Ch. 11 Subtle Threat and Troubles
Man, has it really been 11 chapters? Amazing how time flies in the world huh? Anyhow, this story is really shaping up to be a nice ride and I really have to give a big shout out to MaChaoJustice for helping me find the inspiration keep it going, seriously go check out his Skyrim fic.
For those that haven't read my other works, I won't be near a computer next week as I will be out of state. I will have my phone so I can respond to pm's but that is it so try and survive until then. Reason being, my grandfather has bone cancer and has a 40% chance to see next year so I got to spend as much time with him as I can. Fishing and bowling here I come!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters belong to Bethesda and all OC's belong to their own creators that allow me to use them in the story.
"Have there been any more dragon attacks?" Balgruuf asked Proventus as he looked over a map of the Hold.
"I have not received word of any in our Hold but I can't be sure of the others." Proventus replied as Balgruuf sighed.
"This is becoming a hassle, many of our hunter's have complained about losing the western fields but having the dragons there pretty much guarantees safety for caravans passing through there. More safety means more caravans and more caravans means more money for Whiterun and its people." Balgruuf replied wearily.
"Might I suggest a wait and see approach? The river to the east provide a good hunting spot as animals must go there to drink so tell the hunter's to use the eastern fields and mountains for now and see how it goes." Proventus said as Balgruuf thought it over.
"He does have a point my Jarl." Irileth said in agreement.
"Fine, tell the hunter's to use the eastern fields for now and make sure that they understand." Balgruuf said as Proventus bowed and walked out.
"I will go gather the guard reports for the week, don't disappear to the tavern again." Irileth said as Balgruuf grunted and she walked away with a smirk.
"Damn woman, if I want to have a drink with the citizens of my city then I will." Balgruuf muttered snidely.
-With Marius-
"You can tell the "esteemed" Jarl of Riften that I will be there when I get there." Marius said to a messenger.
"She asked for you and wanted you to make haste or she said that she will take appropriate action to ensure that you make come with all due haste.." The Imperial messenger said.
"I won't repeat myself soldier, tell Maven that I will be there when I decide to visit her hole of a city." Marius said in his Legate voice.
"Yes sir." The messenger said and took off, eager to get away from the now irritated Legate.
"I swear that I will kill that woman before the year is out." Marius grumbled under his breath as he walked through Winterhold. With a shout of "Dur Neh Viir" he summoned his old friend from the Cairn.
"You need a ride again?" Durnehviir said and Marius could see a small glint of sadness in his eyes. He really only summoned Durnehviir for lifts to and from cities now and that weighed on the dragon.
"Yes and no, I do need a ride but I also saw a nice sized bandit camp just off the road a few kilometers from here," Marius said as Durnehviir's eyes lit up. "I figured you might want to stretch your wings a bit and cut loose."
"You really know how to make a dovah's day, it is no wonder that Alduin is interested in you." Durnehviir stated happily as Marius climbed on.
"You mean interested with a side of fries and a barrel of mead?" Marius asked jokingly.
"Geh, she does enjoy a nice blueberry pie for dessert." Durnehviir said as Marius laughed.
"It is nice not having to look over my shoulder for a dragon now." Marius said as Durnehviir looked back at him with a stern gaze. "Ok I had to one time on the trip to Winterhold." Marius correct as Durnehviir hovered in the air and the gaze remained. "Ok it happened quite a bit in the last week but how was I suppose to know that dragons get jealous?"
Durnehviir resumed his flight. "You have begun to court the one female dovah that every male wishes for; what did you think would happen?"
"She started it." Marius grumbled as Durnehviir snorted.
"You didn't deny her advances." Durnehviir pointed out as Marius grunted.
"I didn't have a choice in the matter, it was either that or have my head bitten off." Marius said as Durnehviir laughed. No more words were spoken as they sighted a camp full of bandits who had just raided a caravan if the broken cart and dead bodies on the road were any indication and with a roar, Durnehviir dived as Marius readied some magic.
