Always Lost, Always Hopeful (158) Look at the Gift Crown

———————————————
SPOILER INFO
This fanfic novel is largely based on the events that occurred in an actual game of Skyrim I played. Therefore, it's inevitably a spoiler.
———————————————




previous day






4-202-01-23 07:13
Proudspire Manor, Solitud, Haafingar, Skyrim

It's a beautiful sunny morning. After a quickie with Hadvar, I head for the inn with the girls to have a bath and also to find out if Montaigu is still in his hiding place – because if he is, he'd better get out before we take our clothes off.

He isn't. There are traces of a struggle and we learn from the innkeeper that he was taken to the castle prison to be painfully interrogated. That's Castle Dour, the imps' headquarters up on the hill next to the temple, not the Blue Palace where the jarl lives.

And these are, as I presume, preparations for an execution unrelated to this case.
Those are supposed to be a common sight in this populous city.

The word is the valuables stolen from the caravan were a gift from the Aldmeri Dominion to the High King of Skyrim as a token of peace and cooperation. Apparently the caravan left before the news of Torygg's murder arrived. But that's neither here nor there. Montaigu is, as I've told you, a despicable man and if he is being tortured right now, it serves him right. We'll take a look later, at this moment it's a lovely day in the magnificent capital of Skyrim and I want to go shopping. There is no sign of disagreement among my followers.

I'm particularly excited about the fancy clothes shop kept by that High Elf harridan Endarie. To my disappointment, there's nothing I haven't already seen elsewhere. Skyrim is real backwater as far as clothing is concerned.

Well... thanks, I guess. Although I most assuredly hope I'm not that heavy.
(And in case you're wondering, Noster did not come out of the clothing shop. Endarie's assortment is not that bad.)

Nevertheless, it's really nice to walk around and talk to all those interesting people. There's an attractive Khajiit man Do'Nashverr. Hopefully I can catch him at the inn someday when my boyfriend Aurelius isn't around. Yeah, what am I saying? I haven't seen Aurelius for ages. For all I know, he may have left the city for good. And I'm gabbing about unimportant things again. Sorry.

At least she doesn't tell me I look ill, like the alchemist Arcadia in Hviterun always does.  :-)

There's nothing new in the palace and in the harbor. I'm told the ship "Winter's Warmth" I intend to travel with is ready to leave tomorrow morning. So right now we'll take care of that castle business and I shall spend the rest of the day crafting our equipment.

The imp leadership is apparently very busy discussing Ulfric's plans (which, we hear, might include an attack on Hviterun) and steps that can be taken against him. Thus no one gives us a second look when we walk to the staircase and descend to the basement.

There's a rather large prison. The guards greet us respectfully – I'm a thane here, after all. Having looked into a room or two, we find the torture chamber. There are many bloodstains, one alive and one dead prisoner squeezed into really small cages, as well as the burned remains of a man named Montaigu. The alive prisoner tells us a man with that name was being severely tortured by a High Elf with a very unelfish name Proctor who seems to have been the leader of that caravan that came from the Aldmeri Dominion. The man I'm talking to didn't witness the torture himself, he heard about it from the other prisoners.

We learn from a guard that Proctor was very angry when Montaigu died in his hands. "That's what happens when amateurs try to do a job that requires skill and training," he says with a shrug. He goes on telling us how Proctor stormed out, leaving even his interrogation notes behind. I take those and give the guard some money as a sign of my gratitude.

From those notes, it transpires that the stolen materials were meant to be used to craft a replica of an Ancient Falmer Crown and sold to a collectioner under the pretense it was the original. Apparently, there's nothing left for me to do except bring said articles to the palace, their intended destination, unless I want to craft that crown replica myself, which I don't think there's much point doing.

I set to work in the alchemy lab and then in the smithy. Since Beirand is having a very busy day, I use the smithy in the eastern harbor. The blacksmith Wuzgu is an Orc and shows little interest in me, but his two assistants keep hanging around me until he orders them very sternly to attend to their work.

