Stelm: I know it may seem cliché but I have to bring a funeral scene in here early. Thing is I haven't seen a funeral scene in a fan fic in a good while. Time to put it back into fashion.
Arkay Hates Skyrim
"You got it buddy?" I asked Kobin lowered himself to a bench. I had been his right hand man ever since he had got out of the restoration room. They doubted he would be able to make it past this year. I thought he'd make it. He was the strongest Nord I knew other than Arch Mage BD. I had faith in him.
"I'm good. Thanks Jet. I'll just sit here for the time being." The Nord said weakly as he rested on the wood block benches set up for the funeral.
It really wasn't a funeral. The real bodies of the deceased in battle were at their respected home holds. The only person really being buried was Lossis. The clan Nagas disowned him at birth along with his family for some reason Lossis never was able to tell me. Plus he was the most mutilated out of the three other deaths.
In respect and out of Tamriel custom I wore all black. The cloak I wore was hooded one and I only used it for certain destruction classes. It had a really steady fire protection enchantment on it that I liked. Plus it looked more solemn than my belted tunic that I wore at all the social and artistic events that I went to. Speaking of artistically events I was pumped to go to the King burning festival next weekend. It was one of the biggest events now a days. I heard BD helped out the college with it right after High King Tor-something was killed.
Security had been beefed up in the last week. It was crazy how a place would act once it had been tried once. I doubt another attack like that could happen in my lifetime. It was planned and there was no way it could have been pulled off without an inside man.
The whole thing brought on a lot of attention. No students were required to attend the funeral but a good majority did so for respect of one of their own dying in combat. The cemetery was one mile from the college walls and had only a few tombstones amongst a large clearing. Most of the clearing had been occupied by the attendees. Lossis resting place was to be somewhere near the center as this was the first on campus murders.
"Jet." A soft feminine voice said behind me grabbing me from behind. More like holding me than grabbing me. IT was a soft hold around my waist that I wouldn't be breaking anytime soon. As I twisted my head sideways I saw that Shade was the soft assailant.
"Shade I replied turning around hugging her tight. I hadn't seen her since before the whole incident. The whole school had been put on lockdown and Kobin, Durabo, and I were sent to questioning. They pressured me a little bit harder. First I was double shouting, next I was fighting a red half naked giant with a log long axe in the middle of the college.
"Are you alright? How's Kobin?" Shade asked looking at the resting Nord thoughtfully. She was always so worried about everything.
"He's alright. He had the worst of it between me and him. I only got thrown around a little bit. Ennis is the real hero. He killed the giant with some pot of something." I said humbly. It was all true though. Couldn't take more credit than what I got already.
"Ennis? Never knew you were so humble." Shade said, impressed.
"A wise man once said that the mark of a truthful man is a humble attitude and kind spirit." I said intelligent like grinning as I finished it.
"Oh now you're a philosopher." Shade said sarcastically dismissing me with the flick of her hand as she started walking over to a group of Nord and Breton girls. I would whistle if I could, damn she had some well endowed friends.
I wandered around the funeral attendees for a while stopped to talk to a few excited first years who wanted to know what happened with the giant and all. I just gave them something dramatic to think about the rest of the year. First year was always the worst year.
"Jet! Glad to see you friend. Glad I'm still here. They found some moon sugar on me when Ennis got me and Kobin to the restoration center." Durabo said spreading his arms in a quick embrace.
"Is your sweet tooth all you think of?" I asked laughing.
"Well that and your mother." Durabo joked and I went on another laughing streak. A few attendees looked at us concerned so we calmed down.
"You seen Kobin yet?" He asked me scratching his nappy Mohawk while looking around.
"I been like his maid the past week. It's a drag and all but hey. He's my friend. You heard from Bajee recently?" I asked hoping Durabo got to go out a little more than me.
"Nope just been healing my wounds in the bed. He should be here though." Durabo said looking around again.
"Speaking of the devil." I said before a chubby looking Bajee walked up into our little conversation.
"Hello boys. We all mourn the loss of our brother. Jet, we got a big job for you tomorrow it involves a little light feet action. Think you're the best at that. Durabo a raid on some ship off the coast is coming up later but I need to talk to Z personally first." Bajee said motioning the Orc off calmly.
"Ok Z you say you can sneak right?" Bajee said as Durabo left to talk to some of his up in coming battle mage friends.
"Yah I'm pretty good." I said casually not knowing what this was all about.
"I don't need a maybe I need to know. Are you good at seeing and not being seen?" Bajee asked sternly, he looked to be losing his patience.
"I'm good at it boss. Trust me." I said patting the Argonian's back.
