Seras little snippet thread

The walk was slow going. I had put everything away into my room, so I was walking lighter, and as I followed the stone path I didn't face anything. No wolves attacking me, or bandits.

Just a constant march following stone roads.

Then as I turned a corner, I saw it. Whiterun standing up on a hill. It looked bigger than it did in game.

That was the first thing that I thought. It made sense, The sense of scale to things was longer than I remembered, things were bigger, or farther apart.

So I just adjusted my knapsack and continued marching.

The sound of a large thud caught my ear. A tree ahead knocked over and I blinked in surprise.

Then I gasped, because that was a Giant!

Oh! I remember this! The Companions! They were fighting a Giant.

I charged, it might be stupid, I could get hurt, or killed…

But I needed to grow stronger. I kept charging. Kept moving, and as I approached I saw the companions fighting.

Aela the Huntress, her bow twanging away, the sound rapid fire.

Farkas, the large man was swinging his Greatsword pushing the Giant back.

And…. Okay I can't remember the other woman's name. She was an imperial, striking the giants legs to distract it.

I ignored all of this and drew both of my axes.

The Giant was distracted and as I rushed in, I roared leaping and slamming both steel axes into its back.

They only just penetrated, barely piercing its flesh my strength just barely enough.

It roared and swung its massive club, but I had already let go and rolled away, my distraction doing good work as Aela peppered more arrows into it, and Farkas sliced deeply into its side.

I drew my hands together, and as the giant looked away, I let loose. Lightning flashing out and slamming into the axe heads.

The Giant screamed as his back seized up probably the worst muscle spasm of its life. It tottered and fell forward. Farkas yelping like a dog as he ducked and dived dodging it's fall.

Then as it hit the ground with a great crash the companions moved in.

The Giant never got a chance to rise up, as the warrior chopped the weak points around its head.

I sat there catching my breath as the Giant died. As the Companions regrouped as they turned to me.

"Hey sorry about interfering, but I figured I should do something besides just standing around." I greeted, and Farkas the big man that he was looked me over before letting out a rumbling chuckle.

"Never a bad thing when a new warrior joins in on a hunt." He offered, then side smiled at me. "Though they aren't usually mages."
"Magic is fun… So is stabbing something with an axe." I offered back, earning an almost boyish smile from the secret werewolf.

"I like this one." He said calling over his shoulder to the two women.

"Then invite her to the lodge!" Aela called as she was busy pulling arrows out of the Giants body.

"We are the Companions of jorrvaskr. You should come visit sometime. You would make a fine companion, even if you are a mage. Never seen someone jump on the back of a Giant like that before." He offered and I smiled at his offer.

It was earnest and honest. Something I liked. "I'll have to do that." I offered back and he smiled boyishly and nodded.

"Here." The third Companion offered coming over with my axes blades still bloody in her free hand. "You aren't injured?"

"Only bruised my ass when I landed." I offered getting a guffaw from the imperial woman as I rose up and took my axes. Giving them a quick cleaning I stuck them back through my belt.

"Come on Farkas, I want to get back before all the drink is gone!" Aela called, and Farkas twitched towards her at the word drink. Like an eager puppy he was ready to follow after them.

Then I remembered what I was doing here.

"Wait! Companions of Jorrvaskr." I called out getting their attention. "I'm heading to Whiterun to warn Jarl Balgruff, but you can inform… It's Kodlak right?"

"Indeed, what warning do you have?" Aela asked looking sharp.

"Dragons have returned to Skyrim. Helgen is gone. Wiped off the face of the earth by the return of Alduin the world eater. More will come. Over the next while more and more dragons will be awoken by the eldest, and they will need to be fended off."

The look of surprise at my words went through all three companions faces, but then the disbelief washed over them.

"Dragons? We've heard some rumors, but none of us have taken them seriously."

"I was at Helgen. Saw it with my own eyes, watched as it burn the town, smashed it apart, killed dozens. The dragons have returned." I answered honestly, without touching on my status as the Dovahkiin.

The three looked to eachother then, as if wondering what to do.

"Please you don't have to believe me. Just warn Kodlak, and prepare. You'll need more arrows and weapons, and potions in the future." Then I adjusted my knapsack and started walking. "Now I have a dire warning of doom to deliver." I offered as I jogged past them.

