Chapter Four: Mara’s Eyes
Leaving the gates of Windhelm in Stormcloak armor brought me more respect than I realized. Even in a city were the rebels were a common sight, the people treated them like war heroes. I was mistaken by nearly everyone as a full-fledged Stormcloak, not that I was going to complain. I was awarded endearing glances and praises by passersby. While I wanted to believe differently, I doubted the people would treat me to those affections if I remained in my Penitus Oculatus uniform. Even if I had the best intentions, my armor choice would affect how they saw me.
As I walked the short distance across the bridge to the stable, I took one of the red vials of liquid that Ulfric’s court wizard had given me. Since I didn’t follow his directions and drink them the night before, my arm and leg were stiff and sore. The blistering and bleeding had stopped thanks to his salve, but I still regretted not downing at least one bottle of potion. I reasoned later was better than never though and uncorked the vial. The sweet and sour scents of Blue Mountain Flower and Blisterwort drifted from the glass lip and seemed to fill the air. I put the vial to my lips and drank the potion in a single gulp, frowning faintly at the unpleasant taste. While the liquid hinted at an alcoholic flavor due to the wheat, the mushroom was far too pungent for my liking. I did, however, feel the aches in my limbs begin to ease as the liquid reached my stomach. I corked the bottle again and set it in my pouch at my side. I still had another to drink, but I wanted to give the first enough time to begin working.
I approached the stable, looking around for Galmar. To my surprise, he wasn’t there yet. It made me question whether I was late. He said sunrise, I was certain, but he could have left earlier. I looked at the eastern sky, making out the faint rays of Mundus through the snow flurries. I hummed slightly and decided to take a seat in the deep snow outside one of the horse’s stalls. I leaned my head against the cold wood and let my eyes scan the darkness around me.
From the amount of snow that covered the ground and the amount still falling, concluded the storm that came in the night before had been massive. The only visible footsteps in the banks were the ones I had made, and the lanterns that lit up the path previously had been blown out. There was no sign of any animal, save for the horses, and the only sound was of the whistling wind in the tall trees. The river itself seemed to be frozen over in the wake of the storm. The only reason I wasn’t chattering at that moment was because of the Stormcloak armor. The Nords sure knew how to make warm clothing. I rightly reasoned that if I had stayed out in the storm in my personal armor, I would have frozen. I was extremely grateful for the Jarl’s compassion.
I felt a warm puff of air on my neck and looked over my shoulder. A smile crossed my lips as I stared up at a ruddy brown muzzle. The horse, enormous in size, leaned far over its stall door to sniff at my hair and helmet. I lifted a hand to rub its nose and coo softly, “You’re a big one, aren’t you?” Not expecting a reply, I breathed back into its nose in a greeting. Our breaths mixed, warming the air in our little area of the world. I slowly rose to my feet, patting the creature’s cheek. “What’s your name? Hmm?”
“Glaer,” a smooth voice called from nearby. I turned to look for its source, smiling slightly as I saw an elf approach. The woman, an Altmer, walked over from the house that stayed beside the stable. “His name is Glaer. He’s probably the only horse we have that isn’t completely boring.”
I laughed lightly. “Is that so?”
She nodded, propped a hand on her hip as she looked the animal over. “He’s an escape artist. You’d never know from his size, but he can slip in and out of the smallest of spaces.” She tutted. “We have to keep his gate locked because he’s figured out how to open the handle.”
“He’s that smart?” I asked, petting the creature’s nose again. “I’m surprised you haven’t sold him yet.”
“We have, you see,” the mer laughed weakly. “We sell him, watch him ride off with his new master, wait a few days, and he’s back. He likes Windhelm and always comes back here.”
I smiled, humming a bit in response. “I will be in and out of Windhelm for today. How much would you charge for me to rent him?”
She cocked a brow. “Rent him?”
I nodded. “I won't need him for more than today, but I do need an animal for a ride with Galmar. I'll pay whatever you like. Would it be alright if I borrowed him?”
The mer considered my proposal, looking back at the animal. “I don’t see why not. He’s not making us money sitting here. Could you do 30 septims? That will pay for his room and board for today.”
I nodded to her. “That’s more than reasonable considering the fare I had to pay to travel here by carriage.”
The woman giggled slightly, sticking out her hand. I took it in return, shaking it in a gesture to seal the deal. “I’m Arivanya.”
“I’m Talia,” I replied, withdrawing my hand and digging though my bag for my coin purse.
“If you need to borrow him again, just let me know. I’m not here, my husband, Ulundil will be. I’ll be sure to tell him about our agreement and you can just pay him.” She took the septims from me and handed me a key. “This is to get into his stable. Like I said, Glaer is an escape artist so be sure to lock it back.”
“Thank you, Arivanya,” I bowed slightly to her and turned to look at the horse again. “Are you ready for a little trip, Glaer?” The sorrel stallion stared at me with a soft huff. As I turned back to look at the golden skinned Altmer, I noticed a small band of Stormcloaks on approach from the city gate. Galmar was at their head. I nodded at the mer and stated, “Looks like it’s time to get going. I’ll return him as soon as I get back.” She offered a smile before heading back towards her home.
I took hold of the horse’s reins and carefully unlocked his gate. The stallion was anxious to get out of his stall, but had enough respect to wait for me to lead him into the snow. He nudged me slightly as we waited for Galmar and I gently rubbed his cheek. Glaer’s eyes focused on the oncoming torches, but he didn’t panic like Epona did. Instead, the horse seemed to be excited.
“Been waiting long?” Galmar’s raspy voice called out when he was near enough to see clearly. I shook my head. “We had to pack some supplies to bring to the camp. They are running low on rations.”
I looked over the small group of Stormcloaks and their meager packs. I frowned slightly, asking, “Why are they carrying so little? Couldn’t you carry more on a wagon?”
