Companion (Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

The Last Dragonborn's voice seemed to have startled the former Dragon Priest. He tensed and when the female neared, he cautiously backed away. As the Dragonborn tried to reach for him, Miraak turned around and pushed himself onto his feet. He fled.

"Wait!" The Dragonborn didn't know what she wanted. How was Miraak back? And why was he in such a condition? The Miraak she knew would be far too prideful wear such rags and eat like some wild animal.

The Dragonborn gave chase but Miraak was faster. She carried her pack, weapons and donned a set of armor while he did not. He was running towards the forest. If the man was able to reach it then he would be harder to find. The warrior needed to capture him now and figure out what the hell was going on.

Wuld Nah Kest

The warrior Shouted and within moments, she was right beside the fleeing form of Miraak. His black eyes widened as she tackled him into the ground. The snow cushioned their fall. She rolled around until she stopped their momentum to pin the man below her. He was on his front, face first in the snow.

Miraak snarled and struggled to free himself and the Last Dragonborn had trouble keeping him down. She used her body weight with her heavy armor to pin his torso to the ground and then kept one hand on the back of his neck to force his head down. She noticed his hair was long and unkempt. He tried to turn around but she kept him in place. As the warrior braced one hand on the ground, he stretched his neck forward and snapped at her fingers. Startled, she pulled her hand away and placed it farther away from the reach of his mouth. Again, the man tried to move but he was in no position to do much.

"Miraak." The woman called out his name. No response but a small growl and more struggling.

"Miraak!" Nothing but the same.

Maybe she was wrong? Maybe this was just a strange, mad man that she was mistaking for her former rival?

"Can you talk?" It looked like Miraak couldn't. Or was pretending he couldn't. But what reason could there be for something like that?

"Do you understand me? How are you alive?" It was like the man didn't understand her. He showed no indication that he did.

Shifting her weight, the Dragonborn tried to be careful in her movements to roll him over. She wanted to see his face as she attempted to get him to speak. She also did not want to give him a chance to escape. But as she moved, Miraak bucked and unbalanced her enough to fall off of him. With her weight gone, the man thrashed until the female Dragonborn was forced to let go as well.

In several moments he had sprinted into the trees and was gone from sight.

**********

That night, the Last Dragonborn debated on the actions she should take. She was sure the man she had encountered was Miraak. Something in her recognized him. And Miraak, in whatever state he was in, could not be left alone. What if he regained his senses? The woman doubted the former Dragon Priest was faking his new persona. Though she only knew him a short while, the woman knew Miraak would never allow himself to act like that. Something was very wrong. It probably had something to do with however he had reappeared on Nirn.

The female Dragonborn knew she would need to find Hermaeus former Champion and kill him. It felt wrong though. What kind of fate was this for a Dragonborn? Somehow turned feral and now about to be cut down like an animal?

Maybe capturing Miraak would be a better idea? But then what would she do with him? Again, what if he regained his senses?

Sighing, the Last Dragonborn slept little that night.