A Wood Elf in Windhelm, Stranger in a Strange Land? Options

[haute ecole rider]

Welp it has been a few years (yikes, almost EIGHT??) since I last posted anything in the Fan Fiction forum. I've taken up writing once again now that I have a couple of voices talking in my head once again. I hope y'all enjoy this one . . .

Sundas 17 Last Seed - Candlehearth Hall

“Child!� Lili turned her gaze toward the source of the voice. “Get that mangy mutt out of here! And go home to your parents!�

Here we go again. Lili lowered her hood to show her face, lean, sharp featured and highlighted by slanted eyes. She lowered her hand to touch the dog’s ears, just as pointed as her own. “Forgive me, ma’am,� she kept her voice soft, pitched to carry across the room to the Nord innkeeper behind her counter. “I’ve traveled from across the sea. This dog followed me from the docks. I seek food, a bath, and a bed for both of us. And I assure you Star has been cleansed of any fleas or lice or other vermin. But if you wish,� she half turned to the door behind her, “I’ll go seek lodging somewhere else.�

“Wait!� The woman stepped from behind the counter and approached Lili, gesturing her to step into the pool of light from a nearby sconce. “Forgive me, given your size I thought . . .�

“I take it you don’t see many Bosmer here in Windhelm,� Lili countered softly. “It’s an honest mistake, ma’am.� She looked down at Star’s bright blue eyes. “I can pay for both of us, but I also have a pair of fat salmon -� she held up two fish from beneath her cloak “- I fished up off the docks this afternoon. If you’ll let me use your kitchen for a little while, I can cook it up for us.�

“Salmon?� The woman exclaimed. “Nonsense! Nils!� She called over her shoulder down the hallway extending to the rear of the inn. “My name’s Elda Early-Dawn, I run this inn.� She glanced warily at the black and white dog. “We typically don’t serve dogs in here . . .�

“I’m Lilisfina. That’s why I offered to cook for the both of us,� Lili assured her. “I did clean him up before we came up from the docks.�

“Wait, isn’t he the stray dog the Argonians feed from time to time?� Elda put her hands on her hips. “He’s not filthy, is he?�

“Not anymore,� Lili smiled at him and ruffled his scruff. “I made sure of it.�

Elda narrowed her eyes at the slight Bosmer. “How?� She leaned down slightly and sniffed audibly. “He doesn’t smell fishy, or wet.�

Lili sent a faint wave of restoration magic down his body. Elda gasped and hastily stepped back. Her hand crept to her throat and grasped a small amulet.

“I’ve been traveling all over Tamriel as healer,� Lili explained softly. “And learning as much as I can from fellow healers and mages.�

“Magic?� Elda exclaimed. “Goodness! Not here, nothing dangerous like that! That’s all best kept up at the College of Winterhold.�

Lili pulled the coin purse from her belt. “May I pay for a room, a bath, and the use of your kitchen, ma’am?�

A scruffy man appeared at Elda’s shoulder. “You called, ma’am?�

“Give Nils the salmon,� Elda took a deep breath and met Lili’s gaze. “You can have your choice from our menu, if you want to give that dog something other than fish. We’ll put the salmon on our menu for tonight, or you can have it prepared your way for yourself.� Lili turned to the wizened older man and held the fish to him. “As for the room and the bath, it would be ten drakes for the room and three for the bath.� Her gaze flickered to the dog. “It’d be extra if you bathe the dog too.�

Nils hefted the fish thoughtfully, then grinned in satisfaction at their weight. Lili smiled back, then turned to Elda. “The dog won’t appreciate the bath, but if you have a nice mutton bone left over from that stew I smell cooking he wouldn’t mind that.�

“That’s nice salmon, mind,� Nils exclaimed softly as he met Lili’s gaze. “Salmon my way, salmon your way, or our mutton stew?�

“Let me try the stew,� Lili answered. “I’ve had nothing but smoked fish on the way here.� She counted out the drakes and handed them to Elda. “And here’s three for the bath, and twenty for two nights in the room. Would that be acceptable?�

