Chapter 4: Dragon Tales

AN: This chapter is dedicated to Ancient Magister. - So, just a heads up before we get to Skyrim. Skyrim, its politics, its environment, literally everything is different. A very high fantasy Skyrim. Think of this as a hard reboot of Skyrim but a soft reboot of the Elder Scrolls. I took Skyrim and revamped it. For example, the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood work together and some other differences. Before y'all jump ship, I encourage you to read a bit and give it a chance, it's still Skyrim, just more creative imo than the generic Middle Earth - Westeros land we got in game. Even then you'll see mostly familiar characters like Aela, Serana, Balgruuf, etc. The OC's I'm using are only for the other provinces (High Rock).

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A few days had passed and the boys were gathering their things to get ready to leave. They'd washed and dressed in stolen clothes. Hadvar was wearing a backpack with provisions and some gold. The Nord had grown a light beard to compliment his new short hair while Gwendal's hair was freshly bleached golden.

"These new looks will help throw off people from finding us," Hadvar said. "Stesha you sure you don't want to change your look too?"

"I like my hair too much to wanna change it, thank you very much," grumbled Stesha. His stomach was hurting from the lack of food.

"Alright, alright princess." Gwendal placated him with his hands held up. "I'm Stesha, don't touch my hair or I'll cry like a little girlie wirlie."

"Says the buffoon who snores like a pig." Stesha shook his head at his friend.

They left the farmhouse and stumbled back out onto the road. The weather was overcast, cloudy and boring. A forest of tall, dark green trees stood like a fence to their right, Halcyon Lake to their left. Salmon were swimming their way through the lake as farmers tilled the nearby soil. Fishermen casting their lines into the water as lumberjacks hacked away on firs within the woods. Stesha could see a lumbermill a ways away into the plantation. - Hadvar led the crew onward and Stesha and Gwendal followed shortly behind. They saw a forktail swoop over some encroaching trees in the woods to their left and dawdled up the passage towards the mountains.

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here," taunted Gwendal hauntingly, raising his hand to emulate a ghost.

"Why are you the way you are?" Hadvar frowned at the blond Breton.

"Hate the game not the player." Gwendal shrugged. "Or was it the other way around?"

The mountain pass was decorated with crags and twisty, ill-rooted trees. The further they went the more orange the foothills became. Gwendal had procured a walking stick from Akatosh knew where and was using it on their hike. Small lizards slithered around the edges of the gravel road.

I'll never see my parents and sister again, Stesha realized, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. What did I get myself into. What am I going to do with my life. I have no purpose.

"You guys remember that one time a few years back when we went hunting and Gwendal got injured when the deer accidentally hit him?" Hadvar seemed to try to lighten the mood.

Fog engulfed them as they rose over the hillocks on the mountaintops. Stesha saw crests with lakes nestled within them. Some bare pines littered the area as they weaved their way within the path that curved around.

Stesha wiped away his tears. "Yeah, and he got addicted to the healing potions they put him on."

"Davout Pharmaceuticals has the best potions I swear." Gwendal relished, clearly in remembrance. "Way better than Callowen's Chemicals."

"By Akatosh why don't you shout it from the rooftops?" Hadvar shook his head.

They continued their march.

"Ohh man that was a lot," said an unfamiliar voice. Stesha and the boys looked over and saw a Redguard man in a blue robe sitting on a small boulder. "I needed a break from all that nightmarish hellscape."

Hadvar gestured for the Bretons to stand behind him as mist swarmed the area. Some Dragonlings were battling atop a cliff a few paces above them. "Uhm, who are you?"

"By the Nine, I didn't see you there." The Redguard bowed. He had glowing blue eyes and a sizable afro. "I am Eleph Kaid, the Ancient Magister. You could say I'm a… seer of sorts."

"If you're a seer, why didn't you see us. Ha-ha, get it, guys, see us," Gwendal laughed to himself to nobody's amusement.

"You done?" Eleph perked a brow.

