The last two chapters were way, WAY shorter. But this time, I promise this chapter will be longer. RIGHT after this and next chapter as I want to get this story published as I haven't updated this story for a while and was busy with other projects.

Enough with the message. Let's get onto the story then, shall we?

Ashes of Skyrim Chapter Three: Welcome to Whiterun Part One

A couple of minutes passed since departing from Riverwood, and both the Ashen One and the Firekeeper were heading down the trail leading to Whiterun. The scenery around them was very calm. It had changed from hearing the river flowing to not hearing it. Well, the presence of the river was still heard, but it was vague since the two were moving away from it.

While they headed to their destination, the area seemed to have more wildlife peacefully roaming the place before them. It is at that moment that Ashen One decides to ask his question. "So, what do you think about this land we're in?"

"'Tis calmer than the Firelink Shrine. Though, I feel the darkness's presence but cannot sense where." She responded back in her gentle tone. The wind lightly blew at her yet didn't show any reaction. Looking back at the Unkindled, she saw something that bothered him.

"Ashen One, is there something wrong?"

Said undead looking back at her. "Oh… I was just thinking about our names when we arrive in Whiterun."

"Names?" The pale maiden tilted her head.

"Yes. People will not know what 'Ashen One' and 'Firekeeper' are. So I am thinking of a name that we could call ourselves."

The Firekeeper thought about the undead's words, and it took her a few seconds to process what she had heard. No one would understand their titles, as she and the Unkindled One were complete strangers. "And I sense that you already got one?"

The undead looked back at her and wagged his head in confirmation. "The name I have chosen is…ironic in a way. From now on, as I do not remember my past, you can call me Ash."

"Ash…" The Firekeeper murmured at that name. A curl formed on her lip as she let out a small smile. "That name truly fits you, Ashen- I mean, Ash."

"And your name?"

The pale lady stared at the Knight. "My name?"

"Since my name is a name played with the title 'Ashen One', I was wondering about a suitable name for you?" He explained as they stopped in their tracks. " I cannot be the one to choose yet the one to approve of it. I'll let you choose for once."

The Firekeeper was taken aback by his words. She was only referred to as 'Firekeeper'. But to be asked to give herself a name… "I see. I was thinking about thine approval. Yet, I couldn't think of one. Thou could think of one, Ashen one?"

The Ashen One, now called Ash, contemplated her question. He knew that it wasn't his place to give her a name. Despite this, he already considered a name that people could call her. "Well, I think I could think of one for you."

"Then what is it?" She responded back in her usual kind and gentle demeanor.

"How about I call you Cecilia." He spoke with doubtfulness. He came up with that name randomly in his head and wasn't sure if the blind lady would like the name.

"Ashen One…" Speaking of which, he faced the Firekeeper doing the same thing. A small glimmer of quietness was present as the two stared at each other. It kept on like that until she finally spoke. "I appreciate thy suggestion, and I think Cecilia would be a wonderful name."

"Then you shall be called Cecilia from now on." The Unkindled spoke with a small smile formed underneath his helmet. This, in turn, made the blind lady giggle a little at his words.

Before they were about to continue in their tracks, the Ashen One could see within the distance a giant keep that reminded him of the structures seen throughout the lands of Lothric. Except that it wasn't abandoned or barren but was lively and colorful. "Guess Delephine wasn't wrong when she said that Whiterun was a walking distance from Riverwood?" He looked over to Cecilia and gently grabbed one of her hands. "We better get moving before it hits dark."

To say Cecilia and Ash's walk to the city's main gate was interesting. The two guards that stood at the side of the entrance stared at him. Perhaps the armour confused them, as the Unkindled could tell by their body language. None exchanged words as the two passed the guards and entered the city. Immediately after, Ash's ears heard a sound he hadn't heard for a while. The sound of children shouting at one another as if they were playing a game. As mentioned earlier, his eyes spotted the children running on the left side.

"You better catch me!" A young girl shouted while giggling. It was as if she was running away from someone, though it wasn't bad.

