Disclaimer: We do not own Elder Scrolls or Dragon age series
Co-author and Beta: etheral-23
Retribution and resolve
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Hooves galloped upon the imperial highway with brisk speed beside canine paws at their side. Marcus was at the lead of the group with both of the Redoran twins at his sides. Behind was Sofie with Leliana, Neria, Theron, Morrigan, Sereda, Faren, and finally Sten charging for the Storm Coast with Brand and Loke following.
The group had left as the morning sun rose from Redcliffe once their plans were finally sorted on what to do with their situation. They felt this the best course of action was splitting up their party with one group to handle the Thalmor. And the other to go for Ostagar, and Flemeth... Morrigan had fully explained upon Sarya's urging of what the legendary immortal witch had planned for her daughter. They all had come to agree it was likely for the best that Miara and Serana face down the ancient woman as they were the only ones strong enough to even fight her.
Thus why Morrigan road with the Storm Coast group, she was not about to risk Flemeth possessing her.
"Just how dangerous are these giant gold elves?" Faren questioned out loud.
"Very," Sofie addressed with a steely tone; "every Thalmor is a highly dangerous mage with century's worth of experience. The saving grace for use is that the same cannot be said for their melee skills."
Sereda grunted; "Sound like a fun bunch."
"And let's not forget they likely have Thedosian elves in service to them," Oryrn remarked back.
"Why would anyone serve people like them?" Leliana questioned
Theron was quick to speak; "Considering their grim lives being housed in the alienages, serving powerful elves was seen as a better alternative."
"To see such powerful people being elves likely swayed many to join them," Marcus stated as he recalled Iona explained how life in the alienage was.
"Seeing an elf with great power, carrying themselves with pride and a sense of superiority. I can very well put myself in their shoes" Neria commented as her steed galloped, her faithful hound running at her side. She idly casted a stamina spell for Bran to keep up and not feel tired.
"You do, huh?" Sofie remarked.
"Your mother leaves an impression"
"That she does..."
"Speaking of, what if she finds out what we're doing?" Sereda asked, looking very uncomfortable on the steed that was far too tall for her to be comfortable.
"She will, eventually" Oryrn corrected. "But mother Serana will make sure she won't know until she's sure she'll be able to control her temper"
Truly, Serana was a remarkable woman, to be the only one capable of soothing a dragon god's anger.
They just prayed it was enough to keep Miara from going on a rampage
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
When Miara returned to Redcliffe, she found the village to be in a different state then when she left it. The Arl was now under the care of mages from the Circle Tower, with Sarya nowhere in sight. In fact, she soon found that not only were all three of her children gone, but also half of their companions.
The dunmer woman did not have to ponder on her questions for long, for as she walked through towards the castle's main hall, she felt the familiar presence of her dear Serana. The vampire walked through the door, literally phased through it, to meet with her paramour.
"My love" Serana greeted warmly, her otherworldly eyes shining with love and affection.
Miara smiled, and they held their hands tightly in front of their chests as their foreheads drew close to touch. "Ahh, I've missed your touch"
"Too long you were away from me, you know how even a few days without you is torture"
"Even for an immortal?" Miara coyly asked.
The nord gave her a wry grin, "Immortality is only worth it with you at my side"
Miara let out a rumble from her throat akin to a growl, "Careful, my love. You will make me tear of that clothing right here and now"
"Oh I'm sure there will be someone who would enjoy the show" The vampire teased before their lips joined in a loving kiss.
"It will have to wait I'm afraid" Miara said regretfully as she parted. "I noticed our children are not here, neither are some of our companions"
The vampire let out a soft sigh, "Marcus received news from Highever, and he took half of our party to deal with the matter"
Miara arched an eyebrow, "It must be quite the issue to take half our forces, including our darlings"
"The details are few, but he was worried enough that he felt it was the best course of action"
The dunmeri woman crossed her arms under her bust; "Hopefully Ser Gilmore and the others are alright" She prayed that young man and the Highever knights with him were safe. She soon took note of her lover eyeing her waist. Or rather what hung off her waist instead of Dragonbane. Sheathed in Draconian leather and ebony, Miara slowly drew Starfang to show it fully; "Beautiful isn't it?"
Serana stared at the glowing blue blade with awe in her eyes; "It's like... A part of you is in that sword."
"Because it is," the dovahkiin admired; "in time it will grow in power alongside me. This was the sword that was always meant for me. My divine weapon, Starfang."
Her Nordic lover traced her fingers of on the blade; "Interesting name."
"Was Kyne's suggestion."
One of the doors of the hall opened revealing Brianna along with Wynne turning their way; "I thought that was you," Amell expressed some relief in her tone walking over. Her step grew slower as her eyes took focus on the sword in the elf's hand; "that's what I also felt..."
Wynne was soon by Amell's side admiring the sword; "I have never something with so much power..."
However confusion bore on the face of the dunmeri woman; "Senior Enchanter Wynne?"
"Lady Redoran" The human mage placed a hand to her chest and lightly bowed. "I have chosen to join your cause"
"May I ask why?" The dunmer curiously questioned sheathing her new sword.
"I am not sure I believe what I saw and heard in the Fade" Wynne explained, folding her hands in front for her lap. "So I would rather understand from the source of my... confusion, if you would"
"You strike me as a person of faith, you will not be happy with what you find" Miara warned.
