My college final exams are almost at the end, so I got some more time to work on this chapter. Also, action scenes and battles aren't my strongest point, but still, I tried to do my best in the battle of Flemeth and Vardall.
"Su!"
Immediately charging towards Flemeth, Vardall initially tries to hit her with a lightning spell, but the witch blocks with a magic shield. Now close to her, the Grey Warden swings his greatsword with precision and great speed, granted by the Thu'um. But surprisingly, Flemeth was able to dodge each one of his attacks, matching the Dragonborn in speed somehow.
After dodging yet another attack, Flemeth sees an opportunity to act. When Vardall misses another attack, she uses her magic to push him away, but without hurting him. Vardall barely manages to retrieve his balance before he almost falls into the extremely cold water from the Sea of Ghosts.
They both looked into each other's eyes once again.
"This battle is pointless, lad." Flemeth affirms. "Just hand over the book." Again, that wasn't something Vardall was going to do.
"Wuld!" Dashing forward at an astounding speed, Vardall proceeds to attack Flemeth again, trying to stab her this time. She dodged at the right moment, but Vardall already predicted that.
"Su!" Boosting his speed again, the Dragonborn quickly swings his greatsword to strike Flemeth again, which catches the witch by surprise. When Vardall landed his hit, however, he was caught by surprise when Flemeth quickly cast a type of magic sword and used it to block his attack. Vardall recognized that as a Bound Sword, a spell from Tamriel.
"You think I would restrain myself to just Thedas' magic?" Flemeth comments as she notices Vardall's surprised reaction. "I took my time to learn and master Tamriel's arcane knowledge as well." The witch then hits Vardall with a lighting spell that disoriented the Dragonborn for a few seconds, then she punches him and sends him flying backward with a strike from her bound sword, hitting Vardall right in the corner of his lips.
Grunting while getting up again, the Dragonborn quickly proceeds to feel his wound, running his fingers over the area, feeling the open wound running from both his lips until the end of his chin, with the cut on the beard in that area highlighting the wound even more.
"If you don't give me the book, I'll do worse than just give you a new scar." Flemeth smiled after saying that. "Even that I must admit it suits you."
Vardall pretty much roars like an animal as he watches Flemeth with that convincing smile on her face. She was just toying with him. He knew that, if he wasn't the only one capable of defeating Alduin - Flemeth would already have killed him and his friends, and retrieved the Oghma Infinium. That was infuriating but was also useful.
Facing the witch on a frontal assault was useless and a massive loss of energy and time, as she would keep dodging or worse. The Dragonborn would have to change his tactics and use his head and somehow ambush her, instead of using his brute strength and raw power to win this. Looking down at the layer of ice his tainted dragon blood was now upon, Vardall has an idea. It was insane and could kill him, but he had to try.
The Warden then returns the Black Star to his back, which Flemeth finds quite strange.
"What are you..."
Not letting the witch finish talking, Vardall casts a Stinging Swarm and throws against Flemeth, catching the witch by surprise, and covering the witch from head to toe with the biting insects. Her skin, clothes, eyes, and mouth... the insects didn't forgive anything. Taking this opportunity, Vardall puts his plan into action.
All of those insects were irritating Flemeth. All the stings and the constant buzzing messed with all her senses and even her sight - besides the pain. Because of that, she couldn't hear when Vardall, instead of shouting, whispers a Thu'um.
"Laas Yah Nir!"
Now even more infuriated and deciding to end this now, Flemeth casts lightning all over her entire body and her surroundings, creating a giant storm to kill all those annoying insects at the same time. She had some injuries all over her body because of the insects. She might be an extremely powerful mage, but her body still was just like anyone else, and it was already very old.
Recovering her senses, Flemeth is surprised when she can't find Vardall anywhere, with not even a clue of where the Grey Warden went. She initially considered that he had returned inside the outpost behind her, or that he was hiding somewhere near. But she found this last one quite impossible, since there was nothing there besides plain layers of ice as far as can see, besides an island in the distance.
Widening her eyes, she finally realizes where Vardall was, but it was too late. Suddenly, a sword blade sliced through the ice below her, from bottom to top, piercing Flemeth's left foot with a precise strike.
The witch yelled in both surprise and pain, all while dodging to the side and almost falling to the ground. The blade's bright ornaments and the fact that it was covered in lightning gave it up as Vardall's Black Star.
As soon as a second strike also pierced Flemeth's right foot and made her fall to the ground, it was obvious to the witch that Vardall was somehow able to see her through the water and the ice. If she had to guess, it was some of his Shouts. Rolling to the side and another layer of ice, Flemeth healed her wounded foot and quickly got up, which proved to be wise, as Vardall pierced that ice again, right on the spot where Flemeth's head was before she got up.
