Nero sat on his bed in the master bedroom of Dragons-bane Manor. He had a tower wrapped around his legs and had let his wet hair down. A while after dinner, he had enjoyed a good few hours with Serana and Julia in the hot-spring after giving Julia another training session; she was learning fast. They'd retired early though to get some good sleep for the festival the next day. Nero was excited, but not nearly as much as Julia he could imagine.
The sound of footsteps brought his attention to Serana who stood in the doorway, a towel around herself and her hair was still dripping.
"I just put the princess to bed, she's buzzing so much about tomorrow, she can't wait for us to go."
Nero smiled, "she'd make the moons turn faster to bring morning here now if she could."
Serana nodded as she went to the bed and ungraciously threw herself onto her side face-first.
Nero laughed, "if only the people of Skyrim could see how my wife acts when they aren't around."
Serana turned her face only and made a juvenile expression at Nero, "this coming from the man who practices poses in the mirror when he thinks no one's looking?"
Nero went red and Serana wore a victorious smirk. It took Nero a few seconds to come up with a witty vampire-mirror retort for Serana. He then decided not to use it and to just throw a pillow over her face.
Satisfied with himself, smiled graciously. It was cut short though when Serana instantly threw herself on top of him, tackling him into the covers and pinning him down.
Smirking, Serana gloated over her triumph, "I told you once never to mess with me, I always end up on top."
Nero sighed happily in the furs while Serana straddled him. She let her hand caress the side of his cheek where some faded scars resided and lone strands of his long brown hair fell down over them.
"What's going on up there?" she asked as a single finger prodded Nero's forehead.
"I guess I can't believe how peaceful it's been. Things haven't been this quiet for this long since..."
Nero trailed off as he tried to think of a time that was ever peaceful in his life.
Serana smiled with an eyebrow raised, "we're parents, Nero. Our lives are still chaotic, just not so life-threatening anymore. And besides..."
Serana let her towel unfold and fall down beside her, showing Nero her bare breasts,
"Who said our lives aren't still plenty exciting?"
Nero went that cute shade of pink before smiling and placing his hands on Serana's legs.
"You're right about that," said Nero with a smile before he came up and began attacking Serana's neck as well as other parts and they both descended into the furs of their bed.
Not much later, both were asleep, and Nero dreamed of peace with his family; he saw Julia all grown up and leaving to head out into the world, to study magic and meet new people and see all kinds of places. Whilst he was sad to see her go, he was happy for her and that he and Serana had given her the life they never had.
Nero and Serana both slept peacefully as the moons rode across the sky.
~ The Next Day ~
After eating a large breakfast for their big day ahead, the Dragons-banes and their Housecarls all came out and clambered onto a carriage out by the stables. Nero climbed up on to the front of the carriage and took the reins. He was dressed in some slightly finer clothes than usual but not 'best trends in the Imperial City' fine. He had an embroidered black and gold tunic, black pants and a pair of fine brown boots and he'd tied his hair up a bit more elegantly. He usually preferred practicality over style, but he decided to make more of an effort today.
Serana came out dressed in white and red; she'd modified her wardrobe since moving to Dragons-bane Manor although she still wore her signature corset. She climbed up onto the carriage and sat down next to Nero carefully; even though it had been a week, the remnants of her private celebration with him were not fully gone just yet. Nonetheless, she was excited for when they could do it again.
Julia came out in a light blue tunic and jumped on the back with the other Housecarls who had donned slightly more elegant outfits as well.
Once everyone was on board, Nero whipped the reins, and the horses began pulling the carriage; they began their journey to Whiterun.
As the carriage rode along, everyone got talking about the day ahead; what they thought would be there, who they thought they'd see, and just how drunk everyone would get.
"So, Nero, any luck with that speech?" asked Lydia.
"I've got a couple words down. I'm hoping that confidence and a couple mugs of mead will help me to improvise a little more."
