AN: Sorry for the delay. I am on day 9 of 12-18 hr shifts, so saying I'm dead tired is an understatement.
Reviews:
WinkingSkeever: Glad you decided to browse the crossover sections! Expect a lot of different things to happen since I'm not just pulling from Skyrim, but from every Elder Scroll I've played and then some.
Last thing I have a favor to ask of all my readers, more on that at the end.
Betaed by V3X
(19th of Evening Star 196 4E)
Red stared down at the request Kodlak had just received a few hours ago from a merchant caravan. One-hundred and seventy-five gold paid in full for the removal of a group of bandits that had taken over an old imperial fort near the road to Winterhold.
Bandits were always a problem. It didn't matter what hold or country you called home. There was always someone willing to kill to get richer. Being in a fort made the job slightly more problematic since it was a fortified structure instead of a roadside camp.
It was a double-edged sword for the bandits. On the one hand, they had an easily defendable place, but on the other hand, they couldn't just pick up and move as their roving counterparts could, making it easier to find their base.
And found they were. If the caravan didn't have horse-drawn wagons, they wouldn't have been found out till much later, but since they did, the merchants could outrun them even after being ambushed.
That brought Red back to his thoughts on the fort. It would take a sizable team to storm the fort, more people than they had, meaning whoever he chose had to be able to use stealth as well as brawn.
His first choice would have been Aela, but she and Farkas were out dealing with a group of spriggans in Falkreath, leaving him with just six people he could choose.
And there inlaid the issue with his plan; none of the remaining six could use a bow as Aela could. Each of them was skilled enough to kill a deer or charging bear, but an animal wasn't a human. Humans could think on their feet and, given a large enough group, could form a well-mounted defense.
'Naruto could do it…' a voice whispered in his mind.
Pouring another cup of mead, he folded up the missive and walked outside into the cool winter's night. Silently he stared at the courtyard and the archery targets set up, his mind running through the hundreds of times he had sat and watched the boy lob arrow after arrow at the tightly bound bale of hay.
"He has been bugging me to go on a real job with me since he turned twelve," Red mumbled to himself before taking a swig of the mead. "Might be a good job to have him along on."
Staring up at the two moons, he looked at the halos surrounding them. "A storm is brewing. It might be the first blizzard of winter." if there was one thing that this world held in common with his was the signs of a storm, and a halo around the moon meant in the next couple of days a front of weather was coming through. "Going to have to leave early in the morning if we want to make it there."
(20th of Evening Star 196 4E)
Winter in Skyrim means the sun is out for only a few hours each day. "Naruto…" and with the sun only being out for a few hours a day, that meant that the body's natural sleep patterns were in tune with the rise and fall of it. "Naruto." Meaning that at five in the morning, the sun wouldn't be up for at least another four hours. "NARUTO!"
"GAH, WHAT!" Naruto yelled, shooting up out of bed, an annoyed Red standing over him holding a hot cup of coffee. "Time for training already?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"No, pack a bag, ten days' worth of supplies for one. You're coming with me on a job." Red replied, holding out the cup for the blond. "We leave in one hour."
Naruto watched as Red closed the door and walked out. Taking a small sip of the hot coffee in his hands, he sat it down and stretched his arms, trying to wake up. 'Wait…' Naruto blinked as the words of Red echoed in his mind. "Shit! I need to hurry!"
"Uh…" Lucia grumbled as she slowly sat up in the bedroll "Naru...is it time to get up?" she asked as Naruto ran around the room, getting his gear together.
"No, Pa needs me for a job. I'll be back in a few days." He replied as he struggled to tie the leather strings on his vambrace. He looked at Lucia as she kicked the blankets off and got up. Silently she walked over and took his wrist in hand.
"Just you or…" she asked, tying the first string.
"He didn't say anything about taking you," Naruto replied as she tied the second string. "Accutely, Pa didn't even say what the job was, just that it was a job."
Lucia bit her lip slightly as she finished tying the vambrace on the blond's wrist. "Then promise me something. Promise me you'll be safe." the worry in her voice was clear to him.
"I swear I'll be safe. Chances are it's just another bear or wolf pack." The last time he and Red had been on a job, it was a rabid bear attacking travelers on the road between Riverwood and Whiterun. Taking Lucia's hand in his, he stared into her brown eyes. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Head back to sleep, and I'll see you in a few days."
