Three Days ago
The sun had begun to set and Aratore could feel the much welcome heat from the fire his uncle had gotten going. It was officially spring but the nights in the northern parts of Skyrim were still colder than anywhere he dealt with in Valenwood.
His uncle insisted that they stay up north this year. Most hunters stayed in southern Skyrim or even Cyrodill for the winters to avoid the cold. That meant less hunters in the north and more for them to find. He wasn't wrong, they would completely sell out of pelts and meat at every town or city they went. It had been two years since they began their travel from Valenwood. They started in their home in northern Valenwood and had been all the way through Cyrodill before arriving in Skyrim at the end of summer.
He wasn't sure why they left in such a rush, or why they left at all honestly. His uncle just came to him one night said he was to be his apprentice and they were off within an hour. He never was able to even say goodbye to his sisters or his mother.
As most Bosmer do he enjoyed hunting. He was good at it he did get a sense of pride from getting the compliments from merchants on their butchering and filleting talents.
After two years, the repetition had gotten old. Wake up before the sun, hunt, butcher, most days they got to eat and then go to sleep.
Today was slightly special though. The waters were now warm enough that fish were more active and his uncle had made two great catches that they were going to enjoy tonight. Aratore loved fresh fish and was quite excited. He finished skinning the last bit on what were the largest rabbits he had ever seen and then joined his uncle by the fire. His uncle, a Bosmer in his mid 30s had just started to filet this fish.
"Bring your quill nephew." He instructed Aratore who sighed and reluctantly grabbed his arrow quill.
He handed to his uncle who counted the arrows
"I see eleven arrows, you started out with a dozen. You missed."
"I got six rabbits uncle. Six" he responded in frustration.
"Did you shoot an arrow at the same rabbit twice?" His uncle asked, already knowing the answer.
"Of course not. It ran off when I missed." Aratore grabbed his quill. He knew what was happening next.
"Alright then. You should have seven" his uncle looked at him sternly.
At this point he could see his uncle scowl at something approaching the in background.
"Something coming uncle?" He asked
"Just some drunk revellers coming this way. I'll deal with them, Take your target in the woods. You have eleven arrows left. I want eleven bulls eyes." He went back to filleting the fish. "Hurry boy, this won't take long to cook. It'll get cold quick in this weather."
Aratore continued to stand there. Wanting to refuse.
"NOW BOY!" His uncle grumbled at him.
"Yes sir" he responded with a sarcastic inflection.
Aratore went into his tent and grabbed his straw target and passed by his uncle as he headed to the trees. Aratores mouth was curled up as he really wanted to tell His uncle off but he knew better. He did give his uncle quite the angry glare as he passed though.
Once Aratore was out of sight his uncle smiled.
"That sure is my kin" he said to himself.
Aratore found an opening and attached and hung his straw target from a branch. He climbed the tree opposite of where his target was hung. He Took a deep breathe and pulled back on the bow and then released his fist arrow. Dead center. He shot nine more all forming a circle in the red bullseye around the first arrow. Then with his finally arrow he held his breathe and concentrated. The arrow released and hit dead center again, going right through the first arrow. Splitting it into two long pieces until the arrowheads met.
Aratore came down from the tree and proudly looked at his target. See him complain about that he thought to himself and headed back to camp.
When he had nearly approached the camp he froze and crouched behind a tree. He saw five tall Altmers wearing robes. Aratore felt a bit of panic as he realized they were Thalmor. They had three nords and a khajit chained together in a line behind them. They were wearing nothing but underwear and were filthy. They weren't even wearing shoes and Aratore could see their feet were bruised and bleeding.
He tried as hard as he could to hear the conversation. He could see one of the Thalmor talking to his uncle who at this point had his arms crossed in defiance of the Justicars
"I Will ask again. Where in Valenwood are you from and what is your family name?"
"I am native to Skyrim. My family name is Snow Shield." His uncle responded.
"Snow-Shield? Your family name is Snow-Shield?" The Thalmor asked him.
"Yes. Jorgensen Snow-Shield, I'm the DragonBorn can't you tell? You don't recognize me? I made a nice visit to your embassies a few years back, were you not there?"
The Thalmor Justicar scowled at him but kept his composure and looked around the campsite.