Serana laughed, "so you can tell an entire army of Thalmor to piss off from Solitude easily but talking to regular people with seven days to prepare a speech is hard?"
"Come on, they're two completely different things," argued Nero, "with the right level of courage I'll be fine... probably."
Serana and the others sniggered as they continued along the road. Pretty soon they saw Whiterun emerge on its high hill, and the hundreds of tents that surrounded it. People had come far and wide for the festival.
"Damn, there must be hundreds of people here," said Serana as they rode towards the city.
Along the main road around, tents were set up either side and bunting extended overhead. People all around were buzzing about, stalls were set up with food and candy, and games were about. A smile grew larger and larger on Julia's face as they rode along.
"Gods, this thing just keeps getting better and better," said Nero.
Nero also noticed a fair amount of guards patrolling, and not just Whiterun guards but legionnaires, probably from Fort Greymoor. Nero wasn't much surprised. The festival was a good opportunity for businesses, but it also meant that Balgruuf had to seriously up security for the event.
Nero rode his carriage to the stables, getting looks as he rode along; being away from the public eye for some years and growing his hair and beard out had meant that people didn't always recognize him straight away which was a nice change of pace. When Nero had first come to Skyrim, no one knew who he was, but within a year everyone knew who he was. Now though it was nice again to have some level of privacy. The stablemaster however had no trouble recognizing him and he instantly got his people to work stabling Nero's carriage and horses, to which Nero thanked him and tossed him a few coins.
The Dragons-banes turned to face the road up to Whiterun and Nero turned to Julia and offered his hand, "shall we?"
"Yeah Daddy!" said Julia as she took his and Serana's hand before they began walking up the path with the Housecarls behind them.
Around them they could see just how many tents there were. Where once only a couple of Khajit had camped outside the city, it was now surrounded by hundreds of tents with people from every race going about, although it was mostly Nords.
They walked in through the gate into Whiterun, and almost everyone gasped.
"Wow..." said Julia who almost dropped her jaw.
The place was like the Imperial City if the Empire had won the war; so much had been put up, people were walking about everywhere with drinks and banners and bunting had been put up all over, it was glorious.
Faces from Whiterun Nero recognized and others who had come from the other cities for the day.
To their right, Adrianne and her husband Ulfberth were outside selling her best arms and armor to adventurers; Nero recognized the boy from Rorikstead, Erik, who had begun life as an adventurer and was there bartering over a sword with Adrianne.
On their left, they could see that even the Drunken Huntsman was full already.
"I bet Sam's in there raising hell," joked Lydia to which Nero rolled his eyes and she laughed.
On their right, they saw Breezehome which was now owned by Jon and Olfina Battle-Mane, the secret lovers from both of the adversary families, the Grey-Manes and the Battle-Borns. Nero heard the commotion the day they announced their engagement to their families, expecting the rift to become greater, but instead, it finally brought the families closer again, and they moved in to their own house and had a child.
As they continued up the hill, Nero saw Bards playing music here and there. He recognized them as bards from the College in Solitude who must've been hired by Balgruuf to come and play across the city all day long; Nero even recognized Pantea who was playing the flute that he had recovered for her all those years ago.
They came to the well and the market stalls that surrounded it, including a stall at which Carlotta and Mila were selling sweets and candy. Mila was an adult now, helping her mother more as a partner than an assistant. It was odd to think of all that time ago that Nero saved her from the Thalmor and her mother from Northwatch Keep.
The shops all around had also brought in a lot of supplies for the big day; Arcadia's Cauldron and Belethor's shop were busy, but the Bannered Mare was most full. They heard people singing, dancing and of course drinking inside, including Mikael who was searching amongst the newcomers for his next conquest, only to get slapped in the face to Nero's amusement. Nero saw an adult Lucia going around serving drinks; years ago he had offered to take her to Honorhall Orphanage but when Ysolda bought the inn she offered Lucia a job in the kitchen for shelter. Now she was helping Ysolda work the bar and serving drinks, and she seemed happy.
