The Tale of Zooryuvokogan
Disclaimer: I don't own Skyrim or anything involved with it.
"Wow." Pure beauty. I've never seen anything like Blackreach. Even though the walls are bumpy stone black and there may or may not be enemies who want kill us, I might want to stay here forever. Everything you see glows. There are giant greenish blue fluorescent mushrooms that grow to the ceiling and then there are the little ones on the ground. The rocks are illuminated with so many colors. Pink, green, blue, purple, and silver.
"This is amazing." Nonvul rushes like an excited child down the steps and runs into the clear blue green water that shines and glows. He splashes a bit and doesn't take his armor off until he gets to the waterfall. "Wouldn't you want to do this before you die?" I sense a double meaning to his words as he strips to his underclothes. Thank the Gods he is wearing some.
"While you play in the water, I'm going to go explore a bit." I take off running past a little house and a Dwarven Sphere attacks. This one seems harder to kill than the others and I get banged up a bit so I heal once it's dead. Then I start to run again and slow down when I see a huge floating orb. It radiates golden light but Falmer are guarding it. I wonder what would happen if that fell down? Without thinking, I shout at it with all three words of Unrelenting Force. The odd orb glows a red tint and a roar is heard.
A dragon flies out of nowhere and starts to set fire to the Falmer and any beautiful fauna. It lands on the southern cobblestone path and Nonvul catches up with me.
"What did you do?! I heard a dragon! Dragons don't belong underground!" Nonvul at least had the decency to put his armor back on. He heads for the dragon and I follow too. It was ironic what he said. Dragons don't belong underground. I laugh silently to myself.
We find the dragon and he looks furious. He starts spitting fire and swinging his tail around. I get sent flying into a body of the underground water and rush back out. As best as I can, I wipe off the water and pull out my new sword and dagger. Nonvul already started to hack at the dragon and it seems to be weakening. I get close to the dragon's neck and stab it repetitively. The dragon's blood oozes on my hands and Nonvul thrusts his greatsword into the beast's heart.
The dragon gives a choking sound and collapses. Its body burns and the soul charges into our own. I point up to the once golden orb, now a reddish one. "Don't shout at that." Nonvul seems to get it and we continue. Somehow, we reach the elevator to the Tower of Mzark with our lives. Falmer were attacking us at every turn and we ran into a spooky Whisp Mother.
Nonvul was swayed when she attacked so I had to kill her myself. He snapped out of the Whisp induced trance and thanked me. At least we didn't wake the two Dwarven Centurions. That would have sucked.
Nonvul pulls the lever and the steam pipes, chains, and gears start to work as they pull us up. We enter a small room that was set up as a camp. No one is there so we pass it and walk into the Oculory. The place is huge. Not to mention the humongous gold sphere in the middle of the room. I look for a way to get up to the top and find a winding pathway.
We pass a skeleton and his journal that we don't bother to read. The controls are wondrous. Five pedestals that act as the controls are our main operation. Nonvul starts pressing random buttons and I swat his hand. I put the Lexicon into its place and a button opens up and glows blue. I press it and the lenses move. I press it a couple more times and another button opens up. Nonvul presses it until the last is open and an egg shaped crystal case lowers down.
After careful consideration, I take the Ruined Lexicon and shove it in my bag for the crazy old nut. Nonvul heads over to the case and steps on the sphere. The blue device opens and reveals the Elder Scroll. He lifts it gently and ties it to his back. The scroll is kind of large and heavy looking. "So, that's the Elder Scroll." I announce to no one in particular.
"Yep. Come on." Nonvul jumps off the Dwarven masterpiece and heads to a door under the balcony. I follow and we find ourselves in another elevator. The trip is a bit long and it makes me nervous. We reach the surface world and snow. Lots and lots of snow. I throw open the doors and happily land in the snow.
"I can breath!" I shout and twirl around while throwing snow. My eyes catch the sun setting and I enjoy it at a little abandoned camp. It's beautiful, all the variations of yellow, orange, red, and a mixture of blue with the night sky. One of the things I truly enjoy about Skyrim. That, and the snow.
Nonvul comes over to sit by me and sprinkles snow on my head. "We should get going." He shifts his body weight and gets back up. Nonvul reaches his hand down for me like so many other times and like so many other times, I refuse.