"Two tents , two fish, two sitting logs. Where is your partner?"
"Hunting, some of us actually do something of useful. Unlike you pompous bastards." His uncle responded.
"Excuse me ?!" The Thalmor asked him. Impatience growing in his voice.
His uncle developed a smirk. "I could be wrong though. A stronghold is not far from here. Maybe he's there gleefully bouncing on the end of an Orcs cock like your mother, I'm not one to judge another persons proclivities"
Two of the other agents came in behind his uncle and knocked him to the ground. They tied his arms behind his back and pulled him up onto his knees. His smirk never leaving his face. "That was uncalled for. I do apologize. Your mother is probably too old. It's probably your wife."
The Justicar back handed him across his face.
"Not your wife? Must be your daughters then. Quite the family tree who must have." His uncle said. Still with his disrespectful tone towards him.
"Quite the tongue you have. I'm inclined to remove it." The Justicar said as he pulled a dagger from his sheath.
"Now now. It's just some humor. If the women in your family are as ugly as you, not even an Orc would want to lay with them. I've always found your yellow skin tone quite unappealing myself. Color of piss if you ask me" he then spit into the Justicars face.
Aratore wasn't quite sure what to do. He wanted to help his uncle but felt powerless against the Thalmor. He looked around to see if he could find a better vantage point but then heard foliage being ruffled behind him and felt something grab the back of his shirt.
"Hands up" he heard a justicar bark from behind him. He did as instructed and put his hands in the air. The justicar pulled him to his knees and then put a sword to his throat.
"Move to the camp. Now." The Thalmor started pushing his towards the others.
His uncle had a look of regret on his face as he saw Aratore being led to the camp with a blade to his throat.
The Lead Justicar turned around and saw them approaching and smirked himself. "Seems your boy is back from the stronghold."
The Uncle tried to lunge at the Justicar but was at once kicked back down to the ground. Aratore was thrown to the ground on his stomach next to his uncle.
"What is your family name boy?" The justicar asked him.
Aratore froze up. "Please sir, we are from a loyal line. Please don't hurt…" he said. One of the justicars put his foot on Aratores back.
"WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY NAME?!" The Justicar yelled, his patience now non existent.
His uncle looked at him wide eyed and mouthed. "No" To him. In this moment it clicked with Aratore. This is why they left suddenly. Why he wasn't allowed to say goodbye. He wasn't just out here to be an apprentice. They were running from the Thalmor.
"Argan." He yelled out. He lied. It was Cordan.
"A loyal line." The lead justicar grabbed Aratore and pulled him to his knees. The justicars all began to grab the items from their tents and tear the tents apart. Throwing everything into the fire.
Aratore stared in horror and began to cry and he saw everything him and his uncle had get thrown into the fire and burned. The tents, clothing, food , even their bows.
The justicar looked at Aratore. "And him?"
"He is an Argon as well, he is my uncle." He said completely absently as he watched his few humbled possession became embers.
The justicars grabbed Aratores hair and pulled his head up to face him.
"Don't ruin your families good name with a lie boy. We have no mercy for dishonesty. What is his family name?"
"Corgan!" The uncle yelled out.
"The boy is just a paid apprentice and nothing more. His family thought sending him to different environments would help round him out. The boy has nothing to do with your disdain for my name."
"Corgan! A fitting family name to match your treacherous tongue." The justicar moved to the uncle and tied a chain around his neck.
"The people here just don't understand. We offer a better way of life for all. The Thalmor just want to help both Men and Mer alike. We just want everyone to enjoy an elevated existence. Families like these Corgans constantly refuse our gift and hold everyone back. They are a virus that must be dealt with."
He then began to pull on the chain, tightening the grip on the Bosmers neck. His uncle gagged and his face turned a shade of purple. He tried unsuccessfully to pull the chain away but the justices had too tight of a grip. Aratore began to cry and look on in grief and fear as the only person he had left in his life was being strangled by a Justicar. The gagging then stopped and the Justicar released the chain and his body fell lifeless to the ground. The other justicars then moved the body into the fire. Aratore was crying uncontrollably as they cut the ropes binding his hands. The prisoners stood by in compete horror. They realized they were in for much more than they thought.
