Ancient Blood Ch 20

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    Ancient Blood Chapter 20

     

    Embrace Your Fate



      Irileth marches from Dragon’s Reach on to the back Balcony that was once the prison of the dragon Numinex. Whiterun guards hold the great chains out as Adrianne Avenicci hammers new links into the chain to replace those that have been damaged by time. The echoes of the hammer strikes ring out in the high vaulted stone ceiling as Irileth searches for the Breton overseer. She finds him sitting on the ledge of the massive balcony scribbling in a journal glancing up at the stars. “Shaw!” she calls out. He closes his journal, “Yes, Housecarl?” She leans on a barrel of Dwemer oil with both hands and glares at him, “It’s been six days. You have your chains and your oil… Where is the Dragonborn?” Sebastian looks around the balcony and sarcastically says, “Hmmm… I don’t see him out here with me… Have you checked Farengar’s bed chambers yet? That mage is always up to something.” The Dark Elf grips her sword, “I do not tolerate fools nor those who waste the Jarl’s resources…” Sebastian shrugs, “What do you want me to do? It takes half a day just to get to Solitude, in Haafingar, from Whiterun. Then another day and a half to get to WIndhelm, in Eastmarch on the other side of the province. Then another full day’s travel, atleast, to get up to High Hrothgar, out in the RIft. I’m amazed it didn’t take longer to convince the various parties just to meet. Diplomacy is a long and convoluted game… Just wait...” He shakes his head and reopens his journal.

     

      Clearly agitated, Irileth nervously taps the hilt of her steel sword. Sebastian looks out the corner of his eye at her, he sighs, and closes his journal again. “If I may,” he says, “My limited understanding of the female creature informs me that something here…” motioning to Irileth, “... is somewhat amiss… What vexes you? And don’t feed me any nonsense about resources.” She turns and leans back on the granite ledge of the balcony, “Balgruuf went to that damned summit without me… Three days now he’s been in the hands of Imperials… I should have insisted he take me with him.” “Insist all you like,” Sebastian says, “He still would have left you in charge here… Who else would he entrust his city to? His brother, Hrongar? The man can barely dress himself properly. Farengar is more concerned with whatever research has caught his fancy than with the lives of the people of the hold. Proventus, his steward? He’d have Whiterun bending knee to the Imperial’s every desire within a day. That he trusted you with this task, says much about his faith in you.” She shakes her head, “A housecarl’s place is by their lord’s side...” she looks around, “Don’t you have a bodyguard? Where is that Dunmer you travel with?” “Jenassa?” he asks, “She hadn’t eaten anything all day. I sent her into town to get herself something to eat and eavesdrop on the local gossip… Which was a while ago…”

     

      An hour later, Adrianne beats the last of the new links into the Great Chains and the guards run the chains through the winches. They coat the chains in dwemer oil as they pull the cranks and hoist up the massive pillory that is to hold the dragon’s head. “Excellent work, Adrianne. Your father’s kind boasting of your skills was well deserved” Sebastian says as a large purse of gold is handed over from her father, Proventus Avenicci, the Jarl’s Steward. “Thank you, Sirrah…” she says, “But… Why only this room? There are plenty of other places around the city that are in far more need of repairs.” Proventus puts his arm around his daughter, “It’s just that this place was the first to have plans finished. I’ll tell you more as we get the city’s restoration plans finished.” And they walk into the palace. Sebastian holds up his hand, casting a life detection spell, searching for Jenassa. “Where are you, little Mer… AH!” he says as he leaves the guards to clean up the area and prepare it to capture a dragon. One guard looks to another, “We’re all going to die, aren’t we?” His fellow guard looks at him for a moment and shrugs. “That’s why I talk to you. You always know what to say…” then they go back to work.