"That is for me to decide"
Fair enough.
"Good thing you're finally back" Brianna approached her, "We were going to leave tomorrow at the earliest"
"To where, Orzammar?" That was the next most logical conclusion.
"No, Ostagar"
The mage's words threw Miara for a look, her eyes widening slightly as she shook her head in confusion. "Ostagar? But that place is a graveyard. What business could we possibly have there?"
"There was a survivor from Ostagar, one of the king's personal entourage" Serana answered, "Apparently the king had confidential documents with him in a chest at the fortress"
"And Alistair and Marcus deemed it important enough to divert our journey?"
"They have"
"Well then..." Miara made a thoughtful sound as she rubbed her chin. "Better in our hands than left to rot in the Darkspawn infested wilds I guess"
"We also have another quest" Brianna's tone made it clear she was less than enthused. "Morrigan made Sarya promise her we would kill her mother Flemeth"
"Alright" Miara immediately replied.
The two women looked at each other, all while Wynne sighed and muttered to herself about the insanity of the situation she got herself into.
"Well you don't have any problem with it" Serana commented. "You didn't even want to hear the reason" She pretty much jumped at the opportunity.
"I don't trust Flemeth, and she always gave me a bad feeling. I would rather we rid ourselves of her"
"You know this means you would absorb her soul right?"
"I'll deal with it as it goes. I won't have a conspiring dovah doing as she pleases"
"There was another thing," Bri spoke up; "could you make me some new armor, something more armored than this," she gestured to her warden mage gear; "And a sword."
Miara swayed her head in thought; "Hmm. Alright, you have progressed far enough in your physical training for a sword. And maybe some medium armor. I'll take your measurements later." The young buxom brunette beamed almost like a child; "Anything in particular you want?"
"Something from Tamriel design, or something that you know that would fit me?"
Wynne cocked a curious brow at Amell; "You're learning the sword?"
"She has been learning Tamrielic magics and the sword from me, Serana, and my Sarya," Miara clarified; "Same with Neria, but she is mostly learning from my son. These two are amazingly talented young ladies."
Brianna felt a swell of pride at those words.
"Though this one can be a little cocky," Serana teased deflating Amell's bluster. "But with her skill she will make an excellent Spellswords."
"So what's the plan for Ostagar and Flemeth?" Miara questioned.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Going into the main chamber of the castle, Miara saw Alistair beside Teagan looking at a map of Ferelden on a table. Close by was Gin with Zevran while Shale absently glanced in their direction; "The grey one has returned."
All eyes shot towards the door and the sight of Miara coming in; "You know I actually feel a little safer around here with you back." Gin remarked in a friendly manner.
"Glad to know," Miara smirked.
"Oh indeed my lovely goddess," Zevran chimed brightly; "This place has been a bore without your radiance."
Brianna absently leaned to the dunmer woman; "He's staring at your breasts."
"Let the dog have his bone, after all, he is under my hex and I could kill him any moment I choose" The dunmer replied without much interest.
That certainly put a damper on the Antivan's mood. "Yes, my thanks for reminding me..."
"To business" Alistair said curtly, waving a hand for them to approach the map. "The main bulk of the horde has dispersed towards east and west, so we'll meet a relatively minor resistance upon traveling to Ostagar
"Winter is nearly here from the south, so be sure to bring the necessary supplies" the bann advised.
"We could have Odahviing torch the Spawn" Brianna brought up, brightened by the idea of the horrors burning to dragon fire.
"So long as he's not targeting the fortress itself" Miara pointed out, "I am not too sure where these documents we need are, but I imagine it'd be quite counterproductive if he burns the whole place to the ground"
Now beside the former Templar, Wynne spoke; "The man who told us about these documents said he buried them at the late king's camp. And the documents were placed in a magically fortified box."
"If that's the case maybe Odahviing can take care of the main portion of the Darkspawn in Ostagar while we take care of the stragglers." Miara conceded. "So that leaves Flemeth then."
The Bann shook his head; "I cannot believe that woman is actually real."
"She's real," Alistair quipped warily; "And perhaps dealing with her first should be priority?"
Serana smirked; "Forward thinking, very good."
The young man scratched his head; "Don't know about that. Just felt like the right idea."
Gin gave an uneasy look; "Feels kind of wrong since she helped us."
"She helped us for many reasons," Miara remarked; "Out of kindness wasn't one of them."
Zevran hummed; "Even in Antiva people whisper her name. They knew well enough not to enrage her."
"This witch is still made of flesh, she can be squished like every other fleshy thing," Shale addressed with little to no interest.
"I like this golem" Miara added, "Usually the ones I meet are so dour"
XxX ~ several days later ~ XxX
The Storm Coast continued to live to its name, Sarya realized, to the point there had to be a magical reason as to why this particular area of the country had such constant foul weather and had yet to be entirely flooded. Not even the dregs of winter could pierce this place.
The mage stood in the middle of a stone circle she arranged at the edge of a cliff, spreading her arms and casting sigils while she muttered a spell in an arcane tongue.
The detection clairvoyance spell would help guide her to objective, a much more advanced scrying would even let her spy directly a magical signature she could pick.
Instead the spell showed her nothing.
