Seras little snippet thread

Flight. My wings grabbed the air and sent me through the skies. Wind beneath my wings, soaring high enough that as the sun rose, I could see its light ever touched the ground below.

"FUS!" I roared letting my Thu'um smash through a cloud that was in my way.

Ah, that was how I did it. That was the way Fus was shouted. The knowledge of force was so intimate now that it flowed through. I had been close, my scientific knowledge had helped, but there was something I had been missing. To enact force without cause now I understood.

The Thu'um wasn't a language. It was more. This I knew intellectually, but now I understood.

I blinked gasping, as I realized my knees were in the dirt, my hands grabbing at the crabgrass on the side of the road.

"Are you? Was that? Dragonborn?" The guards around me asked, shocked at what had just happened. I looked up into the empty eye socket of Mirmulnir.

He was gone. I had devoured what had made him flesh. His soul subjugated and now empowering me.

I knew why Dragonborn were capable of great things now. Because to devour a dragon's soul was to take on their power.

I felt strong. Stronger than I ever had before.

"Move aside give her some space you fools!" Irileth shouted as she stomped through the guards making everyone back up. "Victoria. Are you well?"

"I'm fine." I assured her although I didn't rise. I could feel it. The instincts of a dragon. I hadn't just taken his power, but I had brought myself closer to what I always was.

A Dragon in human form.

I felt jittery, from tiredness and yet energy flowed through me. Rising up slowly I patted my knees of dirt and looked at the guards around me.

"I am Dovahkiin. Dragonborn. That's why I agreed to come fight today." I told them, and while most were still wearing helmets, some had been lost, or taken off, and I saw looks of shock and then thanks.

None of the men that survived had been ready for a dragon. Even I hadn't, not really. My fingertips still tingled from all the electricity I had let out. It still hadn't been enough.

I really needed more mana potions.

"We should head back." I muttered, and looked at the corpse of Mirmulnir. "Do you think the Jarl will move the bones? I wouldn't mind some Dragonbone equipment."

"I'm sure the Jarl will be happy to gather up the corpse." Irileth offered back, looking at me with her nearly glowing red eyes. "You earned more than you can know today."

"Thank you, Irileth." I offered back and the warrior woman nodded, and then I watched as she gathered everyone together to head back.

"So, Dragonborn. You have the Thu'um, can you show us?" One of the guards asked as we started heading slowly back.

"Enough! Stop bothering her!" Irileth demanded, but I nodded at the man's question.

"I'm still learning, but…" I turned and felt my soul stir. This time I wasn't just yelling at the air hoping to get something to happen. I felt my soul constrict like flexing a muscle, and then I demanded from the world what I wanted. "FUS!" I shouted, and energy crackled and suddenly wind was forced aside howling in the air.

But it was weak.

I hadn't done it wrong exactly. But… I narrowed my eyes, stopping in my tracks as I needed to figure this out. Right now.

"Dragonborn?"

"Quiet!" The guards spoke in whispers around me, as I processed.

Fus. Force. Usually used to push, but that wasn't what force was. It was motion, energy. Everything was force. There could be no life without it, it was the movement of atoms, of protons, of ever smaller things.

Ro brought balance, and Dah push. To give the force a direct effect. The difference between hitting someone with force, and demanding to the world they are pushed away. Dah would be almost a conceptual attack, forcing the sense of push into the attack…

But Fus? Fus was not simple, and Thu'um was not so weak that it just pushed some wind around. This was the power of reality itself. Fus only staggering someone? Nonsense.

I didn't need balance. Balance was a limitation.

I didn't need Push. I wasn't pushing. I was enacting force.

Fus. Force. I wasn't casting a spell, there was no magicka involved. No limits, I wasn't inputting energy and getting a reaction like a spell. I was activating realities cheat code. Creating force where there was none.

"FUS!" I shouted and this time the world heard me. I shouted it to the sky, and the sky trembled as I brought my will to bear against it. The clouds shattered. The world thundered. I was a dragon. Reality was mine to shape!

My throat was scratchy, but not painful. I looked around, all around me dust swirled kicked up from the force of power I had just released. The Guards had all stumbled back.

"W-what was that?" The guards quacked behind me, but I ignored them.