“Of course,� Elda exclaimed, palming the coins into the purse at her waist. Here’s a woman who knows the value of a good coin. “Follow me, ma’am.� She turned and followed Nils into the back hallway. While he continued down to the rear of the structure, Elda stopped at the first door on the left. She drew a key from her pocket, unlocked it and swung it open. “Does this suit you and your dog?�

“He’s not really my dog,� Lili remarked as she stepped in. “But he decided to follow me.�

“Likely because you fed him,� Elda muttered as Star followed after Lili, his white tipped tail waving over his back as he explored the room with his nose. “Well, do you want your bath first, or eat first?�

“It’s cold outside,� Lili set her pack onto the bed, “and it will take time to get a hot bath ready. I think I’ll eat that stew first.�

“And what would you like to drink?�

“Mead?� Lili asked. “I’ve heard so much about it, and I’d like to try some.�

“Mead it is!� Elda nodded emphatically. “Mind you, be careful with it until you get used to it.�

“I’m Bosmer,� Lili smiled. “Grew up on jagga and rotmeth.� Elda pulled a face. She’s actually tasted jagga or rotmeth?

“Head upstairs, and I’ll have Susanna bring you your meal,� she nodded at Star, “and a bone for that dog. He’d better behave himself!�

“Thank you very much, ma’am,� Lili cast a lock spell on her bag, then followed the Nord innkeeper out. At the taller woman’s gesture, she headed up the wide stairs to the main hall above.

The large space, tucked beneath the high steep roof, took up the entire length of the inn. A large flagstone hearth, its chimney holding up the centerline of the roof, took up the center of the room. The part of the room adjacent to the open stairway held three tables, all three occupied. Chairs were placed along the walls and around the fireplace. On the other side, to the rear, a slender Dunmer plucked at a lute, a plaintive melody drifting from her long fingers.

“Hello!� Another Nord woman, this one a bit younger, her abundant curves highlighted by a rather lightweight outfit, approached Lili. “I’m Susanna the Wicked. Have you already ordered something to eat or drink, ma’am?�

“Elda will be sending something up shortly,� Lili replied. “I’m Lilisfina. You don’t seem very wicked to me, Susanna.�

“Are you new to Skyrim, ma’am?� Susanna tucked her tray beneath one arm. At Lili’s nod, she leaned down slightly to speak softly. “Here in Skyrim, nicknames are meant to be ironic. They call Elda Early-Dawn because, well, she sleeps late most days.� She nodded at a slouched Nord, his winter cap askew over his ears. “And Rolff Stone-Fist, because he has a glass hand. Jaw, too, to tell the truth.� She touched the side of her nose with her finger. “I didn’t tell you that.�

Lili smiled back at her and mirrored her gesture. “Tell me what?� She looked around the room again.

“You’ll have to share a table with one of those men,� Susanna straightened up. She eyed Lili thoughtfully.

“Which one do you suggest?� Lili asked. “I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.�

“Hmm, the black beard nearest us is Captain Lonely-Gale. He’s nice enough, but he’s being - aggressively - pursued by a certain spinster. That makes him cranky when she’s been on him, and she should be coming in here soon.� She shook her head warningly. “Not good company then.� Her gaze shifted to the front wall. “The older gentleman in the left corner behind the stairwell is Adonato Leotelli. He’s a writer, and when he’s writing . . .�

Lili took in the bent head, the quivering quill and the sheets of parchment scattered across the table. “Resents any distraction?�

“And did Elda say you could bring your dog here?� Susanna tipped her head at the Skyrim Husky, who regarded the room from his seated position at Lili’s side. “Because Leotelli will complain about misbehaving dogs, barking and panting and breaking up his concentration.�

“He’s not my dog,� Lili corrected. “But I understand what you mean. I definitely wouldn’t want to interrupt the creative process.�

Susanna snorted softly. “Now that big one with the shaved head and fierce face,� she indicated the man in the opposite corner, scratched iron glimmering in the candlelight with each slow breath, “Stenvar’s a sellsword. Strongest sword arm in the North, if you believe him.� She regarded him with a fond expression. “He’s rough, and looks like an absolute brute, but I assure you, he’s a good man to know. He won’t mind your - the dog, either. If he’s got a temper, I haven’t seen it yet.�

“How would he feel about sharing a table with an Elf?� Lili asked. Susanna glanced sharply at her. “Oh, I heard Rolff Stone-Fist and one other man giving a Dunmer lady a hard time before I came in. Sounded like there’s a fair bit of resentment about them here in Windhelm.�

Susanna laid a finger on her lips. “We can talk about that another time, Lilisfina.� She waved toward the mercenary’s table. “Go on, sit there. I’ll bring you your meal right away!�

Lili and Star wove their way between the chairs toward the indicated table. She noticed the round shield and war axe leaning against a chair at the side of the table, then the hilt of a zwei-hander over the sellsword’s shoulder. He raised his blue gaze from his mug as she stopped beside the chair opposite him.

“May I?� Lili rested her hand on the back of the chair in question.

“Of course,� Stenvar straightened his shoulders slightly and waved his free hand in open invitation. As she took her seat, he clenched his hand and tapped his iron cuirass in greeting. “I’m Stenvar.�

“Lilisfina,� she put her palms together in front of her own chest and nodded once. “My pleasure.�

“Are you certain?� Stenvar’s voice rumbled softly, his eyes glinting with good humor. “I’d argue the pleasure is mine. It’s not often I get a beautiful lass ask to sit at my table.�

Lili regarded him thoughtfully. “Somehow I get the feeling plenty of beautiful ladies do more than just sit with you, sir.� She kept her tone light and soft, and lifted her right brow in challenge.

Stenvar grinned, then shook his head with a chuckle. “Not as many as you’d think, ma’am.�

[haute ecole rider]

@Acadian: Those written snippets from Sten's missives home serve two main purposes: one is, as you say, to catch the reader up on the story periodically; secondly, it's to help the reader see the POV switch between Sten and Lili. It definitely seems it is serving at least one of those purposes! Speaking of light in the midst of darkness, it has regularly occurred to me that if these ruins have truly been abandoned and forgotten for generations, why are there torches still burning? One may say magic! And we will see such torches as we progress through this story. But for this particular location, and for another one coming up, it makes little sense to have torches. Hence Lili's mage light, and draugr torches. And I suspect Lili will reconsider her long reliable recipe for her anti nausea potions soon.

@SubRosa: Finally a good use for that Calm spell - I've never used it in game but in Lili's story it fits with her Green Pact philosophy - no unnecessary killing. Uncomfortable undead detector, indeed! I'm sure by the end of this adventure Lili is happy to be out of that place! And I laughed at your reference to Sai's practical approach to undead skeletons in Miscarcand! I thought of him when I wrote Star's take, but draugr tendons are a lot tougher.

@Renee: Lili is friend to more than just canines and horkers - as we will see as the story winds on. And no, she doesn't consider herself to be Star's owner, as will be clarified later in the story. Considering that most of my pre-ESO characters are bow users, I've always been irritated by followers' tendency to run ahead and spoil the shot. That was the one good thing about Killer Jack, the killer bunny that would bring down dragons one angry nibble at a time. He was too small to spoil my shots! So in my stories I give these "followers" more sense.

Now we puke progress further into Forsaken Crypt in search of the big bad.

**************************

Middas 20 Last Seed - Curalmil

Lili peered through the doorway into the large hall. Parts of its walls had disappeared behind rockfalls, and a dim light shone down from cracks in the high arched ceiling. She could see tiny white flakes drifting in and out of the light beams. Ahead the damaged floor rose a few steps to a large stone structure. Her instincts indicated four more of the undead beings in upright sarcophagi around the walls, and one more within that stone bier ahead of them. This one was larger, and she had a sense of greater rage and lethality from that being.

Stenvar crouched beside her, his zwei-hander upright before him, and scanned the hall with his vision. “What do you see, boss?� he whispered.

“Four of those - draugr, you called them?� Lili pointed them out to Stenvar. “And one more in that stone thing up ahead - bigger and more lethal than the others.�

“That’s a Dragon Priest sarcophagus,� his tone turned grim. “All the draugr serve a Dragon Priest somewhere, and these are very tough baddies.�

“Curalmil was a Dragon Priest?� Lili turned in time to see him shrug.

