A Series of Daedric Events (a Skyrim fanfiction)

Chapter Eleven - The Cursed Tribe

I wander Skyrim for a few days. I kill whatever Daedra gets in my way and whatever creatures get in my way. I sleep under the stars and rely on only myself to get by. It eases my mind, but I don't take out the Ebony Blade again. I use Dawnbreaker and even though the small one-handed weapon took some getting used to, it began to grow on me. 

Spending a few days away, out in the open air, made a bit of a difference to the overwhelming guilt I felt about killing Erandur when he trusted me. It scares me that it's taken me such a short amount of time to get over murdering someone who trusted me and I begin to wonder if that's the effect of being around Daedric artifacts constantly and for so long. That thought makes me even more afraid. I hope I can get rid of the artifacts when this is over. Well...maybe not all of them. 

I ended up in the Rift and as I'm walking, the ground begins to tremble. I get Dawnbreaker out and take my fighters stance, preparing for any Daedra to come out and attack me. But instead the ground continues rumbling. That can mean one thing: giant. 

I take off in the direction of where the giant is coming from and I find myself approaching an Orc stronghold. The Orcs seem to be doing a good job of slaying the giant, but I still race in and drive Dawnbreaker into the giants thigh. The extra fire damage that comes with Dawnbreaker seems to do the trick and the giant crumples to the ground. 

One of the Orcs looks at me in suspicion. I take step towards her. 

"Halt! You have no business here, outsider," she points her sword at me. "Leave at once,"

"Ugor, no!" an elderly woman rushes next to Ugor. "This may be the one we need,"

Ugor scoffs. "We need nothing from outsiders, Atub. Yamarz will provide for us,"

"We cannot carry on this way!" Atub insists. "You know we are doomed if we do not do something!"

"Is there anything I can do here?" I arch an eyebrow. 

Ugor scowls at me briefly and then she looks back at Atub, ignoring me. "Yamarz charged me with keeping outsiders like her away from Largashbur. You would have me disobey him?"

"You were charged with keeping us inside the walls," Atub shakes her head. "Have faith, Ugor. I only wish the best for our tribe,"

"Fine," Ugor huffs. "It's your neck,"

Ugor storms away, leaving me alone with Atub. Atub approaches me. 

"Forgive Ugor's harsh words. She is merely doing as she has been told," Atub apologises to me. 

"It seems I shouldn't be here," I frown. 

"No, don't go!" Atub pleads. 

I sigh. "What's going on here?" 

"Please, our tribe suffers and we need help," Atub looks genuinely distraught. 

"Elaborate?" I ask. 

"Our Chief, Yamarz, was once a strong and proud warrior. Now he is stricken, cursed. He is weak, and so our tribe is weak," Atub explains. "The giants sense this, and intrude on our territory. Now they assault our very home. Yamarz refuses help, but I sense that you may be just what we need,"

I still don't see how this involves me. "What am I supposed to do?

"Yamarz has demanded we stay inside the walls. We cannot leave. I must petition Malacath for relief. This curse must be lifted, but I cannot travel to Malacath's shrine," Atub explains to me. "The ritual must be done here, and I do not have the materials I need. I beg of you, can you bring me Troll Fat and a Daedra Heart? I have no wish to depend on a stranger, but I have no choice,"