I get curious about the Falmer crown and craft it after all, reasoning that instead of the components, I can just as well bring the crown itself to the palace. And when it's ready, I find it's kind of cool, so I'm going to keep it for the time being. (I'll show you a picture tomorrow morning, if you don't mind. The lighting is awful here at this hour.)

By the time I'm finished, the sun is already going down. There are few people on the streets and the sunset is just marvelous.

I'm pleasantly tired from the day well spent. It's not over yet, of course. I'll still have to do my enchanting, for which I'm going to the palace. But I don't think it'll take too long. Then the girls and I will have a good night's sleep and probably leave by ship to the unknown tomorrow morning.

Indeed enchanting doesn't take much time today and I can go to bed shortly before midnight. (I'm too tired to even think about men.)

"Laura," says Lydia very softly (because her mouth is close to my ear).
"What?"
"Can we talk about something?"
I turn towards her and pretend to be pondering. "Nah, I think I won't talk to you tonight."
Lydia pushes against my right shoulder, forcing me back onto my back. "Are you sure?" she asks, taking my left nipple between her teeth.
"No, please don't! I'll do anything you want!" I plead and close my eyes. She's not biting or anything, I just enjoy pretending to be helpless sometimes, preferably with someone whom I can completely trust.
Lydia lets go of my nipple and climbs onto me. "Open your eyes!"
"I hear with the ears, not with the eyes," I reply, but I open my eyes all the same. She is so beautiful.
"That Falmer Crown  thing reminded me – I've been wanting to ask you why do you feel sorry for the Falmers."
"What's wrong with that? I don't want to kill anyone without a good reason. What's the deal with the Falmers anyway? How did they end up living underground?"
Lydia sighs as if wanting to say "You don't know even that?"
"What?" I ask demandingly.
And she tells me about the especially cruel war between the Nords and the Falmers. The Nords got the upper hand and the Falmers had nowhere else to go than underground to the Dwemers who agreed to give them shelter, but only as their slaves. The Falmers had to agree, because the alternative was complete extinction in the hands of the Nords. There was no more room for them on the surface.
I'm unimpressed "See? They have suffered more than enough already. Besides, from what you told me, it would appear that the war was fought before the Dwemers' disappearance. Now, how many hundreds of years ago was that?"
"That's not the point, Laura! They would kill us all if they could."
"Well, they can't, can they? They've kept to themselves all those centuries. I know, all children are being frightened with Falmers coming out of the underground and killing us, but has it ever actually happened? The Reinaldurs got killed because they violated the Falmers' territory. When have Falmers ever attacked people who walk on the surface and mind their own business?"
Lydia opens her mouth, but doesn't seem to know what to say. I go on: "Has any Falmer who is alive today killed anyone you know?"
"You know, Laura, I think if you asked Jordis that question, you might get an answer."
That gets me a little pensive. Maybe things are not as simple as I've been assuming.
Lydia smiles at my sudden cluelessness. "Don't worry. As far as I'm concerned, you can like whomever you want."
"Even thalmors?"
She bends down and kisses me. "Even thalmors."
"Even Bjarne?"
Looking me in the eye, Lydia shakes her head slightly. "No, he isn't furry enough for you."
I try to slap her butt, but she has anticipated it. She gets off me lightning-fast and turns onto her back. "Good night, dear. Didn't you say you were tired?"
I laugh, reach over and kiss her. She hugs me tightly. Then we go to sleep.



next awakening






return to the table of contents

Always Lost, Always Hopeful (157) In Good Hands with the Imperials

———————————————
SPOILER INFO
This fanfic novel is largely based on the events that occurred in an actual game of Skyrim I played. Therefore, it's inevitably a spoiler.
———————————————




previous day






4-202-01-22 02:10
Falskaar Docks – Dånstar ship, off the coast of The Pale, Skyrim


The wind has been favorable and we arrive somewhat earlier than Wulf expected. The town is fast asleep, with the exception of that route-boat man and a friend of his who are sitting at their fireplace and probably talking about some past adventures, or possibly the prices of swords in Solitud. Aside of them, there are of course the guards patrolling the streets. And possibly some people at the inn. But generally, I think we can presume most of the population to sleep peacefully without nightmares.

