Chapter one
Prayers
The journey from Whiterun to Hjaalmarch had been more difficult than expected. The war torn lands had made travel treacherous even for a group of priestess of Kynareth and their Acolytes. The group traveled lightly armed, a few daggers but relying mostly on their spells to evade danger. It had served them well, but now as they walk through the foggy forest of Hjaalmarch, the group was more on edge than they'd been so far. Their pace quickened, hoping to reach the safety of civilization before sunset. A small shrine of Kynareth, was towards the west, off of the main road. The group planned to stop and tend to the shrine before heading to Morthal.
Acolyte Liora stood close to the head Priestess Risene. Her one good eye darting around, accessing her environment as best she could as she clutched her amulet of Kynareth tightly.
Priestess Risene looked down at the nervous Acolyte. "All is well my child. We will be there soon, Kynareth's winds guide us." Her voice was soft and reassuring, Liora nodded her nerves calming a bit.
The group had stopped at every small village and hamlet, offering prayers and healing, as they spread Kynareth's teachings. Acolyte Liora took on this pilgrimage as part of her training to become a full priestess of Kynareth. After fifteen long years at the honor hall Orphanage in Riften, Liora saved every coin she could find to take a carriage to Whiterun. There she met Priestess Risene, who took her into the Temple of Kynareth. It was better than the orphanage, but hard work. She scrubbed floors, tended to meals, in between she learned healing techniques and restoration spells. Even though she could only see from one eye she found that she was just as capable as the other servants who tend to the temple. This could be where I belong, she'd thought to herself.
After a couple of years she decided to dedicate her life to Kynareth, becoming an Acolyte under the care of Priestess Risene. Now her training is nearing completion. After this pilgrimage across Skyrim, she would soon be ordained a Priestess of Kynareth.
The group arrived at the Shrine of Kynareth. Priestess Risene led her group as they cleared away snow and fallen leaves. Liora reached into her satchel pulling a few mountain flowers and lavender to lie about the altar as she quietly hummed hymns, a soft smile on her lips.
The group continued their work, absorbed in their task. They swept snow, adjusted the candles. Only the sound of the wind and Lioras gentle hum filled the air. No one noticed when two massive shapes stepped out of the dense forest.
A pair of trolls stepped out into the clearing. No one noticed them until they were to close. A shout from a fellow Acolyte stopped Liora mid hum. "Trolls!"
But he was cut off as one troll swung an arm knocking the young man out cold. The priest and Acolytes scrambled into action with spells and daggers at the ready. Liora stood trembling as she clutched her dagger.
The second troll lumbered forward, growling. A brave priest stepped forward to shield his group, his hand flaring with the flames of a destructions spell. But before he could cast a troll knocked him out of the way with a thud and crack.
Liora's heart pounded out of her chest, her left eye was a blur she could only just barely make out shapes and shadows. She tilts her head focusing with her good eye as she trembled and stumbled backwards, dropping her dagger. She watched as her fellow acolytes began casting spells at a tall figure, that must've been the troll. Her world was fractured with her limited vision, the chaos and dense fog in the dark forest didn't make it any better.
She heard a loud roar from behind her, she turned but realized too late that the second troll had made its way towards her. She froze in fear, but suddenly she felt the force of someone pushing her down and out of the way.
She hit the snow hard, gasping as she crawled behind a nearby tree. Screams echoed around her. She watched as blood splattered onto the altar. A priestess cast a ward spell, but it was quickly shattered by a troll. Thuds, cracks, screams and the occasional growl from a troll was all Liora could hear.
She whimpered behind the tree, holding onto her amulet of Kynareth tightly, as she whispered a prayer she couldn't even hear over the chaos. "Please… please let the wind carry me away."
With one last horrific scream and a loud crack, all was silent. Liora covered her mouth, trying her best to keep quiet through her sobs. After a few moments she stood, her legs stiff from crouching. She peaked from around the tree, at first her bad eye only caught two, grey large shapes. She turned her head to look closer with her good eye. Then she saw them.
Bodies-or what remained of bodies, scattered across the snow like branches. The shrine covered in deep red. Nearby she saw the hand of Priestess Risene holding her staff, but the rest of her body was no where to be found.
One troll was hunched over a body, it grunted as its claws tore through flesh. Another shape moved beside it, the other troll, dragging something away into the trees. She didn't dare look closer.
She wanted to cry, but she couldn't make a sound. She quietly crouched back down, praying to Kynareth silently as she waited for the trolls to leave.