Good.
"We're on the right track" She declared, finishing her scrying.
"Did you find anything?" Neria asked, shielding the party under a bubble of arcane energy which protected them from the rain.
"None at all"
Theron sighed, shaking his head, which made his locks sway. "Then how do you know that if we don't have a trail?"
"Because my scrying can't find anything for miles, and we know for certain the Thalmor are here. This means they're using wards to hide their presence from any scrying spells, not even faint magical signatures which is very odd. Ergo; they're here"
The Dalish elf blinked while Sten tended to the horsed and placed them under a cover where no rain could get in. Sereda walked to the side of her friend Marcus; "How many ruins of my people are here?"
"Several, you recall anything from the shaperate?" He questioned but only received a shake of the exile princess's head; "I kind of figured."
"These ruins are likely long before the damn Blighters were ever around. The fact they up to the surface meant it was a trade post. That much I can tell you," Sereda lamented with a grunt.
Loke and Bran sniffed the wet ground around the group; Oryrn ignores the downpour gazing out at the coast. "How many of these trade posts have openings?"
"A handful," Marcus quipped. "And they can have some nasty wildlife hiding in them. Outside of the Thalmor."
Sofie's eyes were sharp as she stared out along the coast; "They won't hide for long." at her side Leliana peered at her with some concern. The level of hatred in her voice was so unnerving compared to her usual jovial tone.
"Are you okay?" The bard asked gently.
"I will be once we get rid of these bastards"
Sofie began walking towards a denser area of the woods, needing to clear her head. Leliana raised a hand as if to go after her, but Oryrn stopped her, "Let her be, she just needs some air."
The bard was not all too sure, but she deferred to Oryrn's judgement on this. It was cowardly on her part, but Leliana didn't know how to approach Sofie anymore, the revelations about their family had been too much to take in. She wasn't sure she believed Miara was a god, because if she was, then what did that mean about the Maker?
Leliana cared for Sofie, she cared a lot. So it split her in half that the source of her affection was so intimately linked with the source of her conflict as well.
How do you approach the child of a god? Sofie was more than mortal in the first place, having taken Miara's blood as she said once. What did this mean for the two of them?
Leliana prayed to find the answers, and once more all she received was silence.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
It never ended
Sofie stopped her walk through the woods angrily, letting out a long breath as she tiredly ran a hand over her face. Though her own history with the Thalmor wasn't as extensive as her mothers', Sofie too had gone through her own share of tragedy at their hands. Having been kidnapped with her siblings to be used as tools to manipulate Miara, slaying uncle Valdimar who only tried to protect them as was his duty...
She thought he had been avenged, that all the people who had suffered at their hands could rest in peace now.
But here they were again, in a land myriad in ignorance and superstition; with brother fighting against brother even with a looming threat advancing unopposed while everyone was too busy squabbling.
Was this how her mother felt during her adventuring years in Skyrim? Was this why she, little by little, grew more distant of the world?
Nirn was called 'The Arena' for a reason. She chose the life of an adventurer because wanderlust fueled her, yet it was hard to marvel at this world's wonders when so much wrong just kept happening.
So busy was her thoughts she did not pick up the sound of steps moving all around her. Their movement was slow and cautious with several even roaming in the trees. Kneeling on a large tree branch was a Thedosian elf in hard black leathers; she kept her breathing as silent as possible while staring at the intruder who ventured into the coast.
Her eyes only glanced to the shadows at the ground where other elves moved into position around their large Shem prey. Many pulled out various weapons from daggers, swords, bows at the ready to strike. The elven woman in the tree pulled out a wicked looking dagger; "Na din'an sahlin!" She cried leaping from the tree and onto a surprised Sofie. "Fen'Harel ma halam!"
The Nordic woman had no time to react as a dozen or so elves sprang out from the shadows around her and charge while she wrestled with the one the hung on her. Sofie swore in dunmeri attempting to get the elven woman off of her, but she hung on like Scamp striking her armor with her weapon wildly.
She also had to focus on the elves who charged her with bladed weapons. Attempting to avoid being stabbed while kicking some of them away. "Get off me!" She finally got proper hold on elven woman's arm and tossed her off. The woman adjusted quickly in the air before landing on her feet beside the other elf attackers. Sofie seethed, angry at herself for being so absent minded. "I am really not in the mood..." she threatened before ducking several arrows.
It was then her eyes zeroed in on the weapons these elves were using... A rage filled smile graced her lips; "Now you just made my day."
"Kill her!"
An elven swordsman charged at her, and Sofie quickly pulled the war axes from her belt. Her right axe parried away the blow of the longsword while the other swiftly buried itself into the right side of his torso, the elf let out a short sharp cry as air escaped his lungs and his wounded bled profusely. His life was soon cut short as Sofie moved his body to the side, using him as a shield as an arrow pierced his back.
Sofie let out a cry as she threw the body to two other elves who ran towards her from the side, knocking them back. The rogue who previously grappled her quickly dashed in, striking with whirlwind of daggers. Sofie moved in tandem to let her heavy armor weather the blows and parry a few strikes with her axes. Another elf quickly came up behind her and struck with moonstone longsword, the back of her armor suffering only a few gashes, but the blow made her stagger.
