Blind (Elder Scrolls Skyrim Fanfiction)

Blind

"Greetings, Dragonborn." The voice, sounding oddly metallic, startled the woman as she sipped a cup of mead at her table. She recovered quickly, preventing the drink from spilling. That man was here again. That odd echoing quality of his voice was very recognizable.

The female Dragonborn had once asked why his voice sounded like that. He explained that he wore a mask, one that he was rather reluctant to take off. She thought it was odd but she had met many people that had even more unique quirks in her travels. It didn't matter if he wore one anyway.

"Must you startle me every visit?" The female Dragonborn turned around, trying to face where she thought the voice was coming from. So many times she wished she had her vision back. Simple things were so much harder when one could not see.

Alduin had burned her eyes in their last battle and no magic had been able to return her sight. Even though the most skilled mages in restoration had been tasked to aid her, the most they could do was repair the physical damage.

They said her eyes were fixed, at least visibly. Something else must have been wrong, or maybe it would take some time before her vision would come back. No one had been sure. It had left the woman frustrated and angry but she could do nothing about it.

All the Dragonborn could do now was wait and try to cope with the loss of her vision. She spent most of her time at home as she could not go out alone. She had made many enemies and it was safest for her at home. There was usually someone with her, either a friend or her summoned guards. Sometimes she was alone, but that was not often. This was one of those rare times.

"It is not my fault your senses are so dull. You must learn to pay attention or else you may find yourself in trouble." Her visitor sounded almost scolding, judging by the tone of his voice.

"Lucky for me you're not here to kill me." The Dragonborn joked. "So what brings you here again? It's been a few weeks since your last visit."

"I had some business nearby. I thought I'd stop by again to see how the Slayer of Alduin is doing." The man said. "But now that I am here, I must know. Where is your servant? Why is she not with you?"

"For the last time Miraak, she's not my servant! Ennah's a friend and she's just gone to the city for supplies. She'll be back soon."

"That is careless of the both of you. You would be dead if I had wished to kill you."

"Contrary to what you might think, I can still defend myself." The former warrior retorted, even if she knew he was right. Normally she conjured a Dremora or two to help guard her home when Ennah was out but she had forgotten today. She was fairly proficient in Conjuration and she could let the Daedra do the fighting for her. And of course, she could still Shout. "And most people don't move around like some wraith, like you seem to. I didn't even hear you come in."

"All I can say is that you must hone your senses. And I have no doubt you could still defend yourself if needed, but I fear you would destroy your home in the process."

"Probably. But at least I'd be alive." The woman smiled. "And I'm sure one of the Jarls would just gift me a new one."

"Ah, yes. You helped many people while on your journey to defeat the World Eater. You've still to finish your story about the College."

"Am I so old that you come for stories like you would your grandmother?"

"My grandmother was not a telling stories type of woman." He said after a few moments. His voice seemed to have gotten a bit colder, but the woman brushed it off as her imagination.

"You know what I mean." The woman rolled her eyes, hoping Miraak could see the gesture.

"All I am is curious about the life of the Last Dragonborn. Must you harass me for just a taste of your experiences?" The man sighed exaggeratedly.