Dawnguard

Dawnguard Chapter 1: The Companions

The coldest of nights gloomed over the Pale in the high reaches of Skyrim's long winter. It was the 23rd of Evening Star, and the brittle cold of the stale air under a clear night sky could crack the glass of Nightgate Inn's oriel windows. In the late hours of the evening, a young woman emerged from the Inn. She was ghostly pale and fair, her long dark hair kept in neat, frilling braids. The young woman pulled her cloak over her shoulders and pulled her fur-rimmed hood over her chilling ears.

"Are you certain you want to be travelling in this treacherous weather?" Hadring asked in concern to the young maiden, "The chill could cripple a frost atronach..."

"I'll be just toasty with the warming mead and fine foods in my belly, thanks to the generous hospitality of your charming little inn. What a gem, I'm happy I stopped here when I did." The young woman replied, humbly. The innkeeper of the remote tavern returned a smile.

"You're too kind. I just don't feel right watching you leave into this bitter cold. Wait till the morning, at least. The sun rays can keep you warm." Hadring persisted as he kept the door open for the young woman, who made a prompt reply.

"Oh no, I'm far too behind as it is. I've travelled in worse than this! I'll be just fine, I'm almost to Dawnstar anyway. Frida will need her ingredients before they spoil." The woman cooed in a high, optimistic chirp as she beamed a grin on her way out.

Hadring grinned, "Ah, good ole Frida," He had a chuckle in his throat and chortled, "I suppose she'll give you a thrashing if you don't make haste!"

The woman snickered, "So I best get to it, shouldn't I? Ha-ha!" She pattered down the frosty steps of the inn and onto the snow trail, then called back to the innkeeper, "Farewell! Zenithar's blessings to you!"

"And to you! Safe travels!" He closed his doors before him. The woman began to trudge through high, heaping snow. It generously drifted across her path as the chills grew more piercing out of the shield of pine tree groves. She ambled into the plains and the winds grew fiercer. She shrouded into her cloak, pulling the fabric across the bottom of her chin and to her chest. She headed into more reaching groves through The Pale. The pine trees began to blanket her and blot the night sky which dwindled the thrashing winds. With a small bit of relief, she picked up pace through the grove. The sounds of the forest were deafening of silence. The winds blew softly through the upper tree tops.

Suddenly a soft crack of a twig was heard in the vast darkness of the woods beside her. She slowed her pace to the startling noise and gawked into the thick shadows. There was nothing distinct in the grove, or further movement to be seen. She stayed hopeful it was merely a rabbit grazing. She continued her trek; cautiously examining the walling darkness of woods to her sides. She fetched a readied torch from her knapsack as she knelt down over the cobblestone path to light it. She pried for her flint and steel and before she had a chance to strike the fire; thudding footsteps came sprawling behind her. The woman dropped the tools in her hand and shot up with a gasp as her shoulder's were gripped and pushed to the cold floor of the trail. The woman unleashed a horrified squeal as two glowing red eyes gawked widely. Her neck was tightly grabbed as the monster parted its jaw to reveal four razor sharp fangs and a demonic snarl escaping through them. The woman thrashed and panted with frantic screams to release herself from the creature but it's strength persisted.

Then a dim light from behind the monster's head revealed it was a man with piercing red eyes and insidious yellow pupils- with sharp fangs and wearing ghastly dark apparel. Suddenly a violent sound through it's chest emerged, as a blade pierced through from overhead. The monster balked and shrilled in pain as the woman continued to scream. The blade sliced down through the monster's chest and down its spine and belly. Blood came pooling down from the wound and bathing the terrified woman. The body was kicked off her and to her side. She sat up in panic as she heaved from the blood and dread of the violent slaying before her.