Alrighty here's chapter 12. I hope you enjoy cuz it's quite a long chapter in my opinion. Have fun! :)
::Kevin's POV::
"Hey Steve," I wrapped my crossbow around my shoulder. Steve was at the center table of Jorrvaskr eating with Jon. Jon, as always, was completely pigging out on the chicken breasts and bread. Steve glanced over to me.
"What?"
"When is Bame coming back?... And Cain for that matter?" Steve shrugged his shoulders and point nodded to Vilkas.
"Ask him, he'd know." I took a seat next to Steve and looked over to Vilkas. He's smelling a lot like a wet dog. Weird.
"Hey Vilkas."
He took swig from his cup and glanced over to me with a welcoming smile. "Kevin, what can I do for you?"
I placed my crossbow on the table. "Would you know when Cain and Bame will be back?"
He squinted his eyes and looked up. "Cain should be back already, he might be seeing the Jarl. And Bame, he can be back at any time today." He looked back to his plate and resumed eating. I took one piece of bread from one of the trays.
I looked over to Jon and couldn't help but pull a smirk. He had a huge turkey leg in his hands eating away. "Jon, you're fat." He glanced over to me and smirked.
"And proud to be!"
Steve shook his head and leaned back in his chair with a smile. "Jon, I don't think that's a compliment!"
He took another huge bite from the leg. "Yeah i' issh!" Vilkas raised an eyebrow and rubbed his beard.
"What are you whelps saying? He's not fat," he commented. His voice had a clear sense of confusion.
Steve chuckled and raised his hand up a little. "Nah we aren't meaning it, Jon here just eats more than a cow and doesn't gain weight! So we call him fat for the fun of it."
Vilkas smirked and leaned back. "Ha alright then." Suddenly the door opened up and the four of us turned our head around to the front of the room. It was Cain and the large guy, I forget his name.
"Cain, you're back! What's up?" Jon shouted out with a smile. Cain smirked and waved.
"Hey guys."
"Farkas, how was it?" Farkas that's his name. Okay then I'll try to keep a memory of his name.
"Nothing we couldn't handle. Cain here isn't that bad of a fighter." He nudged Cain lightly and walked down to the table.
"Is Bame back?" Cain asked.
"Nope, he should be back soon." Cain nodded and walked over to the table.
"Can I..?" He asked pointing at a seat.
I smirked and nodded. "You don't have to ask Cain." He smirked and sat down. I noticed that his eyes had a slight color difference from before. "Cain, your eyes are a little red." He glanced back over to me and raised an eyebrow.
"Bloodshot?"
"No, your eyes aren't like they weren't like they were before. Look that way," he moved his eyes in the direction I pointed. It was slightly red in the coloring part. Vilkas walked over and looked at Cain's eyes. He squinted his eyes slightly and studied the slight fire red eyes. Finally he leaned up and shook his head in confusion.
"I have no idea what that is." He raised an eyebrow and looked at Farkas. "It's nothing like the vampire side effects."
Farkas shrugged. "Don't look at me, you're the supposed to be the smart guy here." Steve and I both smirked. Vilkas rolled his eyes and glanced back at Cain's eyes.
"Open your mouth," he ordered Cain. Cain opened his mouth and Vilkas touched his top canine. He lowered both eyebrows and leaned back up. "I don't understand. I was going to say that he was going to turn into a vampire, but his teeth aren't enlarging and his skin tone hasn't changed." He placed a hand on Cain's forehead. "His temperature is normal as well," he raised a brow, "actually it's heating up. How are you feeling?"
Cain shrugged lightly. "I feel fine. I seriously don't feel anything wrong."
"Okay this is just...out of the norm." Vilkas crossed his arms. "Farkas, did anything happen to Cain at the barrow?"
"Well there was one thing," he started. Vilkas turned his head quickly at his brother. "At this ancient wall, I saw lights come out and shoot at him."
Cain suddenly joined in, "Oh yeah, it was weird but I felt something happen."
"Weird. I couldn't tell you what happened. I've never of anything like that before." Vilkas scratched his head and shrugged. "As far as I know, it's nothing that you should be worried about."
