how she missed that stupid smirk Tuule would get when she knew that she had backed her three siblings into a proverbial corner with just her words. She loved to debate. What would she do if she never saw her family again? Her brothers and sister? Her mother and father? Divines, I'm not sure that even Great-Grandfather Erno is alive at this point. Her life was in the future, not the past. No. It is wherever Bormahu wills it. I must trust in him. Trusting in the dragon god of time didn't make her miss her family any less though.
"Are you alright, Miss Lumi?" Apparently, she had spaced out. Nerente was watching her, polite concern on her little face. Lumi nodded her head and gave a small smile, hoping to reassure the child.
"Oh, I'm just a little homesick, Nerente, nothing to worry yourself over."
"Homesick? Where are you from?"
"Let me show you." Lumi sat by Nerente and opened her sketchbook, gesturing to a map that she had made on one of the books first pages. It was more detailed than the regular maps sold in the different stores across Skyrim, notes lining the borders and a key where she could look to see the usual locations of spriggans, draugr, ice spiders and bandits. Lumi was more than a little proud of it.
"This is a map of my homeland, Skyrim. These different symbols represent the major capitals of each hold. A hold is like a county or a fiefdom. Skyrim has nine holds in total, each being ruled over by a Jarl, who is basically a lord or a lady of high standing. Usually Jarldoms are inherited positions but occasionally the High King or Queen of Skyrim will select a new Jarl from a different family for various reasons that can mostly be boiled down to differences of opinion."
Nerente looked intensely at the map, as if imagining the jarls and high kings she spoke of. The little high elf turned the page and let out a small delighted gasp at the detailed rendering of a waterfall. Lumi chuckled, remembering having to run from a bear after she got done drawing that. I still have a scar on my back from a stray claw. Good times.
"That is a waterfall in the Reach. Beautiful country but deadly to outsiders. It's native inhabitants, the Reachmen, are extremely wary of traveler's due to their history of being invaded."
Nerente looked up at her in confusion.
"How did you manage to get to the waterfall then?"
Lumi leaned in, face full of mischief as she answered.
"Lots of sneaking and more than a bit of luck."
Their conversation was cut short as a familiar name was shouted from behind them.
"Nerente!"
An Altmer woman raced over, relief evident in her features. Behind her was an Altmer man and a young Altmer boy. All three wore fine clothes that were torn and covered in ash, though luckily no blood. Moving to the side, Lumi watched the family reunite. Thank you Bormahu for returning them to one another. She silently prayed that the family would stay safe in the coming months. Nerente babbled excitedly at her family from the safety of her mother's arms, gesturing at her wolf plush and then at Quilt. After a moment, Nerente's father turned to face her, staring down at the Nord with an unreadable expression.
"Nerente says that you were very nice and stayed with her until we got here."
Lumi nodded, looking the mer in the eyes as calmly as she could. Her fingers itched to get to Martin.
"It was really no trouble sir. She was alone and I didn't want to see her get hurt or lost in the panic." The elf nodded in agreement but continued to stare at her.
"Regardless, you have the thanks of my house. If you ever need a favor, do not hesitate to ask. If it is within our power to grant, it shall be done."
"Thank you. Nerente is a bright girl, I am glad to see her returned to her family." She made to leave but paused, and looked back at the family.
"Actually, there is one thing- "
"Run! Come on, run while there is still time! The Guard still holds the road, but it's only a matter of time before we're all overwhelmed!"
Another Altmer, this one with dark brown hair that had begun to recede, had run to them while Lumi had been conversing with Nerente's father and decided to start screaming in fear. In her ear.
Wincing, Lumi and Lord Elsinthar both turned to look at the frightened Altmer. The blond Altmeri lord gently placed his hands onto the panicking mer's shoulders, holding him in place.
"Hirtel, calm down my friend. Savlian Matius is holding the road and the daedra only seem interested in the city, we will be fine."
The mer, Hirtel, shook his head.
"No, nothing can stop them. You saw, Gylaen, you and your family saw what they did to Kvatch. We must run! I'm getting out of here before it's too late!" Hirtel nudged Lord Gylaen's hands off of his shoulders before turning to face Lumi.
"You should leave, traveler, before the daedra overrun Matius and the rest of the guards." With that the mer ran off down the road, bumping into more than one refugee who was too weary to do more than glare at the quickly retreating figure.
Lord Gylaen and his family watched the fleeing mer with differing expressions. The boy was shaking his head, a grimace twisting his features while the lord and lady both seemed tired, faces stretched tight with grief. Little Nerente sat in her mother's arms, watching not the back of Hirtel, but instead the girl's single green eye was trained on Lumi. Slightly unnerved and itching to be back on the hunt, the Nord woman gathered herself and turned to face Lord Gylaen, bowing her head.
"Thank you for your offer of assistance. I do not ask for any favor, but would see that Nerente is allowed to learn how to defend herself in whatever way she deems fit. She has mentioned wolves. Perhaps a deer hound might be a good companion for now."
The lady of the house used her free hand to smother a laugh as Nerente turned red with embarrassment. To his credit, Lord Gylaen merely smiled and inclined his head towards the Nord woman.