"Good good. So you know how we've been getting a few small ships here and there. Somehow just recently one of our ships was burnt to the ground. We suspect the Thieves guild is responsible and we want you to find the evidence." Bajee said in a hushed tone.
"Where do I start looking?" I asked calmly, couldn't show my excitement for a new mission or I'd look like some play child.
"There is this camp near Dawnstar. Here are some directions to it from Dawnstar. It should be an easy trip from the town. Don't get yourself killed out there. The guy who controls this little band of thieves is in high with the Thieves Guild. If someone sees you kill them. Don't mess this up." The Argonian mob boss aid before he left me and slithered his way through the crowd until I could no longer see him.
A few days previously in a small room in the historic Dunmer part of Windhelm…
"Damnit. Damnit to obvlivion! What on Nirn is wrong with you? Is it impossible for you to take out a small simple damn hit on a few school children? May the devines save you because I sure as hell wont. I know I know your family and that little whore you call a wife. She can be fucked and executed quicker than you can say, 'I'm a dumbass'!" A Dunmer ranted on. Slamming his fist on the desk as he did so.
It had been a few days since the attack on the college and the Dunmer mob boss had been disappointed. He had a reputation to get hits done when hits needed to be done. This one wasn't a normal one however and they go the best mages from all over Tamriel to help them create the beast. Now it was probably being examined by some professors at the big college to the north. The rest of the work was done by his men. They were called the best of the best and they failed him.
"Viserus please. The mages at the college were too strong and in too much number. They outnumbered us 1 to 30." The Dunmer warrior said trying to plead forgiveness for his failure.
"You know how much septims I had to take off my ass to pay for that damn axe swinging dickhead? More than your trashy house sees in a lifetime. That red testosterone pumped tree trunk should have been able to kill the whole college and you yellow bellied bitches right off the shitty patch of Oblivion he came from. But no. You just stumble around and get your asses whopped by some two bit wand swingers, then get the biggest monster that's been seen on Tamriel since Alduin for the Devines sake!" The Dunmer screamed uncontrollably spit flying all on the warrior's face.
"Sire I didn't mean to offend. We couldn't do it sir. It was just too hard to fight the lucrative students."
"Didn't mean to offend? Fuck being a warrior you sound like a whiney bitch now if you don't come here…" The Dunmer said angrily as he grabbed the Dunmers black hair and banged the man's head into his desk angrily while screaming things that could not be understood. He tore pieces of the Dunmers hair out and then pushed him to one of the stone walls in his little office. The Dunmer warrior screamed in anguish bit did not resist. There was a pot of boiling water nearby and the man known as Viserus kicked and beat the man and dragged him towards the pot. Both the warrior and Viserus screamed and a large maniacal grin swept upon Viserus's face. He drowned the man's head into the boiling water. Keeping him under their as he squirmed. In pure anger Viserus kicked the man and the pot over onto the ground.
Viserus didn't give a fuck if the man was dead or not. He just needed to let off some tension. He left his office room and told one of his female Nord servants to go and clean up the mess. Right now he was going to see the man's wife and give her his condolences.
Back at the funeral…
"It is my privilege to welcome the first fourth era Dragonborn Toddaran!" One of our professors said with confidence as the funeral speeches started.
As I saw the BD emerge from the crowd of men and women who I presumed were the other dragonborns who worked with him I was taken back. I thought the man would be skinny, short, and old. Instead I saw this buff guy with silver shoulder length hair. I could swear I saw him glow but I'm sure it was probably just an alteration spell he put on himself. I still couldn't see why a man like this chose magic over some great axe somewhere.
"Students, professors, and visitors we meet here today in mourning of one of us. One piece of our puzzle. A sacred part of our family, each other. As we look at each other today we see future battle mages, healers, trained guards, special force group members, alchemist, archers, and most importantly mages. All of us come together to form a special bond with each other. Wars plague the lands and we stand still learning and teaching others as one. No races or empires. I only see mages in front of me." BD said and the crowd roared in applause. I could swear I heard the roar of dragons as he spoke. His volume was a blessing; he could be heard from Markarth.
"Not half a month has passed and the college has made the necessary adjustments to college security needed. This doesn't limit the freedom we give to you young mages. You all will still be able to travel as you please. Be cautious when entering the school because you may be randomly selected to be checked for certain banned materials. Those banned materials will be posted outside the college's wall starting this Loredas." BD said letting his intelligent vocabulary show. I sighed in relief that I could still leave Fridas and search for evidence against the Thieves Guild sect.
