Wanderer

Chapter Twenty-Six

<THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A TRIGGER, READ WITH CAUTION>

~~~~~~~Asdis P.O.V.~~~~~~~

"Please-"

I squeezed my eyes shut as my father panted over me, his hot breath dripping with the scent of cheap ale. I heard him chuckle under his breath, as if my desperate attempt to fend him off was an invitation to do more.

"Stop-"

A sharp object struck my face, cutting open the already bruised cheek I had been awarded for being obstinate. 

"You're prettier with your mouth closed." Ivan threatened. I bit back a harsh remark, knowing it would get me nowhere but in more trouble. 

I was weak.

Killing bandits? Easy. Vampire den? Been there and done that. Dragons? A casual Morndas brunch. But when it came to my father it did not matter how skilled I was at magic and weaponry. It did not matter that I had been in and out of life threatening situations, always coming out on top. It did not matter that I was the Dragonborn, or an accomplished mage or swordswoman. Because when it came down to it, to him I was a little plaything that he knew how to manipulate and if there was something I learned about myself all those years ago was that my father was a master manipulator. Still, regardless of knowing this, I was afraid of him. Admittedly, I was terrified of the man before me. He knew everything about me, all my strengths and weaknesses. All my flaws. There was nothing I could hide from him and he knew that. Nothing I could say or do could stop him from taking what he wanted from me. I was utterly powerless against him. He knew that, I knew that. So the only way I saw myself surviving this was simply by submitting.

Ulfric. Please.

I felt a tear slip from my eye as I thought of never seeing him or my children again. I could not fight anymore, however. Ivan was very skilled at killing a spirit, and he had obliterated mine within a few mere minutes of being captive.

Talos, if I cannot be saved let me die this instant.

"Cover yourself, we seem to have company." Ivan said suddenly, standing from the ground and hurriedly putting his armor on.

It took me a few moments to register what he had said, and as I heard familiar voices down the cavern, I felt a small glimmer of hope. 

I could not stand, even though everything in my body told me to get up, I did not have the strength. I rolled my head around in time to see a small group of armor-clad Stormcloaks headed by Ulfric and Galmar. Had the situation been different, I would have cried upon their arrival. 

"Ah, welcome, humble guests. It seems I was unprepared for you, you'll have to forgive my poor hospitality." Ivan said, a sneering tone overtaking his sarcasm.

"Are you Ivan?" Galmar asked, his axe in hand as he readied for a fight.

"Depends, who is asking?" Ivan taunted.

I was far enough away from them that they could not see me, but I knew that making a sound of any kind could get me killed. 

"Ulfric Stormcloak. Where is Asdis?" Ulfric said, brandishing his sword and approaching Ivan. With no warning, Ivan began a strange incantation I had never heard before. As a sudden breeze overtook the cave, I was amazed to see the form of my older brother, Asdonis, being conjured before my father. 

"Asdonis, entertain our guests while I take your sister to a more private place."

I was so shocked by the conjuring of my brother from thin air I had little time to react to Ivan suddenly heaving me up and trying to escape with me. As I watched Ulfric fend off Asdonis' atronach, I noticed a small figure protecting his back from a Drauger that Ivan had also seemed to summon. I recognized the figure as Lancion, and was overcome with both joy and terror as I watched him dice the Drauger.