Skyrim's Guard

Chapter One: The False Bandit

This is an updated version of Skyrim's Guard! Hope you enjoy, and I'll get more chapters up at soon as I can!

They came in late that night into Dead Man's Drink. Dae was simply getting the load off of his shoulders, talking to his best friend Delacourt.

Ever since the death of the High King's cousin in Solitude, things have been rough for the Imperials all over Tamriel. Extra hours. More hunting jobs. And less pay.

And the dragon attacks! Blasted dragon attacks around every corner. Dae was in the middle of reliving his day with one of the Elder Dragons when Delacourt had taken a rest from his music to sit next to him. "You know, it isn't all that bad."

"You don't have room to speak," Dae had told him. "You sit around here and cheer people up with your music. There is no blood on your hands. The only blisters you have are on the tips of your fingers from playing the lute."

Not too much later the door opened and three people appeared wearing black gear head to toe. Capes fell from their shoulders, and their faces were hidden in masks with slits for eyes. Hood further masked their identity. To their presence, the bar fell into silence.

Vagla, the innkeeper, stood up straighter, her voice wavering. "Welcome, T-Travelers. May I help you with something?"

Delacourt shot her a warning glance. In Dae's tired and drunken state, he merely gazed at them without fear. Though, he knew enough to keep his mouth shut.

"Yes," A surprisingly soft voice came from the one in the middle. "We were wondering if you could spare a couple beds for us."

People glanced at one another. These people needed a place to stay? In retrospect, three people traveling, no matter their class or power, needed to stop to rest. At this, Dae lost his interest, and he began to mope in his job again.

However, Delacourt was far from calm. His fingers twitched around a bag of coins at his side. Vaglra assisted the three of them towards their rooms.

Dae could hear them whispering to one another outside one of the doors. "I'll get changed. You should, too. We've been getting weird looks ever since we left the Sanctuary."

A heavily accented voice answered, "As if wearing this armor helps the matter."

The third party member was a little smaller than the others. On her back was a long bow of Ebony. "It really does not help. Let's just change and try to be normal for once."

The sweet voice replied, "What is normal anymore?"

There was no such thing as normal. To others, Dae's life may have seemed "normal." He was simply a guard, trained and paid to protect Falkreath with his life. He patrolled, he fought, he did everything simply because he was told too. It was all so very depressing.

Eventually, Delacourt's shoulder relaxed and he leaned over the table, leaning closer into Dae's cupped head. "Those people who just walked in... I heard so many stories in the songs I sang at the Bard's College."

"What do you mean?" Dae tried to ask, but they came out as soft moans.

And yet, Delacourt understood. "The Nightingales. Sworn to protect the Divine Nocturnal..." his eyes widened in realization. "And they just walked into this inn. Dae, get a look at this!"

Dae was offered a clean and excited hit in the shoulder. He glared up at Delacourt. "Those are just stories, Moron. The guards talk about it all the time. Nothing but just some stupid tales."

"Well," Delacourt swung backwards so he was leaning back against the table, indulging in Dae's lack of belief. "They also said dragons were a legend."