Acting quickly, the words came out of her lips reflexively. "FUS!" And the rogue was sent down to the ground with the raw force emanating from her mouth. She turned around and buried her axe between shoulder and neck, making the swordsman fall limp.
Not letting up, the elves kept their assault, the bowman let loose arrow after arrow, forcing Sofie back as the other elves surrounded her. Sofie bit back a curse, as these assassins fought with a surprising level of skill and coordination, akin to that of professional soldiers. The Thalmor always made sure their tools were useful after all.
She was about to enter her Dragonforged state, to quickly gain the strength that would kill them all swiftly, when an arrow whistled through the air and struck at the elven bowman's side of the head.
Leliana quickly readied another arrow, as their comrades rushed in to help the nord.
The two woman were in perfect sync with their backs to each other and weapons at the ready; "Sofie!"
"I'm fine," the older woman growled; "just met the Thalmor's welcoming party." The elves moved around the two like a hungry wolves; "Bastards taught this bunch well."
Leliana had agreed with how these elves carried themselves like an experienced bard. "The others will be here soon after hearing your shout."
The elven woman in hard leathers sneered; "They will join you with the dread wolf!" in and instant the elves charged at both.
Several ducked expertly from the former bard's arrows forcing her to drop her bow and grab the ebony daggers Miara made for her. Sparks danced from her and her opponent's blades as they almost danced against one another. Sofie parried dual swords thrusted towards her before burying an axe in the attacker's chest. She cried out but soon silenced as the second axe was hacked into her chest.
"Le Créateur t'emmène!" Leliana shouted in Orlesian slashing her enemy's throat.
Soon the sound of barking caught their ears as both Loke and Bran leapt out of the foliage with their maws clamping down on the throats of the enemies. Swiftly following Marcus and the others soon appeared charging while Sarya, Neria, and Morrigan launched several spells. Theron moved through the branches and trees like a spirit before running through an enemy elf with his sword; "Dirthara-ma," he uttered before joining the others.
A swing of Sten's greatsword nearly tore an elven assassin in half. Sereda charged with her shield and barreled down another rogue, stabbing it in the chest as soon as he was open. Faren appeared out of nowhere in a vaporous burst of smoke, the alchemical concoction he used to render himself invisible waning, and cut through the gaps in armor to bring two assassins to their knees. Marcus's blade slashed the chest of one of them, as Loke mauled down the other.
Lightning jumped from assassin to assassin, chained together in an arc of storms. Sarya's spells reduced them to smoking corpses, before lifting rocks from the ground and sending them flying towards an archer at great speed. The archer dodge away just in time, only to be struck by the blindly fast spear of light from Oryrn that impacted him with a burst of holy magic.
One by one the assailants fell, their numbers dwindling rapidly. A single assassin remained, a lithe woman in black leathers with half her face covered by mask, her eyes clearly panicked upon the enormous woman storming towards her, backing her against a tree.
"I will ask this once" Sofie growled like a dragon, "Where are your masters?!"
The elf gripped a dagger tightly.
"The Dominion... shall rise again!"
With that declaration, she cut her own throat.
Neria looked horrified beside an indifferent Sarya; "Well the fanaticism wasn't exaggerated." Her twin brother knelt down to her side inspecting the weapons and gear of the assassins.
"And training their agents into expert warriors;" Marcus let out a huff wiping away the rain droplets from his face. He came over to the Nordic woman; "Are you-"
"I am far from fine," Sofie interjected growling at the corpse of the dead elf. "If one was alive we could get some answers." Leliana's eyes showed concern in how predatory her friend sounded.
"I agree," Morrigan quipped glaring up at the sky; "Now we're back to square one searching for these elven supremacists."
Theron however looked to the corpses and their mabari hounds who sniffed at the bodies; "Just how good are these dogs at tracking?" his questioned aimed at the former noble.
A light sparked in their leader's eyes; "Well enough to find where these fellows came from." He knelt down taking the mask of the elven woman and brought it over to Loke and Bran; "We need your help you two." Both hounds perked as they sniffed deeply on the mask; "think you can find where they came from?"
"Tracking will still be difficult with this constant downpour," Sten remarked eyeing their surroundings.
"Still doable, Loke and I hunted quite a bit here a few years back." Almost immediately after he spoke his words the two hounds begun to run off; "Come on!" Marcus and the others soon quickly followed deeper into the coast.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Miara's gaze was crestfallen along with the others as they found their way on horseback to the village of Lothering once more... Or rather, its ruins after the Darkspawn came through from Ostagar. Nearly every home and the Chantry was destroyed, including the large windmills throughout the village.
As winter rolled in upwards from the south, the snow draped itself over everything. While the others wore furred cloaks to keep their warmth, Miara and Serana remained as they were save with their respected hoods up. The winters of Skyrim were far harsher in comparison, Shale only glared at the snow fall; "I almost hate snow as much as I hate birds..."
Flying overhead of the group Odahviing surveyed the village; "I hope everyone got out before those damn Spawn showed," the former Templar murmured quietly.
"We can hope," Amell quipped rubbing her horse's neck to calm it.
Odahviing stopped, remaining stationary in his flight, looking down at the party. "Shall I scout ahead for the abominations in the battlefield?"