He turned, grabbed his green cloak, and slid the button through the hole. Reaching out to the end of his bed, he grabbed his sword and quickly slid it into his belt. "I'll hold you to that. You better have a sweet roll for me when you come back." he heard her say as he opened the door.
"I will. Get some sleep. You have targets to fix today." He replied as he closed the door. He took another sip of coffee and walked up the stairs as the companions' voices echoed above him.
"...fort Kastav? Thought those damn imperials were still there?" he heard Vilkas ask as he crested the top.
His eyes widened as he stared at the party before him. Vilkas and Skjor were in full gear. Ria, the newest member of the group, stood beside Skjor, anticipation clear on her face. Torvar sat in the chair, feet propped up on the table, a cup of what Naruto knew wasn't coffee in his hands. Athis had his sword on his lap, silently running a whetstone across its blade. And then there was Red, clad in his steel chest-plate, and an iron sword hanging from his hip.
Red cocked an eyebrow and stared at Vilkas. "You know as well as I do that after the war, the legion isn't as strong as it was. From what I understand, they abandoned some of the more run-down forts. And because of that, here we are dealing with bandits. Thankfully the merchants that requested this job agreed to take us to Nightingale Inn so that we will save some time on the way there." Red said as Naruto walked up, "Glad you finally decided to join us. I'll fill you in on the way we need to head out."
"Ok…" Naruto mumbled in confusion as he flipped his hood up and followed the large group of people out. Naruto winced slightly as the biting cold wind whipped across his face as they exited the warmth of the mead hall. He had a sinking feeling in his gut about this job.
"One second Red." Skjor said grabbing onto Red's arm. The rest of the group stopped and looked back at the pair, "I said Red, not you ice-brained idiots. Head on to the wagon. We'll be right behind you."
Naruto looked back over his shoulder as the pair glared at each other in the doorway, "Just because Kodlak handed the mission to you doesn't mean you're leading it…" he heard Skjor growl out at his Pa just as he started down the stairs.
(24th of Evening Star 196 4E)
"This is as far as we go!" the merchant yelled over the howling winds. Naruto watched as his Pa slapped the man's shoulder in thanks before jumping off the carriage, "May the Gods favor you, warriors!"
"Safe travels!" Red yelled as the sounds of hooves slowly faded into the howling of the winds. "Come on! We need to find shelter from the storm before it hits!"
"Couldn't we just stay at the Inn?!" Naruto asked as he pulled his cloak tighter around himself, the wool barely blocking out the biting cold of the winter front. "At least there, we can have a warm bed!"
"An tip someone off that there is a large group of companions in the area!? I think not!" Skjor told him as they trekked through the falling snow. "Chances are they have a scout there!"
Naruto looked over his shoulder at the gray sky bearing down on them. It wouldn't take long for the storm to overtake them and their vision to become near zero. He trusted his Pa with his life, but Naruto didn't think they could make it to shelter in time before the storm hit.
The band of six trekked down the road, the lights of Nightingale Inn on the hill seeming to sparkle in the snow as they passed. Naruto felt he wasn't the only one wishing they could just spend the night there as the lights faded into the distance.
Naruto couldn't tell the time since the storm clouds had long since blocked the sun, so instead, he counted how many times he had slapped his hands together, trying to keep feeling in his fingers. The cold had quickly become a burning feeling in his glove-covered hands. The gloves doing little more than keeping the frostbite away.
Shifting his pack, Naruto peered into the blinding nothingness of the snow before him. His body ached from the walking, and the wool, fur, and leather his clothes were made of had soaked up so much water it barely kept him warm.
If he could complain about anything, it would be the fact that the caravan wasn't headed back to Windhelm. The thick canvas covers blocked out the worst of the wind and snow, allowing one to keep some form of warmth as the wagon rocked down the road.
Hours passed in relative silence. Occasionally, someone would try to strike up a conversation, but the howling wind made it hard to hear anything other than your teeth chatter. Wiping the snow from his brow, Naruto squinted slightly as a light gleamed in the darkness.
Then he smelled it, the scent of wood burning in a fire. "Looks like a camp ahead!" Naruto yelled, even through all the fur he could feel Red's glare telling him to be quiet.
A hand grabbed his shoulder, "Could be anyone, maybe even bandits!" he heard Torvar say just loud enough for him to hear, "Be on guard!"