::Bame's POV::
Finally we are in Whiterun hold. I was getting tired of being so damn cold. I can't stand the cold. We just past through Riverwood and the town reminded me of the things I had to do later including Delphine and Hadvar. Geez I got stuff to do. Aela has been extremely quiet since the moment I told her the story of how we got here in Skyrim. Her reaction to the story had astonishment written all over her face. Now her reaction has more of a skeptical or wary look. I would understand if she thought my friends and I were just a bunch of Daedra that just sorta stumbled upon Jorrvaskr.
Finally, Whiterun city came into view. I wonder what the guys are doing. I glanced over to Aela and she moved on down the road without looking at me. Whatever, she can go cry about it.
As we approached Whiterun's gate, I noticed a guard coming from the west sprinting as fast as he possibly can go. His gear was ripped up beyond belief. Wait, from the west... Oh shit! "Aela we gotta move now!" She looked at me like I was out of my mind. "Seriously, look over there!" I pointed in the west at smoke raising in the distance.
"What's going on?" Her eyes widened when her question was suddenly answered. There was a dragon flying around the distant watchtower. I pulled onto her shoulder.
"C'mon we gotta go get help now!" She hesitated and put her hands up.
"Against a fucking dragon? What can we do against it?" That didn't sound like her at all.
"Are you serious beast girl? Dragons aren't extremely hard to take down than giants." I hope I'm right.. "Are you saying you are scared?" That pushed her giant red button. She gritted her teeth and shoved me a little back.
"I'm not afraid of anything!" She snared at me with her beast eyes taking over her gaze.
"Don't turn. Werewolves aren't good against airborne opponents, especially dragons!" Her reaction didn't change at all. I pulled her a little harder. "Quickly, lets get the others!" We started sprinting to the gates and we came up to the guard.
"What's the rush?" He demanded with hands out stopping us.
"Dragon at Western Watchtower, we need to get help!" Without hesitation, he opened the gate and we rushed in. "Aela go to Dragonsreach and get help, I'll go get the others at Jorrvaskr!" Without letting her protest, I proceeded running to the mead hall.
As soon as I came up to the door, I banged the door open. Everyone inside quickly got to their feet with startled reactions. "There's a dragon at the Western Watchtower, we have to kill it, lets go!" Vilkas raised his eyebrow and Jon gaped.
"Dragon? Are you serious?"
"No time to talk, it's gonna keep killing innocents unless we take it out! C'mon!" I quickly motioned them to follow. Cain, Jon, Steve and Kevin got their gear on and quickly came up. "Cain, we need you more than anyone."
"Why?"
"'Cause you're the Dragonborn! Only you can permanently kill it. Vilkas and Farkas, we need you both too!" The seven of us rushed down the stairs and met up with Aela just in time with Irileth and three guards. "Alright, lets get going." Twelve people against one dragon, I hope this is enough.
As we approached the watchtower, the dragon was not in sight but the place looked like a mini nuke blew up here. "He was definitely here."
"Alright spread out and look for survivors," Irileth ordered everyone. Kevin pulled out his crossbow and placed in a bolt. Steve's hands were all electrically and his face had focus written all over it. Jon gripped his sword tighter and kept glancing around the watchtower. Cain had a steel war axe in his hand and he glanced over to me.
"No go away!" A voice suddenly blurted out from the tower. "He's still here somewhere." He slowly strolled out of the tower and he looked off in the distance. Then his expression suddenly dropped. "Kynareth save us, here he comes again!"
I whirled my head in the direction he was looking and there it was. A dragon. Bronze colored and larger than my old Ford Escape. "Everyone get ready!" Aela, Kevin and Irileth aimed their bows at the flying beast. This can't be much like the game, couldn't it? What would get the dragon to the ground without using Dragonrend? The wings! Shoot out the aerodynamics! "Kevin!" He glanced over to me quickly. "Shoot out the wings, disable his flight. That should get him to the ground!" He nodded and aimed back the dragon.