He hummed. “We could, if we had enough supplies to take. It’s not worth risking our wagon being spotted over a few blankets and mead.” He noticed my surprise. “We aren’t as well off as you Imperials.”
I slowly nodded, following behind him as he got his own horse. The other six or seven Stormcloaks found their steeds as well and began mounting. I asked Galmar, “Will you be escorting me?”
He stared back at me as he climbed on his roan mare. “As much as I advised against it, Ulfric says to treat you like any other Stormcloak. He trusts you more than he should. That being said, I expect you to pull your weight today and not mess anything up. You’re going to observe for Ulfric, but you’re going to work for me. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” I said quickly with a nod. I was relieved that I wouldn’t be treated like a prisoner again. I would much rather be taking orders like a soldier than led around like a criminal. I climbed into the large saddle on Glaer’s back and fell in step behind Galmar.
The general addressed the group when we were all gathered together. “We are not engaging anyone on this trip. If Talos be with us, we will make it to Mara’s Eye Pond without any problems. If you fall behind, do not go to the camp if you think anyone is following. The last thing we need is the place attacked by Legionnaires or ransacked by bandits.” He looked over the small company and turned his horse towards the road. The horse began to trudge through the snow before Galmar pulled her to a stop. I followed, looking his direction as he addressed me, “Is that the dragon?”
I looked across the snow where he pointed to find the snow-covered mound. Some of the scales were still visible through the thick snow, as was the head. Some snow was a darker color where it had been stained from the beast’s blood. I nodded to Galmar. “Yes, sir.”
He stroked his beard in thought. “Beast is bigger than I thought.”
“It wasn’t easy,” I confirmed. “I never could have done it without your guards. A brave few stuck it out until the end.”
“So I’ve been told,” Galmar grunted. He rode his horse closer, calling over his shoulder. “I’m going to take a few scales to Jarl Ulfric and Wuunferth for examination. Kaita.” A middle-aged Nord saluted him. “Go ahead and lead them to the camp. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes, Galmar!” The woman replied, trotting her horse to the front of the group. “Everyone ready?” She asked, looking us over. Her gaze lingered on me a moment. “Let’s get going then.” She turned her horse, spurring it down the road. The rest of the group followed her and I brought up the rear.
It became apparent to me that Glaer wasn’t used to following behind but leading. The stallion grunted lowly and nudged other horses that got to close to him as he tried to pass. For a while, I tried to hold him back, but that grew tiresome rather quickly. I finally gave in to him and let him speed past the other horses until we reached the one Galmar called Kaita.
Kaita was the most beautiful warrior I had seen. She was built like a Nord, but still held a very feminine frame. Her hair was the color of flames and her eyes a woodland green. The colors were accented by gold war paint in designs around her eyes and cheeks. The woman donned the armor of a Stormcloak officer, but her bear fur helm was replaced by a snow fox. I couldn’t help but marvel at her appearance for a few seconds. She must have noticed my staring however as she replied, “Is something wrong, Unblooded?”
“Unblooded?” I asked in confusion.
“Yes, am I right to call you that?” She looked over at me before staring ahead.
“I’m not even sure what that means, honestly, miss,” I replied shyly.
She smiled kindly. “I forget you’re new to this. Galmar told me we would be taking you out today. He didn’t tell me you weren’t briefed on the basics.” I smiled apologetically. “Don’t feel bad, we all have to start out somewhere. Unblooded is what we call the unranked soldiers in our army. As you move up the ranks, your title is changed: Unblooded, Ice-Veins, Bone-Breaker, Snow-Hammer, Stormblade. If you’re familiar with the Imperial army at all, our ranks work similarly but we give you different titles.”
I nodded in understanding. “What title should I be calling you then?”
She hummed softly as we made a turn in the road. “Formally, you should address me as Stormblade, but Kaita Snow-Hare is fine.” Kaita adjusted the pack on her back. “What should I call you?”
“Talia,” I responded just loud enough for her to hear. “Talia Maro.”
She cocked a brow. “Is that an Imperial name?” I hesitantly nodded. “Don’t be so shy about it. You can’t help who you are, can you? You’re here now and that’s what matters. Others might disagree, but I say there isn’t anything wrong with an Imperial. I know lots of goodhearted, loyal Imperials, and I know a lot of ill-tempted, traitorous Nords. What matters most is who you stand by and what you stand for.”
I smiled over at her. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
She shrugged. “I was a recruit like you once. I can’t say I had to prove my race to anyone being a Nord by birth, but I did have to prove I wasn’t a traitor like the rest of my family.” She sighed softly.
“What happened?” I asked curiously.
Kaita frowned slightly. “My family lived in Markarth during the rule of the Reachmen. We couldn’t really do much to fight them off and nearly gave up hope anyone was going to liberate our city. Rather than the empire at our gates, Jarl Ulfric showed up. He and his men tore through the city like bears. My family took up arms with them and helped drive the half-breeds out of our city. The Jarl stuck around awhile to help restore order. He even allowed us to worship Talos again. I was so grateful to Ulfric for all he had done, and thought my family shared my beliefs. However, when the empire stepped back in they essentially tore down everything Ulfric fought to restore. My father and brother defected to the Legionnaires when they arrived at the city. The Jarl was labeled a traitor and we were expected to give up Talos again. It was astounding to me.” She shook her head. “First chance I got, I left Markarth and headed here to join the new Stormcloak army. Ever since I joined up, I had to work my tail off to prove loyalty to the Jarl. I was lucky to have Galmar take my side. He is cold and harsh on the outside, but once he knows where your heart lies, he’ll warm up to you.”
“Thank you, Kaita,” I sighed softly.
“For what?” She asked with a small smile.
“Your story,” I started, playing with the reins. “I’m here to help today, but I’m mostly here to hear stories.”
She sighed, “I wish I had time to sit back and listen to stories.”
