The sun beats down on the worn dusty trail. A lone figure walked along the trail, dusting flying into the air after each step, she walked casually not a care in the world, none would have guessed she was on a contract for the dark brotherhood. As nightshade walked she couldn’t help but to remember what had only happened a few hours before. The biggest bandit raid in whiterun’s history struck the bannered mare, Nightshade and a few others had fought off roughly 40 bandits and they had succeeded, but at the cost of two lives, the first being uthgerd the unbroken a strong hardy nord who had lived up to a nord’s philosophy of death or glory, by killing multiple bandits with and without a weapon. Nightshade was their when she died, Nightshade had pressed uthgerd’s weapon into her hands as she died. The second death was that of Nightshades lover, rose, she was a very beautiful woman, who was attacked and murdered when everyone had thought that the bandits were unconscious or dead. Nightshade then took her sword and slew the bandit and now here she was travelling to windhelm to save the high king and queen from being assassinated.
Nightshade’s train of thought was interrupted by a stressed neighing, Nightshade ran to investigate. She sprinted through some bush scrub and burst out into a clearing, to witness two bandits trying to rob a horseman, the man stabbed one bandit right in the chest and ripped his blade out to slice the second one, the bandit ducked low under the blow and jumped, stabbing the sword right through his visor, killing him instantly. As the horse man fell nightshade, drew back an arrow and fired it straight into the bandits throat.
Nightshade strolled over to the horse and investigated it, it had a few cuts and burn marks from the bandits. Nightshade dropped her bag and ruffed around it and pulled out a couple of potions, next she pulled out a few rags and splashed the potion onto them. First she cleaned the horse’s cuts and burns then spilt some potion on a rag, she then dabbed it on the horse’s injuries. She poured some into her hands next. “Come on drink, drink please,” she crooned, the horse bent down low and started lapping up the liquid, “Good boy.”
Nightshade tied up the horse and looked at her map, judging by the landmarks Nightshade was about four hours from windhelm, the light was fading and Nightshade thought this was a good camping spot for the night. Nightshade took off her glass bow and elven arrows put them In her bag and took out her hunting bow and iron arrows. She pulled out a bucket and poured some water in it, “Here you go boy, in case you get thirsty.”
Nightshade dived off the trail and looked for some tracks, the first tracks she spotted were made by a rabbit, about five or six days old, but they could lead to fresher ones, so she followed them. About half a kilometre down the track she spotted fresh tracks and followed. She broke out of the bush into a clearing filled with multiple animals, a waterhole. Jackpot Nightshade thought, she fired three quick arrows into the heads of three rabbits.
Nightshade walked over to the watering hole and picked up the three rabbits, next she filled up her waterskin and waked back to the campsite. She skinned the three rabbits and put their pelts in her bag, she could sell them in windhelm. Next she cut out the good meat and laid them down on some rocks. She made a fire and laid the rocks on top of it, the rocks started heating up cooking the meat.
Nightshade didn’t have anything else to do for the next few hours so she painted a target on the tree with rabbit blood and started practicing her shooting. The rabbit meat was cooked she could smell it, she strolled over to the rocks and added a couple of herbs, then she started tearing the meat of in chunks. It was delicious. Once nightshade had her fill she set up her tent and bedroll and went to sleep.
A new sun cracked over the horizon, turning the morning clouds pink. Nightshade rolled over and shaded her eyes whilst yawning. Now that it was daylight she could investigate the horse a bit better and she was stunned. It had an azure blue mane, Pearl white hair and amethyst purple eyes, it was like a horse from some legendary tale. Nightshade decided to name him Exen just because the name strangely clicked when she thought of it. Nightshade searched the saddle bags and was delighted to find a few soul gems, a quiver of roughly thirty ebony arrows and five hundred septims.
Nightshade packed up her stuff ate some rabbit meat then mounted Exen and rode off to windhelm.
The sun glared across the snowy landscape, blinding any who looked for too long. Nightshade mounted a hill and saw in the distance a city of stone and snow, Windhelm. Nightshade breathed a sigh of relief, hopefully she could sleep in a warm bed tonight.
A harsh blizzard rolled in by late afternoon setting the whole landscape in white. The ground and rocks under her feet slowly gave way to clean, snowy pavement. Nightshade strolled across the bridge the cool air blowing into her face, stinging her eyes and making her hair whip around. “Halt Traveller!” A guard approached her. He was tall even by nord standard. His uniform fit him well showing off his muscular form, unlike most guards he wore no helmet close cropped black hair hung down to his mid neck, he had a light brush of bristle around his jaw, and he walked with an air of authority. He was obviously used to power and command. He spoke again “Before I can permit you into the city, I must confiscate all weapons and dangerous equipment until a due such time as the re-marriage of high king ulfric and high queen Kim is over, shall you not accept I shall have to deny you entry to the city. Do you agree to these terms?” he questioned. Begrudgingly Nightshade agreed and handed over her weapons. “Enjoy your time here,” he spoke before the gates slammed shut and the noise was gone. Step one was completed she had gained access to the city. It was still 4 am, Nightshade walked forward towards the inn an ordered a room. She still had a few hours before everything was closed, however she didn’t feel like exploring in this weather so she sat down at the bar and ordered a drink. A cold gust of wind entered the room, and in strode a woman. She was dressed tight fitting leather that hugged her frame like a cloth, high slanted eyebrows rested above intelligent eyes, raven black hair hung down to her shoulders. All in all she was an amazingly stunning and beautiful woman, Nightshade had never met her before but it was quite easy to tell this woman was high queen Kim Stormcloak. She strode over to where Nightshade was sitting. “Off that stool, now.” Her voice was light yet commanding with a touch of an unknown accent that nightshade had never heard. “Why should I?” was Nightshades even reply. Suddenly the bar had gone very quiet, for none dared talk to the high queen like that, yet here in the very inn of the queen’s city someone had dared. “Do you know who I am woman?”
“Yes, I believe you’re High Queen Kim, but that really doesn’t matter to me. So I suggest you get over yourself and find a new stool.” It was as if everything had gone still except for the sounds of the guards drawing their swords. Suddenly the queen started laughing, “I like you not many would have the courage to talk to me like that.” The queen took a seat next to nightshade and for the next few hours all was fine.
It was about nine before Kim stood up, “If you excuse me I have to go now, before I go however, I wonder what is your name?”
“My name is Nightshade Queen, and I hope to see you tomorrow.” With that the queen went back to the palace of kings and nightshade returned to bed and turned in for the night.
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