Ash then saw another girl with the same outfit as the other, a blue shirt over a long-sleeved red shirt running alongside a boy struggling to catch up with the other children. The other girl looked at him and spoke with a playful tone. "Come on! You're always the slow one! Try to catch up!"

"I'm trying!" The young boy moaned in between his breaths. He stopped where he stood and began to hyperventilate as he was taking in some air. He was about to catch up with the other children when he immediately spotted an individual wearing an unfamiliar armor set with a pretty woman wearing black clothing and a metallic mask over her eyes at his side. The boy knew that person was a knight, as he could tell by looking at some parts of the stranger's armor. Instead of catching up with the others, he walked over to the Unkindled. Ash stopped in his tracks as the boy looked up at him with curiosity seen in his face. "Um… Mister, or Miss, you're a Knight, right?"

Ash knelt at the same level as the boy and immediately nodded. "Yes, I am."

The young boy smiled at this revelation, and he let out a laugh. "Oh wow! I can't believe it! A real knight standing before me. It's so rare to see someone like you!" He decided to ask his other question. "Have you travelled across the lands and slayed any monsters?"

"Yes, I have." The undead nodded at that question, which made the boy laugh even more.

"Really?!" The boy asked again, which made the undead nod his head for the second time. "That's so awesome! Someday, I'll become a knight just like you are!"

"Hey, Lars!" The voice of the first girl that the Ashen Undead saw earlier saw walking up to him. "We're still playing and…" the young girl turned to look at the armored figure kneeling behind him and a beautiful woman at his side. "Oh, am I interrupting or what?"

"No. In fact, we're just finished having our little talk." Ash informed her in his calm tone as he stood on both feet.

"Talk? As in him wanting to become a Knight?" The girl scoffed before she turned to look at the boy. "You know he can't become one considering he is a wimp."

The undead didn't buy into her words. "Anyone can become one. It does not matter what the individual's flaw is. If he can become a knight, perhaps anyone like him can be one."

The young girl just looked at him with great disappointment. Despite the encouraging words that he had said, she always knew that Lars Battle-Born would always be a wimp. "Fine. But heed my words. I don't care if he does become a knight when he grows up. And don't lecture me about it even if you're my elder?"

Ash didn't say anything to the girl and silently stared at her. He didn't say one single word and continued to look at her. A few seconds later, she suddenly turned away from the knight. The two remaining kids glanced back at him before catching up with their friend. When that was over, he turned to face Cecilia. "That was something."

"The little one does seem to have an attitude, Ashen One." Cecilia wondered, tilting her head in curiosity.

Ash exhaled at her words. "Indeed she has." He then saw the blind lady looking ahead at the building. It is at this point that he said an obvious statement. "Something interests you?"

Cecilia bobbed her head at his words. "The person I saw in mine vision is waiting within it."

Registering what she verbalised, Ash understood what the blind lady recognized from her perception. Wanting to throw away this chance to not be wasted, he, along with Cecilia, started to walk where this character was currently at. The two paid little attention to their surroundings as the adults glanced in either curiosity or confusion. Getting inside what was obviously an inn, Ash turned to the right and saw an empty table. He focused his attention on Cecilia.

"Stay here. I'll be back soon." He told her, and the Firekeeper sat on the chair. Ash followed the trail that led to the upper floor. Taking the last step of the stairs, he walked past the empty inn room and turned to his left. There, he saw a woman sitting alone in a chair. Her color clothing and a metallic mask over the eyes reminded the undead of Cecilia in some way. But differs in terms of style and had her hood on. What was eye-catching for the Unkindled was her sword sheathed on her left hip. Only the hilt and half of the blade seemed to be seen. A thought to mind as only a mad Hollow would use that kind of sword.

Ash began to casually approach her. He was about to speak when…

"That is close enough." The woman's voice said to him before she faced his direction. Her voice was soothing, though it wasn't hostility for the undead. "You are no guard, and there has been no disturbance yet, nor do you bring any food or drink with you."

Ash didn't know how to respond to that. Clearly, this woman was observing him. It took him a few seconds to reply back to her. "You could put it that way."

"Mm," the blind woman murmured. "In some ways, perhaps. You have the bearing of a traveller and should know best of all those here that it pays to remain wary…lest the arrow finds its mark."

