Into the Maelstrom - revised

by Aurora Nova

This is a revised version (hopefully final, but one never knows) of my earlier posting of the story. Marcus thinks he's woken up from a really bad hang-over, but his nightmare is just beginning. Not-so-short story on a popular theme. Rated M for some mature language.

1. Chapter 1

PREFACE

Some of my readers might remember way back in late 2014, when I first began writing this series, I was fairly new to writing fan fiction at the time, but I was so enthralled with "TES V: Skyrim" that I felt I just had to write my own version of the tale. Thus began my "Into the…" saga which eventually covered four books, taking my protagonist through the main game, both DLC's, and a projected original story about the Last War with the Aldmeri Dominion.

While it was very well received by most, it was not so well received by others. Most of the negative comments I received were clearly from people who had their own idea about who the Dragonborn should be, who he should marry, and what factions he should join. As I said then, if my story doesn't please you, I invite you to explore all the other Skyrim fan fictions written here to see if there's one you like better. This is my version, my re-telling, but by no means the only one.

Some of the criticisms, however, were justified. In re-reading the story off my hard drive ten years later, I realized that right at the beginning, Marcus was not a very likeable nor sympathetic character. He grew to become one, over the course of four books and eight years of writing. I became a better writer. With that in mind, as I re-read the story, "Into the Maelstrom", I felt it was time to do what all good writers do: edit. I changed several things I had originally written. Sometimes it was using a different word, sometimes adding background, sometimes taking out narrative that didn't work. All of this in an effort to make "Into the Maelstrom" a better story. That is why I deleted the original posting, and have decided to re-upload the edited version.

A word of caution: if you do not like the story, move on. Don't bother to leave a negative review unless you're offering constructive criticism that would make the story better. I will not tolerate vulgar insults, as some have done in the past. That kind of childish "review" is personal opinion only, a waste of both time and energy, and helps no one. If, however, you enjoy the story, please drop a line and let me know what you like most about it. To that end, on with the story! ~~Aurora Nova