Amelie
“How is your shoulder, Myst? Does it feel alright?” Sitting in Myst’s quarters, above the Hall of the Elements and Arcanaeum, the College of Winterhold’s library filled with books that it almost rivaled the library in High Cliff’s castle, the Argonian was applying a green paste to the part of his injured shoulder before adding a small patch and tying a white cloth in order to keep it in place. A couple of days had past with the encounter against the Redcloaks and, while I recovered within a couple of hours, Myst was still licking his wounds.
“It is doing- ah!- much better now. Thank you Amelie,” Myst replied, tying the cloth across his chest into a knot. His scaled hand reached for a shirt laying close by as he continued to speak. “How about you? Have you recovered?”
“Depends on what you mean by, ‘recovered’”, I said looking to the left. “From my bumps and bruises, yes. From the fact that the Catlords are really here? No.” With the confirmation that the Felinethropes were in Skyrim, somewhere, they could orchestrate an attack whenever they wanted. Not good at all for anyone in the province.
With his now on, the Arch-Mage made his way towards me and placed a hand on my shoulder. He gave it a light squeeze, trying to reassure me of my worries. “Amelie, I promise we will find all of their encampments and get rid of them. Skyrim will be safe, especially with your husband fighting against the Catlords.”
I looked to him, my eyes peering into his own, trying to find a hint of dishonesty. Myst’s amber orbs shined brightly, even against the constant candlelight spell orbs that constantly floated near the herbal garden. I couldn’t hear his heartbeat skip, flutter, falter or quicken: the Arch-Mage was speaking the truth. “Thank you, Myst. I needed to hear that. I just…,” turning away from his gaze, I continued, “just wish Wergar was here now. All I want is to have him hold me again like he used to so many moons ago.”
A tear began to accumulate in the corners of my eyes, threatening to break their dam and weep down my cheeks.
“Amelie.” Myst broke my temporary mood swing with a calm voice. Returning my gaze to his, the mage smiled at me… as best he could. It looked very much like a snarl. “I know Wergar is on his way to find you. The couriers of Skyrim are very tenacious when delivering letters and notes.” His tail swayed lightly, back and forth, a mischievous look appearing on his face. “I would bet the College that he’s coming.”
I couldn’t help but giggle lightly, playing along with his joke. “Myst, stop. You’re terrible.” A smile broke out as the mood in the room shifted from a sense of foreboding to one of lightheartedness and ease. “What would you do with the angry teachers and students if you were wrong?”
“Simple, my Lady Wolf: drag them to the bottom with me.” His joke got the both of us into a laugh. Oh, I felt so much better letting loose some kind of emotion. “That or they’d more than likely yell at me for disrupting their research on magics or something similar.”
“Oh, Myst.” I laughed, playfully slapping him on his uninjured shoulder. At my act, he feigned injury, letting out an exaggerated yelp of pain.
“Owww! Why would you harm a harmless Argonian, such as this one?”
The smiling and laughter shared between the two of us helped get my mind off of the more depressing things I thought about. Moments went by before Myst brought up the suggestion of having something to eat, and I heartily agreed. Leading me to a simple, small table in his quarters the food was filling. I think the wine we drank was the best part, the red liquid reminding me of a certain drink from Lyssia.
“Feel better, having something to eat in a little while? This one remembers it was hours ago since you ate,” Myst commented. It was some time in the afternoon and my earliest meal was at some point when the sun peaked over the horizon.
“I do, yes,” I replied before taking another sweet bite from my apple. With a quick sip of the wine, my hunger was satisfied. “That was perfect Myst. Thank you.”
Smiling in thanks and appreciation, the Argonian retorted. “My pleasure, Amelie. I am glad you enjoyed it, despite it being rather simple.”
“Sometimes simple is the best option,” I smiled. Which it truly can be. During Wergar’s war planning, some of his plans were very extravagant. He wouldn’t relent from his ideas without a lot of persuasion from his fellow officers and council.
“Amelie, I have a question for you,” Myst said.
Looking to him, I inquired, “What is it?”
“Would you like training in magic now or later?”
His question threw me off for a moment, unsure on what to say or do. “I uh… Forgive me, but that was sudden.”
“I know, but this one feels that, even though you are a Werewolf, another form of attack, or defense, never harmed anyone.” His hand was poised outward with his statement as if trying to coax me to agree.
