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]

Thank you guys! And I'm truly sorry that I haven't updated in a while, but I just can't write when I've got a lot to think about. Competition season has only just begun a few weeks ago as well, and this is the time of year that our teachers likes to give us a lot to do. So I don't think I'll be able to update with anything resembling regularity until the end of term, the 15:th of June, or maybe a week before. The last week is usually pretty slow. I have however begun working on the next couple of chapters already, so who knows? I just might finish that soon. It

And I will get back to the last fight in the barrow within the next few chapters, I just really didn't want to write that fight yet.

Previously on Ekali of the Frozen Heights: Ekali continued through Bleak Falls barrow with Gladio, only to find a murderous spider, a lying bandit (who carried the claw she was looking for) and a very weird wall. Next, Whiterun!

Chapter 3.3 Welcome to Whiterun

The clouds lay thick in the skies above Whiterun hold, and the city lay dormant on the elevated plateau. Farmers, either heading to the market or to harvest their crops, hurried to and fro both within and without the city. Some early risers among the companions sparred in their yard, and in the inn a female redguard swept the floors. A hammer struck metal at the forge by the gate, and lamps were being lit by the shopkeepers.

Only nobility, and the tenants of the inn, stayed in bed longer than 'till seven am. From the windows of the inn, lightning could be seen to the west, cutting down through the clouds and reaching the plains like a knife cutting through butter.

The two shapes coming from the south, from Riverwood, moved at a steady pace along the road. Though the female and the wolf did not hurry, neither were they walking slowly, and they made good progress as Magnus ascended in the sky.

The clock was only minutes away from striking the ninth hour when the female khajiit and her friend reached the city's gate.

One of the guards on duty stopped her by stepping in the way and uttering a snide comment, to which she responded with narrowed eyes that she brought news from Riverwood. The guards expression could not be seen through the helmet, but he stepped aside to let her into the city and she nodded at him with mock gratitude.

Ekali and Gladio arrived at Dragonsreach at noon, just in time to hear the Jarls' discussion with another of his court about the current war. As they approached the throne, the dunmer female nearby saw them and drew her sword before approaching. She wore leather armour and the sword was made of steel.

“What is the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors,” the dunmer said with narrowed eyes.

“I'm here because Riverwood calls for the Jarls' aid. What with the dragon up at at Helgen...” Ekali began to say, a frown upon her face.

“Dragon? Well, that explains why the guards let you inside the city. Come on then, the Jarl will want to speak to you personally,” the Dunmer female said, interrupting the khajiit. She turned, sheathing her sword, and Ekali followed the woman to the Jarls' seat.

The Jarl looked up when the khajiit and wolf walked up after the dark elf.

“My Jarl, this woman claims to bear word from Riverwood,” the dunmer said, gesturing to Ekali, who half-bowed to the Nord before her. He looked at her curiously, gesturing for the other man to be quiet when he made a move to interrupt.

“Very well khajiit, I’ll hear your words. What is your name, and what news do you bring?” All eyes were on the khajiit now, she who had captured the Jarl's attention. No one paid much attention to the wolf by her side.

“A dragon attacked Helgen three days ago, and was last sighted heading north towards Riverwood and Whiterun. Now the people living in Riverwood fear for their lives, and they want you to help them,” Ekali answered to the blonde nord whose clothing signified his rank.

“What do you say Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a dragon?” the Jarl turned to his steward as he said so.

“My lord, we should send troops to Riverwood at once. It's in the most immediate danger, if that dragon is lurking in the mountains,” the dunmer said, stepping up next to the khajiit.

“The Jarl of Falkreath will view that as a provocation! He'll assume we're preparing to join Ulfric's side and attack him! We should not...” this time it was the steward who spoke up.

“Enough!” The Jarl spoke up, looking back at the steward by his side. “I'll not stand idly by while a dragon burns my hold and slaughter my people! Irileth, send a detachment to Riverwood at once.”

“Yes, my Jarl,” the woman answered and put her closed hand against her chest as a salute. Then she turned on her heel and headed for the door.

“If you'll excuse me, I'll return to my duties.” The steward looked at his Jarl.

