Post by Xeir Zith on Feb 12, 2022 0:30:38 GMT -5
Also known as Two Tookas Walk Into an Ambush....
This story contains items that may be triggering for some readers. In this case gore, violence, and blood. Reader descretion is recommended. General rating would be mature readers
The Tooka Twins' Skyrim Adventure
Chapter 1: Rude Awakening
201 4E
Enroute to Helgen
The wagon of prisoners bumped and banged upon the stony road to Helgen from the Skyrim and Cyrodill to the south. The Jerall Mountains glittered the predawn light. The prisoners were bound and placed in the wagons, one of them gagged and unable to speak whatsoever.
Two of them, apparently identical twins or at least siblings they looked so much alike, were dressed in prisoner garb and their weapons and gear taken from them by a warden. Thankfully the two women were dressed in rough tunics and pants by a female soldier.
The Imperials were in a good mood for once, General Tullius plan worked better than they had all hoped. Most of the soldiers were suprised it even worked as good as it did. But two soldiers, one of them a Stormcloak prisoner, the other an Imperial footman of a sort, were dispondent, and the Imperial, Hadvar, was distracted during the trip from the border to the city of Helgen.
But the two women they had come across, the soldiers had taken them both entirely by surprise. They looked feline, and were apparently hunting, judging by their weapons and gear. They were also outfitted for important events in the case of meeting up with certain townsfolk.
So as the wagon bumped along, it roused first one, then the other woman awake. But as the first woman woke up and blinked away the sudden onset of sleep, the other woman, the more fair looking and obviously older appearing of the two, yet they were so very close to being identical continued to rest on her siblings shoulder.
So as the younger of the two, with her dark magenta stripes upon her face and neck began to look around, clearly confused as to what was going on, the Stormcloak soldier seated across from her began to speak “Hey you, you're finally awake ? You were trying to cross the border right ?” He asked her, She looked at him confused as her sibling continued to sleep, the lump on her head had become a soft bruise that was healing thanks to some innate healing spells.
The soldier continued dispite her confusion “Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there” The soldier indicated the brown haired, dirty faced man seated across from the gagged man, who looked like an important type of man. Someone who the woman felt couldnt yet be trusted. And yet somehow could.
The thief spoke up, a snarl in his tone. “Damn you Stormcloaks.” He said tersely, “Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy, if they hadnt been looking for you, I'd have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell, you two, you and me, we're not supposed to be here” He said, looking towards the women, the second one was starting to wake up. “Its these Stormcloaks the Empire wants”
“We're all brothers and sisters in binds now thief.” The stormcloak soldier replied calmly
“SHUT UP BACK THERE” The Imperial at the riens shouted at those behind him in the wagon. Never had he such talkative prisoners, this was against his status quo, prisoners only spoke when spoken to. Never on their own.
The gagged man grunted. The horse thief looked at him, as did the awake woman, but the horse thief spoke. “Whats wrong with him ?”
“Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak ,the true high king!” The stormcloak to greet the first sibling said.
“Ulfric ? The jarl of Windhelm ? You're the leader of the rebellion! But if they've captured you.... Oh gods, where are they taking us ?” The horse thief suddenly sounded scared.
The stormcloak to speak said simply, almost resigned to the fact he was going to die in the next ten minutes, “I do not know where we are going, but Sovngarde awaits” The soldier seemed resigned to the fact that death waited for him, and he felt he shouldnt worry that dying was the next step on a greater adventure.
But the woman who was waking up, snapped to attention, laying against her sister she listened, but she didnt want to believe it. It had all started so simple, so easy. Her mind trailed backwards.
“It is a coming of age hunt, it is our tradtions in our great city, the two of you have already proven your skills in the battle arena, it is now time for you come of proper age. Have you chosen which province you wish to perform this hunt ?” Their father had said, it was the typical Major Meeting the city held, and each of the feline creatures, commonly referred to by other Khajiit as near Khajiit, or Nekhojiit by the Humans and Mer. Stood at attention.
The two girls, sisters from the same litter of six, two boys and four girls, the long paler haired girl the oldest of the two was named Auriel, and her sister the whiter, more silvery haired girl the younger of the two, named Lee, stood side by side. They had, of their their family, shown the best when it came to the arena fighting, and also other skills in the Nekhojiit empire.
But they were just two of the fourty teenagers present, teenagers to young adults, by Nekhojiit standards, was around sixteen to thirty two years of age. And they could pick a province anywhere on Nirn for their Coming of Age hunt, which typically lasted until the recall spell was activated to bring them home.
Of the whole fourty, Lee, and her older littermate and twin sister Auriel, had chosen the Province of Skyrim for their Coming of Age hunt. And the proper authorities had been informed. But they had no idea what transpired the day afterwards.
The High King, Troygg of Solitude, had been informed by curior of the twins arrival in Skyrim to begin their hunt, and was informed of who to expect. Sadly, the girls had only just begun to set up their camp when they had been ambushed. Lee was taken entirely by surprise when she was clouted in the head by the hilt of a sword, her own sword clattering to the snowy ground while Auriel had been caught burying her scat in the ground when she too had been clouted in the back of the head
As the time caught up to Auriel as she leaned on her sister Lee, the Nekhojiit woman looked briefly around and listened to the two soldier and thief speak as did Lee, “This cant be happening” The horsethief said, “This isnt happening!”
A moment passed and the stormcloak soldier spoke. “Hey, what village are you from, Horsethief ?”
“Why do you care ?” The man replied almost tearful yet trying to be brave.
“A Nords last thoughts, should be of home.” The soldier replied simply.
Another moment passed and the horsethief finally mumbled, “Rorikstead, I'm... I'm from Rorikstead” He finally replied, The stormcloak looked to the two women, as female as they looked to him at least, and was about to ask the same question as they neared the gates of Helgen and a voice called from the ramparts.
“General Tullius, Sir, the headsman is waiting!” The soldier called to the General atr the head of the cavern.
“Good!” Tullius replied, “Lets get this over with.”
The horse thief started mumbling. “Shor, Mara, Dibella, Akatosh, Divines, please help me!” But the stormcloak wasnt paying the horse thief any heed. Instead he directed the two womens attention to the man on the horse.
“Look at him, the General Tullius, the military govenor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they have something to do with this.” A few moments of moving the caravan of wagons of prisoners continued to wind its way through town. “This is Helgen.” The stormcloak mused, “I used to be sweet on a girl here. I wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with the juniper burries mixed in.” The man snickered seeing the Keep and its walls. “Funny, when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel safe”
But Lees attention was taken then by a boy and his father. “Who are they papa ? Where are they going ?” The boy asked
His father didnt smile, but said “You need to go inside little cub.”
“Why ?” asked the boy “I want to watch the soldiers”
“Inside the house, now” his father, Vilod, replied sternly, the boy sighed and stood from where he sat, going into his house and shutting the door. Lee noticed the boy did not look too happy.
A nudge came from her sister, she spotted their gear and clothing. The Thalmor woman had them, and with them was an Imperial Warden. Auriel memorised the design of the Wardens crest as the woman took their gear and clothing and went into the keep with it. Lee subtly nodded, her ear twitching to show her sister she understood.
First chance they got, they were free. But until then they were stuck.
The soldier pulled on the reins, “Whoa, whoa....” He said ,the wagon came to a stop
“Why are we stopping ?” The horse thief asked
“Why do you think ? End of the line” The stormcloak smirked, turning to the two women he said “Lets go, shouldnt kee pthe gods waiting for us.” The prisoners all stood up, Ulfric easily hopping out, followed by the horse thief, then Auriel all but fell out, it wasnt easy with her hands tied tight against her stomach. Lee stumbled getting out of the wagon, bvut no soldier made to help her keep her feet as her tail kept her balanced.
“No wait, we're not rebels!” the horse thief shouted, trying to prove he was innocent.
“Face your death with some curage thief” The Stormcloak also stepped into view next to Lee and Auriel as he spoke.
“You have to tell them, we werent with you!” The horse thief screamed at the stormcloak.
An Imperial captain, obviously the woman who had undressed their two female prisoners without the men watching it happen, spoke up. “Step towards the block when your name is called”
Seeing the names list that the one soldier, Hadvar held, the Stormcloak smirked. “Empire loves their damned lists”
Hadvar didnt show any pride as he spoke, it was duty after all. “Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm” He said checking off the mans name. With a muffled grunt the nicely groomed and dressed man stepped into the line of prisoners.
As Ulfric moved to take his place, the stormcloak soldier spoke up “It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric”
Hadvar spoke again, checking off another name. “Ralof of Riverwood,” Lee could see clearly that he seemed hesitant in fact of speaking the soldiers name. Ralof went and took his place. Finally, Hadvar came to a name and said “Lokir of Rorikstead.”
The horse thief reacted, “No! I am not a rebel! You cant do this!” He screamed out his innocence, he wasnt a rebel, he was a common thief, why put him in with the rebels ? Knowing they wouldnt listen he turned and took off running as fast as he could
“Halt!” The Imperial Captain shouted out as the man took off.
“You're not gonna kill me!” Lokir screamed back at them.
The Captain sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose screaming out “Archers!” Almost instantly four twangs of a bowstring rang out, Lokir slammed into a tree, dead. The captain smirked, “Anyone else feel like running ?” She asked haughtily. No one answered her.
Finally Hadvar spoke up. Seeing who was next, two extra prisoners not on his list. “Wait, who are you two ?” The two girls traded looks, then they gave the man their names, Auriel, and Lee. And also their race, Nekhojiit. They were sisters. “You're not with the Khajiit Caravans are you ?” They shook their heads, the Khajiit were their distant cousins sure, but there was a different race of Mer they worked primarily with.
