Jihl of Hart Options

[Heather V]

Hello

I'm Heather V and this is pretty new for me. I'm an avid user of the Bethsoft forums under a different names and loved all the FanFics that were posted on there. But when I decided to post my own, following some pretty handy advice I was led here, and I'm glad I was!

This first part is somewhat a data dump, but to me it is just the perfect way to introduce my character and show a taste of what she is like. I hope you enjoy it Hehe

INTRODUCTION

My name is Jihl. Some know me as Electra, others know me as the Shadow, but my name is Jihl.

I’m in prison. Cool, huh? NO. It’s not. It’s rancid, putrid, infested and lots of other negative words ending with ‘D’. It’s vile and disgusting, but this is home now.

How did I get here I hear you ask? Maybe you didn’t ask, but I’m going to tell you anyway.

I used to be a member of an elite group of rebel fighters called the Hart Resistance. What did we do? We fought the fights that nobody else would. It’s that simple.

There was this one fight, though, and it was bad. Very bad. People died, and the wrong people lived.

All because of a necromancer named Nerastarel.

She was bad. Well, at first she was bad. She used to just do little things like raise the odd skeleton every now and then, but then her power grew too great. She got a taste for it. Soon enough she wasn’t just ‘Bad’. What she was didn’t even have a name.

It’s funny isn’t it? Someone who you once loved like a sister can change just like that. The feeling you once had can vanish. I have no idea how that can happen. It just does.

So yeah, I’m stuck in this cell in what I can only assume is the Imperial City and it is NOT fun.

I don’t know if I’ll even get out.

Although I do know one thing; should I get out Nerastarel will pay.

That I’m deadly sure of.

This post has been edited by Heather V: Aug 31 2012, 09:14 PM

[Heather V]

Again thank you all so much for your responses to the last chapter! Each and every one is widely appreciated!

Now for this next chapter I've encorporated an element from another person's story. I've asked this person permission, and He's allowed me to use it. I see it as a tribute to him.

Fans of his story will recognise it immediatly

3. The Emporer and I

I jogged toward the emporer and the Blades, but being very aware of the fact that I should keep my distance once I reached them.

I followed them through what looked like some fort of ruin. Castle ruins? I wasn’t to sure; although the architecture heavily implied it.

I couldn’t help but stare in awe at my surroundings, old and beautiful. The walls were a pale grey, marble in texture.

The air was cold, though, but not only in temperature. It was obvious that something bad had happened here.

The presence of a mournful past lingered in the atmosphere.

It wasn’t long until we reached a large, empty room. The room had a gate at the very end of it. An easy exit? The Blades didn’t seem to think so.

“I don’t like this…” said the Redguard Blade. “It feels like a trap.”

“Don’t worry, Baurus,” said the female Blade. “It would be impossible for the assassins to know we were down here.” She gently smiled at him. “Besides, should there be an attack you, Glenroy and I shall be more than enough to protect the Emperor from harm.”

“Still, Renault, I think we should be cautious. I suggest we scout the area just in case.” Baurus insisted.

Renault let out a brief sigh of annoyance and then looked at me.

“You, keep an eye on the Emperor.” She ordered before she and the others walked around the large room.

Was it irresponsible of Renault to leave me in charge of the Emperor? Maybe. She was obviously so convinced that the place was safe that she felt certain the Emperor needed no heavy guard.

“I have something for you…” The emperor said to me.

I looked at him. ”You do, sire?”

He smiled, “this used to belong to my late wife. It was important to her,” He said, producing a necklace with a red stone from a small pocket in his robe. “It is important that you take it.” He insisted.

I tried to be humble and refuse it, “Oh no sire, I couldn’t possibly.” I followed with a joke, “Red doesn’t really go with my eyes.”

The Emperor laughed. “You young girls today! No, there is no negotiation. You must take it.”

I looked at him for a moment, his gentle smile convincing me to take it.

“Okay, sire.” I said, taking the necklace from his hand. I examined it. It was a thing of beauty. However, a question sprung to mind, “Why are you giving this to me, though? Surely you would want to keep such a treasured item?”

“I feel this necklace would be more useful to you than it could ever be to me.” He told me.

“Useful?” I asked curiously, suddenly very aware this wasn’t a normal necklace.

“Do you see the garnet imbedded within the pendant?” He asked. I nodded and he explained, “That is a guardian stone.”

“A… guardian stone?” I said, suddenly remembering a book I had once read. “Oh yeah, Guardian Stones grant the owner the ability to communicate with their Guardian Spirit through the medium of telepathy, right?”

The emperor nodded, “Impressive.”

I casually shrugged, “had a lot of time on my hands to do some reading, so…”

The emperor laughed again, and I couldn’t help but laugh with him.

I suddenly felt comfortable enough to ask a rather intrusive question, “are you escaping because your sons were murdered? I overheard the Blades mention it earlier…” although my question was personal, I asked it with the uttermost respect. I didn’t want to risk a beheading.

The emperor reminisced for a moment, then spoke, “Yes. My sons were murdered by assassins and I strongly believe I am next.”

“You do?” I asked, surprised. “But you’re Blades will protect you, surely?”

“I’ve seen things in my dreams that are without question prophetic. I only see things that will be and things that have been; never have I dreamed of anything that might be.”

My expression suddenly turned grim. It was heart-breaking to think that the Emperor was so certain of his death. “If you are sure your dreams will come true, why go through all this trouble trying to escape? Why not just let them come to you?”

The Emperor smiled a wickedly teasing smile, “Just because I am to die, doesn’t mean I won’t go out without a fight!”

I smiled and then laughed. The old man had balls, I was sure of that. He was cool; nothing like I had always silently feared.

“Won’t you try it on?” The emperor said, gesturing towards the necklace.

Sheepishly I did so, but I didn’t feel any different; apart from my neck feeling that little bit heavier. He could obviously tell that nothing was happening.

“Once the time is right,” he started, “your Guardian Spirit will come.”

We exchanged a meaningful smile.

It was odd. Not since Master Mason had I felt such fatherly comfort from a man. It was warm and gentle; and not at all creepy as I originally assumed.

“Aren’t you scared?” I asked the emperor. I was kind of scared for him. I think it was evident in my voice.

Before he could answer, though, we heard Renault shout from ahead of us.

“THE ASSASSIN’S HAVE BREACHED! PROTECT THE EMPORER!”

This post has been edited by Heather V: Sep 12 2012, 08:53 PM