Hadvar scratched his newly grown facial hair. "Can you tell us our fortunes?"

"Sure, why not? You want them all as one or individually?" Eleph stepped over to the boys.

"Why not both?" Stesha answered, taking a shufti at the tree near Eleph's boulder. It stood like a monument amongst all the barrenness.

Eleph scratched his head. He put his hands on Hadvar's forehead. "You will meet a good woman soon. Hold her close."

Hadvar's face erupted into a smile. "Really?!"

"Yes, yes. You teenage boys and your, agh never mind." Eleph moved onto Gwendal. "You will help many people."

"Gwendal, helping people?" Hadvar chuckled. "You sure you're a seer?"

Finally, Stesha. Eleph's warm hands rested on his temples, and he could feel his muscles relax. "Wow. Did not expect that."

"What?" Stesha asked.

"Not sure how to phrase this but…"

"But what?!" Stesha pressed as the Hammerfell native removed his grip from Stesha's head.

Eleph sighed and grimaced. "You will be enlightened to the truth."

"What does that mean?" Stesha narrowed his eyes, interlocking his fingers.

"I pity you, Stesha Jade. Once you know you can't unknow it," exhaled Eleph.

Why are people the way they are?

"Okay, know what?" Stesha grilled Eleph.

"That's for you to find out." Eleph crossed his arms beneath his chest. "The three of you will be integral to solving the biggest threat and mystery Skyrim has ever faced. But beware if you're blind sighted you will fail. You need to have tact and wit and be ten steps ahead of your enemies. This is about brains, not brawn. You won't be fighting a big black dragon or a fallen god, no. You'll be in a chess match of intelligence with the enemy, figuratively speaking."

"Skyrim?" Hadvar looked down on the ground. "What do any of us have to do with Skyrim."

"Please no more questions. I'm exhausted. Let's set up a camp and get some rest for the night." Eleph paced around the tree.

This nutjob is clearly on mushrooms or something. Saving Skyrim. What a load of bullshit.

Hadvar removed his backpack and unrolled it and they all set to work pitching the tent. Stesha put a tentpole in place and hammered it down. They attached the ends of the tarp and raised it up. Afterwards they grabbed the bedrolls and laid them inside the covering as Gwendal and Eleph gathered branches and rocks to make a fire.

"We'll take turns keeping watch," Stesha said, "I don't trust that Eleph guy one bit."

"If you insist," yawned Hadvar, his eyelids drooping.

The weather was still overcast. Grey clouds covering the entire mountainside. It was desolate here and there were barely any trees. Stesha took a seat on the same small boulder Eleph had been sitting on and dwelled on the words the seer had spoken.

"You will be enlightened to the truth."

"Once you know you can't unknow it."

What is the truth? The truth about what? Stesha stared down at his hands. The truth about me or the truth about the world? What could it be? Now I want to know it but he said once you know it you can't unknow it. So, if I seek it out, will I end up regretting it? But now I'm curious.

"He said I'd meet a good woman." Hadvar beamed ear to ear. "I'm so excited!"

"Nice," Stesha sighed sarcastically. He gazed down at his hand again, turning it up and staring into the lines of his palm.

Divines, if you're real, help me find my purpose, please, prayed Stesha.

Gwendal and Eleph came trekking over, carrying some branches and round rocks. Eleph placed the rocks in a circle near the tent and Gwendal tossed the firewood in the middle, lighting the brambles alight with a flame spell. The fire roared into existence and laughed uproariously at them, dancing back and forth with the wind, doing its tango with the air and lashing out here and there. The orange colour entranced Stesha into a standstill.

Stesha clenched his fist. I'll keep moving forward.

Hadvar set a pot and spit for roasting over the fire, pouring some water and sliced vegetables into the base. They stole the vegetables off the farms near Evermore the day before. Some water chestnut, leeks, and tomatoes.

"No meat!" Gwendal pouted.

"If you want meat, we'll have to hunt for it." Hadvar stirred the veggies. "Might be a goat or some hares around here if we look."

