Chapter Nineteen: Mysterious Nightmares
Anjaarra stood in the frontlines of a battlefiled, her body clad in steel armor and her furry hands gripping a steel warhammer. She looked down at herself in confusion, trying to wrap her mind around what was happening. She could hear a man shouting about glory and honor but she didn't know who it was. She looked up to see a man walking around with a bear skin draped over his shoulders and head. The cat-woman realized that it was the deceased Galmar Stone-Fist. But why he was in her dream and what exactly was happening was beyond her.
The Khajiit tried to turn her head to the side to look at her comrades but she couldn't move at all. She struggled and strained but couldn't move a muscle. Her mouth opened to scream but nothing came out, not even a rasp of air. She tried again but nothing came out once was a loud shout from Galmar and her muscles suddenly propelled her body forward, forcing the Khajiit to run towards what looked like a battle ready Whiterun.
Anjaarra tried to turn away but her legs kept moving her forward to the first line of defense. There were plenty of guards at the ready, their swords and shields raised as she ran forward and raised her warhammer high. She brought it down with unknown strength, crushing the helmet of an Imperial soldier. She grimaced as her body turned and attacked another guard, this time the blow striking the man in the chest and sending him flying into a wooden spike. She felt her stomach lurch but her body moved as if controlled by a different mind, turning towards another group of Whiterun soldiers.
The uncontrollable arms of the Khajiit raised the warhammer high above her shoulder and she swung it wide, striking the soldiers in front of her to the side. Her mind screamed at her body to stop and run but it ignored all commands as her body loomed over the fallen soldiers, the warhammer raising once again only to fall upon the weaponless guards…
Anjaarra lurched and bucked in her sleep, her whimpers filling the silent air. Hulgar had been awakened by her thrashings moments ago but she wouldn't wake up to him. He pushed on her shoulder and shouted her name several times. He even spilt water over her but nothing would wake her. All the Nord could do was stare at her and hope that she would wake up eventually.
"How long has she been like this?" Hert asked from her bed, watching the convulsing cat-woman. Hulgar stared at the Khajiit before shrugging and looking up at Hert.
"I don't know… I just woke up a few minutes ago but I would guess at least an hour or more. She won't wake up to anything…" The Nord man sighed and shook his head, looking back down at Anjaarra. Worry was obviously sketched across his face, Hert could easily see that. She quietly stood up and walked over to the pair and knelt beside the cat-woman.
"Has she been in contact with anything abnormal? Like vampires or ghosts or something? Anything that could have transferred something to her." Hert asked the Nord man. Hulgar slowly shook his head, trying to think back. The only thing that really happened was the spider attack but she had recovered from that. But then there was…
"She had destroyed a soul gem… To protect me." Hulgar said quietly, staring at the Khajiit's face. Her feline features were contorted in pain and horror, her body still convulsing. Hert nodded with realization.
"That's probably what it is." She said. Hulgar looked up at her and opened his mouth to say something but she asked a question before he could. "Did she have direct contact with it?" Hulgar closed his mouth and nodded his head.
"Yeah, she attacked it with a dagger. Then it exploded and flung her into the river." Hulgar said quietly, looking back down at the prone cat-woman. Hert nodded again before sadly shaking her head.
"Then I think I know what's happening. I read somewhere that if soul gems aren't destroyed properly, the person who had the closest contact to it will witness freak visions and nightmares. They're mostly memories of the person's soul but no one really knows for sure…" Hert explained, staring down at Anjaarra. Hulgar did the same, softly touching the cat-woman's hand.
"How long will it last?" He asked the Nord woman without looking at her. Hert shrugged, sighing sadly.
"It could last maybe only a few more minutes… Or it could last a week. I really have no idea." She said in a defeated tone. With a heavy sigh, the woman got to her feet, patting Hulgar on the shoulder. "She'll recover soon, I promise. You just try and get some rest, okay?" Hulgar nodded, still staring at Anjaarra's face. Hert looked at him before walking back to her bed and laying down. But Hulgar sat beside the cat-woman, gripping her hand as she tossed and turned in her sleep.
