The Tale of Zooryuvokogan
Disclaimer: I don't own Skyrim or anything involved with it.
I enter Castle Dour alone to see that my father has General Tullius on his knees and the Legate is dead by Galmar's axe. Nonvul is there too, dead on the floor. I really don't care right now. After what I saw the other day, my thoughts on him have changed. I face the general with Ulfric and Galmar at my sides.
"You realize this is exactly what they wanted?" General Tullius says through breaths as he tries to keep his blood in.
"What who wanted?" Galmar asks, still at the ready.
"The Thalmor. They wanted us to waste out resources and good men to quell this rebellion." Tullius is having a hard time breathing and blood is seeping through his fingers.
"It's a little more than a rebellion don't you think?" Ulfric says, he two has his weapon ready but mine are sheathed.
"You know, we aren't the bad guys here."
"Surrender or die."
Tullius looks into my eyes with so much hate. "Have the Dragonborn kill me. It'll make for a better story." I look to my father for guidance and he nods his head.
"For the Stormcloaks!" And I cut his head off with my sword. Blood spills everywhere and Tullius's lifeless body slumps to the floor. His blood drains out and I look over at Nonvul. He takes a deep breath from coming back to life and I stab him with my sword. "Stay dead."
"Well. I guess a speech is in order." My father says and he heads out with Galmar. I tell him I'll catch up with him in a second. He can start without me.
I sit criss-cross a foot away from Nonvul's dead body. He deserved it. Too soon, he comes back to life and tries to attack but I pin him. I sit on his chest, my feet are stationed on top of his wrists and he kicks to try to get up. "Stop it you idiot! I'm going to save your life if you want me to. Otherwise, I could have you weighted down and thrown into the sea where you would continue to drown forever."
Fear crosses his eyes and he looks like he is going to shout. I clasp my hands over his mouth and he mumbles something. Then he licks my hand which is disgusting but I don't budge. Nonvul mumbles some more and then bites my hand. I remove my hands and rub the bite. It is bleeding heavily and Nonvul acts weird.
"What is your plan? How are you going to get me out of here?" Nonvul asks suspiciously as he glares at me. He tries to move around but I hold him down even harder.
I grab my pack off my back and dig through it for the invisibility potions. A little white bottle appears after I move some things around and I show Nonvul. He doesn't trust whatever he thinks it is. "It's an invisibility potion. It will make you invisible for about a minute. During that time, you have to get out of Solitude and somewhere safe. If you go to the south of Falkreath, there is a small cave. Kill whatever is in there and stay put." In truth, I just directed him to my old hiding spot where I would experiment and create various things. He will be entertained for some time with the reagents and materials I have collected for smithing, alchemy, and enchanting. I place the little bottle in his hand and clear out.
Nonvul drinks it and disappears. If I look closely enough, I can see the illusion magicka swirl around as he leaves. Fortunately, he doesn't make a move to attack me and exits out the door. I follow quickly so suspicions aren't risen.
By the time I walk out, Stormcloaks are gathered in the training courtyard with the Jarl in tow. They are hurrahing and shouting Ulfric's name. It seems like he finished not to long ago and I join him on his left side. Galmar is on his right and speaks quickly and quietly to Ulfric. What is with those two and their secrets?
"So are you the High King now or something like that?" I inquire when they finish whispering. My father turns to me and gives me a hug.
"Not yet. We will have to wait until the moot." He gives me a pat on the back and continues his talk with Galmar. I leave the two to their secrets and look around. Nonvul isn't in sight which is a good thing. I pass some of the soldiers and they congratulate me and say thanks for the help.
Right now, I want to get out of this city because once I turn the corner, I see a few Stormcloaks piling up the dead. The number of casualties for both sides was enormous and I wonder how many families have lost loved ones to this war. It makes me upset and reminds me of my mother's death so I push it out of my train of thought. I get out of the city and run to the swamp.
It smells like rotten cabbages as I walk around. There are swamp fungal pods and deathbells everywhere. I pick a few and sniff them, even though they are toxic. They give off a sweet scent which attracts animals to eat them. Very useful for poisons. A bunny runs over my feet and scampers deeper into the swamp. Then I hear a twig snap.
I turn with my blades drawn, ready to kill. Nothing is there but I am wary of moving on. Another twig snaps and I turn again. Someone is toying with me. Oddly, I feel instantly relaxed and soothed. My senses dull and something sharp pierces my neck.
