Ekali of the Frozen Heights, Book one Options

[Saquira]

So, I've been working on this since before Skyrim came out now and I think it's about time I publish it. I'm still working on Felisas Memoires, I actually got really inspired yesterday and wrote up the ending so now I know exactly where I want to go with it. I just wanted to get started on publishing this story as well.

I'm no longer working on A Strange Love, you'll probably have gotten it by now but I just wanted to get it out. I might go back to it and continue sometime, but then I'll make a completely new version and it probably won't happen for a very long time.

I change a lot of the things in the main quest in this story, because the dragons really should be able to use all the shouts(it's their language after all) and a lot of other reasons. Ekali won't only follow the main quest though, not like Felisa did. And I'll also have this story be much more orderly, in that I'll divide every chapter in numbered parts and will be writing a "what came before" paragraph at the start of each update.

Anyway, this is the story of the khajiit Ekali, and her journey through Skyrim.

Ekali of the Frozen Heights
Book one

Prologue

The female threw herself across the cold stone just as fire lit the sky, melting the snow of her former location. The beast roared out his rage as he turned after the khajiit, pale fangs still hot from the fire. She thought up the words when its jaws clamped shut above her, forcing Ekali to roll out of the way as it brought its head down again.

“Fo Krah!” The shout was loud, and covered the beast in frost as he lifted his muzzle towards the sky in rage. He flapped his wings, unleashing more fire in her direction, and took to the air.

Getting up from her crouch, the khajiit sprinted across the ice crusted stone, coming to a stop at her pack from which she drew a bow and quiver. The bow was already strung in anticipation for an event just like this, and she put an arrow to it just as the beast came around for another go. Her hands wouldn't be still as she aimed for the creature, and it was by chance that the arrow stuck in its throat. She sprinted again as he roared in fury, black eyes intent on her body.

“Dovahkiin! Zun Haal Viik!” His powerful voice was triumphant as the bow flew out of the woman’s grasp, and she cursed, barely avoiding the swipe from his tail when he flew past. As it was the blast of wind knocked her of her feet, and she pictured a fireball in her mind as she got up again. The dragon was wrapped in flames mere moments before his feet connected with her shoulders and threw her backwards.

Her feline claws where out before she had time to process the empty space beneath her feet, clinging like picks to the ice encrusting the rocky mountain. The stone shuddered as the dragon landed and made his way towards the precipice on which she was hanging.

“Dovahkiin.” The beast smiled at her as he lowered his head, looking over her white body.

The tension on her claws was causing a numbness in her hands when she hung there, and the khajiit grunted when she tried to get a better grip on the cliff side as well as getting her legs up. She'd be damned if she didn't get up, she knew that all to well.

“Trouble, Dovahkiin? Perhaps you should have practised your claws before coming, they often make a lot of difference.” He smiled again as he reached one of his feet out, extending a claw. He looked at it briefly before turning back at her. “How is it you say... oh yes, any last words?” Ekali kept quiet and he smiled again, edging further out on the edge to get to her.

The light of the blue green aurora reflected on his scales when he got closer, making him look even more majestic than before. His head had the shape of an arrowhead with spikes that were angled backwards from his face. His eyes were dark, and the scales had a soft brown colour to them.

She narrowed her eyes at the dragon as she tried to get a better grip on the ice, and clung tighter when the wind picked up, tousling her fur. The ice was mixed with snow, and her hands were barely noticeable because she didn't wear any gauntlets at the time.

The beast crept closer still, and put his foot on her paw to be able to break her grip. With a last smile that caused the blue light to be reflected by his teeth, he tore her away from the cliff, and opened his mouth to shout.

“Fus Ro Dah!” The shout threw her further away from the ledge, away from any hope of survival, and caused her to yell out in shock.

Oh hellfire, was the one thought that went through her head as she looked down at the ground far beneath her, the wind wining past her ears.

* * *

End note: So, there's the prologue. You don't get to find out what happened for a long time though as the prologue takes place long after the first chapter, which I intend to post the first part of on Tuesday. And I really like constructive criticism.

[Saquira]

Colonel Mustard: Oh really...

What can I say guys, I've been really busy and I'm sorry, but school has to come first. I should have an update for Felisa's memoirs soon though.

Previously on Ekali of the Frozen Heights: Having been betrayed by the legion, Ekali was sent of towards Skyrim knowing nothing but the fact that the chance of survival was slim. Arriving at the border pass after seeing Gladio for what might have been the last time, she and the soldiers came upon a group of Imperials whom had just caught some Stormcloaks, and was in need of another carriage. So she travels on towards Helgen, and towards what she believes is her doom.

