Ch. 8 An Unfond Farewell
We have arrived to Chapter 8 and still going strong on here. You all can probably guess by the title what is going to happen but it should've been know by now.
In other news, I hope everyone had a happy new year and are now starting their resolutions and I wish everyone the best of luck in them. Also, quick shout out to pain17ification who is pursuing his dream of writing and will no longer be writing on our great website but he will still be around to speak to fans and friends. He had some very well written stories and it is sad to see them go to waste so if you think you can pick them up go read them then PM him and get them going again!
Edit 2/4/2014: Mispelled Gabriella's name, now changed correctly.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters belong to Bethesda.
Marius made it back to Whiterun completely dead and tired. After stumbling through the streets like a drunk and knocking over a few barrels, he stumbled through his front door with a loud sigh. Lucia and Sofie were asleep and Lydia was taking a quick nap and Marius stumbled up the stairs to the second floor before throwing open his doors to the room and slipping inside. After depositing most of his gear into his chest he almost threw himself on his bed until he stopped. His gut instinct was going haywire and his eyes narrowed as his hand made its way down to the dagger in his belt. "Whoever is there had better come out before I drag you out."
"Is that any way to treat a guest?" A voice said as Marius turned to the small table in his room. Seated on one the chairs was a female Dark Elf covered in a completely back and red robe with a black hand print.
"Don't you all ever stop?" Marius said as he readied the dagger but the Dark Elf didn't flinch.
"Not unless we have too but I am not here for violence." she said as Marius only gripped his dagger tighter. "Please have a seat, I only wish to talk."
"How did you get in here?" Marius asked with a hint of venom in his voice.
"You mean how did I get past the dragons; it was quite easy actually, all I did was tell them why I was here and walk in through the front door. Not every assassin needs to go through an alternate route, sometimes the best entry is the front door; it's less suspicious and people normally greet you well enough." she replied calmly as Marius didn't move.
"And the robe?" he asked quietly.
"People see the light armor we wear but never our robes so it is easy enough to fool them. It's also easier to explain by saying it came from Winterhold, many Nords are too suspicious of magic to question it and it does wonders to keep one dry." she said placating before motioning to the chair opposite her.
Marius hesitantly took it but kept the dagger in his hand. "Why are you here?"
"Straight to the point then, I have information for you and it will be worth your time." she said calmly. "But first, my name is Gabriella and I am indeed an assassin for the Dark Brotherhood but I am not here on business."
"Marius, and if you're not here on that then why are you here?" Marius asked again.
"Do you know of a Mercer Frey?" Gabriella asked as Marius nodded.
"Yea, he's the one who had me dragged from the Ragged Flagon after I came back half dead from botched job." Marius said as Gabriella nodded.
"He's the one who hired us and who sent the contract for your kids. Normally we stay away from killing children out of principle but Mercer was able to persuade our leader to take the contract but how he did it we aren't sure." Gabriella replied as Marius narrowed his eyes again. "I can assure you that the majority of us in the sanctum are against what happened but it sounds like Mercer is really out for your blood. Did you find anything on that job you were assigned?"
Marius shook his head. "It was a normal breaking and entering job but someone tipped off the mark and as soon as I got into the place I had to fight my way out."
"Your job was to get into Winstad Manor and steal a necklace that belonged to Maven from the owner, am I correct?" Gabriella asked as Marius nodded.
"How did you know?" Marius asked as Gabriella gave a small smile.
"We have an old contact in the Thieves Guild who supplies us with information if we need it. We always check out our contracts before we act on them and we needed information on yours. Did you uncover anything you shouldn't have when you got into the manor?" Gabriella asked as Marius shook his head.
"No it was just a simple job. Is this an interrogation?" Marius asked as Gabriella shook her head.
"No, I am merely trying to help you figure out why this unfortunate situation happened." Gabriella replied soothingly.
"Well I appreciate the help but nothing jumps out at me right now." Marius replied as he put the dagger away.
"I see, well then I would ask that you be more careful about who you piss off but as the Dragonborn it seems you have quite a few enemies by title alone." she said jokingly as Marius shrugged.