“Are-are you sure? I’m not even sure I can cast a simple spell.”
“Self doubt is unbecoming of you, Amelie. Wergar has told me White Wolves are able to use magic. So-”
“Not entirely true,”I interrupted, raising my hand. “But not entirely false either.”
“Oh?” His quizzical look could write volumes. “Could you explain it to me?”
“Well,” I began, struggling to find the right words to describe the magic, “it is more of a primal form of magic. It’s focused when we are transformed and howl.” His face continued to look at me, this time with a certain yearning. “In the simplest terms we can embolden the hearts of our allies with courage while terrifying our enemies to their core.”
“Impressive. That sounds an awful lot like the Fear and Courage Alteration spells.” An index finger found its way to his chin in thought. “Is it possible, while transformed, you’re able to channel magic? Not your primal kind, but the spells I am able to cast?”
My eyes narrowed in wonder, hair tumbling past my face as I lurched forward a little. “I honestly don’t know. I have not tried it before.”
“I only ask because I am willing to train you in the ways of the arcane.”
“Again I don’t know if I can even cast a simple spell.”
Standing from his chair, Myst began to slowly walk towards the outer-middle section of his personal herb garden. Bringing out his right arm, hand open skyward, an orb of blue, icy magic materialized before it began to float over his palm. He smiled, “You do not know unless you try, correct?”
“No, I suppose not.”
“Then shall we?”
The frosty orb continued to float over his hand wherever he waved his hand to. My eyes tracked the magic before smiling and letting out a light laugh. Getting from my seat, striding over to the Argonian, determination now in my face. “We shall.”
“Perfect,” Myst replied, sounding excited, but acting professionally.
~***~
Wergar
The snow crunched underneath my paws as I continued to run, fresh prints left in my wake. The journey from Riften and Winterhold had taken its toll on me. I forced myself to stop at the Nightgate Inn for the night. It was truly killing me not continuing my desperate run. Unfortunately, at the time, food, water and rest was necessary.
Looking to my left, I saw a cave nearby. Must be what everyone calls Stillborn Cave... I thought. With the sight of the opening on the mountain, I knew I was close to the city. A few more miles and the inn would be in view.
The sun continued to shine as I made my way; a fresh batch of snow soon started to fall. Whether it was from the wind knocking it from the mountaintop or falling from the clouds, I did not know, nor did I care. At least it wasn’t a blizzard at the moment. However, knowing the weather of the Hold, I was willing to bet one was not that far off.
Something’s wrong.
I stopped and stood to my full height, looking left and right. Whatever something is, my mind would not relent in searching. Why? I huffed and puffed, letting some required air to refill my lungs and release bellows off frozen air.
All around me, the ground was flat. Snow peppered the area, covering myself and my armor in white. It didn’t hinder my search. Taking a chance, I took a great sniff. I knew it was futile, but there was always that chance I’d catch a scent of something.
My eyes widened.
A faint smell of blood and flesh. But where though? I was inconclusive as of the location. Yellow eyes darted back and forth, looking for the source.
Then I found it.
Several yards away was a mound of snow that seemed out of place for the flat terrain surrounding me for miles. Pacing, I didn’t know whether it was a trap, some sort of guerrilla warfare tactic. Drawing ever closer, the lump of snow seemed misshaped.
A breeze blew through the area, causing something to flap weakly. As I reached a paw for it, my teeth became bared: a red scarf, tied around the dead man’s bicep.
I pulled the body out from its make-shift grave, finding that pieces of armor and flesh were missing. The body was ravaged, its skin blue and nigh frozen. How I was even able to smell, from what I could tell, the man, I had no idea. Even if I wanted to, which I did, I couldn’t tear any more of him apart.
Chuckling to myself, I started to look for signs that he was who I thought he was. Looking to the scabbard on his left hip, I saw that it was void of its weapon. “That’s… strange,” I said to myself. No animal could have, or would have, taken the silver weapon of this man. It still had to be close by somewhere.
Beginning the small search, I sifted through the snow; my claws dragging along the ground to see if the blade was close. Several moments of the look had gone by. Growing impatient, I was about to stop looking when- tink!
It was subtle, but I heard and felt it! Wrapping my digits carefully around the item, I lifted it into the sunlight. The snow crumbled and fell away, revealing the sword underneath. Silver shined from the sun and seemingly from the snow in the air. Looking towards the pummel, I growled.