A single smaller flame rose up from the fire, a torch if Naruto was to guess. "THIS WAY! WE HAVE SHELTER!" a voice yelled, barely loud enough for them to hear. He looked at Red and shrunk down slightly. He could tell the man was annoyed.
Popping the leather strip holding his sword in place trudged along behind the Companions as they ambled towards the fire. Slowly eight figures came into vision. They wore blue-dyed wool vests over thick fur, denoting them as Windhelm soldiers. Even tho it was cold, he could tell they were tensed up, ready for a fight.
Naruto watched as Red and Skjor fished out his companion pass and held it up, "We're Companions from Whiterun!" Skjor yelled, making the soldier visibly relax.
"Get yerselves warmed up by the fire!" the one holding the torch replied before tossing it back into the fire. "Sorry, we don't have any food to share, but we do have warmth!"
"Naruto, Torvar, Red, you three set up the tent then come join us!" Skjor ordered them.
Naruto grumbled as he followed the two, 'Couldn't that have waited till after I could feel my fingers?' he thought to himself, slinging his pack down. He glanced over to Red, 'Wonder if Pa is having the same thoughts?'
(25th of Evening Star 196 4E)
Red watched Naruto fumble with a cloth sack through his thick gloves. Each step he took seemed to make the cloth slide and shift in his hand, making it nearly impossible for him to get the contents out. He chuckled lowly when Naruto reached down and pulled one of his throwing knives, cutting a hole big enough for him to reach in and pull out a strip of frozen jerky.
Reaching down into his satchel, Red pulled a piece of jerky from his own bag. Snapping the frozen meat in half, he placed a piece of it in his mouth. The ice-cold meat made his head hurt each time it touched his teeth, but there was little he could do about it. After a while, it would be unfrozen enough for him to chew, and the process would start all over again.
It was agreed upon when they had gotten up that lunch would be eaten while moving. He wasn't even sure if it was lunch or if the breakfast he ate just didn't fill him up enough this morning.
Chewing on the tough meat, he looked at the clouds above. The storm had shifted direction in the night, slowly making its way south toward the Rift. If what he read was true, that could mean one of two things. Either the storm was over and come tomorrow, it would be clear, or a stronger, more dangerous storm was moving south off the Sea of Ghosts.
Either way, he was happy the wind had died down, allowing him some modicum of warmth.
Reaching down he grabbed a handful of snow and placed it in his mouth.
Pop!
Red's ear subconsciously twitched at the sound, 'What was that?' he thought, looking up the mountain where the sound came from.
Pop!
Everyone stopped at the sound as fear gripped their hearts.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
"PA!" Naruto yelled as the pops and cracks thundered in the air.
"SHIT, RUN! FROST CRACKS!" Red yelled as they all sprinted through the snow. "THE OVERLOOK ISN'T FAR!"
Frost cracks, a rapidly moving front of sub-zero air that snapped trees. Without being fully covered in thick wool, or even better fur, it would freeze any exposed skin instantly, causing extreme frostbite, and if inhaled, it could even freeze the air in one's lungs, causing the little bit of water in them to freeze.
The result of inhaling it was simple. Death.
"THERE IT IS!" Vilkas yelled as the light of fire twinkled through the snow. The sounds of cracking wood nearly drowned out his voice. Like a guiding light, the group sprinted as fast as they could.
Running past the eternally lit brazen of fire, Red grabbed hold of the black iron door handle and ripped it open "GET INSIDE!" he yelled as he held the door open with all his might. Looking back, he could see, even through the snow, a rushing white wall of death headed their way.
Torvar was the last through as Red looked once more at the looming wall of death before slamming the door shut. It groaned and rattled as frost quickly coated the bare metal. 'Is the door going to hold…' Red thought taking a step back in case he had to run deeper. He could feel the burning cold of the front through the ancient wood and wrought iron door of the nord crypt. Slowly the rattling subsided, making Red release a breath he didn't know he was holding.
Ripping off his gloves, Torvar slammed his hand into his leg, trying to get feeling back in them. "Remind me to stay at the inn next time. At least there, I can have a belly full of warm mead and a bar wrench at my beck and call." he said, out of breath.
Red couldn't help but chuckle at the man, "Last time ya did that, you got something that made ya squirm like there were spiders in your pants." Red said as he slumped down against the cold stone wall. 'At least the kit's alright…'
The Last Septim
Sparks illuminated the dimly lit room as flint met steel and tinder caught fire. Gently taking the shaven wood in hand, Naruto blew gently until it was a small flame, silently placing the life-saving flame into the neatly stacked wood beside him.