"Not yet!" Miara replied with authority. "Seek Flemeth, issue a challenge in my name! Tell her the Overlord demands to face her, should she refuse she'll face our rage!"
Odahviing laughed approvingly, enthused at the thought of the Jill being finally put down. "So I shall, thurii!" And so the red dragon flew away further south, towards the swamps, in search to dutifully issue his master's declaration.
Alistair watched him go from atop his horse. "You know, I forget you're technically a queen"
"Overlord" Miara corrected, "Far more fitting, and faster to say than 'Master of all Dragon kind'. Well, in your tongue at least"
"Fascinating" Wynne said with a curious gaze. "By what right did you become their ruler?"
"Right of conquest, I killed the previous overlord" The dunmer shrugged, "Technically I didn't do it alone. But it was a special circumstance; suffice to say the smart ones respect my rule"
"And the not so smart ones?" Gin dryly quipped.
"Hmph, challenges to my domain are more frequent than you image"
Though she was glad most backed off once she showed the strength and power of her thu'um in battle. Only a small portion refused submission and forced Miara to slay them. Most died in spite, cursing her name. Others bore pure terror on their faces as she took their soul, integrating their power and knowledge to hers.
For a moment she pondered what exactly she would be taking from Flemeth once slaying her. That unknown power she mantled... The Dovahkiin shook it off; she will know once taking it.
Alistair faintly shivered as a strong breeze passed around them. He swore he felt colder looking over at Miara and Serana; "Aren't you two freezing?"
"You wouldn't survive Skyrim my dear boy," Miara teased glancing over; "The winters there are several times worse than here."
Serana soon spoke; "You have to be hearty and strong if you want to survive Skyrim's winters. To my people the Nords, we wouldn't want to be anywhere else." She pats her summoned frost mare that neighs. "And being a vampire I don't really feel cold."
An uneasy expression grew on the senior enchanter's face for which Gin saw; "You get use to weirdness eventually."
Honestly Wynne still was skeptical on their foreign elven friend being a divine being and her lover an actual walking undead. But she would find the truth in their journey.
Miara chuckled before turning her attention to her lover who had been spacing out in thought. "You've been acting like that since I arrived in Redcliffe days ago."
The Volkihar heiress perked sharply peering towards Miara; "Acting like what?"
"Acting like you have something to say but being quiet for some reason. You did this a lot when we first met." The Dunmeri woman was well versed in all her lover's little quirks.
"I am just weary of what may befall you once you absorb Flemeth's soul" It was not a lie, at least.
"Don't do that" Miara sighed disappointed.
"Do what?"
"Avoid telling me the actual truth with another, unrelated truth" Miara made Shadowmere gallop until it was in front of Serana's icy steed. "I know all your tricks, my dear. I know when someone's bothering you, and it is much more severe than the aftermath of my battle with Flemeth"
Serana said nothing.
"So, what is it that troubles you even more, than the unknown effect of Flemeth's soul in my own?" It was not a demand, but honest concern which was heard in Miara's voice. She didn't want to see her beloved concerned, she only asked Serana to be honest with her.
After such a long time, they were above keeping secrets from each other.
Sharing a fleeting look with her companions, Serana's warning glare was easy to understand; 'Keep your distance, this will get ugly'.
Finally, Serana could keep the secret no longer. With a long dragged out sigh, she spoke; "The truth is, the others did not travel north to deal with a developing situation on Highever"
Miara frowned, "And why was I not told?"
"Because... we were all worried about how you would react"
"I know I can be a... difficult person. But I'd like to believe my control is better than what you give me credit"
"You say that now, but I've been witness to your rage when it's unraveled, Miara. I witnessed the dragon awaken before; I know the consequences of what follows. You listen to no one, and seldom anything can quell your rage until it finally fades on its own"
T'is not wise to anger an Ada.
Miara's red gaze shifted for a moment, pondering on her lover's words. "Serana... what are you keeping from me?"
A long shutter escaped from vampire's lips; "Our children, Marcus, and the others are dealing... With... The Thalmor..."
It was Zevran who first noticed a warmth came to the air around them. That warmth slowly grew gaining the attention of the others as the snow around them begun to actually melt...
The moment the word 'Thalmor' escaped her lover's lips Miara became deathly still. "WHAT!?" The entire area quaked violently with a painful wince coming from everyone and the horses as the elf's thu'um went full force.
Even Serana's ears weren't spared holding her hands over them but keeping her gaze on her lover; "Some of the Thalmor survived and came to Thedas. They've been here for decades even before the Second Great War." She hissed out painfully.
The snow around the entire group vanished in an instant with a faint fiery aura glowed off the dunmer. Absolute savage fury blazed in her eyes, Alistair had honestly thought even the Archdemon would be terrified by that gaze alone. "AND YOU ALLOWED OUR DAUGHTERS AND SON TO FACE THEM!?" Fissures erupted from the ground around the Dragonborn.
"Because you would have dropped everything and burned down half of Ferelden hunting them down!" Serana yelled back ignoring the pain; "You leveled half of a mountain in Skyrim when destroying their embassy after they kidnapped our children!"
None in Skyrim or all of Tamriel will ever forget the day when Miara unleashed pure unequivocal wrath upon the Thalmor when they took her children. Nor the near endless rage of dragons that rained down their fury to aid her in taking them back. To all people of Tamriel learned that day to never cross the dragonborn, or face the same nightmarish fate nearly all the thalmor endured.