"Let this be a lesson to all of you. The Thalmor only wants you to help. Whether you want us to or not."
He looked down at Aratore. "I hear Winterhold is taking vagrants."
They then reformed their line and continued down the road. Aratore was alone, no supplies, no food and in a strange forest. He simply sat there weaping on his hands and kneees until the fire died. Then he finally stood up and started walking. His uncle had him study a map of Skyrim before they came. He simply headed north, knowing he'd find Winterhold eventually.
...
DO AS YOU PLEASE
Aratore finally awoke in the bed of the guest chambers in Dragons Reach. He couldn't remember when the last time he was able to just sleep for as long as his body wanted too. He had never slept on a bed this soft. As a matter of fact since he started traveling with his uncle he could count on one hand the amount of times he even slept on a bed at all. In the rare event they stayed in an inn he would always have to share with his uncle.
He laid there for several minutes enjoying the comfort but eventually his body became restless and he knew he needed to get up. He sat up in the bed and his head began pounding and he realized how thirsty he was. He was confused at first, but then it became Clear to him. When they left the manor last night Travius, Anaelle and J'Zargo had all headed back to Dragons Reach but Aratore decided to head to the Bannered Mare with Vhoryhyak instead. Much like the last time he hung out with the orc, he didn't remember much after that. He looked to the dresser in the room and found two sets of folded clothing. One set was a basic plain set for everyday use and a set of what was obviously formal wear with intricate woven patterns and colored fabric. He had never had any kind of formal wear before. Next to the clothing he saw a small vial with a healing Potion and a mug full of water. He eagerly chugged the water and then drank the healing potion which immediately eliminated the pounding in his head. In the middle of the dresser he found a small Note. "Welcome to White Run" it said.
He put on the fresh clothes and by the door he found a new pair of shoes. He gladly put them on and headed out of the room. He wasn't quite sure where to go but saw the row of bedrooms and assumed he was in a visitors quarters. He heard people at end of the hall and headed in that direction. The hallway ended and he found himself in the main hall. He had never been in a building like this before. The high ceilings. The huge pillars. The biggest table he had ever seen was in the middle. He saw his own travel party plus at least a dozen people he had never seen before, all bantering and enjoying a breakfast. Aratore was still getting used to multiple meals in a day. It took even more getting used to that he wasn't having to butcher it and cook it himself over a campfire.
When he approached the table, he saw an older Nordic man at the end with jeweled circlet on his head and a fur robe stand up and come greet him.
"The clothing seems to fit you just right. Glad to see." He then extended his hand, "Balgruuf the Greater, Jarl of WhiteRun"
Aratore shook his hand and just as when he met the Dragonborn he gripped so tight that Aratore winced. He was clearly going to have to get used to these Nord handshakes.
"They sure do sir. I cannot thank you enough for this hospitality. I'm Aratore" he said graciously.
"Aye. Think nothing of it. Anyone who travels with them is a friend to White Run. Most of us are finishing up but please take a seat and have all you want!"
He took an empty seat next to Anaelle and Travius. He grinned as he looked at the spread of food. Sausage, eggs, fruits, veggies, berries, breads and cheeses.
Anaelle greeted him with a nice smile
"You better dig in before they put it away."
Aratore happily grabbed his plate and got a little bit of everything. He didn't realize how hungry he was until he saw all this food.
"Put that cheese on top of your eggs." Travius said to him.
Aratore was slightly confused but he put a yellow cheese on top of his eggs. Travius then put his hand over the eggs and produced a light flame causing the cheese to melt and bubble.
"You can thank me later." He said as Ananelle and himself got up from the table,
"The two of us are going foraging today and spending some time at the manor. Vhoryhyak is running a bounty that he should be able to handle himself today. J' Zargo is running experiments with the court wizard and a few students who showed up early for the caravan to the college." Travius said and then pulled a coin purse out and tossed it at Aratore,
"Consider it an advance on the bounty from the Pale. Plenty to enjoy here in the city. Do as you please today, Just be back by dusk."
The two lovers headed out of the main hall and Aratore was left there with a large plate of food. He tried the eggs with the melted cheese and was dumbfounded.