I don't know if I was ready to fight a dragon.

I don't know if it was safe, but I did know one thing. I had mana and health potions in my pouch, and I was going to go all out when I faced my first dragon.

So it was time to get it started.

—--

"Halt! City's closed with the dragons about. Official business only." The guard at the gate of Whiterun ordered me as I approached.

"I was at Helgen. I have information about the Dragons for the Jarl." I answered back and the guard looked to each other. Their helms hiding most of their eyes in shadow, but eventually the one I spoke to nodded.

"Fine. But I'll be keeping an eye on you." He offered and I was allowed to walk through the massive double doors into Whiterun.

It was different than in the game, and yet… It felt the same. How many times had I walked through those same gates and into this place in a game?

I turned and headed up the road, the chatter of people, far more than ever existed in the game surrounding me as I marched towards Dragonsreach. As I walked up the steps toward it I noticed there were more guards here.

Enough that some were waiting outside the gate and barred me from entering.

"Halt, the Jarl is not receiving petitions."

"I'm a survivor of Helgen, and the dragon attack. I come to bring the Jarl important information." My words earned me attention.

Apparently some knowledge had spread already, and so after a few moments the guard opened the door and led me inside.

The main hall was how I remember it including the dragon skull above the throne. As I entered the guard led me up but stopped before approaching too close, and Irileth Balfgrufs dark elf guard walked over seeing the guards actions.

"What's the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors." She said to me and the guard.

"I come from Helgen. I have information on the dragon attack." I answered before the guard could speak. I waited a moment as the womans red eyes looked me up and down.

"Well that explains why the guards let you in, come the Jarl will want to speak to you, personally." She offered sheathing her blade and guiding me towards the throne. The throne I noticed that the conversation had already stopped.

Balgruuf had heard everything despite being so far away. Magic, or just a trick of the hall maybe?

Either way I was led forward.

"So. You were at Helgen? You saw this dragons with your own eyes?"

"I did. He came down with a roar, called forth a wave of meteors that destroyed stone, and shouted fire that caused rock to burn. Nothing any of the Imperials did harmed him." I answered truthfully.

"Irileth was right." He muttered shocked, almost horrified. "What do you say now Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a dragon?"

I stood there as the Jarl and his councilors argued. Politics, protection, all three were struggling to deal with the situation.

Dragons changed everything.

Then decision was made, and Balgruuf turned to me.

"Well done. You sought me out on your own initiative. You've done Whiterun a service, and I won't forget it." He began smiling handsomely. "You have earned a reward. You look like a warrior. So armor it will be. Irileth will clad you. Hopefully steel will protect you in the days ahead."

"Thank you Jarl Balgruuf." I responded. Even if I would want to keep my robes for their magic benefit, a set of steel armor was a expensive reward.

"There is another thing you could do for me. Suitable for someone of your particular talents, to survive the first dragon attack in…" He shook it off. "Come, let's go find Farengar, my court wizard. He's been looking into a matter related to these dragons and… Rumors of dragons." He said rising from his throne and guiding me into the side room with Farengar.

The High elf was pouring over a book when we entered.

"Farengar, I think I've found someone who can help you with your dragon project. Go ahead and fill her in with all the details." Balgruuf spoke as we entered, and then nodded, slapping me on the shoulder as he headed back into the hall.

"So the Jarl thinks you can be of some use to me." He spoke, with a haughty air looking me over, with a particular eye on my novice robes.

"Yes." I said back without hesitation, and the man simply took it as that.

"I need something fetched for me. 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." He went on rambling a bit on and on about the Dragonstone while constantly making digs on me, as I just nodded along as he spoke,

The man really liked to hear himself speak, and he was an ass.

"Bleak Falls Barrow you said?" I asked to confirm, and when he did I pulled off my knapsack. Hefting the heavy stone inside. "This the Dragonstone you wanted?" I asked, and I had a moment of schadenfreude as the High Elf stared in surprise at the tablet.

"Ah! The Dragonstone of Bleak Falls Barrow! You already found it!" He spoke pleased taking the stone and already starting to examine it.

"So now what?" My question was answered by Irileth breaking into the room.

"Farengar, you need to come at once. A dragon's been sighted nearby." Irileth looked to me. "You should come too."