     

      Approaching the door of  the Bannered Mare, Sebastian hears Jenassa’s voice shout “FILTHY FETCHER!!” He walks in to see Jenassa throw Mikael, the Inn’s bard, across the floor, crashing him into a cabinet. Mikael gets up and wobbles back in the direction he came from blindly swinging his fists. A crowd of drunken patrons of the Inn cheer the fighters on. Sebastian sits at the bar, “What started this?” he asks Huldah, the Innkeeper. “Mikael… I swear the boy will flirt with any pair of breasts that walk in here… If I could find a replacement Bard, I would… ugh.. That Cabinet cost me thirty Septims… and by me, I mean you.” She taps the bar indicating Sebastian is to pay for damages Jenassa is causing. He reaches into his satchel and pulls out a blood red ruby and sets it on the bar, “That should cover whatever she does… A flagon of Honningbrew mead and a bottle of Alto, as well.” Huldah looks the gem over, “...Fine.”

     

      After the bar brawl is over, Mikael is carried off to his quarters in the back of the Inn by two of the barmaids. Sebastian sits at a corner table using a frost spell to chill his wine when Jenassa sits beside him. She grabs his bottle and holds it to her eye, “Bastard got a lucky swing in… Hello, Master...” Sebastian shakes his head and pushes the flagon of mead over to her. “Well, you are clearly feeling better. What started that?” he asks. “He deserved it… and then some.” She says, “Lecherous little twit has been harassing every woman in town. I warned him to leave me be… besides, I had some… frustrations to get out…” Sebastian removes his wine bottle from her face and holds up a healing hand, “Frustrations?... That seemed like more than just frustration, my dear.” He takes his hand away and she rubs her eye saying, “Thank you, Master… I’m fine… I just haven’t slept well the last few days. Bad dreams is all.” Sebastian fills a tankard with his wine, “I have noticed your restlessness… Let me guess. Dreams of the Falmer?” She gulps down a mouthful of mead, “I’m… I’m sorry if I disturbed you, Master. I will sleep in Lydia’s room today.” Sebastian downs his wine in a single gulp and then grabs the bottle and stands, “Come, my dear. The night air will do you well.” She swallows down another large mouthful of mead, “Forgive me, Master, but I’d rather sit here with the mead…” He holds out his arm to her and she groans before taking his arm.

     

      As they walk the streets of Whiterun, Jenassa is awkwardly quiet. His stories are normally calming to her, but something continues to nag at her. Seeing that she is not interested in stories tonight, Sebastian cuts the walk short and Jenassa retires to Breezehome while Sebastian creeps into the guard barracks near the main gate for a late night feeding. When he does return to Breezehome , he follows Jenassa’s scent to the closed door to Lydia’s room. He shakes his head and goes to the master bedroom. In the wee hours of the morning, Sebastian is woken up by Jenassa crawling into bed with him and snuggling up to his back. As he has just fed, she finds his skin warm to the touch. He can hear her heartbeat calming down from a high pace as he rolls over and asks,“More bad dreams?” She just nods. He holds her for a moment before she says, “...Take it away…” He pulls away slightly asking, “What?” She looks up at him with sad eyes, “The Falmer… I can’t get them out of my head. I can’t sleep. I’m beating people in public. I hit you!... I can’t serve you like this… Take the memories away, please!” Sebastian shakes his head. She holds his face gently, “Please, Master! You’ve done it to others.” “Even if I did, it wouldn’t help.” he says, “The trauma would still be there. Your mind would just create a new monster to take its place. A pair of eyes in the dark or snarls from a shadow, something… You just wouldn’t know what it meant or where it was coming from. Without that knowledge, you will be unable to confront the source of your fear.” She buries her head in his chest, “I can’t protect you like this…” He strokes her hair, “You can, you have, and you will… I know exactly how strong you are. You will overcome this and be made even stronger for it.”

