Children of Destiny - A Rise of the Dark Lord's Tale

Chapter 1 - Training Under The Moon

BRIANNA BACKPEDDLED AND PARRIED THE SAVAGE ATTACK FROM HER OPPONENENT AS HE ASSAULTED HER UNDER A MOONLIT NIGHT SKY. He reminded Brianna of her younger self, full of fire and fury. She slammed her fist into his jaw only to watch him try to sweep her legs out from under her. It would have succeeded had Brianna been inexperienced and not a master of Akaviri martial arts. Feinting attacking high with his sword, he spun and attacked her exposed back. Blocking with her ebony katana she then redirected his blade against a boulder sending a shower of sparks over the two combatants. Using the sparks as a distraction, Brianna spun and used a telekinetic assault against her foe, pinning him against a tree. She then pulled his sword out of his hand into her own and made a scissor against his neck. Clicking her tongue and shaking her head she handed him back his weapon and let him down. Brianna could see the anger that bordered on rage in his eyes and it worried her. Her nephew had a temper and she was concerned that he would give in to darker impulses. She advised her father, the Dragonborn against training him in the Thu'um, but her father felt that he and her brother Talion weren't enough to defeat Ancalagon the Black. The great fire drake of Morgoth was still believed to be somewhere in Tamriel and had eluded justice. Secretly Brianna feared that her nephew Eddard was heading down the same dark road as Miraak and watched him closely.

"You cheated! You knew I was going to win and you used magic" Eddard howled in protest.

"Do you think your enemies will fight fairly in a real duel Eddard" Brianna answered sharply.

"No" he replied his voice softening the anger leaving his eyes.

"In war, there is a simple rule. Survive. Every day you get better, but you never use the defensive wards I taught you. They will save your life in combat. The blood of a Maia flows in you. Use them" she scolded.

"I won't need them. I'm Dragonborn like Talion and Grandfather" he said with arrogance in his voice. "After I complete my training, my enemies will bow to my will or die" Eddard finished while taking a drink of water from a nearby flask.

Chills went up Brianna's spine at his remark "Eddard, the Thu'um is to never be abused in that way. Do you not remember what the Dragonborn taught you about Miraak?"

"Your right aunt. I'm just eager to take the Blades oath, finish my training with Grandfather and become an Akaviri Knight like father" he replied sheathing his katana. "I'm seventeen. I'm ready now" Eddard told her with excitement.

"Not yet. Don't be too eager to go to war" Brianna cautioned her nephew. "They are brutal and violent. Taking a life is never an easy thing."

"Is that why you, father and Grandfather never speak of your battles" he asked.

"I wish war never existed, but sadly Eddard there are those in this world who worship death and must be stopped. That's why the Blades exist" she answered laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Then why don't we actively hunt down evil and destroy it" Eddard wanted to know.

"Because I don't want to become the thing I'm sworn to destroy. I would rather live in peace than become a servant of death. And there are many who have become death's slave" she told her nephew.

"Like Ulfric" Eddard said.

"Ulfric was seduced into the service of the Enemy by the promises of power from the Dark Lord Sauron. Ulfric's reign as the Dark Lord of Tamriel was not short enough. Too many died before he was overthrown" she replied with sadness in her voice.

"He was no match for you. Every Blades pledge knows the tale of how you went into Oblivion and slew him" Eddard cried with excitement. "I would love to hear the story told by you."