But then they saw how they stood, their posture, were they Elves ? “You're not with the Thalmor Embassy, are you ? No, that cant be right” Hadvar said, they both looked at him confused, who were the Thalmor ? He turned to his captain “Captain, what should we do ? These two arent on the lists.” he told her
The woman turned, a dirty look cast towards both women, “Forget the lists, the two of them go to the block” She said simply. The two women traded fearful looks with each other but said nothing further.
Hadvar sighed, clearly upset just as they were. “I am sorry” He said simply, there was truly nothing he could do to make things better for them. “I will make sure your remains are returned to Elswyer” He said, well, he was mostly right, they were actually from much further south. But they didnt bother to corerct him. Lee found herself somehow trusting Hadvar.
Hadvar sighed again, this time clearly dispondent as he said “Follow the captain, ladies” He went and took his place beside the headsman as the two women moved to stand in line.
As they did so, General Tullius, who they towered over, Lee noticed they towered over everyone there actually, the only time they were near the right height as anyone else was when seated. But that didnt matter. General Tullius was more focused on the gagged man.
“Ulfric Stormcloak” Tullius looked smug, as if he pulled off the biggest best chessboard move he had ever dreamed up. “Some here in Helgen call you a hero, but a hero does not use a power like the voice to murder his king and usurp his throne!” Ulfric gave a muggle grunt of protest. “You started this war” Tullius jabbed a finger at Ulfric, “Plunged Skyrim into chaos, and now the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace!”
As Tullius proclaimed his intentions, a distant roaring noise rang across the Jeralls to their south. Hadvar spoke up. “What was that ?”
“It was nothing” Tullius, still smug, replied, the Thalmor nowhere to be seen. “Carry on” He said
“Yes General” The captain said, turning to the priest of Arkay nearby, the woman said “Give them their last rites”
The priestess nodded and raised her hands. “As we commend your souls to Aetherius” She said “Bleesings of the Eight Devines upon you” She spoke further but a random Stormcloak ambled forwards
“Oh for the love of Talos, shut up, and lets get this over with!” The man said, apparently in a hurry to die because he wanted something important. The man was lead to the block and forced to kneel “Come on, I havent got all morning!”
The Priestess glared at the man, upset at being interrupted. “As you wish” She said before taking her leave.
The stormcloak soldier bent over the block, “My ancestors are smiling down on me Imperials, can you say the same ?” He closed his eyes as the axe came down. Beheading him. Which presetned sounds from the crowd watching.
“Justice!” said Vilod
“Death to the Stormcloaks” Said his wife Ingrid
Ralof sighed, “As fearless in death, as he was in life.” He said with a sad tone.
The captain kicked the dead body over. “Next” She said pointing at Lee, “The catwoman!” Lee stared, her heart thundered within her chest. This was not supposed to happen!
But before she could move the sudden roar happened again. “There it is again, did you hear that ?” Hadvar asked turning to the captain
“I said, Next Prisoner” The captain sternly replied.
Hadvar had tried all he could, turning to Lee he said to her, “To the block prisoner, nice and easy.” Lee didnt even nod as she stiffly walked to the block and was forced to kneel, they didnt even remove the other guys head. She laid there, her eyes closed, feeling the refreshing rays of the relentless sunlight upon her face one last time
Auriel couldnt turn away, her sister was about to die before her eyes! This wasnt right! The headsman raised his axe, when suddenly something cast a shadow over Lees face, her eyes opened as she spotted the massive winged creature roaring down at them, landing upon the keep above the headsman.
“What in Oblivion is that ?!” Tullius screamed the Dragon roared, in doing so he knocked Lee lose from where she knelt over the headsmans block, and the headsman himself was slain on the spot.
“Sentries, what do you see ?”! ther captain shouted
“Its in the clouds!” Shouted one soldier
“No its not, its on the keep!” Shrieked another.
Auriel was grabbed by Ulfric and pulled towards another keep for safety as Ralof knelt near to Lee “Hey, hey you, catwoman, get up!” The man said to her, she turned to him, dazed briefly, what was, who was ? Where was her sister ? Then she spotted Auriel being lead to safety by the guy dressed importantly, the jarl of Windhelm, Ulfric. “Come on, the gods wont give us another chance!” Ralof said, the two ran for the keep. “This way!”
Diving through the door as Ralof closed it behind her as her sister helped her up, their hands still tied. Ralof asked to Ulfric. “Jarl Ulfric, what is that thing ? Are the legends true ?” There was fear in his voice.
But Ulfric was calm, his gag removed by that point as he spoke, he had a regal tone about him, but Auriel gave the man a rather dirty look, when Lee looked at her confused with a tweak of her ear, Auriel flatted her own ears to her skull, Lee knew better then to pester her sister, basically Auriel told her silently she'd tell her later. “Legends do not burn down villages” Ulfric said
He never saw Auriels dirty look, the man had tried to cop a feel on her. “We need to move!” Ulfric said to Ralof, “now!”
Ralof nodded, turning to the two women at the bottom of the steps he said. “Up the tower, hurry!” The two women took off up the steps, only to halt a dozen paces later as a soldier was struggling to move some fallen stoneowkr of the wall.
“Just gotta move these stones!” The man said, only to have the wall at the landing cave in on him and the dragon breath fire in his face, burning the man to dust.
The dragon flew off and continued to attack the town of Helgen. As the three on the landing looked out through the smoke. “See that inn over there, you two jump for it and aim for that hole in the roof, we'll follow you when we can!” Ralof said, the two sisters didnt need to be told twice. Lee went first, diving out of the hole in the wall for the inn roof, slamming into it, and then falling through it to the second floor. Auriel right behind her.
The two kept going, dropping to the first floor, the smell of Juniper Berries, Mead, and heavy smoke was everywhere as the two women dove through a doorway, or what had to be a window at the very least. Busting out of the half destroyed wall of the former inn, Lee slammed into he grassy hillock as Auriel pulled her to her feet. They spotted the list-giver, Hadvar, not far away.
“Haming!” The man yelled to the boy near a fallen man, “You need to get over to me, now!” The boy turned and ran for Hadvar, but then Lee saw someone else laying in the street as the massive dragon slammed into the ground and geared up to fireball the poor man who was downed. “Trolof!” Hadvar shouted.
“Good gods!” Hadvar then shouted as the dragon roarewd, spewing fire, Hadvar barely got out of range. “Everyone get back!” Behind a half burned structure he spotted the two women still boiund at their hands, buty able to run freely. “Still alive girls ?” Hadvar said upon seeing them. “Stick close to me if you want to stay that way.” The two women traded looks.
By the look of things alone, Hadvar couldnt last one round in the boxing ring with either of them. But somehow, Auriel felt that was not what he meant by staying close to him. Hadvar turned to the man nearby. “Gunar, take care of the boy, I need to find General Tullius and join their defenses!“ With that he called to the two women for them to follow him.
As they ran they ducked against a thick stone wall as Hadvar shouted out to stay close to the wall. Things were going sideways fast. Lee stared as she watched a man disappear into nothing but dust as the fire ate away at him. Oh man, dragonfire, the worst posible stuff to get burnt by for sure.
Soon as the dragon was gone, Hadvar lead the way past General Tullius who called out to the three “Hadvar, into the keep now, we're leaving!” Hadvar smirked as the three booked it for the keep.
“Its you and me, girls, stay close” Hadvar called to the sisters, Lee ran as Auriel hurried to keep up. They came to a hard halt as Ralof stepped into view, it made Hadvar halt fast at Lee nearly barreled into the much shorter man had Auriel not stopped her in time. “Ralof you damned traitor! Get out of my way!”
Ralof smirked, “We're escaping Hadvar, and there isnt anything you can do about it this time!” He said, Ulfric was nowhere to be seen. He traded looks with the two women, “You two, into the keep with me!” he said running for the door
“Fine!” Hadvar shouted at Ralof, “I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde!” He swore at his former friend and ran for the keep door, “You two, with me!” he said to the two women, briefly Lee started after Ralof, but Auriel grabbed her by the shoulder and shook her head. Without a word, but a look of confusion, Lee then understood, Auriel had tracked their gear, that door was not the door they wanted!
Turning the two women darted for Hadvar and all but barrled through the opened door for safety as Ralof sighed, great. Two lost causes. But the man said nothing and disappeared into the keep to hide.
-8-8-8-
Once Hadvar was inside with them, the three of them then briefly took a look around the room they found themselves in. “It looks like the wardens room, I think we're the only ones that made it” He then said. The two women took a quick rest then, leaning nearby as Hadvar turned towards them. “We should keep moving, come here, let me see if I can get those bindings off” The two allowed him to do what he could, the twine ropes snapped from his old iron dagger easily.
Hadvar then looked more relaxed, or was that relieved that both women, who werent on the list nor were they supposed to be in the wagon to begin with, were finally freed. “Take a look around, there should be plenty of gear to pick from, I am going to find something to help with these burns” He said, the two women nodded, this was the Imperial Wardens room, which meant their stuff was in it somewhere.
Briefly looking around, Auriel gave off a happy noise as she spotted the chest that contained their stored away gear. Apparently the warden figured to put it there, and also put their swords and Lees shortsword which was similarly designed to her longsword into a nearby weapon rack, Lees bow was also anchored to the rack as well as the arrows to go with it.
Seeing the two had found what they sought, Hadvar spoke up. “Go ahead and get that gear on, give those swords a few swings too.” He then saw the pointed look givin his way from the white haired red eyed girl, he nodded, knowing what she meant, and went to the door to ensure they were alone, his back to them as they changed into their clothing quickly.
“Finally!” Auriel chirped out in their native language. “Those rags I didnt feel good in”
“You said it,” Lee replied as she slid on her armlets. The armored gloves went nearly to their shoulders, their dresses matched as well. “So we got to Skyrim alright, but somethings up. You heard what that general guy said, that gagged man, he killed somebody and started this whole mess!” Lee wondered if that meant that they werent known to be in the province yet. The letter had reached the city of Solitude hadnt it ?