I think that rather than going to High Hrothgar or returning to Summerset, we'll travel to Solitud and take that boat that is supposed to sail to some islands further west. Maybe it'll sail as far as High Rock. Then I'll get to see what it's like and maybe that will help my memory return sooner. Apart from which, I'm simply very curious about that region. And, to change the subject, I'm getting rather sure of wanting to return to Falskaar one day, if for no other reason than because I can't stand the thought of never seeing my lovely house again.

I guess we'll stay in Dånstar until the shops open in the morning. Any objections, Lydia? She smiles coyly and the rest of us laugh. We walk together to the barracks. Jenassa and Jordis head for the inn and I go to wake up Gregor.

I make him lick me down there, and after I've had an orgasm, we do the 69. His long and hard dick is so delightful. At this moment I have the feeling it's the most beautiful thing in the world.

I lick and suck it eagerly. When I feel I'm approaching the climax again, I let him out of my mouth and move it with just my hand. I feel ecstatic watching how the tip gets covered with the foreskin, then bared as my hand moves down, then hides in the foreskin again. I get his sperm all over my face and breasts. Afterwards, I turn around and kiss Gregor and frantically rub my body against his. I'm in heaven. Gregor, however, seems disappointed that I let it out of my mouth and finished him off with my hand instead.

I go to wash myself and by then it's daylight and the shops are open. After my shopping round, I summon the girls. Approaching the town gate, I'm delighted to see that the Khajiit Ahkari's caravan is there. Then we hear a dragon. He's taking his time outside the actual town. I succeed in climbing onto some rocks and then up to the defense wall on the western side. The dragon is attacking someone whom I can't see properly behind the trees. Don't tell me it's a giant. I kill the dragon and yes, his enemy is indeed a giant. Amusingly, he's chasing a snowtroll. I can't believe how tiny a troll looks next to a giant.

I'm not going to shoot it, of course. Just being prepared to take on any sudden attackers. Such as another dragon.

The giant thinks I'm hostile too, but he gives preference to running after the escaping troll. A wise choice, if I may say so. I hurry back to Ahkari's tent. By the time I've done trading and go to get my dragonsoul from the corpse, the giant is nowhere to be seen.

We visit the Pale Imperial Camp next. Uncautiously, we run past the bandit camp too close. They shout excitedly and run towards us with obvious intentions, but we are able to leave them behind, or maybe they don't dare come too close to the imp camp. I quickly trade with the quartermaster and then we run to Stonehills. Another quick trading stop, and we're on our way to Morthal.

We run past a battle without paying much attention.

Suddenly I hear a typical thalmor voice. I thought the battle was between imps and storks, but if there are thalmors here, we ought to go and kill some.

We sneak closer. It's difficult with people moving around so fast, but I can indeed spot a thalmor. I also see an imp, so it's not just thalmors and storks. I take a shot at the thalmor. (The thought that this could make imps hostile doesn't occur to me until much later.) The hit fails to kill the thalmor, so I take another shot and hit a stork instead. That brings me back to my senses. I put my bow away and signal to my followers to get out of here quickly. The last thing we need is to make the storks our enemies.

We arrive in Morthal without further incidents. The weather is somber – almost no snowfall, but cloudy and cold. I spend a couple of hours shopping. We have plenty of time to reach Dragonbridge and do some shopping there as well and maybe do a couple of quests nearby.

Then I run into Legate Taurinus. He takes my breath away. I mean, figuratively speaking. He's just as attractive as ever. Or not really as much attractive as powerful. Masculine. I can't explain it. I just want him right now, even thoughp I'm aware it will mess up my plans for today and I had sex less than twelve hours ago. I don't care about anything. I want this man.

I step up to him, say something too silly to repeat here, and he accompanies me to my house.

He's great. Not unusually remarkable in any way, and some may say a little too old for me, but I don't mind. He's a good manly man and I'm very happy.