It had taken Naruto years of practice to be able to start a fire using the flint, and even longer until he could start it in just a few strikes. He gently blew until the flame started to burn the smaller sticks. The dry wood burned bright, filling the room with a warm orange glow.
"Good job, kit. Few more years, an you could do that even after falling in freezing water." Red said as he patted the boy on the shoulder.
"By the eight, that was close," Ria mumbled as she took her leather travel pack off. "Hope this storm lets up soon, or else we might not have enough food."
"Keep forgetting you ain't from around here. Any storm strong enough to have a frost crack with it won't last more than a day. Too fast moving. It'll be warmer tomorrow and probably raining as well." Skjor said as he leaned back against his travel bag. The warmth of the fire appeared to relax the grizzled man as the reflection of the flames danced in his dark eyes.
"What is a frost crack anyways? I've been here for a few years now, an I've never seen one." Ria asked a question Naruto had as well.
Red was the first to speak up, "Frost Crack, Last Breath, White Wall, Silent Wail, Ysgramor's Revenge, Thartaags Breath, they all mean the same thing." he explained, "The last two are a little less known than the others since they have less to do with the actual weather and more to do with the Battle of the Moesrin the last stand that the Falmer took on Solstheim."
"If Red had listened to me we would have waited until the storm passed before leaving Whitrun…" Skjor grumbled.
"If I had listened to you, Oh wise one, we would still be in Whiterun waiting to make the damn trip in the first place! Oh, and let's not forget we would have had to walk the whole way here!" Red barked back, getting a growl of anger from Skjor.
Naruto watched as Skjor and Red glared at each other, "Well, we ain't going anywhere till sometime tomorrow, might as well take this time to kick back and relax." Athis said, pulling a pot from his pack and quickly breaking the tension buildup in the room, "I'm going to make some stew for us."
Upon hearing this, Red turned his head so fast it looked like it was about to snap. "Like hell you are!" Red barked out as he grabbed the pot from Athis's hands, getting a laugh from the rest of the group, minus Skjor. "Last time you made stew, I swore I could spew fire like Red Mountian with how spicy it was!" everyone knew that dunmer cooking was hot. It used a 'healthy' amount of spices from Morrowind.
"Well, might as well pass the time. Anyone got a story and some mead?" Torvar asked, sitting on a fallen pillar.
"You drank all your mead on the way here, and you ain't getting mine," Vilkas growled. The bearded man handed Red a sack of jerky nodding toward the pot. " Stories I can share, though. Ever hear of a man named Bjorn Deadra-Bane?" he asked, getting shakes of the head from nearly everyone but Red. "Bjorn had many titles, some confirmed, some not, but all hail from the same man. His most well-known title was the Hero of Kvatch."
Naruto lay in his bedroll using his leather pack as a pillow as Vilkas started the saga. "Nearly two hundred years ago, during the closing years of the third era, a man was arrested in the Imperial City for crimes since forgotten.
"The story starts when a group called the Mythic Dawn had killed all of the sons of Uriel Septim the Seventh and that he was the next target. The Blades sworn to protect the bearer of the Dragonflame escorted Uriel from the White-Gold tower to the oldest escape route still used, hoping they could get him to Cloud Ruler Tempel, the fortress stronghold north of Bruma.
"Upon entering the cell, they realized that a man had been placed there, Bjorn. Be it fate or a cruel joke, the cell Bjorn had inhabited was the same route they needed to take to leave the city.
"At first, the soon-to-be hero was treated as any other prisoner in the jail. The blades at the behest of Uriel didn't strike him down when he followed them into the sewers below the city. Unknown to the group, the Mythic Dawn had laid an ambush for them in the tunnels.
"Bjorn, armed with nothing but a torch, was able to kill one of them in defense of Uriel, earning him some trust among the blades. Given a spare sword, the group pressed on, facing ambush after ambush in the sewers.
"Just as the exit was nearly in sight, the assassins managed to trap the blades. They fell back to what was the most defensible spot they could find and fended off wave after wave of assassins. It was there that Uriel handed the symbol of his crown, the Amulet of Kings, to Bjorn, having seen the hour of his death. The Emperor knew his fate was to die there. He ordered Bjorn to find the retired Blades commander, for only he knew the location of his hidden son. The last Septim alive." he looked at Naruto as he said this.