Being now at some serious disadvantage by not being able to see Vardall, not even tell when he was going to attack, Flemeth had no other options besides running away. Using her shapeshifting skills to turn herself into a wolf to be more agile, she starts to run above the ice layers to the small island she saw before, all while Vardall was also following her underwater, trying to aggressively hit Flemeth with his attacks at each opportunity he had.
It was rough because Vardall didn't give her a break, but finally, Flemeth arrived on the island, immediately returning to her normal form. Now on solid ground, Vardall wouldn't have another choice besides exiting the water and facing the witch. Preparing herself, Flemeth casts a Bound Sword again, getting ready to defend herself from the Grey Warden.
She keeps some high attention to her surroundings, moving at the minor signal of something strange. And then, once she hears the heavy steps of someone in armor running at her side, she acts.
Turning to the side, the witch uses her Bound Sword to block a strike from, obviously, Vardall. The Dragonborn had an expression of pure anger on his face, with his teeth clenched and killer intentions in his eyes.
"That was a smart move, lad. I'll give you that." Taking advantage of their proximity and the that she still had a free hand, Flemeth proceeds to squeeze Vardall's throat, choking him and preventing him from using his shouts. "But still isn't enough."
The strength of Flemeth surprised the Dragonborn. She was boosting herself with magic, just as Vardall does all time as an Arcane Warrior. He desperately tried to set himself free from her grip, dogging his entire strength and attention to it - and that was exactly what Flemeth wanted. Quickly acting, she grabs Vardall's backpack and simply rips it off as she tosses the Grey Warden far away with just one hand.
While Vardall was desperately trying to catch his breath, Flemeth takes the Oghma Infinium from the backpack, tossing it next to the Dragonborn once she's done.
The witch smiles, with the book in her hands. "Finally, after many centuries..." She dodges her gaze to Vardall, who was still getting up from the ground. "Farewell, Vardall Amell. Until we meet again, and that you succeed against Alduin and other future threats."
She then walks away, proceeding until a more open area, but not before turning back to face Vardall once again. "You must. For the sake of us all." Now back on his feet again, Vardall watches as Flemeth shapeshifts into a dragon once again - the Oghma Infinium being held tightly among one of her hands as she opens her wings and starts to fly away, leaving a defeated Dragonborn behind.
But... Vardall wasn't going to let himself be bested again - not by Flemeth. He wasn't planning to give up now or never, and he would chase Asha'bellanar until the dark corners of Nirn if it was needed.
With his teeth clenched, both hands closed into tight fists, and eyes now filled with determination, Vardall acts. "Duh Neh Viir!"
As soon as the undead dragon appears in all his form, Vardall doesn't even waste any time and already jumps on his back, strongly guiding the beast in the right direction.
"Durnehviir, let's go! We can't let Flemeth get away with that book!" Vardall shouted with a mix of anger, focus, and pure determination.
The dragon quickly focused on Flemeth, who still was flying away. "At once, Qahnaarin!" And so Durnehviir immediately starts flying, quickly following the witch closely.
While flying next to Winterhold, Flemeth was not very worried about anything now. She had what she wanted for centuries, and now only had to get away from there. However, the roar of another dragon nearby called her attention, and quickly she looked behind to witness Durnehviir approaching her at full speed, with Vardall upon him. The witch got a little upset with Vardall's presence again, but couldn't praise the Dragonborn's sheer willpower and determination. She decided she could play with him a little longer to end this once and for all.
As soon as Durnehviir was close enough to Flemeth, he started to attack her with his freezing shouts, at the same time Vardall tried to hit the witch with fireballs. Flemeth dodged everything, striking back at any opportunity she had. During their battle, they all had entered Winterhold's skies without noticing. The citizens, guards, and mages bellow on the remnants of the old city and from inside the College could only watch with both admiration and terror the violent battle upon them.
Vardall and Durnehviir both tried to attack Flemeth with everything they had, but the witch just kept dodging everything and blocking their attacks. The Dragonborn was growing tired of all of this, so, again, he saw he needed to change his strategy... or at least come up with a plan.
The Grey Warden raises both his eyebrows and opens his eyes wide as he smiles, just thinking about something. "Got it! Durnehviir, you'll need to do something for us..."
The attacks upon Flemeth continued for some more time, until when they simply stopped. She found that strange, but even so didn't let her guard down, as she wasn't willing to underestimate Vardall once again. She turns to attack them once again, but as soon as she does that, she's surprised by Durnehviir flying extremely close to her, at her side. She tried to move to act, but she didn't even have the chance.
