Azriel moved the leafy branches aside while a gentle breeze stirred the leaves to life under her fingers. The air felt weird to her, but her wolf was strangely silent. She wasn't sure how or where she was, only that she was standing in an autumnal forest. The sun above her made her think it was afternoon. Sunny and bright, the forest was warm even with the queer feeling about the place. What caught her interest was the shady grove that held an unusual gravity for her. It was an oddity. Pulling her closer was a magnetic oval of shade surrounded by sunshine and something about it made it feel threatening.
Somewhere above her a raven cawed.
Underfoot, the leaves crushed noiselessly as she shifted to get a better look. The wind swirled through branches and around her body, rattling more than just the leaves. Everything about the place felt off to her.
The raven squawked again.
Its taunt chilled her, giving her goosebumps. Scouring the boughs above her, she couldn't see any black birds. Or rather, the single raven, since she only heard one. Giving up, she peered through the boughs again. This time she took a moment to observe her surroundings. The sense of being watched and the ominous oppressive feeling ate at her. She refused to be intimidated by it.
The forest glowed reddish-orange like a brilliant sunset. The sky was hues of pinks, blues, and oranges. It was fall here, but she knew that wasn't possible in Skyrim since it was Evening Star. There was only snow in the North, but here in this forest, it was warm like the summer's end.
This isn't Skyrim...
Her hair stood on end as she sniffed the air. The gust carried on it the crisp scent of oak and elm leaves. Under it mingled a pungent combination of smells that teased her nose. Rotting leaves and moist soil complimented the bouquet of the sweet forest foliage.
Satisfied with the safety of her surroundings, she walked from the brush into a small clearing in the sunlight. The warmth rolled over her like a wave. She looked around, before taking another step forward into the shade.
The shady patch had grown with the movement of the Sun. The openness of it felt like a trap. She steeled herself and walked into the darkest of shadows.
The shade gave way instantly to light, brilliant and dazzling. So much so that Azriel froze.
When she could see, she found a man sat upon a rock, at the farthest edge of the small clearing. He was the tallest man she had ever seen besides Tsun in Sovngarde. Dressed in ebony armor and an ebony helm, she was surprised she hadn't noticed him just a moment before. The stark contrast of his armor against the foliage should have been a dead giveaway he was there.
I knew this was a trap...
The man sat alone, sharpening an ebony sword attached to his right arm. His red-gold locks spilled out from under his helmet, but there was no mistaking the muscular form as belonging to a male. Next to him, propped up against the boulder was an ebony shield painted with a single red rose.
The woods behind her closed off, leaving the only way forward passed the ebony garbed man. Azriel walked into the clearing, her right hand instinctively reaching for the sword on her back. Drawing the dragonbone blade made more noise than she cared to hear.
The man stopped sharpening his blade, but he didn't look up at her.
Azriel walked to the center of the clearing, her sword ready. The ebony warrior stood, lifting his shield into place. His stature easily dwarfed her as he drew to his full height. He looked directly at her and Azriel smiled at him. She freed her other sword with her left hand. The Ebony Warrior took a defensive stance. It was no longer a guess for what was going to happen.
They began their dance.
Slowly circling, watching each other's moves as they traced the rim of the forest clearing. It was study of opportunity and a wordless understanding between warriors. Each moved with seasoned grace, neither willing to neither be the aggressor nor give up their secrets to the other. It was a stalemate of sorts, one in which the other wouldn't back down and allow them a silent victory.
Above them or around them, two ravens called from differing parts of the forest. Near, yet far, the two harbingers cried out. Their voices filled with sadness, laden with sorrow for the eventual outcome that neither of the two combatants could deny to be the truth. Only one of them could leave the clearing victorious and the ravens knew it as well. It was in their song that there would be blood.
Azriel watched each of his careful footsteps. She gauged the weight of his shield on his left arm. Every muscle movement from his toes to his head, she absorbed. Under the helmet, she knew he was doing the same thing to her.
The Ebony Warrior rolled his right shoulder, drawing her eye back to the blade grafted to his arm. The outer skin of ebony was seamlessly fused to the sword. The tip of the blade bobbed a single time, indicating the dance was nearly over.
He took another side step.
Azriel countered with her own steps. Tightening her grip on her right sword, she could feel her muscles tighten as the man opposite of her flexed under his armor.
He rushed forward, his sword swinging back in an arc, his shield forward. Charging her in three easy steps, but Azriel was faster. She side-stepped him, spinning as his shield thrust met her right sword. Her left sword, connected with his from behind her. She rode the assault through. Going low as his shield went high for her face. She completed her circle as he leapt over her swing.
His ebony sword clashed and sparked against her enchanted dragonbone.
