The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Ulfric Stormcloak & Kayleigh Leanne – "Runaway With My Heart"
Location: Cemetery, Windhelm
22th of Rain's Hand
7:36am
Kayleigh exited the Palace of the Kings with one job done. She was now heading to the cemetery to meet back with the guard and inform him that she was now is charge of the investigation. Vigilance trotted behind her as she headed down the stairs that led to the tombstones. She noticed that Suzanna's body was longer there, but the guard was.
"Guard? Where's the body?" She asked.
"The priest took her and is preparing her body for the funeral. The Jarl gave you permission?" He asked.
"Yes, he did. I'm now in charge. So what can you tell me about the murderer and the murders?" She asked.
"He's killed a total of 3 women within a month. Robbery's not the motive, though. All these women's coinpurses were intact."
"So he's either killing these women for the thrill of it, or there's something more personal to it," She concluded. "Where can I start?"
"I'll need to inform Suzanna's family now, but I did find a blood trail that leads to the Valunstrad Quarter. You can follow that." He spotted to the back of the cemetery where there was another entry.
Kayleigh knew that entrance. It led to the houses of Windhelm. "Alright, I do just that. Let's go, Vigilance."
Vigilance barked in agreement.
She exited the cemetery via the back entrance and her eyes immediately hit the ground, following the patches on blood on the ground. Vigilance sniffed each of them and confirmed they were from one person. He quickly sniffed out the rest of the blood pools, leading Kayleigh past the houses. Kayleigh was not paying attention to where she was actually going; her attention was on the patches of blood.
After following a couple of blood patches, Vigilance stopped in front of one of the large houses and barked. The blood trail has stopped at the foot of this particular house.
Hey… why does this street look familiar? Kayleigh looked up at the house… and instantly froze. She tried to keep her emotions in place but it was not working. Tears formed in her eyes, as she repeatedly whispered: "No…"
"Not here…"
Location: Palace of the Kings, Windhelm
22th of Rain's Hand
7:50am
Kayleigh pushed the massive door of the Palace of the Kings open, with a dismayed look on her face. She looked as if someone had knocked the Sun right out of her sky. She walked towards the Jarl and tried her best to keep a straight face, but she was failing at it.
"Dragonborn. You're back. Do you have something on the murders?" Ulfric Stormcloak asked.
She glanced at him, trying to hide the disappointment in her green eyes. "I… I found a blood trail and it… it led me to Hjerim. Who owns it?"
"That would be Friga Shatter-Shield." Jorleif answered, walking up to her. "Poor girl. She was one of the victims."
"Friga? No, it can't be!" Kayleigh exclaimed.
"Did you know the Shatter-Shield family, Dragonborn?" Ulfric asked.
"My family and theirs were quite close. I've known the twin sisters since we were little girls…" She trailed off, trying to fight back the tears. "I can't believe this…"
"You said there was a blood trail," Ulfric wanted to pull her away from her thoughts so that she could concentrate on this. "And it led you to Hjerim?"
"Yes. I think there might be some evidence in there."
"Find Tova Shatter-Shield then," Jorleif suggested. Tova was Friga's mother. "She should have the key."
"Alright. Then I'll speak to her." With that, Kayleigh turned to exit.
"Dragonborn," Ulfric called out for her. She stopped, but did not turn back to face him. "You seem distracted. Are you alright?"
"I'm… fine. I just… can't believe Friga's gone. That's all."
"Alright. Go on then." He leaned back against his throne, but not convinced. You're clearly hiding something.
Kayleigh hurried and exited the Palace. I apologize, Jarl Ulfric. That was somewhat of a lie. I really can't believe Friga was a victim, but I'm currently in shock something else too. And I can't reveal it yet.
And besides… I don't need a key.
Location: Hjerim, Windhelm
22th of Rain's Hand
8:02am
Kayleigh stood outside the massive house and took a deep breath. She took several more, as what she was about to do was going to be agonizing for her. Nonetheless, the house was a place of interest. She had no choice.
Kayleigh had been having a thin rope around her neck. Its locket was not visible to anyone as she had hiding it within her studded armor. She took of the necklace and its locket was revealed to be a key. And it was the key to Hjerim.
Vigilance barked softly.
"That story I told you, bou… this is where it all happened."
Disappointment. Disappointment was all Kayleigh felt when she entered Hjerim for the first time in 12 years. She almost chocked on the terrible smell that was lingering within the house. Vigilance reacted no better. He shook his head and whimpered, unable to take the smell.
'I know, boy. I know," Kayleigh stayed strong. "But we've got to figure out what happened here."
The brown walls were spattered with blood, as well as the ground. All of the furniture was gone, expect for a few tables and chairs, some tankards and bottles of mead lying around. She looked to her left and found a bloodied chest. Instinctively, she went to open it up, and tried not to get blood on her hands.
Inside, she found a lone journal. She opened it up and began to read the entry.
The plans are coming together swimmingly. I've found good sources of bone, flesh, and blood, but thus far a good sampling of sinew and marrow have escaped me. No matter. The city is swollen with contemptuous fools who will be missed by nobody.
Last night was almost able to corner Susanna as she left Candlehearth. Idiot guards showed up at just the wrong moment and I had to turn about, just out for a stroll, and so forth. There will be other chances, but the time is drawing near.
I think back to my time in Winterhold. All the wasted minds up in their towers. They only explore the magic they are already know. I am discovering new magic here. Something deeper than the cantripped shenanigans of fire and light. This flesh magic is older than us. Perhaps older than the world itself. I am tugging at the corners of the fabrics of the universe, and where it bunches and folds is where I shall create my greatest triumph.