"Tiid!" As soon as he slows time, Vardall quickly gathers mana and creates another massive and mighty fireball, from the same type he was throwing at Flemeth this entire time. Using the slow time to his advantage, Vardall and Durnehviir both get themselves ready and Vardall perfectly aims the hand Flemeth was holding the Oghma Infinium. He prepares himself and shoots the spell, at the same moment the shout effect starts to disappear and everything turns back to normal.
But it was already too late for Flemeth.
Not being able to dodge this time, the shapeshifter's hand is hit by the fireball now, causing some quite heavy damage to it and making Flemeth open her hand, dropping the book into the city below them.
Vardall doesn't even hesitate and promptly jumps from Durnehviir's back, falling right on the middle of Winterhold. Many of the city folk were caught by surprise by Vardall's action, especially when he landed by hitting the ground hard, right in the middle of them.
Ignoring the curious looks of most people and getting up like nothing happened, Vardall immediately runs to the place where the Oghma Infinium had felt, quickly taking the book into his hands again. He did that right in time, as Flemeth soon flew above him and the other citizens, landing nearby then, with a not-very friendly expression on her dragon face.
"Alright, everybody fall back!" One of the city guards yells to all citizens, as they already had to run away a long time ago, not just keep looking like it was a bard presentation or something.
"Sorry, but I'm keeping this book." Vardall says to Flemeth as he takes his greatsword from his back. "We shall finally end this once and for all, Flemeth."
Flemeth simply roared in response, being obvious she already had lost much of her patience. Vardall got ready to act and attack, but he didn't have the chance before Flemeth was hit by lots of spells. Looking behind, the Dragonborn sees the Arch-Mage Savos Aren, followed by a group of mages, attacking Flemeth as well.
Savos quickly attacks Flemeth with some powerful ice spells. "I came as soon as I felt this beast shares a magic similar to yours, Dragonborn. May I assume it isn't from Tamriel?"
Vardall dodges his gaze to the Dunmer. "Yes, because she's Flemeth. You remember what you heard from me about her, right?"
The Arch-Mage appears to be surprised once he hears that. "The shapeshifter from Thedas you killed? I recall her, and she doesn't look dead as you suggested."
"I..." Flemeth turning back into her normal form called everyone's attention and even shocked most of the mages there. "We can talk later, let me first deal with her."
Savos nods. "Indeed. What do you wish us to do, Dragonborn? The Mages of Winterhold are at your disposal."
"All I need is you and your mages to keep the town people safe." Vardall had a certain cold tone in his words. "I'm going to kill Flemeth, and I'm done holding myself!"
Savos could feel Vardall was serious, especially in his words and in the look of his eyes. It was still unknown to the Dunmer how powerful Vardall was as a mage, but he knew very well the mythic and destructive power of the Thu'um, especially from a Dragonborn.
"If that's what you desire..." The Arch-Mages says.
"Good." The Dragonborn nods a little, before pressing the Oghma Infinium against Savos' chest. "Also protect this book. It's what Flemeth wants, so keep away from her." Savos took the book in his hands and looked at it for some seconds, almost feeling oppressed by its aggressive and rough look. Vardall didn't say anything else, just taking his greatsword from his back and walking towards Flemeth.
"Foolish boy! I've been searching for that book for centuries, and now is finally within my reach. If I have to hurt you to get it, so be it!" The old shapeshifter was now angry than ever. She proceeds to gather a great amount of mana and unleashes one giant Blizzard upon not just Vardall, but all of Winterhold as well.
"Mages! Barriers!" Savos yells as he and all mages there cast magical barriers upon all the civilians close to them. Unfortunately, a few civilians and guards were out of their range, so they were all caught by the blizzard and frozen. The mages and the survivors could just watch as all of Winterhold was covered by thick layers of ice.
Vardall kneels once the spell hits him, pretending that it was harming him, while in fact it was nothing more than a breeze for the Dragonborn. It almost scared Vardall on how he managed to resist such power so casually, as some months ago he never though this would even be possible. But this wasn't wasn't time to think about such things, as Vardall already knew what to do.
Flemeth kept unleashing the blizzard for as long as she could, always keeping her eyes upon Vardall, trying to predict what the Warden would do next. Even though she had very good reasons to save and help him, that kid had turned into a thorn in her side.
The witch found it a little strange that Vardall still was kneeling, wondering if she had managed to hit him. It wasn't until she felt and saw the Warden gathering a great amount of mana that she finally realized he already had planned everything. Before Flemeth can even stop casting the tempest, Vardall gets up, unleashing all of his mana into a giant lighting Tempest, right upon Flemeth.