-With Alduin-
"I had forgotten how...exhilarating it was to stalk my prey among the joor." Alduin mused to herself as she flew. "The look on their faces as they met their deaths were very amusing."
Out of the corner of her eye spotted a dragon flying fast towards. "Thuri, we have a problem!"
Alduin turned her attention to the dovah. "And what is the problem?"
"Two assassins have infiltrated the city of Whiterun and we have no way to get to them and the nest of assassins we have been watching emptied out last night and headed north." The dovah said as Alduin narrowed her eyes.
"So they wish to flee before they are caught." Alduin said to herself. "Did you get a look at them?"
"Yes thuri, A Redguard, a lizard, an old Nord, a child and a jester with a coffin." The dovah said as Alduin narrowed her eyes.
"A child? Why would a child be around murderers?" Alduin asked with a growl.
"We don't know thuri but she looked no older than your own krii." The dovah said before snorting. "That was before we got a most disgusting smell from the group. There was the stench of death that they tried to mask with a bunch of chemicals but there is no covering the stench of a vampire."
"The perfect predator, no joor would suspect a child." Alduin said as the dovah nodded. "Keep track of them and when we find out where they go then tell me and I will handle it."
"Yes thuri." The dovah said but he stopped. "A sizable force of fahliil landed in the northern part of Keizaal but their purpose is unknown as of yet."
"Have them watched as well and inform the city of Solitude. The Dovahkiin wouldn't like it if we didn't warn his leader." Alduin said as the dovah snorted.
"You are doing too much for your enemy thuri; It would be better if he was out of the way." The dovah said before he had to dodge a fireball.
"Are you challenging my decisions Dovah?" Alduin asked with with anger in her voice.
"Never thuri, I merely wish to express my concerns over your obsession." The dovah said before he flew off as Alduin snarled.
"My obsession is granting us a future again and I won't allow anything to stop that. Un aluntiid gon nu ahrk nid fen helt nii." Alduin said angrily.
-With Marius-
"Are things really that better since the first Empire?" Marius said out loud as Durnehviir flew on. "Bandits showing no remorse, thieves stealing because they want money and assassins killing simply because someone doesn't like another?"
"It's how joor always were, even during our time it was still there but we did our best to stamp it out." Durnehviir stated as he turned to the east. "Greed always comes before need for you joor."
"Then what does mean for Alduin?" Marius asked curiously.
"I didn't say that the dov were any different but Alduin has the right to be greedy if she wants. She is the first born of Akatosh and the closest to any living Aedra after all." Durnehviir said as Marius sighed.
"Is my life that cursed that an Aedra wants me?" Marius asked himself as Durnehviir laughed. "At least its only till I die then I can live happily in the afterlife."
Durnehviir snorted in humor. "Do you really think that Alduin would let you die? You are tied to her until she sees fit to let you go."
"You're bluffing...right?" Marius asked hopefully.
"No, you and her are bound until the end of time itself." Durnehviir said as Marius paled.
"How is that possible?" Marius asked fearfully. "No one has that kind of power."
"Did you forget already? Akatosh is her father and Mara is the Aedra of Love and Devotion. Do you really think that they would say no to their own daughter?" Durnehviir asked as Marius put his head down in sadness.
"So I've been screwed by the gods." Marius said sadly as Durnehviir laughed again.
"Geh hi lost Dovahkiin." Durnehviir said as Marius slumped. "Geh hi lost."
And I will have to cut it there. I need to start packing for tomorrow so remember what I said and try not to lose interest while I am gone!
In this chapter, we found out that Alduin enjoys hunting her prey when among us mortals and Marius was screwed before he even knew it. Also, I have geared up for a nice confrontation with the Thalmor as well so keep a watch for that too.
Read and review and I will see you all later!
Translations courtesy of Thuum . Org:
fahliil – elves
Keizaal – Skyrim
un aluntiid gon nu ahrk nid fen helt nii – Our future begins now and nothing will stop it.
geh hi lost – yes you have