Chapter 4: An old comrade
Skyrim
Dawnstar
Sauron walked on the frosted ground of the shores, the land was quiet too quiet. He walked along the snow slopes of a hill, and came across a village covered in snow with Saruman, and a legion of Orcs, and Urukhais following behind. Sauron had never seen this much snow not even the coldest parts of Middle Earth could not compare to this.
Sauron looked at Saruman "We will camp here for a few nights", he said.
Saruman nodded, and looked at the hungry legion "You heard him, gather food, unload the cargos, set the camp. Move NOW!" he ordered, and the legion roared in relief, and raced each other into a forest at a distance to hunt an unfortunate animal to feast.
The night was even colder than day, the ground was soaked in blood, and was littered with animal bones, and fur. Sauron looked at the mess in amusement, he imagined of what form of torture he should give to the Isildur's heir as he walked to an old looking tower on a hill. He entered the building, it was in tatters, there were benches all old, and broken with age, and there was a wooden pedestal which held a leather book. Sauron looked at the book curiously, he picked it up, and opened it, the title of the book was 'The Book of Daedra', but he lost interest, and burned the book. The tower looked much bigger from the outside 'There must be a secret entrance' as the lord of Mordor had his back faced a wall with a picture of a ghost like figure rising from the ground, it then glowed an illuminating purple light, Sauron turned, and put his hand through the wall 'I knew it', and walked through the wall.
He almost forgot that the Ring Wraiths had followed him, its' not that they were undetectable but more like they were so weaker than Sauron that their powers were nothing but a breeze to him. Then a smell hit him, it was the smell of death, and decay, he, and the Wraiths quietly walked down the steps, and found a body. Although it was about five years or more the blood and multiple sword wounds were recognizable, Sauron realised that he has seen this type of kill before, and only on person could do this.
He grew a wicked smile, and turned to his Wraiths "Do any of you recognised this?"
The Wraiths examine the body for a moment, then spoke "It is Phantom Malevolence's kill", said one of the Wraiths.
Then one of them looked at him "But my lord that would mean…"
Sauron's eyes burned like how he was an eye before the ring returned to him "She is alive, my second in command, my utmost trusted general, my queen of darkness", the symbols on his ring grew brighter 'I shall find you, then the world will be ours'.
Skuldufun
The ruins of Skuldufun were still littered with the bodies of Drauga, and dragon bones, it was filthy but it will do. Everyone was storing the ruins with supplies, and needs, Nirvana walked through the ruins remembering how much fun she had when she cut through the Draugas as if they were nothing. She heard a few coffins open behind, she turned, and saw three Drauga Scourge, and one Death Lord she smiled, and unsheathe her dual Daedric swords. She sheathe her dual blades, and walked to the top floor were the Dragon Priest staff was still where she left it 'I wonder if I could go back to Savongared. Nah, it's not my time' she then walked down. She saw Brynjolf stared at the freshly killed Draugas as they lay there, although they don't have blood but she can still smell copper, she walked past him trying to ignore him.
The Jarls gathered at a stone table waiting for her "Sorry to keep you waiting", she took a place next to Jarl Ulfric.
Balgruff looked at her "So what is the plan old friend", he said.
She was still guilty for getting him kicked out of his own home "Okay so we might have an upper hand. Odahviing has reported that he saw a fleet of five ships have dock at Dawnstar a couple of hours ago. He also said that there were legions of monsters".
The Jarls murmured to each other, than Jarl Irlief spoke "What do we do when they find us?"
"We they reach we will already be prepared", she smiled "Told the blacksmiths to muster up new armours, and weapons".
"And what do we?" asked Jarl Korir.
"I want you the Jarls to train your guards into soldiers, and warriors", she said,
"Alright then", said Balgruff "Come on you heard what the lady said", they all exit.
She walked outside head straight to Adrianna at the Black Forge, she has handed her enough materials for a 3000 full sets of Daedric armour. She saw all the blacksmiths from the Holds are doing their best to muster as much armour as they can in a day.
"Slow down there all of you", she said "Let me take over, you guys rest" she took a hammer, and started bending hot metals.
Adriana wiped her sweat of her brow "Okay, but can you handle this all by yourself?" she asked.
She was going to answer but realised that she was right "Don't worry she won't do this alone", said Aragorn behind her, she saw that Gimli, Legolas, and Lydia following.
"Alright then we're going to take a break", Adriana said, she and the other blacksmiths went to take a break.
"So what do we do?" Gimli asked.
"Well I was preparing armours for the soldiers. May be you, and Legolas could help smith weopons. Here let me show you all how to do it, you take this ebony ore, and…" after 10 minutes of explaining "Got it?"
"Bah, this is as easy as drinking a mug of ale", he and Legolas went to work on Daedric weapons, Aragorn, Lydia, and Nirvana worked on the armour.
