The Ice Warrior Options

[redsrock]

The Ice Warrior

CHAPTER ONE


The horrifying, ear-piercing screams ran through the night, waking me up from my slumber. Upon hearing these dreadful noises I immediately rushed from my old wooden bed and entered the hallway of the fort. The others had already risen from their own cots and were brandishing their blades while running outside.

Come, Erick! The time is now! Prove your honor and your pride!

I heard someone yell those three sentences, but I couldn't make out who was talking. But I didn't have any time think. The enemy horde was on our doorsteps and I was not about to let my people down. After seeing the others rush out into the cold night, I sprinted back into my own room and lifted the lock off of my old oak wood-chest. Then I reached for my silver broadsword and ran out into the hall to join my comrades.

Outside the battle had already commenced, and the white-colored floor had by now been stained with the crimson blood of my friends...and my enemies. I ran, creaming at the top of my lungs as loud as I could. The enemy from the northeast had at last built up enough courage to attack us without surprise. I for one was not going to let this opportunity go to waste.

The untamed Nords had made their way through our defenses and were now in our camp. There were at least fifty of them; all running around setting to fire to anything they could find. Their dirty beards and hair flapped in the wind, along with the blizzard that was coming down from the dark sky.

The first enemy I came to face was a heavy-set warrior wielding an iron war axe and a dagger of the same material. The piece of scum roared at me and got into a defensive position as I charged towards him with my broadsword held high into the air. As I neared the man he swung his axe at me but I ducked just in time and tackled him to the cold floor. Snow splashed up into my eyes but I quickly wiped it away as I hacked at my adversary's face. Again and again I slashed at his face, even when I knew his death had already come and passed.

I was too crazed with wanting revenge; too distraught to even observe the other heavy warrior lumbering towards me with a giant wooden war-hammer. The weapon hit me square in the back and I instantly dropped my blade and fell to the white canvas. Then the warrior turned my body over and I was face to face with the enemy; the despicable Nordic warrior from the north...the Skaal!

The oaf of a Nord glared into my eyes with pure disgust. He hated me and I hated him. This story of revulsion between the Imperials and the Nords has lasted for many years. And this particular battle was only one of hundreds that was sure to follow.

Then the Nord opened his mouth and began to laugh insanely. Spit fell from his mouth and hit me in the forehead. I could smell the putrid stench that was his breath; but alas there was nothing I could do. He had my arms pinned to the ground. Then, a ball of green smoke came from the mouth. It formed into some kind of animal, though I couldn't tell what it was. Suddenly I heard a deep howl, and that's when everything went black and I snapped back into reality.

"Erick...Erick, wake up! Wake up, Erick!"

A dream....it was all a dream. I could have sworn it was real; the heat from the fires, the yells of the Nords, and the impact from the war-hammer...it was all so real to me. But, fortunately I was only dreaming, and now my roommate was trying desperately to rouse me up from my delusion.

"It was a dream, Erick...only a dream!"

Finally I sat straight up in my cot with my roommate's hand on my shoulder. Melvin, an Imperial soldier just as I, was looking into my eyes with a most concerned look about his hairy face.

"You don't look so good," he said, stroking his slick and thin black beard. Melvin had always been proud of his facial hair. He always kept it neat and tidy; which the ladies loved.

"I'll be fine. I just had another dream..."

I looked outside my window to see that it wasn't snowing the least bit, and there weren't any angry Nords running around with torches. Everything was peaceful for the time being

"More like a nightmare, Erick! I can't keep living with those screams, friend. Sooner or later I'll throw you in the hallway!"

I merely laughed it off, trying to forget what I saw. For the past several days I've had some of the most dreadful dreams ever imaginable. They all started out differently, but they all ended with the same green smoke and the same howl. It had really started to bug me and I had thought about seeing a mage about it.

But Melvin wasn't going to let me do such a thing. He figured the mages would think me insane. Such dreams were a sign of lunacy, you know. But I just couldn't help it. I wanted to know what they meant; if something was going to happen to me. I've talked with Melvin about it hundreds of times, but he doesn't seem to think anything is wrong. I wished I could feel the same way.

"So...was it the smoke again?"

"Yes."

"The howl as well?"

"Yes."

Melvin had jumped back into his bed by now, but when I told him it was the same dream, he turned around to meet my sweaty face.

"I know I've said this just a few seconds ago, but you look awful, Erick."