"Can we just stay here a bit longer? I don't know how many sunsets I may have left with you and the Imperials stalking me." I spy a bit of hurt cross his face but I don't mention it. He sits back down next to me and we watch the sunset. It's kind of uncomfortable, being this close to someone. I was always told never to get attached to anyone unless they were your family because your affections can be used against you. But this isn't as bad.
Nonvul starts to get a little antsy and pulls out a bottle of mead. "You want one?" He jokes and pulls out another. Then he sets the second down by his feet and chugs the one in his hand.
"You know, I'd actually be okay with dying right now." And I mean it. I really don't have a purpose except to carry the name of the Stormcloaks and my mother's side of the family curse. It really wouldn't matter, and I know my death would be permanent. Or would it? Could he take my dragon soul if he kills me in human form but would I still be able to live as a human and werewolf? Or would my death be permanent if he killed me in dragon form?
Nonvul gives me the bottle of mead by his feet. "If you want to die, drink to your death or until I can't handle your drunk ass." He pulls the cork off the top and I surprisingly give it a try. The taste is sweet but intoxicating with a burning sensation as it flows down my throat. Nonvul pulls out another and another until we are both drunk off our asses. We make a fire at the little camp and tell stories like kids. But drunk. And adult ones.
"So wut waz 'hic' or who waz your first 'hic' girlfriend?" I sputter out drunkenly between hiccups. Nonvul hands me another bottle and he has his own.
Nonvul points at me or tries to but he can't see straight. "Wellz I thinks it wuz this one elf or sumtin like that. I can't remember, too painful and my head is fluffy or fuzzy or funky." He laughs and takes a swig of the mead. "My turnz. Why are youz such a be och?"
I laugh and fall over off my bed roll into the snow. "If youz were me 'hic' and I wuz youz, 'hic'. Wait. Wat are we talkin aboot?" I right myself on my bedroll and take a sip of my mead before it runs dry. "Damn."
Nonvul laughs and starts to snore. I poke his head but he doesn't do a thing. Giggling and hiccuping, I take a piece of charcoal and draw a mustache on him. I turn over in my bedroll and snuggle in before the alcohol pulls me under.
"Uuugghhh." I moan as I wake up with a splitting headache. Nudging Nonvul awake, I start to gather our supplies and anything we may need for the journey back. Nonvul turns over in his bedroll and smiles oddly at me. I laugh at his mustache. When did he get that? I can't remember last night at all.
"How was it getting drunk?" He gets out of the bedroll and helps me pack. Nonvul wipes his face and the mustache smears. He looks at his hand and grabs a rag with snow and cleans his face.
I throw my pack over my shoulders and barf up mead. "Fun, but a bitch in the morning." To settle my stomach a bit and fill it with something other than mead, I eat a piece of dried fruit. We start our hike and talk along the way.
"I remember everything that happened last night." Nonvul starts and he heaves his pack and the Elder Scroll higher up on his shoulders. He pulls out some food too and starts to munch.
"How?" I question and kick away some of the snow in my way. Instead of dealing with this all the way down, I shout at the ground and a path is cleared. The only thing wrong with it is that it is entirely ice and we slip and slide the way down to Morthal and then we reach the grassy plains of Whiterun Hold.
"Well, when you've been a drunk as long as I have, you pick up on some tips and tricks. I remember asking why you were a bitch last night and you replied with hiccups and forgotten answers." Oddly, I believe him and we continue our trek, not even bothering to grab our horses from the stables or say hello to the Jarl. Nonvul and I walk for hours until we get to High Hrothgar where we stop and rub our sore feet. The Greybeards welcome us and let us take short naps before we head to the summit.
By the time we wake up, it is noon and we enjoy a pleasant lunch with the Greybeards. It consists of cabbage, leaks, apples, some kind of soup, and tomatoes. Nonvul and I thank them and head up to Paarthurnax.
"Read the Kel at the Time Wound. There you will be able to witness the Dragonrend shout from those who made it." Paarthurnax sits atop his broken word wall as he observes Nonvul and I. He seems to have an increasing interest in me and I remember that I changed from dovah to nord in front of his eyes. I'll have to explain later.