“You two ready ?” Hadvar called out to them, the roaring of the dragon outside echoed in the room. Auriel briefly cast her gaze toward the ceiling
“You think he might have killed the messenger ?” Auriel mused to her sister, for the moment she ignored Hadvar, the human was smaller, by a good head and a half, than the two feline like women.
“Possibly, if not him, then the guy the message was for in the first place.” Lee said simply. If that was the case, they were screwed, infact in either case they were screwed
“Well, we cant go home empty handed, you know that” Auriel replied to her sister. “If we were to go home empty handed...”
“We would be the laughingstock of the family, I know. You said it the day we left” lee then smiled at her sister. “Auriel, please, relax, let me take the lead for once on this venture. I followed your lead to get us into Skyrim safely, but niether of us planned on a Wyvern attack on our fifth day here!”
“Or getting captured by humans, but that wasnt the plan, we at least are still alive” Auriel consented to her sister. Lee was right, getting them safely into Skyrim was Auriels part of the plan. Lee was to take over if anything bad happened. And in this case, getting captured by Human men right from their own hunting camp was bad happenings.
The two women were then quiet in thought. Then Auriel nodded. “Alright, Lee, you lead the way, where to from here ?”
Lee jerked a thumb towards Hadvar who was soothing his burns from a flask he had found. “We follow his lead and get out of this place, then make for Solitude, and possibly see whats up with the dragons.” Lee said, it was an easier said then done plan. Their initial plan was to hunt first, show their results at Solitude, then return home.
But this changed everything. “What about the original plan ?”
“If what is said was true, that general guy. Tullius, told the gagged man, Ulfric, that he wasnt supposed to murder his king. The same King we were supposed to meet after our hunt was successful. So now this mess was started by that gagged man.” They were supposed to meet Torygg. But Ulfric changed that.
“So thats the plan ? We follow shorty here ?” Auriel jerked a thumb towards Hadvar who by that point was once again looking their way. Lee nodded.
“Mhm, at least until we're out of this place. The only way to get away from the dragon is that way, so we follow his lead, until we're out and the dragon is gone. Then we head for Solitude, or the nearest town.” Lee said in reply. Auriel didnt like it, but she then nodded.
“Alright, lets do it.” She then took her sword from her sister and handed her sister her dagger as Lee strapped her own swordbelt into place, the nearly sheer cloth was perfect to hold the swords in place without being seen, nor did the belts damage their dresses.
Turning to Hadvar, Lee smirked but said nothing. “Done then ?” The two women nodded. “Alright, this way” Hadvar activated a pullchain and headed deeper into the keep.
There came some voices. “What are you doing ? We need to keep moving! That dragon is tearing up the whole keep!”
“I'll be fine” Said a second voice, “I just need to catch my breath. Then I'll be right as rain”
The two girls followed the human through the keep's narrow passages until they came a small foyer of a sort. Hadvar motioned them to slow and quiet down. “You hear that ? Stormcloaks.” Hadvar opened the gate, as the gate slid into the ground from the pullchains activation, Hadvar mumbled. “Maybe we can reason with them ?” No such luck, as Hadvar entered the chamber he started to speak. He raised his hands in a peaceful gesture but it didnt work “Hold on, we only want to.... ah forget it” He drew his sword as the two Stormcloaks, a man and woman, drew their heavy greatsword and pair of battleaxes, “If you want to die, so be it”
Neither Hadvar nor the two Stormcloaks could figure out what happened in the next moment, Auriel had launched a spell, and Lee was a dervish in battle. The ice that Auriel launched was expertly kicked into the face of one of the Stormcloaks as Lee span like a dancer, the other wasnt so lucky to receve ice cold death as Auriuel impaled the other with her sword before beheading the person cleanly.
As Hadvar went to the gate to unlock it with a key he took off a dead stormcloak. Auriel turned to Lee, “We dont have to do this, we can always use the Return Spell and go home.”
Lee stared at her. “No, are you nuts ? We go home now, empty handed, Azei wouldnt let us hear the last of it.” Lee said, Auriel then remembered how the four sisters had challenged each other and their brothers. Azei and one of their brothers, a Nekhojiit boy named at least by humans as Samuel, whose Nekhojiit name was started with an S but couldnt exactly be pronouncable by human words as it sounded more like snag or someone trying to gargle while meowing. Samuel for one of a better term Lee went with.
Sam and Azei had gone together, they were doing their Coming of Age hunt in the ancient land known as Alinor, the ancient homeland of the Mer races. Their other two siblings went to Elsywre. Which left Auriel, the oldest of the six kitten litter, and Lee, the youngest, and most sexually attractive built of the litter, to pick where they wanted to do their Hunt.
They had chosen Skyrim.
They had chosen Skyrim, and it was in the middle of a civil war.
“The last thing either of us want is Sam and Azei to gloat because we got captured, whats to tell that they got captured too ?” Lee said, then she wished she hadnt said it.
“Alinor is more forgiving to the feline races” Auriel said, it was true, the Mer that lived there dealt constantly with the Khajiit tribes and the like daily. So the Nekhojiit siblings of Azei and Samuel were more then welcomed like princess and Prince when one really thought about it.
“You're right” Lee said, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. But she had no idea Azei was planning to visit Skyrim, and the date wasnt yet set.
“Alright, we go with this guy, come on” Auriel said, Lee nodded and the two women turned towards Hadvar, the man had by that point opened up the gate.
Hadvar was waiting for the two at the opened gate. A moment and the two women were following behind him as they went down a flight of stairs. Rounding a corner Auriel sensed it first, but Hadvar shouted “Look out!” Lee dodged some falling rock as Auriel tumbled to all fours, the walls shook, the echo of the dragon was heard clearly. Viewing the damage, Hadvar whistled. “Damn, that dragon doesnt give up easy.” He said, turning towards a door as Auriel opened it, charging a spell as voices were heard
“What are you doing ? We need to get out of Helgen, now!” Two Stormcloaks were in the storeroom, one of them was going through a barrel
“The Imperials have some potions in here, we're gonna need them” The stormcloak searching the barrel replied, Only to have his fellow fall as Lee fired an arrow, it struck dead in ther mans neck, turning and drawing his sword, the other stormcloak also fell when Auriel plowed into him, her sword easily sending him to the ground dead with a single flick.
Looking around as Auriel removed the arrow from the dead stormcloak and handed it back to her sister after ensuring it was clean, Hadvar spoke, “This is an old storeroom, feel free to look around, there might be some stuff we can use.” He went towards the door as Lee and Auriel collected a bunch of health and magicka potions. Going towards them he opened the door after asking if they were done. Towards a flight of stairs they heard more fighting. “Oh gods, the torture room, sometimes I wish we didnt need these” Hadvar said, a tone of scorn in his voice.
Lee drew her bow as Auriel readied a spell in one hand and her sword in the other. Within a moment, the stormcloaks were dead, and the two men they had saved could take a breather. The older man, the torturer, spoke up. “You three happened along just in time, these boys seemed quiet upset at how I had been entertaining their comrades”
Lee just raised an eyebrow as Auriel facepalmed herself, dragging her hand down her face as Hadvar stared dumbly, “Dont you even know what is going on ? A dragon is attacking Helgen!”
“A dragon ?” The torturer asked, The man looked at him sardonically. “Please, do not make up nonsense, although, come to think of it, I did hear weird noises coming from over there”
Hadvar motioned to the way out. “Come with us, we can all get out.”
The Torturer smirked “You have no command over me, boy” He said
But his assistant spoke up. “Forget the old man, I will come with you” While at the time Auriel had picked the lock on an old cage, finding a spell book for a spell she already knew.
After going around a curve and down a quick flight of steps through a broken wall the path opened up into a cavern, three stormcloaks were actinbg as if lost. “Where are we ? See if you can find a way out.” Said one
“Let me get some breath back first, we've been running all this time.” Said another. Lee counted two stormcloaks on the upper level, three in the small courtyard below, she also smelled gas. Looking to Auriel who smirked, fire spell it was. Conjuring up a fireball, Auriel launched it at the bowman, both archers fell from both fire and Lees own arrows. Auriel got ganged on before she managed to block most strikes and back against a wall.
Lee took out another stormcloak as Hadvar and the assistant to the old torturer came into view, the two men aided Auriel by taking the attention of the stormcloaks off her sister as Lee took out the third archer who was trying to take aim at Auriel.
A moment or two more and there was nothing but the haggard breathing of Auriel trying to regain her breath. “Whoo what a fight” She said in Nekhojiit to her sister, Lee merely smirked, nothing like a fight before breakfast to get the day going.
Hadvar went to the doorway that lead to a bridge. But as he stood there the asssistant said “I'd better go back and see to the old man, good luck you three.” It took a good ten more minutes, but after killing some spiders, which terrified Auriel and gave Lee a good bit of target practise, they managed to easily sneak past a bear before getting out of the caverns of Helgen.
Taking in the fresh air, the three stood in the shade of a willow tree, “Wait” Hadvar ducked for cover near a large rock. The two sisters looked at him confused, then each other, “the fuck was he doing ?” Lee asked in Nekhojiit when A looming shadow overhead and both girls dove off the path into the trees watching the sky.
The dragon roared and flew off. Hadvar stood up. “It looks like he is gone for good this time. But I dont think we should stay here and find out if he wants to come back.” Looking at his map, Hadvar smiled, “The closest town from here is Riverwood, my uncle is a blacksmith there, I am pretty sure he can help us out. Its most likely best we split up. Good luck, and thanks, I'll meet you in Riverwood” Hadvar then said his goodbyes and took off down the trail towards the road, leaving the two women to converse alone.
“What do you think ? Should we follow him ?” Lee asked Auriel, who was thoughtful, they were about to get killed when the dragon showed up. But there was also the fact that they still were on their coming of age hunt. “Or should we go onto Solitude ?”
