Zelda looked at the blade, a mere three inches from her throat. She looked into Leman's eyes and saw no trace of a joke or laughter. He was dead serious and was more than ready to carry out his threat. She took the opportune silence to examine Leman a bit more loosely. He had bulging biceps, so impossibly thick with muscle that even Ike would be put to shame with them. She took one step back and he took one forward in sequence with her. It was quite clear that he was not going to back off, and he twisted the blade right next to her throat. "What did he promise you or is this a sick joke you decided to play?"
Zelda cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms, getting ready to cast her spell if worst came. "I have no idea what you mean Leman. Surely you must be mistak-"She didn't finish her thought before he slid the edge gently across her cheek, not putting too much pressure on it. He withdrew his blade from her cheek and it came back bloody. Her hand reached up to her cheek and felt some warm liquid spill down her cheek. She recoiled at her own blood spilled down on her hand, in fact there was quite a bit of blood.
"My patience is at its end, Zelda. Now you will talk me about what you did or I will kill you where stand." Leman growled and Zelda knew that he was more then ready to carry it out if he was required to. Zelda lashed out with Din's fire, but Leman parried it with his blade, a move she had never seen before. "So I will have to beat that out of you then, so be it." He grinned and like a caged animal set loose, he leapt into the air with his blade raised high into the air. Zelda tried to step out of the way, but she felt Leman's fist lash out and sent her sprawling when is blade missed.
She landed harshly once and was about to bounce again. But something stopped her from dong that, namely something that had a death grip on her throat. Her eyes shot open and were looking dead straight into Leman's eyes who were filled with a primal hate. He lifted her above his head and tightened his grip. She fought for breath, but none would come to fill her burning lungs. Her vision was turning cloudy before he released her from his massive grip.
She landed hard on the floor, her breath coming back to her in labored breaths. Leman planted his boot onto her chest, keeping her pinned to the ground. "Now Zelda, are we ready to have a nice conversation?" She inhaled a few more breaths before she nodded. Leman knelt down to her position and placed the sword and placed it right next to her. "Remember, if you lie to me, then I will make sure you suffer for it."
Tobey let Lucas go from his shoulders and took in a deep breath of the air. On top of one of the highest hills they could find. Tobey took the backpack off and placed it down on the ground and looked through the bag and pulled out four smaller bags to summon the elements for them. Lucas took the bags and opened them. Tobey told him that they were not the elements actually in there, in the case of fire and air, but water and earth had their own elements. Water was in a small vial though it was different then other types of water Lucas had seen and the earth was a mixture of dirt, sand and pebbles. Tobey took off his sunglasses and calmed his breathing down. Lucas noticed that his veins of energy were pulsing more brightly then before.
"Lucas, remember that dealing with elements are dangerous business. I can only control then for so long and if worse comes to worse, fight back against them." Lobey said with a grave seriousness in his voice. When Lucas nodded, Tobey reached into the vial of water and sprinkled a few drops on the earth before him. When the water hit the ground, his fingers raced Native American runes and symbols to summon the element from the water. He spoke in a foreign language but it was clear that it was meant to summon the spirit. Within moments, the few drops of water grew in size and began to take upon a human shape. The Element was of an indiscreet humanoid figure and had two glowing silver eyes.
Tobey reached into the bag of earth and pulled out a fist full. He let the silt and rocks fall from his hands in a pattern, and soon the areas where they landed became pulsing with life and a four legged animal. Representing the spirits of the wild, it took on the form of a deer with vines and other leafy plants sprouting from its body. Using the lighter and whispering some words into the dancing flame, the element of fire took form and it was made or brining rock, with talons of obsidian for fingers/ Finally, he tossed three painted feathers and soon the form of the winds took shape. "You have called for us, mere mortal. We have arrived; you had best not squander this opportunity. " The element of fire said in a sinister and burning tone.