I ignored Farengar's muttering about how exciting it was, because it was very much not exciting. Dragons were fucking scary.

I followed Irileth up the stairs where Balgruuf was meeting with a guard. They spoke of the dragon, the guard going into what he had seen. The worry spread through the people in the room.

The idea of a dragon attacking terrifying them all. Then Balgruuf turned to me.

"There's no time to stand on ceremony, I need your help again. I want you to go with Irileth and fight this dragon. You survived Helgen, so you have more experience with Dragons than anyone else here." He asked of me, and I realized just how much of a desperate request it was.

Balgruuf had no idea of my skill in battle. No concept of how useful I would be.

But for him, another body might be the difference between his city burning or not.

I understood then, just how badly the game portrayed the desperate position this man was in. How easily the game molded the player into the hero as everyone treated you like that from the beginning.

"I understand. I'll fight." I assured him. And he nodded to me deeply.

"I will not forget your assistance this day." He assured me. "Here accept this, a gift from my personal armory. Something to replace those gauntlets of yours." He offered, handing me a new set of Iron Gauntlets. I would have been confused, if not for the odd hue that flowed over them,

Maaaagic! Eeee! I hurriedly pulled off my old gauntlets and slipped on my new ones,

Ignoring as Balgruuf informed Farengar he wasn't coming instead I tried to figure out what the enchantment was.

I had no idea! Before I could ask, it was time to move, and I followed along as Irileth headed out of the keep.

We jogged down the streets, Guards gathering up around us as word spread. Irileth gave a speech, that even had me smiling.

The glory of killing the first dragon seen in Tamriel since the last age.

Well second one, this wasn't Alduin after all. But I was engaged. I was ready. It was time to fight a dragon.

Hopefully I would survive.

We marched down the roads, the distance from the watchtower to Whiterun a good bit longer than I remember. But I realized it would have to be. What's the point of a watchtower if you can only alert the city when an army or danger is already there?

We marched for a while down the road. The excitement to kill a dragon falling away as I struggled to keep up.

I wasn't specced for this! I was a mage!

"Here girl. Drink this." One of the guards offered me a green potion.

"Oh-Thank-you!" I gasped back at him, and chugged it down, noticing the bottle itself wasn't green, it was green because of the potion.

The actual texture of the stamina potion was almost chalky, it stuck to my throat just like a layer of it stuck to the bottle.

But instantly, my breath came easily and I was running easier.

"Thank you."

"Don't worry about it. We'll need every blade for what is ahead."

I nodded at that realizing these men weren't seeing this as a game, but as a true and dire threat to their home.

Finally we approached the tower. The fires obvious even from a distance.

"No signs of any dragon right now, but it sure looks like it's been here." Irileth spoke to me and the guards closest to her. "I know it looks bad, but we have to figure out what happened, and if that dragon is still skulking around somewhere. Spread out! Look for survivors!"

The worried quiet words between the guards was heart wrenching when I realized the men that had been here had been friends to all these people.

"No get back! It's still here somewhere! Hroki and Tor just got grabbed when they tried to make a run for it!" A voice shouted out a man inside the tower waving us away.

As Irileth spoke to him, I focused on the sky, and there from the south, over the mountain that had Bleak Falls Barrow I saw him.

A dragon. Mirmulnir if I remember the name right.

He started by flying over us, the wind from his wings blowing my hood back, my silver hair fluttering around me.

Something rose within me. Not fear, or hate, or even anger.

Awe. A dragon. This wasn't like with Alduin, where I was running and trying to survive right away. This was like part of me was realizing what I was seeing.

I prepared myself.

Bringing my hands together, I fed the spell seed.

It was still just Sparks. The Weakest shock spell in Skyrim. But that was only if you accepted that a game represented the magic of the Elder Scrolls correctly.

It didn't. Magic in Tamriel was insane. Capable of truly ludicrous things.

Pouring more and more power into the spellI almost wished I could drink a mana potion to pour even more in, but eventually I ran dry, and as Mirmulnir flew overhead, I released it all.

Flying dragon was very fast. Difficult to hit with an arrow, but lightning was on another level of speed entirely.

The lance of lightning smashed into his belly, spider webbing across his body his muscles contracted, his wings closed as his muscles betrayed him

As he instantly began diving he twitched regaining himself. Trying to gain height, but it wasn't enough. He had been swooping over us as I fired. The arrogant lizard thought he was immune to our retaliation.