"THE SAME CHILDREN YOU LET PURSUE THOSE MONSTERS!"
The monsters who burned down villages and children alive...
Alistair was thrown off his horse when this one reigned back in fright at the tremors.
"They're not children any longer!" Serana shot back, not showing any fear to the awakening dragon before her. "Miara, the only reason there wasn't collateral during your rampage was because it was only the Thalmor in the embassy! What would you even do if you were to search for them in these lands?!"
"I WOULD BURN THIS COUNTRY TO THE GROUND IF IT MEANT EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM DIED!"
Her declaration gave one last tremor, uprooting great spikes of earth from the ground... and finally everything became still.
Miara gasped, her eyes went from slits into her usual shape. She gasped, panting erratically as the full weight of her own words hit her. Whether born out of rage or not, Miara could not lie to herself, she meant it. She would have destroyed anything and anyone in her path if it meant she could find and burn those wretched altmer.
Her dragons had scoured Skyrim for them, burning and devouring them in a such a one sided hunt it was slaughter. Frightening people, making them run for their lives as the beasts they feared so rampaged. It had been a miracle her dragons... that she had kept enough control as to not destroy everything in her path, because she knew where her enemies were.
But now, a centuries old rage which she kept alive for so long burned once more, seeking to consume everything around just in the hopes of burning the Thalmor as well. Her hate for the Thalmor was so great, that she honestly felt that she could burn down entire fields and even mountains if it meant she could kill them in the destruction, finding them did not matter, just their deaths by making everything burn was enough.
Miara once more feared herself.
"You're right..." The dunmer let out a shuddering breath. "I... I cannot look for them, not now, not yet..." She placed a shaken hand on her face, her breathing still erratic but calming herself.
Alistair recovered getting back to stand beside his horse, his eyes stayed upon the dunmeri woman; "I've... Never seen that kind of hatred before..."
Miara turned her eyes to him lowering her hand; "What the Thalmor did to me… It festers in my soul, kept alive even after all this time"
Brianna gazed at the elven woman; "You can at least rein it in."
The Dragonborn weakly chuckled; "Only just sweet Bri..." She paused; "You all saw in the Fade what happened when I let my anger left uncontrolled. And countless lives suffered because of it."
"...You made up for all of that," Wynne interjected; "the words from your children and lady Serana seem to believe as much."
"And I may have. But forgiving myself for it all is something I do not know I ever be able to do..."
The Dragonborn paused, taking a deep breath and slowly letting out through her nostrils. Shadowmere neighed, and she pets its dark mane.
"Keeping me in the dark was the smart decision" She accepted with a defeated tone. "Can't trust someone like me to act rational"
"Miara..." The vampire softly spoke.
"Let our children and friends deal with it for the time being" The dunmer said, "Has Nihlus been informed?"
"It was one of the first things they did" Serana replied. "He said he'd arrange for troops to set sail for Ferelden"
"How many?"
"I assume he'll send a legion"
"One full legion?" Miara frowned, "Wouldn't that cause trouble with the locals?"
"It's been arranged" Alistair intervened, walking his horse close to the Tamriels. "We managed to procure military aid from the empire in return for letting them stablish a forward base in Ferelden to better conduct their hunt for the Thalmor"
Miara looked at Alistair for a second, realization dawning on her. "Ahhh, you brokered a deal with Nihlus"
"Marcus and Teagan helped" The Warden said sheepishly, "First kingly action and I'm not even on the throne yet"
The dovahkiin smiled with maternal warmth; "I'm very proud of you either way." Her expression soon shifted into thought; "A full legion means more than just hunting the Thalmor."
"Your emperor agreed to help us against the Blight," Gin spoke up his words garnering his fellow elf's attention.
"Hmm, but it will take months to reach Ferelden by sea," Miara rubbed her chin; "We're still on our own to deal with the Darkspawn and Loghain till then."
Alistair rubbed the back of his head once getting back on his horse; "A lot of people here will be very upset that a foreign power is coming. Even if it is to help us. And that I even allowed it..."
"Hey," Brianna quickly spoke; "You did the right thing. We need all the help we can get with this mess. And I for one am beyond glad Tamriel sent these guys here."
Zevran interjected; "And Ferelden could learn not all foreign powers are the enemy?" Shocked gazes turned to the former Crow; "what? I have my moments."
Miara shook her head, "We will discuss this in proper details later, for now, and we have other business to attend to"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
The trail was hard to follow, but mabari were not the smartest breed of dogs for nothing. Their keen senses allowed them to pick up the scent even in the heavy rain, with them figuring out on their own where trails on their own, like muddy foot sprints and broken twigs.
Of course, it helped that Sarya was casting Detect Life every so often.
The trail leads them to the edge of a cliff, where the heavy waves clashed against the rocks. The broken pillars of dwarven ruins jut out from the ground arranged over a passage down a hill, where more works of dwarven architecture could be seen. The structure seemed to be a gate, but it completely covered by earth.
"This can't be it, can it?" Marcus asked.
"Detect Life finds nothing beyond this place" Sarya said, growing thoughtful as she approached the blocked entrance. "But there's a hum of magic here..." She waved a hand over the earth, waving her fingers and casting a sigil.