"You seemed to have experience?" Ash spoke; his voice was filled with curiosity.

"It would seem so." She replied back to Ash's words. "Tell me. Stranger… what brings you here? There are better pickings for conversation than I, nor do I have many coins to spare."

When she had asked that question, Ash went quiet as he thought about the Firekeeper's vision early on the day. Choosing the right words to speak, he answered the blind woman. "My friend waiting downstairs has expected someone of interest to be here. I'm guessing she was referring to you?"

The blind lady looked at him with shock on her face before she became stoic once again. "I see. Yet, you are the first I have spoken with in some time that hasn't immediately asked about the hood covering my eyes." Ash already knew that she was blind due to having some similar traits to Cecilia. He let her continue speaking. "Do not falter… in truth, there is not much to tell. I can no longer see as you do."

"I can already see that." Ash admitted as he folded his arms across his chest.

Again, the lady had the same reaction. "You seemed to be aware of my blindness. I am still surprised you knew that. But it is not such a terrible thing. The loss of one sense enhances the other."

Ash thought about the words she spoke and was too curious about her choices of words. "That doesn't make you any less capable of it."

"There is work for many in these lands, mercenaries mosty of all." She replied back in her usual tone. "And there are worse fates than to die on the battlefield."

The Unkindled had closely examined her words. He had already come to an obvious answer. "Then I'll take it that includes you."

"Of a sort." The blind mercenary admitted without showing any emotion other than her sooth stoicism.

"Do you have some sort of contract to fulfill?" Ash questioned. He wanted to know if this person of interest was in one at all.

Fortunately for the Ashen Undead, the lady shook her head. "Not at the moment. But your own travels must have shown that there is always more to be done. Why do you ask?"

Ash went lost with words. He simply cannot say that he and Cecilia were from another land. It would make people think he's crazy. Truth be told, he did see a point in saying it bluntly towards others. He also had to take into consideration the blind woman. He had only met her recently and asking her to join him right away would be too quickly for her to handle right away. "Oh, just curious, that's all."

The blind lady looked back at him with that same look on her face. "Well, I'll just be here. You can have time to think about what you are about to say."

After she had said that, Ash left the area he was in. Retracing his steps and passing by people, he found himself back to where he left Cecilia. Said person shifted her attention to the Unkindled and noticed that he was alone. "Ashen One, I senseth that the individual didn't come with you. Is there any reason why?"

"We had just met and I don't think it'll be wise to have her join immediately," Ash explained as he took a seat on the other vacant chair. "I decided to give it some time to think about it."

"A wise choice, Ashen One." Cecilia praised the Unkindled. "Give it a bit more time. For now, build a bit of trust between you and the individual."

Ash lightly exhaled and felt some air from the mouthpiece of his Knight Helmet. "Let's just rest here for a bit before we head to where this Companion Guild is located." Cecilia had agreed with that and wanted to try some of the delicacies she had back in Riverwood.

I have to say that I am very sorry for not writing a long chapter. Truth be told, I thought of another Fanfiction Idea that came to mind.

If you don't know this already, it is a crossover story between Fairy Tail and Bloodborne called, funny enough, Fairyborne, The main character is Wendy Marvell and she accidentally summoned a cosmic being that abducted her and took her to the world of Bloodborne. You all know where I am going here, right? Go and check it out if you want to.

The mod you see here is called Light and Shade mod.

Now then, let's get on with the reviews:

ExcaliburShooter; Yes, I need to recheck my stories if I made a mistake. I may not do that again but the future is vague.

LtButterfly287: I didn't know that. But does it look like I have a better understanding of the Dark Souls lore? And about what you said with regards to the 'End of Fire' Ending? It's just my 'WHAT IF' Scenario on both the Ashen One and Firekeeper having another purpose in the lands of Skyrim. But I won't take your criticism so deeply. Keep that in mind please as I know I cannot impress you in this story to your liking.

Carlom2408: Sure I will once a certain story has a certain amount of chapters done.

Guest: I'll just take your words in.

That's all to it. Now that is over, I will see you all in the next chapter. Whenever it's published.