Lydia looked confused "So wait you dwarfs are not elves in your world?" she asked.
"Nope, but not that's not the strangest thing of us dwarfs, people always mistaken the females for male dwarfs back at Middle Earth", Gimli said as he sharpened a Daedric battle axe.
"Whys that?"
"Probably it's because that sound like us, and are short like us"
Aragorn pretended to stroke a fake long beard "It's because of their beards".
Lydia's eyes widen "The female dwarfs have beards?!"
"Aye even this elf here has mistaken my mother for my father's brother", he glared at Legolas, but he ignored the dwarf.
"And here to think that you dwarfs don't have females, and just sprout out of the ground like potatoes", Nirvana said, and everyone laughed.
"That would be utterly nonsense", Gimli said.
"It's getting dark we should take all these weapons into the ruins", they carried as much weapons as they can into the ruins, they handed it to Farengier, and the other mages "Could you all help enchant these".
Toldifur stood, and examine the armours and weapons "Alright but we don't have soul gems".
Nirvana groan "I forgot about that. Okay I will head Markath, and grab all the soul gems in my house". She went to a room, and changed into her Nightingale uniform, and brought a large empty sack with her, she was going to walk out the doors but Lydia stopped her.
"Where are you going?" the Housecart asked.
"I'm going to Markath to get soul gems", she said, and brushed passed Lydia.
"But what if the enemy is there".
"That's why I'm wearing my Ebony Mail, and Nightingale armour. Don't worry Lydia I'll be fine", she then walked out, and called Odahviing.
"You know this is a stupid idea", Odahviing said in dragon tongue.
"But I'm all about stupid ideas, and reckless missions", she replied back in the same language.
"And what about me, what if they spot me".
"That's why you're going wait for me on the mountains, when you see a mage light shooting up at the sky then you swoop, and fly me away. See it's simple"
Odahviing landed quietly at a farm near Markath, Nirvana got off, and sneaked quietly as the red dragon flew into the clouds. She saw a couple of Orcs with torches walking, it was easy for her to slip past them, when she entered the stone city it was full with Orcs and Urukhais but that was not the worst. A Nazgul was on a stone tower keeping watch 'Oh for the love of Talos, you got to be kidding me", she used Shadow of Nocturnal ability, and carefully tried not bumped into Orcs or Urukhais but failed, she accidentally pushed an Urukhais forward causing him face plant into the water.
He turned around, and saw a cowering Orc where Nirvana had been, he grabbed the Orc by the collar "You pushed me didn't you!" the Urukhai yelled.
The Orc shook his head "N-No I didn't push", he said.
"Don't lie to me I can see it in your eyes", he unsheathe his sword "Come on! Let's fight!"
Orc no longer cowering "Told you I didn't do it, but if insist on fighting then you're going to be sorry". Then fight broke up, all the Orcs gathered, the Nazgul's attention was focused on the fight 'This is the perfect opportunity' she carefully slipped past the crowds on climbed up the stone steps, and into her home. There no Orcs in here, her home was still clean, and the fireplace was still burning, went to her room, and grabbed all the soul gems from her chest, and put it into the sack. She got out she, and realised the fight was over, she head down the stone steps, and reached for the door but the Nazgul was there guarding it, she quietly stepped back, but snapped a twig. The Nazgul turned sharply at her direction, he looked dead into her eyes 'Oh no, and the invisibility effect will wear off in 20 seconds it will take a miracle to save me now 'but a miracle happened there were shrieks of panic coming from Understone Keep, the Nazgul ran to the shrieks with his sword unsheathe 'Speak of the devil, talk about a miracle'.
Nirvana couldn't help but laugh 'They must have awaken a Dweammer Guardian from the museum', she walked out of the city, and ran to the farm where she signalled Odahviing with mage light. She climbed on him and they rose in the air "I told you it was simple", she smirked.
The Dragonborn came back with her dragon companion Odahviing, with a sack of glowing gems which were identified as soul gems. She gave the soul gems to the mages, and walked to the Fellowships.
"You guys should be getting some rest", Nirvana said "I'll be taking the first watch", she then yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"Now, now. You're the one that needs rest", said Gimli.
"No. I have to keep watch", she said sleepily and kind of mumbled.
"She seems to be half asleep", Aragorn chuckled.
"I will take the watch", said Legolas but she was faster than him, and walked through the doors drunken style.
The Fellowship chased after her so she wouldn't hurt herself, but found her collapsed on Odahviing's wing. The Fellowships couldn't help but laugh, she looked like an energetic child who had exhaust herself for a whole day of playing, and the red dragon also fell asleep.
Legolas looked at the others "So I'll watch not only the base but a girl, and dragon".
Gimli pat his back "Have fun", he said and chuckled on the way back.