Locked in combat, blow for blow, each of the swords' clashes issued flashes of light. The Ebon Warrior used his strength and size, where Azriel used her lithe and speed. His swings were full and powerful, hers quick and nimble. For each blow he delivered, Azriel dealt two or three.
With a fierce shove the two broke apart. Their dance continued.
"You will never win, daughter of Akatosh." His voice was deep and harmonious. But, there wasn't any mockery. He spoke as if it was a simple truth.
Azriel smirked. "I've heard that one before."
The two warriors strode lightly together. Each held their ground as the words thickened the air around them.
The two ravens squawked at them like an impatient audience.
"You know, you could make this easy and just yield." She quipped.
The Ebony Warrior's laughter erupted from him, shaking the ground below their feet. "That would defeat the purpose of you being here." With that, he charged again.
The ravens screeched their approval.
Azriel's sword crashed against his. Her body spun, carrying through her parry of his shield. The warrior countered, sweeping his sword against hers. Their swords clashed rapidly, his shield deflecting her blows. The two sparred evenly, for each attack the other countered. Their movements were graceful and furious as they toiled through the hollow.
The sound of their fight rang through the trees. Echoing off the foliage and crashing against the sound of metal and bone. The ravens called out as they sparred. Neither warrior granted reprieve to the other as they fought in the dell. Strike and counter-strike pierced the air.
The ebony warrior's shield delivered a mighty blow, knocking Azriel finally from her feet. Throwing her back, he attacked her. His sword cut through the air with a hum. Azriel threw herself back as the sword-tip grazed her cheek.
"First blood…" His words lacked ridicule. His voice was calm as he spoke. "…give up, Ahziial."
Azriel chuckled dryly as she wiped her cheek. "You so sure?" She nodded to his right arm.
The Ebon Warrior took a single step back and looked down. His locks cascading over his breast plate as he inspected his arm at the elbow. Golden ichor leaked from the chink in his armor. The warrior laughed deeply. The rumble of it echoed through the trees.
He turned to her, still laughing. "I'd expect no less from you."
The ravens mimicked his laughter. Jeering from the trees, they encouraged them to fight on.
Azriel jumped to her feet. She'd readied herself for his next assault.
They circled and their swords clashed. Their fight evenly matched in contradictory ways.
Azriel pirouetted in the air, her twin blades slicing the ether and his armor, driving him backward. The Black Knight steadied himself, bashing her with his shield. Pushing her back, he bounded forward, kicking out her legs. Azriel was knocked to the ground a second time.
"Yield." His voice was devoid of any strain from their fight.
His blade leveled at her neck, Azriel wiped the blood from her lips and glared up at him from the ground. "It takes more than a smack with a shield…"
"You are defeated, admit it… Surrender."
Azriel spat the remaining blood from her mouth. For a moment she contemplated him. His long blade was a scant inch from her neck, yet she felt the fight within herself. She saw the weakness in his lean.
Rolling, she kicked his blade aside carrying through the momentum she grabbed her cast off sword. Pushing herself to her feet, she punched him in the helm driving him further into the ground. Her right foot caught his side with a kick. She stepped on his back, driving him into the soil completely. Knocking his shield aside, she brought her boot down onto his blade when he rolled, pinning him in place.
With her twin blades crossed at his throat, she smirked at him. "I know who you are, but I don't know why you've brought me here."
The Black Knight chuckled under his helm. "Do you now? Who am I?"
"Reymon Ebonarm" She glanced down at his right arm. "God of War and Hero to the Alik'r. The symbol on your shield… I read about it in a book."
The knight slowly lifted his left hand and removed his ebony helmet. His red-gold locks spilled from it, surrounding his dark golden-brown face. Piercing blue eyes greeted her with warmth and a light of their own. "I am."
Azriel wasn't sure if she should let her guard drop or keep him there. "What do you want?"
"You have protected those that are loyal to me, so I come as the Harbinger of Warning."
Azriel thought quickly for a simple answer, but came up empty handed. "Who did I protect?"
His perfect white teeth showed with his smile. "My brethren… Loyal and yet afflicted by Hircine's foul deed. You have protected many before and many more to come."
Azriel withdrew her swords. "You aren't the first god I've fought."
The ravens squawked irritably at her impudence.
"Nor am I the last…" He answered simply.
Azriel took a step backward, letting him rise.
"I smell the foul stench of Hircine's taint upon you." He continued.
Azriel scowled at him. "I happen to like my wolf. But, that isn't why you are here. So do me a favor and cut the riddles. What do you want?"
Ebonarm laughed again. "My quarrel is with Hircine not with you, young one. But, alas, I come as a favor. You have spared Larren and the Ebon Covenant an ill fate."