Not something but someone. It is a vampire but my sense are foggy and I can't fight and my vision blurs. All I can feel is the pain in my neck and my blood draining away. Soon it stops and I black out from extreme blood loss.
I awaken in a cave, a very recognizable cave. It's the one I lived in for four years but it is darker. The scent of fresh blood fills my nostrils, making me uncomfortable. My vision is still a bit blurry and I can't move. I try to pull my self free but it seems I am strapped to a table. My bindings are leather or steel. They are the strong ebony I use for making armor. Trying to move is no use and talking or shouting probably won't help so I wait it out.
My vision starts to blur again and I am paralyzed. I panic as a dark figure looms over my body, touching inch by inch with his red eyes brimming a shrouded cowl. The figure, dressed black as night, comes down by my neck and starts to drink. It hurts but they replace the pain with a spell. I feel relaxed again and there is no pain but in the tinniest recess of my mind, I am truly frightened. My vision darkens again and this repeats twice.
"It's my turn." A small girlish voice penetrates the fog in my mind as I wake yet again. They seem to be keeping me alive only to drain some of my blood and make me suffer.
I turn my head but all I see is blurred shapes and dark colors. My position on the table is the same as before. Straight, arms to my side, legs together. It seems colder in the cave and another voice rings out. The voice is filled with merriment.
"He he he. When will we kill her Listener? My blade sings for her blood. Ha ha ha." His giggling has an air of evil as do his words.
Something cold is dragged up my arm and it cuts into my shoulder. I can feel my blood drip from the cut and a cold hand wipes it away. The hand keeps coming back for more and more of my blood.
"Ah, her blood has the scent and taste innocence. If only the Listener wouldn't hog it." The girl voice says and it too is filled with evil. She talks about me like I am this "Listener's" blood thrall.
Another voice reaches my ears. It has the tone and deepness of a Redguard. "Sheesh Babette, if you had it your way, she'd be dining with Sithis already. The Listener wants to keep her alive for something other than his perverse needs."
Babette. The name triggers something in my brain and I know who my abducters are. They are the Dark Brotherhood. I squirm but my bindings are still snug. It is no use. The more I move, the weaker I feel and become from blood loss and malnourishment. I haven't eaten in days and they haven't fed me since I was captured.
Another fearful thought dawns on my. Where is Astrid? Surely she must be in charge of my torture. She said herself that she would get revenge in the letter I pulled off that one assassin's dead body. If she learns that I don't die completely, my torture will never end.
"Oh joy, she's awake! What do you want us to do all great and powerful Listener?" The merry voice says again but I can't place it. I've heard it before along with the other voices. This voice just doesn't seem to trigger anything.
The deep male voice was from a Redguard. His name is Nazir. The girly voice was obliviously Babette. She is a nord child that was turned into a vampire. Maybe she's been the one sucking my blood. Or maybe this Listener fellow is. I haven't heard Astrid talk yet or the other members.
Her husband wouldn't be here because I killed him when he turned me into a werewolf. It still gives me nightmares. I was very young when that happened and it may have traumatized me.
My vision clears and I see everything. All the things I left here before the Imperials took me to Helgen are still here. The only thing that wasn't is the dead bodies of bandits. I try to focus on one of them and successfully raise it into my zombie. Then I raise another and they both attack the assassins.
"A fight! Cicero loves a good death match!" The merry voice says and I feel pain in my neck. I am dragged back under into the black haze.
Why? Why did Cicero have to be apart of my torture? He seems to have been enjoying himself. We use to be friends. The Fool of Hearts wants to kill me along with the rest of the world. Oh Cicero. Why are you apart of this?! My voice screams in my head to get out, run away, survive, and kill. I can't.
I wake up again with the same feelings as before. There are no voices and I can't hear anything except silence. My neck stings from the constant blood sucking and I am really hungry. I wish this would end. Even if it meant my permanent death. My stomach growls loudly and I hear food steps. I can't help from moaning and the footsteps get louder. They seem to be running and my bonds are gone instantly. Someone picks me up and cradles my head.
"Shhh. Shhhh." Soothing words come from their mouth as they rock me back and forth. We seem to move and people shout.
"We found her!"
"By the Gods!"
"Get her into the wagon!"
I hear fragments of other words before my body is set down and the slow rocking of a carriage puts me to sleep. All I remember is someone brushing back my hair and a tear falling onto my face. My breathing slows and then my heart heaves one more time before it stops.
Author's Note:
It kills me to make Hunbrii die. Makes me really really sad. Almost cried and I was the one who wrote it. Damn me. Stupid feelings.