He smashed into the earth with a thunderous crash, earth thrown into the air. I took a moment to begin chugging down a mana potion, and then when I realized I was still feeling empty I drank another.

Mirmulnir though, broke free of the constraints of the earth with a thunderous roar.

Shouting angrily as he used Fus Ro Dah. The explosion of force was catastrpohic, some of the guards that had run to approach were sent tumbling like rag dolls and I winced.

Without healing magic those men were dead.

Like being struck by a speeding car, you were likely to survive for a while, but there was no hope of natural recovery.

But this was Tamriel.

I ran. I could see the other guards rushing to their fallen allies, already trying to stuff a potion into their throats.

But I charged past it, gathering more power in my hands as I went.

I could see Irileth battling already. She had somehow mounted atop Mirmulnir and was desperately trying to stab a blade deeper into his scales.

He was roaring angrier now at the audacity.

It was as if time stopped.

He was arching up to bite her. She wouldn't survive. Eaten alive or worse.

And I couldn't use my Sparks on her, she would be struck as well, and possibly die anyways.

I swallowed.

I gathered air.

I planted my feet.

"FUS!" I shouted, the blast of force striking Mirmulnir and rocking his head back, buying Irileth an escape from death. The woman was knocked away losing her blade in his scales as she hit the ground and rolled away.

"I had forgotten what fine sport you mortals can provide." He spoke then, as he licked his lips turning to me. "And you mortal have the Thu'um how amusing."

Which is when I dumped all my Mana into the spell once again and blasted him. I hope he thought this was funny too.

His roar out pain and outrage told me he didn't as he flinched back once more his body working against him, and my strike caused a real reaction.

It also gave the guards a chance.

"FOR WHITERUN!" They roared as they charged, arrows streaked, and pierced through scales, no longer trying to reach him into the sky.

I coughed out blood. Downing a healing potion to try and get some air into my flooded lungs. It helped, and after a few more coughs, I could breath again, and my throat wasn't bleeding.

But Mirmulnir was still alive.

I swallowed my last mana potion. It wasn't enough to fill me up. My next spell wouldn't be as strong, but it had to be enough. I could see Mirmulnir reacting to his circumstances, surrounded by squishy mortals he had assumed were beneath him, but suddenly their steel and spells were hurting.

He beat his wings pushing away the guards as he started rising.

As I unleashed my spell once again.

He smashed once more into the earth. It was almost ironic, a Dovahkiin bringing a Dov back to earth.

But he was still alive and I was out of magicka. Mana. No more power.

I had struck him with everything I had twice, and then more and he was still alive.

Dragons… Dragons were stronger than I expected. I unsheathed my axes.

This was dumb.

I charged forward unable to roar, but snarling as I did.

This was so dumb.

He was distracted. He didn't react to me, before I was there, smashing my axes into his wings. Trying to damage them so he couldn't escape.

My axes thunked deeper than I thought they would, but they weren't enough and soon Mirmulnir shifted knocking the guards away, almost sending me sprawling before turning to me, mouth open.

I reacted on instinct, smashing both of my steel axes into his face trying to push his mouth away, and somehow it worked. One of my axes sank into a would through his scales, and the pain made him flinch away.

The chance was open.

It was the dumbest thing I could do.

So I leapt, landing right on top of Mirmulnir's head using one axe to hook into damaged scales, while I started beating down with the other.

Each blow caused the dragon to flinch as I cleaved through more scales and flesh, each blow brought a reaction that nearly threw me off.

And yet, suddenly I saw it, and I swung. Axe sinking in, and hitting something important.

Mirmulnir flinched, his body going rigid suddenly, and then in a crash he fell, muscles giving out. I was thrown from him, rolling in the dirt and grass for a moment, both axes lost as they were stuck inside him and as I rose back up heart beating thunderously. I looked.

He was dying. He realized it too.

There was hatred in his eyes as he glared at me a promise of retaliation.

Then I felt it.

Hunger.

Like nothing I had ever experienced. I knew what was coming, and the moment I felt it, so did he.

"Dovahkiin!? Noooo!" He gasped utter fear in his voice, a horror, existential terror.

And then he burned.

But I? I became something so much more.