The Legend of Zelda: Skyrim - Chapter 11: A Dragon, a Jester, and Countless Bandits
A request to the guest reviewer impressioning various people: please keep doing that, I enjoy your reviews.
Link was the last one to wake up and leave the tent the next morning.
Eren was sitting by the lit fire and looked up as he approached. "Ah, you're up. Good. We didn't want to wake you, so we let you sleep in." The man waved a hand towards the forest. "There's a hidden stream about twenty feet back if you want to freshen up."
Link nodded, thanked Eren, then walked towards the forest.
When Link returned to the camp, Haranre called him over to the campfire. "Link, your fighting yesterday was something I've never seen before. And the others say that you're Dragonborn. Now, I saw the Shouting for myself, but for one so young..." The Stormcloak shook his head. "Akatosh must have chosen you for a reason."
Link started to say something but Hararne held up a hand to silence him.
"I have a proposition for you. You'll have to speak to Ulfric formally, but for now I suppose my choice will do. How would you like to join us?"
The conversation was cut short by a distant roar. It grew closer, and closer, until a Dragon appeared from the South.
As soon as Link laid eyes on the creature, he felt the strange sensation again of his blood boiling. He took a few steps forward and drew Numinex's Bane, ignoring the questions of the Stormcloaks about the weapon.
The Dragon flew overhead and locked gazes with Link, who heard some sort of presence in his mind. "Dovahkiin."
The Hylian shook his head to clear it, then the Dragon landed with an earth-shaking thud and eyed Link curiously, ignoring the Stormcloaks.
"You don't look like much, but nevertheless my lord will be pleased with your death." The Dragon sucked in air, then used Frost Breath. "FO...KRAH DIIN!"
A thick fog left the dragon's maw before hitting them, then the moisture in the air turned into frost on their skin. The feeling seemed to fade and the group rushed the Dragon, stabbing any spot they could.
Link ended up near the Dragon's neck and he raised his sword, then drove it into the side of the creature's neck. The Dragon roared again, then used Elemental Fury. "SU...GRAH DUN!"
The Dragon's wings started to beat faster and the creature roared again as he swung his wings back, attempting to hit the Stormcloaks as they continued to stab him. Everyone was thrown backwards, including Link. He hit the ground hard and laid there for a few seconds before he got up, unlatched the Fire Rod from his shield, and pointed it towards the Dragon. A beam of magical fire hit the beast in the side and it roared. The Dragon swung his right wing at Link, the claw caught the Fire Rod and sent it sailing across the clearing.
Link cast Flames, attempting to blind the Dragon, but the beast lunged forwards and rammed his head into Link's chest, knocking him to the ground. However, the Dragon's maw seemed to be slightly burned.
Link got up and backed away, then used Whirlwind Sprint to dodge the Dragon's second Frost Breath Shout. The creature tried to lunge towards Link but was hit with a barrage of arrows from the Stormcloaks.
The Dragon was distracted for a few moments, which allowed Link to discern where the Fire Rod had landed. He used Unrelenting Force against the Dragon before he started to run across the clearing, intending to retrieve the Fire Rod.
Link reached the Fire Rod, picked it up, then used Whirlwind Sprint again to get close to the Dragon. He was close enough that he could use the Fire Rod, so he activated it, aimed the weapon at the slash in the Dragon's neck, then fired.
If anyone had been nearby, they would have seen what appeared to be a fiery explosion. When everyone could see again, the dragon was dead, half of his face burnt away.
"Well. it's dead. That's good, yeah? - Wait, what is that?" No one answered Eren as golden-blue tendrils of energy emerged from the dragon's corpse and began to surround Link. Then they disappeared and the dragon's body started to burn away, eventually leaving only its skeleton.
The Hero of Twilight gazed at the skeleton for a few seconds before shaking his head and walked over to the Stormcloaks, who started asking him questions. "Yes, I am Dragonborn. Yes, I really did just absorb that Dragon's soul. I suppose with me bring Dragonborn, it's up to me to stop the Dragons." Link stopped speaking for a moment, then moved his gaze to Hararne. "About your offer..."
"Yes?"
"I haven't decided if I want to join yet, but if I do join, you'll be the first to know."
Harane smiled and clapped a hand on Links left shoulder. "Good. When you reach Windhelm, tell Ulfric what happened here. Normally, he doesn't let anyone under the age of seventeen into the Stormcloaks, but you, you would most certainly be an exception."