“If we meet up again after this mission, I’ll tell you some good ones,” I assured her. She looked over at me, amused. “I could write books on the stories I know.”
“I’ll have to hold you up on that offer, Talia,” she replied with a giggle, glancing back at the others that rode behind us. After making sure everyone had followed, she slowed the group’s pace. I followed at her side but slightly behind. She made a motion with her hand that I didn’t recognize. As the group started to fall into a line though, I concluded I should do the same. I matched pace behind her as she veered from the marked road and onto a poorly beaten trail.
If I had been passing by, I wouldn’t have thought much of the path. It was so narrow it could be easily mistaken for a deer trail. Still, Kaita seemed to know every exact bend and turn in our way, so I reasoned this was the hidden path to the Stormcloak camp. Glaer seemed to enjoy crunching through the brambles and heavy snow. The enormous horse had far less trouble than the steeds behind us in navigating the way. His hooves tore into the underbrush and crushed it beneath his weight. I knew Epona wouldn’t have taken this path. She was much more skittish of the noises and feel of the thorns.
We ventured far from the road in mostly silence. No one spoke while we were in the forest, not wanting to let anyone passing by know where we were going. The narrow trail eventually widened, allowing us to quicken our pace to a trot. To my surprise, the snow-covered paths were beginning to thin out. While the air remained cold, I could see green again in the grasses and trees. The sweet perfume of mountain flowers drifted on the breeze as well. Kaita muttered, “Mara’s Eye Pond always amazed me: a green oasis in the middle of snowy forests. The goddess herself must have built the place.”
I nodded slightly. Ahead, I could hear the soft ripple of water. I reasoned we were near one of the springs that fed into the pond. I couldn’t yet see the pond itself, I heard the gentle splash of fish jumping from the depths. Rather than head that direction however, Kaita turned us down a path that led up a tall hill. We had to slow our pace again as the way narrowed on the steep slope. I heard Glaer grunt as he struggled to climb the incline. I patted his neck reassuringly as his hooves dug into the soil for traction. The hill was a good defense for the camp. It would be nearly impossible to march soldiers up the knoll in formation enough for a good attack.
We reached the apex of the hill and the camp came into view. To my surprise, the refuge was enormous. There were at least 30 large tents surrounded by a multitude of much smaller one-man tents. They needed three fires to keep the host of people warm. They had no wagons for transportation and only 5 horses to share among themselves. I realized rather quickly the supplies that my group had brought wouldn’t go far in helping the camp.
Kaita led us to the hitching post where we could store our horses. The others in my group dismounted as a dark elf approached Kaita. He cooed in his smooth voice, “Greetings, sera. We’ve been expecting you.”
Kaita nodded to him. “Morning, Serlyn. Where is Bjorn? Not that I’m unhappy to see you; I just expected him to meet us this morning.”
The Dunmer smiled slightly. “He’ll be along. He took a hunting party to the pond at daylight.”
Kaita nodded in understanding and climbed off her black mare. She looked up at me as I sat on Glaer. “Serlyn, this is Talia. She’s our newest recruit. Talia, this is Serlyn Drolik, second-in-command at this refuge.”
The mer smiled at me with a small salute, “A pleasure, Miss Talia. We are always looking for the help.”
“She wants to hear some of the stories here,” Kaita informed him. “I think if she follows you around today she’ll hear some good tales.” She began to lead her horse away as I climbed off Glaer.
“I think I can help you out, sera, if you can help me out.” The taller elf looked down at me with a sweet smile. His slanted sliver eyes studied me a moment before looking back at the camp. “We are in bad shape here, if you can’t already tell. We are at maximum capacity for refugees and injured soldiers, morale is low, we don’t have enough food, and disease is starting to spread. If there is anything you think you can do, I’m open to suggestions.”
I thought a moment, eyes scanning the camp. Across from the fire, I spotted the medical tent. I looked back at Serlyn and stated, “I’m a healer. I can work on some of your sick if you like. I don’t know what much else I can do, but I’ll try to think of things along the way.”
“That’s a great place to start. I’m going to help your comrades unpack some of their supplies. Find your way to the tent and I’ll meet you there.” The tall elf patted my head like a child and walked over to find Kaita.
I withheld a snort of amusement and took Glaer’s reins. I led the animal to an empty post and carefully tied the reins. I looked at the horse and frowned. “Please, please, don’t leave. I will be back soon.” The horse stared at me emptily. “I mean it. Don’t move.” The horse snorted and I took it as his agreeance. I slowly backed away from him and entered the camp.
The refuge was full of the chatter of people. I couldn’t pick out a single voice from the noise. I did notice the soft groans of pain as I approached the camp fire. The medical tent was easily recognizable by its size and the stench of blood. I carefully lifted the flap and went inside. There were a couple of able-body Stormcloaks tending to the sick and wounded, but many of the injured were left alone. I was overwhelmed by the sight and didn’t really know where to start. I cautiously walked through the tent, looking for a sign on where I should begin.
My eyes wandered over the bodies until they rested on a man who shivered violently. He wore no clothes on his torso but instead was wrapped tightly in bloody linens. I carefully knelt beside him, my hand resting on his shoulder. His eyes opened slightly as he looked up at me. “Hi, sir,” I whispered gently. “I can take some of the pain away if you want.” He didn’t respond so I carefully slipped off my gloves and showed him the warmth of the restoration magic.
The man quickly shook his head, his shaking worsening. “No… No magic…” He whimpered. I tilted my head in confusion. He repeated, “No magic!”
A man on the cot behind me put his hand on my shoulder. “He won’t let you heal him.” I turned to look at the elderly man. “He refuses any magic healing.”
“Why is that? I could easily take away the worst of the injury.”
He shook his head. “That’s just his way. They’ve tried to help him, but he refuses.” The man coughed into his blanket. “He would take a potion, but we ran out several days ago. Jarl Ulfric said he would be bringing us some, but I don’t know how long it will take.”