     

       Only a few hours later, there is a knock on the door. Sebastian wakes and looks down to Jenassa still sleeping. She appears peaceful for the first time in over a week. He quietly slips out of bed and throws on an old robe belonging to the Dragonborn before going to answer the door. He opens the door to a tall hooded figure. His eyes squint then widen when he makes out the caller, “Shepherd?... What are you doing away from Lake View? Where are your Khajiit?” “Dear Brother,” she says looking up to the sun then back down to Sebastian, “May we converse indoors?”  Sebastian moves aside, “Of course. Come in.” Shepherd enters the quant dwelling and she muses at her surroundings, “This hovel is even smaller than I assumed, from Lydia’s memories… How are you finding the accommodations, Dear Brother?” Sebastian shrugs, “It’s a simple place, but has the essentials. Hardly what I would consider a home, but it’ll do…” he eyes his sister, “You didn’t come all this way to inspect Thou’Var’s house… where are your guards?” Shepherd looks around, “A number of my Khajiit are out at the stables. Bringing them in with me would have drawn unwanted attention… Are these chairs suitable for sitting?” Sebastian rolls his eyes, “Please, woman. Put your ass in the chair. I remember a time when you buried yourself in the dirt every morning to sleep away the day.” She scowls at him, “That was a long time ago and done out of necessity… Fine…” She brushes the seat before sitting and takes a deep breath.

     

       Jenassa wakes and reaches over in the bed to find Sebastian gone from her side. Then she hears his voice below say, “So what’s so important to have brought the Blood Goddess away from her home?” She hears Shepherd reply, “I have been searching the Lexicon you brought back from Mzark. I have seen something that will... force you and the Dragonborn to part ways before his final battle with Alduin.” Jenassa wraps herself in sheets and sneaks around to the top of the stairs to get a look at the two Ancient Vampires. Lustrous long fair hair and a black velvet cloak is all she can see of Shepherd. Sebastian folds his arms, “And I suppose you have the perfect way around this division?” Shepherd pauses a moment, “...No… I have seen your death...” The smug look on his face disappears. Sebastian knows Shepherd would not jest about such a thing. Jenassa shakes her head in silence and listens more intensely. “... If you go with him to the final battle with Alduin, you will die.” Shepherd says, “The battle takes place in Sovngarde, home to Nord heroes of legend. If you try to accompany Thou’Var there, even with Alduin flying over head, every spirit in the realm will consider your existence a challenge and -all- will try to kill you. Even you cannot stand against that… I saw T’sun, himself, deliver…” she catches her breath, “... deliver the deathblow.”

     

       Sebastian sits down beside Shepherd and looks into the embers of the Hearthfire, “And if I don’t follow him? Will he be able to defeat the wyrm?” “I don’t know.” Shepherd replies, “He will face many powerful foes before reaching Sovngarde, but he will reach Shor’s Hall. He will find several powerful allies within, but I could not see if he defeats Alduin. I only know that if you go with him… you die. There is no version of events where you accompany him and you live.” Sebastian clasps his hands in front of him, “So... that’s what got you out of Lake View…” Shepherd stands and places a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, “I know you consider him a friend, Dear Brother, but you must not follow him this time...Help him, prepare him as best you can, but when the time comes for him to face Alduin… let him go. He must face his destiny alone. Greater forces, than you or I, have decreed it to be so.” She pulls her hood up and heads for the door. Sebastian continues to contemplate what he has heard as he says, “You can wait out the day here, Sweet Sister.” She looks back with a smile, “I think not, Dear Brother… Perhaps if you ever acquire a proper dwelling… besides, there is another woman that requires your attention now.” She nods to Jenassa, sitting at the top of the stairs, before taking her leave.

     

       Sebastian stands as Jenassa walks down the stairs, shaking her head. “Master… No...” She says, “You are NOT going.” Sebastian rolls his eyes, “Jen…” “DON’T ‘JEN’ ME!” She shouts. Sebastian sighs, “There are always dangers…” Jenassa grabs his robe, “This is not a danger. This is a certainty! I didn’t watch over your sarcophagus for two centuries to watch you march to your death!” Sebastian sees tears welling up in her eyes as she continues, “I don’t... I don’t care if the world is eaten or dragons rule or whatever else in Oblivion comes!” Sebastian embraces her trying to calm her, but she doesn’t stop, “You.. you can’t! You just...Promise me!” He waits a moment before replying, “I’m not going to die… I -am- going back to bed… Come on. Everything will be fine.” They return up the stairs.

