Realm of Games #1: Skyrim

Chapter 10

I can't believe how many reads this story has gotten! To the ones who've read all the way through, thank you so much! I hope I can keep writing as well as I have to keep you coming back. Okay enough mushy shit, on with the story.

Serana and I made it to Dawnstar by nightfall. She looked sad and worried as we bathed in the hot spring, and I asked her why.

"Do you think they'll be alright? They're masters at magic all right, but their weapons skills are still a bit shaky. What if they fall into a den of bandits?"

I chuckled. "Then I hope those bandits like their meat charred, then frozen. I've seen those four take on a giant as apprentices and win. They'll be alright. Besides, you could go find them. From here I plan to make my way to Whiterun and hire the carriage to Solitude the day after tomorrow."

"Speaking of, what do you suppose Elisif wants? It's not like her, or any Jarl other than Siddgeir, to summon anyone so suddenly." Serana washed the suds out of her hair.

"Chances are something is going on in the Hold that she needs me to take care of or look into.  I've done such things before while the others were studying and getting stronger at the College. The last time, there was a den of werewolves outside of Dragonsbridge that were attacking anyone on the road." I got out and toweled dry, putting on the clean work dress I'd brought with me. "Come on. Let's go have some supper."

When we got back to the inn, I ordered a round of mead for everyone and then we ordered bread, cheese, and mammoth meat. A bit lavish, but I was met with stares if I ate common food. I guess being the Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold was a bigger deal than I thought. Who knew?

After a couple hours, we went to bed and slept hard. The next morning I woke up to find Serana had already left. She was worried about the others and was going to join up with them and help rebuild Helgen. I didn't mind as I'd had a feeling she was going to do just that.

I dressed in my armor and strapped my mace at my hip. I bade the tavern owner farewell and left, following the road south towards Whiterun. It would probably have been easier to go through the swamps to the southeast of Dawnstar, but I wasn't in a mood to get too dirty today. Besides, swamp water smell was impossible to get out of hair and clothes in one washing. I screwed up my nose, remembering a mission I'd undertaken to find a runaway teenager. Little brat had gone straight to the swamp. Nearly got herself killed by a chaurus too. She'd been touch and go for awhile while I gently pulled the poison from her body. Then a potion of cure disease and she was home free. I smiled at the memory of returning her to her mother.

I stopped for lunch at Fellglow Keep. The owner had insisted on packing a lunch for me, even though I said I was capable of cooking my own lunch. I smiled. Life was...peaceful here. A few bumps along the road had occurred. Bandits attacking, magical anomalies going haywire in the College's courtyard due to Rosla trying a spell she wasn't ready for, and a few other odds and ends had happened. But those instances were overshadowed by peace. We were where we were supposed to be.

Jumping down from the archway I'd been sitting on, I resumed my fast pace to Whiterun, eager for a good night's rest before my carriage ride tomorrow.

Reaching the city well into the afternoon, I walked into Breezehome, my home in the city, and immediately soaked in a hot bubble bath. Total. Bliss. Dressing in a plain blue dress afterwards, I cooked a simple stew and ate before reading for awhile and then going to bed.

I woke up at four and dressed in my Arch-Mage robes, knowing Elisif wanted to see me in an official capacity. After packing a lunch for the road, I made my way to the carriage outside the city, paid the carriage driver, and was on my way. Once I arrived in Solitude I made my way quickly to the Blue Palace, stating my business and showing the guard the letter Elisif had sent me. The guard looked shocked.

"Jarl Elisif isn't here." He said. "She's been kidnapped."