I hesitantly nodded, looking back down at the Nord who refused my healing. I slowly reached into my bag, pulling out the potion Wuunferth gave me. I uncorked it and addressed him softly, “This is the only bottle I have, but it’s from the Jarl’s palace. It’s the highest quality. Will you take this?” The shaking man considered my offer before nodding weakly. I smiled faintly and pressed the vial to his lips, helping him to drink it. His shaking stopped nearly immediately. As I recorked the potion and put the bottle back in my bag, the man closed his eyes. He was finally able to get a restful sleep.
I started to stand and the elder behind me grabbed my arm. I turned to look at him as he coughed, “That was kind of you. I didn’t know how much longer he would last.”
I nodded faintly. “Can I do anything for you, sir?”
He shook his head. “There are others in far more pain than me. Just bear in mind, not all Nords are open to the idea of magic healing. They’re stubborn. I’ve watched many good soldiers die in both this war and the Great War because they refuse healing.”
I cocked a brow. “You fought in the Great War?”
He nodded. “Right alongside Jarl Ulfric!” He laughed weakly. “Of course, he was a young man then, I reason just old enough to lift a blade. Still, he was one of the greatest strategists I’ve ever seen. He fought off the Dominion with everything he had. I doubt the Legionnaires expected such ferocity from someone outside their country.”
I hummed in thought. “I only know about the Great War from what I’ve read. What all did Skyrim do for the Empire during the war?”
“We only reclaimed the Imperial City!” The man stated triumphantly. “The Nord army was the strongest force in driving off the Thalmor in the city. They say you could hear our battle cries from across the city! Ha!” The old man laughed weakly. “It was scary then, but thinking back on it, it was the time of my life. I’d give anything to go back and smash some more Dominion skulls.”
“The Empire and Skyrim fought alongside each other well then, didn’t you?” He nodded. “What happened exactly? What sparked the conflict?”
“The White-Gold Concordant,” he started, going into a coughing fit again. I patted his shoulder as I waited for him to recover. He smiled kindly and continued. “That treaty started our fight. We fought so hard for our empire only to have our emperor give in to the enemy’s demands. We won, by Oblivion! There shouldn’t have been any reason to give in to those elves!” He frowned. “We fought and died outside our homeland and had our god taken away as a reward. Further, we are expected to help pay for the war, as if our blood wasn’t enough. The empire dishonored us when we agreed to the treaty.”
I nodded to him in understanding. “This all stems from the White-Gold Concordant,” I concurred. “Forgive me for sounding so insensitive, but why is the worship of Talos so important? If the banning of worship of a single god prevents widespread slaughter, is it such a bad thing? There are other gods to worship.”
“Bah…” The man grumbled, wagging his finger at me. “You sound like you’ve been spoon-fed Imperial propaganda your whole life.”
“Suppose I have,” I answered solemnly.
I looked me over with a sigh. His thin finger pointed across the tent. “Speak with Aslaug Red-War. She knows the most about Talos out of anyone here.”
I looked where he pointed to a thin woman seated in a cot. I nodded back to him and patted his shoulder. “Thank you, sir. I hope you feel better soon.” With his nod of dismissal, I walked across the tent to the frail woman that huddled under a blanket. I approached slowly, trying to catch her eye before sitting on the ground beside her. Her face remained hidden under her cowl and the blanket. I called out to get her attention. “Aslaug Red-War?” Her head turned towards me slightly. “I was told you can tell me about Talos.”
She slowly shifted under the blanket. “That I can, daughter. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?”
“Talia Maro, miss.” She turned to face me fully. It was only then I could see the linen wraps covering the priestess’ eyes. I decided to tell her about myself so she wouldn’t be left in the dark. “I’m an Imperial, so I have very little experience with your god.”
Aslaug hummed in response. “He’s more than just our god, Talia. He’s the god of all mankind: the only divine to come from humanity. I assume you know the history of Tiber Septim?”
“Yes,” I nodded though she couldn’t see me. “He was the first emperor to establish peace across all of Tamriel. He established the unified empire and founded the Septim Dynasty at the start of the Third Era.”
“Very good,” she cooed to me. “You have studied history well. Do you know about his later life and his establishment in godhood?”
“I’m afraid Cyrodillic books leave out that part,” I answered.
“At the end of his life, Tiber Septim was met by the Divines and asked to join them as a reward for uniting their world. The great man we knew as Tiber Septim, Ysmir, Dovahkiin or Dragonborn, agreed and became the mighty Talos, God of Man and War. From then on, we recognized the Divines as Eight and One. The Nine have been watching us since the beginning of the Third Era until this moment: the Aedra and our God-King.”
“I was wondering,” I started, choosing my words wisely, “if you could tell me why the Thalmor are against him and the Nords devote themselves to him. There are other gods to hate and worship.”
The priestess turned her head my direction, but didn’t focus directly on me. “Tell me, what Divine do you devote yourself to?”
“The Lady,” I answered without hesitation. “I spent a lot of my childhood in the Chapel of Dibella and learned much from her. She made me an honorary priestess for a time.”
She nodded in understanding. “The outlaw of Talos worship hurts a Nord like the outlaw of Dibella worship would hurt you. If the Elves marched into Anvil, tore down your Chapel and told you that the worship of Dibella was illegal, how would you feel?”
“Angered,” I answered slowly. “I’m beginning to understand the Nords’ response to the Thalmor. What about the elves though? Why would they harbor such hatred for a Divine?”
Aslaug shook her head. “I don’t know exactly. My guess is that they can’t stand the thought of mankind having a deity devoted to them. They think they are the only race to inherit the afterlife. To say man and mer share a place after death, worse yet a man can ascend to godhood, must bother them. Others say they are simply looking for more ways to oppress us. No one can know for sure unless you ask the Thalmor themselves. Did you have any other questions?”
