Disclaimer: Skyrim belongs to Bethesda and Dragon's Dogma belongs to Capcom. I own nothing.

Note:

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

Chapter 1: Rebirth

Lidded eyes gazed upon the world, upon all of Gransys, upon a tiny fishing village called Cassardis. Her eyes scanned the familiar faces as they continued on their usual schedule. Twas as if nothing had happened. At first the people of Cassardis; while glad that the world was safe again, felt sorrow at the loss of their kin. Chief Adaro had felt as if he had lost his own child, but the one who felt the most sorrow was Quina. She had lost her best friend, her sister.

An invisible figure looked pitifully at her inconsolable friend as she wept in her room. "Why Cos?" Quina's quiet voice trembled. "Why did you have to leave where I could not follow? You've done so much already, even saving me from the Wyrm twice! Yet, there was naught I could do." As she sobbed the figure stepped forward extending her hand.

"Quina."

The figure spoke, but her voice went unheard, and her touch unfelt as her hand passed through her shoulder. The unseen one could not offer any consolation to those she left behind; there was only one way she could ease the pain of her passing. She erased the traces of her existence from the world, and altered the memories of those she left behind.

The Arisen was a mysterious person who no one would truly remember; with their memories gone or changed everyone went back to their lives. Twas as if nothing had happened, as if she had never existed. Sorrow filled her heart, and her eyes watered.

"Are you alright Master?" She heard a male voice say. Blinking back the tears she turned to look at the mage clad in red.

"I'm fine Arliss." Her tears were gone, and her voice was steady as she answered, but the pawn wasn't truly convinced. He studied her face unsurely a moment afore she once more called his name. "Arliss?"

"Yes, Master?"

Tentatively she asked, "Are you alright?"

He smiled. "You need not worry about this pawn, I always mind my health and stamina."

The Seneschal stifled a chuckle at his eager answer. He may not have understood her question, but he did answer it in his own way. He, like most pawns were content to just be near the Arisen. It didn't bother him to be stuck in this place, the way it did her.

Arliss looked at her in confusion trying to understand her reaction. Laughter was an expression humans made when they were happy, and yet she didn't seem happy. He knew it from her expression. Human emotions often confused him, but even he knew what tears meant.

"Why are you sad?" He asked. The question hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity. His inquisitive gaze seemed to see right through her.

"H-How?"

In answer he raised his hand in that way that pawns did. The scar on his hand glowed, as if in response the scar over her heart began glowing brightly. "Have you forgotten again? We pawns are connected to the Arisen. To an extent pawns can feel when they are near the Arisen. I, being your main pawn can feel more than the other pawns, what the Arisen feels." He lowered his hand and the glowing ceased.

The Arisen lowered her gaze, turning around once more, staring longingly at the earth. "There is no longer a place for me in that world." Her voice came out in a low whisper which would have went unheard if they were not in the vast, rift like space of nothingness.

"Tis untrue. You are the Arisen, the pawn legion is ever yours to command." He kneeled. "Arisen, I follow your will, and will always do so. You will never be alone Master."

A small smile formed on her lips, her eyes eased gently into compassion. "Arliss, please stand. I've said it oft afore; friends need not act so formally." There was an amused lilt to her voice as she spoke. She helped him to his feet, meeting his eyes head on. "Arliss, thank you for your words, and for remaining ever at my side. My most trusted, and loyal friend; I ask you to stay by my side as I rule as the new Seneschal and keep watch over this world."

He smiled at her words. "Of course Master, tis' an honor."

And countless lifetimes came to pass. The Seneschal had watched from her throne as everyone she knew lived, grew old, and withered away. She watched the same happen to their children, their grandchildren, and so on. Generation after generation came repeating in an everlasting cycle. Empty lidded eyes stared at the world in apathy. She let out a bored sigh as she tiredly leaned back into the cold, uncomfortable throne.

"If you're tired rest." She heard a familiar voice say.

"Thank you Arliss, but I'm fine. I'm not tired, tis' just I grow weary of keeping watch over this world." She looked down on the world and it's people. Everyone looked so happy.

She envied them. She envied their happy, ordinary lives. She had never wanted to be the Seneschal, she never wanted it in the first place. She had been cursed the moment she became the Arisen. She hated it, but she could not bring herself to blame Savan or Grigori, as they had also suffered, an Arisen's fate. She thought of following Savan's footsteps, and sending a new Dragon to find the next Arisen, but decided against it. She no longer cared for the world, but something inside her didn't want to cause someone else to be cursed with the same fate. She knew not what to do.