Now I head for Dragonbridge with the girls. We'll be too late for the shops, but I prefer to look at the bright side, which means the lovely snow-covered trees on both sides of the sunlit road.

We see some nice animals along the way:

Soon we're past the brothel on the riverbank and approaching Fort Snowhawk which we some time ago cleared of mages who were doing evil experiments. I'm curious to see if another battle awaits us. No, nothing of the sort. The fortress has been taken over by the Imperial Army. The people traveling along this important road are going to be safe from now on.

We go to the courtyard to exchange some friendly hellos with the soldiers and possibly find out if there are any exciting news. Then we move on.

A patrol of thalmors who pay no attention to us, some more animals who run away when they see us approach, and by 7 o'clock in the evening we're in the cozy friendly village of Dragonbridge.

We take a little rest at the campfire and chat with Ygfa whose house is right next to the marketplace (on the left side just over the edge of the picture).

She doesn't give a slightest sign of knowing about Athragar and me, so it seems he is really keeping his promise to not tell anyone.

I'm not sure if I should ask Ygfa how Eydis and Etienne are getting along, but she tells us of her own accord that they went traveling.

Me and my followers go to say a quick hello to Jordis's parents and then hurry northwest to take care of two quests nearby. It'll be dark soon, but the terrain shouldn't be too difficult and this is a welcome opportunity to try out various light-giving items I've picked up during the recent weeks.

Our first task is to find the last stolen thing left by M-whatshisname for his accomplice Reginald. It's supposed to be on an island in the small lake just across the mountains that are west of the Dragonbridge–Solitud highway.

It's practically dark by the time we arrive. I see what looks like a spriggan on the island and kill it.

Then I swim over ahead of my followers (with an island as small as this, it's better to have your followers on the shore with their bows ready, keeping an eye on your surroundings) and kill two more spriggans. Strangely enough, an elk attacks me and I have to kill it too. Then I find the gem left by... er... Montaigu was his name, I remember now.

A little way to the south-southwest is Pinemoon Cave where we've already been once in the past. This time, we need to retrieve a staff Enthir wants. There are a few vampires to kill, and I get a little uncautious, but we don't have any real trouble.

The staff we came here for is called Grand Staff of Charming. It makes weaker creatures give up fighting and it's worth over two thousand septims. Very overpriced if you ask me, but maybe it's very rare and is therefore sought after by collectioners. At any rate, I shall bring it to Enthir who will then give me the amulet that used to be Onmund's. Then I can see what it does and decide whether or not I want to return it to Onmund.

Outside, it's uncomfortably dark for crossing mountains which we'll need to do in order to get to Solitud. So I put on, one after another, the Ring of Light, another ring called Left Eye of Coldharbour, and the Circlet of Night Eye.

In order to wear a circlet, I have to (of course) take off my helmet.

The last one is clearly the best, so I keep it on as we head northeast. Its effect makes the moon look rather unusual:

With the aid of the circlet, we reach the road to Solitud and descend to the Haafingar Stormcloak Camp on the coast. After trading with the quartermaster, we run to Solitud.

I let my followers go ahead to our house while I make a detour by the castle hoping to find my Hadvar.

He is indeed there and so we go together to my place. It's so good to be with Hadvar again. I realize we've made love only twice before tonight. Somehow we haven't met for over three months!



next awakening






return to the table of contents

Always Lost, Always Hopeful (134) And I Had Thought We'd Be Bored

———————————————
SPOILER INFO
This fanfic novel is largely based on the events that occurred in an actual game of Skyrim I played. Therefore, it's inevitably a spoiler.
———————————————




previous day






4-201-12-30 09:51
Elisdriel, Hjaalmarch, Skyrim


Erik is still asleep, but when I try to sneak out of bed unnoticed, he wakes up and grabs me. Get real, you did it four times last night! Oh well, stick it in if you have to. As long as I won't have to do any acrobatics. And don't expect you can have me three times every night.