The rock vanished from sight like mirage in the dessert, revealing a gate into a dwarven ruin, blocked by a barrier filled with arcane lettering.
"Found them" Theron said triumphantly.
"This is warded" Neria observed, "It's why Detect Life must not be picking anything up. They're very talented to create fields such as this"
"But not as talented as me" Sarya confidently said with a wry grin before working on tearing down the barrier. "This field doesn't seem to do a good job at keeping people behind, I can just-"
The barrier collapsed with a bright light and a loud sound, sending a wave of magic through the walls further into the ruin. The others stared at the gate and then at Sarya, who could only blink repeatedly.
"Oh that's why" She muttered in realization. "It was made to trigger an alarm"
Within moments a dozen or so Thedosian elves ran toward the gate. Some adorned in black leathers with masks, others in Altmeri moonstone gold armor. But they were not the only ones to come, soon approached towering golden skinned elven men that were a head or two taller than Sten! Some dressed in black robes with gold lining. Others in their Altmeri armor with weapons and magics at the ready. Their eyes focused upon Sofie, Sarya, and Oryrn; "The Dragonborn's children are here!" One of the Thalmor roared
The Nordic woman could not stop the sheer animalistic smiled growing on her lips; "By all means, bring to them all here." She slowly drew her greatsword; "I'll finish my mother's work!"
Neria and Theron stared wide eyed at the imposing elves for a moment before readying themselves for battle.
"FOR THE DOMINION!" An armored Thalmor yelled charging with a mace followed by the others.
Sofie roared running in with the other warriors soon joined in with Loke and Bran following. Sarya and Morrigan quickly sent fire and lightning while Neria placed protection spells on their warrior companions. Leliana already fired several arrows as the battle begun. Their faithful hounds charging for prey.
The lone Qunari among them dodged several attack spells before his blade clashed with one of the armored Thalmor. Greatsword and war axe sparked brightly.
Though of even superior height to the qunari, the armored elf was still outmatched in raw physicals strength, though the altmer's light armor allowed him to move with greater mobility. The brass-colored axe sparked as it struck the qunari's shoulder-pad, the great warrior grunted as struck with his tumble at the elves' midsection, momentarily stunning him. An upward swing of his greatsword cut through the moonstone metal and drew blood.
Neria, Morrigan and Sarya focused their attention on the battlemages, to the Thedosian's surprise they found the casters to be on a level beyond their expectation, certainly above the level of an Emissary or even the blood mages they have fought in the Circle Tower. Two Thalmor mages in their traditional robes blinked out of existence from the exit, only to reappear above the terrain up on the Cliffside.
They rained lightning and fire upon their party, but Sarya and Neria acted fast to cast a large barrier above them, shielding their companions. Morrigan quickly transformed into a bird and flew up, landing close to the altmeri mages. The swamp witch changed back and formed a sphere of dark purple magics in her hand, conjuring a storm atronach; the mass of vaguely humanoid electricity let out a roar, and moved to strike its summoner's opponents.
Morrigan's eyes widened when one of the Thalmor casted a spell on the atronach, and she felt her control over the creature be severed. The daedra turned around with hostility at its original summoner and blasted arcs of lightning at her. Morrigan barely had time to cast a swift ward before her, staggering as the hastily made construct barely managed to hold up.
Bouncing off an attack spell Sarya sent a counter upon the atronach dispelling it; "Don't use lesser Daedra against these guys! They good with counter control spells!" Her free hand glows purple; "But doesn't work on this guy!" extending her hand a summoning portal appeared behind The Altmer.
A large jagged greatsword shoots through the portal held by a towering Dremora in full daedric armor minus a helmet. His horns were slightly larger and longer than butler's, long flowing raven black hair, and his crimson eye danced wildly for the coming battle. "So you wretched elves still walk upon Nirn!" He roared running his blade through one of the Thalmor battle mages. "You're like scamps!" He kicked the dead elf off his sword to charge at the other one.
"Ladies that is Xel'Karr Kyrus," the Telvanni mage chimed brightly ignoring the screaming Thalmor mage that is soon cut down by the Dremora warrior; "He works in service to my Grandmother Azura!" She put her hands around her mouth; "Kyrus!" The daedra sharply turned his head as the offspring of his lord's daughter pointed to a mortal made opening; "More thalmor scumbags in there!"
Wasting no time the towering daedra leapt off the cliff side landing hard and ran passed the three; "Then let us join the battle!" He laughed surprising a Thedosian armored elf before being sliced in half.
Sarya chuckled; "He's really into fighting."
Theron would have preferred not to have an otherworldly demon joining the fray at their side, but he knew better than to expect anything else when Sarya was involved. The elf instead focused on the enemies before him, bow still in hand even at such close range, the elven warrior twirled an arrow in his grasp, burying it in the exposed neck of a thedosian agent. The elf gurgled as he fell to the ground, Theron quickly readying that same arrow to shoot it through the skull of another Thalmor agent.
Sereda grunted as a rogue dove towards her, jumping off her shield and forcing her to the ground. No sooner than the elf landed, three throwing knives buried themselves on her arm and leg, the elf screamed, fell to one leg, and left herself open for Sereda to run her through. She gave the briefest of nods to Faren who merely grinned back and recovered his throwing knives.