Tobey nodded and raised his hand. "I understand element. But I sense that there is a disturbance amongst the calm balance of the natural elements. Usually that isn't followed by anything good. I summoned you four because as the primary elements you should know what is happening amongst the balance and natural order of things." Lucas noted how he kept a calm voice through the conversation. Water seemed to take interest in this and cupped his hands together.
"If you wish to see as we do, then drink this." Tobey held out a bowl and the element poured the water into the bowl. Tobey withdrew his bowl and looked down into the water. He was warned against taking gifts from the elementals , some of them would bend his mind in more ways then a simple arcane spell could. But if he needed to see what was causing great disturbance in the natural order of things, he would have to take the risk. He brought the ethereal liquid to his lips and drank the substance. He prostrated himself and let the visions take him.
The visions were cloudy, he couldn't see himself or hear his voice. It was something he had to watch, not interact with. The visions took him to a dark place, a cave or somewhere beneath the earth. He heard the clamping of feet and the sounds of weapons sharpening. The air all around him was cold, like deep winter frost. Then in one moment, he felt a searing flame, like feeling the sun on your face with your eyes squeezed shut. He heard a calamity of voices, in the throats of the Nordic accents and other elements. He then heard a snake whispering in his ear and a howl of a wolf. Yet the visions progressed deeper and deeper.
He heard a man scream with the sound of a liquid dropping, drop by drop by drop. Soon a new cant emerged in his head. Den store slangen stiger fra tidevann, går onkel mot undergang hans. Den endelige horn skal ringe, og brua skal bli besmittet av guden av triks. He heard it repeated over and over. It was in a very old language, perhaps older then time itself.
Lucas watched as Tobey went into his fits of the visions, but Lucas felt something when he succumbed to the visions. The elements of fire and water soon wrestled free from their bods and soon the native grasses beneath them were placed to the torch. "I must consume. For too long my brethren and I have remained in the hearths, the bonfires, and the controlled spaces. I seek to now burn and consume all in my way."
Lucas watched as the obsidian talons of the flame element lashed open Tobey, slicing through his coat drawing an ample amount of blood. Lucas wanted to react but he felt his feet remain lued to their place . Earth turned to fire with a look of rage upon his face. "Brother Flame, you must control yourself. If you roam free, there will be many who will be harmed by your burning. Return to your fires and to your home world; do not let this world suffer."
Water lashed out with a fury of curses. "You two have the greatest domain of us all. The wind blows where it wills and no man can command it and earth, you are what makes this world as it is. For Fire and myself, we are confined. Let us go where we please and this world will be crafted in a new image, one of fire and ice. "
The wind spirit spoke and with a gust of wind, extinguished that burning grasses. "Your place is not to roam free, think of the floods and of the wildfires that would make this world cease to exist. Your selfish ways are not for the elements. Now cease and repent." Lucas looked back to Tobey was on the verge of bleeding out. The water the element gave him was to slacken his control and to break free from the bonds that were on them. Lucas saw the revolver still in its holster and he took the chance and dove for the weapon.
Fire was too distracted with the battle of his brethren that he neglected to see Lucas withdrawing the weapon. "Fire," Lucas stated, feeling some unnatural conviction flow through his veins. "Earth begged, air demanded, but now I warn." The fire spun and raised his massive obsidian claw above his head. Lucas pulled the trigger, but nothing happened, then he remembered that the gun was gene-locked, so only Tobey and he alone could fire the weapon. Lucas tossed it aside and threw his ice spell at the enraged element. The contact of ice against fire, each their antithesis. The Ice spell extinguished the flame element, forcing the element to return to the place where it came from. Water grabbed ahold of Lucas in one fluid motion, but couldn't do much before Earth and Wind turned against their enraged brother.
Lucas fell drenched to the ground, but the ominous voice of water uttered one last curse. "Motherless scum, you will regret this decision. When the day comes, we will never forgive or forget this event!" Lucas coughed up some water and crawled over to Tobey, who had stooped breathing, most of his life force was spilling out in a crimson fluid. Tobey's eyes were closed and he clenched something in his hands . Lucas tried to control himself but was met with little success.