Stesha and Hadvar set off while Gwendal kept watch on Eleph. It was dry and arid up here, but also cold and lifeless. The rock outlined path led them to near where the Dragonlings had been roosting earlier. Hadvar carried his sword in its hilt.

"Not sure why you brought me, Hadvar. Gwendal knows magic, I don't know how to fight or any spells. I'm good at literally nothing." Stesha put his hands in his pockets.

"Precisely why I didn't leave you with Eleph. At least Gwendal has his spells to defend himself." Hadvar gazed around. "You're my spotter, keep an eye out for any animals."

Stesha played with his braces. "I should send a letter to my parents first chance I get. I'll sign it as Matthew Motre to avert suspicion."

"Good idea."

The cliff face was barren of scenery other than some Orc huts they could spot across the canyon. They were round shaped with closed roofs, tiering down the mountainside. Forges and mines with rope bridges to connect them.

"Don't suppose they'd invite us in?" Stesha pointed to the Orc settlement with his thumb.

"Do you see anyway to cross this canyon?" Hadvar threw him a pointed look.

Fair point.

Stesha returned to his sightseeing, trying to spot a goat or wild boar they could eat. The two searched for an hour until finally they saw a huge rabbit hopping around the cliffside. Stesha approached it and petted the little thing kindly, stroking its fur to snuffles of appreciation from it.

"I'm sorry." Stesha almost cried. "I really am."

Hadvar stabbed the bunny through, ending its short-lived life. Stesha wiped his visage and stood up. They carried the animal back to the campfire and set to skinning and removing its organs, followed by chopping its meat into pieces then sliding them into the water pot. The vegetable broth from before smelled divine already and they didn't even have any spices. Eleph stirred the pot as the exhausted boys took a seat around the firepit.

"What say we tell some campfire stories?" Eleph grinned. "Have any of you heard of the Champion of Cyrodiil or the Nerevarine?

"I believe so." Nodded Hadvar. "But why don't you enlighten us a bit more."

"The Nerevarine was the reincarnation of Indoril Nerevar, he was a Dark Elf named Thase Eldrara. He saved Morrowind from the Blight and stopped Dagoth Ur, the Tribunal, and Hircine before sailing off to Akavir. The Champion, however, was just an ordinary Imperial named Caius Meridius. He helped Martin Guice stop Mehrunes Dagon and the Oblivion Crisis and reunited the Knights of the Nine. Now people say he might be the new Sheogorath, but you didn't hear that from me." Eleph stopped briefly before continuing, "who knows, maybe one of you will be the hero to save Mereth."

"Riiighht." Stesha cringed.

Who does this guy think he is? A Mnemoli?

"Probably Gwendal," Hadvar laughed. "You did say he would help people. Although I don't know anyone in Skyrim needing that help."

Stesha warmed his hands by the fire as the stars above bled through the nighttime sky, lighting up the world in a cosmic array of splendor. Twinkling through the firmament, the shadows of the Magne Ge.

"Food's done!" Hadvar chirped, grabbing bowls and soupspoons for all of them.

They each poured the rabbit and vegetable soup into their bowls and began chowing down. Stesha was mesmerized at the taste of the tomato and hare. They were easily going back for seconds and thirds. There was plenty to share.

"So, care to share anymore stories?" Hadvar gulped down some more of the stew. "Or perhaps you can tell me more about this woman I'm destined to meet?"

Eleph rubbed his beard sideways. "Hmm, trying to think of one… Well there's the tale of Rozan Red but that would take far too long to recount now. Honestly got nothing left to tell."

Stesha crawled into the tent and rolled up in his bedroll next to Gwendal who was in his own sleeping bag. Sleep swirled in on him, devouring him over a waterfall as he fell thousands of feet, going down, down, down…

Stesha awoke in a dwarven laboratory, a door at the end of the hallway. He walked over to it but before he could open the door the crow-masked man appeared again, pushing him back.