Azriel swallowed hard. "The pass fell?"
Ebonarm smiled down on her. "Your warning to Larren did not fall on deaf ears. Now it is his prayer I answer and so many others. War beseeches Hammerfell and the Empire from the same foe. The skirmishes of the North lay the paving stones for the Empire of the South to march. The roots of war are seeded with treachery and deceit. The Elven Empire waits patiently for time to unfold and conquest to be swift. It is war without honor."
Azriel mauled over his words carefully, but none of it surprised her. "I already knew that."
His smile broadened. "Indeed, your actions speak volumes. Those that would claim allegiance do so for their own gain. You will find friends amongst your foes. Do not be blinded by your own hate and see with your heart, daughter of Akatosh. This is my missive. You must not fail in your endeavors."
Azriel laughed at him. "You brought me here to tell me to look past my hatred of my enemies and find friends? Kind of a wasted trip don't you think?"
"Even you cannot fight every adversary alone, Dragonborn. You will find the greatest allies come from the Fount of Conflict. Mistrust is rampant and War is the Herald of Peace."
The ravens screeched their assent.
Azriel stared at him.
"Our time is at an end. For what it is worth, I find you to be a truly worthy opponent. I would have expected no less from the daughter of Akatosh."
Azriel blushed at the compliment. "You as well, Ebonarm."
He bowed his head, the ringlets of his hair catching light, making them glow like fire around his head. "Ahziial, you must wake."
4E 204 year… 2st of Evening Star… 1747…
Azriel blinked.
The light of the room was a soft pinkish-orange through the windows. She felt a weight around her waist, moving her hand over it she felt the warm arm of the werewolf that cuddled up next to her. She shifted slightly on her side with a smile. She looked around, seeing the posters of her bed. The light leaked through the curtains that covered the windows.
Her mouth felt as dry as a desert and she looked at the small table next to her bed, hoping for a pitcher of water. Next to her on the nightstand was a single red rose. For a moment she just stared at it, remembering her dream.
Aela shifted next to her.
Azriel moved her arm and started to get out of bed.
"Don't even think about getting up."
Azriel rolled slightly to look at Serana. "I don't remember what happened."
"You fainted on the stairs." Serana closed the book she was reading and set it on the dresser behind her. "Those priests healed your injuries and Angeline gave you a few potions. They also said to keep you in bed for the next week."
Azriel rolled her eyes. "That is so not going to happen."
Serana gave an exasperated sigh. "I know." She leaned forward in her chair conjuring a piece of parchment from nowhere. "This came for you."
Azriel sat up in the bed, but Serana lowered her hand. "Can I at least ask you something first?"
Azriel gave her a questioning look. "Why would you ask me that? You already know you can."
"Why do you feel the need to push yourself past your breaking point?"
Azriel shifted against the headboard uncomfortably. "I don't really have much of a choice, do I? Everywhere I go, it's always a fight. It's all I've ever known." She looked down at her hands. "I don't know how other people sit still. I don't know how to go about trying to live a quiet life. I'm not sure I can either."
Serana let the parchment float from her hands to Azriel. "You can live a different life if you want one. But, you need to choose what you want." She stood up and left the room.
Azriel unfolded the paper. The wax seal was already broken.
~ Azriel ~
I have been informed of your arrival in Solitude. The two dragons sleeping on top of Proudspire Manor caused quite a stir with the guards. I hope this letter find you in good health, the Nine know we need it. As soon as you can, please come to Castle Dour. I have urgent need of your audience. We have much to discuss.
~ General Tullius ~
Azriel groaned and lifted the blankets. Standing quickly made her head swim. Her body still ached and she felt like she should go back to sleep. But, she still needed to know what was happening in Skyrim.
The rustling from the bed behind her caught her attention while she pulled on her breeches.
Aela sat up in bed, "Where do you think you are going?"
Azriel pulled a brown and gold quilted shirt over her head. "To see Tullius up at the castle…"
"I know, we read the letter." Aela climbed off the bed and picked up the spring-green suede dress from the other nightstand. "I'm coming with you." She said, pulling the dress over her head.
Azriel waited for Aela to pull her brown boots on. "How long was I asleep for?"
Serana appeared in the doorway holding a pitcher and two mugs. "Since last night, it's the evening of the second."
She took a mug of water from Serana. "Explains why I'm starving…"
"Theron made dinner." Serana handed another mug to Aela.
Azriel drank half the mug in a single gulp. "He can cook?"
"Most people can if they don't feel like starving to death." Aela beamed at her.
Azriel stuck her tongue out at Aela. "Bitch."