He turned to the stag, pleading. "Please, bring him back to life!" He wept, tears rolling down his face. The stag didn't speak but it trotted over to the cooling corpse. The stag batted his head against Tobey's and it didn't react .
"Lucas, " the wind element knelt down to him, "death is a natural course of events. We all must die one day, and I know youhave suffered through that more then once. Tobey would join the elements with us, his life given so that others may live because of him" Lucas was about ready to wail, but then the element of air placed his open hand on the chest of tobey sealing the wound and forcing a rod of air, pulsing with the same glowing green energy that ran through Tobey's veins. "But today is not that day. You have done much for us, but the darker days are ahead. Do not speak of this to anyone, Tobey will tell in his own time but the order of balance has been placed out. Prepare yourself young Lucas."
The elements vanished and not even a second afterwards, Tobey inhaled sharp and rose from his death bed. "Lucas… Lucas where are you?" Lucas wrapped his arms around him and Tobey returned it. Tobey nodded to Lucas, who could only smile. Lucas pulled himself to his feet and picked up his revolver.
"So what do we do next?" Lucas asked. Tobey clutched his sore side and slowly walked slowly down the hill, using a long stick for a support for his weight. Tobey shook his head and with a shaky hand reattached his sunglasses.
"I don't know Lucas. We don't mention anything, but I need to figure out what exactly I witnessed. Until that day, you and I will remain quiet about this." Lucas nodded and walked next to Tobey, who ruffled the kid's hair.
Leman nodded once and placed his sword down. Zelda was still angry at him, but not so much anymore. "Please your highness, I need to ask for your forgiveness on this. It was rude and impolite of me to do such a thing, but it was in the best of ideas at the time. The words, your ability of the sorceress and everything else. It was all too obvious that it was you who was going this."
Zelda nodded but crossed her arms, "Yes Leman, you are indeed forgiven. What did you think it was? Yes, I'm angry with Lithia, but if I was to harm her, I would down it to her face. My spells of the arcane is nothing I hide behind. Besides, if you saw someone take the love you wanted, you would act too."
He sighed and placed his sword back into his sheath. He placed one of his hands on her cheek, though she recoiled when he touched her, though he couldn't blame her the slightest. She felt some bands of energy trickle into her skin and she felt the wound heal with ease. He looked out the window and saw that the sun was setting with a dark red crimsion hue to the sky. He rose from his seat and left her to herself.
Zelda sighed and ruffled her head. Was it truly that obvious? Did she really want Ike so bad that even Leman was willing to come to blows against her? She sighed again and massaged her temples. She knew that it was dinner and she was supposed to be there, but she didn't feel about going anywhere. She rose from her seat and thought about something for a while. She then smiled as she got an idea and left the library. S
She walked down the hall and when she reached the main area of dorms, she knocked on a door. There was the sound of rustling to meet her and when the door opened, she saw Ulfric looking at her with a look of surprise. "Ulfric, is this a good time?" He nodde and allowed her to come in. She bowed her head in thanks and entered. The room was very… Nordic she supposed. Horns adorned the walls with candles in them, providing light. Stone aligned the walls and dark blue drapes covered the windows. Ulfric gestured towards a finely wrought chair and Zelda sat down in it, while Ulfric took to the side of his bed.
"Now, why would Zelda come to me at such a late hour? What do you require or ask of me?" She smiled slightly and fiddled with her gloved hands. How was it best to ask this, direct or should she beat around the bush?
"Ulfric, I need something from you." When he raised an eyebrow, she continued. "This new girl, Lithia, she has been insulting me behind my back. Calling me a coward, a lowly spell user, and a slave to men, not a real woman amongst other titles." She bit her bottom lip and continued. "I want to prove her wrong but I just don't know how to. If I challenged her to a brawl and if I won, she would use my reliance on the arcane as trickery. Even if I turn into Sheik, she would call it magic and I would be scoffed at."