"Unknown to blades outside, one assassin cloaked in shadow was able to slip past and directly attack the Emperor. Bjorn watched helplessly as the shade appeared and killed Uriel. In a rage, Bjorn tore the assassin asunder with skills he knew not he had."
"Damn, I knew the Mythic Dawn killed Uriel, but I didn't know how," Athis said, getting a glare and growl from Vilkas for being interrupted. "Sorry."
As if sensing the impending doom about to befall the dark elf, a voice echoed around them, "Stews done!" Red hollered, filling a wooden bowl with the thick brown liquid. Handing out the bowls of stew, he sat down and gently blew on it.
"What happened next?" Naruto asked, having been enthralled with the story.
"Another time perhaps, maybe next time we have a job together," Vilkas said, taking the first bite of the stew. "At least it's edible, unlike some people's food…"
"I ain't never living that down am I?" Athis mumbled, picking at his stew.
"Gods, no, you ain't. I dub thee Athis Fire-Breather!" Red yelled, pointing his spoon at the man.
Naruto chuckled as he ate the stew, just another night in the company of family. A family of misfits and headcases, but one he was happy to call his family.
But there was one member of that family that he felt nothing but anger rolling off of, Skjor. He watched from the corner of his eye as the man glared at those around him. Annoyance and anger clear on his face.
(26th of Evening Star 196 4E)
A wintery mix of rain and sleet fell as cloaked men stalked through the woods silently. It was dark now, the last vestige of light leaving them less than an hour ago. Thankfully the wet snow silenced their steppes, and the darkness hid their features as sparkles of torchlight and the smell of wood smoke from fires hung in the valley. They neared their target, an old imperial fort now used as a bandits' base.
"Kit." Naruto heard Red whisper as he crouched down and peered through the brush, "Remember, this is your first real job with us. Out here, I ain't your Pa, and I don't have time to watch over you."
Naruto nodded and pulled an arrow from the quiver on his hip. "We are going in through the old watchtower. From what Torvar and Athis found, there's a flooded tunnel there that connects to the old prisons." Vilkas whispered as he and Red watched the old fort for any sign that they may have been spotted.
Red nodded and looked back to Naruto. "Your job is to sit and watch the gate. When the fighting starts, and you'll know when it does, it's on you to deal with the sentries."
"No, he should come with us into the fort," Skjor said, his tone saying there was no discussing this.
"Skjor, he's my child, not someone you can order around," Red growled back as he placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Steel yourself. If everything goes as planned, we'll be back at Whiterun in two days time. And when we do get back me an you are going to have a talk Skjor."
The hooded blond took a calming breath as he watched the pair stalk off into the night. He knew it would be a while before the group could get inside, so until then, he had nothing to do.
Alone now and without the comforting presence of his Pa's chakra, worry crept into his mind. What if there were more bandits than they accounted for? What if they had mages in their ranks? what if…
'No, I can't think like that.' Naruto thought, banishing the worries from his mind. Closing his eyes, he recited an old prayer "I pray to the earth bones for their blessings in my fight. I pray to the wise one to guide me in my fight. I pray to the winter for spring's warming light. I pray to the fallen to mantle my fears. I pray to the north winds, to freeze the trail of my tears. I pray to the lady for keeping me safe. And I pray to the all souls to stand guard over my grave." his voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke.
The old nordic prayer calmed him considerably as blue eyes opened, full of resolve. He silently waited for a sign that the fighting had begun.
It didn't take long as the sounds of a bell ringing echoed across the valley. He watched the sentries fly into action, swinging their torches around, trying to illuminate and peer into the darkness. The fighting had begun inside.
Pulling the string back on his bow Naruto peered down the arrow, its steel tip seeming to glint in the dim moonlight. Like he had done thousands of times before, he took a breath and relaxed his fingers.
The near-silent twang of the bow echoed in his head as he watched the first of the sentries grab his neck. Even from the distance he was at, he could see the blood glistening in the light of the torch as it sailed through the air from around the arrow. 'They're just bandits…' he told himself repeatedly, trying to keep himself from freezing up.
Pulling back his bow again, he let the second arrow fly, the third, and the fourth. Each arrow hitting its mark just like he had trained.
"ARCHER IN THE WOODS!" he heard someone yell out over the sounds of battle as the gates flew open and three bandits rushed towards his hiding spot.
