No Elves in Sovngarde, I've decided to to turn my "A day in Skyrim" adventure i Options

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Hey y'all! The "Today in Skyrim" thing made mee remember how MUCH I love writing, and how much better it is to not just write shutff and hide it. So the first post is going to be the old "chapters" combined along with the new one I just wrote. Feedback welcome, but remember, no one has seen anything I've written in over 8 years, lol

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Alright, so this chapter is going to be set into either 2 or three parts. Not sure yet. I've been working almost nonstop on this chapter and due to my excitability, I'm now like 6 chapters ahead, lol!!!

It's also a bit short, but I had to hack off some content and place it elsewhere until I know what to do with it.

I appreciate everyone's input and encouragement. Like I mentioned to Acadian, I like that it's a constructive type of criticism and not outright "YOU SUCK" like on most forums.

Anyways, enjoy!

CHAPTER 10.1

Over the next few weeks, Lydia kept close to me. When night terrors had me keening like a wounded Khajiit, she would crawl into bed with me and sing to me in a soft voice. I often awoke with her next to me, stroking my forehead to keep me calm. When Onmund came by, she would send him away and tell him I wasn't ready for him. She didn't tell me how I got home, and I didn't ask. I didn't care.

Around dusk on Middas I got up and put clothes on. Lydia raised her eyebrows, but said nothing. She watched me, wordlessly, as I pulled an unassuming brown dress over my head and stepped into modest shoes. I braided my auburn hair down my back, grabbed a small coin-purse, and headed out the door.

She followed behind me in silence as I marched up to Arcadia's Cauldron and went in. The medley of smells would assault the nose of someone with no alchemy training, but I could pick out the warm fragrance of flowers, the earthy scent of roots, and the pungent odors of frost salts, vampire ashes, and other dried ingredients. Arcadia's eyes widened with surprise and what I read as delight. She hardly ever got customers, unless it was myself or the occasional traveler.

"Kayla," she greeted me warmly. "I'm so glad to see you feeling better!"

I attempted a smile, knowing I looked like death warmed over. "Thank you, Arcadia. I was wondering if you had any Canis Root?"

Arcadia kept her smile, but her weathered face took on a confused expression. "What would you need Canis Root for?"

"Just to keep my focus while in battle. It's the last ingredient I need, and I haven't been out and about to get some myself." She reluctantly handed me some. "Is it fresh?" I sniffed the root, the earthy smell not quite gone from it. A few grains of dirt fell from the folded cloth she handed over to me. The root felt familiar and slightly weighty in my hands.

"It's as fresh as I can afford. Business hasn't been doing as well since you've been out of commission." She leaned some of her weight on one leg. "So... how have you been feeling? I heard-"

"About my run-in with the vampires? It's alright, I just needed time to heal." I heard Lydia shift her weight in her armor behind me. "That's why I need these ingredients. I'll also need Imp Stool for my health potion."

Arcadia handed me the Imp Stool. "Anything else?"

I shook my head. "I think this will be all. I need to get back into the feel of things. It's been weeks since I've concocted a potion." I held out my hands. "I don't even have stains anymore!" My laugh was stiff and bounced off the wooden walls awkwardly.

"You know, if you want to talk about..." I raised my eyebrow, and she finished, "The vampires, I'm always here. I've had two 'vampire' experiences myself. It's why I gave up on ever..." She trailed off when she noticed that I was glaring at her. "I know what it's like to lose something. Especially something you've hoped for."

"Thank you," I said icily and turned on my heel. Lydia followed me out the door before I slammed it. "How does she know about...?" I trailed off, fighting tears. Lydia sighed.

"Well," she began. "Your husband has made that the sole reason for his drinking. And once Nord men start drinking, it's hard for them to stop." She peered up at me. I stood almost an entire head above her. Or I would have, if I was standing up straight. I averted my eyes, my throat constricting.

"I know," I coughed out the words unintentionally, then cleared my throat. "You forget that I was raised by Nords."

Lydia half-smiled. "I remember the day you walked in and warned us about the dragons. I've never heard a High Elf speak with a Nordic accent before."

I laughed. "You should tag along next time I meet another Altmer. The look of surprise on their faces!" We began to laugh hysterically outside of Arcadia's Cauldron. It was the first time I've laughed since stepping off the carriage in Morthal.


~~~~~~~~~~~


The next morning I awoke alone in my bed. Not having any night terrors, Lydia let me sleep on my own. I poked my flat belly and realized I was getting soft. I felt a brief pang of sadness and a ghost of movement. I pushed it out of my mind and began to dress.

I began to think of where I could go next. I would probably never return to Morthal. Being alive, and Onmund being alive means Movarth's plans never came to fruition and the town isn't cattle. I glanced at the stack of letters on my nightstand as I laced a boot up. All of them opened, all of them addressed to me. I picked up the top one and read it.

"Kayla,

You have my thanks for saving my Hold from the ancient vampire. You are welcome anytime.

-Jarl Idgrod"

Hmmph. I opened another one, and saw it was from Mjoll the Lioness in Riften.

"Kayla,

Mjoll wanted me to send you a letter asking for your help. She remembered that you had mentioned adventuring when you passed through Riften the day Grelod the Kind passed away. Since you did not journey back here like you mentioned, she wanted me to remind you of your promise to retrieve Grimsever.

On a side note, I hope that you can retrieve her sword for her. Mjoll is the most important person in my life, and I want her happy.

Sincerely,
Mjoll and Aerin"

I set the letter aside. Riften. Though Mjoll mentioned her sword several times during my visit, I was busy dealing with, uh...

The rest were nonsense letters from nonsense people. A museum in Dawnstar, a letter announcing a shop opening in Solitude in honor of Jester's Day, even though we are still in First Seed. A love letter from Erik the Slayer. I suppose I should tell him I'm married now, I mused.

I met Erik the Slayer when he was still Erik Hoe-Pusher. His red tresses breathed fire into the air and into my body. The definition in his arms told me he had years of hard work under him, as well as the scars on his arms and calluses when he pressed his hands on the bar. I overheard him talking to his father, begging and pleading with him to allow him to become an adventurer.

I sidled up beside him and offered to train him. He looked like he was going to take me up on it, until he got a look at me. He looked shocked at first, then displeased. As Lydia said, my Nordic accent is astonishing to most, especially considering how thick it is.

"Is this a joke?" He sneered. "I'll wait for a real adventurer to come along."

I narrowed my eyes and said nothing. Even if I was physically attracted to him, his attitude towards my being Altmer disgusted me. I spun on my heel and walked to my room. Rorikstead might have a few pleasant inhabitants, but my time there would be short enough.

Before I could get too much farther into the reverie, I heard Lydia shift in her room. That reminded me that I still needed to brew my potion. I looked at my woefully unstained hands and took the ingredients I had bought from Arcadia to the room beneath the stairs. As the burners heated up, I ground the ingredients. A little water softened up the root to make a decent paste while steeping the mushrooms in hot water and straining them let their essence transfer to the water. The final ingredient was swamp fungal pod. I had Lydia pick it up earlier this week, but I didn't tell her what is was for. She gets really antsy about alchemy.

This poison was going to really stink, but it would be effective. The earthy smell was going to combine with the wet, moldy scent, making my poison smell close to a rancid pond. After crushing it to a pulp, I added all of the ingredients together and lowered the temperature on the burner. The liquid began taking on an odd color, both green and brown. They mixed together to make an awful color, one I could never mistake for any other poison.

Paralyze.

This post has been edited by Elisabeth Hollow: Jan 16 2013, 09:58 PM