“Only one,” I stared up at her. “If you don’t mind my asking, what happened to your eyes?”
She smiled sadly. “Ah, yes. I was preaching with a fellow sister near Morthal when Thalmor Justiciars attacked us. We thought they were planning to arrest us, but then ended up torturing us for information.” She pointed to her eyes. “They cut out my eyes, but did much worse to my fellow priestess. Luckily, a farmer heard our cries and fetched Stormcloak sympathizers from the city. They drove off the Thalmor and brought us to the refugee camp to heal. My sister died a few days ago, but I’m expected to recover.”
“Thalmor attacked you?” I asked in surprise. “Why didn’t anyone help you sooner? Surely someone heard the fighting.”
“Morthal is an Imperial city,” she informed me. “The Legionnaires don’t care about Talos worshipers. If they did hear us, they wouldn’t have helped anyways.” She adjusted the blanket. “It’s not uncommon for Thalmor to attack any lone Nord though. They beat, kill, and drag off anyone they deem a Talos worshiper.”
“And the Legion allows it?” I asked, appalled.
“Encourages it from what I hear,” she answered. “It’s less resources spent by the Empire. The Thalmor work outside of the law so all the Legion has to do is turn a blind eye.” She sensed my tenseness. “Are you scared? They haven’t gone after any Imperials that I know of.”
“No,” I replied, huffing in annoyance. “I’m infuriated. The Legion is supposed to protect Skyrim’s people while it is still part of the empire. I hadn’t heard of any Thalmor attacks in Cyrodiil.” She reached blindly out to me, finding my shoulder. “I’m all right, Priestess Aslaug. It’s just hard to process.”
“I understand. You have right to be angry, but don’t just stew on the anger. Do something with it,” she withdrew her hand. “I have no doubt you will act. Talos commands us to defend the people of Tamriel. If you allow him, he will guide you.”
“Thank you, Priestess.” I bowed to her slightly. “I will think on the things you’ve told me. Is there anything I can do for you before I move on?” The woman shook her head. “Very well. Blessing of the Ei-” I paused a moment to correct myself. “Blessings of the Nine upon you.”
“You as well, young Talia.” Aslaug turned back forward on her cot, staring at nothing ahead of her. I felt for her. She was not an old woman. She had years left of her life that she would have to spend blind. She could probably still work in a temple in Skyrim. At least for the time being she was safe in a refugee camp. Someone would look after her, I told myself. I couldn’t dwell on the misfortunes of one when there were so many that needed my help.
I stayed in the medical tent until midday, making my rounds to heal those that would accept my restoration. More Nords refused than accepted, but I didn’t let that hurt my feelings. They had their own reasons for choosing to suffer and I learned I couldn’t always force my help on them. I took short breaks to restore my Magicka reserves between sessions.
While resting after healing a young Nord man, just old enough to join the army, I was surprised to see the dark elf from earlier run into the tent. Serlyn looked around, quickly spotting me and hurrying over. “I forgot about you, Talia! I was supposed to come get you!”
I laughed weakly. “Don’t worry about it, sir. I’ve kept myself busy here.” He looked over my work, smiling slightly. “Some of them don’t want my healing, so they’ll need some potions soon. The rest should be ready to return to service tomorrow.”
“You did well, girl,” he said, motioning for me to follow him out of the tent. As I rose to my feet he stated, “Your companions are helping themselves to some rations by the fire. You can join them before I find you something else to do.”
My stomach growled at the mention of food. “Thank you, Serlyn.”
“There’s a Redguard boy passing out food. He’ll make sure you get some.” The Dunmer pointed to a fire near the center of the camp. He then turned the opposite direction, muttering to himself about being forgetful.
I giggled slightly as I headed for the flames, pulling my gloves back on my hands. As stated, I saw the Stormcloaks I rode in with sitting in a group nearby tearing into their rations. I approached the large tent as I saw a Redguard woman hurry inside, fussing at someone. I went inside, smiling slightly at the smell of roasted pheasant and potatoes that filled the air. I waited patiently to be noticed as the woman scolded her son for leaving the camp. The boy started his rebuttal before pointing at me. The woman looked over her shoulder with a sigh. “I’m sorry, miss. Hungry?”
“Yes, ma’am!” I said enthusiastically.
She looked at her son. “Fix this young lady a plate, please. If you want to warm yourself by the fire, miss, he’ll bring it out to you.”
I nodded kindly, leaving the tent and taking a seat alone by the fire. I sat cross-legged on the cool ground, leaning slightly forward to feel the heat on my exposed skin. I glanced over as I noticed the Redguard child coming over to me with a small plate of food. I bowed slightly to him. “Thank you, kind sir.” I cooed. I started to eat quickly, not realizing how hungry I was. I did notice the boy linger nearby, watching me eat for a while. At first, I ignored him, but as my hunger was sated, I started conversation with him. “Is something wrong?”
“You’re sitting alone,” he stated, almost in a question.
“I don’t have friends yet. I’m new to the Stormcloaks,” I told him, patting the ground beside me. “You can keep me company though, if you want to.” I held out one of my baked potatoes. “I have some food we can share.”
The boy hesitantly wandered over and sat beside me. I gave him the potato and began to eat my other slice. His eyes still fixed on me. “What happen to your arm?”
“Huh?” I looked where he pointed to the burns and scars. I smiled a little. “Oh. I got attacked.”
“By what?” he asked curiously.
I hesitated to answer. I didn’t want to scare him, but I figured he should be aware of the danger. “A dragon…”
“A dragon!” He cried loudly in amazement. The cry caught the attention of his mother and the nearby diners. “You got attacked by a dragon and lived?! That’s amazing! Was he big? Did he have sharp teeth?”