They walked up the stairs and saw the new Gildergreen growing strong; Nero recalled when he had fetched the new sapling for the tree for Danica Pure-Spring and in return she'd taught him a healing spell. The tree had finally bloomed again.
The statue of Talos still had Heimskr speaking his heart out, and still the few people who would come to listen to his teachings.
Above that they saw Dragonsreach. The great wooden palace loomed into the sky as beautiful as ever. Nero recalled when he first came to the city and entered the palace to warn the Jarl of the dragon attack.
There were people ascending the steps to Dragonsreach, dressed in finer clothes than most. Nero could tell that those were probably the 'high-class' from across Skyrim come to be in the company of themselves and the Jarls. Nero smiled as he recalled a moment from last year when Balgruuf had admitted he despised their company and, if he weren't Jarl, he'd much rather be in the Bannered Mare reveling with his own people than the 'sleezy stuck-up worms too far up their own asses' that he had to suffer.
Nero wondered if Queen Elisif was up there; he'd learned a day or so ago that she was attending the event. Perhaps that was the reason for the harsh security across the city this year. At least he knew she'd be better company for Balgruuf than the other noble men and women up there with him.
Finally on their right they saw Jorrvaskr, the mead hall of the Companions, and beyond it the Skyforge with its large eagle overlooking the forge.
"Happy to see your birthplace again Julia?" asked Nero.
Julia smiled and nodded, clearly exuberant to see the Companions.
"What's the bet that some of them are fighting?" asked Serana.
Nero sniggered before leading them up the stairs to the mead hall.
The doors were wide open, and Nero could see that the place was empty and that everyone was outside in the courtyard, cheering about something. Nero led them through the mead hall into the courtyard beyond. Barrels were set up on tables, and everyone had a mug of ale in their hands; they seemed to be circled around something.
Even as loud as it was up here, the sound of Nero's footstep turned a redhead around to lay eyes on them.
"Aunt Aela!" cried Julia who immediately let go of Nero and Serana's hands and bolted at the Huntress.
"There she is!" Aela picked her up in one scoop and spun her around, "ohhh you're getting so big!"
The twins turned around with mugs in their hands and smiled to see Nero and his company.
"Harbinger!"
Brothers Farkas and Vilkas came over to them and each embraced Nero.
"Farkas, good to see you," said Nero, "noticed you've copied my beard."
Farkas was almost unchanged except for growing his hair out and growing in a full beard.
"Vilkas, new haircut," asked Nero over Vilkas' new look.
Vilkas now sported what he called a 'Warrior's Wolf-tail' which was basically a ponytail but with shaved sides and back.
"I like it Uncle Vilkas," said Julia.
"Thank you, Julia," said Vilkas who looked around, "glad to see someone around here likes it."
Aela put Julia down and went and embraced Serana, "good to see you again."
"You too," returned Serana, clearly happy to see her best friend.
"So, what's all the commotion?" asked Nero.
"Our newest member is having an arm-wrestle with a friend of yours," explained Farkas.
"Aye, they began having a good argument about whether magic is better than real fighting," added Vilkas.
"Who?" asked Nero before they made their way forward and Nero saw exactly who.
Tobias was on one side of a small wooden table whilst Asmund sat on the other side, and the two were locked in a close arm-wrestle.
"Come on! Show that magic user the strength of the Companions!"
"Rip his arm off!"
The Companions chanted for their young warrior whilst the mage remained strong and his arm upright.
Tobias was clad in wolf-armor, the signature look of the Companions, whilst Asmund was wearing mage robes obtained from his time at the College of Winterhold.
Nearby, Tobias' sister Milla and Asmund's friend Freya were at a table together, laughing at the whole thing.
Asmund looked for a millisecond to his left though and then turned his whole face, "Nero?!"
Tobias saw his opponent was distracted however and took his chance, putting all his strength into his arm and slamming Asmund's palm on the table.