Without much thought she pulled out the Godsbane blade and began examining it. 'The blade that released Savan from Eternity.' Delicately she ran her finger along the cold smooth blade. The memory of Savan's death played in her mind, the blissful look on his face as he knew his time as Seneschal was finally at an end. Her answer was right here in her hand. She stood up holding the sacred blade with both her hands. Slowly she lifted it up, and aimed it at her chest.

Arliss turned from the view of the world to the Arisen, and was struck with alarm. He didn't have time to act, as she swiftly thrust the godsbane blade into her heart. "No! Nooo!" He desperately cried out.

She felt the impact as the blade pierced her flesh, then an intense tingling sensation as if she had been struck by lightning, followed by a sudden wave of fiery searing pain. The Seneschal knew not if she had just doomed the world, but she did not care, for she was free. A look of pure bliss formed on her face as numbness took over, and her vision began to blur. A familiar face called out to her from above worriedly. 'I'm sorry Arliss, farewell.' Her vision faded into nothing, and her eyes closed.

"Open your eyes!" He pleaded, but no response came. Arliss kneeled by his masters' side, unsure of what to do he simply gazed upon the Arisen.

Suddenly the rift beneath them vanished and they fell through the crisp, blue sky. "Master!" Arliss called out as he reached out to her, but to no avail. "Maasteer!" He continued grasping at her as she continued falling below him. At that moment he felt something change in him, and tried again even more determined. He pushed his way through the clouds and fought against the wind with all his might. Stretching his hand out as much as he could, he grabbed her hand, and pulled her body close to his. The ground neared dangerously close. He held her close with one arm and pulled out his staff with the other. "Levitate!" He shouted as he sent as much energy to his staff as he could. His staff began glowing brightly, he felt his body jerk as they suddenly stopped falling. After a moment they slowly began descending again as he sent energy to his staff. He held on as long as he could, but he knew he couldn't hold it for long as his energy was draining fast. The light of the staff ceased as the last of his energy gave out, and they fell.

Soft fluffy snow eased their landing and they tumbled apart. He got up as quickly as he could, his breath heavy. He grabbed his staff and ran to her side. "Master!" When he got to her he stopped, for she was dead. She had died before the rift opened beneath them. He fell to his knees, shaking in frustration and grief.

Recalling something he stopped, and took out a heart shaped red stone. Looking at the wakestone with a mixture of hope and skepticism, he observed it noting that he could still feel some magic emanating from it. A person with a strong enough will could use a wakestone to bring someone back to life. Pawns could not do this so he knew it likely wouldn't work, but for some reason he felt like he could do it. Mustering as much will as he could Arliss placed the stone over her heart, and willed her alive. It glowed a blinding light as it went into her, when the light was gone there was not a sign that she had ever been stabbed.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, then she got up into a sitting position, a dazed look upon her face. "Ah, Master, you're back!" Arliss happily exclaimed.

The Arisen looked at him in confusion. "Arliss, how am I still alive?" She asked still in a daze as she examined herself to find that there wasn't any proof of her having stabbed herself.

With a smile he replied. "I used a wakestone." Her eyes widened, at this revelation. She knew that pawns couldn't use Wakestones, even some humans were unable to use them.

"You? How?" He looked just as confused as her, seems he didn't know either. "Wait, where are we?" She asked, finally noting her surroundings.

"I know not." He answered. "I have no memory of this place." Looking around she realised it couldn't be her world because she had watched it for so long that she knew everything about it. In all the world she had not seen such flowering plants that could grow in such a cold climate. Sharing this revelation with Arliss, he agreed. "I think you're right."

They stood in silence for a bit before the Arisen asked, "How did we get here in the first place?" Arliss then told her what had happened after she stabbed herself with the Godsbane blade, and returned it to her. "I see, thanks."

She recalled Savan's words, and how he said he was the keeper of 'this' world, and wondered if Arisen, and keepers, and the endless cycle existed in this new world as well. 'If it does I want nothing to do with it.' She thought to herself. At the very least she was glad to be in an actual world again. "Let's go Arliss." She spoke in a firm voice as she began walking in a random direction.

"Yes Master," Arliss replied as he began following her. "What will we do now Arisen? Where are we going?"

Steadily moving forward she answered, "Who knows?"

End of Chapter 1: Rebirth

What did you think? I edited this so it's definitely better than before. I'm really happy with this chapter now, but I still think it's my weakest chapter. Let me know your thoughts, and things to help me improve. Concrit is welcome! This is only the beginning!