I was aware of the silence that surrounded me as the crowd awaited my answer. I tried not to meet the looks of the curious men and women that surrounded me and instead stared into the inquisitive eyes of the child. “Yes,” I answered hesitantly.
“Can you tell me what happened? I want to know about the dragon!”
I took a deep breath and ruffled his hair. “It’s kind of scary,” I warned. He assured me he didn’t mind scary stories. I reluctantly looked around at the anxious faces that awaited my story. Drawing in a deep breath, I recalled the entire tale, not leaving out a single detail. The crowd listened intently, but the boy was the most enthused. While the adults understood the real danger behind the dragon, in the eyes of the child I must have made the story sound like the thrill of a lifetime. His wide eyes never left my lips as I told of the battle between Stormcloaks and dragon.
As I concluded the story, he smiled widely with a small cheer of happiness. He started to say something, but my attention was drawn to a Stormcloak that spoke up to me. “Do you think we can do it again? Kill a dragon, I mean.”
I nodded to him. “We know how to now, and we know it can be done.” I looked over at the boy as his mother called him to do chores. “We have to try anyways. Anyone that isn’t a soldier won’t stand a chance against them.” I looked back at him with a faint smile. “Anxious to get your hands on one?”
The Stormcloak smirked. “I don’t wish it to kill anyone, but I want the glory in laying one to rest.”
I nodded to him, motioning to the boy. “I didn’t think I’d see any Redguards here.”
The Stormcloak followed my gaze. “They were displaced after the empire ceded Hammerfell to the Dominion. His father pledged allegiance to Ulfric in exchange for his family’s protection in Skyrim.” I hummed in response as he continued. “You’d be surprised how many races are mistreated by the Empire. We even have an Orc and Argonian in the camp somewhere.”
As I finished the remainder of my food, I noticed Kaita rushing through the camp. I heard her call for Serlyn and the dark-skinned elf hurried to meet her. Their conversation caught the attention of the other Stormcloak soldiers as well. “Bjorn isn’t back yet. Is that normal for a hunt?”
“For him, no,” Serlyn crossed his arms. “I was about to dispatch some soldiers to the pond to look for him.”
“The group I brought is capable to find him. Want me to lead the search?” Kaita asked, hand resting on her hip.
“If you feel like it. I’m sending a group after you in an hour if you aren’t back.” The Dunmer looked over at us.
Kaita nodded and jogged over to us. I rose to my feet at her approach, as did the others. “You heard?” She asked us, smiling slightly. “Grab your horses then and let’s go.”
I followed after the others, jogging to where we left our horses. Kaita passed me as I turned to find Glaer where I tied him. I frowned as I approached the post. Like the Arivanya said, the stallion was an escape artist. He managed to untie his lead and wander off who knew where. I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance. The other Stormcloaks rode past, only Kaita stopping when she saw me. She raised a brow. “My horse…” I started to explain, annoyed.
Kaita snorted in amusement, laughing quietly. “We’ll find you a new one.” She extended her hand to me. As I took it, she pulled me on the mare behind her and began trotting the animal down the hill after the others. I held on tightly to the saddle bags as we hurried down the gradient. We trotted down the trail until we reached the bend in the trail that led to the pond. When Kaita pulled the animal to a stop beside the others, I slid off, waiting for her command. She addressed us once she dismounted as well, “Spread out around the clearing and look for any trace of them. Call for help if you need it.”
I nodded and broke away from the others, heading east of the pond. I looked for fresh prints as we walked, but was unable to find any. The air was peaceful enough there. It was still cold enough to see my breath, but at least it wasn’t snowing. I passed by another spring that fed into the pond, noticing an elk print in the soft mud. It was minutes old by my judgment, which struck me as odd. Had the hunters been in the area, the elk would have been shot or scared off. I decided to continue east however and see what else I could find.
I passed through the crunchy underbrush that covered the ground in the surrounding forest, letting my eyes scan for life. I stopped as I heard quick footsteps crunching in the leaves. I stared towards the sound, making out the form of an elk sprinting towards me. It lowered its head in the charge and I quickly realized it wasn’t afraid. I turned on my heels and ran back for the clearing, afraid to turn and look how close the animal was getting to me. I made a quick turn as I felt the antler dig into the back of my armor and caused the deer to slip past me. I panted as I stopped to look at the beast.
The animal vocalized its location to the surrounding woods before grunting and huffing at me. As it pawed the ground, I noticed a green tint in its eyes. I didn’t have time to ponder the meaning before the animal lowered its head to charge again. I quickly drew my sword, side-stepping the beast and easily driving the blade into its side. I forced the elk to the ground before rising at the sound of an approaching Stormcloak. Kaita rushed to me, clasping her greatsword. “What was that about?” she asked curiously.
“I…” I scratched my neck. “I don’t know. He just charged me.” She hummed slightly in response and I continued. “He was bewitched or something. I could see it in his eyes.”
She blinked a few times in surprise. “Oh no,” she whispered.
I started to ask what she meant, but the sound of a thousand buzzing flies and rumbling stomps caught me off guard. Before I could react, what felt like a falling branch knocked me off my feet. The swing landed in my gut and sent me sprawling backwards. I heard Kaita growl as she attacked the unseen creature and I regained my composure. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to see the monster that blended so well with the forest surrounding it. After it was seen, there was no mistaking it: the creature was a spriggan.
The animal was pure energy and primal rage in a protective armor of tree branches. It was rumored to possess wild animals to help fight for it, which explained why the buck attacked. I had never seen a spriggan before, but I had read about them in Cyrodiil. They were hard to kill, but not impossible. From Kaita’s reaction, I reasoned she had the misfortune of encountering one before so I decided to follow her lead. I rose to my feet again, and picked up my sword from the ground.