"Ha!" Tobias reveled in his victory and the Companions joined in praising him.
Asmund seemed not to care though as he got up to see Nero, which Tobias noticed momentarily too.
"Nero!" exclaimed Tobias and both boys, now only just men, got up to see him.
"Tobias! Asmund! it's good to see you both," said Nero, who turned to Tobias first.
"New member of the Companions now, eh?"
"I've been doing a lot of chores for them, but I've got to train too," admitted Tobias.
Nero smiled then turned to Asmund, "how's studies at the College been going?"
"Really good, I think I've got the hang of runes now," said Asmund and Nero patted his shoulder.
"Boys, why don't the pair of you go fetch the barrel of juniper-berry mead from down below, I'm sure Nero here is thirsty," said Aela.
The two boys looked at each other and then at the Huntress before nodding and going into Jorrvaskr.
Outside, the other Companions greeted Nero, but among them some others came as well.
Nero recognized two very surprising faces, "Gunmar? Sorine?"
"Hello Nero!" greeted Gunmar.
"It's good to see you after so long!" admitted Sorine.
Serana came forward as well, and they almost dropped their jaws when they saw her.
"Oh gods' and divines above, Serana! I almost hardly recognized you!" said Sorine.
Serana smiled, "good to see the pair of you too, it's been a while."
"Yeah try several years!" said Sorine.
"Just you two? Is Isran here by any chance?"
"No, you know how he is," said Sorine, "he said 'an event like this is the perfect opportunity for vampires to strike' so he's a no show. To be honest, he'd probably dampen the spirits anyway, I don't remember one time in all these years when he's stopped to have a little fun!"
"Me neither," agreed Gunmar, "but we couldn't miss this!"
Nero smiled, "well it's time to enjoy ourselves I think."
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Nero looked down to see that Julia was pulling at his tunic.
"Some of my friends are here," explained Julia and Nero looked from her to the door of Jorrvaskr where she saw several children waiting.
"Can I go and play with them? Please!?" begged Julia.
Serana nodded, "sure but be careful and remember we're up here if you need us."
"Yay!" Julia cheered and she ran off to join her friends, leaving the adults in the courtyard.
Tobias and Asmund came back with the barrel in their hands and placed it on the table.
"Gods' that was heavy," said Asmund and Tobias agreed.
"Why didn't you boys just roll it?" asked Serana which earned a pair of dumb looks from the boys and a laugh from Serana.
Nero and the others then began conversing, telling Nero and Serana about their adventures. They delighted in hearing their tales, and even more so in telling them of their lives in retirement and raising Julia.
"Honestly, we can't believe how much time has gone by," admitted Serana to Aela.
"Well it's been quiet for everyone in Skyrim," said the Huntress.
"Here's hoping it stays that way," said Nero who raised his drink for cheers.
~ Later that day ~
As the Sun shone brightly in the sky the Jarl came onto the steps followed by Queen Elisif and several guards. People gathered around the Gildergreen with mugs of ale and glasses of champagne in their hands, all looking up to them. Nero, Serana and Julia stood in the middle of the crowd to listen. Nero could see that Balgruuf was a little aged, but he still stood strong above his people; he raised his hands to calm the loud chatter so he could speak.
"My people," began Balgruuf, "Welcome to the Fifth Annual Whiterun Festival!"
Everyone cheered and raised their drinks into the air.
"We are graced with a great many faces on this fine day! People from far and wide come to celebrate yet another year of peace in Skyrim! One such face you may recognize! All rise for the Queen of Skyrim!"
Elisif took her queue and walked down the steps joining Balgruuf as everyone cheered.
"Damn, I didn't think she'd really make it," said Serana, delightfully surprised.
"Thank you, my people," said Elisif.
She's grown into a real Queen now, thought Nero.
"I wish to thank all of you who have journeyed here on this occasion to join each other in celebration of peace and joy in Skyrim," spoke Elisif loudly, "those things were not too long ago bereft in this land. We all remember the civil war that ravaged this country along with the dragons that burned our homes and slaughtered our people. But now, the darkness has passed, and we may yet again grow strong and free!"