My friend's ‘kind' words weren't doing me any good. I couldn't keep living like this. At that very moment I told Melvin I was going to talk with the local mage first thing in the morning. He got out of bed and stretched his arms into the air.

"Where you going?" I asked him.

"Taking a piss, if that's okay with you," he said playfully walking out the door, closing it gently behind him.

I was lucky to have a friend like Melvin. I remember the first time I met him here in this desolate snowy island of Solstheim. It was three years ago then, just shortly after I had arrived from the mainland. Melvin was always the smartellic type. He never let anyone tell him something he didn't want to hear, but he was always one to voice his own opinion.

And you know what; I almost feel grateful for getting sent here to Fort Frostmoth. Sure, I'd be much more comfortable back in Caldera, stealing ebony again. But what good would that do me? By coming here and working my tail off I've become a better man and a better human being. No more thieving for me; my life as a criminal was over the moment I set foot on this island. Since then it's been a lot of hard work, but at least I can say I now have control over myself.

But Melvin...well, he's different story. Though he's stopped his skooma addiction, he's also still a heavy drinker. Mazte is his favorite and I could almost bet you a hundred septims there's a couple bottles of it under his bed right now. But at least he can control when he drinks. It's not like he does it in broad daylight. No, he's way smarter than that. If you ask me it's his intelligence that's allowed him to survive so far. Everyone has their own personal attribute that compliments themselves. Melvin's is his charm and intelligence, and mine is...well I'm not quite sure just yet.

Captain Falx Carius seems to be respectful for my hard-working nature, but that has only gotten me the title of "Captain's Pet" from the other soldiers. Of course, none of us are really soldiers. Everyone knows Fort Frostmoth is where all the trouble makers go to spend the rest of their lives working for the Empire. It's not really that much work if you ask me; a little bit of construction, a little bit of mining, and some other minor chores.

The life of a prisoner isn't so bad I guess, but I can still can't help but wonder if there's something else out there for me. I realize that my life as an inmate is eternal, but still...I've got a feeling something's about to happen. Something big...but I just don't know what; nor if it's good or bad.

"You still awake?"

Melvin had walked into the room and flopped onto his bed. It was likely a little after midnight, and I had awoken my friend from his sleep for the third night in a row.

"I'm sorry, Melvin. I'll...I'll wait on speaking to the mage if you want me to."

"Yes, I'm glad to hear it, my friend. Do NOT tell them about your dreams, Erick. It will only lead to more problems. They'll lock you up in a cell, and before you know it they'll throw you out into the wild. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

No, that didn't sound like a good life to me. Perhaps my dreams would fade away?

"Don't worry, I'll keep quiet."

Only time would tell.....

This post has been edited by redsrock: Feb 7 2008, 05:11 AM

[redsrock]

CHAPTER SEVEN


Bruno’s fist connected with Melvin’s face with so much force that it knocked my friend into the snow. He then sat on Melvin’s stomach and began punching his face in. I attempted to break the fight up, but Bruno’s cronies were holding me at bay. There was nothing I could but watch my friend get pummeled by the Redguard’s massive fists.

What seemed like hours later Falco came running, along with several city guards. They pried Bruno from Melvin’s body and held him in place against a tree. Melvin then went after Bruno but one of the guards restrained him.

“What in Oblivion is going on here?” Falco demanded forcefully.

“You saw my wife, Falco. It was he who did it!”

“You’re a liar!” Melvin yelled back.

“Oh yea, then what is this?”

Bruno held up a wrinkled parchment, and then began reading it aloud when Falco and the guards allowed him to.

“It’s a letter…to someone named Winona. And it is signed by you! You dropped it in my house last night!”

At that moment Melvin’s eyes went blank and his face was white with fear. The gig was up. He was finally caught.

“You lied to me?” Falco asked in a harsh tone. Melvin was speechless.

“Once a criminal…always a criminal,” Bruno growled.

“You two, come with me...NOW!”

Melvin, Bruno and Falco walked off into the distance, and the small crowd dispersed into the caves, including my own partners. But me, I just stood there, frozen in time. I didn’t know what to do. Everything was going a hundred miles and hour. But I had to do something. I couldn’t let Melvin defend himself alone with Bruno. Talos knows he’d be ripped apart by the Redguard and his boss, Falco.

I took off towards the three, ultimately deciding that I would vouch for my comrade, my friend. I wasn’t going to leave him behind, I just couldn’t do that…not after all he’s done for me. All the guidance he’s giving me, all the advice. All of that would be contradicted if I were to turn my shoulder when he needs me most.