As they cut a path, Sofie, Oryrn and Leliana entered the ruin, forcing the Thalmor soldiers back. The golden elves shouted curses in altmeri as they called for more reinforcements. One of the armored elves snarled at them, "It is too late; the masters are already preparing to leave! You, your accursed family, your feeble empire, all of you will fall before the resurgence of the Dominion!"
"You are nothing but pests" Sofie insulted her back, "Not knowing when to finally lie down and die"
Her ears picked up the sounds of running footsteps gazing upwards to see several more Thalmor. But it was the one at the lead that caught her attention the most. One she had seen many times in Markarth. And the one who murdered Valdimar; "Ondolemar!" Her roar blended with her thu'um shaking the area. The venom and rage in her voice was like an inferno.
It only took a moment for the Altmer to recognize the Nordic woman; "Sofie Redoran…" He turned his gaze to the others; "Hold the line, the evacuation must not be stopped!"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Passing Lothering Miara and company met next to nothing in opposition of the blighters save a few strays that were quickly dispatched. Tension grew within Alistair, Gin, Brianna, and Wynne as they were drawing near the ruins of Ostagar. The memories of the horrifying night bubbling to the surface. But that destination would wait as they journeyed through the secret path Morrigan once showed to reach Flemeth's hut.
Despite her turmoil of emotions, the Dragonborn was expecting Odahviing to have returned to them by now. Much like the lower regions of Ferelden, the Korcari wilds were blanketed by dense snow. The hooves of their horses crunched as they kept moving. It was within a blinked they passed the familiar barrier, but at that moment Miara's expression grew steely; "Something wrong..."
"I feel it too," Serana commented sharply gazing to her lover.
"What?" Brianna worried asked, they were encroaching on Flemeth's territory to fight her. Battling a legendary witch was not something she was eager to do, and only felt confident enough because the lady with a divine dragon soul was at their side. "What can you feel?"
"...Nothing"
Miara hit Shadowmere's side, making the Void steed gallop faster; Serana's ice mare was quick to follow her.
Mud and snow kicked up in their wake, they rode as fast as their steeds could take them, trying to find the source of what had disturbed them so.
Flemeth was gone, she had to be, she must have anticipated them coming and so fled to some place unknown. That had to explain the distinct lack of the powerful dragon soul in the vicinity. When they reached Flemeth's snow covered hut, they found Odahviing standing on the clearing, his serpentine blue eyes glaring at something in the house's direction.
As they neared, they found a sight which confused them all the more. There on a chair sat Flemeth, the old witch was smoking a long pipe without a care in the world, certainly she didn't mind the dragon standing on her yard, or the powerful individuals who approached her territory.
"Was about time you showed up" She spoke in her usual sneer.
This... This was wrong. Flemeth was here, and yet she wasn't, Miara couldn't feel her. She was looking at her and she just couldn't feel her.
"What have you done?" The Dragonborn demanded.
Flemeth exhaled a puff of smoke, "Oh I anticipated this would come to pass, Morrigan would get smart and send people to do her dirty work" She chuckled. "So, let's just say I... took measures to protect my soul"
Flemeth turned to look at the dunmer, and Miara's eyes widened at the spider web of cracks like broken porcelain spreading on her cheek.
"What the hell?" Gin muttered under his breath.
Alistair came to Miara's side; "What is this?"
"Just a shell," Serana answered grimly; "Her soul is gone from her body. This is an echo of what's left."
"Fin price do kos aan mey," Odahviing snarled.
Flemeth dryly gazed back to the dovah; "The price I paid was worth with it for the drun I follow."
Leaping off her steed, Miara approached till in front of the Jill; "That Suleyk you mantled. Combined with your dovah soul is too much for a mortal form... and that is what you have, you lost your original body" She said in realization.
"Of course," Flemeth quipped causally taking a drag from her pipe; "The shells I take are temporary, meant to house my power for as long as a simple human lifespan"
"So you have daughters to take their bodies," Brianna addressed beside Wynne.
The ancient witch chuckled; "Is that what Morrigan assumed? She still has much to learn." She gazed up at Miara; "And I knew it would be you to come."
"Are you surprised," Miara countered sternly; "Openly defying me, your thur and letting me walk around blind in this place!"
"I have my own goals, Dovahkiin. Your lordship does not factor among them" Flemeth spoke without a care of the enraged elf in front of her. "The Overlord's rule, your empire's goals. They matter not"
Miara snarled at those words; "You continue to defy me?!"
Flemeth blew out some smoke from her pipe, ignoring how the cracks spread down her throat. Even her arm started to look like broken glass. "I am more than a dovah now. Know there was once a Flemeth, know there was once a dragon… and know there was once something so much more. All three are me now"
Her arm fell off, and became dust into the snow.
"Oh, seems our time is at an end. But rest assured, Dovahkiin, we will meet again"
"Give. Me. ANSWERS!" Her words shook the world around them.
The Witch of the Wilds only chuckled, as pieces of her face fell and became dust. "Now where is the fun in that?"
The witch's ashes were blown by the wind, and Miara roared in anger. Swearing she would not let things be, even if Flemeth were to return one day, she'd make sure the witch would know her place.