Curious as to what Hazel looks like? Gosh where would you see a picture of her? Why here of course:
art/Skyrim-comic-spoiler-almost-295760121?q=gallery%3Afuzzy-britches%2F32470709&qo=54
Thank you so much for all your reviews ^_^ I'm sorry if I haven't got back to you, I've been really busy, but I really, really appreciate your kind words so much, It inspires me to write.
…
The quill scratched over the paper on every down stroke, the sound was amplified by the high stone walls. Despite the way the high roof bounced even the tiniest sound back the room was almost always silent, just the way the occupant liked it. The symbols the ink etched waited with a calm excitement for their start to meet end and become whole. The ruins faintly glowed as they were completed; sealing the magic they held with-in the page. The writer stopped suddenly, years of solitary in the silent room had made her aware to even the slightest misplaced noise. She twirled the quill between her fingers and looked over to the heavy wooden door from where she lay on her extravagant four poster bed.
"Don't just stand there," She snapped "Come in"
All remained seemingly silent for a moment before the thick iron bolt on the other side of the door grinded against its fastenings that held the thick oak block locked from the other side. The door creaked open a fraction and a nervous apprentice peaked through the crack. She sat up on her over sized bed, more to stretch herself than out of respect. When the initiate did nothing but cower before her she tilted her head with a strained expression and he swallowed loudly and managed to say "The arch mage has requested an audience with you, Mistress" without stuttering too often.
He watched her roll her eyes and knell over her book, placing the quill between the pages and shutting it.
"Oh for the god's sake" She growled as the cover let out a dull thud as it collided with the pages "Tell him I'm busy"
"He thought you might say that, Mistress," The apprentice said nervously clearing his throat "and he said too tell you it concerns your parents"
He watched as she suddenly went ridged and she stared straight at him.
"M-Mistress?" He asked quietly
She suddenly sprang from her bed, robes billowing behind her. The apprentice barely stepped back in time as the door was wretched open and she ran as fast as her legs could manage towards the arch mage's quarters.
.
The dunmer's thick red eyes slithered along watching the words he carved into the scroll with his exquisite feather, carved so that the tip held ink. He hadn't known such slender finger's could carry such force when they slammed down on the opposite side of the table making him jump.
"Mistress Hazel," He scolded picking up the over turned ink bottle that had managed to soak his paper "What have I told you abo-"
"Parents" She interrupted with the single word, leaning forward with a huge grin
Savos now cast his red eyes up to her in serious silence and flicked through a pile of papers on the table beside him until he found it. He handed the tattered page to her and she read the heading.
""The common tongue"? Really?" She scoffed with a smirk
"The story was featured in the black horse courier as well, just read"
Hazel's smirk turned to confusion and she turned her attention back to the paper between her fingers. He r confusion grew to wide eyed horror and she slammed the paper back on to the table, the magic in her fingers dissolving it to ash against the wood.
"It's not true" She spat
"I'm afraid it is, Mistress" Savos said gently
"I'm going to find them" She said sternly turning to march towards the door.
"Hazel!" The Arch mage called clambering out of his chair "It's not safe for you out there"
She stopped and turned to face him, eyes blazing.
"I've dealt with assassins and kidnappers and every sort of crap anyone can throw at me, I think I can handle myself just fine"
"I can't let you leave" Savos said sternly
"I'm of age now, you can't stop me" She challenged
"I forbid it"
Hazel stormed right up to him, dark magic streaming off her and swirling behind her.
"Don't forget your place and who you speak too, Arch mage" She hissed, mocking his lower title.
They stood in silence as Hazel challenged him with a defiant stare. He looked away in defeat and the darkness lifted from the room.
"Very well" He mumbled
"Mirabelle Ervine has been coming along well, she shall take my place while I'm gone" Hazel ordered "I'll leave at dawn."
She turned and walked out of the room in triumph.
.
The moon light danced off polished green scales and glittered off the dark water. Ridges of blue sat above the yellow eyes that wandered across the contract in his hands. He folded the sketch of his target and slipped it into the sealed pouch hanging from the back of his belt, the contract he screwed into a ball and ground up with his blunt back teeth before swallowing. The strip of plaid red and white fabric was looped and knotted at the front so it embraced his throat before he finished the look by pulling the braces to hold his ragged shorts up. He gave a quick flick of his muscular tail before diving off the high slanted rock and disappearing with barely a ripple under the glossy dark surface of the lake.
.
She had dressed in her favourite dress for this morning. It'd been custom made by the finest seamstress in Skyrim, a long cotton dress with an equally long blue jacket that buttoned at the throat with long princess sleeves and a leather corset that spanned from her hips to sternum, three gold chains slung horizontally down her stomach. The apprentices had eaten nothing but porridge for months after in order to pay for it but she didn't care, they said she could have anything she wanted and that's what she got. Savos was waiting for her at the entrance gate, the point she had never crossed since she arrived. She braced herself in case he had changed his mind but he cast her a weak smile.