"Now that all that is out of the way we want to give thanks to the divines who give us life and let us prosper. We give rights of burial to the head of the community. The beast that had ruthlessly murdered our young mages is being cut open and analyzed as we speak. There would be even more deaths had not four individuals made steps to defend our great community; our large family." DB said proudly motioning for three of his dragonborn apprentices to come up to the gigantic slab of rock that served as the stage.
"First coming up to the stage is a Nord man that I have seen fight in the arena and know for certain will serve the flag he represents and the family he represents well." DB said and a servant came over to Kobin and helped him up to the stand where he got a large golden medal.
"The next up is an orc by the name of Durabo. I'd also like to announce to him in front of his peers and family that he has been given leave of the school to practice to be a full Imperial Battlemages. This camp will take place over the rest of the scholarly year and the warmer months. Without further delay, Durabo." Durabo jumped up from his seat proud and I clapped for him as he walked up to the stand beaming.
"Another great factor in the beast's defeat is an alchemist by the name of Ennis. A full set of alchemist ingredients have been sent to you dorm. Trust me I use some of them myself, very rare indeed. I hope you enjoy." BD said and Ennis walked up to the stage awkwardly putting on a big smile for the crowd. Only his closest of friends clapped.
"Next is one of the best mages I have ever seen in action as a young person. He reminds me of me when I was younger. So full of life so full of ambition. Zuvejjet better known as Z or Jet. He has proven time and time again that he is worthy to be praised and awarded for his efforts. A medium sized house on any part of Tamriel is yours. Over the hot months you will also be given special training by yours truly. Coming up to the stand… Zuvejjet!" DB said and I stood up with the applause of my fellow mages brining me to raise my hands in victory. The crowd roared in response. I walked up the steps onto the uneven rock formation. Sloppy Alteration magic if you ask me.
A few more speeches followed that one and I went back to where I was sitting and played with my medallion. Pretty neat thing having an award. Never thought that BD would offer to train me. I know that as soon as we start training and he finds out that whole two shout thing was a fluke he will storm out of Skyrim and do something awesome somewhere else. Damn the BD was awesome.
When the speeches ended the priest of Arkay told all those close to Lossis to come up to view his body. Only a me, Durabo, and a few others came up, he didn't exactly have my popular glow. As I went beside the coffin I blinked a lot. It didn't help. Most Argonians couldn't cry. It was a sad moment and I touched Lossis's crossed arms.
"Farewell root brother." I said solemnly and walked away hearing a crying Argonian girl who I figured was the lizard's girl or something.
As soon as the priest called for the other people to be mourned symbolically the funeral kind of blurred together. After we were told to go the priestess started singing a hymn normally heard in churches. It was well known by everybody. I started to get on my way leaving. That was when a gigantic hand clasped over my shoulder. The touch almost sent me into meltdown mode. I turned around to see BD's large figure. He was like thirty times taller than me, and looked like he wrestles with mammoths, for fun. His age didn't show at all.
"BD… I mean Archmage Toddaran. It was good to… I mean it is… Thanks for the medallion." I blurted and knew I must have sounded like a fool.
"Zuvejjet call me Todd. Everyone who knows me does. I wanted to approach you about the training we were to go through over the hot months." BD said calmly putting on a welcoming smile. I could swear I could hear dragons roaring as he spoke, literally I heard the whispers of roars as he opened his mouth.
"Yes… Todd. I'm truly excited." I told the man and it wasn't a lie. Practically nobody got the chance to talk to BD personally. Fewer got to train under him.
"That's terrific. I just want to tell you to prepare for the summer. As soon as you take that expense paid trip you will be told to report to Cyrodill. That's where I'll be." BD said sternly making sure his voice was heard. It was hard to ignore anyway.
"I guesse that's where I'll be too." I said humorously. Seeing if Todd had a sense of humor.
"Good, good, good. I'm beginning to like this apprenticeship already." Todd said before a hearty laugh. He then walked towards the crowd he had hung around before.
As the priestess ended their hymns and most of the college was outside talking sadly to each other. It was then a loud trumpet sound came from the streets. I thought it was an alarm till I saw the brightly dressed figures with lutes, drums, and flutes shook my head in astonishment. How could people celebrate in a time like this could not understand but after a while of feeding into the pre- burning king festival I starting softening up my mood. As it neared nighttime I stumbled my way to my dorm with Durabo holding onto me for dear life. I fell out as soon as I got to the dorm.
Stelm: Alright guys the end of Z's third year at the college is coming up and I can assure you the lizard killing will slow down. Hope you enjoyed the switch to the Dunmer boss's POV, I sure as hell did. The next chapter may take a while. Exams and all be cursed to Oblivion. May the Divines be with you all (but more with me). Oh and…..GO PACERS!