Everyone cheered and Elisif stepped aside for Balgruuf to take the stage.
"Thank you, Queen Elisif," Balgruuf turned back to the crowd, "as we all know however, today is no ordinary day! Today marks ten years to the day that Alduin the World-Eater was slain!"
Everyone cheered again.
"Times were not easy back then. The dragons, the civil war, a vampire threat, almost all at once... but the darkness passed. And it was thanks not only to the men and women who gave their lives for the peace and freedom of this country, but to the honor and valor of one man. One man who came to this country as a prisoner and became a hero!"
Nero sipped his mead knowing what was coming.
"And I-we! Are proud to have him as the Thane of our city. People of Skyrim, I give you-"
"Right, here we go, wish me luck," said Nero quietly.
"Good luck," wished Serana.
"Good luck Daddy!" said Julia.
" -The Thane of Whiterun! The hero of Skyrim! Harbinger of the Companions, Archmage of the College of Winterhold, Legate of the Imperial Army, Slayer of the World-Eater, and proud Nord of Skyrim! The Legendary Dragonborn, Nero Dragons-bane!"
The Jarl offered his hand signaling Nero to come forward. Everyone cheered and clapped Nero as he made his way through the crowd up onto the steps next to the Jarl. Nero shook his hand and Balgruuf took a step away to allow Nero to take central stage.
"Thank you very much," said Nero raising his hands to try and calm the clapping and cheering, and eventually the crowd quietened.
Nero took another swig of his mead for one last boost of confidence before beginning.
"My fellow Nords, Imperials and Redguards, Khajit, Argonians, and Elves."
The members of each race cheered as Nero spoke their names.
"Today, it has been ten years to the day I slew Alduin the World-Eater!"
The crowd raised their mugs, horns and glasses and united in a cheer to the skies.
"Although, ten years here in Skyrim is not nearly long enough to spend with such admirable people."
The crowd gave out another cheer.
"It's true, I came to this country a prisoner, I was to be executed in Helgen, and I thought for sure I would be, only to be saved by none other than Alduin himself! Poetic irony right there."
A few sniggers went around before Nero continued.
"But in the tens years since that day, I've come to make so many good friends, go on exciting adventures, and some less than savory ones, and I met the love of my life."
Nero looked straight at Serana as he said that last part.
"I wouldn't be where I am to today if it wasn't for all of you."
Nero raised his mug, "to all of you, who made my time here in Skyrim an adventure."
Everyone raised their mugs and cheered in unison before they and Nero took a good long gulp of their drinks.
Serana smiled as she watched Nero atop the stairs, and Julia beside her was happy too.
Everything was well, until suddenly a hand clasped Serana's shoulder. She turned in surprise, "Wha-"
"Serana!"
Beside her, Serana saw a cut, bloody Brelyna with a burnt left arm.
"Brelyna?"
"Nero-… I need to speak to… Ner-…"
She collapsed beside Serana onto the cold stone, and several people backed away in shock.
Serana let go of Julia's hand and knealt down next to Brelyna, shaking her a bit, "Brelyna? Brelyna!"
Seeing that she wasn't moving, Serana turned back to the stairs, "NERO!"
Nero recognized the voice and scanned the crowd, seeing Serana and Julia next to a body on the ground.
He handed Balgruuf his drink and descended the stairs, pushing through the crowd to where Serana was. Once there, he knealt down next to her.
"What is it?" he asked before he saw Brelyna's face, and then the injuries across her, including her arm.
"What happened to her?" he asked.
"I don't know," replied Serana, "she just passed out next to me."
Several of Nero's companions came to them to find out what the commotion was, and they saw the body.
Nero, realizing that Brelyna wasn't responding, wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up.
"Come on, I'm taking her to Jorrvaskr."