"It would be easier if they got in a line." he replied as Gabriella stood up.
"Thank you for your time and I will warn you now. Our leader is planning something involving you and possibly your kids. I do not know what it is but keep your guard up." Gabriella replied as Marius looked at her.
"And why are you flipping on your boss?" Marius asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just to warn you and ask that you not kill her as she is our leader and the only one who can run our organization. If you have to fight her then do so but try to avoid a killing blow." Gabriella said as Marius stood up.
"I'm not making any promises on that. If she hurts my kids then all bets are off." Marius said as Gabriella sighed.
"If she does then you may but if she doesn't hurt them then don't. She is like a mother to us and to lose her would break everything we have." Gabriella said as Marius sighed.
"I still can't promise that as it might not be me she fights." Marius said cryptically as Gabriella tilted her head.
"Who else would she fight?" Gabriella asked curiously.
Marius told her and was treated to a Dark Elf looking like a fish for the first time in his life.
-Scene Change-
Delphine and Esbern were at the summit of the Throat as they looked at a sleeping Paarthurnax on the defunct word wall.
"It's been a pleasure serving the Blades with you Esbern." Delphine said quietly.
"The same for you my dear." Esbern replied before they charged the wall unaware of another set of eyes watching them from above.
Paarthurnax awoke and saw them run at him and roused himself up and into the air. "I was wondering when you would come for me. Lingrah tiid wah saran."
Esbern readied a flame Atronach as Delphine sneered. "You will pay for all the deaths you caused us."
"As I have told the Dovahkiin, is it better to be born good or to overcome your evil nature through great effort? I have done terrible things but I have learned from them and have since renounced those actions through a never-ending battle with myself." Paarthurnax replied as Delphine didn't flinch.
"Whether you have learned or not is irrelevant, you will pay for everything you did." she said as Paarthurnax dipped his head.
"If it is a fight you wish then I will grant you your request." Paarthurnax replied as Esbern summoned a Flame Atronach and Delphine pulled a bow out.
Odahviing watched from above as Paarthurnax dodged firebolts and arrow before Paarthurnax sent a blast of fire back that had Delphine duck behind the wall and Esbern behind a rock. "The old one seems to be holding strong after so long. Bok dreh ni trun." Odahviing said to himself as Paarthurnax landed with a loud thud that sent Delphine staggering backward. With a power swipe of his head she was sent into the wall before Paarthurnax turned to Esbern, who sent a few fireballs his way.
"You won't win this." Esbern said as the fireballs hits Paarthurnax but he only shrugged them off.
"I am truly sorry that it must come to this but by the same token, the Akaviri need to be held accountable for the deaths of many dov at the start of the Empire and the Blades were founded by them for that reason." Paarthurnax replied as Esbern shook his head.
"That isn't the same thing as now. Was it right for the Akaviri to instigate a war? No but the world is far better off with their own choices." Esbern replied as Odahviing snorted to himself quietly.
"If the little joor means murder and corruption at every turn as better off then they are in for a true awakening." Odahviing told himself with a grunt.
Paarthurnax only shook his head before swinging his tail behind him and catching Delphine by surprise and swatting her away. "I do not wish for a grand battle like my brethren, I only wish to survive but you won't give me a choice."
"Like you all ever gave us a choice!" Delphine shouted as she got up.
"We did at first and everyone agreed to the terms of the contract. The terms did more for the joor then they ever did for us and yet you claim that we were oppressors when the joor flourished with us." Paarthurnax replied as Delphine shook her head.
"That would've happened anyway." she said in anger as Paarthurnax looked at her with pity.
"I am sorry to hear that but your blind anger only leads to destruction. Rahgot inaak wah dinok." Paarthurnax said as Delphine rushed forward as Esbern summoned another Atronach.
Odahviing watched again as the Atronach lumbered towards Paarthrnax from one side and Dephine charged from another. Paarhturnax fanned out his wings launched to the air once again as Esbern launched more fireballs and some ice spikes at him. This time, Paarhturnax swooped down and breathed a fire over a path that made Delphine roll away from and she knocked another arrow before letting it loose and watching it sail past Paarthurnax as he circled them.