“If the age of this place is right, of course.� He answered. Lili shuddered.

“How’s your stomach?� Stenvar asked softly. “Do you need another potion?�

“I’m out,� Lili responded. “I’m going to have to make stronger potions. These draugr are worse than any undead I’ve encountered before.�

“Can you get through this?� Lili could see the concern in Stenvar’s gaze. “It’s not going to be easy.�

“I’ll have to,� Lili replied. She fished out a silken square from her belt pack. She shook it into a folded triangle and tied it around her lower face, making a rough mask. “Ready?�

“Will that work?� Stenvar gestured dubiously at the green fabric.

“I’m hoping it takes the edge off that stench,� Lili responded. “Maybe next time I’ll chew some mint so I’m smelling that instead of these,� she jerked her head toward the large sarcophagus. “Let’s do this.�

“I’ll focus on the big bad guy,� Stenvar pointed at the stone bier. “You hit as many of these draugr as you can to keep them off my back.� He looked down at the dog. “And maybe Star will make himself useful where his teeth would be most needed.�

“I trust him to do so,� Lili gritted her teeth in a grin beneath her makeshift mask and moved out into the half-ruined chamber. She slid right along the perimeter and headed for the nearest alcove. Within she recognized the dormant form of a draugr bearing a sword. She hit him with her strongest fire spell and moved on to the next one.

Stenvar moved out into the room as the fiery undead staggered out of its slumber. He moved barely five paces toward the center before the great slab of the sarcophagus flew up with a boom. Lili turned her back on the center and glanced back to see her first draugr stumble forward a few steps before it collapsed. Already the other three were moving out of their alcoves, heading toward the center.

Lili lit up the second draugr then retraced her steps back toward the entrance. She heard Stenvar’s grunt as he attacked the huge being that towered above him. The creature carried a sword almost as massive as Stenvar’s zwei-hander, and thin, curved horns rose above its helm, adding to its height.

Two other draugr approached Stenvar from the opposite side, their eyes glowing blue in the dimness. Behind her Lili heard Star growl briefly, then the second draugr clattered to the broken floor with a sense of finality. He dashed past her toward the other two, but she caught his attention and pointed him to Stenvar and the large being - Curalmil, has to be - indicating he should support the big Nord.

As Star changed direction and beelined toward Curalmil, Lili dashed across the chamber to circle around behind the two draugr. She hit first one, then the other, from behind with her flame spell. As they staggered in confusion, she skipped back out of their range and turned her attention back to Stenvar.

The two combatants were fairly matched, with Curalmil’s greater size and reach offset by Stenvar’s quickness and agility. In spite of his muscular appearance, Stenvar proved able to dodge the blows from Curalmil’s ancient blade. But his own zwei-hander was slower in recovery, and Curalmil was easily able to parry Stenvar’s strikes.

Star dashed into the fight, ducking the flying blades and zeroing on Curalmil’s right calf. He seized the big draugr’s leg in his jaws and whipped around, feet braced. He tugged fiercely on the undead’s limb, shaking it as he would shake a rat.

This threw Curalmil off balance just enough for Stenvar to close in and slam the pommel of his zwei-hander hard into the other’s jaw beneath the helm. Curalmil staggered back, but managed to stay upright. He raised his sword high and brought its hilt down hard on Stenvar’s back. As the big Nord groaned and fought to keep his feet, Lili leaped forward and threw all of her magicka into a fireball. It sailed the short distance and engulfed Curalmil’s right side in flame. The blue eyes flared toward her as Star gave a final tug before releasing his grip. A spine tingling screech rang around the chamber as Curalmil turned for Lili and that sword went up again.

She skipped back, desperately trying not to trip on the broken floor and still fighting the overpowering nausea. Just as she expected that sword to fall, the flames reached Curalmil’s right hand and the sword spun out of his grip and fell to the floor in a great clatter. Stenvar took advantage of the ancient undead’s distraction to take a huge swing with his zwei-hander into Curalmil’s left side. He disengaged the blade with some difficulty as Curalmil dropped to his knees, then forward onto his face. The blue glow of his eyes faded as flames consumed the rest of his form.