"Shit!" Naruto said as he rapidly pulled another arrow, sending it flying toward the man in the lead. The arrow slid between the steel plates in his chest like a needle, sending him to his knees.
"THERE HE IS!"
Slinging his bow over his shoulder, Naruto quickly pulled his sword and dashed towards them. "Die!" A burly man with ragged clothes yelled as he brought his greatsword high and swung at Naruto.
Skjor's words rang in his head. 'Don't block against a stronger enemy…' Bringing his sword up, Naruto recoiled slightly as the swords met before he smoothly let the blade slide off, making the man stumble off balance 'deflect then…' stepping forward, Naruto twisted on his heels as he brought the sword around. It slid into the gap between the rusted iron chest plate and his gut 'go for the unarmored areas.'
"Damn brat!" the last bandit roared as he swung his sword at the blond. His eyes widened as the sword met flesh in a puff of smoke, as blood sprayed, blood belonging to one of his friends. A pained gasp exited his mouth as a sword bit into his side. Blue eyes met green as the man glared at Naruto, sword held in a reverse grip burrowed into his side. "Fucking mage…" he spat out as he stumbled forward and grabbed the wound.
Naruto flipped his sword back to the ready, slinging the blood from the silver blade, as the bandit tried to stem the blood loss. It didn't take the wild look or pouring blood for the boy to know the bandit was dying, and not even a healing potion or adept magic spell would save him at this point.
Roaring again, the bandit swung wildly, making Naruto back away from his reach. 'There!' Naruto thought as he saw an opening in the flurry of metal.
Launching himself forward, Naruto stabbed his blade forward, the razor-sharp sword pierced the leather armor like it was made of wet paper, and the impact of the twelve-year-old sent the man to the ground. He twisted the silver sword, pressing his knee against the man's chest. The sound of breaking ribs and the squelching of blood filled his senses.
Naruto stared into the man's eyes as the light faded from them, and blood seeped from his mouth with a shuttering breath. Relaxing slightly, he stood up and wiped the blood from the silver sword. Sheathing it, he looked around at the three dead bodies.
His body had been in autopilot throughout the fight. He had let his countless days of hellish training take hold of him, and before him was the end result. Seven dead by his hand, be it arrow or blade he had killed all seven of them. 'Wait…' and then it set in.
He had killed someone.
Naruto recoiled slightly as he reached up and touched the warm blood on his face. Looking back at the bodies, he could clearly see the snow painted red with blood. The bodies were awkwardly strewn across the ground, their limbs stuck in unnatural positions. But the faces of the dead were what brought bile to his throat, grimaces of pain, fear, and rage marred their lifeless expressions. Holding out his shaking hands, he looked down at them. They were slick with blood and sweat.
There was nothing that could prepare him for the smell of iron-rich blood that clung to his nose and the feeling of the liquid on his face.
It wasn't like when he hunted. He didn't just kill another deer or rabbit. He had killed someone. He had seen the light fade from the man's eyes and heard his last shuttering breath as he twisted his blade.
The sound of someone walking towards him jolted the blond from his thoughts as he pulled his sword, ready to fight again. Red looked down at the boy with knowing eyes as Naruto dropped the sword and sank to his knees as the sliver blade clanked on the cobblestone road below the snow."You did good, kit. You did good…" he mumbled as Naruto stared at his hands, numb to the freezing rain around him.
(6th of Morning Star 197 4E)
The sun had long set on the city of Whiterun, giving way to thousands of stars lighting the late cold winter night. Two figures sat on the rocks above the Skyforge, staring up at the infinite expanse above them. The warmth of the forge had seeped into the rocks making it one of the few places the snow had melted from.
The pair had snuck out after everyone in Jorrvaskr had either fallen asleep or passed out from the mead. The peace and quiet that surrounded them was only interrupted by the distant sounds of thunder from the coming storm.
It had been eleven days since the battle at Fort Kastav. Eleven days of mental torment for Naruto. Night after night of vivid dreams, jumping at shadows he thought were the ghosts of men he killed, and the stench of blood that never left.
Red and Aela had both tried to help him, but there was little they could do. He understood that it was something he would have to live with, something he would have countless times in his lifetime, but it didn't make him feel any better.
Lucia had been about the only person who didn't try to console him. She was the one who pulled him from his nightmares, never once asking if he wanted to talk about them. She cast magic like Candlelight illuminating the shadows when he thought he saw someone, allowing his eyes to see that there was no one there.