Unfortunately me for by time I decided to help my friend, they were already way ahead of me. I had to run the entire way and when I made it to the fort I was completely out of breath. They were already speaking with the Captain at the edge of the entrance, and Captain Falx didn’t look to happy.

“What are doing away from your post, Erick?” Falx asked me.

“I…I’ve come to defend my friend. I want to make sure…nothing is blown out of proportion…” I barely gasped.

“No, you will not. Get back to your post!”

“But sir…”

“Now, Erick! I’ll deal with you later…”

I wanted to argue further, but before I knew it they had already entered the fort, leaving me behind wondering what the hell was going on. I just couldn’t believe how fast things were spiraling downwards. But standing there doing nothing wasn’t helping, so I walked back to the mine.









Back in the mine, Madila was of course working diligently as usual, while Teemee and J’Dato were resting on the job already. They did this rather often, and most of the time I let it slide, because I was never one to get in someone’s face. But today, this very day, I was about to put up with their lack of work ethic.

“Get off your tails and get to work!”

“Sheesh, don’t blame us because your boyfriend got in trouble…”

The Argonian had taken it too far. I had finally had enough of his bantering, so I walked up to the lizard and pressed his body forcefully onto the rocky wall. His squinted his eyes and shield himself from me, as if he thought I was going to strike him. Though the temptation was getting to me, I was luckily able to control myself.

“I’m not in the mood for your mouth, Teemee. Get to work…now.”

I said this with a stern and gentle tone. It was almost maniacal in a way, and Teemee could see something was seriously wrong with me. I had never blown up at anyone. Melvin and I have had our fair share of arguments, but it never amounted to physical contact.

I looked over to the left and J’Dato was already shoveling, with Teemee following shortly after. We worked until noon, and that’s when the lunch bell sounded. We all walked outside and I decided to join Teemee and J’Dato as they scurried off towards the pub. I had lost track of Madila, and therefore had not a clue where she ran off to.

Inside the pub was a vast crowd, mostly made of up miners. They all sneered at us a bit when we walked inside, but other than that they gave us no problems. I spotted Bruno and his buddies at a corner table, and of course they were pointing fingers and making gestures towards my way. I paid it no attention and simply sat down with my fellow miners.

“Hey…umm….sorry about back there in the mine, Erick. I’ll….I’ll try to be more productive. I know times are tough for you, and I shouldn’t have said what I did. That was very immature of me.”

My jaw dropped as Teemee caught me by surprise. J’Dato looked at him in disbelief as well. I wasn’t accustomed to the lizard making amends. This was certainly a first.

“Thanks, but let’s just forget about it. We al make mistakes, eh?”

“Yeah, well I think it’s time we talk about our little friend,” J’Dato said, motioning towards Bruno’s table. “We need to start planning if we want to survive.”

“Survive what?” Teemee asked.

“Bruno and his buddies, of course. They are automatically going to want us dead now that Melvin did what he did last night. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking on Melvin or anything, but we’re in danger of losing our lives now.”

“Come on, are you really serious? Bruno isn’t after our heads, J’Dato…”

Regrettably for me it appeared that I had spoken a tad bit too soon. Bruno was walking towards my table with a malevolent grin spread across dark rough face. He stopped short of our table and extended a hand towards me.

“Congratulations on losing a member of your mining team. I’m sure he won’t be seeing this place anytime soon.”

I merely looked away and stared at the window, hoping Bruno would just leave the tavern. I could sense J’Dato and Teemee looking worried, sweat pouring down their scaly and furry faces. They knew something was about to happen.

“Aren’t you going to shake my hand, Erick? I know you’re a stupid prisoner, but it’s rude to leave someone hanging, you know.”

Still I stood my ground and moved not a muscle. Then Bruno picked up a pitcher of water from the table and tossed it in my face. Water got into my eyes and I wiped it away while Bruno and his men roared with laughter like wild boars.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I must have accidentally knocked it over. I hope you don’t mind being wet for a while. It’s a good thing it’s not cold out there,” he said sarcastically while walking out the door, still laughing it up.

I grabbed a nearby towel that just so happened to be lying around. I didn’t know if it was dirty or not, but at this point I really didn’t care.

“Don’t worry, Erick. Just ignore him,” Teemee reassured me. Too bad that was harder than it looked…