Auriel, being the older of the two had deferred to her sister during the hunt. So that meant that if Lee was asking her what she thought they should do. “I think we should go to Riverwood, then find out how to get from there to Solitude so we can present our hunt permit to whoever is in charge there.” She said,
It made sense to Lee. After a moment of careful thought she finally nodded. “Alright, he said his uncle is the blacksmith in Riverwood, lets head there and meet up with both of them, its possible we can get to Solitude from Riverwood, unless other things are going on we dont know about.”
So the two set off in a different direction, aiming to meet up with Hadvar at Riverwood by a different road. Finding one or two Imperial road patrols as they got closer to Falkwreath before heading for the river and lake. Thanks to their sharp vision the two of them found the Lady Stone out on a small island in the middle of a lake before swimming for Riverwood. By going with the water, the two easily met up with Hadvar as he stepped into the town limits as the two women stepped from the water onto a dock.
Riverwood
Province of Skyrim
As Auriel pulled a drenching wet Lee from the river the younger woman spotted Hadvar entering the towns wall. Seeing them he spoke up. “Things look quiet enough here still, come on, there's my uncle” He said, he called to the nearby blacksmith hard at work. “Uncle Alvor, hello!”
Alvor looked up from his work. “Hadvar, is that you ? What are you doing here ? Are you on leave from.... Shor's Bones boy, what happened to you ? Are you in some kind of trouble ?”
Hadvar had to sigh, he shook his head. “No Uncle, Im fine, but please keep your voice down, we should go inside and talk there”
“What's going on ?” Alvor asked, then he saw the two drenching wet feline women. "And who are these ladies ?”
“They're friends, saved my life in fact” Hadvar replied, “Come on, I'll explain everything, but we need to go inside” It was clear the conversation was best meant for inside voices.
Alvor smiled at his nephew, “Alright, alright, come in side, Sigrid will get you something to eat, and you can tell me all about it” He said to him, the two men then headed for the door of the house, Lee traded looks with Auriel, who shrugged, Lee motioned for Auriel to follow and the two ducked into the house after Hadvar and his uncle.
Upon entering the two women saw a modest homestead, Alvor and his wife, who he called for, the name of Sigrid was heard as Alvor called out “Sigrid, we've company!”
Sigrid, the aforementioned wife of Alvor the Blacksmith of Riverwood stepped up from the basement of the modest house and saw the three. “Hadvar” she called out on seeing him,. “We've been so worried! Come in, you three sit down I'll get you something to eat” She said nodding towards Hadvar and the two women with him. They looked oddly familiar but Sigrid couldnt quite place either of them.
Hadvar took a seat across from his uncle as Auriel sat on a chair, Lee herself sat on the floor near the fire to warm herself up a bit. “Now then boy” Alvor said to his nephew as Auriel kept her mouth shut, “Whats the big mistery ? What were you doing, looking like you lost a fight with a cavebear ?”
“I dont know where to start.” Hadvar looked lost as he spoke. “You know I was assigned to General Tullius guard, we were stopped in Helgen, when we were attacked. By a Dragon” He said truthfully. Auriel nodded at his words. As did Lee.
“A dragon ?” Alvor asked him, “thats rediculous, you arent drunk are you boy ?”
“Husband” Sigrid chastised him, “Let him tell his story.” Alvor nodded in agreement
Hadvar couldnt help but smile and his aunt and uncle. “Not much left to tell, the dragon just flew around and wrecked the place, mass confusion. I dont know if anyone else made it out alive, I doubt I would have made it if it werent for my friends here.” He said, indicating Lee and her sister Auriel. They both nodded, the three of them had worked together to get free of Helgen safely
Hadvar sighed, and tried to relax. “I need to get back to Solitude, let them know what happened. I was hoping you could help us out, food, supplies, maybe a place to stay before venturing on ?”
Alvor smiled, “Of course,”! He said in a jovial tone. “Any friend of Hadvar is a friend of mine! I would be glad to help in any way I can!” He turned to Lee as he spoke. “Like I said, I'm glad to be of help in any way I can. But I need your help, we need your help” He offered Lee and Auriel both some food. And Lee also took the offered gemstone, a flawless amythist.
“What can we do ?” Lee asked him as she took a bite of the offered cheese.
“The Jarl needs to know there is a Dragon on the loose, Riverwood is defenseless! If you can get to Jarl Balgruuf in Whiterun to send whatever soldiers he can, I will be in your debt.” He told them both. Lee and Auriel traded looks.
A tweak of Aruiels ear said it all for Lee, the Jarl wasnt the High King, but maybe he could also point them in the right direction ? Lee smiled and nodded. “Consider it done. After we rest a bit we'll head for Whiterun was it ?” Alvor nodded “And then we'll speak to the Jarl there.”
That all said, the girl seated nearby spoke up. “Did you really see a dragon, Hadvar ? What did it look like ? Did it have big teeth ?” Her name was Dorthe, and Lee smirked as Auriel tried to hide a smile at the innocense the girl posessed.
Sigrid however chastised the girl, “Hush child, dont pester your cousin” She told her. Dorthe looked put out, but went out to play anyhow.
Alvor stood up from his chair as Auriel also stood, moving to the fireplace as he spoke. “Well, I'd better get back to work. You three make yourselves to home” He said before turning and going bnack outside to work at his smithy.
“Its nice to be back in a friendly spot huh ?” Hadvar asked as he stood next to where Lee sat near the fire. “Listen” Lee looked up at him,. “I'm gonna stay here the night and then head for Solitude in the morning. Whiterun isnt far from here, once there you can easily take a carriage to Solitude.” He said
He looked at the two, they had skills that he felt they could benefit the Legion more than anyone else., so he said; “You know, I think you might make good soldiers if you were to join up with the Legion in Solitude. Should talk to General Tullius there.”
“General Tullius, was it ?” Auriel spoke up, Hadvar looked over to her. “He ordered our executions. Why would we want to help him ?” She asked him she had a point, Lee pointed at her as if saying, 'what she said'
Hadvar shook his head. “Look, I dont blame you, either of you, for being upset about it. I would be too in your shoes. But it was all a mistake. You werent supposed to be in that wagon with those traitors. And the Imperial Legion could use your help. Especially now with htat dragon flying about doing who knows what, and Ulfric back on the loose”
Ulfric, just mention of him made Auriel suddenly growl. “Was it something I said ?”
“Its... a personal matter that we have with Ulfric ” Lee spoke up before Auriel could explain her issues with the man. The two Nekhojiit women traded looks, Auriel sighed and nodded. “You make a good case, maybe we will join up” Lee told him
Hadvar smilked in relief. They werent mad at him, their anger he could sense was directed at Ulfric. “I hope so, Right now the Legion is Skyrims only hope for peace. I'm going to get some sleep, then help my uncle in the blacksmithy. I'll see you in Solitude then. I hope. If you get there before I do, General Tullius resides in Castle Dour, but once there you'll want to talk to Legate Rikke, she deals with all the new recruits. If I get there before you I'll put in a good word for both of you.” He said
Lee smiled, as did Auriel. “Alright, sounds fair, we'll see you in Solitude.” Lee said. The two women then bid farewell, and headed for Whiterun.
After a brief run in with some wolves along the road. The two sisters passed by the Honningbrew Meadery. And the smells coming from it made Lee almost want to get hammered right then and there. But they had a request they felt they needed to finish first. Speak to the Jarl before getting drunk. Maybe bag a deer at the same time ?
They turned at the crossroads to head for the city gate, next to the stables and what had to be an old farm that was still in use. The two women went up the hill towards the bridge of flowing water before turning a sharp corner, the drawbridge was down.
They crossed it and saw two guards on watch, one of them stepped from his perch as they neared. “Hold there a moment” He called to them before he stepped in front of them. “The city is closed with the dragons about. Offical business only.”
The two women traded looks. “Riverwood calls for the Jarls aid” Auriel said clearly and also gently.
The guard looked at her, neither woman could see the mans face. But they could tell he was worried for his friends in the small village. “Riverwood is in danger too ? You'd better go on in then. You'll find the Jarl at Dragonsreach, at the top of the hill." He motioned to his fellow guard to unlock the gate and let them inside.
The gate opened and allowed the two feline women through. As it gently shut behind them they took in the city for the first time. They were bound to visit there more often, somehow they just knew it.
They spotted a soldier dressed similar to Hadvar, he was talking with a woman who appeared to be a blacksmith. “We'll pay whatever it takes.” he said to the woman, “But we must have more swords for the Imperial soldiers”
The woman shook her head, and sighed, “I just cant fill an order that size on my own.” She rubbed her brow and sighed, “Why dont you swallow that stubborn pride of yours and ask Eorlund Gray-mane for help ?”
The man laughed, “I'd sooner bend my knee to ulfric stormcloak,” He said to her, enticing a slight growl of distaste from Auriel as he spoke those words
The woman sighed again, “Alright, fine, I'll take the job, but dont expect a miracle” the two parted ways, the woman to her shop, which Lee and Auriel both spotted saying “Warmaidens” clearly a blacksmith of some kind, and by look of it, high quality steel too. The two traded some gear with the woman. The Warmaiden herself, was revealed and she gave them her name her name, Adrianne.
As they parted, Adrianne said to them, “Dont forget to check inside the shop if you need anything.” They made plans to take a peek inside later. They had to see the Jarl first.
Moving up a flight of stairs they rounded a pair of houses, a temple to their left and the Hall of the Dead just beyond it atop a small hillock when Lee came to a halt. Causing Auriel to collide with her. “Whats gotten into you ?” Auriel asked then she saw it herself
The tree before them was pretty much lifeless. A priestess was nearby praying before it. The two Nekhojiit traded looks, “You're not thinking what I think you are thinking” Auriel started
“If you are thinking I want two meads and a vension chop, then no I am not thinking what you think I am thinking” Lee replied, that meant they were gonna talk to the priestess instead of seeing the Jarl as they had planned
This story contains items that may be triggering for some readers. In this case gore, violence, and blood. Reader descretion is recommended. General rating would be mature readers
The Tooka Twins' Skyrim Adventure
Chapter 1: Rude Awakening
201 4E
Enroute to Helgen
The wagon of prisoners bumped and banged upon the stony road to Helgen from the Skyrim and Cyrodill to the south. The Jerall Mountains glittered the predawn light. The prisoners were bound and placed in the wagons, one of them gagged and unable to speak whatsoever.