"This ends now. Die, you bitch!"
As soon as the Blizzard and the Tempest come into contact, both spells fuse, creating one of the most destructive and powerful spells any mage from Thedas could cast: the Storm of the Century.
It all happens faster than Flemeth can predict. Before she can even notice, the shapeshifter saw herself being engulfed by the giant tornado of combined ice and lightning. The tornado was so big that it towered several meters into the sky, and its range was so massive that it hit almost the entirety of Winterhold.
All the mages, guards, and civilians, still protected by the mages' protective barrier, could just watch as what remained of Winterhold was destroyed, from the few remaining buildings to the ruins from the Great Collapse. Even the entrance to the College was affected, suffering some damage, but not to the point of collapsing.
Flemeth could do nothing but scream in pain all the time. Vardall ignored both the destruction and the tornado around him, walking and keeping his focus on the witch, already taking the Black Star again from his back. The Dragonborn didn't even bother to shield himself from the ice and lightning of the storm, as he just took all its destructive power like it was just some minor wind, demonstrating a little of the unnatural resistance the Dragonborn had.
When he approached the shapeshifter, the Warden just kept watching, with a certain satisfaction, as the old hag tried to resist and do something to escape the spell's area, but couldn't do anything against it.
Soon, it was all over. The Storm of the Century kept losing more and more power until the time it was finally over. The mages and the people of Winterhold watched as the giant spell vanished and the sky turned back to normal. Meanwhile, Vardall watched as Flemeth's body collapsed to the ground, heavily wounded.
Ignoring all the destruction and death around him, Vardall's only focus was on Flemeth, as he approached the moribund witch. Flemeth's body was severely damaged, with her skin partially burned. Her face was quite disfigured and she was even missing one leg and arm.
"Well done... Dragonborn..." Strangely, Flemeth didn't have any more anger in her voice, but instead, it almost sounded like she was... pride of Vardall. "The shackles of fate did not make you weaker..."
Vardall just stands there at the witch's side, tightly holding his greatsword.
"I have no doubt Alduin will fall by your hand, and not just him..." Flemeth kept talking with some difficulty, despite her condition. "You don't see now, but your potential is astounding. One day... you shall possess a strength far greater than anyone. And when the time comes… I fear he'll be no match for you."
Those words piqued Vardall's curiosity. "Who?"
"He is but a Wolf..." Flemeth has some difficulties in keeping talking but continues nonetheless. "...while you are a Dragon."
Vardall grunts, making his grip on the Black Star's handle grow even tighter. The mages, the guards, and the population of Winterhold now watch as the Dragonborn yells in anger as he stabs the fallen witch in the chest "I had enough of you and your nonsense prophecies!"
He then removes the sword from the witch's chest and walks back a little. Vardall already thought he had killed Flemeth before, and now, even though that all indicates this time was for real, he didn't want to take risks. Cutting her head might not be enough, but he has another idea.
The Warden's voice is full of rage when he shouts: "Rii Vazz Zol!"
As soon as the shout hits her, Flemeth's essence and soul were pulled into any soul gem Vardall was carrying, in this case, Azura's Star, while her body was turned into nothing more than ashes.
The Witch of the Wild was no more.
"No resurrections this time." Now, finally lowering his guard and closing his eyes for a moment, the Grey Warden allows himself to deeply breathe in relief, feeling the cold winds of Skyrim on his face. "You owe me one, Morrigan."
"What... what are we going to do?"
Hearing the murmuring and the voices behind him makes Vardall turn around, just for him to finally notice what he had done. The people of Winterhold were scared, and now homeless. The few buildings that still were intact before this were now destroyed or covered in ice. The dead and frozen bodies were scattered all over the place, from guards, civilians, and even some mages who couldn't protect themselves.
All that view reminded Vardall of what he did back on Thedas, of the village he destroyed and all the people he killed. Flashbacks of that night play inside his mind while he closes his trembling hands into fists, in an attempt to stop that and calm down.
"Dragonborn?" Vardall was so distracted that he didn't notice the Arch-Mage approaching him until he was at his side.
Vardall ignored the Dunmer for a few seconds, still with his hands closed into fists.
He takes a gulp. "...Whatever I look at, I remember my mistakes. I already accept what I did, but-"
"Don't be so harsh with yourself, young man." The Arch-Mage words make Vardall stare at him. The Dunmer had a calm and collected gaze, even with this situation. "Indeed our actions have consequences, but having to remember them isn't a punishment."
Savos dodges his gaze from Vardall back to the people of Winterhold, now being aided by the city guards and the mages alike. "Flemeth caused all of this, not you. If you had failed to act soon, many more people would lose their lives, even my mages. Cities can be rebuilt, but each life is special and unique."