"Where's the Dragonborn when you need him?" Delphine asked as Paarthurnax hovered in front of them.
"He has allowed me to live on my own. He does visit occasionally for tinvaak but he has his own path." Paarthurnax replied as Delphine swore.
"So you got to him as well with your word play." Esbern said in thought.
"Niid, I gave him a choice and he vowed that he wouldn't kill me. I told him everything and he still looked past it." Paarthurnax said as Delphine swore again.
"Just what we needed, a Dragonborn who is a sympathizer with your kind." Delphine replied angrily. "His job is suppose to be killing every dragon he sees and yet here he is making friends with them."
"And that is where you have failed." Odahviing said as Delphine and Esbern finally noticed him and took a step back. "You believed that you could influence the Dovahkiin with words alone and yet you drove him off by giving him an ultimatum. You showed him that you could care less about those dov that are not evil and you believe that every dragon should die simply because we are dov."
"Because they are!" Delphine shouted in anger. "You all wanted to enslave us and we fought back!"
"As my fellow dov stated, the terms back then did more benefit for your kind than us. We merely got places to nest and live while you enjoyed the protection and safety we brought. You all never had to worry about war, crime, corruption or invasion as long as we were around. We never enslaved you and you always had a choice in what to do and you chose to work with us." Odahviing stated calmly. "I was alive then and I remember that time well."
"And the Akaviri have their account as well. Which do you think we will believe?" Delphine said as she knocked another arrow and pointed it at Odahviing.
"Irkbaan ru dil. The Akaviri started everything simply because we wouldn't grant them our power and they have hated us ever since. Irkbaan kiin nol tarvok." Paarthurnax replied as Delphine sneered.
"Hatred is a great motivator!" she said as she fired her arrow at Odahviing but watched as it bounced off his scales.
"Hatred is also a way to die." Odahviing stated as he launched himself off the rock.
"Fighting side by side once again, old friend." Paarthurnax said as they flew opposite of each other.
"Just like old times." Odahviing stated as he dived at Delphine, who rolled out of the way and slashed at his leg but missed. Paarthurnax did the same with Esbern but missed as he too rolled but Esbern old age was catching up and he was beginning to sweat.
"Even in your age you haven't lost your skill." Odahviing stated calmly.
"Niid, it might take me longer to stir the blood but I can still fight." Paarthurnax stated. "I feel younger than I have ever felt."
"Welcome back my old friend." Odahviing said as he flew at Delphine but at the last second changed his target and caught Esbern in jaw.
Delphine watched as Esbern was caught by Odahviing and then thrown to the ground before Odahviing released his fire breath at point blank range. Not a single sound was heard as Esbern was engulfed in fire and what remained was a burnt corpse. Delphine was stunned by Esbern's violent death that she never saw Paarthurnax's foot come down on her. The last thing she saw was the sun being covered by gray clouds.
-With Alduin-
Alduin looked up as she heard two loud roars in the distance and she gave a dragon version of a grin. "One enemy has fallen and that means more will come. I hope you are ready my Dovahkiin, for the war is about to begin again and this time we dov have all the cards."
And I will wrap it up there. The last of the Blades have fallen and Marius knows that the DB is planning something and Mercer wants him out of the picture.
All that and more will be revealed next time on You Are Mine, Dovahkiin! I know that Winstad Manor is the name of a house that you can build in Hearthfire but for this purpose someone else owns it and the Dragonborn had to break into the it.
Read and review and I apologize for the fight again as they aren't my strong suit but I am learning. Stick around and you won't be disappointed and if you like dragon stories then check out my Love of Dragonesses story in the Spyro the Dragon side of Fanfaction. The critics (reviewers) agree that it is a good one to read!
Till next time my fellow dragon lovers!
Courtesy of Thuum . org
lingrah tiid wah saran – A long time to wait.
bok dreh ni trun – Age doesn't matter
rahgot inaak wah dinok – Anger leads to death
irkbaan ru dil – hatred runs deep
irkbaan kiin nol tarvok – Hatred born from greed