Anjaarra's body continued to fight the Imperial soldiers that tried to protect Whiterun. Their attempts were all in vain, though. The warhammer in the cat-woman's hands was stained with dark crimson blood and it coated her gauntlets and chest plate. She had witnessed the feeling of vomiting but nothing had come out of her body as her body continued to fight. Her arms swung out wide and caved in a helmet of a soldier before she heard a sudden booming sound. Her head turned towards the gate that lead into the city just in time to see bodies of Stormcloack soldiers flying out in all directions. Anjaarra stared in bewildered surprise before her body quickly moved in that direction, seeing a man wearing all daedric armor battling with Galmar and… Hulgar?!
Anjaarra felt her jaw drop as she watched the two Nords battle the daedric armored warrior. Her body felt rigid as she watched the trio battle each other for an unknown amount of time. But reality hit the Khajiit when a sudden pang of pain shot up through her calf. She turned and saw an Imperial raise his sword to hack at her leg again. But her arms swung the warhammer hard and the steel mallet struck the man in the chest. The man stumbled back and the mallet was raised high above her head. Anjaarra squeezed her eyes shut and felt the weight of the warhammer slowly disappear.
The Khajiit slowly peeked her eyes open to see that the scenery had changed. She was in some sort of chasm or grotto, a stream flowing through the center of the place and trees growing around the edges of the oval shaped place. There was a stone brick building built into the side of the chasm and stairs were carved into the stoney hills that jutted out into the space. Wooden tables and braziers littered the space, men and women in Stormcloack uniforms milling about. Anjaarra knew this place. It was Bloated Man's Grotto.
S'Baadar had told her about this place when the caravan he was with made a stop there. It was an overgrown little hole in the mountains where the last of the Blades, a man by the name of Bolar made his final stand and created a shrine to Talos. It was just a simple statue of the mighty Talos and a few crumbling walls built around him. But the place grew into disrepair and no one knew about it. Except for when a group of lost and cold Stormcloacks stumbled upon the sanctuary and decided to make it one of their hideouts. And so they cleaned up the grotto and transformed it into a secret base for the Stormcloacks.
Anjaarra felt her body start to move forward in slow steps, looking around at the other soldiers. They looked back at her and nodded their greetings towards her as she walked pass. Her feet were moving towards the stone building up on the hill, her boots echoing against the stone. She looked around at the beauty and wonder of the place, her eyes drinking in the sights before she walked into the building. A stone statue of Talos stood to the side of the bulding while a large table with a map of Skryim was opposite of it. The cat-woman's body knelt down and bowed before the man-god's statue. She was held in that position before she stood back up and looked over at the map table.
Hulgar stood next to it, anger clearly sketched onto his otherwise placid face. He was looking over the map, his hands placed on the edges of the wooden table. Next to him stood another soldier, but Anjaarra didn't know who he was. But he didn't have a serene look on his face either. The cat-woman stepped towards the table, her gaze returning to Hulgar as he looked up from the map.
"Well, any news on the Imperial caravan?" The Nord asked. Anjaarra stared at him with confusion but she felt her head shake no.
"No, nothing, sir." A voice said. Anjaarra gasped inwardly when she realized that it was her vioce. Or at least, the voice of the mind that was controlling her body. She stared at Hulgar as he sighed impatiently and banged his fists against the table.
"Dammit! We could've used that to our advantage." Hulgar said as he stood up and pushed his hand through his hair, glaring at the wall. The man beside Hulgar cleared his throat before speaking up.
"Perhaps it's best this way." The man said quietly, staring at Hulgar. The Nord quickly turned on his heels and stared at him.
"What?! After all we've done?" Hulgar angrily shook his head, glaring at the man. "No. That is out of the question. This isn't what Ulfric would wa-…"
"Ulfric is dead, Hulgar!" The man shouted at him, his face reddening as Hulgar stopped and stared at him. "He and Galmar are dead and they have been for almost eight months now. Everyone else can see it but you! When will you learn that the war is over with?!" Hulgar glared at the man.
"You just don't get it, do you, Rolaf?" Hulgar asked bitterly. Anjaarra looked over at the other Nord, seeing him glare at Hulgar. "That's what the Empire wants and those damn elves. They want us to roll over and be quiet. But that's not what I'm about to do!" Hulgar turned away and started to walk towards the door.
"It doesn't matter. You'll be forced to soon enough." Rolaf said to Hulgar, who stopped and turned around to watch the man pull out his sword. Anjaarra gasped and felt her arms quickly pull out her warhammer. Hulgar waved his hand for her to stop and her arms froze over her shoulder, holding the warhammer tight as she slowly lowered her arms.