“That would be best,” Jarl Balgruuf answered, and the Imperial walked of with his head held high. Then he once again turned his attention to Ekali and her companion. “Well done. You sought me out when you could have turned around and run the other way. You've done Whiterun a service, and I won't forget it,” he said.

“There is another thing you could do for me,” he then continued, a bit hesitantly. “Suitable for someone of your particular talents, perhaps. Come, let's go find Farengar, my court wizard. He's been looking into a matter related to these dragons and... rumours of dragons.” The Jarl arose from his chair, and she followed him when he headed towards one of the smaller rooms that where connected to the main hall.

Inside the room there was a long desk, a map stretched onto a portable wall, an enchanters table and an alchemist table. Two doors could be seen on the other side of the room. The Jarl's attention was drawn to the man whom was currently bending over the darkened alchemists table, but who finished up as soon as he could and turned to greet them. He was a breton, something that could only have been guessed at previously thanks to his blue robes.

“Farengar, I think I've found someone who can help you with your dragon project. Go ahead and fill her in with the details,” the Jarl said to the man who thanked him before looking the khajiit over. Her fur armour was quite ragged by then, shoes barely holding together by the seams. The travellers pack was obviously improvised and hung with a single strap over her left shoulder next to the great-sword.

“So the Jarl thinks you can be of use to me? Oh yes, he must be referring to my research into the dragons. Well, I could use someone to fetch something for me,” he said and turned to something on his desk. The Jarl left while he was talking. “Well, when I say fetch I really mean delve into a dangerous ruin in search of an ancient stone tablet that may or may not actually be there,”

“What am I fetching, and where can I find it?” Ekali asked with a sigh.

“Straight to the point, eh? No need for tedious hows and whys. I like that. Leave those details to your betters, am I right?” the wizard said, a smirk adorning his otherwise bored face. Ekali's fur bristled, and she narrowed her eyes slightly, but she didn't answer him. Instead she took her pack out when he continued to speak, and looked around in it. “I, ah, learned of a certain stone tablet said to be housed in Bleak Falls Barrow - a “Dragonstone”, said to contain a map of dragon burial sites. Go to...” He went quiet when he saw her take a stone tablet out of her pack and hold it out for him.

“Is this it?” Ekali then asked with a smirk of her own at the bretons' dumbfounded expression, which although he recovered after a while lasted for a few minutes.

“Yes, it is,” he said once he'd recovered his composure, and accepted the stone, laying it down on the desk. “Thank you, I suppose.”

“What happens now?” Ekali asked, hoisting the pack onto her shoulder again.

“I do my work, and you... Well, I suppose you'd like to see the Jarl for your reward, hmm? In any case, I need privacy for this.” The khajiit nodded, and left the room without further coercion. She walked towards the Jarl on his throne, intending to stop a few feet away and wait for him to acknowledge her. That was not necessary, as the Jarl beckoned for her to step forward as soon as he saw her coming out of the wizard's chambers.

“Are you done with your work already? Well, I suppose I shouldn't complain. You there, fetch the box upstairs!” the Jarl said the last to one of his guards who hurried up the stairs behind them before he turned his attention back to the woman. “I do not have anything else for you to do, though I might call on you if anything comes up. You have after all survived a dragon attack, and that in itself merits some amount of respect. I also have an item for you as payment for the services rendered so far, and I've already sent a runner to the inn keeper to make sure that she gives you a room if she has one.” The Jarls words were accompanied by a smile, and moments later the guard came back down with a wooden case.

“The Jarl of Markarth sent me this a few years ago, an expedition that went well I believe. However, I have little use for it, and a bow such as this holds no place in court. I noticed that you carry one made by the Imperials, but I know for a fact that the bows they carry do not come close to the quality of a Forsworn bow.” As he spoke, the soldier opened the case for Ekali, and she gently took the slender weapon, eyes wide at the sight of it.

“Thank you, sir,” she said and half bowed to him. He nodded back to her, and turned to the steward in what was clearly a dismissal. So Ekali backed up a few steps before turning around and heading out of the palace, feet hitting the ground in a steady rhythm as she made her way to the marketplace. Gladio walked only a step behind, ears peaked at all times.