Ulfric shook his head. "Zelda, you may not have the gift of a strong axe arm like she or I do, but you have something she doesn't. " He rose from his seat and placed the back of his hand under her chin, raising it and having her look into his eyes. "You have a strong heart and a strong mind. Do not be daunted by such words. But I may help you with that if you want to call her out on that." He walked over to a chest and she followed him. He unlocked it and withdrew a cloth covered blade. He took the cloth off, one strand at a time.
When he was finished, he handed her a sword made of refined metals that were almost as golden as Ragnell was. "This is the Dwarven sword my second in command used to slay a general known as Tullius, who was the leader of the empire retaining control over my home of Skyrim." He wrapped her hands around the grip and let her feel the weight. It was balanced and sharp. She practiced with it a few times and smiled slightly to herself. "I will send her out to the gardens when the time comes, and there is the way of settling arguments in Skyrim. Challenge them to the strength at arms and it will be the way any argument to settle."
She nodded and bowed her head in thanks. "Thank you Ulfric. It was kind of you to listen to me."
He nodded and opened the door for her and the two stepped out of the door. "It was my honor, Zelda. Though if you challenge Lithia, you must be willing to accept defeat along with it, should it come with for you."
"I understand."
"Are you certain of this?" An old and gruff voice filled the main hall of the palace. The old speaker, dressed in the hide of a bear, questioned a much younger man, clad in plate armor with several etchings of runes and dried blood. "Is that what the runes stated? Did you cast them as they had done before."
"I'm afraid so, Galmar." Said the younger one, whose given name was Sigmund, but most Nords knew him by another name. "They were casted as the ancestors have done many times again and again. They all stated the same thing. "Where the High King be is the start of the three year winter that will branch out into Skyrim, and with it the gods of old and the End Wolf with the World Serpent will devour all."
Galmar growled, "Damned elves, what are they up to now?" The general stormed back to the tactical briefing room, where they had not to long ago decided the fate of the war that united all of Skyrim. Sigmund fell into step behind the old bear and shook his head. "Ulfric must be warned about this. If this is what the runes foretold, then it is very grave indeed. Alduin would be a mouse compared to this rune telling."
Sigmund leveled his hands on the table of the map of Skyrim and looked over the kingdom before he responded. "I will go and warn the High King. He owes his life to me and I need to be certain that nothing has happened to him."
Galmar growled again, "If it is so, then you would best take one of our top lieutenants. I would go with you, but my place is here, where I can defend the kingdom if those blasted Thalmor attempt to attack us while our high king is in danger. If they come on this soil again, I'll kick their arses back to their Dominion."
Sigmund, known to most as the Dragonborn, smiled. "I am certain you could you old bear. I'll head out shortly but not to early, incase this is indeed a Thalmor trap. Keep your brother."
Galmar nodded. "And he will keep you." The common Farwell finished, the Dragonborn left to gather an old friend of his.
Lucas and Tobey poured over pages from the many tomes of knowledge in the library. Looking for anything that matched the descriptions from the visions Tobey suffered, they tried, and most often failed in finding anything of use. After a while, they found what they were looking for and Tobey nodded grimly. Collecting the book needed Lucas and Tobey went their separate ways, Lucas to get dinner, and Tobey to read this old tome.
Lithia laughed as she stepped out into the evening garden. She was told by one of the other newcomers, Ulfric if she recalled correctly, that someone was outside waiting for her. She looked around and didn't see anyone. "So, you aren't afraid to come out here then." A new voice spoke up revealing the face of Princess Zelda. Lithia looked at her and saw that she was carrying a sword in one of her hands. Her hand reached for her own sword as Zelda continued. "You have a lot of nerves for a newcomer. Instulting is one thing, doing it only to infuriate me is another."
Lithia scoffed and unsheathed her own blade and pointed it at Zelda. "Is this about Ike?" She scoffed when Zelda didn't respond. "It's only the way of us, if you don't act, you lose. He shows interest in me and did you know what he thinks of you truly?" Zelda bit her tongue, not rising to the bait. "He thinks that you are worthless, a whore slave to anything that walks. The bitch who jumps from one mate to the other, stars and stones, e hates your being."