"You'll perish just like the rest of them," said the crow-mask, dissipating into nothingness.

Stesha screamed, closing his eyes until he was floating in the clouds, hovering near a Golden Dragon.

"Well, hello, young one. It's not your time yet, don't listen to that evil man, you belong to someone!" The friendly dragon explained.

Stesha awoke once more, crawling out of his bedroll. Eleph was sound asleep inside his roll to the side near Gwendal. Gwendal was snoring, nothing new there. Hadvar climbed in as Stesha sat watch. The night was arid and freezing up on the alps. Stesha rubbed his hands against the fire, dwelling on his dreams once more.

"A Golden Dragon… could that be Akatosh?" Stesha wondered aloud. "He said I belong to someone. Belong to someone? What the hell does that mean? Nah, Akatosh isn't real. It's just a figment of my dream." Stesha sat there for awhile observing the fire. "I'm not a slave, I don't belong to anyone."

Imagine being a slave. Wouldn't be me. Stesha stared at the ground; it seemed tempting. Maybe if I just lie down for a little… He curled into a ball near the fire. His eyelids doing a down take… once, twice…

"You idiot," came Hadvar's voice.

Stesha shot up straight. "I was only lying down for a second."

"IT'S EIGHT IN THE MORNING!" Yelled Gwendal. "ELEPH TOOK OUR GOLD AND RAN OFF BECAUSE OF YOU!"

Stesha got up, dusting his robes. "Alright, let's relax. He must've not got too far. Let's look around a bit before we say something we might regret."

"Split up, hurry!" Hadvar took off in one direction and Gwendal did another.

Stesha trailed back towards the small grassless field where they slaughtered the bunny, trekking up the hill pass. Rocks outlined passed him by on either side as he came into an alcove underneath the cliff. A shrine to Akatosh and underneath it a huge pouch of gold, next to it an attached note. – The shrine was crimson and shaped like a drake with prominent wings that melded in with the body over an hourglass. Stesha took the note and read it.

Thought I might double your gold for the trouble of feeding and listening to me. – Sincerely, Eleph Kaid the Ancient Magister.

Note to self: I need to stop running into so many Ta'veren.

Stesha grabbed the guice and the paper and headed back. Hadvar and Gwendal turned up short at the campsite but Stesha was still in shock. "He really was a seer," he gulped, handing over the note and gold coins.

They each read the small note.

"You know what this means. Everything he told us was likely true," Hadvar conceded. "Where did you find it?"

"At a shrine to Akatosh."

"Hmm, well I guess we know what's in store for us." Hadvar crossed his arms together, cracking his thumb.

"Wait no. I want to challenge fate. If this is really the will of the Divines let them prove it. Let's head to Cyrodiil. If we're really destined for Skyrim we'll get there eventually." Stesha tightened his lip.

"Fair enough." Gwendal crunched his knuckles. "I just wanna get off this miserable mountain. It's so depressing up here."

"Alright let's pack up." Hadvar set to work tearing down the tarp and rolling up bedrolls.

The other two joined him. Stesha put a cap on the pot of rabbit stew and placed it inside the backpack. Once everything was taken account of, they set off once more, trailing down the other side of the orange and grey mountain toward Hammerfell.

"Quite the dragon tale we had on the dragontail mountains," Gwendal punned.

"Kill yourself." Stesha punched his kinsmen in the shoulder.

"So where to next?" Gwendal queried.

Hadvar smiled at them both. "Dragonstar."

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AN: So, we're not heading to Skyrim just yet. This story will be decently long, so we have plenty of time, but you'll see how it all connects. On top of rewriting the main story of Skyrim, I'm also completely changing the College of Winterhold's storyline, the Thieves Guild, and the Dawnguard DLC. The Dragonborn DLC won't be a part of this.

Eleph Kaid the Ancient Magister belongs to Ancient Magister. Check out his work on fanfiction net if you haven't already! He's writing a story about the life of Tiber Septim that is really well written! Also, please leave a review! Thank you!