She was just there, and that meant more to the blond than he knew how to describe.
Naruto watched as Lucia raised her arm and traced something in the sky above them, "What are you looking at?"
"Tracing the stars of my birth sign." Lucia replied, "My mama used to tell me about each of the birthsigns and how they determined our place in this world." Naruto scoffed slightly at the thought of something like stars determining someone's path in life.
Looking back at the stars, a thought occurred to him. "You know I never asked you this, but when is your birthday?" Naruto asked, mentally kicking himself for forgetting something so important.
Lowering her hand, silence came over the pair as Naruto waited for her to answer, "14th of First Seed, 186…" she responded quietly. "My birthsign is The Lord." she shot up and looked at him, "Now that I think about it, I never asked you either!"
"10th of Frostfall, 184." he replied, "That means you are two years younger than me."
"Well, that explains your good luck." Lucia said with a chuckle, "It's said that those born under The Tower are blessed with luck in spades and have an unbreakable will. My pa was…" she quietly trailed off with the hint of a quiver.
Even in the low light of the night, he could see the glint of water trailing down her face. "If it's painful, you don't have to talk about it." he knew he still wasn't up to talking about what happened.
Lucia shook her head and wiped her face, "My Pa was born in Frostfall." she replied, "I don't remember him because the Thalmor took him before my first birthday. They told my mama he was arrested for the worship of Talos and that he admitted as much during questioning."
Naruto listened quietly as she spoke, his mind going back to the day when he was younger and the Thalmor came to Jorrvaskr. Red had told him to head downstairs, but he didn't. He watched in hidden in the stairwell as the tense standoff happened between the Elves and the Companions.
Even then, he understood the dangers the Elves posed to the people he cared about.
"My mama still cried about it when she didn't think I was around. I could hear her sobs through the walls." He watched as Lucia shook, "She always said that Pa's service was the only reason we were able to survive as long as we did, but when he was hung as a Talos worshiper, the Empire cut that funding off. There was no place in the Imperial Legion for a lawbreaker. He was cast aside both by those that knew him and those he served with from what mama told me."
A long silence reigned over them as they stared up at the stars. "Those who abandon their friends in their darkest hour have a special place in oblivion reserved for them. " a voice said, startling them, making Naruto shoot up and reach for the dagger on his boot, "Boy, your forty years too early to harm me with that pig sticker."
"Old man? How long have you been there?" Naruto asked, lowering his dagger. Kodlak slowly walked down the rocks towards them, pipe in hand.
"Since you both snuck out," Kodlak said, breathing out a cloud of smoke. He grunted as he sat down on the rocks slightly above them. "I come out here sometimes to clear my head and ponder on all the things I've done in my life. Just so happens tonight I have company."
"So you heard everything?" Lucia asked, getting a nod from the Harbinger.
"I did." He said, "What happened to your father is but one of the countless crimes against mankind committed by the Thalmor. One could say that it's their calling card almost, to remove a perceived threat to them before it becomes an issue later." The low orange glow from the pipe lit his face as he took another drag, "What was your father's name?"
"Legate Aventious Pullo."
Kodlak chuckled lightly, "The Flaming Hammer, the man who held the northern front of the Imperial City as the Legion attempted to evacuate everyone they could from the besieged city."
Pulling out a leather pouch, Kodlak repacked his pipe, filling the motionless air with the smell of tobacco as lighting lit up the sky, "Even here in Whiterun, we heard about him, the Nords respected him for his prowess in battle, and we mourned him praying that if anyone be allowed into Shor's halls, it would be him."
Lucia was quiet as the old warrior talked, surprise mixed with sadness etched on her face. "Why did the gods allow it to happen? Maybe if…"
"Maybe if he lived, you would know him. Maybe if he lived, your family would be together?" Kodlak said before she could finish, "If I had a septim for every what if in life and every what if that plagued me, I would be the richest man in Nirn."
Slowly puffing on his pipe, Kodlak hummed in thought, "The gods are fickle beings. Their ways and concepts are unable to be understood by us mortals. The plans they have for each and every one of us are never realized until we lay awake in our final hours on this plane, if at all." Naruto watched as Kodlak pulled something from under his shirt. An ancient amulet hung from his hand depicting a fox. "Have either of you heard about how we came into this world as mortals?"
