Nirn's Finest [Elder Scrolls One-Shots]

vi) Keinsivaas and Maclia

"Keinsivaas!"

Within seconds of calling his name, I see the beautiful beast flying this way. He looks just as magnificent as he did fighting by my side and spewing ice crystals from his jaws during the numerous battles we had endured together. Soaring through the sky, the dragon spirals downwards when he finds me.

The ground shakes as he lands, sending loose rocks and branches flying. "You called?" He asks, his head tilted sideways so he can examine me with his shinning black eye.

"I'm ready," I say reassuringly. My voice is full of calm confidence, yet I'm shaking with excitement.

He extends a limb, waiting for me to climb onto his back. I position myself just between his wings. My clammy hands take hold of the great black spike in front of me, and I rest against the one behind me for balance.

He turns his head back to look at me one last time. "I hope you enjoy this, Dovahkiin. Now you can truly be counted as a member of our kind." With that, he crouches low, preparing to jump into the sky.

Nothing could have prepared me for what was to come next. Sure, I had experience falling of cliffs many times in my life, but it doesn't come close to this.

We're moving at the speed of light, sailing up, up, up into the sky. Beside me, Keinsivaas' leathery blue wings beat, sending us higher with each passing moment. The wind rushes through my hair, sending my helmet tumbling down to Nirn.

Beneath us is the land I've known all my life, but never like this. I had only seen Skyrim from the ground and Throat of the World, but even as high and mighty as the mountain is and how majestic it makes Skyrim seem, the view cannot hope to compare to this. Here, the mountain ranges look like stalagmites in a cave and the great lakes of the land like puddles outside my front door. I stretch my arms to the sky, reaching for the gods. Laughing, I feel as if anything is possible, for the sky is no longer my limit.

"How are you faring?" I can just barely hear Keinsivaas' booming voice over the air rushing past my ears.

"It's incredible! Show me more!" I yell, and Keinsivaas throws his head back in laughter, surprising me. The dragon almost never laughs, or show any emotions for that matter.

"Prepare yourself, Maclia!" Keinsivaas beats his wings a few more times, gaining altitude and speed. Before I know it, we've flipped upside down. The dragon's great belly is exposed, the sun reflecting off his navy scales.

I feel myself slipping as the blood rushes to my head. But even summoning the strength of Talos doesn't keep me firmly planted to Keinsivaas' back.

Closing my eyes, I let go, confident in the Dovah's ability to catch me. With outstretched limbs, I dive and twirl, dancing freely and performing maneuvers a newly hatched dragon might be impressed by. The ground grows far closer, but I see Keinsivaas beneath me, his wings locked to his sides for the speed to catch up with me.

Crying out with excitement, I'm clutched by my stomach in the beast's talons, which isn't as painful as I would've expected. "A true Dovah, although your form may not show it," Keinsivaas says, smiling in approval at my "free flight".

I notice were no longer soaring miles above Nirn, in fact, there is no land in sight, but rather slowly skimming the Sea of Ghosts. Although resistant to Skyrim's harsh weather condition, my body shivers from the spray of the salty sea. Despite our slower speed, my vision is blurry from tears that formed because of the wind. They mingle with salt crystals on my face, tickling me.

Leaning downwards, my fingers touch the icy cold water. I peer into the ocean and notice teal creatures very unlike the ones in Skyrim and its surrounding countries. They're far bigger, with long flowing tails and fins. Eyes filled with wisdom meet with mine, and I know instantly that these creatures are far smarter than they appear to be and have seen more than I could imagine in the depths of the ocean. If only I were a Bosmer- then maybe I could communicate with these lovely creatures.

Keinsivaas must have felt the curiosity radiating off of me, as he said, "We call them Sea-Dovah, Maclia. They don't speak our language, but one similar. If you listen closely, you may hear them speaking in a way only possible for one of the sea to do."

"How do you know all this, Keinsivaas?"

"Ahh, I am no hatchling."

"Nor an elder," I added, smiling.

"No, I am no elder either. But I have traveled the lengths of Tamriel in search of adventure. Others of our kind have told me tales you would die to hear- tales of divine beasts and magnificent treasures on other continents. Tamriel is not the only land on Nirn, as shocking to its inhabitants as it may be."

"Have you seen them?"

"No, not yet. But I plan to one day, perhaps with a companion."

A plan full of adventure and excitement begins to form in my mind. For several minutes I remain quiet, trying to come up with a way to persuade my friend to follow through with it. "Well you're not going to live forever, and neither am I. Should we get going?"

"You're right. It will take some time to get back to Solitude. We've been out longer than I anticipated."

I laugh, launching into an explanation. "But what if we don't go home yet? What if we explore the rest of Nirn instead? You said it yourself- you planned to, but with a companion. And with Alduin gone, what would be a better time to get away from the hectic state Skyrim is in right now?"

His head twists below his body in such a way he can see me, staring at me upside down. "But you'd have to tell everyone you're leaving. And imagine the treacheries the rest of Nirn has to offer!"

"No, Keinsivaas. You're thinking about this the wrong way! Maybe it'll be scary, but imagine the brilliant new people, lands, creatures, treasures, foods, customs, and who knows what else! If we only think of the negatives, we'll never see the positives and have the courage to leave! Besides, the stories we'll bring back will be unbeatable!"

"Hmm," he seems to be considering a great deal, so I add one more thing to the package.

"Annnd you said you wanted a companion. Who could be a better traveling companion than me?" Putting on the most beautiful face I can manage, I smile brightly, my eyes shining like the blue ocean in the sun beneath us.

"I can think of a few," he said playfully, and I growled. "Alright, Dovahkiin. We'll go."

I shout for joy, hugging the massive foot that's still carrying me. His grip tightens as an act of love, and my smile widens. With our new friend, the Sea-Dovah, Keinsivaas and I fly with our backs to the messy politics of Tamriel, making our way to explore the rest of Nirn, together.

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About the video: "Maurice Lessing - Sky Is the Limit (Beautiful Uplifting Adventure)" When I began writing this a couple months ago, I had a completely different video and a completely different direction for this story. Today, I searched for a new video for a different one-shot, but ended up using this one and changing the old "plot" for this one-shot instead. It's amazing how music can inspire you. c:

Hello! I hope you all enjoyed reading this one as I enjoyed writing it. (: I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry. But hopefully this made up for it? XD Anyway, have a lovely Labor Day off!