Daughter Of Alduin | A Skyrim inspired novel

Chapter 2 | The Path of Uncertainty

The day Shea was sent on her first Stormcloak mission, she was filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Tasked with scouting near Whiterun, she ventured into the wilderness with a resolve to prove herself. As she neared the city, the familiar sight of Whiterun brought a wave of bittersweet memories.

While observing from a distance, Shea's eyes locked onto a figure she never thought she'd see again: Ralim. Her heart ached at the sight of him, and for a moment, their eyes met. Ralim's expression shifted from confusion to joy as he recognized her, tears of relief brimming in his eyes. Shea's resolve faltered, and overwhelmed by the sight of her former father, she fled, unable to face him or the consequences of her presence.

Back at the Stormcloak camp, Shea was wracked with guilt, her emotions a turbulent storm. The battle began soon after her return, her presence having unwittingly led the Imperials to the camp. Amidst the chaos, she fought fiercely, but the sight that haunted her dreams soon became a brutal reality.

In the midst of the battle, Shea saw Ralim fall to the ground, struck down by Jorndar. Her heart shattered as she rushed to Ralim's side, cradling him as he lay dying. The strength of her emotions surged as she held him close, his warm blood mingling with her tears.

"Ralim... no..." Shea's voice broke as she clutched him tightly, her heart screaming in agony.

Ralim's eyes were filled with both sorrow and love as he looked up at her one last time. "Shea... I'm proud of you... No matter what... remember... you're strong..."

With those final words, Ralim's eyes closed, his breath slowing to a halt. Shea's cries echoed through the camp, her grief overwhelming. The realization of her loss, combined with her anger, turned into a tempest of rage.

Fueled by a consuming fury, Shea saw Jorndar approaching, his expression a mix of determination and guilt. Without thinking, she charged at him, her sword swinging wildly. Jorndar, caught off guard, tried to defend himself but was unable to prevent Shea from stabbing him with a swift, vengeful strike. As he fell, Shea continued to unleash her fury, her tears mingling with the bloodshed.

In a fit of rage, Shea turned on the remaining Stormcloaks in the camp, her movements driven by a need to avenge Ralim and to escape the agony of her situation. Her attacks were relentless, her grief fueling a wrath that left no one standing.

When the camp was finally silenced and the dust began to settle, Shea took a final look at the destruction she had wrought. Her heart was a tumult of sorrow and rage. She fled the camp, leaving behind the smoldering ruins of the Stormcloak outpost and the bodies of those who had once been her allies.

She made her way back to Falkreath with a heavy heart and a sense of urgency. Her thoughts were consumed by Hulnnir, the only person who could provide solace amidst her despair. As she arrived in the town, she sought him out, her hope clinging to the familiarity of his presence.

In the quiet of Falkreath, Shea found Hulnnir and collapsed into his arms, her tears flowing freely. She recounted the horrors of the battle, the loss of Ralim, and the chaos she had left behind. Through her sobs, she clung to him, seeking comfort in the only place she could.

The morning after the battle, Shea awoke with a heavy heart. The weight of her grief and the intensity of her recent actions compelled her to seek solace and clarity away from the turmoil of Falkreath. Unable to remain in the place that now felt tainted by her loss and the bloodshed, Shea made a resolute decision to leave.

Before dawn, while Hulnnir was still asleep, Shea wrote him a letter. Her hand trembled as she penned the words, her mind conflicted but firm. The letter was brief:

Hulnnir,

I cannot stay here. The pain and the memories are too overwhelming. I need to find my own path, separate from what we had. I am sorry, but this is something I must do alone. Please understand.