"The Thalmor are on their way at this moment. They know everyone here and they will hunt us down." Rolaf continued, his sword still pointed towards Hulgar. The Nord glared harder as the man continued to speak. "I did this as a favor to all of us, Hulgar. You were leading us on a suicide mission and I wasn't about to allow you to kill us all just because its your glory mission." Rolaf shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry, Hulgar…" The man finished, raising his sword to strike at the Nord, but Anjaarra was quicker. Her arms quickly swung out and hit Rolaf in the chest, sending him flying into the wall. The man dropped his sword and slouched down against the wall but that didn't slow down Anjaarra's body as she ran forward and swung the mallet again, smashing in the man's skull.
"You were always one for overkill…" She heard Hulgar mumble as she turned back around to face him. He was shaking his head slowly, staring at her.
"Do you think what he said was true?" The man's voice asked through Anjaarra's body. Hulgar stared at her before shrugging.
"I… I really have no idea." The Nord pulled out his sword. "But I'm not going to take a chance with it. If you'll fight with me for one last time…" Hulgar said, holding out his free hand. Anjaarra looked at the hand as her body extended her hand and gripped the Nord's wrist. They shook it briskly before releasing their grip.
"I will always follow you, Hulgar." The voice said. Anjaarra watched as he nodded his approval before turning and leaving the building. The cat-woman slowly followed him outisde, seeing most of the soldiers in the grotto stop and turn to look at Hulgar. He stopped at the top of the stairs, looking around at the soldiers before clearing his throat.
"I'm not going to sugar coat this for all of you. There was a traitor among us and he has told the Thalmor where we are." Hulgar clearly spoke out, the sound of gasps and growls echoing from the crowd. Hulgar raised his hands to quiet them down. "We have no idea whether what he said was true or not but I will not sit idle while there could be Thalmor storming in here any second now. So, I want you all on high alert. Go to your stations and keep the Thalmor back. Make them regret ever trying to take back what is rightfully ours. And remember, we all die and we will all meet in Savngarde when this is over!" Hulgar shouted out, the soldiers below him cheering out, their swords and axes raised high above their head.
Anjaarra stared at Hulgar, a soft smile playing across her lips. Even in the face of danger, he made sure everyone held strong and had the courage to defend what they believed in. Hulgar glanced back over his shoulder and whispered quietly.
"Be ready for anything. I suspect that the Thalmor will be attacking soon." Hulgar walked down the steps, leaving Anjaarra nodding to herself before following close behind him. She knew that a battle would soon come and she was anxious about it. She didn't want to be forced to fight again but she had little choice or control over her body.
Soldiers, both men and women, scuttled around the grotto, grabbing their weapons and putting their helmets on. Everyone was preparing for the unexpected and Hulgar was making sure everyone was going to fight to their last breath. Anjaarra followed close behind the Nord, the pair of them patrolling the grotto and the outer lying area until the unexpected finally came.
"Thalmor!" A sentry shouted as he ran into the grotto, everyone turning to face him. An arrow had pierced through his stomach but he made every effort he could to tell everyone that they were under attack. The sentry dropped dead to the ground, showing a horde of Thalmor rushing through the tunnel and into the area.
"Everyone! To arms!" Hulgar shouted, pulling out his war axes and raising them high as everyone roared in rebellion and charged forward to fight with the Thalmor. Anjaarra had lifted up her warhammer and shouted out a battlecry as she also charged into the fray, her arms swinging the steel mallet into the choas. Her stomach churned a bit at the carnage but it wasn't as bad as she had witnessed with the Imperial soldiers. She obviously despised the Thalmor and she knew that if she had control over her body, she would have a wicked smirk on her face.
Her body stepped into the middle of the choas, cries of pain and anger ringing in her ears as the elves and Nords fought each other. The Khajiit swung out her arms and struck a golden elf in the face, his body flying back into a few other Thalmor. The warhammer swung out again and crushed the helmet of a Justiciar. A shout rippled through Anjaarra's throat as she struck out another pair of Thalmor, striking them to the ground and raising her warhammer high before she heard an all too familiar booming sound.
The "boom" struck the Khajiit, sending her flying back along with a couple of other Nords. She collided into the ground and skidded to a halt, her vision dazed and blurry. Her hands raised and rubbed at her eyes, her sight starting to focus again. And then she saw him. It was the man with daedric armor. It was the Dragonborn!