There was a desolate feeling in the air when Link ventured into Helgen, or what was left of it.
However, he didn't have long to look around before two bandits stepped out from behind the gates. The attackers rushed him, but Link merely drew the twin daggers, caught their weapons, tossed them away, and then stabbed both of them at the same time. After a few moments, Link pulled the two daggers out of the bandits and let their bodies fall to the dirt.
After a few moments, the Hylian knelt beside the bodies, looked at them for a few moments, then stood up. 'I don't like this at all. This isn't who I am, I don't run around killing people. However they were going to kill me, so I had to act in self defense.' he thought bitterly as he started up at the sky. 'What am I supposed to do? Just leave them here?'
Had it really only been eight days since he had been here, awaiting certain death until the dragon showed up? Link took a step forwards, gazing up at the tower at the other side of the ruined village.
The Dragon had Shouted something. He had sent massive fireballs down from the sky, destroying the village. Whoever the Dragon was, he was certainly powerful.
Three more bandits walked into view. For some reason, one of them was wearing robes, and the man cast some sort of spell that instantly seemed to freeze him. Or at least seemed to cover his face in frost so he couldn't see his surroundings.
While Link tried to shake off the effects of the spell, the two other bandits ran up to him and attempted to attack him. Link tried to dodge, but due to the spell, he wasn't fast enough, and he received a slash to his armor around his left upper chest, while the other bandit slammed the pommel of his weapon down on his right shoulder, making him drop his shield.
Link drew his sword in time to block the first bandit's attack, the two weapons sending sparks flying as they collided. The force of the block caused the bandit to lose his balance and Link ended the man's life with a stab to the chest. As the man fell to the ground, Link leapt backwards to avoid getting his armor slashed by the second bandit, then used Unrelenting Force to send the man backwards. Due to the man being off balance, he was killed swiftly with a slash to the neck.
As the second bandit fell, Link focused his gaze on the magic user, then summoned Flames and started walking towards him. The surviving bandit grinned and readied a spell of his own, then cast Frostbite at Link, who casted Flames. The two spells collided mid air and somehow stayed there. Both magic users didn't notice as the Frostbite spell seemed to overpower the Flames, before the Flames seemed to overpower the Frostbite; as they were focused on channeling their spells. Eventually, both spells exploded, sending fire and ice in all directions.
Link wasted no time leaping forwards, drawing Dusk from his side, and stabbed the bandit mage in the heart.
After downing one health potion, cleaning the dagger, and collecting his shield and sword, Link took a step back, then took off at a run towards the pile of rubble in front of him, then jumped when he got close enough.
No sooner had he vaulted over the rubble and got to his feet, an arrow flew through the air and embedded itself in his right shoulder. The Dragonborn hissed in pain and then half turned, only to find himself gazing at six bandits - an archer in the tower, one right next to him, one off to his left, two in front of him, and one behind those two.
The five bandits on the ground rushed Link, but were soon driven back by the Fire Rod, as the Hylian was using the weapon as a staff. He blocked attacks from one, stunned a bandit by hitting him on the head, tripped two more, and finally powered the thing up and burnt the five bandits, making them retreat a bit.
Then, the archer fired again, however, Link dodged the arrow, unslung his bow from his shield, notched an arrow, then fired. In the near distance, the bandit fell from the tower, a hand to his torn neck, then the least injured bandit rushed Link, weapon raised high, before an arrow appeared in his chest and the man fell.
The remaining bandits surrounded Link, weapons raised high. "Give it up kid, can't you see that you're surrounded?", said the one he had blocked attacks from, before the men rushed him.
Stones scattered as the pure blooded war horse thundered down the road to Riverwood, her sides heaving and her eyes rolling from how fast she was being ridden. Of course, she had never been ridden this fast in her life, but there was a sense of urgency, even Epona knew that, and she sensed that something had happened to her friend, to Link.
The mare had been told to wait at the gates of the ruined village, she had heard sounds of fighting, many sounds of fighting, and there had been a scream, a scream that made her want to kill those that had attacked Link, but they were already dead. He reappeared sometime later, his right shoulder wrapped in bloodied bandages, his face pale - a shaking hand was holding a bloodied arrow shaft.