I approached the spriggan from behind, careful to avoid the path of the Stormblade’s greatsword. As it attacked her, I chopped at the wooden limbs that protected its soft core. They were as strong as any armor, if not stronger. In fact, my attempt at wounding it only seemed to make it infuriated. As its attention turned to me, I called out, “Where’s its weak spot? What should I aim for?”
As I dodged a lunge from the beast and rolled away from the buzzing pulse of energy, Kaita panted, “The taproot in its chest, Talia! Cut it out and it will wither!” My eyes searched the chest cavity of the animal as it pulled away from me. Through the twisting limbs, I saw a glowing, pulsing orb. The heart of the beast, the taproot as Kaita called it, was just behind the wooden rib cage.
I nodded slightly, mustering up the energy for a direct attack. I turned the blade over in my hand before charging at the tree-creature. My tactic seemed to startle it, as it reacted late to being hit near center in the torso. My sword landed in the wood with a satisfying crack. I didn’t make it through, but I knew I served a fair amount of damage by the shriek the creature cried. I held my hands up in a block as it brought its fist down on me again and pushed me away.
Kaita was quick to attack when I withdrew, swinging her greatsword at full power and striking the spriggan at the bend of the knee. Another pleasing crack filled the air, but the much powerful weapon dealt far more damage. The sword tore through the leg, severing the top half from the bottom. Everything below the spriggan’s knee seemed to crumble as the creature slumped forward on what remained of the leg. The Nord sneered at the animal, over-confidently getting too close for another attack. I tried to call out a warning as I saw the spriggan’s arm pull back for a hit.
At impact, I heard what sounded like the cracking of bone. The force pushed the Nord to her knees as a pain-filled cry left her lips. My breath hitched and I hesitated in my attack as I noticed the red stain beginning to coat her armor. The same liquid dripped from a sharp branch that made up the spriggan’s hand. The beast’s body buzzed as the hand withdrew and the other readied for another attack.
I rushed to Kaita’s aid, throwing myself between the woman and the spriggan. As it threw its arm towards us, intending to back hand us away, I thrust my sword up in a block. The sharp-edged blade stabbed through spaces between the writhing twigs, tangling itself up in the arm. I gripped tighter as it struggled to free itself, feeling my body tremble from holding back such a force. The spriggan glared intensely down at me, putting all its effort into dislodging its arm from my blade. From the corner of my eye, I saw it clench its other bloody fist. The arm pulled back slightly and I readied myself for the hit. My heels dug into the ground and I growled defiantly. I didn’t plan to lose a battle with a tree.
The hit never landed. To both our surprise, an overhead swing from a warhammer stopped the branches by snapping them in half. I didn’t take time to see who was helping me. As soon as the spriggan shrieked in pain, I dislodged my sword from the forearm and drove it as deep as I could into the chest. I narrowly missed the taproot inside, instead scraping the edge of the heart. Still, I managed to force the crippled beast onto its back and into a vulnerable position. I heard a raspy, commanding voice shout, “Move!”, and I didn’t hesitate to roll out of the way.
Galmar gripped the heavy warhammer above his head, slamming it downward into the chest of the fallen spriggan. The sound of splintering wood followed by a pop filled the otherwise silent air. The buzzing of flies ceased and the green mist that filled the space between the limbs floated away. The spriggan grew completely still as Galmar pulled up the warhammer and stored it away. The Nord looked back at me a moment, acknowledging my nod of thanks. His attention was quickly put back on Kaita and he nearly ran the short distance to get to her.
I rose to my feet as well, sheathing the sword as I walked back over to the Stormblade. Kaita laid back, propping herself up on one arm and wrapping the other around her stomach. The fiery-haired Nord trembled slightly as she examined the wound before covering it quickly. Galmar knelt in front of her, taking her hand and coaxing it away from the wound. His usually intimidating voice turned gentle as he asked, “How bad is it, Kaita?”
The woman groaned slightly. “I’ll be fine. I don’t… I don’t think it hit anything vital.” Her bloody hand held limply to her superior’s as he leaned closer to examine it himself. “It would have b-been fine if it didn’t hit the weak spot of the armor.” She bit her lip to withhold a cry as Galmar touched part of the bloodied armor. I realized she was much worse off than she let on.
“You’re shivering and pale,” Galmar grumbled. “You’re losing too much blood.” He looked around for the other Stormcloaks before whistling loudly. Distantly, a saw a horse trotting towards us. Galmar started to help the woman to her feet before she cried out in pain. As he set her back down, he slid the helm from his head and grasped her hand. “Can you stand at all? We have to try to move you to the camp.”
“Galmar?” I asked softly to get his attention. As he looked over his shoulder over at me, I continued, “I can’t heal her completely, but I might be able to take the pain away and slow the bleeding enough for you to get to camp.”
He frowned at me, distrust in his old eyes. Kaita squeezed his hand with a weak smile. “Let her, Galmar,” she whimpered. “I trust her.”
The Nord hesitantly let go of Kaita’s hand and grunted. “Hurry it up, then. It better work too. The time you waste is time we could be getting her real help.”
I nodded to him, taking his place at Kaita’s side. She smiled weakly up at me and I returned the gesture. I quickly pulled off my gloves, muttering, “It might hurt, but I’m going to do my best.” She shut her eyes in preparation as my hands began to glow with the warmth of restoration magic. I gently pressed my palm to the open wound and cast the spell directly into the lesion. Her breath hitched in pain and I mumbled an apology. She shook her head, baring the pain like a true warrior.
I only stopped when my magical reserves were depleted. I sat back on my haunches and took a deep breath. I examined the injury at a distance, pleased with how it turned out. The puncture stopped bleeding for the time being and closed significantly. Kaita opened her eyes and sat up slowly, covering the hole again. She looked at me and then Galmar. “I think I can move now, but I don’t know for how long.”