Lili met Stenvar’s gaze over the smoking ruins of the one once called Curalmil. Both crouched breathlessly on the broken ground, and Lili could see Stenvar shaking from the fight. Then the nausea won, and she managed to pull her mask away before retching again. She closed her eyes and waited for her stomach to settle uneasily.

“Here,� a touch on her shoulder drew her head up. Stenvar held out his water flask. “Rinse your mouth with this, get rid of the taste. That’ll help your stomach some.� He rose to his feet when she took the canteen, and turned to look around the hall. As she spat the bilious taste out, he stretched his spine until he winced, then shrugged his armor to sit more comfortably. Lili rose to her feet and returned the water flask to Stenvar, then touched him lightly. She could sense the massive bruise in his back, the strained muscles, the cracked ribs. She reached into her magicka again, and sent a wave of healing from her fingertips into his body.

“What? Hey,� he shrugged again, more easily this time, “that feels great. Thanks, boss.� He took the canteen back from her and took a gulp from it. Star yipped once from his seated position near the ashes of Curalmil. Lili stepped up to him and ruffled his ears in gratitude. He leaped to his feet and started quartering the chamber.

Lili moved to the sarcophagus, and examined its interior. Empty. She glanced back at the remains of the ancient alchemist. Hmm where should I use that potion Nurelion showed me? She looked around the chamber, and peered into the shadows at the rear.

“There’s stairs leading down,� Stenvar joined her and pointed them out. “Hard to make it out, but there it is.�

Lili could only make out a faint grey glow, like mist, in that direction. As she stepped past the sarcophagus, she became aware of a faint, rhythmic sound. She paused warily. “Do you hear that, Stennvar?�

“Hear what?� Stenvar stepped past her toward the stairs. He looked up and around, then glanced back at her with a question in his blue eyes.

“Like a chanting, but it’s barely audible . . .� Lili followed Stenvar. As she did so, the sound grew stronger. “It’s coming from up there,� she pointed to the right. A refreshed mage light showed another flight of stairs, this time heading up past the ones leading down. Another upward flight barely showed off to the left. With a flick of her fingers Lili sent the mage light floating slowly up the steps on the right. She followed slowly, warily. Her instincts showed nothing up there, but that chanting . . . It’s old, whatever it is. And apparently neither Stennvar nor Star can hear it. That’s powerful magic, I wonder what it is.

The mage light reached the top of the stairs to show a wall that curved around the space above the mist filled chamber to the opposite stairs. Lili could see carving on it, carving in a lettering she did not recognize. Above this wall towered an immense relief depicting a frontal view of a dragon’s head. She recognized the shape from her time in Elsweyr.

“That’s - that’s - wow,� Stenvar’s awed voice reached her from below. He followed her up the steps as she drew nearer the wall, her eyes on the carved lettering. At a spot on the right side, a couple of the carved figures began to glow at her approach, and the chanting grew louder. She felt a presence flow into her as the lettering burned into her vision, then her eyes blacked out.

The chanting stopped suddenly and she could hear Stenvar’s voice again. Her sight cleared to show the carved lettering again, now inert beneath her hand. “You didn’t hear anything?� She turned to meet Stenvar’s concerned gaze.

“No, but I saw something -� he muttered. “Looked like some of those letters were glowing, and a faint stream of white from them into your eyes.� He drew back warily. “I’m not sure what happened there.�

“Neither am I,� Lili shook her head, surveying the wall again. “But I know that’s a dragon head up there,� she indicated the carving.

“Shor’s bones!� Stenvar exclaimed. “I’ve heard of these, but never saw one. I think this is a word wall.� He traced his fingers over the carving. “These are written in the Dragon language. I can’t read them.� He looked at Lili. “You mentioned chanting?�

“I couldn’t make out the words, but one stuck in my head. Krii? I’m not sure what it means.�

“Hmm, me neither,� Stenvar shook his head. “Maybe those mages up at the College may know something about this.�

Lili scoffed. “Yet another reason to head up there, where it’s even colder than here!�

“You got that right,� Stenvar chuckled. “You feel all right?�

“Yes, I do,� Lili shook herself. “Let’s head down and see what’s in that mist below.