Turning back to Quilt, Lumi opened her saddlebags and replaced her sketchbook. Quilt shifted, pawing the ground quietly. Don't worry girl, we'll be moving soon. The poor mare was getting restless standing still for so long and she needed to be off. With a small jump, Lumi mounted the pinto and took off in a trot toward the burning walls of Kvatch. Nerves threatened to consume her as the smoke grew thicker and darker. As happy as she was to see the little girl reunited with her family, Hirtel's words had filled her with more anxiety over Martin. She prayed that he hadn't been crushed by a rock or used as a daedroth's toothpick.
The air grew warmer and drier the closer she got to the top of the hill. Lumi could see a barricade had been set up at the front of the city, directly opposite an Oblivion gate. Just the sight of the fiery portal sent a chill through her. The dov in her snarled at the daedric offense. The gate was radiating pure malice, the scent of blood leaking off of it in thick waves. Soldiers shot arrows at scamps and the occasional clannfear that charged through the portal, but for every one felled, more kept coming.
Lumi dismounted Quilt and grabbed her gear before walking over to the man seemingly leading the soldiers. Savlian Matius. He was an Imperial of middling height, wearing a tunic with a wolf head on it that might have been white once upon a time but was now covered in dirt and blood over top of steel plate armor. The man was shouting orders that were barely audible under the drone of the Oblivion gate, waving a gauntlet covered hand towards where a daedroth was trying to force its way through the makeshift barricade that had been assembled.
"Shoot that thing down, soldiers! Don't let it get past the barricade!"
Lumi drew her bow, nocking an arrow and lining her sight up with the daedroth. She loosed the arrow into the daedroth's already pockmarked hide, lining up another shot when it did little more than growl in frustration. Arrow after arrow from several bows flew into the scaled creature until it stumbled, falling upon one of the wooden spikes on the barricade. With a pained cry, the daedroth grew still, a foot twitching being the only sign of its rapidly fading life.
"Stand down, civilian! This is no place for you. Get back to the encampment at once!"Savlian Matius glared at her from his spot by the barricade, sword bloody and pointed directly at her. Ignoring the blade, she put her bow back in its place and jogged to his post, hands up in a gesture of peace.
"I want to help. There is someone that is in there whom I need to find, preferably alive." The captain scoffed, looking at her in shock.
"You want to help? You're kidding, right? We've lost the damned city! The only thing we can do is try to hold our ground. If we can't hold this barricade, those beasts could march right down and overrun the encampment. I have to try and protect the few civilians that are left. It's all I can do now."
Lumi shook her head, growing annoyed. She needed to get to Martin.
"All the more reason to accept my help and what do you mean, the city is lost? I saw the refugees, that can't be everyone from Kvatch!" Sure there were easily over a hundred people, but with how big the city looked just from outside it had to be home to at least twice that amount.
Matius looked shaken, his words coming out fast.
"It was too much, too fast. When the gate opened and daedra started pouring out we were overwhelmed. You're right that that isn't everyone. In the chaos, we just couldn't get them out. There are still people trapped in there. Some made it into the Chapel, but others were just run down in the streets. The Count and his men are still holed up in the castle. And now we can't even get back into the city to help them, with that damned Oblivion Gate blocking the way."
"What if I could close the gate?" Matius' eyes snapped to meet hers, steely and firm.
"No! I can't send a civilian in there-"
She interrupted, not feeling particularly sorry at the moment. "Sir, with all due respect, I'm not a civilian and even if I were, you aren't in the position to be turning down another sword arm." The Imperial stared at her hard, scrutinizing her and seeming to come to a decision.
"Gods forgive me for this.' He muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking back at Lumi. 'Before I give you a task- and I am only doing this because I have a feeling that you're the type of idiot to going hopping through that gate no matter what I say- you know that going in there is almost certainly a death sentence. I will not be held responsible for you and I will not guarantee that your body can be recovered in the event of your demise."
"Understood."
"Good. I don't know how to close this Gate, but it must be possible, because the enemy closed the ones they opened during the initial attack.' He gestured to the ground in front of the city. 'You can see the marks on the ground where they were, with the Great Gate right in the middle. I sent men into the Gate, to see if they could find a way to shut it. They haven't come back. If you can get in there, find out what happened to them. If they're alive, help them finish the job. If not, see what you can do on your own. The best I can say is, good luck. If you make it back alive, we'll be waiting for you."
With that, the ragged Imperial commander turned his back, shouting out instructions to his men. Lumi looked back at the Oblivion Gate. It seemed to grow taller as she stared, humming lowly in a way that made the hairs on her neck raise uncomfortably. It was now or never. Unfortunately. Reading about the gates did not do justice to how horrifying they were to look at. And now she had to actually jump in one and somehow close it. Martin forgive me if I'm not bouncing in excitement. She thought, chuckling with slight hysteria. No. It didn't matter if she could do this, she had to. Not just for Martin, but for everyone that was left in Kvatch, for the soldiers defending the barricade and the refugees down below in their camp. Squaring her shoulders, Lumi moved past the barricade and into the Oblivion Gate.