Nonvul goes first and he steps into the distorted little patch of wind and snow on the mountain. He grabs the scroll off his back and starts to read it. There are flashes of light and he is taken aback but still looks on. Nonvul seems to be absorbed in the scroll and that's when we hear the call of a dragon. Nonvul isn't out of his trance yet and the roars and calls are getting louder.
Paarthurnax looks at me and takes to the air; but shortly lands to the large rock formation close to my side. "You will want to get ready. There isn't time for you to read the Kel." I guess there is going to be a fight and I arm myself.
A dragon black as night flies overhead and and taunts us. He names himself Alduin and speaks in his native tongue. My head pounds as he speaks and I can barely hear him. The pain triggers my dragon form and my body shifts. I growl and Nonvul returns a bit startled. He gets ready but doesn't know who to attack. Me or Alduin. That's right, I threatened him in this form. Looks like it caught up to me.
Nonvul looks at Alduin as he flies and shouts over our heads. He apparently learned Dragonrend and Alduin is sent to the summit grounds. Nonvul runs at Alduin and attacks furiously. He is probably still mad from when Alduin insulted him and said he wasn't worthy of being Dovahkiin.
I join the fight and shout flames into Alduin's face and snap at him. Alduin retaliates and smacks Nonvul with his wings and bites me. He then takes off once the effects of Dragonrend wear off and summons a storm of fire and rocks like in Helgen. Paarthurnax flies after Alduin and fights him with flames as do I. Nonvul is stuck on the ground but shouts Dragonrend into the skies. He hits me and I am forced to land. The feeling is horrible it drags me down like I am being crushed.
Nonvul doesn't attack but prepares to use Dragonrend again. This time it hits its mark and Alduin joins us back on the summit. We fight him and he seems to weaken. Nonvul shouts at him again and he doesn't have time to take off. I fight with flame and jaws while Nonvul fights with steel. Alduin attacks us both and grabs Nonvul in his jaws and sends the nord flying into the ground. He doesn't move.
I attack with even more ferocity and Alduin takes off but in a very weak state. Before he leaves, he tells us some information that may help us or make everything worse. He says he cannot be defeated here and the fire storm stops. The rock brigade stops and everything settles. I change back and rush to Nonvul's side. He isn't breathing and he has no pulse. I tear off his armor and do CPR. Nothing.
"Damn you! Don't die on me! Don't be dead! Nonvul!" I shout and tears stream down my face. The emotion is getting to me and I scream. Paarthurnax lands near me heavily and the mountain slightly shutters. He roars into the air. A fitting song for a fallen friend. I shout with him, a combination of fire, ice, and force.
Nonvul's eyes are still open and I close them gently. I choke on some of my sobs and curl up into a ball next to his lifeless form. "He's not dead. He's not dead. He's not dead." I lie to my self repetitively and continue to cry in this state.
A hand touches me and I look over my shoulder with my cheeks stained in tears. I think I am hallucinating and my body rocks harder and faster. "He's not dead." Over and over and over, those words come out of my mouth. I soon feel the warmth of a hug but I keep crying. My holder seems to rock me back and forth while I sputter on sobs.
"Shhhhhh. It's okay. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay." A male voice penetrates the sound of my sobbing and crying. The racking of my body slows and I turn into the person's chest. It's warm and relaxing with a steady heart beat that soothes me.
I stop my snuffling and look up into the eyes of my holder. The silver-gray irises are full of life and the slight wind ruffles his hair. I must be dreaming. The warmth is too real and so is his smile. "Nonvul?"
Author's Note:
Eeeepppp! Probably one of my favorite chapters so far. Sorry all you people who read the spoiler alert. Season Unending is next along with some more. I wanted to leave you guys with a bit of a cliff hanger and a whole lotta feels.
Haha. So I was typing Season Unending up there and I write on my iPod and the auto correct changed it to nude don't. Just wanted to tell you guys. :P
Okay, so I have a Hunbrii game on Skyrim for this story and I did the first/second Stormcloak quest and I have yet to do and write about Season Unending. I didn't give the Jagged Crown to Ulfric or Tullius. I still have it and plan to wear it during the war meeting. Kind of like a 'look who's boss.' kind of thing. I think the player should be voted as High King. Especially Hunbrii. She's pretty bad ass. So is Nonvul. When you kill the emperor in the Dark Brotherhood quest, it makes you feel like a jerk but it make you feel like you have the right to rule and that you can take on anyone or anything in your way.