Two of them, apparently identical twins or at least siblings they looked so much alike, were dressed in prisoner garb and their weapons and gear taken from them by a warden. Thankfully the two women were dressed in rough tunics and pants by a female soldier.
The Imperials were in a good mood for once, General Tullius plan worked better than they had all hoped. Most of the soldiers were suprised it even worked as good as it did. But two soldiers, one of them a Stormcloak prisoner, the other an Imperial footman of a sort, were dispondent, and the Imperial, Hadvar, was distracted during the trip from the border to the city of Helgen.
But the two women they had come across, the soldiers had taken them both entirely by surprise. They looked feline, and were apparently hunting, judging by their weapons and gear. They were also outfitted for important events in the case of meeting up with certain townsfolk.
So as the wagon bumped along, it roused first one, then the other woman awake. But as the first woman woke up and blinked away the sudden onset of sleep, the other woman, the more fair looking and obviously older appearing of the two, yet they were so very close to being identical continued to rest on her siblings shoulder.
So as the younger of the two, with her dark magenta stripes upon her face and neck began to look around, clearly confused as to what was going on, the Stormcloak soldier seated across from her began to speak “Hey you, you're finally awake ? You were trying to cross the border right ?” He asked her, She looked at him confused as her sibling continued to sleep, the lump on her head had become a soft bruise that was healing thanks to some innate healing spells.
The soldier continued dispite her confusion “Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there” The soldier indicated the brown haired, dirty faced man seated across from the gagged man, who looked like an important type of man. Someone who the woman felt couldnt yet be trusted. And yet somehow could.
The thief spoke up, a snarl in his tone. “Damn you Stormcloaks.” He said tersely, “Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy, if they hadnt been looking for you, I'd have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell, you two, you and me, we're not supposed to be here” He said, looking towards the women, the second one was starting to wake up. “Its these Stormcloaks the Empire wants”
“We're all brothers and sisters in binds now thief.” The stormcloak soldier replied calmly
“SHUT UP BACK THERE” The Imperial at the riens shouted at those behind him in the wagon. Never had he such talkative prisoners, this was against his status quo, prisoners only spoke when spoken to. Never on their own.
The gagged man grunted. The horse thief looked at him, as did the awake woman, but the horse thief spoke. “Whats wrong with him ?”
“Watch your tongue! You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak ,the true high king!” The stormcloak to greet the first sibling said.
“Ulfric ? The jarl of Windhelm ? You're the leader of the rebellion! But if they've captured you.... Oh gods, where are they taking us ?” The horse thief suddenly sounded scared.
The stormcloak to speak said simply, almost resigned to the fact he was going to die in the next ten minutes, “I do not know where we are going, but Sovngarde awaits” The soldier seemed resigned to the fact that death waited for him, and he felt he shouldnt worry that dying was the next step on a greater adventure.
But the woman who was waking up, snapped to attention, laying against her sister she listened, but she didnt want to believe it. It had all started so simple, so easy. Her mind trailed backwards.
“It is a coming of age hunt, it is our tradtions in our great city, the two of you have already proven your skills in the battle arena, it is now time for you come of proper age. Have you chosen which province you wish to perform this hunt ?” Their father had said, it was the typical Major Meeting the city held, and each of the feline creatures, commonly referred to by other Khajiit as near Khajiit, or Nekhojiit by the Humans and Mer. Stood at attention.
The two girls, sisters from the same litter of six, two boys and four girls, the long paler haired girl the oldest of the two was named Auriel, and her sister the whiter, more silvery haired girl the younger of the two, named Lee, stood side by side. They had, of their their family, shown the best when it came to the arena fighting, and also other skills in the Nekhojiit empire.
But they were just two of the fourty teenagers present, teenagers to young adults, by Nekhojiit standards, was around sixteen to thirty two years of age. And they could pick a province anywhere on Nirn for their Coming of Age hunt, which typically lasted until the recall spell was activated to bring them home.
Of the whole fourty, Lee, and her older littermate and twin sister Auriel, had chosen the Province of Skyrim for their Coming of Age hunt. And the proper authorities had been informed. But they had no idea what transpired the day afterwards.
The High King, Troygg of Solitude, had been informed by curior of the twins arrival in Skyrim to begin their hunt, and was informed of who to expect. Sadly, the girls had only just begun to set up their camp when they had been ambushed. Lee was taken entirely by surprise when she was clouted in the head by the hilt of a sword, her own sword clattering to the snowy ground while Auriel had been caught burying her scat in the ground when she too had been clouted in the back of the head
As the time caught up to Auriel as she leaned on her sister Lee, the Nekhojiit woman looked briefly around and listened to the two soldier and thief speak as did Lee, “This cant be happening” The horsethief said, “This isnt happening!”
A moment passed and the stormcloak soldier spoke. “Hey, what village are you from, Horsethief ?”
“Why do you care ?” The man replied almost tearful yet trying to be brave.
“A Nords last thoughts, should be of home.” The soldier replied simply.
Another moment passed and the horsethief finally mumbled, “Rorikstead, I'm... I'm from Rorikstead” He finally replied, The stormcloak looked to the two women, as female as they looked to him at least, and was about to ask the same question as they neared the gates of Helgen and a voice called from the ramparts.
“General Tullius, Sir, the headsman is waiting!” The soldier called to the General atr the head of the cavern.
“Good!” Tullius replied, “Lets get this over with.”
The horse thief started mumbling. “Shor, Mara, Dibella, Akatosh, Divines, please help me!” But the stormcloak wasnt paying the horse thief any heed. Instead he directed the two womens attention to the man on the horse.
“Look at him, the General Tullius, the military govenor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they have something to do with this.” A few moments of moving the caravan of wagons of prisoners continued to wind its way through town. “This is Helgen.” The stormcloak mused, “I used to be sweet on a girl here. I wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with the juniper burries mixed in.” The man snickered seeing the Keep and its walls. “Funny, when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel safe”
But Lees attention was taken then by a boy and his father. “Who are they papa ? Where are they going ?” The boy asked
His father didnt smile, but said “You need to go inside little cub.”
“Why ?” asked the boy “I want to watch the soldiers”
“Inside the house, now” his father, Vilod, replied sternly, the boy sighed and stood from where he sat, going into his house and shutting the door. Lee noticed the boy did not look too happy.
A nudge came from her sister, she spotted their gear and clothing. The Thalmor woman had them, and with them was an Imperial Warden. Auriel memorised the design of the Wardens crest as the woman took their gear and clothing and went into the keep with it. Lee subtly nodded, her ear twitching to show her sister she understood.
First chance they got, they were free. But until then they were stuck.
The soldier pulled on the reins, “Whoa, whoa....” He said ,the wagon came to a stop
“Why are we stopping ?” The horse thief asked
“Why do you think ? End of the line” The stormcloak smirked, turning to the two women he said “Lets go, shouldnt kee pthe gods waiting for us.” The prisoners all stood up, Ulfric easily hopping out, followed by the horse thief, then Auriel all but fell out, it wasnt easy with her hands tied tight against her stomach. Lee stumbled getting out of the wagon, bvut no soldier made to help her keep her feet as her tail kept her balanced.
“No wait, we're not rebels!” the horse thief shouted, trying to prove he was innocent.
“Face your death with some curage thief” The Stormcloak also stepped into view next to Lee and Auriel as he spoke.
“You have to tell them, we werent with you!” The horse thief screamed at the stormcloak.
An Imperial captain, obviously the woman who had undressed their two female prisoners without the men watching it happen, spoke up. “Step towards the block when your name is called”
Seeing the names list that the one soldier, Hadvar held, the Stormcloak smirked. “Empire loves their damned lists”
Hadvar didnt show any pride as he spoke, it was duty after all. “Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm” He said checking off the mans name. With a muffled grunt the nicely groomed and dressed man stepped into the line of prisoners.
As Ulfric moved to take his place, the stormcloak soldier spoke up “It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric”
Hadvar spoke again, checking off another name. “Ralof of Riverwood,” Lee could see clearly that he seemed hesitant in fact of speaking the soldiers name. Ralof went and took his place. Finally, Hadvar came to a name and said “Lokir of Rorikstead.”
The horse thief reacted, “No! I am not a rebel! You cant do this!” He screamed out his innocence, he wasnt a rebel, he was a common thief, why put him in with the rebels ? Knowing they wouldnt listen he turned and took off running as fast as he could
“Halt!” The Imperial Captain shouted out as the man took off.
“You're not gonna kill me!” Lokir screamed back at them.
The Captain sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose screaming out “Archers!” Almost instantly four twangs of a bowstring rang out, Lokir slammed into a tree, dead. The captain smirked, “Anyone else feel like running ?” She asked haughtily. No one answered her.
Finally Hadvar spoke up. Seeing who was next, two extra prisoners not on his list. “Wait, who are you two ?” The two girls traded looks, then they gave the man their names, Auriel, and Lee. And also their race, Nekhojiit. They were sisters. “You're not with the Khajiit Caravans are you ?” They shook their heads, the Khajiit were their distant cousins sure, but there was a different race of Mer they worked primarily with.
But then they saw how they stood, their posture, were they Elves ? “You're not with the Thalmor Embassy, are you ? No, that cant be right” Hadvar said, they both looked at him confused, who were the Thalmor ? He turned to his captain “Captain, what should we do ? These two arent on the lists.” he told her
The woman turned, a dirty look cast towards both women, “Forget the lists, the two of them go to the block” She said simply. The two women traded fearful looks with each other but said nothing further.