The dragon let out a deafening roar and flew right over us. The guards commenced shooting arrows at it but they didn't even get close. The dragon suddenly stopped and hovered in the air. "YOL.."
"Shit, get to cover!" I tackled Kevin and the two women behind a fallen pillar.
"TOOR.. SHUL!" Waves of fire poured out of the dragons mouth right on the pillar we were hiding behind. When the fire stopped, Kevin quickly peaked over the pillar and pulled the trigger to his crossbow. The bolt hit the dragon on the left wing making a large hole in the center of the wing. Aela and Irileth both caught on and release their arrows at the dragon's left wing and the arrows made more holes. On cue, the dragon lost it's hover on the left side causing it to drop to the ground. It let out a huge roar of pain as it hit the ground.
"Cain lets go!" I yelled to him. He rushed over to me with his sword drawn and waited for my signal. The dragon staggered to its hand parts of its wings. I raised its head and glanced at Cain.
"DOVAKIIN," the dragon started, "I AM MIRMULNIR! I WILL NOT LET YOU WIN!" Cain's face had shock written all over it. His eyes wide open and his mouth gaped.
"Too bad," I raised my axe and sliced down on the dragon's face penetrating the middle section. The dragon whipped its head around roaring for its life. I lost my footing and got launched twenty feet from the flying beast. I glanced over and saw Cain on top of the dragon's head gripping on my axe with his other hand wielding his sword in the air.
"NO DOVAKIIN!" The dragon shrieked. Cain flipped his sword around with the blade pointing down and he jabbed the blade into the skull of the beast. Mirmulnir let out one last long roar and dropped his head down to the ground.
"By the nine, we killed it!" Vilkas said with his sword still drawn. Suddenly the dragon bursted into flames. Cain turned around and took a couple steps back from the burning dragon
corpse.
"No Cain, stay put!" I yelled at him he glanced at me like I was out of my mind. "Trust me!" I raced to my feet. Suddenly, an aura of orange, red and yellow beamed at Cain in the stomach and Cain opened up his arms. He looked down at the aura going into his chest then back at me. Then the aura stopped. The only things left from the dragon were its bones.
"No way.." Vilkas mumbled underneath his breath. "He is the Dragonborn."
I glanced over to him and smirked lightly. "Told ya." He smirked and sheathed his sword.
"Fus.. Ro!" Cain shouted into the air. A larger blue wall of energy flew into the air.
"That was shouting! You really must be Dragonborn!" One of the guards yelled out. I smirked a little and patted Cain on the back.
"Yeah he-" Suddenly my voice was interrupted by thunder coming from the largest mountain into the distance, The Throat of the World.
"DOV-AH-KIIN!" The three syllables echoed across the Whiterun plains. It was the Greybeards calling to Cain.
"What was that?" Aela called out.
"The Greybeards are calling to Cain," I replied to her. Both of her eyebrows raised up.
"Alright, party's over. You," Irileth pointed at me, "go to the Jarl and tell them what happened. The guards and I are gonna stick around and clean this mess."
"Alright. Cain, you're coming with me." He nodded and walked up next to me. I glanced over to the Companions and my buds. "I'll meet ya fellas at Jorrvaskr."
"See ya then," Vilkas said back.
As Cain and I came to the gates of Whiterun, I noticed the guards were doubled up on duty next to the gate. "Excuse us." Good thing they know who we are now otherwise they'd probably stop us from going in.
The roads of Whiterun were almost completely empty with the exception of a ton of guards. One of they guards approached us. "Kinsmen, you should get in cover with the dragon circling about."
"The dragon is dead and we have to inform the Jarl what happened."
"The dragon is dead? Alright, hurry and see the Jarl." He patted our backs and we sprinted up the stairs into Dragonsreach. The Jarl was standing in front of thrown speaking to Proventus.
"Balgruuf!" He quickly turned his head and his eyebrows raised.
"Bame and Cain, what happened at the watchtower?" He asked very quickly as he walked down the stairs to us.
"The dragon attacked and destroyed the watchtower, but we managed to kill it." A sense of laughter popped up in my throat when I realized that I practically said the line from the game.