The Hylian hadn't said a word to her as he vaulted onto her back, then, for the first time in his life, Link had kicked Epona in the sides, and she had started to run. She hadn't stopped once since then.
And here they were, two hours later, still running. The gates of Riverwood were in view, the guards were already looking in their direction, obviously concerned, but Link had no intentions of stopping in Riverwood. However, even though he had downed two more health potions, for whatever reason, the arrow wound hadn't healed. In the meantime, he had reslung his bow onto his shield and had slung his shield onto his back.
In the two hours since he had left Helgen, all Link could think about was the fact that he had killed men that most likely had friends, families, but they had tried to kill him, so what was the better reasoning - the fact that he was still alive, and injured, or the fact that he wasn't more wounded than he was?
Link didn't think to stop in Riverwood to stock up on supplies and heal himself, he simply continued on towards Whiterun. In addition to his wounded shoulder, another thing the health potions hadn't healed was a purple toned bruise on his face that was painful to the touch. But the bruise was minor compared to the shoulder wound.
Link wasn't quite sure how he managed to get to Whiterun. He supposed Epona simply knew how to get there, as he certainly didn't remember the journey. It was dawn when the two of them walked up to the main gates. For some reason, they were open, and the guards let Link through without any problems.
Epona simply walked towards Breezehome, the mare's ears flat against her head, as if she was agaited about something. As soon as the horse stopped before the front door to the cottage, Link fell from her back but caught himself on the door handle, pulled himself up, ignored Samson yelling his name, unlocked the door, pushed it open, staggered inside the house, then collapsed before the firepit.
Epona let out a wild bray as Samson ran up to the house and stopped in the doorway. Lydia appeared on the top floor, looking down at the commotion.
"I told him to be careful!" said the woman as she walked down the stairs and knelt next to Link, who showed no signs of waking.
"You." Lydia raised her gaze to Samson. "Go get Farengar. Now!"
The Khajiit didn't need to be told twice and he turned and started to run towards Dragonsreach.
"It's lucky he arrived when he did, a few more hours, and I'm afraid that even with his race's healing abilities, he would have been beyond help." Farengar had been at Breezehome the entire day, tending to Link, and the mage frowned as he examined the arrow shaft that Link was still holding. He gently opened the boy's hand and lifted the arrow shaft to examine it further, noticing that it was broken at the end.
He turned to Samson and gave the cat a binding cloth. "Wrap this around his chest and make sure it's tight, I don't want the poison to spread any further than it already has. I need to cut the arrowhead out as well." The court mage showed Samson how to tie the tournet on Link's shoulder and arm before Samson did the same for Link's chest.
The cat felt strange being this close to his friend's skin - at the moment he was wearing naught but a pair of tan breeches, his weapons and other clothing were on a table nearby.
"He has a lot of scars, doesn't he?" Farengar sounded both impressed and worried and Samson nodded, then pulled up a chair and sat down on it, merely looking at his oblivious friend on the bed in the master bedroom of Breezehome. It was going to be a very long night.
Link had no idea where he was for a few moments. Then he recalled Helgen, riding Epona to Whiterun, then the sensation of falling...
He bolted upright, before noticing a tightness on his arm, shoulder, and chest. There were cloth bindings wrapped around them, and besides those, the tan breeches, and the cold metal necklace, he wasn't wearing anything.
"Link! It's about time you woke up!" Samson appeared in his field of vision, his sharp fangs bared in a grin.
Farengar was there as well, looking relieved. "I suppose I would have woken you sooner but I decided not to. Let me remove those cloth bindings for you..."
The mage did just that, then Link got up from the bed and threw on a white cloth shirt and dark blue pants, then half turned to gaze at the two. "Where's my armor?"
Samson smiled. "It was too damaged to be of use. However, you can buy new armor at Warmaiden's. That's the blacksmith next door, in case you didn't know. If you did know, then I suppose I am just reminding you."
Farengar picked up the broken arrow shaft and showed it to Link. "You removed this broken arrow yourself, didn't you? Normally, I'd call you foolish, but I suppose there was no choice in the matter. Where did you get injured, by the way?"
Link lowered his gaze to the wooden planked floor before meeting the mage's gaze. "Helgen. There were eleven bandits. And yes, I did remove the arrow after it was safe to do so."
Farengar shook his head. "You didn't remove all of it, I'm afraid." He picked up a bloodied arrowhead and showed it to Link "This arrowhead was tipped with poison. When you removed the arrow, you only snapped the shaft. You're lucky you didn't die before you reached Whiterun."