Galmar held his hand up at the horse’s approach, directing the animal to him. He quickly grabbed the reins and patted its neck. “We need to move then. Help her up, Unblooded.” I nodded to him, tucking myself under the female’s arm. I rose to my feet, pulling her up as well. She groaned slightly as we walked but pushed onward. When we reached Galmar, he swept her off her feet and lifted her into the saddle. He climbed on behind her, holding the reins with one arm and wrapping the other around her for support. He called down to me, “Call the rest of your group and meet back at camp.”
I looked up at him. “We were looking for Bjorn. His hunting party is missing.”
“He’s back at the camp,” he grunted. “They decided to hunt beyond the pond without telling anyone. That’s why I came down to find you. Needless to say, I’m going to tan his hide for this.”
I nodded in understanding. “Yes sir. I’ll meet you there.”
He turned the horse, shaking his head. “After you gather up the others, you head back to Windhelm. I understand Ulfric is waiting to speak with you.” I didn’t have a chance to respond before he trotted his horse away towards the camp.
I sighed softly as I watch them ride off. I looked around for signs of the others before heading back towards the pond. I worried for Kaita, but I knew Galmar wouldn’t let her give up so easily. It was relieving to know that Galmar could show some kindness when he felt like it.
As I walked towards the pond, I saw the outline of a familiar form. I groaned and shook my head as I approached the sorrel horse. “Glaer?” I called out. The animal looked up from eating the short grass that grew around the pond. “What in Oblivion do you think you’re doing?” As expected the animal didn’t answer, instead walking over to meet me. I stroked his neck, slightly annoyed, but mostly relieved he didn’t leave all the way to Windhelm. I fixed his reins and climbed on his back. “Let’s go find the others and go home.”
The horse turned towards the pond at my command and cantered towards the water. The closer I drew to the pond, the louder the distance voices of my fellow companions grew. They all chattered amongst themselves, the noise echoing through the trees and over the water. I slowed the horse to a trot when we reached the water’s edge and looked across the body. I could vaguely see the outline of one of the men that came with me to the camp. I whistled loudly to catch his attention before waving him over. He jogged to his side of the pond and I called out to him, “We need to head back to camp. Galmar’s orders.”
He cupped his hands over his mouth to make his voice louder. “Where’s Kaita and Bjorn?”
“They’ll be waiting at camp!” I replied, turning the horse back towards the trail leading into the clearing. “Can you gather up the others? I have to head to back to Windhelm!”
I was surprised to see the man salute me. “Yes, ma’am!” He called out before turning to head back into the forest. I didn’t correct him, but made a mental note of his attitude towards me. Did I really project myself as a leader? It was interesting to think that when I put on my new armor, I put on a new persona. Never would someone in the Penitus Oculatus mistake me to be a leader. I was always doing someone’s chores or covering their hides. The Stormcloaks offered an opportunity to reinvent myself. I could be as much as a leader or a servant as I wanted. I didn’t have to be my uncle’s errand girl.
I carefully led Glaer to the trail and started the trek to Windhelm in solitude. My mind could wander, undistracted by others that had been around me all day. My thoughts were of Gaius and Uncle Oritius. I wondered what they would think if they heard the accounts I did. Would they be as conflicted as I was? I didn’t know if I could allow myself to abandon all I knew as an Imperial to fight for a country that wasn’t my own, but I knew I sure couldn’t let the people of Skyrim remain victimized. I found myself in a position where both sides sought my answer. I knew whether I chose to go to Windhelm or Dragon Bridge someone was waiting to hear what I had to say. At that time, I didn’t know who was scarier to face: a king or a commander.
As Glaer pushed onward down the trail, my time ebbed away. Faced with such a big decision and limited time, I did the only thing I could think to do. I prayed for guidance. The Divines knew my struggles and I trusted them to guide me in the way I should go. First to Dibella, then to Akatosh, Julianos, Stendarr, Zenithar, Arkay, Kynareth, and finally Mara. I prayed to all and prayed all I could. Still, I felt no comfort. No one gave me a clear path or answer.
When I reached the snowy trails again, I forced the stallion to a stop to allow me more time to think. I sat in silence so the only sound was the wind. I took off my helm and turned it over in my hands. My fingers traced the smooth leather until they touched an engraved area inside. Curious, I tilted it back to read what the engraving said. “Talos Guide and Protect You.”
I looked up at the blue-gray sky, frowning and putting away my stubborn, Imperial pride. I shut my eyes and decided to pray to the divine I neglected my whole life. I whispered, “Talos, if you are there, I need you. I don’t know what to do.” I paused to listen to the trees. “I need direction or a sign. I will accept anything you throw my way and go wholeheartedly into your choice. Lead me.”
I again waited for a response. My hopes faded with each moment of silence that answered me. As Glaer grew restless, I decided to continue on my way. The stallion had just reached the main road when an Nirn-shaking thunder sounded from the skies. The noise caused the horse to startle and bolt down the road towards Windhelm. I thought I was going insane, but I swore I heard the thunder speak in an ancient and powerful tongue. “Dovahkiin!”
I didn’t know the meaning, but I knew I heard the word before. The conversation with Aslaug Red-War came back to my mind and I recounted her words: “The great man we knew as Tiber Septim, Ysmir, Dovahkiin or Dragonborn, agreed and became the mighty Talos, God of Man and War…”
“Dovahkiin?” I whispered to myself as Glaer galloped home. “Dragonborn…” I looked up at the sky again, slowly piecing the puzzle together. I faintly smiled to myself. The arrival of the dragons and the brewing civil war was no accident. Talos, the ancient Dovahkiin, the Hero-god of War, was at work. He was getting ready to do something to Tamriel to set things right in his eyes. At that moment, I knew things would be falling into place regardless of my decision. The war was inevitable, and I would have to take part. As the echoes of the shaking thunder subsided, I knew what I had to do.
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Alright guys! This is a super long chapter! I'm sorry about that, but I had to get everything in there! Tell me what you think.