Few hours later…
The Dragonborn woke up, she stretched and yawned "How long have I been asleep?" she asked.
"For a couple of hours", replied Aragorn.
"Okay. Where is Odahviing?"
Aragorn frowned "You're sleeping on him".
She turned and saw she has been laying on a scaly wing "Oh. Wait! A couple of hours!"
"Yes couple of hours, why what's wrong?"
She looked at him darkly "Nazguls. That's what's wrong".
Aragorn stood up "How many were there?"
"I only saw one but there might be more".
"I have to tell the others about this" he walked into the temple.
Nirvana looked at the sky it was a pale light 'I want to look at the sunrise' she shook Odahviing "Odahviing, hey wake up", but he only shifted his head. 'That's it' she smacked him on the snout, and he jerked awake.
He looked at her "What is it?" he grumbled.
"Can you take me to see the sunrise?"
"Dragons are not meant to bring mortals like you for a joy ride", he said, and drifted back to sleep.
She then got on her knees, and cupped her hands together "Please just this once".
He looked at her with no interest "You said that the last time".
"I promise this would be my last", she made puppy eyes.
He sighed "You're just going to ask again anyway", he got up and arched like a cat "Climb on", he muttered. She smiled and climbed on his back, they rose high in the air but saw no sun.
She sigh "Every day the darkness grows, little by little it blocks away the light, and soon all that light will be gone", Odahviing didn't know what the young woman was doing until he felt tears on his scale. She couldn't hide it anymore, she let it all out her cries were full of sorrows, the red dragon flew above the clouds were nothing can touch the light. The sun was shining a brilliant orange, but for some reason he could see a shadow of a head wolfs with its fangs bared.
"Why does the sun shadowed wolfs head?" he asked.
She smiled the "Dawn of the Wolf", she said quietly, she wiped her eyes.
"What is that?"
"It was my people's symbol of hope, and honour. The head of the great wolf, his fangs bared to face its enemies".
"Your people, but aren't you a Nord".
"It was a lie I had tell to protect you all from a fate worse than anything the world has ever seen" she said "When I was a young girl my grandfather told me that this symbol does not represent our courage but the peoples themselves are the courage".
"Where is he now, your grandfather?"
She closed her eyes "Dead", he was going to say something else "Take me down", and he obeyed.
Markath
Sauron looked down at his army of Urukhai and Orcs, his Wraiths manage to take down the golden machine. He walked into the stone keep, there were was small towers inside and most of them have collapsed, he walked into a throne room made of stone. There was four golden machines two were sphere, and the other two were large and tall. Sauron sat on the throne, he shifted uncomfortably 'Is everything here made of stone', than one of his Wraith came in with a dark cloak in his hand.
He kneeled down "My lord, one of the Orcs have found this at the gates", he said in black speech, and handed him the cloak.
Sauron was going to ask him why did he give him this cape when he noticed a scent, he smelled the cloak "I recognized this scent. It's hers", he replied in the same language.
"It was a few thousand years ago. She was here before".
"She might have been captured. We will follow her scent which will not only lead us to her but will to the fools that have taken her".
"When?"
"In three days, and I think I have a plan to get more soldiers", he looked at the golden machines, and smiled evilly.
Saruman came in to answer his master's call "You called my lord", he bowed.
He looked down at Saruman "Wizard, can you use resurrecting spells?" he asked in the normal langue.
"Yes my lord", the white wizard replied.
"Good, I want you resurrect those", he pointed at the golden machines.
Saruman's face became tensed "But if I do, I can't guarantee they will listen…"
"Just do it!" Sauron cut him off, the wizard hesitated but nodded. He pointed his staff at the machines and a dark sickly green light was blasted at them. A few moments passed, then the machines began to glow with the same green light, the moved and thrashed around. One of the tall ones was looking at an Orc by the entrance, and blasted hot steam from its chest. Sauron got up, he walked to the golden machines with a calm pace, one of the sphere-like machines strike him with its spears with great speed but Sauron easily dodged it, his armoured hand was on fire then he strike the machine. The sphere-like machine shook violently and was now bursting in flames until it was charred but was still moving, it was black instead of gold, a flame coloured glow could be seen in between the gaps and eyes.
Saruman looked surprised and was more stun when it began attacking the other machines, the attacks act like a virus infection when it was its weapon hand strikes them. A few minutes later all the golden machines have turned into the same black and fiery colour like the first.
Sauron smiled at his work, he then saw an orc by the corner of his eye "You there! Step forward" he ordered the orc.
He nervously walk to his master "Yes my lord Sauron?" he asked cautiously.
"Are there any more of these?" he pointed to the machines.
"Yes my ledge. There are more in an underground network".
"Saruman I want you to resurrect the rest of them", he said to Saruman without turning.
"Yes my lord", Saruman bowed and turned with the machines with him.