Link knew Farengar wanted to know what happened, so he reluctantly told him and Samson his ordeal at Helgen. He told them of killing the two guards with the daggers, killing two bandits, using his magic against a mage, killing him, then getting shot with the arrow, then stabbing a bandit, shooting the archer that had shot him, shooting another bandit, then of the remaining bandits surrounding him. However, at that point, Link stopped speaking and simply gazed at the floor in silence. He then heard Samson say his name, he looked up, half turned, and then the cat hugged him.
Link stood there for a moment, taken aback by the sudden kind gesture, before returning it. Samson stepped back and placed a hand on Link's left shoulder. "You survived that. You will survive whatever happens next, yes?"
Then that cat's gaze settled on something on the table and his blue eyes widened. "Link! The bounty! You remember, we were attacked at that tower, and those Stormcloaks saved us? They found a bounty and gave it to you to turn in at Dragonsreach!"
Link turned back to the table and picked up the bounty and studied it before he placed it back on the table, then started to equip his gear and weapons.
"Where are you going?"
Link ignored the court mage's question for a moment before speaking. "To Dragonsreach, where else?"
"Since you mentioned that you managed to learn magicka, I have something to give you." Farengar placed two tomes on the table. "These are two healing spells, a bit more advanced than the one you've learned. Go on, I want to see how fast you learn spells."
Link picked up the first tome and read its title. It was called Fast Healing, and he opened the book. but before he could read the first page the book turned into dust!
Seeing the shock and slight panic on Link's face, Farengar chuckled before talked. "I see you can read them like anybody else now." Seeing Link get further confused he started explaining. "You see, generally when we write spell tomes, we put an enchantment on the book so when opened they send the information on how to cast the spell directly into the person's mind. It destroys the spell book in the process."
Link took a breath to calm down. Yes, he could sense the new information he got from the book. He picked up Dusk, made a small cut on his left arm, then attempted to use the spell. The cut on his arm healed and Farengar grinned.
"Here, try this one, this one is called Healing Hands and you use it to heal others."
The Hylian moved the first tome to the side, took the second tome from the mage, opened it, and it too disappeared into dust, then motioned for Samson to step closer to him, made a small cut on the cat's right arm with Dusk, then recited the new spell.
Just like his own cut, Samson's cut healed as well and Farengar started hopping up and down in excitement, as if he were a small child. "Excellent!"
Ignoring the mage, Link picked up the bounty and showed it to Samson. "You're traveling with me to Dragonsreach, because you're getting half of this."
Proventus Avenicci turned out to be the one that dealt with bounties, and he gave Link the two hundred Septim reward, which he then split with Samson. After the two left Dragonsreach with one hundred Septims more in hand than what they had entered the building, the two parted ways, with Samson returning to his stall while Link ventured down to Warmaidens.
Ulfberth War-Bear and Adrianne Avenicci were discussing various things when Link entered Warmaidens.
"I swear, Ulfberth! How does that Battleborn expect me to complete this order? I'm not even halfway through it yet!"
The man started to reply but then noticed who was standing near the counter. "So you're the new Thane, then? We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Ulfberth War-Bear, and this is my wife, Adrianne Avenicci." Link shook the man's hand, then Ulfberth studied him for a second. "What's your name, son?"
"Link Farmanne."
The man gave a firm nod. "A fitting name. You look like you have the mind to buy something. What can we do for you?" The Hylian looked around the building for a minute, eyed the merchandise on the counter, then moved his gaze to Adrianne.
"I'd like to buy some armor."
Adrianne looked Link up and down, then grinned. "New armor? What happened to that Stormcloak uniform you were wearing?"
"I was too careless and it got slashed."
The woman nodded. "I see."
"What armor do you sell?"
"Iron."
"I think I'll buy a set then."
The blacksmith eyed Link, then nodded again. "Well, I think I have a set in your size. Wait here and I'll go check in the back." Adrianne left the counter and Link was left alone with Ulfberth.
Ulfberth spoke up after a few seconds. "Do you know why this place is named Warmaiden's?"
Link shook his head. "No. Why is this place named Warmaiden's?"