     

      As the sun sinks low and the moons begin to rise, a horn sounds from the Main Gate, signaling the return of the Jarl. Sebastian and Jenassa step out in common clothes to see the Jarl and an entourage of imperial troops walk through the streets heading for Dragon’s Reach. The Dragonborn and Lydia follow behind the main group. “Sebastian!” the Dragonborn calls out, “Is the keep ready?” Sebastian nods, “Indeed. I take it things went well at High Hrothgar?” Lydia groans, “I wouldn’t call it -well-, but no one died.” The Dragonborn sighs, “The Rift had to be turned over to the Imperials and the Reach was turned over to the Stormcloaks, but… a temporary truce has been called.” Confused, Jenassa asks, “How is that a fair trade? The Reach is the source of half the gold and silver in Skyrim. The Rift has no such resources. It’s fishing and farming towns.” The Dragonborn nods, “I know, but Ulfric has been straining to fund his campaign. Having Markarth will allow him to pay for his war a bit longer. Tullius has been having trouble maintaining communications with the empire. Having the RIft gives him a direct line of transit for messages and supply lines with the Imperial Legion down in Cyrodiil. The balance of power remains unchanged overall and no one is particularly happy about it. I think that means, the trade was the right decision.” Sebastian chuckles, “If anyone walked away happy from that table, you did something wrong. You did fine… Now, do you happen to have a way to draw a dragon into your trap?” “Yes… I think.” the Dragonborn replies, “Esbern gave me the name of a dragon…” “Esbern!” Sebastian interjects, “When did you speak to the Blades?” The Dragonborn shrugs, “They heard about the summit and showed up… Why? Esbern was helpful in the talks, but… they knew about Paarthurnax. They… want me to kill him.” “Of course they do!” Sebastian grumbles, “Small minded… A problem for another day. Go on to the Palace. Jenassa and I will join you two after changing into more appropriate attire. There is a dragon to be summoned.”

     

      Entering the main hall of Dragon’s Reach, Sebastian and Jenassa are passed by Imperial soldiers being led out by Whiterun guards. “Well… that friendship is on a tight leash.” Jenassa says, “Where is everyone else?” “My guess?” he says, “preparing the trap out on the balcony.” Jenassa stops, “Master… I beg you. Let us leave this place… Please… You’ve done more than enough.” Sebastian turns to her, “I know you are worried, but Shepherd said she saw me struck down by T’Sun… That is not the name of a Dragon... Come on.” Reluctantly, she nods, “Yes, Master…” They make their way to the back of the palace and step out of the steel doors in time to hear the roar of the Dragonborn’s Thu’Um calling out to a dragon. A handful of Whiterun guards stand ready at his side while a pair hide in the rafters ready to drop the pillory should the Dragonborn lure the beast into place. Jenassa puts her helmet on and draws her bow, “This is by far the dumbest thing you have ever had us do…” Sebastian just smirks to himself as he approaches the Dragonborn. After a silent moment passes, the guards begin to relax. The evening sky holds only clouds with no sign of any dragons. The balcony is silent except for the crackling of braziers lighting the area. “Sooo… Where is it?” one guardsman asks. No sooner do the words leave his lips than does a roar ring out and a bright red dragon swoops down grabbing the guard up in its talons. After flying for several yards, the dragon drops the guard from a tremendous height to the plains below. Irileth punches the stone walls,“Damn it! ARCHERS!”