That was what Fus should be!

No, I knew, there was still more to understand. The stronger my understanding the more powerful the shout.

I turned around liking the fact I wasn't spitting blood after shouting anymore, and trudged along past the gawping guards.

"DOVAH-KIIN!" I stalled as I heard it. A distant shout that rumbled the earth.

It was a call. A request.

The Greybeards wanted to speak with me.

"What was that? What is even going on?" One of the guards cursed looking around, but I didn't answer him.

A lot. The answer was a lot was going on.

—--

"-I name you Thane of Whiterun. It's the greatest honor that's within my power to grant." Balgruuf spoke to the entire long house as he had me stand before him.

The place was packed now. No longer nearly empty early in the day, now every important member of Whiterun was here. They had all gathered here, either hiding from the dragon or seeking to know what they would do to fight it.

Until Irileth returned with knowledge the Dragon was dead.

Balgruuf hadn't even needed to be told that I was Dovahkiin. He had known the moment the Greybeards shouted.

"I assign you a Housecarl as is right for your position, someone who will protect your person and family, your secrets and future. Lydia! Step forward." Balgruuf called and I turned behind me to see the woman that was now my guardian.

Lydia was fucking tall.

I blinked and looked up and had a moment of wonder if she was taller than Briene of Tarth or not.

Our eyes met, and she gave a bow. "I swear myself to you. To your house. From this day, to my last. I will carry your burdens." She offered and I smiled at the offer, and the words that were so familiar.

"Thank you. I will try to be a worthy Thane."

She smiled a bit at that and nodded.

"Ah Proventus, good. Victoria Waters! Thane of Whiterun! Take this! The Axe of Whiterun! It will act as your badge of office! Let none who see it lack knowledge of your status and rights!" A Steel Axe was offered to me, and I took it the feel of magic on my fingers telling me it was enchanted.

Nice.

"Let us all celebrate! To the victorious, and to those even now supping in Sovngarde!" He called and the party began in earnest.

The nobles of Whiterun were thankful the dragon was defeated. The guards were happy to be alive, although many were sad by those who had died.

And I? I was still distracted with the knowledge in my soul.

"Thane?"

"Oh, it's nothing." I said, shaking my head. Lydia was at my side looking down on me as the party had started up. Even Balgruuf was enjoying a drink and looked merry. "Shall we get some food and drink? I wouldn't mind hearing more about you." I offered and she nodded. Easily pushing through the crowd as I headed towards the table.

It was funny. I was leading Lydia, but she was in front of me, creating a path for me.

At the long table I settled in, smiling at the many warm greetings, and awed looks.

And the sharp looks of those looking to use the fact the Dragonborn was here. Everyone knew the stories. Everyone knew what it meant.

The fact a Dragonborn had returned, meant that the game of thrones that was played by all the races and factions of Tamriel was about to be flipped.

I was just going to ignore that I was basically the once and future emperor in many people's eyes.

I didn't want to rule. It was funny, but true. I would fight. I would happily win wars if that was needed.

Partly because xp, and partly because there were always people needing to be reminded that their actions had consequences. Looking at you Thalmor. Or you Lannister.

But I wouldn't become a Queen, or King, or Emperor.

I wasn't Daenerys.

Fuck ruling. I would put a puppet on a throne if I had to, so I could go out and have fun.

Besides I know the real reason most people in this age become King. It wasn't just the power. It was the wealth.

When the general idea of going to a bathroom is a bucket. I'd want someone to make sure I had everything I needed to use the bathroom too.

Or food! I grabbed a piece of… I have no idea, from the table and bit into it. Buttery and warm! Was this Mudcrab? I liked it!

Food was whatever was in season. Unless you were king and could basically eat whatever you wanted, drink whatever you wanted or more.

But forget it. I had magic now, and magic solved all of those issues, and more.

So no ruling for me. I would just be the hammer hanging over everyones head if they start a fight I don't like.

I liked that idea way more.

"Lydia? Do you have a family here in Whiterun?"

"I do, my elder brother is Thane to Hrongar, Jarl Balgruuf's younger brother." She explained and I whistled at that.

"He must be impressive."

"He is more skilled with his mind than a blade. He acts as steward more than Housecarl." She admitted, and I laughed.