"Do as you please today." He quietly said out loud to himself. A huge smile came across his face. He sat there and ate, the staff started to clear the dishes and disperse the leftovers amongst themselves. Aratore was assured he was welcome to take as much time as he wanted and when he was done someone would clean up after him. He was astonished. Do as you please today. He doesn't recall ever hearing those words before. He had never had a day in his life where he didn't have a single responsibility. Not a single single task or chore. No hunt, nothing to butcher, no sibling to watch out for. An entire beautiful spring day to do as he pleased and with a bag full of septims to top it all off.
Aratore eventually finished his meal. He would absolutely be thanking Travius for the new ways to eat eggs he showed him. He finally opened his coin purse. He wanted to go through it as soon as he felt how heavy it was but he didn't want up seem rude or eager in front of Travius. He found several different sized gold coins. They equaled out to one hundred septims. He almost fainted. He had never seen this much at once. He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that it belonged to him.
He made his way out of the front doors of dragons reach and slowly walked the long ramp down into the markets. Absorbing every bit of this perfect weather. The first area he came too had large Gildagreen tree that was being groomed by a priest of Arkay from the temple. he took his time to admire the tree. The unique design of the tree was probably older than the city itself. The thick branches curled like the waves of the ocean, he assumed at least, he had never actually seen an ocean. The smile never left his face as he wandered the city. He went into the temple and walked around. He watched the companions as they trained and skirmished outside Jorvaskr. He went into every shop and market stand. He gave a gold coin to every beggar he saw. He nodded and said hello to everyone he passed. He had a mead at the bannered mare.
After he had been everywhere he could be without invading peoples homes he made his way out of the city gates. He found the stables where we saw the caravan driver that brought theme here and had a nice conversation. He even helped him groom and feed the horses. He made his way to the Khajit caravans outside the gate and made conversation. He was almost overwhelmed with the freedom. He continued down the road out of the city and found that outside the area was even more! Honeybrew Meadery, another general store, the bunkhouse for the Acolytes of the Dragon.
He went into the second general store he bought a nice canteen and a new compass. When he left there, he started walking, just to see what he could find next. Once he had back-tracked to the stables he kept walking towards Dovahkin Manor. He walked through the empty meadow between the stables and the manor.
'Do as I please' he repeated in his head. He kept walking through the meadow until he approached the Dovahkin manor. When he got closer, he saw Jorgenson outside tending to the chickens and playing fetch with his dog while the two youngest children were giggling and playing with some dolls.
Jorgensen saw him walking past and excitedly waved at him.
"Aye boy! Come to pay an old man a visit?" He yelled out to him. "I've been meaning to see you anyway, quite the coincidence."
Truthfully Aratore was just passing by but headed towards the friendly Nord. He knew of the Dragonborn. Everyone in Tamriel knew about the Dragonborn. From the stories and the legends he expected him to be a stoic warrior, ready for battle at a moments notice. If the situation needed it, Aratore was sure he was, but he was surprised to find him to be a friendly old man. He was clearly enjoying his life and reaping the fruits of his adventures. He was doing as he pleased.
Aratore greeted him with a handshake. He was prepared this time. Putting all his strength into his hand to keep it from being crushed again. "Getting better with that I see. What brings you here all by yourself?" The He said to Aratore as he gestured for them to come inside.
"Everyone had their own place today. I've been exploring the city and thought I'd Walk around the meadowlands. I've never been able to just enjoy this type of landscape before. This is such a beautiful hold. I would hope to hunt these grounds one day." Aratore said to Him as they walked into the manor.
They walked into the main hall and Aratore was stuck dead in his tracks. He saw a young nord woman around his age sitting at the table, books and blank papers scattered throughout. Her shoulder length blonde hair seemed to shimmer in a fire that wasn't even there. Her blue eyes almost blinding to him with how vibrant they seemed. She looked up from the table and saw him. She looked up and saw Aratore and gave him a large smile. His knees became weak and his mouth went dry. He was completely smitten.
"Hello Uncle. I was just about to clean up. I think I've had enough studying for today. This must be our new friend from Winterhold I've heard so much about." She walked over to Aratore and extended her arm.
Aratore was frozen. In his mind he kissed her hand and took a knee. Just like the knights when they would meet a princess in the stories his mother would recite to him. In reality he just remained speechless. Trying to speak But it just came out as mumbled gibberish.