     

       As the crimson dragon makes its turn in the air, Jenassa joins the city guard in firing several volleys of arrows at the beast. The Dragonborn unleashes the blast of a new Thu’Um that engulfs the dragon in an energy that seems to cause it distress and forces the dragon to land. “ARCHERS! PULL BACK!!” The Dragonborn shouts as he steadily draws back into the vaulted chamber leading from the balcony. Once it lands on the balcony, the dragon swats its wings at the guards who charge at the  beast swinging their swords. Jenassa and a set of guards get swept back by the beast’s tail and are knocked against a wall. The dragon stops just before it is in place for the trap. “COME BEAST!” Thou’Var cries as the dragon recoils its neck then lunges its head forward trying to crush the Dragonborn in its powerful jaws, but only catches his shield. That lunge, however, rushes the dragon too far in and is out of place for the restraints to be dropped. The Dragonborn backs up to the steel doors as the dragon takes a deep breath preparing to unleash it’s flames. Without his shield to deflect the coming blaze, the Dragonborn braces for death. Sebastian charges at the Dragonborn knocking him from the path of the dragon's breath as the fire leaves the dragon’s mouth. Jenassa’s eyes go wide as her master is consumed in flame, “.......SEBASTIAN!!!” She fights against three Whiterun guards trying to hold her back, “Stop! You bloody Elf! He’s gone!” She doesn’t stop struggling until the flames die down slightly and she sees Sebastian’s feet on the ground, unburned, with a brilliant blue glow around them. The same blue glow is seen around the rest of him as his body comes into view without so much as a singed hair on him.

     

       Dragon’s fire is not a natural flame. It is a form of magic that predates men and mer. The dragon’s fire triggered the Dark Star effect in Sebastian’s armor causing the flame to break down into its base magicka and be absorbed into Sebastian’s own magicka reserves within him. Sebastian stands in a pose Jenassa has seen before. His hands cupped to his side as sparks and a dark aura swirl in his palms. The vaulted chamber is dead silent as he looks up with an unearthly blue flare in his eyes and a devious grin on his face. He whispers, “...my turn…” then thrusts his hands forward, Sebastian unleashes a flood of magicka on the dragon. The beast rears back and digs its claws into the stone floor struggling against the howling rush of power being thrown against it. When the dragon is pushed back far enough, the Thou’Var shouts, “NOW! DROP IT NOW!!” The guards in the rafters, stunned by what they are witnessing, hesitate before doing as commanded and drop the massive stocks on the beast. A large iron shackle grips around the dragon’s neck at the base of it’s skull and Sebastian ends his spell and drops down on all fours to the ground.

     

      The guards cheer as the beast writhes against the restraints and curses its mortal captors in it’s alien tongue. The ancient wards inscribed in the pillory, that once held back Numinex’s Thu’Um, glow once more actively blocking the dragon from using its power. Jenassa rushes over to Sebastian checking him for burns, “Sebastian!… Are you… are you alright? Your thirst...” Sebastian smiles, “I’m fine… that blast was fueled by the dragon’s breath… If it had gone on much longer...OH!” Suddenly, Jenassa wraps her arms around him, “Boethiah curse you, if you ever scare me like that again I’ll MMmmm…” He kisses her then says softly, “...I’m okay…” “Break it up, you two.” The Dragonborn says as he approaches the dragon and it speaks in a booming voice, “Uud Oonaah… You went through a great deal of trouble to put me in this… humiliating position… No doubt you want to know where to find Alduin, hm?” The Dragonborn picks up his shield, “Indeed. Where is he hiding?” The dragon tugs at its chains, “An apt phrase… One of the reasons I answered your call was to test your Thu’Um for myself… Many of us have begun to question Alduin’s lordship. Whether his Thu’Um was truly the strongest... Among ourselves, none are ready to openly defy him.” The Dragonborn rolls his eyes as Farengar creeps out of the palace, “You were telling me where to find Alduin…” The dragon pauses before answering, “He has retreated to his hidden fortress... Skuldafn... high in the eastern mountains… Now that I have answered your question, you will allow me to go free?” The Dragonborn ponders a moment, “After Alduin is defeated, perhaps.” The dragon scoffs, “There may be one detail, about Skuldafn, I neglected to mention…” The Dragonborn sighs, “I thought as much… You answered too quickly. So. Tell me what you know, then...” Again the dragon tugs at its chains, “You have the Thu’Um of a Dova, but without the wings of one, you will never set foot in Skuldafn!... Of course, I could fly you there, but not while imprisoned like this…” The beast lowers its head. Sebastian stands, “A Dragon cannot lie, Thou’Var… withhold, certainly, but they cannot lie. You -will- have to fly to reach this fortress.” The Dragonborn looks back to the prisoner, “Very well… You will be set free. On the condition you take me to Skuldafn.” The Dragonborn nods to the guards near the cranks.