A lion head, jaws open amidst a silent roar. Redcloaks.
I threw the blade back into the snow, no longer caring who or what killed him. A dead Redcloak was the best Redcloak. My run for Winterhold continued, snow crunching underfoot.
Mile after mile went by before, at long last, reaching Winterhold. The place was a cold and desolate when I last visited. Guards patrolled up and down what was left of the city. Coming to a stop, I stood and reverted back to my human self. The echo created from the creaking and breaking caused several guards and citizens to look up in shock before smiling.
“Wergar! By the Gods, he’s here again!” One cried excitedly.
“What brings you back, Drag- Wergar?” I recognized the man asking the question: Kraldar. A respected Nord, his yellow beard and hair streaked with strands of gray.
“Personal situa-” I began but was quickly interrupted.
“Your wife, right?”
“...Yes. However, I wish to see her in order to truly believe it. Brenn knows I’ve been through hell and back with her on my mind.” I looked down, crestfallen for a moment but almost instantly regained myself. I shook my head, trying to bring the conversation to an end. “Look, Kraldar, I’m sorry but I have to go and see if what Myst wrote is true.” I left his side before he could answer, only want on my face. Want for Amelie. Please be here. Please don’t be a lie!
The walk to the College felt like it was taking an eternity. With only Amelie on my mind, I didn’t even hear the wizards and students greet me as I past through the main gate.
Opening the doors, the Hall of the Elements ghastly blue-green aura bathed everything and everyone as far as the light could reach. I knew the layout and that the door to my left went straight to the Arch-Mage’s private quarters. That had to be where the both of them were.
As I walked ever closer to Myst’s office, I heard what sounded like magic being casted along with bits and pieces of talking.
“...ere you go! Tha… how to…!”
“...difficult to con...trate…”
That voice. That sweet, sweet voice.
I started to run again, eager to see what my ears had caught. I’m certain they heard me for they went quiet as my footsteps grew louder and closer with each passing second. And finally, at long last I reached the top. My eyes widened and breath caught in my throat.
“Amelie.”
As beautiful as I remembered: long, pristine white hair, ivory skin, her beautiful eyes.
She was silent, simply staring at me as if I was an enigma. “Wergar…!” Her hands went to her mouth, muffling the soft sobs that tried to escaped. Even from where I stood, I could see tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. No doubt it was happening to me as well.
Myst stood behind her, a reassuring smile on his reptilian face. He nodded, as if giving me the ok to give into my emotions that welled up inside of me.
“Amelie… my love, I can-can’t believe it’s you!” The tears rolled down my cheeks, streaking the skin and the beginning of a beard. Reaching a hand out, I stepped forward.
Amelie took one shaky step… and then another. Very quickly my wife rushed into me, embracing with everything she had. I couldn’t see, but tears were streaming down her face like little rivers. “I thought you were dead…! That Leopold…!”
My hands went to her back and the back of her neck as I brought her closer. I doubt my face looked any different from her own. “I thought you were dead! For two long years… I’ve been in this long nightmare! Please don’t let this be a dream… Please, Brenn, don’t let it be a dream…”
All the emotion that laid dormant within me finally let loose. Together, we cried in our arms. It felt good at long last to cut my emotions loose. If this reunion truly was a dream, I hadn’t awakened yet. If it was reality… thank the Gods.
So preoccupied with my wife in my arms, I didn’t notice Myst make a shocked expression before finding cover, beyond our earshot.
“I missed you so damn much,” Amelie sobbed, hugging me tighter.
I returned the favor, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “You have no idea! Every waking moment, you were on my mind.”
My lips soon kissed to top of her head, causing her to look up and smile, eyes red from crying. Amelie’s lips soon met my own, nigh melting in my arms. No words were necessary to exchange between us then; we both knew what the other was thinking.
I don’t know how long we stayed in one another’s arms, enjoying our personal bliss. It felt like an eternity. that we were in limbo and the world moved around us. More than likely Myst returned to his first position, waiting patiently for the both of us to, at some point, remember he was in the room.
“Ahem!” Myst coughed, grabbing our attention. “I truly don’t mean to interrupt your reunion, really, however there is a situation.” His scaled hand swept the feathers atop his head, a look of worry etched to him. And… something else I couldn’t identify.