"I'm sad to see you go, Mistress," He admitted "You're always welcome to return if you choose"
"I may some day," Hazel said dropping her guard "but for now I'm going to enjoy my freedom"
"You know we kept you locked away for your own safety?" Savos asked
Hazel forced a smile, swallowing all her vicious thoughts as to not ruin her chance of leaving.
"You did what you thought was best" She said
Savos nodded looking relived and Hazel cleared her throat.
"Well, I better get going I have a long journey ahead of me" She said
"Of course, safe travels, Hazel" He farewelled her
She tossed him a smile and cautiously made her way past and down the battered stone bridge. As she neared the end she quickened her steps, terrified someone would try and stop her only to take her back. Her boots hit the snow and she forced herself to look back, she let out a cry of joy to learn that she had not been followed. She drew looks from a few nords as she twirled happily before steadying herself, pointed in the right direction and sprinted away through the falling snow. The sun followed her from its place high above her as she marvelled at the world she left behind years ago. She walked down the road towards Windhelm gathering flowers and stuffing them in her pockets or holding them in bunches. She made her way up a hill past deep caves in the mountain side and past a long forgotten fort standing silently beside the road. The wide path led her through a small valley of stone and spat her out to a short walk to a crowded sign post. She looked up at the cluster of marked arrows and then down to her map before making her way to the right. She trudged down the small hill looking up at the great expanse of open sky before her until a river glided at her side. She looked over at the rippling blue vein as it tumbled along beside her and swerved away to dive over a cliff and meet her again at the bottom. She passed a saw mill and its owner's owners houses its workers groggily going about their morning chores. She crept through the settlement not wanting to draw attention to herself and continued over a bridge flanked by a frothing stream of falling rapids. She stopped to admire the closeness of the raging water and reached out a hand to be splashed by tiny freckles of water. Hazel inspected the droplets as closely as her eyes would focus before smiling and sprinting over to lean over the other side of the bridge, the river dropped lower and ran off another drop to meet up with the thickest part of the river that ran straight through the arch supporting the long bridge leading over to the high walls of Windhelm. Hazel heard a deep splash behind her and turned, a boulder that had been perched beneath the coursing water in the middle of the water fall was no longer there. She assumed the water rushing over its back finally tossed it off and continued on her way. She passed a high pointed rock holding a statue of Talos up towards the sky, Then sun had climbed over the mountains to look back down to face him. Hazel stopped at the snow drenched slope up towards the bridge leading across to the great city. She contemplated the thrill of navigating a whole city on her own but then thought better of it and pushed on again. After a while the earth began to dry out and the snow lay behind her at blotchy hot springs la over the rock, un-even flats around her. Finally nothing but pale green high land lay sprawled out before her and she gladly welcomed the warmer wind carrying all the smells she had long forgotten. The climb up to Riften required many stops for her. Although she had climbed many stairs from living in the college, those where known, repetitive motions, she could of navigated the college in her sleep. This was new and she strained to force herself to keep going, exhaustion forcing her to lean backwards on the steep path and catch her breath. With one more twist left in the path before she reached the top she stopped to throw herself down on her back and let out a fierce sigh. She tossed an arm over her face as the sun dipped in the sun and blinded her. She lay with her chest heaving until finally her ribs slowed and she moved her arm slightly to peak out at the mountains caged by slim pines. The rumble of a cart made her jump up and out of her day dream and she quickly brushed herself off and continued up the hill. She stood at the side of the road when she met the cart to let it pass before staggering the last few paces up. She flicked her head over her shoulder and smiled smugly in victory over the road behind her. She carried on and finally the stone that melted down into wood hovering over the lake came into view. She walked towards its gates in marvel and was suddenly brought to a halt as she bumped into a guard blocking the entrance.
"Oh, I beg your pardon" She said going to move to the side around him
Another guard blocked her path and she took a step back.
"Pretty little thing like you shouldn't be wandering about by yourself" The bigger of the two stated
"I just want to get through the city" Hazel said ignoring him
"I think we can arrange that" The other guard said his smirk hidden by his helmet
"You see, no one's getting in at the moment, but for one as beautiful as yourself I'm sure we can work something out" The first guard said taking a step towards her and she screwed up her fists.
Both guards attention suddenly focused behind her and what felt like a thin, armour wrapped arm slide along her lower back making Hazel clench up in surprise.
"There you are, princess, I was wondering if you'd ever arrive" A soft, foreign accent purred beside her.
Hazel looked up at the owner of the voice to find a sleek scaled argonian with a confident gaze filling his golden eyes.
"Back off, dock worker" The guard growled
"I wonder what the guard captain would think of you harassing young ladies" The argonian said, causing the guard to back down "Now, I'm late for work if you'd kindly let us through"
The guards held their ground for a moment before the leader turned to unlock the gate and the smaller guard went to stand back at his post with his head turned from them. The argonian moved is arm along her back to push her forward gently towards the open gate. Hazel stumbled forward but quickly took her queue and slipped through the door quickly before the guards changed their minds. She spun around to face her rescuer who had closed the gate behind them and was straightening the length of striped cloth tied around his long neck.