Once she had heard the last of the trolls' heavy footsteps she staggered out from behind the tree. Her boots crunched on crimson snow. She couldn't bring herself to look at the bodies or whatever remained of them. Instead she walked straight to the shrine.
The altar had been knocked over, the flowers and herbs strewn across the ground, crushed beneath troll tracks. Liora's hands trembled as she lifted the alter back into place. She scrapped away the bloodied snow with the edge of her sleeve. Reaching into her satchel, she grabbed whatever ingredients remained to place around the altar.
Once she had restored the shrine as best she could with whatever she had, Liora knelt before the shrine, eyes shut, clutching the amulet of Kynareth and began to pray through her tears.
Her voice was hoarse as she quietly whispered, "Kynareth, forgive me please. I'm sorry. I should've done more. Please carry their spirits, let the wind find them and the sky welcome them."
She didn't notice the faint shimmer in the air. She didn't see the way the wind began to circle around her. Something ancient stirred in response to her grief stricken prayer.
When Liora opened her eyes, it was not the shrine of Kynareth before her.
She was in a chamber covered in ice. she shivered in the cold as she slowly stood. Her eyes adjusted. She saw a pale figure perched on a throne. Behind him the purples and oranges of a setting sun cast long shadows across the frozen floor.
Her breath caught. She had been praying for mercy, for forgiveness and somehow her prayers had been heard-but by who?
"Where am I?" Liora asked, more to herself than to anyone.
The pale mer sat on the throne looking bored and irritated at the frail mortal before him.
"Ah. A mortal girl, dropped in like a snowflake from the heavens. How quaint." He glanced down at the amulet she was holding tightly. "A worshiper of Kyne sent to the temple of Auri El? How poetic." He chuckles darkly, "that are the gods are trying to humor me now."
Liora steps closer, she tilts her head to get a better look at the man with her good eye.
Vyrthur's gaze narrows. "Oh," he says leaning forward. "The gods have sent me a broken little thing?"
"Tell me girl, did your god blind you before or after they called you to serve?"
Liora, still clutching her amulet, blinks up at the mer. Speechless.
"A half-sighted Acolyte sent to my forgotten temple, clutching her pretty little amulet like it will save her."
He stands from his throne, taking his time as he moves towards her. He circles her, as if deciding what to do with her.
"Who… who are you?" Liora asked, nervously.
He stops behind her, close enough that she can feel the chill coming from him.
"Who am I, you ask?" His voice sent shivers down her spine. "No one you were ever meant to meet, little Acolyte."
He pulled her hood down and pulled her hair to the side and leaned forward, his cold breath against her neck. Liora gasped, eyes widened.
"I am Vyrthur, once the Arch-Curate of Auri El. The last of the snow elves. Cursed and forgotten by time."
Suddenly Liora stiffened as she felt a slight pressure of fangs on her throat. The elf chuckled at her reaction.
"Run. It will amuse me."
Liora didn't move. Not because she didn't want to. Because she couldn't. Her legs trembled, she was frozen by fear.
"I…." She said, barely above a whisper. Her fingers tightening around the amulet.
He pulled back slightly, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "No?" He said mockingly. "A little dove too afraid to fly?"
His gaze flickered down to the amulet in her hands. "Tell me dove, will Kyne send her winds to carry you to safety?"
A dark thought crossed Vyrthur's mind. His former self would have seen this girl's arrival as a sign from Auri El. Someone with a divine calling. Something so pure and full of light. What if he were to corrupt her? To turn her into something unrecognizable. The god's little messenger sent here only to be ruined by him.
He grabbed her wrist. "I wonder. Will you scream or will you beg your gods to save you?" He then dragged her as if she weighed nothing, to the balcony.
Liora gasped and began murmuring a prayer, "Kynareth, hear my prayer. Please protect me… guide me from the darkness…"
"Foolish girl," he sneered, jerking her forward to the edge of the balcony. "Your gods brought you here and you're still praying to them?"
Liora trembled, "Kyne, protect me… from this darkness…"
In one swift motion, Vyrthur, ripped the amulet from her neck, the pendant snapping free, but before she could react his fingers gripped her hair, pulling her head back, exposing her neck fully.
Liora gasped in terror, but was powerless. He sank his fangs into her neck. She screamed as a searing pain shot through her. He drank deeply, her body began to feel limp. She leaned against him, unable to stand any longer. Her vision dimmed. Was this a punishment? She thought before letting the cold darkness take her.