The older man smiled. "This place is named after my wife. Adrianne, her father gave her the nickname when she was just a child. I hear she played around with swords even back then." Ulfberth paused for a second, then spoke again. "Do you know of blacksmithing? I figured since...You seem to know about weapons and armor, that you could help with my wife the order. Now, you don't have to take up on my offer if you don't want to."
Before Link could respond, Adrianne came back with a set of armor and laid it out on the counter. "I've got gauntlets, greaves, a helmet, a pair of boots, and chestplate. Try these on for me, will you? I'll need to adjust them if they don't fit exactly, of course."
After several minutes, Link was wearing the set of armor save for the helmet and the woman was walking around him, adjusting the armor when needed. "Where are you going that you need this armor anyway?"
"Ustengrav."
Adrianne simply gazed at him. "Ustengrav? That's up near Morthal! What are you going there for?"
"The Greybeards asked me to go there to retrieve something for them."
"Oh. Well, in that case, I suppose it's right that you head there." Adrianne stepped back from Link and motioned to the helmet. "Put that on, I want to see how you look in the full set."
Several minutes later, Link found himself outside of Warmaidens, having donned the Iron Helmet and paid Adrianne two hundred and thirty five Septims for the set. He had also bought fifty arrows for fifty Septims. It felt strange wearing armor, more so wearing a helmet. He hadn't been one for armor, for his chainmail under his tunic had been enough. However, Skyrim was a lot different from Hyrule, and that required armor as well as better weapons.
The Hylian decided to chat with Swift and Samson before he left, and as he was walking towards their stall, he realized that he wouldn't have gotten that bruise at Helgen if he had been wearing a helmet. Not that he was going to say that, of course. However he was slightly worried that although the bruise was gone, where it had been hurt every so often. Link decided it was nothing to worry about and kept walking.
"Link! That armor suits you!" Samson grinned as his friend walked up to the stall and Swift simply stared.
"How can you swing that sword around with arms like that?"
Even though the Argonian and Khajiit couldn't see much of Link's face, his physical reaction told them that he was greatly embarrassed by Swift's comment, as their friend merely looked at the ground and unconsciously shifted from one foot to the other for several seconds.
Finally, he seemed to compose himself. "I've never really thought about it before."
Swift nodded. "I am wondering about that, though. You look like you've never worked a day in your life, yet you obviously swing that greatsword around."
Samson nodded. "I do not understand why you are so embarrassed about your arms. Us Khajiit do not care."
"It's different for you because you have fur."
The cat held out his arms in front of him and studied them for a moment, then noticed Swift grinning at him. "What?"
"Admit it. You're also embarrassed."
"I am not." However the Khajiit eventually caved and dropped his arms to his sides. "Yes. Fine, I am embarrassed as well. But you have to admit, it is easier to fight is it not?"
"Well, yeah, I mean of course it's easier to fight now because nothing can get caught on things."
Link drew Numinex's Bane and spun it above his head in a complete circle before he stabbed the greatsword into the ground and leaned on it.
"So what have you two been up to?"
Swift rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Don't change the subject."
"What?"
Samson gazed at Swift with confusion. "Yes, why are you so eager to not change the subject?"
The Argonian shook her head. "You mean you haven't told him yet? That the two of us are more than just friends now?"
"...You're what?"
A few minutes later, Link found himself walking towards the stables, still not over the fact that Swift and Samson were together. However, his thoughts were interrupted by two voices and he stopped walking as two people were standing off to the side of the road.
The woman shook her head. "By Ysmir, it's true. A jester - funny suit and all. Just north, by the Loreius Farm. Fool had a coffin in a cart, with a broken wheel. Like to see him laugh his way out of that."
The two of them laughed for a bit before the man spoke. "Well, sounds like you've had quite the journey, Uthgerd. But you were gone longer than usual. I got to thinking maybe you weren't coming back..."
The woman named Uthgerd shook her head. "You sound like my ma. Figured I was lying dead in a field somewhere, is that it?"
The Nord shifted a bit and nodded. "Thought did cross my mind, yeah. War brewing, talk of a riot in Helgen, and now jesters? Skyrim's gone mad, girl. You need to be careful out there."
Uthgerd took a few steps back. "Careful, huh? Thanks, Skulvar. I'll remember that. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Both Skulvar and Uthgerd walked off in different directions, Skulvar was heading in Link's direction and he stopped the Nord.
"I heard something about someone needing help?"