She giggled and began to blush. Aratore finally snapped out of his daze. "I'm Aratore. And I was told I could do as I pleased today."
He immediately regretted saying that, but it was the first thing that came to his head. She giggled again and blushed even harder seeing as how nervous Aratore was.
"Well, I'm Trishiella but you can call me Trish and I'm very happy to hear that for you. Now that I'm done with my studies I can do the same….once I clean up my mess that is. If you're with Travius I guess that means you'll be joining us for the feast tomorrow?".
Aratore had finally regained some of his composure. "I most certainly will be."
"Good, suppose I will see you tomorrow then." She said as she turned away to collect her books. A slight hop in her step that was not there before.
Aratore had forgotten Jorgenson was there until he heard his thick Nord accent.
"She seems to have quite the knack for enchanting, she's actually one of the new students you'll be escorting to the college. Tomorrow is an unofficial send off for her."
He then looked at the papers scattered everywhere. "Spent all that money to build the largest home library and study in Skyrim and she insists on using our dinner table as her desk. Kids. Anyway, I have something for you boy, it's in my armory."
He led Aratore back into the armory where they had been last night. He went to a weapons rack full of bows. He took a minute to look through them holding his chin inquisitively. He kept looking back to Aratore sizing him up and then back to the bows. He finally grabbed a solid ebony bow and tossed it to Aratore. Then he tossed him a full quill.
"I have a range behind the manor I let my Acolytes train in. Let me see these marksman skills I've heard so much about."
He led them through the house and out a back door. He had several archery targets, dummy targets and a dueling pits.
"Take a few practice shots. Adjust to the bow."
Jorgensen instructed. Aratore ran three shot in quick succession. All forming a triangle around the red bullseye.
"Well damn. More accurate than any of my Acolytes. Let's see how you do with a moving target.
He pulled a large sack cloth full of empty glass Bottles from Behind the targets. He threw one in the air. Aratore easily followed in and knocked it out of the sky before it even began to come back down. Jorgensen threw one that passed Aratore from His left and that too was easily shot down once it passed him.
"Seems like you could with a little more challenge". He grabbed another bottle and threw it past the targets and away from Aratoe in a straight line as if bottle was running away from him. Aratore shot this time while his eyes were focused on Jorgensen. The arrow followed the bottle and sure enough, he knocked it out of the sky. His face grew a large smirk as he looked at Jorgenson.
" I believe you mentioned a challenge sir?" Aratore couldn't believe he just made such an arrogant statement to someone like the Dragonborn.
Much to his relief Dragonborn seemed to like it More than be offended.
"Alright, Boy, Alright." He picked up another bottle, "I want you to let this one get as close to the ground as you possibly can before you hit."
He threw the bottle high in the air. Aratore tracked it and His release was perfect. The bottle was on its last spin, the opening of the bottle almost only seperated from the longest blade of glass by nothing but an arrow tip . Right before he was about to hear the satisfying clank of the glass, what he instead heard was "FUS" accompanied by a slight thunderous sound and both the bottle and his arrow both went flying away in a rush of wind. Aratore immediately did a tuck and roll under a nearby table.
"Nothing like being startled to teach you an evasive maneuver, eh?" Jorgensen was laughing so hard he was bent at the with waist almost fell.
He finally stood up still laughing, "If it makes you feel any better I made Travius fall off a horse when I did that to him!"
He finally seemed to have been able to get his laughter under control as Aratore came out from underneath the table, Slightly embarrassed and knocking dirt off himself.
Jorgensen almost started laughing again, "it was just my Thu'um boy. The first I learned actually"
"Your Thu'um?" Aratore asked and then he remembered. He's the Dragonborn, he can shout in the dragon tongue. "I thought only that meant you could breathe fire and ice."
"Yeah, so did Travius. Was that enough of a challenge for you?" He asked.
"Let's try it again without you tricking me this time." Aratore responded and moved back into his position.
Jorgensen started shaking his head in approval. "There you go boy." He said under under his breath. This time he threw the bottle in the air right in front of him and when it crossed past his face
"FUS ROH"
This time bottle went even further than the last one and with much more velocity but he nailed it out of the sky none the less.
