Jasper shivered under his chainmail for the umpteenth time that morning, it was drizzling in Whiterun Hold, the rain was steady and freezing cold, Jasper was surprised that he woke up to rain and not snow.
He gazed across the rolling dips and mounds that made up Whiterun's tundra, it was a slow day, there was little noise save for the rain and not many citizens had passed him that day. So far only a courier seeking directions for an alternative route leading to Markarth as there had been a land slide caused by the rain, Jasper had promptly given the courier directions and returned to his post as the weather worn man became nothing more than a speck on the horizon.
The wildlife of Whiterun seemed to be silent that day, giving the area surrounding the stone work tower an eerie silence, the rain plodding away at the recent repairs done to the tower from a dragon attack three years ago. The stone roads were muddied and puddles formed in the slight dents, a nip took hold of the air, riding on the strong winds that blew occasionally.
"Going to be a bigger storm." Jasper hissed to himself as he struggled with relighting the damp torch that had just gone out, he always disliked it when it rained, the cold shouldn't bother him as he was nord by birth and had a resistance to it, but that was only for so long before the cold would nip at his nose. It was always worse when his armor became waterlogged in the rain, luckily he had yet to get ill from it and it was nothing a simple days of rest couldn't cure.
Flames eventually grew from the burnt end of the torch and warmth emitted down his arm and through the slits in his visor, sending its light across the interior of the tower.
Blue eyes gazed out at the hold it was still and silent, save for the thane ducking in and out of his line of vision as she gathered ingredients for divines know what experiment.
He found his mind wander off to the moment he had his first encounter with the Thane.
It was late at night when Jasper was shaken awake in the barracks, a dragon was attacking the tower, through the mess of preparations, Jasper had managed to strap on his armor and tuck his helmet under his arm before he stumbled out into the interior of Dragonsreach. A still air hung about the palace despite the warm fire and the smell of hot food wafting through the air, Jarl Balgruuf was absent from his throne and Jasper could hear him from the room above his throne. Pulling his helmet over his head, Jasper joined the group of guards stationed at the doors of Dragonsreach. They shifted their weight from foot to foot, anxiously waiting for Irileth to join them. The Dunmer joined them, leather armor neat and proper with a steel sword strapped at her side.
"Alright men," Irileth started, her voice rough, "let's go."
Jasper strained to see through the darkness, Irileth was the only one whom held a torch above her head and was leading the way. He heard the slip of hard leather on stone and looked to his side, a small imperial woman wearing a pair of weather worn Mage robes stood at his side.
He watched as the Imperial crouched down under the ridge they were hiding by and receive a nod of approval from Irileth.
The wind fell silent, broken suddenly by a ferocious roar that tore through the air, the flap of powerful wings and a dark form gliding towards them over the horizon. Jasper braced himself as he drew his sword and donned his shield, another roar tore through the air as the dragon landed, claws slipping over the stone of the tower, leaving deep gashes in the stone work and loose stone.
Ground shook as the dragon fell to the ground, throwing Jasper off his balance, he regained his footing quickly however and raced towards the dragon, sword brandished and at the ready for him to rejoin with the other guards.
The battle commenced, flames grazed overhead, billowing along the ground and burning the tower. There was the clash of steel on scales, wood being splintered and stone cracking and falling, war cries and dragon roars filled the air with the heavy scent of burning fires.
Jasper was in the thick of it, hacking and slashing as his life depended on it, his shield was shattered and sword cracked, he had tore off his helmet during the fight and had resorted to launching arrows into the sky as the dragon took off.
He had lost sight of the imperial just as the battle had begun to take ablaze, but now he saw her with a dagger in one hand and icy blue magic swirling in the other. Spears of ice shot forth from the palm of her hand, embedding themselves in the dragon's thick hide. The ground shook violently once more as the dragon fell from the sky, tail crashing against the tower and sending stones flying, it growled out its last words in a tongue Jasper could not understand as it's body began to glow, the edges burning away as if it was made of paper.
An ethereal light flowed from the dragon and into the imperial whom fell to her knees as if in pain, clinging to her shoulders and rocking as the ethereal light grew dim around her, coppery hair clinging to the edges of her face and heavy, shaking breaths clouding in the air.
"Dragonborn." Jasper breathed as the world spun around him, the battle had taken much out of him and he was tired.
When Jasper had awoken, he found himself in the temple of Kynareth with the new found Dragonborn at his side, she had donned a new set of robes and held a glowing golden spell in her hands, a chilling feeling grew over his arm as the magic fell away and darkness reclaimed him.
When he had finally recovered the Dragonborn hadn't returned, having been summoned to High Hrothgar and leaving the morning after her summoning. He had learned of her recent entitlement to Thane and her name.
Cymbeline Fire-Weaver.
Jasper snapped back to reality as thunder cracked overhead, Cymbeline had vanished from his line of view, most likely having returned to Whiterun. Looking up the road at Whiterun he quickly caught sight of his relief guard for the night and smiled, he could finally get out of his soaking wet armor and into something dry, have a few bottles of mead and some well needed rest.
Before the relief could reach him, Jasper heard the distinct clink of armor and turned around, Thalmor agents marched towards Whiterun, a wild eyed nord bound and traveling with them. Jasper eyed them as he watched them pass, he had no qualms with the Thalmor, just as long as they didn't cause fights. Finely crafted elven armor adorned their bodies, helmets framed their sharp golden faces, the nord in tow was dressed in Storm cloak armor, a satchel at his side. A courier for the Stormcloaks.
The line ended with the Justiciar, and Jasper had never seen any Altmer like her. She was at least a head taller than he, a few inches taller than her partners, with dark gray skin with sharp features and burning amber eyes that glared ahead, framed by pale blond hair that fell wild out of her dark hood.
They locked eyes for a few seconds before she looked back to her partners and commanded something in her native tongue, they resumed walking, armor clinking and cloth shifting leaving Jasper staring after the Thalmor Agent in awe.
Welcome back readers, I'd have to say, I'm very happy about the reviews that have been submitted so far, I really love it when people leave reviews that give advice, it really helps to make the story so much better when you can see the progression of both characters and writer.
Anyways, in this chapter we have covered the Thane's name, Cymbeline, and her relationship to Jasper, we have also met the love interest.
Looking forwards to more reviews, constructive criticism is always accepted and I will see you all next time.