We join the girls downstairs. Erik seems to be exhausted for the time being. When he goes out to take a leak, we discuss last night. There's no denying it – I'm stunned. Even Lydia confesses to me the next day she has never heard of a Nord man so capable. Borgakh in turn is very grateful for this opportunity to learn in a safe environment.

We eat our breakfast naked, just for fun.

Under warm sunny weather (and in our strong protective armors), we set out for Dunstad Grove. Passing by Crabber's Shanty, we say hello to our friend the fisherman and the adorable orphan Khajiit child Ma'isha.

The town looks peaceful, but only for one moment. All of a sudden, we see guards running on the streets empty of civilians, and hear a dragon. After we've killed it, I happen to find out that the alchemist Lidia has very much money. Got to remember to come here when I have something expensive to sell.

Cozy as the place may be, I want to waste as little time here as possible, because our unexpected delay in Elisdriel has put us behind schedule big time. Still, I can't avoid people stopping us on the streets and thanking us for having helped with the dragon.

As we run to the north, a bear gnawing at a mammoth carcass takes issue with us getting too near to its lunch.

Sorry! We're just passing through. Please return to your meal.

Running quickly, we leave the bear behind. A brief hike over low hills, and soon we're on the Dånstar–Dragonbridge highway. There's that fortress on the right (northern) side of the road which we've been running past, but this time there's a sinister-looking mage in a black hooded robe right on the roadside who attacks us. Fine. Just remember, you asked for it.

After killing the mage on the roadside, I got hit by one on the rampart a moment after I shot an arrow at him.

We clear the extensive courtyard of mages and skeletons, whereby I'm a little worried about Borgakh who wouldn't even think of hiding behind more experienced warriors. Wait, Erik is actually even less experienced, albeit stronger – although not necessarily after last night. Whatever. The point is, by the time I believe we've killed all the enemies, all my followers are still alive.

It's getting on two o'clock in the afternoon. Should we take care of the interiors as well? We'll still have to go to Dragonbridge which means we may not have time to visit Dånstar today. Lydia is cool about it, saying it's not such a big tragedy if she can't celebrate the New Year with her boyfriend. So I decide we'll go in, since we're here already. Those mages look disgusting enough to merit getting eradicated without delay. I mean, who knows, maybe they were out there hunting for passersby to capture and use for some horrid experiments. Apart from which, we're not really that busy. Nothing bad will happen even if we end up spending the night in Dånstar and arriving in the city only by tomorrow noon or so.

So we go in.

Aside from the mages, there are numerous torture devices, as well as dead people in prison cells and little cages, with much blood all over. We find a letter suggesting that the mages had conquered the fortress from bandits and were indeed prowling on passersby in order to find test subjects for their experiments, the nature of which remains unclear to us, as does the identity of their faraway mastermind.

Rubbing out this serpent nest was ideed time very well spent.

One man after another has an erection after getting killed. I wonder what kind of magic they were doing here.

After we've explored all the rooms (hopefully), a passage takes us to the surface at a place outside the walls. We are attacked by one last mage whom I kill easily, and ascend to the highway.

While we're running towards nearby Dragonbridge, it starts to rain cats and dogs.

Drenched through and through, as well as exhausted, we decide to stay the night. Because of the horrible weather, and because Jordis is not with us, we won't bother to go to her parents' farm. We take a big room at the inn instead. Fortunately, I'm not seeing Athragar anywhere.

Before going to sleep, I get the mysterious Mr. M's letter from the innkeeper Faida. He has another super special item hidden for us on a nearby island. And he's gotten in trouble with his employer who finally has discovered the disappearance of various articles and suspects none other than M, or Montaigu, as he now reveals his full name to be. He urges me (or actually Reginald) to meet up with him quickly at The Winking Skeever inn whose owner Corpulus is a friend of his.

This letter is less laconic than the previous ones, Montaigu doing his best to convince Reginald that the situation is really very serious. And it leaves no doubt Montaigu is a disgusting jerk. I don't care if he gets caught. And I no longer have too high an opinion of Corpulus after this.



next awakening






return to the table of contents