People got out of the way for Nero and the others who followed him, and they ascended the steps to the mead hall. Inside, Nero laid Brelyna on one of the wooden tables and began using a healing spell on her arm. The Circle and Housecarls joined him inside along with Gunmar, Sorine, Asmund and Tobias. Serana saw them and stopped the boys at the door.
"Asmund, Tobias, will you take care of Julia outside for a few minutes?"
The boys looked at the little girl holding Serana's hand and Asmund nodded, "sure."
"Thank you," said Serana and she turned down to her daughter, "Julia, stay with Asmund and Tobias here for a bit, okay?"
Julia reluctantly nodded, "okay mommy."
Serana smiled and went inside to join the others who were gathered around the table that Nero was healing Brelyna upon. She walked up to the other side to look down at the injured Blade.
"Oh gods'... what's happened to her?"
"I don't know yet," said Nero, "but whatever it was, it was serious."
He noticed other cuts across her skin and armor, indicating that she must've been fighting.
Once Nero had done a fairly good job on her injuries, Brelyna slowly opened her eyes and laid them on Nero.
"Hey Brelyna," said Nero soothingly.
"Nero..." she began, still dazed.
"You look pretty beat up. What happened?"
Brelyna struggled to think for a second before she recalled the very reason she had come to him. And when she did, she grabbed Nero with her right arm.
"Nero! Zarys is coming! He's coming!"
Nero furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "who?"
"He killed them all, him and his 'children' and his dragons, they slaughtered everyone!"
"Wait wha- dragons?" asked Nero.
"Vulthuryol! The evil faction! They came to Sky Haven Temple and they destroyed it! Esbern he..."
A tear ran down Brelyna's cheek before she found the strength to say it.
"Esbern sacrificed himself for me, he got me out of there. I came here on foot to find you. They're planning something Nero. They're coming. He's coming."
Nero swallowed her words slowly, before he spoke, "tell me his name again."
"Zarys. He's a monster, Nero. Esbern said he used to kill rebels for Alduin, that he was the only mortal that Alduin trusted. Esbern called him Konahrik."
Nero's eyebrows raised at that, "Konahrik? That's what Esbern said?"
Brelyna nodded, "either he's their leader or he's their General. Whatever he is, he's with Vulthuryol and the evil faction."
Nero stood up straight, drinking it all in. His silence though invited the others to question him, whilst Serana got to work on healing Brelyna further.
"Nero," began Aela, "what is she talking about?"
Nero ran a hand over his mouth before turning to his companions and he began to explain, "after I killed Alduin, all the dragons in Skyrim basically split into three factions. One faction believes me to be their leader and follows me. They were the dragons that I summoned to Solitude when Elenwen tried to arrest me a day before my wedding."
Nero began pacing, "the second faction is a peaceful group who live on the Throat of the World. They're led by Paarthurnax who teaches them to meditate and live like the Greybeards and have no desires to kill and dominate."
Nero came to a stop, "the third... are the dragon supremacists. They believe in the domination of dragons and that we should all be slaves to them like when Alduin was in power. And it seems that they have a few new members."
"Yeah, who is this Zarys guy?" asked Farkas.
"I don't know, but Esbern called him Konahrik... I've heard that somewhere before..."
"Konahrik?" said Serana.
"It means Warlord."
Everyone drunk in the words for a few moments before Vilkas spoke up.
"Nero, if this is true, then why has this young woman here been attacked by these dragons?"
Brelyna lifted her head up, "he said it wasn't personal... just a small price to pay."
Nero shifted; he never believed he would hear those words again.
"Alright, well... they attacked the Blades. Where would they go next?" asked Serana.
"I'm not sure," said Nero, "I've never heard of these guys before."
"Well, who would know where these dragons are?" asked Serana.
Nero turned back to Brelyna who shook her head, giving Nero his answer.
"No one here it seems."
"Who could find them then?" asked Lydia.
Nero paced a few more moments, thinking, before one idea came to his head.