The Jarl let out a relieved breath and looked down. "I knew I could count on Irileth," then he glanced around a little, "but there has to be more to it."
"Well I'm sure you remember that Cain here is the Dragonborn. After we killed the flying lizard, he absorbed the dragon's soul. But behind that, the dragon was completely outnumbered."
"By Ysmir, that's amazing." He paused for a bit then walked back to his thrown and sat down. "Now I understand what the thunder from the Throat of the World was, the Greybeards are calling for you."
"I know, we're going to head up there soon."
"Good, it is a true honor to be called to High Hrothgar by the Greybeards." He got back to his feet. "You two have done many tremendous services for my city. I now name both of you Thanes of Whiterun! It's the highest badges of honor I have in my grasp. You both earned it." He took out his war axe and handed it to Cain. "Here. The Axe of Whiterun. And Bame," he glanced over to Farengar's room. "I'll let you know when I get you a reward."
"My Jarl, being Thane is a big enough reward. I don't need another one. Besides, Farengar already gave me this weightless steel armor. I'm fine with what I have."
He laughed and shook his head. "How about this, I'll give you a plot of land for a house. No price, that's my gift."
"That.." I could barely get the words out of my mouth. "That w-would be great. You have my gratitude, sir!"
"No you have my gratitude." He was going to sit down but he stopped himself. "Oh I almost forgot, I'm assigning Lydia to you Bame as a personal housecarl ." Oh shit, Aela is gonna love this.. "Cain, I'm assigning Hrongar to be your housecarl temporarily at least until I find one permanent candidate. I'm sorry for inconvenience."
"It's no big deal Jarl Balgruuf. Where is the plot?"
He looked over to Proventus and motioned him to tell us. "The plot is a little south below the northern checkpoint. Just down the hill here." He pointed behind him. Alright good place I guess.
"Thank you Proventus. We should get going and leave you to your work. Have a good night." Cain and I turned around and began walking down the stairs. I looked up and noticed Lydia next to the door waiting for us.
"Nice to see you again Lydia," I greeted her with a smile. She smiled back.
"And you as well my thane." I smirked and shook my hand.
"No no, please just call me Bame. It'd make me feel like I'm equal to every body else."
She chuckled a little. "If you say so Bame."
"And I'm aware of what your standards as a housecarl are and I'd just like to say right now, you may do as you please, just tell me where you will be on a note or something in case I need you. And please don't be so formal." She laughed and crossed her arms.
"May I ask where your place is?"
"Well, it is just north, but we have nothing there yet so either tag along with us at Jorrvaskr or stay here. That's your call."
"I guess I can tag along with you two at Jorrvaskr." I smiled and nodded.
"Alright, I'll see what Vilkas says about that. He'll probably vouch for you at least until we build the house. Lets go, they must be eager to know what the Jarl said." I nudged Cain and we began walking out the large doors.
The day was close to dusk. I realized that time flies in Skyrim's everyday life, just like the game, well, maybe not as fast. The guards on duty glanced at us and bowed their heads. To be honest, it really does feel good being the hot rod in the town. "Thanes." One of the guards greeted us. I nodded a greeting back and we proceeded down the stairs. As usual, the zealot was there preaching about Talos. Doesn't that guy get any sleep?
Then I spotted Lucia. Poor little girl.. She sat on the bench next to the Gildergreen tree and she looked up at me with a frown. "Mister, I'm so sorry for bothering you a lot, but please-"
"Oh nah it's fine. You should have a place to sleep for the night." I paused and glanced over to Lydia who was smiling at me. "C'mon miss, I'll get you a bed for the night." I placed my hand on her back and lead her to her feet.
"R-really? I-I dunno what to say.." Tears started forming in her eyes. "I haven't slept in a comfortable bed in.. I don't know how long.." That was enough to make me almost cry. Why does a sweet girl have to suffer poverty? She doesn't deserve this.
"By the way, I didn't get your name," I asked her knowing it would be weird if I randomly knew her name.
"Lucia, what's your name?"
"I'm Bame," I placed a hand on my chest. I pointed to Cain, "that's Cain." Then to Lydia, " and this is Lydia."