     

      The guards are displeased, to say the least, but they unshackle the wyrm. It’s scales scrape the stone walls as it turns around in the confined space and waits at the opening of the balcony. Farengar approaches the dragon pleading to be allowed to perform tests on the mighty beast. “Begon mage! I will tolerate the Dovahkiin, alone.” The Dragonborn looks to Sebastian, “That was quite a trick you pulled  off back there, Shaw. Should come in handy with Alduin. Are you ready?” Sebastian looks at Jenassa and sees her shaking her head ever so slightly. The motion is subtle, but her meaning screams volumes. After a sigh, Sebastian says, “I’m sorry, my friend, but this is where we part ways.” The Dragonborn turns, “What? I need your help.” Sebastian smiles, “No you don’t… This dragon will take you to your destiny. A destiny you must face on your own. You heard the dragon. He will let no one ride him, but you. My path takes me elsewhere.” Sebastian reaches into his satchel and pulls out a bundle of potions and filled soul gems to recharge the enchantments on the Dragonborn’s weapons, “Here… These are the last help I can offer you… The gods are waiting, my friend.” The Dragonborn takes the bundle and nods before walking around to the head of the dragon and climbs atop the beast.

     

       The dragon takes off from the balcony and climbs high into the night sky disappearing into the clouds to the east. As the guards fall back into the keep carrying their wounded, Lydia leans on the ledge with her head hanging low, “You better come back…” Jenassa puts a hand on her shoulder, “Have faith, girl.” Lydia looks up to the clouds, “I’ve never had much faith, I’m afraid.” Jenassa shrugs, “Then just believe in him.” Lydia looks at Jenassa a moment then nods, “Where are you two going now?” Jenassa looks to Sebastian kneeling on the ground collecting some dragon’s blood from the ground, “I’m not sure, but I don’t think our time in Skyrim is over just yet.”

     

       Jenassa approaches Sebastian, “So, what do we do now, Master?” Sebastian stands up with a small bottle full of the dragon’s blood, “Tomorrow, I am going to run a test on this and see if I can  use it as I did the Dragonborn’s blood… Until we know Thou’Var’s fate, that’s as far into the future that I will be planning.” He puts the bottle of blood into his satchel and pulls the letter from Skald the Elder from his journal and hands it to Jenassa, “Might also look into this, but... that’s tomorrow. Tonight, my dear, you and I are going to the Mare, getting something to intoxicate ourselves heavily with, and by that time I’m sure I will be reminded of a story of this city to bore you with… did I ever tell you how the city was founded?” Jenassa sighs and smiles, “No, Master…” He puts his arm around her, “Well… It started when Jeek of the River, Captain of Jorrvaskr, found the Skyforge back in the First Era. It stood alone on the bluffs the city was later built upon. Even back then, the Skyforge was already an ancient structure, Jeek had his men haul their ship all the way from the Sea of Ghosts to build a mead hall….” he continues on as they enter the Keep.

     

     

    The Story So Far:

    Ancient Blood Ch 1   Ancient Blood Ch 2   Ancient Blood Ch 3   Ancient Blood Ch 4   Ancient Blood Ch 5   Ancient Blood Ch 6   Ancient Blood Ch 7 Ancient Blood Ch 8   Ancient Blood Ch 9   Ancient Blood Ch 10   Ancient Blood Ch 11   Ancient Blood Ch 12   Ancient Blood Ch 13   Ancient Blood Ch 14   Ancient Blood Ch 15   Ancient Blood Ch 16   Ancient Blood Ch 17   Ancient Blood Ch 18   Ancient Blood Ch 19   Ancient Blood Ch 20   Ancient Blood Ch 21