"Maybe Paarthurnax. Maybe. He used to be Alduin's right hand man, that means he might know who this Zarys guy is, and maybe even where I can find him."
Nero leant on a table with his fists down, "I should have seen this. Seven years is nothing to dragons. All this time… it's just been the calm before the storm."
"What do you mean?" asked Vilkas.
Nero turned to all of them, who clearly weren't aware of the gravity of the situation.
"These evil dragons haven't made a sound in the past seven years. They disappeared. Now they're back, and they have a warlord with them. Why would that be?"
Everyone slowly began to realize as Nero continued.
"Paarthurnax told me once that if a war broke out between dragons, it would be utter destruction for everything and everyone all across Skyrim. They would destroy all there is, and then themselves. And that's only in Skyrim."
"So what do we do?" asked Vilkas.
"If I can find Vulthuryol or this Zarys character and I cut the head off the snake, then maybe, maybe, I can stop this war before it even begins."
Just as he finished speaking however, a rumble went over the city. From the doors of Jorrvaskr, they could hear shouting and screaming.
"Mommy! Daddy!" called Julia from outside.
Nero and Serana immediately went to the doors of the temple and opened them to the sounds of chaos. Above them, several dragons were flying overhead and wreathing the tops of houses in flames. Nero could just about make out the shapes of riders on the dragons.
People were panicking and running around in the chaos whilst the dragons roared.
Eventually, all four dragons turned and flew towards the foot of the city, landing upon and around the tents outside.
Nero began making his way down and the others followed him, including Serana who still held Julia's hand tightly. They came down the hill towards the gate, outside of which the dragons had landed.
The civilians had run from the area, leaving it bare for Nero and his company to stand nearby, facing the gate. Nero stood at the front whilst everyone else stood behind him, including the Whiterun guards and Legionnaires who were very inexperienced to the threat they were to face.
A few deafeningly silent moments later, the great gates were kicked open, and four figures emerged. At their head was a high elf with long white hair and a long golden staff. Behind him stood a dunmer, bosmer and orc, all clad in similar armor but tailored to their specific abilities.
Nero looked among the four warriors, who all had orange eyes.
"Sorry guys, we've already got a band for the day. You'll have to pack it up and get out of here!"
"Dovahkiin," spoke the elf in a very patronising tone, "you are as insolent as your reputation suggests."
"Only when I'm dealing with assholes who delight in scaring an entire city," answered Nero.
The elf smiled, before he began, "I am Maw. These are my Claw-Siblings, Krull, Covu, and Proxa. We are the dragon order and the children of Lord Zarys, the mighty Konahrik."
Nero shrugged, "okay, and?"
The high elf, Maw, frowned, clearly annoyed that his words weren't having the effect on Nero that he had hoped for.
"We are here for the child," said Maw bluntly, "give her to us and we shall not harm the people of this city."
Nero furrowed first and looked to Julia who was behind Serana holding her hand, scared.
Julia? He thought. What would they want with her?
Angry that anyone had been so stupid as to even scare his daughter, Nero turned back to the elf, "here's my answer: go fuck yourself."
Maw's exression turned from annoyed to full-on angry.
"Oh he exhausts me," he turned to the orc on his side, "brother Krull, bring me the child."
The orc smiled and lifted his large golden axe up off of his shoulder and began advancing towards Nero.
The others moved to attack but Nero raised his hands stopping them.
"This one's mine," said Nero who now really wanted to punch something.
"Nero, you're unarmed," warned Vilkas, but that didn't stop Nero from walking forward towards the orc who then began running at him.
"Nero!" called Serana.
"Daddy!" called Julia.
The orc broke into a run at Nero who continued walking and shouted,
"MUL QAH DIIV"
Suddenly Nero's body became enveloped in what looked like fire that adorned the look of a dragon across him, and in his hands, he summoned spectral swords.