"It's very nice to meet you guys!" She said cheerfully.
"C'mon Lucia, lets her ya something to eat." We started walking up the stairs to Jorrvaskr and we walked into the front door. Everyone was seated around the table talking about dragons coming back. "We're back," I called out. Kodlak glanced over and smiled at the sight of Lucia. Aela gave me a devilish smile when she laid her eyes on Lydia. Jon, Kev and Steve waved over to me and I waved back.
"What's the word?"
"Well," I started and began walking down the stairs, "first, as most of you know the Greybeards called for Cain and we're going to head up that mountain at first light. Second, Jarl Balgruuf appointed Cain and I as thanes of Whiterun."
Everyone, with the exception of Kev and Steve, gaped and gasped. "Congratulations whelps, you're movin' up in the world," Vilkas said with a smirk.
"Thanks guys, and lastly, this little girl needs a warm place to stay tonight and something to eat, can't we spare a bed and maybe some food?"
Vilkas looked over to Kodlak then back at me. "Bame I'm sorry to say, but Jorrvaskr isn't an orphanage. She can't stay here forever."
"I know I know, but it's gonna get pretty cold tonight. Just let girl stay here for the night."
"Fine, just for the night," Vilkas replied back.
"She can take my bed for the night. I'll stay up here." I patted her on the back and motioned her to go to the table. She smiled and walked towards the table. Ria waved her to come sit in the seat next to her. I always expected Ria to be a kind hearted woman.
Kodlak leaned up from his chair and smiled at me. I nodded and smiled back. I knew what he was thinking. I hope I made that little girl's day. Cain joined the twins and Jon at the table. Kevin waved me to come over and I nodded with a slight smirk.
I walked over and pulled up two chairs and sat down next Kevin. Lydia followed up and sat down next to me. Kevin nudged me. "What is a thane?" Steve moved up from his chair to listen in.
"It's a very high ranking.." I paused and rubbed my chin. "Guard for a lack of words. Like the Jarl's right hand man er.. men."
"That's amazing, Bame," he patted my back and smiled. He glanced over to Lydia and raised a brow. "Is she like your bodyguard or something?"
I chuckled and looked over to her. "Ask her yourself." Kevin gave me a 'what the hell' look and shook his head.
"Technically yes, we're preferred to be called a housecarl, if that's alright with you," she told Kevin. Kev nodded and looked back to me. She looked over to Steve. "Good evening Steve."
"Hey Lydia, how are you doing?" He asked casually.
"Pretty good. And you?"
"Swell." His trademarked word. Geez he's gotta think of a new one.
"Jon, how are ya doing?" I asked. I scooted in my chair and folded my hands on my lap.
"I'm doing great Bame. I can't believe that you actually got to be thane! That's just amazing!" His voice full of excitement. I laughed along and shook my head.
"I wasn't expecting to actually get it."
"You kidding? You did a lot since we've been here! I think you deserve it!" I smiled wider and looked down.
"If you say so Jon," I joked. He laughed and picked up a piece of bread. "Back to eating eh?"
"Bame, it's like you hardly know me!"
"Yeah yeah I'm just teasing you." He laughed and bit down on the bread. The twins and Cain started talking about Cain's little stunt he pulled on the dragon. Obviously Cain is being all modest saying he didn't know what he was doing half of the time. I laughed and shook my head.
Suddenly I felt a little tug on my left hand under the table. I twitched my hand a little and glanced over to Lydia. She was looking at me with a comforting smile. She gripped on my hand and lightly pressed onto it. She held onto my hand softly and rubbed her thumb on the backside of my hand.
I had absolutely no idea what to do. I looked back to her and smiled lightly. She exhaled lightly and looked down at the table. I glanced down the table and my gaze caught Aela's. Shit.. She sniffed a little in the air and sent me a satanic smile. Oh God.. I looked over to Farkas, Vilkas and Kodlak. They didn't seem to notice the scent. Thank The Lord .