Naruto and Lucia shook their heads, getting a chuckle from the old Harbinger, "I'm not surprised since the bards have been more focused on the stories of mortals than those of the gods." taking another puff from the pipe. A long off, and tired stare crept into his eyes as the low glow illuminated his face. The look made him seem older than he really was. As if the wrinkles and discolorations on his face suddenly became more pronounced.
"In the beginning, there were two primordial beings, Anu and Padomay, change and order. Unable to affect the plane they governed in the way they pleased, the two breathed life into the first two gods of this plane, Shor and Akatosh. Shor was the aspect of change, while Akatosh maintained order through time. Having been granted free will by their creators Anu and Padomay, they both sought to govern in the way they had been directed to. Quickly realizing they could not do it alone, the two pleaded with their creators for help. The cost for such help was their power was split among the gods Anu and Padomey created. This was the first time the gods power over our world waned. "
"Tho brothers in all but blood, the two gods, Shor and Akatosh, still represented different beings, and thus many battles ensured. Shor and his army of souls and Akatosh and his army of lesser gods. The fabric of time and space itself quaked with every battle allowing darkness to seep into the realm and giving birth to the Deadra."
"Shor's body died in battle against the gods of Akatosh. His heart was ripped from his chest and cast unto the world from Atheirus. The impact created the land we live on, and his still-beating heart gave the world life." he paused for a minute as thunder echoed around them. "Kyne, Shor's wife, wept for her husband. As his blood fell from the heavens, it formed our bodies, her grieving wails gave life to our bodies, and her tears filled the world with water."
"This was the end of the first Kalpa, the first of the end times, and the beginning of our time. Their power had been expended by the eons of fighting, leaving only a small part of them in the world that surrounds us. They rest and lick their wounds so that when this Kalpa ends the cycle may begin anew." Lighting lit the sky once more as thunder echoed around them, "As for Shor, god can never truly die, for they are ever-changing. Their power wanes when they are lost, and their bodies may never return, but they are not dead." Kodlak said, slowly puffing on his pipe, "It is said that Shor's Halls in Sovenguadr are resting places for souls of valorous warriors that, in the final hours of the world when Shor returns, they rally together to attempt to stave off the end."
"What does any of this have to do with my father?" Lucia asked a question Naruto had as well since Lucia was clearly an Imperial and not a Nord.
"What I am saying is that in the final hours of this world, you will meet your father. And should you prove worthy, you will not only see him but fight alongside him as a Hero of Sovenguadr," Kodlak replied as the sound of frozen rain began to reach them.
"How will I know if I am worthy?" Lucia asked as her voice cracked slightly, a sign of her trying to hold back her sadness.
Kodlak just smiled and ruffled her hair, "It is not for me to decide if you are worthy. That is something only you and the gods can do, but know this, not one Hero who has crossed the bone bridge not bathed their hands in blood." he said looking over to Naruto.
Taking a final puff on his pipe, the old warrior tapped it on the rocks they sat on, scattering the ashes to the wind that had started to pick up from the coming storm. "Heros to some are but killers to others. What makes someone a hero is not how many dead lay at their feet but what they fought for in life. One who seeks nothing but glory in life gains none in the Halls, but one who seeks justice, wisdom, and glory will be welcomed with open arms."
Naruto watched the orange embers as they floated into the sky. His eyes followed them before they died out in front of a watchtower. A figure stood there, shrouded in shadow, while looking down at them. The only thing visible was his glowing eyes. For a brief second, two sets of blue eyes locked eyes with each other, one seeming to glow, the other filled with curiosity.
Lightning arced across the sky, blinding him briefly. When he looked back to the tower, the figure was gone. "Come, let's head back inside before we get pelted." he heard Kodlak say, pulling his attention away from the tower. "Besides, you both need to get to sleep if you wish to see Red and Aela off tomorrow."
Looking back up at the tower, Naruto shrugged and chalked the figure up to be another figment of his imagination. He slowly started walking down the rocks, making sure to watch his footing since they had become slick with the rain.
AN: And that's a wrap for this chapter!
The favor I have is simple, go over to V3X's Profile (Link to his profile will be on mine) pick a story, read it, and leave a review. I don't care if you leave one on mine but I'm begging you to leave one on his. The man has stories in the works that are damn good. My goal for him is this, either complete one of his stories, or get one story to 100k words by the end of the year.
As always, love it, hate it, leave a review telling me how I done. Sharp out!