Zelda coulding control her rage any longer and slammed her blade into Lithia's. "You will regret saying those words." She withdrew her blade and slammed it again into Lithia's blade. Lithia parried again and laughed. Zelda remembered al of what her teachers taught her, from Link, to Marth, to even Ike. She fell back into a defencive stance and waited for Lithia to lash out at her again. In all honesty, she didn't have to wait long. Lithia slashed at her with blade and shield, Zelda parried each and every time.
"What, are you to cowardly to fall back on magic? Oh wait, never mind." She mocked her, casuing Zelda to scream in rage. What little self control she possessed left shattered into a thousand pieces. She lashed out with rage and anger, taking Lithia by surprise. While she tried in vain to parry the blows, some struck her drawing blood and soon she knew she couldn't keep this up for long.
Lithia tossed aside her blade and slammed a balled fist into the chest of Zelda. Zelda let go of the blade in shock, but she soon slammed her own fist back into the jaw of Lithia. "You want to see martial pride, you want to see anger?" Zelda said menacingly and basked Lithia with another blow. Lithia soon went sprawling and Zelda kicked up her blade back into her hands. She placed the tip of it at Lithia's throat. "I could kill right now and I would laugh." Lithia's eyes were wide with something Zelda had not seen before; fear. All of the pride, gloating and arrogance was replaced with that one emotion. Zelda leaned in closely. "Stay away from Ike and if I ever catch you talking smack about me behind my back, though my father and mother's spirit demands me not, I will NOT stay my hand. Do I make myself clear?"
Lithia nodded and Zelda stood back. She then brought the heavy end of the sword down on Lithia's skull, knocking her out cold. She smiled satisfaction and sheathed her sword. She had one more visit to make.
Ike sighed and moved back to his room, the day was long and interesting for him. He helped Lithia recuperate from her affliction, watched Zelda walk down with link through the hall hand in hand, and many other things. The two he mentioned by name were the most notable and frankly, he did feel a little bit of anger with the second one. He had feelings for her yes, but he knew it was silly of him to think of them. She couldn't love him, who was he to catch her eye? A mercenary captain to the loveliest princess known to history? It wouldn't happen.
He unlocked his door and turned on the lights to his room and was met with a shock. He saw none other then Zelda. She was standing in her emerald green dress and she was smiling at him. With a wave of her hand, the door shut behind him and Ike's jaw almost dropped to the floor. "Ike, we need to talk." He swallowed hard and nodded, placing his sword down on the ground next to him. "Ike, do you think I'm…. a whore?" She asked with tears forming in her eyes.
He shook his head furiously. "No Zelda! Why would you even think I would say such a thing about you?"
"It was Lithia… she said that you made some comments about me." She sat down on the edge of the bed and Ike sat next to her. "I challenged her on that but I need to hear from you."
Ike turned her face to meet his and she saw him smiling at her. "She was wrong Zelda. You are a kind and lovely person. I would never say such bad things about you, but you should stop having me say everything, after all, this affects both of us."
Zelda ran her fingers through his hair, "You want me to say it don't you? Fine, I love you big dummy. I think we were meant for each other. And I don't want that to end. I though you would laugh at me and think that I was playing with your feelings and back stab you for such a thing. I was with link to get you mad and ditch Lithia and come to me."
Ike laughed, causing Zelda to almost cry but he reassured her. "I'm not laughing that you though it was foolish, I though of it the same way. And, "he said cupping her chin, "I love you too, dummy."
She slugged him gently in the arm. "Hey, that's only funny when I do it." He chuckled with her and the two made their feelings known when their lips laid upon each other's. For Ike he felt as if he had found someone to love, and for Zelda, she finally got what she wanted.
An eventful chapter to say the least, I hope you guys enjoy this.