One more attempt at the Candlehearth girl. She's proving to be a bit too cautious, but those strong joints of hers should contain the most exquisite tendons. Worth the effort. Tonight.
Sources for bone, flesh and blood? Hmm… I smell Necromancy. And lots of it… and dear Talos, that's not all I smell! Kayleigh covered her nose, unable to take the smell. She carried the journal with her and decided to find the source of the smell.
"Vigilance, I know this is hard to ask, but you think can sniff out the source of this smell?"
Vigilance looked at her, taken aback. Me? Why me?
"I'll repay you! I swear!" Kayleigh promised.
Vigilance huffed. All the cooked beef in the world won't help, you know. He got to work, trying to trace out the source of the smell. It led him to the room on the other corner of the first floor of Hjerim. Vigilance stopped at one of the two wardrobes that were there. The wardrobe was nailed into the wall.
Kayleigh was confused as to why there was a wardrobe here. There was never supposed to be one. There was just supposed to be a doorway to a room. Confused, she opened the wardrobe was and found a back panel. She activated it and it opened up. What she saw cause her to back up and almost throw up: the room was covered in blood and had a large rectangular table, not to mention candles, bottles of mead, but that was not it: there were also bloodied skeletal parts on the table and on the floor.
"Sweet breath of Arkay! What in Sovngarde-?" She still had no choice but to enter the room and investigate. She took careful steps inside and found a journal and a necklace on the table. She stepped past the skeletal parts on the ground and reached for them.
She picked up the second journal and began to read it first.
17 tendons and assorted ligaments
173 fragments of bone for assemblage
Approx. 4 bucket-full of blood (Nord preferred)
6 spoons of marrow (No more than 2 from a thigh)
12 yards of flesh (Before cutting)
Star-scrying to the edge of the ice-mind
Look to the lights where the souls dance
Revealing the time when a spark will revive
When the rotted united under most skillful hands
(Translation from Aldmer text, as interpreted by the Ayleids and first transcribed by Altmer. Provenance and authority unknown)
Soon…
She was fully convinced Necromancy was involved in this whole thing. She diverted her attention to the necklace that was next to the journal. It was made from ebony and had a turquoise–coloured skull as its locket. It looked familiar to Kayleigh, but she could not remember what it was called. She decided to take the journals and necklace back to Ulfric and inform him of her discoveries.
Location: Palace of the Kings, Windhelm
22th of Rain's Hand
8:27am
As soon as she entered the Palace of the Kings, she saw Ulfric and Jorleif talking to yet another person that Kayleigh knew very well.
"Wuunferth?" She called out.
The gentlemen's attention turned to Kayleigh as she walked up to them.
"I wouldn't have believed them if I hadn't seen you for myself," The third gentleman, a Nord in mage attire gaped. "Kayleigh! Child, where have you been all this time?" He demanded to know.
"It's a long story, Wuunferth," She quickly dismissed it. "And I… don't wish to discuss it in the presence of the Jarl…" She looked at Ulfric, who sat upon his throne. "I apologize, Jarl Ulfric. But it's personal."
"No matter, Dragonborn," Ulfric kept a look on his face that said: "You're hiding something and I'm going to find out what." Kayleigh had been a mystery to him. Initially, she was the innocent victim from the Imperial trap and was about to have her head cut off but even then, she was not afraid of death. After that, she was discovered the mythical Dragonborn and she seemed to be taking that easy.
But this: these murders, they were having an effect on her. Yet, the real effect seemed to be Hjerim. The moment she found the house, she had been in a very depressed mood. It was not in his place to ask why, but he wished he could. This woman was the key to Skyrim's safety and if she was not in the right state of mind, what was going to happen?
"Kayleigh, it's been 12 years. Why? Where did you even go?" Wuunferth still asked.
12 years? Ulfric noted that.
"Wuunferth, please. I'm here for a different reason: The recent murders." She did not want to have to discuss it now.
He sighed. "Fine, Kayleigh. The Jarl did tell me you were investigating."
That's when she took out the two journals and the mysterious necklace. "I found these in Hjerim. I'm convinced that that's where the murderer is working and that he's involved in Necromancy."
Ulfric and Jorleif looked at each of the journals and Wuunferth analyzed the necklace. "Well, you're right about Necromancy being involved in all this. This is a Necromancer's Amulet, of legend."
It then hit her. "Of course! Mother told me all about Necromancy once. I know that it's frowned upon in the College."
"Indeed it is." Wuunferth handed her back the necklace.
"Looking at these journals, it would seem that the murderer is trying to resurrect someone.' Ulfric concluded.
"His victims are all women. So she could be a wife? Sister? Daughter?" Jorleif guessed.
"Well, I'm sorry but he's going to have to pay for his actions. What do we do now?" Kayleigh asked.
"I've been investigating on the murders before you came, child. I've been noting a pattern when the killings happen. Now that we know that they're tied into some sort of necromantic ritual, I think I know when the next might occur." So saying, he walked up to the dining table where he had kept one of his many charts. He rolled it open and studying the strange patterns and drawing on them. "Let's see here… From a Loredas of Last Seed until a Middas of Heartfire… it will happen… soon."
"How soon?" Ulfric demanded to know.
"Either today or tomorrow night. Keep watch in the Stone Quarter. He'll almost certainly strike there next." Wuunferth looked up from his chart.
"Right then. Jorleif, assign a few more guards to that area," Ulfric looked at Kayleigh. "Dragonborn, I want you to keep guard as well."
"Of course, my Jarl. You can count on me." She pledged.
"I know I can. Good luck. Please look out for yourself."
A/N: Hello! I hope this chapter is up to standard. Thanks to you lovely people, I'm more confident in writing this story and finishing it :) Be prepared! THERE WILL BE LOTS OF CHAPTERS! :O