"But not you?"

"No, I have less head for numbers. My brother often said I filled it with nothing but bashing skulls." She said and then there was a small flush to her cheeks as she realized what she had admitted.

"Heh. Well Housecarl Lydia, I promise you, you'll have a lot of practice swinging a blade in the coming days. I'll be running into trouble after trouble."

"I am sworn to be your shield Thane Waters. Whatever trouble comes I will be there." She offered back and winced a bit.

"Please call me Victoria." I asked, I hadn't actually explained what my last name meant here in Skyrim. I would have to fill Lydia in later. Still she nodded with a quiet surety, that I could already tell I would come to adore.

Lydia was the sort of woman that knew what she was going to do for the rest of her life.

She was farther ahead on that front than I was.

I still didn't know what I was going to do. Bastard daughter on one side, Hero Dragonborn on the other.

I was tired.

—---

The party went on and on, and eventually I realized if I wanted to do anything, but deal with drunk nords, I would have to get moving. I left the main hall Lydia following along behind me like a shadow, and wasn't surprised to find Farengar in his little room.

"Ah, the conquering hero. Is there something I can help you with? I would have expected you to enjoy your feast."

"I need some things, magical things. I'm hoping you'll have them." I offered and the man blinked behind the shadows of his hood before nodding.

"Well I do serve the Jarl in all matters Arcane."

A few minutes later I had my requests laid out, "Hmm. An odd choice of books, but I don't mind." Farengar added as my small stack of spell books was pushed over. I had picked out a bunch, using almost all of the gold I had collected, and even what I had been awarded for fighting the dragon.

I was basically broke in Skyrim now.

But I had a stack of books and spells to learn.

Healing. The Novice Restoration spell. As well as Healing Hands, the Apprentice level spell that would let me heal someone else.

Lydia was going to be with me from now on. I wanted to make sure I could keep her alive, and in Westeros it would be invaluable.

Then I had decided to increase my destruction spread.

Novice Flames. Because lighting someone on fire was always the correct choice, and while I really wanted Lightning Bolt, I had held off, and picked up Candlelight.

The Novice Alteration spell would be far too valuable for me to be able to see if it gets dark.

I had asked about Water Breathing, but he hadn't had a spell, or known the spell either.

So I took my treasures and headed away from the rude wizard. Instead I went to my room.

Balgruuf had given me a room to rest in, and had even reserved it so I could stay in it for the next while.

I was a Thane, and Dragonborn of course he wouldn't just throw me out to sleep in the Inn.

Lydia would be joining me in the room, which was a bit uncomfortable for me as I wasn't used to sharing space, but Lydia went about it in such a clinical way as I was packing everything away into the chest at the foot of the bed that I felt better.

But it did make it awkward when I tried to come up with a way to get home. In the end I realized I was going to have to be blunt.

"Lydia, can you turn around for me please? Just look at the wall and don't look behind you until I say." I asked, and she blinked at my odd request but without hesitation she did, turning towards the wall. Which is when I pressed the key into the door and walked through, back into my room.

Juggling my stack of books I shut the door and pulled the key free…

"That was a lot." I muttered as I turned to look at my room. It was late and I had a ship to catch in the morning.

I stripped off the gear I had still that I would be bringing with me, including one of my axes. Packed away into a trunk that would be taken out in the morning, and then flopped onto my bed.

I closed my eyes and slept.

—--

Of course I had leveled. No, it was more than that. I had leveled twice.

Mirmulnir of course had pushed me well beyond what I would gain from a few bandits or something.

So there I was, standing in an endless field of stars and wondering what I should level.

I knew what I should level up, but what I should and what I wanted wasn't always the same.

But I was going to be good, and after a moment, my Intelligence shot up 10 points, putting it to 50. I felt the amount of magicka I could use jump a good bit. Between the fight with Mirmulnir, and this I had gained a hefty increase.

More importantly, the increased intelligence made me feel like I was more in control with my Magicka. It felt lighter, the time it would take to cast spells would be lower, and more importantly, I could simply control the magicka I used, not quite spending less on a spell, but wasting less would be more accurate.

Then I had my skill points, and forty points was a lot. Unfortunately, it was a safe choice this time instead of a fun one.