Anjaarra's head quickly snapped to the side to see Hulgar. His eyes glowed with hate and his face grew crimson with rage as he shouted out in a yell of defiance before quickly charging forward. Anjaarra sat and watched as the Dragonborn turned to face the Nord, raising his swords to deflect the blows of the Stormcloacks war axes. Hulgar swung madly and quickly, his axes trying to find a weak point in the legend's defenses. But there didn't seem to be one. Anjaarra's head snapped to the side and stared at a line of archers who were perched up on a cliff.
"Archers! Fire at the Thalmor and fend them off of Hulgar if they try to intervene!" The voice shouted through Anjaarra's mouth. The archers stared at her before giving a quick nod, quickly notching arrows and firing at the Thalmor. Anjaarra watched a few of the elves fall before shakily getting to her feet. She took a few steps forward and snatched up her warhammer, looking towards the entrance of the grotto. Hulgar and the Dragonborn still battled in the entranceway, the clanging of metal against deformed, alien metal ringing through the air. The Stormcloacks resumed fighting the Thalmor but it seemed like they were trying to press forward to the legendary warrior. And that was what Anjaarra's body had in mind.
The cat-woman's feet quickly walked forward, her arms batting away any Thalmor that got in her way. The steel mallet crushed and bashed the elves, clearing a path to the front of the grotto. It didn't take long for her to reach the pair of combatants. The Dragonborn had pinned Hulgar against a wall and had his swords raised to deal the final blow but Anjaarra shouted out and struck the Dragonborn in the back. He cried out in pain and stumbled forward, one of his daedric swords slashing across Hulgar's chest. The Nord yelped out in pain, but the rage on his face won out the pain as he quickly swung out with both of his war axes and struck the Dragonborn in his side. The steel war axes knicked the armor before bouncing off.
The Dragonborn quickly regained his feet and swung around to face the Nord and the Khajiit. Anjaarra raised her warhammer and struck out at the Dragonborn but he quickly raised both of his blades to block the attack. Hulgar jumped in and slashed at the warrior's side again, this time the war axes bit through the armor and into the flesh of the Dragonborn. He shouted out in pain and quickly slashed out at Hulgar but he swung widely and struck the stone wall. Anjaarra quickly swung low and struck the warrior behind his knee, making him fall to a knee. The Dragonborn called out in pain again as Hulgar quickly brought his war axes down hard on the Dragonborn's helmet, splitting the head piece in several places. The Nord raised his war axes, the helmet popping off with them.
Anjaarra gasped at the face of the Dragonborn. He was a round faced Nord, his eyes wide with fear as he stared up at the pair hovering over him. Hulgar hesitated for only a moment before he shook the helmet off of his war axes and placed the weapons against the warrior's neck.
"You are a disgrace to all Nords and I hope the Daedra eat your soul." Hulgar hissed in disgust as he raised both war axes and brought them down on either side of the warrior's neck. The axes bit through his neck and his head flung free, rolling onto the stone floor and coating the pair with blood. Anjaarra grimaced and her hand wiped the red liquid off of her face. Hulgar glared down at the body as it slumped over and crashed to the ground, his arms slowly dropping to his side. He slowly looked back at Anjaarra, his face coated with blood and sweat.
"Come on…" He said hoarsely. "Let's get these damn elves out of our home…" Hulgar turned back towards the grotto and slowly walked towards the fray again, Anjaarra staying back and watching him. She was surprised at how much anger and hatred had been showed on his face. And now… Now it seemed as if he was finally at peace. Anjaarra's turned to follow him but the colors and sounds of the scenery began to swirl and collide before changing to something…
Hulgar snapped awake when he felt Anjaarra's hand tighten around his and her body twist and turn. He rubbed his eyes and yawned before looking at the cat-woman. It looked as if her nightmares were finally passing and it looked like the last of the soul's memories were almost out of her system. With his free hand, he pulled the blankets back over her.
The man's plum eyes glanced out the window, noting that the storm had finally quieted down and passed by. There were faint rays of light shining in from outside. The Nord leaned forward slightly to see the moons peeking through thin patches of clouds, glowing down at the landscape below them. Hulgar smiled softly before looking back Anjaarra.
"Everything will get better soon…" He whispered down to her, his thumb smoothing over the fur on her fingers. "I promise…" He slowly laid down beside her and closed his eyes again, a soft smile on his lips as he slipped back into a deep sleep.