Hadvar sighed, clearly upset just as they were. “I am sorry” He said simply, there was truly nothing he could do to make things better for them. “I will make sure your remains are returned to Elswyer” He said, well, he was mostly right, they were actually from much further south. But they didnt bother to corerct him. Lee found herself somehow trusting Hadvar.
Hadvar sighed again, this time clearly dispondent as he said “Follow the captain, ladies” He went and took his place beside the headsman as the two women moved to stand in line.
As they did so, General Tullius, who they towered over, Lee noticed they towered over everyone there actually, the only time they were near the right height as anyone else was when seated. But that didnt matter. General Tullius was more focused on the gagged man.
“Ulfric Stormcloak” Tullius looked smug, as if he pulled off the biggest best chessboard move he had ever dreamed up. “Some here in Helgen call you a hero, but a hero does not use a power like the voice to murder his king and usurp his throne!” Ulfric gave a muggle grunt of protest. “You started this war” Tullius jabbed a finger at Ulfric, “Plunged Skyrim into chaos, and now the Empire is going to put you down and restore the peace!”
As Tullius proclaimed his intentions, a distant roaring noise rang across the Jeralls to their south. Hadvar spoke up. “What was that ?”
“It was nothing” Tullius, still smug, replied, the Thalmor nowhere to be seen. “Carry on” He said
“Yes General” The captain said, turning to the priest of Arkay nearby, the woman said “Give them their last rites”
The priestess nodded and raised her hands. “As we commend your souls to Aetherius” She said “Bleesings of the Eight Devines upon you” She spoke further but a random Stormcloak ambled forwards
“Oh for the love of Talos, shut up, and lets get this over with!” The man said, apparently in a hurry to die because he wanted something important. The man was lead to the block and forced to kneel “Come on, I havent got all morning!”
The Priestess glared at the man, upset at being interrupted. “As you wish” She said before taking her leave.
The stormcloak soldier bent over the block, “My ancestors are smiling down on me Imperials, can you say the same ?” He closed his eyes as the axe came down. Beheading him. Which presetned sounds from the crowd watching.
“Justice!” said Vilod
“Death to the Stormcloaks” Said his wife Ingrid
Ralof sighed, “As fearless in death, as he was in life.” He said with a sad tone.
The captain kicked the dead body over. “Next” She said pointing at Lee, “The catwoman!” Lee stared, her heart thundered within her chest. This was not supposed to happen!
But before she could move the sudden roar happened again. “There it is again, did you hear that ?” Hadvar asked turning to the captain
“I said, Next Prisoner” The captain sternly replied.
Hadvar had tried all he could, turning to Lee he said to her, “To the block prisoner, nice and easy.” Lee didnt even nod as she stiffly walked to the block and was forced to kneel, they didnt even remove the other guys head. She laid there, her eyes closed, feeling the refreshing rays of the relentless sunlight upon her face one last time
Auriel couldnt turn away, her sister was about to die before her eyes! This wasnt right! The headsman raised his axe, when suddenly something cast a shadow over Lees face, her eyes opened as she spotted the massive winged creature roaring down at them, landing upon the keep above the headsman.
“What in Oblivion is that ?!” Tullius screamed the Dragon roared, in doing so he knocked Lee lose from where she knelt over the headsmans block, and the headsman himself was slain on the spot.
“Sentries, what do you see ?”! ther captain shouted
“Its in the clouds!” Shouted one soldier
“No its not, its on the keep!” Shrieked another.
Auriel was grabbed by Ulfric and pulled towards another keep for safety as Ralof knelt near to Lee “Hey, hey you, catwoman, get up!” The man said to her, she turned to him, dazed briefly, what was, who was ? Where was her sister ? Then she spotted Auriel being lead to safety by the guy dressed importantly, the jarl of Windhelm, Ulfric. “Come on, the gods wont give us another chance!” Ralof said, the two ran for the keep. “This way!”
Diving through the door as Ralof closed it behind her as her sister helped her up, their hands still tied. Ralof asked to Ulfric. “Jarl Ulfric, what is that thing ? Are the legends true ?” There was fear in his voice.
But Ulfric was calm, his gag removed by that point as he spoke, he had a regal tone about him, but Auriel gave the man a rather dirty look, when Lee looked at her confused with a tweak of her ear, Auriel flatted her own ears to her skull, Lee knew better then to pester her sister, basically Auriel told her silently she'd tell her later. “Legends do not burn down villages” Ulfric said
He never saw Auriels dirty look, the man had tried to cop a feel on her. “We need to move!” Ulfric said to Ralof, “now!”
Ralof nodded, turning to the two women at the bottom of the steps he said. “Up the tower, hurry!” The two women took off up the steps, only to halt a dozen paces later as a soldier was struggling to move some fallen stoneowkr of the wall.
“Just gotta move these stones!” The man said, only to have the wall at the landing cave in on him and the dragon breath fire in his face, burning the man to dust.
The dragon flew off and continued to attack the town of Helgen. As the three on the landing looked out through the smoke. “See that inn over there, you two jump for it and aim for that hole in the roof, we'll follow you when we can!” Ralof said, the two sisters didnt need to be told twice. Lee went first, diving out of the hole in the wall for the inn roof, slamming into it, and then falling through it to the second floor. Auriel right behind her.
The two kept going, dropping to the first floor, the smell of Juniper Berries, Mead, and heavy smoke was everywhere as the two women dove through a doorway, or what had to be a window at the very least. Busting out of the half destroyed wall of the former inn, Lee slammed into he grassy hillock as Auriel pulled her to her feet. They spotted the list-giver, Hadvar, not far away.
“Haming!” The man yelled to the boy near a fallen man, “You need to get over to me, now!” The boy turned and ran for Hadvar, but then Lee saw someone else laying in the street as the massive dragon slammed into the ground and geared up to fireball the poor man who was downed. “Trolof!” Hadvar shouted.
“Good gods!” Hadvar then shouted as the dragon roarewd, spewing fire, Hadvar barely got out of range. “Everyone get back!” Behind a half burned structure he spotted the two women still boiund at their hands, buty able to run freely. “Still alive girls ?” Hadvar said upon seeing them. “Stick close to me if you want to stay that way.” The two women traded looks.
By the look of things alone, Hadvar couldnt last one round in the boxing ring with either of them. But somehow, Auriel felt that was not what he meant by staying close to him. Hadvar turned to the man nearby. “Gunar, take care of the boy, I need to find General Tullius and join their defenses!“ With that he called to the two women for them to follow him.
As they ran they ducked against a thick stone wall as Hadvar shouted out to stay close to the wall. Things were going sideways fast. Lee stared as she watched a man disappear into nothing but dust as the fire ate away at him. Oh man, dragonfire, the worst posible stuff to get burnt by for sure.
Soon as the dragon was gone, Hadvar lead the way past General Tullius who called out to the three “Hadvar, into the keep now, we're leaving!” Hadvar smirked as the three booked it for the keep.
“Its you and me, girls, stay close” Hadvar called to the sisters, Lee ran as Auriel hurried to keep up. They came to a hard halt as Ralof stepped into view, it made Hadvar halt fast at Lee nearly barreled into the much shorter man had Auriel not stopped her in time. “Ralof you damned traitor! Get out of my way!”
Ralof smirked, “We're escaping Hadvar, and there isnt anything you can do about it this time!” He said, Ulfric was nowhere to be seen. He traded looks with the two women, “You two, into the keep with me!” he said running for the door
“Fine!” Hadvar shouted at Ralof, “I hope that dragon takes you all to Sovngarde!” He swore at his former friend and ran for the keep door, “You two, with me!” he said to the two women, briefly Lee started after Ralof, but Auriel grabbed her by the shoulder and shook her head. Without a word, but a look of confusion, Lee then understood, Auriel had tracked their gear, that door was not the door they wanted!
Turning the two women darted for Hadvar and all but barrled through the opened door for safety as Ralof sighed, great. Two lost causes. But the man said nothing and disappeared into the keep to hide.
-8-8-8-
Once Hadvar was inside with them, the three of them then briefly took a look around the room they found themselves in. “It looks like the wardens room, I think we're the only ones that made it” He then said. The two women took a quick rest then, leaning nearby as Hadvar turned towards them. “We should keep moving, come here, let me see if I can get those bindings off” The two allowed him to do what he could, the twine ropes snapped from his old iron dagger easily.
Hadvar then looked more relaxed, or was that relieved that both women, who werent on the list nor were they supposed to be in the wagon to begin with, were finally freed. “Take a look around, there should be plenty of gear to pick from, I am going to find something to help with these burns” He said, the two women nodded, this was the Imperial Wardens room, which meant their stuff was in it somewhere.
Briefly looking around, Auriel gave off a happy noise as she spotted the chest that contained their stored away gear. Apparently the warden figured to put it there, and also put their swords and Lees shortsword which was similarly designed to her longsword into a nearby weapon rack, Lees bow was also anchored to the rack as well as the arrows to go with it.
Seeing the two had found what they sought, Hadvar spoke up. “Go ahead and get that gear on, give those swords a few swings too.” He then saw the pointed look givin his way from the white haired red eyed girl, he nodded, knowing what she meant, and went to the door to ensure they were alone, his back to them as they changed into their clothing quickly.
“Finally!” Auriel chirped out in their native language. “Those rags I didnt feel good in”
“You said it,” Lee replied as she slid on her armlets. The armored gloves went nearly to their shoulders, their dresses matched as well. “So we got to Skyrim alright, but somethings up. You heard what that general guy said, that gagged man, he killed somebody and started this whole mess!” Lee wondered if that meant that they werent known to be in the province yet. The letter had reached the city of Solitude hadnt it ?