Skulvar nodded. "Yeah. Some fool jester apparently had his wagon break down at the Loreius Farm. He's probably still there. Why, you thinking of helping him?"
Link nodded. "Of course. Besides, that woman, Uthgerd, she said there was a coffin, right?"
He received a nod in response.
"Then I suppose I'd better go help him then."
An hour later, Link rode up to Loreius Farm on Epona, dismounted, and walked up to a strangely dressed man that was currently kicking at a broken down wagon.
The man hurt his foot, grabbed it, and started hopping up and down, but then noticed Link standing there. "Agh! Bother and befuddle! Stuck here! Stuck! My mother, my poor mother. Unmoving. At rest, but too still!"
Link stared at the man for a moment, then, not wanting to seem rude, walked to the side of the wagon and found himself looking at a coffin.
The man spoke. "Poor Cicero is stuck. Can't you see? I was transporting my dear, sweet mother. Well, not her. Her corpse! She's quite dead. I'm taking mother to a new home. A new crypt. But... aggh! Wagon wheel! Damnedest wagon wheel! It broke! Don't you see?"
"Yes..." Link wasn't sure what to make of Circeo; he decided to examine the broken wheel and found that it would need more than just fixing up. It would need to be replaced.
"I suppose I can help you."
The man started to dance around and then jumped up and down. "Oh. Oh yes! Yes, the kindly stranger can certainly help! Go to the farm - the Loreius Farm. Just over there, off the road. Talk to Loreius. He has tools! He can help me! But he won't! He refuses! Convince Loreius to fix my wheel! Do that, and poor Cicero will reward you. With coin! Gleamy, shiny coin!"
After wandering around the farm, Link eventually found a woman that claimed to be Loreius' wife. When asked where he was, the woman pointed towards the farmhouse.
Link ventured inside the farmhouse and found Loreius. When he told the farmer he had spoken with Cicero, the man merely shook his head.
"That Cicero feller? Hmph. Tell me something I don't know. Crazy fool's already asked me about five times. Seems he's not satisfied with my answer. Why can't he just leave us alone?"
"He said he'd pay you for your services."
Loreius shook his head again. "Pay me? You think this is about money? Have you seen the man? He's completely out of his head. A jester? Here, in Skyrim? Ain't been a merryman in these parts for a hundred years. And he's transporting some giant box. Says it's a coffin, and he's going to bury his mother. Mother my eye. He could have anything in there. War contraband. Weapons. Skooma. Ain't no way I'm getting involved in any of that."
"Well, I agreed to help him. And that's what I'm going to do."
Loreius set his jaw in anger. "What? And just who in Mara's name are you, anyway? Hmm? Come here, telling me my business. And for what? To help a... a... a fool!"
"It's the right thing to do."
Loreius seemed to come to reason and he nodded. "Look, I... I... You're right. You're right. Feller might be nutters, might not. But fact is, he needs help. I turn him away, what kind of man am I, hmm? Look, um... Thanks. And I'm sorry for my unneighborly reaction. If you talk to Cicero, you be sure and tell him I'll be down to help soon."
Link nodded. "Thank you. I'll let him know."
Link left the farmhouse and returned to the wagon where Cicero was waiting. As he walked up to the wagon, the jester was muttering something like "Poor mother... Her new home seems so very far.."
"Cicero."
The jester looked up at Link with a hope filled face. "Yes? Have you convinced Loreius to help poor Cicero?"
Link hesitated a moment, then nodded. "I did."
Cicero started dancing again. "Oh stranger! You have made Cicero so happy! So jubilant and ecstatic! But more! Even more! My mother thanks you! Here, here. For your troubles! Shiny, clinky gold! A few coins for a kind deed! And thank you! Thank you again." The man tossed a leather pouch of Septims in Link's direction and he caught it.
As the Hylian walked back to Epona, he counted the Septims in the pouch, which was two hundred and fifty.
The mad man continued to speak even as Link vaulted onto Epona's back and rode past him. "I will wait for Loreius! Oh yes, mother and I will wait right here, right here until he fixes our wheel."
Link was currently hiding in a patch of tall grass, merely watching the camp below him. From what he could tell, the camp was surrounded by wooden palisades and the interior had various wooden structures. A few bandits were walking around, not even knowing he was there, and the Hylian silently unslung his bow from his shield, notched an arrow, aimed it towards the closest bandit, then fired.
