Into Oblivion ~a Skyrim fan-fic~ (On Hold)

The Guardian Stones

The weather of Skyrim wasn't entirely new to her, she was born and raised here in the beginning of her life. And yet, it had been quite some time since she'd faced such a chill. Every breeze felt like an icy slap in the face, and they weren't even in the coldest regions of the land. 

Despite the numbing cold, Vaemona couldn't deny the rugged natural beauty Skyrim had to behold. Cobble stones covered the ground sporadically yet in line, remnants of a pathway from a distant age. A wide river cut through the valley at the bottom of the path, its waters blue as the brilliant sky.  Numerous pine trees dotted the rolling green hills and on all sides snow-capped mountains could be seen. Vae smiled, if she were to be honest with herself, she knew she had missed her home.

"Listen," Hadvar called from head of her, pulling Vae's attentions back to him, "you should go to Solitude and join up with the Imperial Legion. We could really use someone like you." Become a soldier..hmm.. While it was true Vae had received some basic training from an imperial soldier back in Cyrodiil, becoming one was never something she had thought about. "And if the rebels have themselves a dragon, General Tullis is the only one who can stop them," Hadvar continued, his step slowing to meet her pace. As they continued down the mountain, they came to a fork in the road. The sign beside it named off various destination, but Hadvar ignored it. He continued straight until stopping abruptly at a break in the tree line. "See that ruin up there?" He raised his hand, gesturing the mountain peak. Vaemona lifted her gaze to see stone arcadings overlapping each other coming from the mountain side. "Bleak Falls Barrow. When I was a boy, that place used to always give me nightmares. Draugar creeping down the mountain side to climb through my window at night, that kind of thing. I admit, I still don't much like the look of it." 

"Nightmares..." Vaemona whispered, her own nightmare playing like a record stuck on repeat in her mind.

"Hmm?" Hadvar turned towards her but she ignored him. He shrugged and recommenced his journey down the summit. Vae followed him at a distance, her eyes lingering on the ruins. The trail sloped down steeply into a sharp turn, and as they rounded the bend three standing stones caught Vaemona's attention. She approached them carefully at first but caution soon gave way to curiosity as she ran her hand along the patterns carved in each.

"What are they?"

"Theses are the Guardian Stones, three of the thirteen ancient standing stones that dot Skyrim's landscape."

"What are they for?"

"Each stone grants its own blessing. For these particular stones when under one's blessing you may find it easier to acquire certain skills. Go ahead, see for yourself."

Vae studied each stone closely. Each clearly represented three of the four major kinds of people found in Skyrim. First the thief, then the mage, and finally the warrior. But who am I? Vaemona realized now wasn't exactly the best time for a moment of personal reflection or enlightenment, but how does one group themselves into something so basic as a thief? Or a mage? Or even a warrior? To decide, she closed her eyes, spun in a circle with her arm pointed outwards, and stopped. Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself facing the warrior stone. Not caring to argue with this outcome she touched the stone once again. A warmth filled her body as a gentle light began to radiate from within the Guardian Stone. Her muscles tightened as a new strength built inside of her being. Then, as suddenly as it began, it was over. The light faded and her body relaxed.