“You two ready ?” Hadvar called out to them, the roaring of the dragon outside echoed in the room. Auriel briefly cast her gaze toward the ceiling
“You think he might have killed the messenger ?” Auriel mused to her sister, for the moment she ignored Hadvar, the human was smaller, by a good head and a half, than the two feline like women.
“Possibly, if not him, then the guy the message was for in the first place.” Lee said simply. If that was the case, they were screwed, infact in either case they were screwed
“Well, we cant go home empty handed, you know that” Auriel replied to her sister. “If we were to go home empty handed...”
“We would be the laughingstock of the family, I know. You said it the day we left” lee then smiled at her sister. “Auriel, please, relax, let me take the lead for once on this venture. I followed your lead to get us into Skyrim safely, but niether of us planned on a Wyvern attack on our fifth day here!”
“Or getting captured by humans, but that wasnt the plan, we at least are still alive” Auriel consented to her sister. Lee was right, getting them safely into Skyrim was Auriels part of the plan. Lee was to take over if anything bad happened. And in this case, getting captured by Human men right from their own hunting camp was bad happenings.
The two women were then quiet in thought. Then Auriel nodded. “Alright, Lee, you lead the way, where to from here ?”
Lee jerked a thumb towards Hadvar who was soothing his burns from a flask he had found. “We follow his lead and get out of this place, then make for Solitude, and possibly see whats up with the dragons.” Lee said, it was an easier said then done plan. Their initial plan was to hunt first, show their results at Solitude, then return home.
But this changed everything. “What about the original plan ?”
“If what is said was true, that general guy. Tullius, told the gagged man, Ulfric, that he wasnt supposed to murder his king. The same King we were supposed to meet after our hunt was successful. So now this mess was started by that gagged man.” They were supposed to meet Torygg. But Ulfric changed that.
“So thats the plan ? We follow shorty here ?” Auriel jerked a thumb towards Hadvar who by that point was once again looking their way. Lee nodded.
“Mhm, at least until we're out of this place. The only way to get away from the dragon is that way, so we follow his lead, until we're out and the dragon is gone. Then we head for Solitude, or the nearest town.” Lee said in reply. Auriel didnt like it, but she then nodded.
“Alright, lets do it.” She then took her sword from her sister and handed her sister her dagger as Lee strapped her own swordbelt into place, the nearly sheer cloth was perfect to hold the swords in place without being seen, nor did the belts damage their dresses.
Turning to Hadvar, Lee smirked but said nothing. “Done then ?” The two women nodded. “Alright, this way” Hadvar activated a pullchain and headed deeper into the keep.
There came some voices. “What are you doing ? We need to keep moving! That dragon is tearing up the whole keep!”
“I'll be fine” Said a second voice, “I just need to catch my breath. Then I'll be right as rain”
The two girls followed the human through the keep's narrow passages until they came a small foyer of a sort. Hadvar motioned them to slow and quiet down. “You hear that ? Stormcloaks.” Hadvar opened the gate, as the gate slid into the ground from the pullchains activation, Hadvar mumbled. “Maybe we can reason with them ?” No such luck, as Hadvar entered the chamber he started to speak. He raised his hands in a peaceful gesture but it didnt work “Hold on, we only want to.... ah forget it” He drew his sword as the two Stormcloaks, a man and woman, drew their heavy greatsword and pair of battleaxes, “If you want to die, so be it”
Neither Hadvar nor the two Stormcloaks could figure out what happened in the next moment, Auriel had launched a spell, and Lee was a dervish in battle. The ice that Auriel launched was expertly kicked into the face of one of the Stormcloaks as Lee span like a dancer, the other wasnt so lucky to receve ice cold death as Auriuel impaled the other with her sword before beheading the person cleanly.
As Hadvar went to the gate to unlock it with a key he took off a dead stormcloak. Auriel turned to Lee, “We dont have to do this, we can always use the Return Spell and go home.”
Lee stared at her. “No, are you nuts ? We go home now, empty handed, Azei wouldnt let us hear the last of it.” Lee said, Auriel then remembered how the four sisters had challenged each other and their brothers. Azei and one of their brothers, a Nekhojiit boy named at least by humans as Samuel, whose Nekhojiit name was started with an S but couldnt exactly be pronouncable by human words as it sounded more like snag or someone trying to gargle while meowing. Samuel for one of a better term Lee went with.
Sam and Azei had gone together, they were doing their Coming of Age hunt in the ancient land known as Alinor, the ancient homeland of the Mer races. Their other two siblings went to Elsywre. Which left Auriel, the oldest of the six kitten litter, and Lee, the youngest, and most sexually attractive built of the litter, to pick where they wanted to do their Hunt.
They had chosen Skyrim.
They had chosen Skyrim, and it was in the middle of a civil war.
“The last thing either of us want is Sam and Azei to gloat because we got captured, whats to tell that they got captured too ?” Lee said, then she wished she hadnt said it.
“Alinor is more forgiving to the feline races” Auriel said, it was true, the Mer that lived there dealt constantly with the Khajiit tribes and the like daily. So the Nekhojiit siblings of Azei and Samuel were more then welcomed like princess and Prince when one really thought about it.
“You're right” Lee said, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. But she had no idea Azei was planning to visit Skyrim, and the date wasnt yet set.
“Alright, we go with this guy, come on” Auriel said, Lee nodded and the two women turned towards Hadvar, the man had by that point opened up the gate.
Hadvar was waiting for the two at the opened gate. A moment and the two women were following behind him as they went down a flight of stairs. Rounding a corner Auriel sensed it first, but Hadvar shouted “Look out!” Lee dodged some falling rock as Auriel tumbled to all fours, the walls shook, the echo of the dragon was heard clearly. Viewing the damage, Hadvar whistled. “Damn, that dragon doesnt give up easy.” He said, turning towards a door as Auriel opened it, charging a spell as voices were heard
“What are you doing ? We need to get out of Helgen, now!” Two Stormcloaks were in the storeroom, one of them was going through a barrel
“The Imperials have some potions in here, we're gonna need them” The stormcloak searching the barrel replied, Only to have his fellow fall as Lee fired an arrow, it struck dead in ther mans neck, turning and drawing his sword, the other stormcloak also fell when Auriel plowed into him, her sword easily sending him to the ground dead with a single flick.
Looking around as Auriel removed the arrow from the dead stormcloak and handed it back to her sister after ensuring it was clean, Hadvar spoke, “This is an old storeroom, feel free to look around, there might be some stuff we can use.” He went towards the door as Lee and Auriel collected a bunch of health and magicka potions. Going towards them he opened the door after asking if they were done. Towards a flight of stairs they heard more fighting. “Oh gods, the torture room, sometimes I wish we didnt need these” Hadvar said, a tone of scorn in his voice.
Lee drew her bow as Auriel readied a spell in one hand and her sword in the other. Within a moment, the stormcloaks were dead, and the two men they had saved could take a breather. The older man, the torturer, spoke up. “You three happened along just in time, these boys seemed quiet upset at how I had been entertaining their comrades”
Lee just raised an eyebrow as Auriel facepalmed herself, dragging her hand down her face as Hadvar stared dumbly, “Dont you even know what is going on ? A dragon is attacking Helgen!”
“A dragon ?” The torturer asked, The man looked at him sardonically. “Please, do not make up nonsense, although, come to think of it, I did hear weird noises coming from over there”
Hadvar motioned to the way out. “Come with us, we can all get out.”
The Torturer smirked “You have no command over me, boy” He said
But his assistant spoke up. “Forget the old man, I will come with you” While at the time Auriel had picked the lock on an old cage, finding a spell book for a spell she already knew.
After going around a curve and down a quick flight of steps through a broken wall the path opened up into a cavern, three stormcloaks were actinbg as if lost. “Where are we ? See if you can find a way out.” Said one
“Let me get some breath back first, we've been running all this time.” Said another. Lee counted two stormcloaks on the upper level, three in the small courtyard below, she also smelled gas. Looking to Auriel who smirked, fire spell it was. Conjuring up a fireball, Auriel launched it at the bowman, both archers fell from both fire and Lees own arrows. Auriel got ganged on before she managed to block most strikes and back against a wall.
Lee took out another stormcloak as Hadvar and the assistant to the old torturer came into view, the two men aided Auriel by taking the attention of the stormcloaks off her sister as Lee took out the third archer who was trying to take aim at Auriel.
A moment or two more and there was nothing but the haggard breathing of Auriel trying to regain her breath. “Whoo what a fight” She said in Nekhojiit to her sister, Lee merely smirked, nothing like a fight before breakfast to get the day going.
Hadvar went to the doorway that lead to a bridge. But as he stood there the asssistant said “I'd better go back and see to the old man, good luck you three.” It took a good ten more minutes, but after killing some spiders, which terrified Auriel and gave Lee a good bit of target practise, they managed to easily sneak past a bear before getting out of the caverns of Helgen.
Taking in the fresh air, the three stood in the shade of a willow tree, “Wait” Hadvar ducked for cover near a large rock. The two sisters looked at him confused, then each other, “the fuck was he doing ?” Lee asked in Nekhojiit when A looming shadow overhead and both girls dove off the path into the trees watching the sky.
The dragon roared and flew off. Hadvar stood up. “It looks like he is gone for good this time. But I dont think we should stay here and find out if he wants to come back.” Looking at his map, Hadvar smiled, “The closest town from here is Riverwood, my uncle is a blacksmith there, I am pretty sure he can help us out. Its most likely best we split up. Good luck, and thanks, I'll meet you in Riverwood” Hadvar then said his goodbyes and took off down the trail towards the road, leaving the two women to converse alone.
“What do you think ? Should we follow him ?” Lee asked Auriel, who was thoughtful, they were about to get killed when the dragon showed up. But there was also the fact that they still were on their coming of age hunt. “Or should we go onto Solitude ?”