All forty points were dropped into Restoration. A perk was gained, and the knowledge of going from five to forty-five in a skill crashed into me.

I see. Restoration was both very simple. Spend Magicka on spell, get healing. And incredibly complicated, because while a healing spell would close wounds, it wouldn't heal everything unless you knew what you were doing.

A cut was easy. A sickness was hard. And some things were nearly impossible. Nearly, but not impossible.

This was magic after all.

My perk choice was actually easy. I chose to allow my healing spells to restore stamina along with healing damage. No more blisters after long walks, and definitely no more needing a long sit while traveling mountain paths.

Everything chosen, I fell into a deeper slumber.

—--

"Please hurry M'lady." I was urged on as a maid went to work on my hair. It wasn't often the maids actually tried to do more than get me up in the morning, but I would be traveling, and I now had a few in my room gathering up my things to be loaded onto the ship.

"Sarella, don't fret." I told her, as she ran her brush through my hair. "Whatever you end up doing is going to be ruined by the wind."

"You will be seen off by your lord father. The last time he will see you for weeks! You must look your best."

"Yes Sarella." I agreed because arguing with the old maid was pointless.

She ran a brush through my hair quickly, but gently, and soon I was looking much cleaner as she began working my hair into a braid.

My usual style was to just leave it free or tie it back into a ponytail. That's how I usually had my hair done. As a Bastard I didn't have to worry about many people caring too much.

But I did have an official hair style.

I smiled as the braid was finished and soon enough it was done, a turquoise bow, in the Velaryon house color tying it together.

It had been something I once had the maids figure out with me when I was little. How to do an Artoria style crown braid.

Heh. It was rare that I got to enjoy old anime references, but when I did it always brought a smile to my face. My silver hair wasn't quite as good as gold in mimicking the style, but it still looked beautiful.

It was the only kind of crown I ever wanted.

Finally Sarella finished and I was up, being thrown into a travel dress and then back down for them to tie travel boots to my feet.

All of which was silly, I was going on a ship! But still I let them fuss. Afterwards I made sure to grab my Skyrim knapsack full of my magic books and carried it with me out of the room ignoring the maid's arguments to let them take it.

I didn't want this thing out of my sight.

As I headed out to the docks I was delighted to see Father already there. Uncle Aurene stood beside him as they looked over the loading of the ship we would be taking. It was being absolutely loaded with things to sell in Kings Landing.

As much as this trip would be about a betrothal, it was also a good excuse to do some more trading.

We would load up on even more things on the way back.

"Papa!" I called out happily as I approached, making sure not to break into a job as I would get yelled at for unladylike acts. I fell into a warm hug with Papa, something he never resisted as I pulled away.

"You look like you are ready."

"Sarella and the maids made sure of it." I said with a roll of my eyes.

"Good. You look like a beautiful young woman."

"Completely unlike the hellion we normally deal with." Uncle Aurene added from over Papa's shoulder.

"Shush you!" I demanded and he just laughed at my outrage. I was not a hellion! I was a good daughter!

"Victoria."

"Yes Papa?" I responded to his firm tone as he turned to me fully, looking serious.

"I know this came as a surprise, but I want to remind you, this betrothal isn't something to play with. Treat it seriously… But Aurene is there to ensure this will be to your liking. If the boy is repugnant, worry not." Papa said and I smiled up at him as I threw another hug around his chest.

I wasn't going to go through with it at all, but it was sweet that Papa was willing to say that. Not many fathers in Westeros would care if their daughter wanted the marriage or not. Even less if they were bastard daughters.

Soon enough Papa sent us off, and Uncle Aurene and I were on a ship. I was quickly pushed below decks to pack away my stuff, as no one wanted me underfoot.

I had pretty good sailing knowledge and could have helped, but it wasn't worth fighting over. They wanted me out of the way, so I got out of the way. Instead I settled into my small room, the captain's quarters. Uncle would be sharing it with me, but that was fine, there was a little privacy screen set up so we each would have a place to sleep.

Then I pulled out a spellbook, and got to reading.

I'd have some downtime, to make sure I had the healing spells down, and if I got bored, I could always just leave through a door back to Skyrim.