"One more and then I'll need to rest my voice. I'm going to put everything in it, you ready?" Jorgensen asked him
"Send it as far as you want, I'll get it." He said with the most confidence he's ever had in his life.
This time Jorgensen threw it as hard as he could . Aratore held his breath and waited.
"FUS ROH DAH"
A loud thundering noise consumed the range but Aratore remained unfettered. The bottle kept flying away, faster than any human could possibly throw . He waited for his right moment and released. Both the arrow and the bottle were nearly out of sight. Then they heard the slight sound of glass shattering.
"Aye, boy! You've got a real talent here. One more thing though. "
Aratore didn't see the second bottle he was holding behind his back until the it been flung at him by Jorgensen. Aratore readied his bow and let his instinct take over. He released the arrow just perfect and it hit just as it was spinning and went right through the opening, down the neck and then went through the bottom of the bottle. The bottle stayed on the arrow until it finally landed on the wall behind Jorgensen. Landing close enough to his shoulder that the bottle was touching his sleeve.
"Now that's a shot!" Jorgensen exclaimed proudly.
Then from up above them they heard the sound of clapping and whistling cheers. They both looked up and saw Trish. She had been up on the balcony that wrapped around the house the whole time. Aratore looked at her with a smirk containing all of his new found confidence and she returned with a blush and a giggle. Jorgensen looked up at his niece and then back down to Aratore. Then again at his niece and back to Aratore. He repeated this fives and their gazes never left each other. Jorgensen made a loud grunt as if he was clearing his throat and glared at Aratore.
"Oops." Aratore thought to himself and then snapped back into reality.
"That was alot of fun. Thank you for that opportunity." He took off the quill and handed it along with the bow to Jorgensen.
"I don't need your bow, boy." He said.
"My bow?…..wait…..Sir. I can't accept this, this is pure ebony steel." He said in amazement.
"You've already done better things with that bow than I ever will. It's no use collecting dusk on that rack. Take the gift boy, take care of that bow and you'll never need another." Aratore was blown away. The amount of generosity he's received from almost complete strangers in the last few days had been astonishing to him.
"Thank you so much sir." Was all he could muster.
"I assure you, the honor is all mine." Jorgensen responded. "My wife is off on business and I need to tend to my little ones. I'll see you tonight boy. We'll talk about a name for that bow."
"I'd like that, sir." Aratore looked up and saw Trish still looking at him and he waved.
Jorgensen saw the exchange "The door is right there, boy."
He walked through the house and was hoping to get one more glance at Trish but no such luck. He walked back through the meadow and started making his way back to the city. He looked around and saw no one else was around and pulled out his bow. He started pretending to shoot arrows and moving around as if he was in a battle. He then began taunting his imaginary foes.
"You know who I am? I'm the steward of Travius and Vhornyhak. Yeah, that's right, the orphan and The Orc. They're both orphans but whatever."
"You think you're so tough? I got an ebony bow stupid bandit."
"You know how I got this? The Dragonborn gave it to me. Because he's nice and he's my friend.
Are friends with the Dragonborn, huh, you stupid justicar?"
He continued like this for a good five minutes. So enamored in his fantasy world that he didn't notice the horse stop next to him.
"Are we having fun sweetie?" Aratore heard Anaelle's voice and dropped his bow and turned red in embarrassment. He completely forgot they were visiting the manor today. He turned around and saw them both atop Travius horse. Both red as can be containing their laughter.
"I…I….." he was stumbling his words but then stopped. He armed his mind with his new found confidence. "You know what? I was doing as I please."
"Good." Travius responded.
Travius then looked at him inquisitively "Did I give you the wrong coin purse this morning, how do you get that bow?"
"Jorgenson invited me in and he took me to his range. He gifted me the bow because he was impressed with my skills. I impressed the Dragonborn." He then started to walk away with head in the air and his chest puffed up.
"When you get to the manor tell Trish I got a new suit for tomorrow ."
"Well now!" Anaelle said as she admired this new found confidence in Aratore
They both watched him walk away and once he was out of hearing range Travius looked to Anaelle.
"That's the Dragonborn's niece. That boy has lost his mind." And then they proceeded to the manor.