Auriel, being the older of the two had deferred to her sister during the hunt. So that meant that if Lee was asking her what she thought they should do. “I think we should go to Riverwood, then find out how to get from there to Solitude so we can present our hunt permit to whoever is in charge there.” She said,
It made sense to Lee. After a moment of careful thought she finally nodded. “Alright, he said his uncle is the blacksmith in Riverwood, lets head there and meet up with both of them, its possible we can get to Solitude from Riverwood, unless other things are going on we dont know about.”
So the two set off in a different direction, aiming to meet up with Hadvar at Riverwood by a different road. Finding one or two Imperial road patrols as they got closer to Falkwreath before heading for the river and lake. Thanks to their sharp vision the two of them found the Lady Stone out on a small island in the middle of a lake before swimming for Riverwood. By going with the water, the two easily met up with Hadvar as he stepped into the town limits as the two women stepped from the water onto a dock.
Riverwood
Province of Skyrim
As Auriel pulled a drenching wet Lee from the river the younger woman spotted Hadvar entering the towns wall. Seeing them he spoke up. “Things look quiet enough here still, come on, there's my uncle” He said, he called to the nearby blacksmith hard at work. “Uncle Alvor, hello!”
Alvor looked up from his work. “Hadvar, is that you ? What are you doing here ? Are you on leave from.... Shor's Bones boy, what happened to you ? Are you in some kind of trouble ?”
Hadvar had to sigh, he shook his head. “No Uncle, Im fine, but please keep your voice down, we should go inside and talk there”
“What's going on ?” Alvor asked, then he saw the two drenching wet feline women. "And who are these ladies ?”
“They're friends, saved my life in fact” Hadvar replied, “Come on, I'll explain everything, but we need to go inside” It was clear the conversation was best meant for inside voices.
Alvor smiled at his nephew, “Alright, alright, come in side, Sigrid will get you something to eat, and you can tell me all about it” He said to him, the two men then headed for the door of the house, Lee traded looks with Auriel, who shrugged, Lee motioned for Auriel to follow and the two ducked into the house after Hadvar and his uncle.
Upon entering the two women saw a modest homestead, Alvor and his wife, who he called for, the name of Sigrid was heard as Alvor called out “Sigrid, we've company!”
Sigrid, the aforementioned wife of Alvor the Blacksmith of Riverwood stepped up from the basement of the modest house and saw the three. “Hadvar” she called out on seeing him,. “We've been so worried! Come in, you three sit down I'll get you something to eat” She said nodding towards Hadvar and the two women with him. They looked oddly familiar but Sigrid couldnt quite place either of them.
Hadvar took a seat across from his uncle as Auriel sat on a chair, Lee herself sat on the floor near the fire to warm herself up a bit. “Now then boy” Alvor said to his nephew as Auriel kept her mouth shut, “Whats the big mistery ? What were you doing, looking like you lost a fight with a cavebear ?”
“I dont know where to start.” Hadvar looked lost as he spoke. “You know I was assigned to General Tullius guard, we were stopped in Helgen, when we were attacked. By a Dragon” He said truthfully. Auriel nodded at his words. As did Lee.
“A dragon ?” Alvor asked him, “thats rediculous, you arent drunk are you boy ?”
“Husband” Sigrid chastised him, “Let him tell his story.” Alvor nodded in agreement
Hadvar couldnt help but smile and his aunt and uncle. “Not much left to tell, the dragon just flew around and wrecked the place, mass confusion. I dont know if anyone else made it out alive, I doubt I would have made it if it werent for my friends here.” He said, indicating Lee and her sister Auriel. They both nodded, the three of them had worked together to get free of Helgen safely
Hadvar sighed, and tried to relax. “I need to get back to Solitude, let them know what happened. I was hoping you could help us out, food, supplies, maybe a place to stay before venturing on ?”
Alvor smiled, “Of course,”! He said in a jovial tone. “Any friend of Hadvar is a friend of mine! I would be glad to help in any way I can!” He turned to Lee as he spoke. “Like I said, I'm glad to be of help in any way I can. But I need your help, we need your help” He offered Lee and Auriel both some food. And Lee also took the offered gemstone, a flawless amythist.
“What can we do ?” Lee asked him as she took a bite of the offered cheese.
“The Jarl needs to know there is a Dragon on the loose, Riverwood is defenseless! If you can get to Jarl Balgruuf in Whiterun to send whatever soldiers he can, I will be in your debt.” He told them both. Lee and Auriel traded looks.
A tweak of Aruiels ear said it all for Lee, the Jarl wasnt the High King, but maybe he could also point them in the right direction ? Lee smiled and nodded. “Consider it done. After we rest a bit we'll head for Whiterun was it ?” Alvor nodded “And then we'll speak to the Jarl there.”
That all said, the girl seated nearby spoke up. “Did you really see a dragon, Hadvar ? What did it look like ? Did it have big teeth ?” Her name was Dorthe, and Lee smirked as Auriel tried to hide a smile at the innocense the girl posessed.
Sigrid however chastised the girl, “Hush child, dont pester your cousin” She told her. Dorthe looked put out, but went out to play anyhow.
Alvor stood up from his chair as Auriel also stood, moving to the fireplace as he spoke. “Well, I'd better get back to work. You three make yourselves to home” He said before turning and going bnack outside to work at his smithy.
“Its nice to be back in a friendly spot huh ?” Hadvar asked as he stood next to where Lee sat near the fire. “Listen” Lee looked up at him,. “I'm gonna stay here the night and then head for Solitude in the morning. Whiterun isnt far from here, once there you can easily take a carriage to Solitude.” He said
He looked at the two, they had skills that he felt they could benefit the Legion more than anyone else., so he said; “You know, I think you might make good soldiers if you were to join up with the Legion in Solitude. Should talk to General Tullius there.”
“General Tullius, was it ?” Auriel spoke up, Hadvar looked over to her. “He ordered our executions. Why would we want to help him ?” She asked him she had a point, Lee pointed at her as if saying, 'what she said'
Hadvar shook his head. “Look, I dont blame you, either of you, for being upset about it. I would be too in your shoes. But it was all a mistake. You werent supposed to be in that wagon with those traitors. And the Imperial Legion could use your help. Especially now with htat dragon flying about doing who knows what, and Ulfric back on the loose”
Ulfric, just mention of him made Auriel suddenly growl. “Was it something I said ?”
“Its... a personal matter that we have with Ulfric ” Lee spoke up before Auriel could explain her issues with the man. The two Nekhojiit women traded looks, Auriel sighed and nodded. “You make a good case, maybe we will join up” Lee told him
Hadvar smilked in relief. They werent mad at him, their anger he could sense was directed at Ulfric. “I hope so, Right now the Legion is Skyrims only hope for peace. I'm going to get some sleep, then help my uncle in the blacksmithy. I'll see you in Solitude then. I hope. If you get there before I do, General Tullius resides in Castle Dour, but once there you'll want to talk to Legate Rikke, she deals with all the new recruits. If I get there before you I'll put in a good word for both of you.” He said
Lee smiled, as did Auriel. “Alright, sounds fair, we'll see you in Solitude.” Lee said. The two women then bid farewell, and headed for Whiterun.
After a brief run in with some wolves along the road. The two sisters passed by the Honningbrew Meadery. And the smells coming from it made Lee almost want to get hammered right then and there. But they had a request they felt they needed to finish first. Speak to the Jarl before getting drunk. Maybe bag a deer at the same time ?
They turned at the crossroads to head for the city gate, next to the stables and what had to be an old farm that was still in use. The two women went up the hill towards the bridge of flowing water before turning a sharp corner, the drawbridge was down.
They crossed it and saw two guards on watch, one of them stepped from his perch as they neared. “Hold there a moment” He called to them before he stepped in front of them. “The city is closed with the dragons about. Offical business only.”
The two women traded looks. “Riverwood calls for the Jarls aid” Auriel said clearly and also gently.
The guard looked at her, neither woman could see the mans face. But they could tell he was worried for his friends in the small village. “Riverwood is in danger too ? You'd better go on in then. You'll find the Jarl at Dragonsreach, at the top of the hill." He motioned to his fellow guard to unlock the gate and let them inside.
The gate opened and allowed the two feline women through. As it gently shut behind them they took in the city for the first time. They were bound to visit there more often, somehow they just knew it.
They spotted a soldier dressed similar to Hadvar, he was talking with a woman who appeared to be a blacksmith. “We'll pay whatever it takes.” he said to the woman, “But we must have more swords for the Imperial soldiers”
The woman shook her head, and sighed, “I just cant fill an order that size on my own.” She rubbed her brow and sighed, “Why dont you swallow that stubborn pride of yours and ask Eorlund Gray-mane for help ?”
The man laughed, “I'd sooner bend my knee to ulfric stormcloak,” He said to her, enticing a slight growl of distaste from Auriel as he spoke those words
The woman sighed again, “Alright, fine, I'll take the job, but dont expect a miracle” the two parted ways, the woman to her shop, which Lee and Auriel both spotted saying “Warmaidens” clearly a blacksmith of some kind, and by look of it, high quality steel too. The two traded some gear with the woman. The Warmaiden herself, was revealed and she gave them her name her name, Adrianne.
As they parted, Adrianne said to them, “Dont forget to check inside the shop if you need anything.” They made plans to take a peek inside later. They had to see the Jarl first.
Moving up a flight of stairs they rounded a pair of houses, a temple to their left and the Hall of the Dead just beyond it atop a small hillock when Lee came to a halt. Causing Auriel to collide with her. “Whats gotten into you ?” Auriel asked then she saw it herself
The tree before them was pretty much lifeless. A priestess was nearby praying before it. The two Nekhojiit traded looks, “You're not thinking what I think you are thinking” Auriel started
“If you are thinking I want two meads and a vension chop, then no I am not thinking what you think I am thinking” Lee replied, that meant they were gonna talk to the priestess instead of seeing the Jarl as they had planned