The night progressed pretty quickly with conversations with the buds about the dragon and our new plot of land, the affectionate looks between me and Lydia, and Aela giving me devilish looks. Steve, I think, noticed me and Lydia giving each other obvious looks of affection. He seemed happy for me. Back in the real world, Steve could easily get girls but just chose not to. Me, I had a hard time with girls and for him to see me looking at Lydia like this, I think it made him somewhat happy for me. Steve is the man. Ironically, Kevin is pretty much the same in that respect.
Soon the night began to take over and people began going down to the barracks for bed. Lucia went down with Ria to bed. The twins, Jon and Cain all said good night to me and went down behind everyone else. Lydia got up and followed them. Before she went down, she glanced over to me and smiled lightly. Aela saw the look she gave me and looked over to me. She came up and patted me in the back. "Not bad, whelp," she commented quietly. She winked at me and proceeded down the stairs. I was the last person in the main room and I sat there looking around the room.
Might as well check out the night sky. I got up from my chair and walked out the back door onto the patio. The sky was pretty colorful with many different colors of auras. I decided to walk up to the Skyforge and I sat down on the edge on the cliff.
I pulled out my battle axe and stroked around the blade. Aela is probably right about this being too big of a weapon. I'll have to ask Eroland Grey-Mane for a new blade tomorrow. Hopefully I can trade this for a war axe or a sword. I'll see tomorrow.
"Ehem," a voice behind me cleared their throat. I glanced behind me and realized it was Lydia standing there next to the forge. Now that really got my blood moving. My heart pretty much tripled its beating. "May I?" She asked softly.
"Oh uh.. Yeah sure," I replied and I patted on the stone next to me. She walked over and sat down next to me on my right. I looked back up at the night sky. In the corner of my eye, I noticed that she was looking into my eyes.
"You know," she started, "I never got the chance to say thank you for saving my life." She scooted a little closer to me. I moved my right hand onto my leg hoping she would notice it there.
"Oh no problem. I wouldn't let you stay there." Shit Bame, swell job on the response. She leaned a little forward to get a better look at my eyes. I hesitated a little and she smirked at my clearly nervous posture.
She slightly moved her hand towards mine and she very softly grabbed ahold of my hand. I turned my head and met her gaze. Bethesda did a horrible job at making her in the game because she really is gorgeous. Behind that, they messed up on the age. She's not even in her twenties I think.
She scooted herself a little closer until her face was less than four inches away. Then she lowered her head on my shoulder and squeezed my hand a little.
I had no idea what she was trying to get at. Day one on her duty as housecarl and she wants to be with her thane. Seems a little quick, but then again I did that with my last relationships back in the real world. They didn't end as favorable as I wanted them to.
"Lydia," I started. She shifted her head and looked up at me slightly smiling. "You are one of the prettiest girls I've ever seen." I had to confess. People in the real world would be laughing their asses off if they were watching.
She smiled wider and wrapped her arm around my right arm. I hope Aela isn't watching, she would get a kick out of this.
::Cain's POV::
It's time to go to High Hrothgar to see these Greybeards. I'm starting to get a hang of this Dragonborn business. Me being this mythical hero that kills dragons. "Cain, you ready?" Bame asked me as he put his new axe in his belt.
"Yeah I'm good to go. Is it just you and me?"
"No, my housecarl is coming along. The road is pretty dangerous on the way there." He glanced over to Kevin and Steve. "Kevin, you should go take a look at the plot of land we got. And if you want, start thinking of a blueprint of a house for all of us."
"Okay, we'll see in a bit," Kevin replied. Bame said goodbye to others and we left for the huge mountain.
It wasn't very cold out thank goodness. But it looked cold up there. "Bame, where is the place exactly?"
He pointed at the mountain. "Right there, see it?" I squinted my eyes and searched for the place. Damn that's pretty far away.
"You saying that far up?"
"Yep, it'll take a while. Should get there by nightfall." Well this is going to be interesting. We're practically climbing to the top of a huge mountain. I wish a damn dragon could do us a favor and fly us up there.
There's chapter 12, I hope it was met to your expectations. I'll keep on going to chapter 13. Should be done soon.