The bandit fell to the ground, clutching his neck, and the remaining bandits looked up, spotted Link, and started to run towards him.
Link stood up from his hiding place and notched another arrow, then aimed it at the bandits, who for some reason stopped running and looked at something behind him, then ran back towards the camp.
Link stood there for a moment, confused, then he heard Epona let out a wild bray and he half turned, only to see a giant walking towards his horse.
He wasted no time running over to her, vaulted on her back and she took off across the camp, scattering the bandits in every direction. The giant keep his eyes on the horse and walked into the bandit camp, waving his club around.
Link reached to his side and drew Numinex's Bane, then nudged Epona to make her start running forwards. Once he was close enough, he swung the greatsword at the giant, slashing his left leg, which caused the giant to roar and swung his club. But the horse and her rider were already gone, having run to the far end of the camp before coming back for another pass. The giant received a slash to the chest this time.
Link and Epona doubled back to the far end of the camp again, before the giant stopped walking and simply met Link's gaze. The two looked at each other for a few seconds before some wordless agreement was met and they started to run at each other, each one's weapon raised high.
Link whilsted, which caused Epona to stop dead in her tracks. The Hylian was thrown from the horse's saddle, towards the giant and Link raised the greatsword above his head and stabbed the creature in the chest.
The giant fell to the ground and as Link stood up and cleaned the sword on the grass, the bandits decided to attack as one and ran towards him.
Link walked into the mine, then looked around. There was a pressure plate half buried in the dirt that activated some kind of trap and he bypassed it, then continued walking down the hallway.
A lone bandit was mining some sort of ore and hadn't noticed him yet, so Link raised his bow, notched an arrow, then fired, killing the bandit instantly. Link found a key on the body that unlocked a gate further down the hallway and walked through it.
The Hylian found himself in a somewhat large room. Six bandits appeared to be skinning some sort of massive furred animal that had two horns on its face and a large snout of some sort.
Link ignored them and moved his gaze to the Orc with the fancy armor. He then raised his bow and shot an arrow, only to shoot a bandit that happened to walk in front of the Orc at the time.
The bandits noticed him and drew their weapons, then ran towards Link, but he was faster. He drew the greatsword and shoved the bandits against a nearby wooden fence with the flat of the blade, then used Unrelenting Force to make then fall to the ground below them.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, the sheer power of the Shout caused the oil lamps to fall from the ceiling and break upon hitting the ground. The oil from the lamps reacted to the oily dirt and caught everything on fire, including the bandits. They started running around and screaming until they finally all fell to the ground, dead.
Link was physically fine; mentally and emotionally, that was an entirely different story. Sure, killing people with arrows, swords, and magic was one thing, but seeing them be burnt alive? That was an entirely different kind of horror.
He heard a roar, then received a hit from a war hammer that sent him flying into a wall. Thanks to the armor, he was only bruised, but it still hurt.
Link picked himself up from the ground just in time to see the Orc from earlier running towards him, on fire, a war hammer in his grip.
The Hylian dodged the next attack, drew Dusk, then stabbed upwards. The dagger punched through the Orc's chin up into his brain, which was literally frozen solid, killing the creature instantly.
It took Link a while for him to realize that he was still alive. He didn't know why he was lying on the ground; he presumed he must have fainted after the Orc was killed, however long ago that was.
The Hylian slowly rose to a sitting position, found Dusk lying in the dirt beside him, cleaned off the dagger, and put it away, then got up.
The pain of his injuries finally caught up to him, and Link downed two health potions, then used Fast Healing to take care of the rest. He then noticed that his armor was ruined and he took all of it off, then threw it away from him, leaving him only in his shirt and pants. It was just him in the mine now, so he was in no real danger.
There was a table with a spell tome that said "Alteration". Link picked it up, opened it, and the tome turned to dust. He learned that "Transmute Mineral Ore" turned iron to silver, and silver to gold.
There was a chest nearby the table and the Hylian walked over to it and kicked it open. Inside the chest was a sword, it fit the description of the sword Amren had told him about and he picked it up and secured it next to his greatsword.
There was something else in the chest besides the gold coins and when Link realized what it was, his eyes widened.
Link finally exited the mine. He was wearing new armor, what it was called, he had no idea, but it fit almost too well. The Hylian looked around, found Epona, vaulted on her back, and the two were off for Ustengrav.