"You've obviously never been in these parts before," He smiled at her
"Thanks for that, all I want is to cut through here anyway, I would have just gone around the wall if I knew it was going to be so much trouble" Hazel gushed her thanks
"That happens a lot around here, you just have to act like you know more than they do" The lizard said "So where are you headed to this far south?"
"I need to get to Cyrodiil" She said
"That's quite the journey, I've always wanted to go back there but I don't earn nearly enough to go myself"
"You've been there before?" Hazel asked
"Oh, I used to live there; it's much nicer than Skyrim" The argonian replied looking in the docks
Hazel's brain ticked over quickly and she came to a decision she was hesitant to put in to action.
"Well, I should get to work or Bolli will have my hide" He said turning to leave
"Wait," Hazel called making him turn back "if you've been there before, would you escort me?"
"I suppose I could, but like I said I just don't have the money"
"I'll hire you to be my guide, you seem to know what you're doing" She said worried he might decline and she'd be left to decipher the behaviour of the outside world by herself
The argonian laughed at this.
"I suppose I can't argue with that" He said "not every day you get paid to travel"
"Only," She interrupted "only, if I don't find what I'm looking for in Cyrodiil you help me get to Morrowind"
"Well, I've never been to Morrowind but I can help you get across the border sure enough"
"That's exactly what I need" Hazel said pleased she didn't have to go alone "I'm Hazel, by the way"
"Jethro," The lizard said addressed himself with a small bow "Shall we?" He gestured towards gate at the back of the city
They left the city and Jethro led the way through old beaten dirt tracks until coming out on to a road and following it to the border. They followed a smooth path through the mountains and down into Cyrodiil. The setting sun throwing stars across the snow as they passed a giant fortress perched on the mountain side and trudged down to Bruma.
"We should stop here the night, it'll be dark soon" Jethro announced "Where is it you want to get too exactly?"
Hazel actually hadn't thought that far ahead, she hadn't even expected to be allowed to leave.
"The Imperial city" She decided, remembering a book she read stating how it was the biggest city in Cyrodiil and decided it'd be a good place to start.
"Alright, well we'll get there by tomorrow" He said as they entered Bruma
They ate dinner at the inn and Hazel paid for their meals and respective rooms.
.
Slitted eyes dilated as they slid open and became glazed with firelight. They focused on the pale skinned orc beauty on the other side of the fire and pushed himself up silently into a crouch, looking around the darkness. Convinced nothing by night creatures watched him from the shadows he drew the dagger strapped to his thigh. He approached her cautiously unsure if her magic allowed her to sense him even in sleep. The amulet hung from around her neck and pooled onto the ground as he positioned the knife over her temple and put his palm over the pommel to push it in quickly. He suddenly felt eyes on him and brought his head up slowly to see two almond eyes staring back at him. The fire illuminated the straw coloured flesh and painted a gloss on the pure black eyes pointed straight at him. Jethro shrunk back from the Altmer child who sniffed and wiped his nose on a dirty sleeve connected to a shirt far too big for his tiny body.
"What do you want?" He hissed fear freezing his joints and straining his voice
The boy's mouth shaped the words to revile he was mute, no words touched the air but as his lips moved a voice like howling wind rushed through the argonian's thoughts.
"Javarkas" The far away echo invading his thoughts replied
.
"Jethro?"
I open my eyes and two globes containing the brightest of skies clouded with concern look down at me.
"You were talking in your sleep," The woman the eyes belong too tells me "anyway, I've ordered us some breakfast when you're ready"
With that she leaves the room and I sit up and rub the side of my head. I sensed him outside even before he stalked in silently and shut the door.
"Already?" I growl at him baring my teeth
"Astrid wants to know what you think you're doing" The man who shares my skin and who has also probably been watching me since I left states.
"Will she never trust my judgment?" I ask him bitterly
"Well, Brother since that stunt you pulled with your last contract probably not" He said looking down his snout at me
"That was an accident" I hiss tossing back the blankets on my hired bed and standing to challenge him.
"I'm just doing as I'm told, something you can't seem to grasp lately" My twin says pushing my chest lightly with thick black claws
I slap his hand away.
"What have you come here for?" I ask
"Like I said, Astrid wants to know what you think you're doing regarding the girl" He repeats
I give him a disbelieving laugh verging on a menacing scoff.
"What does it look like?" I say "I got a lucky break; I'm her leading her through Cyrodiil"
"Your job was-"
"I know my job" I snarl "let me do it"
My brother goes silent and backs down.
"If Astrid doesn't trust me to regain my honour she should have ended me the day I brought dishonour on to us all, but she didn't. I was told to be sure this time, so I'm going to be fucking sure. So run back to Astrid and tell her she'll have her amulet and the girl's heart if she really is the right one this time"
My brother gives me a nod and turns to leave.
"Oh and Veezara," I say and he pauses but doesn't turn "follow me again and Astrid will get your heart too"
I watch him go before turning to dress and join my target for breakfast.