Well... Savos had a point. While yes it had some casualties, most of the town's folk were saved. But still... It doesn't mean it was easy.
The Dragonborn sighs. "Still... I think I just made the reputation of mages in Skyrim even worse, huh?"
Now it was Vardall who had a point. If people already suspected, feared and even hated mages around Skyrim - a battle between two mages that destroyed a city would only make things worse.
But even so, Savos didn't seem to be worried.
"We'll deal with that when the time is right. For now... the mages of Winterhold will focus on aiding the survivors. Jarl Korir most certainly died during your battle against Flemeth, so as Arch-Mage, I'm the most qualified to act as the governor of Winterhold for now."
Vardall grunted in response, still watching the destroyed city for some seconds. But then, he feels something being pressed against his chest and looks down to see Savos giving to him the Oghma Infinium.
The Warden takes the book in his hands. "All of this... just for this book. I hope this thing is at least useful."
"A word of advice, Dragonborn."
Vardall dodges his gaze to Savos. "This book... I recognize it as the Oghma Infinium. Please, be careful if you decide to read it."
Vardall raises one eyebrow as he stares at the book. "What's so special about this boo-"
"Arch-Mage!" Suddenly a mage from the College approaches Savos and Vardall. "We need your assistance."
"Right away." Savos nods to the mage and turns to face Vardall. "Until we meet again, Vardall Amell."
The Arch-Mage then walked away with the mages to aid the people of the city.
The Warden stared at him for a few seconds, before turning his eyes back to the book. He didn't know what all this fuss was about this book, but he wanted to find out. So having nothing more for him to do there, Vardall holds the Oghma Infinium tightly and makes his way back to the outpost.
# # # # # # # # # #
On his way and crossing the ice fields, however, Vardall again felt the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. He watches all of his surroundings but sees nothing. It isn't until he decides to resume his walk that he spots a creepy green mass of eyes and tentacles right before him, with those eyes looking like they are gazing directly into his soul.
"Come closer. Bask in my presence." The strange entity speaks with a quite creepy voice. Vardall knew this wasn't going to end very well.
The Dragonborn, however, didn't show any fear while in front of such a creature, just some minor curiosity. "What are you?"
"I am Hermaeus Mora. I am the guardian of the unseen, and knower of the unknown. I have been watching you for a long time, mortal. The Hero of Ferelden... The Slayer of Urthemiel... The Dragonborn - and now the retriever of my Oghma Infinium and the destroyer of Asha'bellanar... Most impressive."
Vardall becomes quite infuriated once he discovers who this was. "Yet another Daedric Prince that keeps stalking me! Being immortal is that boring? You guys don't have anything better to do, like torture souls or whatever?!" But even in his rage, Vardall doesn't let a detail escape him. "And Asha'bellanar...! I should expect a demon like Flemeth would know a demon such as you!"
Hermaeus Mora pretty much ignores Vardall's rage explosion. "Indeed. She already searched me many times, to trade knowledge for knowledge. Our dealings over the centuries were always mutually beneficial. Much of her wisdom was due to me." The Prince of Knowledge affirms.
Vardall lets out a sarcastic laugh, before calming down a little He then looks back at Mora. "And the Oghma Infinium is your book?"
"Correct. That book contains the knowledge of the ages as revealed to Xarxes, my loyal servant. For hundreds of years, it's been shut away from the world, locked inside that infernal lockbox. The mage Septimus Signus was a useful tool for unleashing it. Now it lies in your hands."
Grabbing the book from his backpack, Vardall stares at it for a few moments. ("Now I get it Nerevar and Lucien's reaction...")
Mora seemed to ignore Vardall's commentary. "Now, you shall take Septimus' place as my new emissary, my champion." The Daedric Prince says as it was predicted to happen. "What say you?"
Vardall received such a thing with anger. He frowned and assumed a more aggressive posture while still staring at the Daedric Prince. "Listen here, you demon: I am already a slave to one of you. I'll never be a slave to another!"
The Dragonborn words didn't please Mora. "Be warned. Many have thought as you do. I have broken them all. You shall not evade me forever. Your free will is merely an illusion. I will be in your mind, soon or later." And with those final words, Hermaeus Mora vanishes back to Oblivion.
Looking at the book in his hands, Vardall grunts loudly this time. It wasn't enough for Azura to manipulate his life, now he'll have to worry about another Daedric Prince. He was hating all of this.
But he would have to worry about that later. By now, Vardall's friends already shall be free from the paralysis. Taking a deep breath, the Dragonborn makes his way back to the outpost.