Skyrim, The Bloodlust Within

Changes

Heading back outside Whiterun we came to the stables, where Shadowmere was unexpectedly waiting for me. Shadowmere was a horse that belonged to a member of the Dark Brotherhood when I first arrived, by the leader named Astrid. When I took over the horse was passed down to me, and has been my loyal and faithful companion ever since. He was a midnight black, with glowing blood red eyes. It was fair to say that Shadowmere was no ordinary horse, as his combat skills and health exceed that of any normal horse, and he healed twice as fast. Shadow, my other horse, was standing beside him, exchanging glances occasionally.

"Hello boy" I said to Shadowmere as I walked up to him and stroked his neck. In response he reared upwards, kicking his legs above my head in happiness. "It's nice to see you too" Turning to face Namasur I offered him something.

"Namasur?" I asked him as he caught up with me.

"Yes my Lordship?" Namasur replied, bowing once again.

"I wish to offer you Shadow here, he is a fine horse, fast and battle-worthy, of that I am certain"

Namasur walked up to the horse, gently stroking his head. Shadow raised his head to Namasur and softly brushed himself up against him.

"It would seem that he likes me" Namasur replies. "I thank you J'zargo" He finishes as he hoists himself up upon the horse, I do the same with Shadowmere.

As we rear the horses around we leave the peaceful city of Whiterun, and into the wilderness of Skyrim, in all of it's beauty, and all of it's horrors...

After a few hours of traveling, past ancient stone fortresses and giant camps, we came to a small farming village within Whiterun Hold. This was the place of Rorikstead, and it was where we would stay for the night. As it was getting close to sunset by the time we reached this place. Riding up to the back of the inn we dismounted our horses and left for them to run around the small open field of where they were. Lowering my hood, we headed into the inn. We first sat down at the bar table and ordered a drink from Mralki, the owner of the inn, Frostfruit Inn.

As we drank our beverages, we decided to start a conversation to pass the time. The first few moments were silent and filled with darting eyes and half-opened mouths, but eventually I found the words to say.

"Namasur, you seem to know a lot about me. How is this?"

Namasur took one last gulp of his drink before replying. His face looked... Old and tired, as if he hadn't been sleeping rather well. Sighing he finally uttered those few words, those words that I had heard thousands of times before.

"Soon, you shall see"

That was all he said before asking Mralki for another drink. I myself ordered another, the wine here was specially made from the Juniper Berries from the wilds around this area. It made the mead taste sweet but with a slight bitterness, with a tart aftertaste. As I drank I noticed out the corner of my eye that Namasur pulled a small flask from his satchel. The glass was clear, and inside I could see a thick, red liquid. He looked around the room to see if anyone was watching, then he quickly poured a bit into his mug of mead, whirling it around the mug until it blended in. Placing it back into his satchel he looked at me with a small grin and a pained 'What?' expression.

"Was that, blood?" I asked him in a quiet voice.

"Yes, I always carry a small amount with me, never know when your going to need it, do you?" He replied as he took a drink of his own blended beverage.

"I can smell the blood" I said to him with a slight hungry look developing on my face. "It's... Strong, metallic, full of iron..." I continued, my eyes growing larger and my breathing increasing. I suddenly gripped my throat, it had become dry and sore. Namasur looked at me with an expression on his face that showed complete sympathy. Getting up and tossing some gold onto the table he exchanged a few short words with Mralki.

"Bed... Yes he isn't feeling too good... For the night... Thanks" was all I heard before the wooden door creaked open and shut behind me. I found myself on a single bed, hunched over and staring at the floor. My breathing had become deep but was taken in short breaths, it was if I had just ran an entire 5 mile walk with no break. Namasur knelt down in front of me and raised his hand to my face. He looked deep into my eyes, they were wild and un-focused, my pupils constantly trying to focus on a particular object.

"I know how you feel and what is happening to you, J'zargo, for I myself went through this once, long ago..." Namasur finally said to me. His face was filled with concern.

"Wh... What is happening to m... Me...?" I managed to stutter, barely able to talk.

"The Vampiric Blood inside you is quickly changing you. Your fur will get paler, if that is even possible considering how white it is already. Your eyes will become a more darker blood red and will shine from the shadows, your claws will become sharper and your teeth will be like a Sabre Cat's. And your hunger for blood has already started it seems"

I couldn't speak, it was painful to talk at the moment. I felt... Weak, as if all my energy was being drained from my body. My teeth ached and my throat was parched. Namasur left my side for a moment, but when he returned, it was with a small, red flask, and he was holding it out to me.

"Drink" he simply said. "It will make you feel better, trust me, your fangs haven't grown just yet, so this is the only way to feed at this time"

He pushed the flask towards me, the look on his face told me that I should take the offering, otherwise it would be more painful for me. I had no choice. I wasn't disgusted by the fact that it was human blood, as I have had plenty of it on my hands before. Suddenly gripping my chest in pain as a pounding shock exploded within me I reached for it, and took the cork out with my teeth. Glancing up at Namasur he nodded, his face neutral. Smiling the best I could, I placed my mouth around the rim of the glass, and drank...