Clearing my throat and wiping my eyes dry of tears, I looked to the Arch-Mage. “What-what is the situation?”
“Farengar just sent me a message with a magical connection. Whiterun is under attack by an unknown enemy.”
“What?!” Amelie cried. “A town is being attacked?”
“Already?” I asked incredulously.
“Hold a moment,” Myst interjected, raised a hand. “What do you mean ‘already’?”
Ahh dammit. “I mean I already knew about Whiterun.”
“You knew?!”
“I interrogated a Catlord and she told me. Before I could bolt for Whiterun, a courier stopped me and gave me your letter about Amelie.” I motioned with a knock of my head to the left. “I had a choice and I made the one I felt I needed to.”
“Wergar, so you are telling this one you allowed a city to be overrun to come see your wife?!” Myst couldn’t help but raise his voice, but at the same time it was tamer than any other time it was raised.
Amelie stood there, a bit in shock, eyes still wet with tears. “Is it true, love?”
I bowed my head, knowingly. “Yes… it’s true. But Myst, Amelie…,” I tried to explain, “don’t tell me that if you were in my boots that you’d do the exact same thing I have done!”
This time, it was my lizard friend how looked to his left before laying his head to his chest. “To be honest… this one would have done the exact same you did and come find my loved one. I really would.”
“If I was as strong as other claimed you are, Wergar dear…,” my wife chimed in, getting a hold of her teary-eyed self, “I would have gone to save Whiterun before coming to find you.”
I was silent. Not from shock, but from knowing she was right. “Then you are a better person that I ever will be, Amelie. But I needed to see you again. I needed the hole in my being to be closed.”
Her soft, gentle hand cupped my cheek before I felt her lips kiss me again. “Heh, that’s the husband I remember so fondly.” Amelie smiled lovingly, her golden earrings reflecting the mage light’s light, making the shine look like tiny stars. “But you should’ve still gone to Whiterun.”
“That’s where I need to head, but I don’t want to leave you or bring you with me.”
“Ah, this one may have a solution to your predicament Wergar.” Myst smiled. “It is a teleportation spell that has taken me many years to master… correctly.”
“Are you serious?”
“Quite. If you will allow me several moments to prepare it?”
“Fine, but hurry,” I said.
Myst turned and headed for his personal area he had constructed. The time had passed quickly before the Argonian returned with his armor and weapon; in his claws was a scroll. “This one has everything needed.”
“You wish to come? But what about the College?”
“It will be alright. They are used to me leaving unannounced. Tolfdir takes over while this one is out. He and I have an understanding which everyone is alright with.”
“I’m going with you both,” Amelie stated with determination.
“No, I won’t allow you to be harmed by any of those Cats!” I retorted.
“Wergar, I was sick and tired of waiting for you to come back in Lyssia! I don’t want to have that same, sickening feeling now.”
I sighed, unable to argue with her. “Alright, alright... you win. But if we’re leaving, we need to leave now!”
Myst nodded in agreement, his face becoming serious. “Grab this one’s shoulder. The scroll will take all whom hold on to me. Do not let go until the teleportation is complete!”
“Otherwise we’ll be thrown somewhere in Tamriel, right?”
“Correct.” Amelie and I placed our hands on each of his shoulders. Bringing the scroll up, Myst focused his magicka through the parchment and slowly casted the spell.
Green swirls of magic started to wisp around us, dancing through the air; whether it was a twisted form or pristine form, I had no idea. Amelie let out a tiny gasp as the spell worked its magic.
Mentally, I counted down knowing the simple mechanics that went into spells and how long they take to charge. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5…! A sudden roar of the swirling magic around us sounded. It was almost to the point of deafening.
“Here we go!” Myst yelled out, trying valiantly to be heard over the magical wind that whipped through his quarters. “Remember: do NOT let go of this one!”
“Got it!” Amelie and I shouted together.
What happened next was something nigh beyond my understanding and descriptive skills. It was as if I was flying through space and time, like I did with the Time Wound at the Throat of the World.
With a woosh, we vanished.
Author’s Note
Let us begin with the teleportation spell scroll.
This handy-dandy piece of paper is included from either a mod or a gameplay overhaul (guessing the latter, more than likely Requiem). It works just as it sounds, except for the transporting multiple people thing.
Comments
The scrolls a nice addition as well.