The orc, Krull, swung his large axe down at Nero who blocked it with his left sword and sliced across Krull's cheek with his other, making the orc stagger a bit, before he followed up with,
"FUS RO DAH"
Nero's Thu'um blasted the orc backwards towards the other three warriors who each brought a ward up to block against the shout whilst Maw moved out of the way of Krull who crashed across the ground past him.
Once at a stop, the other warriors looked back towards Nero who was standing with a big smile on his face.
"I hope that makes things quite clear. This is your last chane. You're trespassing in this city. Leave now, and I won't kill you."
Maw scoffed, "I'm afraid we have our orders, dragonborn."
The others took their weapons out and got into stance, "we aren't leaving without the girl."
Nero frowned and raised his swords, "then I guess you aren't leaving at all."
Author's Notes:
And I'm back! Once again a fair while since my last chapter and I apologise, things have been unusually busy for me and trying to get chunks of this written has been difficult to say the least. But I'm glad I have this chapter out. I hope you enjoyed!
Quite the many characters we've seen in this chapter! Including the return of some that we have not seen for a while! Anyone remember Tobias from Legends of the Dovahkiin: Dark Silver? Nero promised him that if he wanted to join the Companions he could come and apply, and here he is! Also Sorine and Gunmar from the Dawnguard who have come to join the festivities! Characters from Whiterun are around too, what a day! But now the warriors have arrived and they've come to kidnap Julia! *gasp* better hope Nero and friends fare better than the Blades! But where is Zarys?
Quite a long chapter which is partly why it took so long to get out but also because I have bad time management. I sort of do this whenever I get time that I should be using for productive thigs, luckily I like this more!
Characters: Since I named an awful lot of people in this chapter, I'll only describe the more prominent characters
Tobias: a young boy who was a member of the Silver Hand when he came to Nero for help back in Dark Silver, now an older, more experienced young man who is also a new member of the Companions
Asmund: boy who Nero met in Deeds of Vengeance, is now a mage studying at the College of Winterhold
Gunmar: a "big brute of a nord" that Isran sends you to find and recruit during the Dawnguard questline. He only agrees to help if you help him kill a bear
Sorine (Jurard): Someone else that Isran sends you to find during the Dawnguard questline. She's obsessed with Dwemer tech which she uses to upgrade your crossbow.
Jarl Balgruuf: The Jarl of Whiterun, you first meet him when you're sent to Whiterun to request more protection for Riverwood at the beginning of the game. Later you need his help to trap a dragon (Odahviing) in Dragonsreach.
High Queen Elisif: Previous Jarl of Solitude, Elisif was the wife of High King Torryg before he was murdered by Ulfric Stormcloak which made her the Jarl. After years, the Moot finally met and named her High Queen of Skyrim.
Paarthurnax: Leader of the Greybeards and the peaceful dragon faction. Honestly, genuinely, a top guy.
Also will give a description on the Children of Zarys since I don't think they got a lot of description in the previous chapter, at least not individually.
Maw: High-elf of the dragon warriors. More of a mage than the other warriors, Maw uses a dragon staff and magic that few other mages possess. Is able to levitate like a dragon priest does and is second in command to Zarys.
Krull: Orc of the dragon warriors. The brute of the pack, Krull is almost as large as Zarys but is not a leader. Uses a large axe made from the same metal as dragon priest daggers.
Covu: Dark-elf of the dragon warriors. Wears light armor complete with a black hood and uses a golden glaive shaped like a long dragon's claw.
Proxa: Wood-elf of the dragon warriors. She uses a bow and two small dragon priest daggers. Like Covu, opts for light armor for more maneuovrability in using her daggers.
Dragon Language:
Mul: Strength
Qah: Armor
Diiv: Wyrm
Fus: Force
Ro: Balance
Dah: Push
Thank you so much for reading! Drop me a review, if I'm making a lot of spelling mistakes I genuinely apologise, I don't have a script reader or anything so I have to reread and try and make sure I got them but I'd appreciate the help!