Chapter 2.2 Lined up for the block

It was afternoon when the group of prisoners and soldiers approached Helgen. None of the prisoners did much, and the soldiers kept quiet. Then the khajiit raised her head after opening her eyes. She looked around for a bit, on the huge mountains and swaying pines, before her eyes rested on the other prisoners.

The one straight across from her had quite tall hair for a man, and it had the blonde colour she'd often seen on Nords. He had the beginning of a beard on his face, and turned his attention to the khajiit when he noticed that she was awake.

“Hey you, you're finally awake. You came on this carriage didn't you? From Cyrodiil,” the soldier said, and Ekali nodded to him.

“Damn you stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn't been looking for you I could have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell by now. I shouldn't be here, neither should you I reckon,” the Nord in rags said turning his eyes on the khajiit.

“We're all brothers and sisters in binds bow, thief,” the blonde soldier answered, sighing heavily.

“Shut up back there!” a soldier called out from the front, though the prisoners paid no mind.

“And what's wrong with him, huh?” the thief asked, turning his eyes to the man in finery.

“Watch your tongue. You're speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true high king.”

“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 thiefs' voice took a shrill tone towards the end, as he put his head in his hands.

“I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits.” The blonde soldier looked at the thief.

“No, this can't be happening. This isn't happening.”

“Hey, what village are you from horse-thief?” The thief raised his head when the other man spoke.

“Why do you care?”

“A Nords last thought's should be of home.”

“Rorikstead. I'm... I'm from Rorikstead.” Just then their gazes were drawn to the wooden gate looming above them, a man standing at the top of it.

“General Tullius sir, the headsman is waiting!” the soldier at the gate called out before it opened.

“Good, let's get this over with,” the general said, splitting of from the column when he came through the gate, and rode up to a group of Altmer nearby.

“Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kynareth, Akatosh. Divines, please help me,” the thief begged in a scared voice. He sat with his head in his hands as the carriage continued through the small town.

“Look at him, General Tallius the Military Governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they'd something to do with this,” the Nord soldier said as they rode past the General and the high elves. He gazed over their surrounding as they continued. “This is Helgen, I used to be sweet on a girl from here. I wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in. Funny, when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe.” The soldiers voice changed from informative, to distant and then to anger as he told the khajiit about the place.

The carriages moved through the streets to an open space where they were steered of to the side. “Get these prisoners out of the cart, move it!” the Imperial Captain from earlier called out as they drove up to a wall and the thief’s head flew up.

“Why are we stopping?” he asked, looking around.

“What do you think? End of the line. Let's go, shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us.” The prisoners stood up in the cart and moved out of it one by one.

“No, wait, we're not rebels!” the thief called out with panic when Ekali made her way out of the carriage.

“Face you death with some courage, thief.” The Nord soldier didn't turn to the other man when responding, and then as one of the soldiers started to read from a list of names, he started to fidget more and more. Ulfric Stormcloak, Ralof of Riverwood and then when it was time for Lokir of Rorikstead, he ran only to be shot down by the archers. The soldier reading the list noted that the female khajiits' name was not there, but the captain said she'd be put to the block in any case.

Ekali followed the Captain quietly, coming to a stop next to Ralof, and looked on as the general and then the priestess began to talk. It was not long before one of the soldiers interrupted and walked up to the block of his own volition.

Annoyed, the priestess stepped aside, and the Imperial Captain pushed the prisoner down to the block. Ekali winced when the executioner's axe came down, but she met the Captain's eyes straight on when the woman called out that it was the khajiits' turn. Not hesitating, she walked forward and came to stand in front of the block before the Captain pushed her down as well.

Looking up at the executioner, Ekali heard the same strange sound the others heard, as well as the calls from people wondering what it was as the executioner readied his axe. The Captain ordered them to go on with it, and effectively put a stop to the worry that was spreading.

Lying on the side, Ekali got a great look at the creature as it flew towards Helgen and perched on one of the towers closest to the group. As panic erupted in the small town, the dragon made some kind of sound, throwing people back from it. The executioner came flying over her as she tumbled to the ground, head spinning. Her head held nothing but chaos until someone shouted in her ear, pulling her up on her feet.

“Up khajiit! We need to move!” Her vision returned to her just I time to see the blonde Nord in front of her, then burning rocks fell around them and she was running after the man, fighting to stay on her feet.

This post has been edited by Saquira: Jan 18 2012, 10:00 PM