Dragonborn Rising Ch. 03

Eventually, she relented and in a sullen and silent huff, she dressed herself in her light Nordic armor set, which was a combination of lighter plates of quicksilver and chainmail. He would have preferred her heavy wolf armor like what he wore, but he was willing to compromise.

They had ridden side-by-side for several miles when he finally broke the silence, "A septim for your thoughts," he said.

Naadia looked at him, smiled and said, "I was just thinking that all of this was going to be gone soon," removing one hand from her reins to motion at the surrounding wilderness.

"All of this won't be gone and neither will you, my love," Vilkas said and seeing that she was readying herself for another fight held up a hand and said, "Hear me out."

He continued by saying, "I meant to say we aren't going away, our positions in life are just changing."

Naadia raised her eyebrows and said, "Oh, you're a philosopher now? Ice brains"

Vilkas shrugged and said, "I am the smarter brother," and reminded her that he was also the older brother. He and his brother Farkas were twins and both had been long time members of the Companions.

She guffawed and slapped her leg in laughter. She always enjoyed her husband's deadpan humor.

"All of this," Vilkas began, "has prepared you for this time in your life. All of your experiences."

Naadia was truly curious at this flash of deep-thinking on her husband's part and wanted to pursue it further. "What do you mean," she replied.

"Being the Harbinger," he stated, "Has taught you about duty and honor. Something that every good ruler needs to be familiar with."

"That's impressive," she replied taken aback and asked, "How about being the Arch Mage of the College of Winterhold?"

He scratched the stubble on his chin and said, "The proper use of power."

Naadia pressed forward, "The Agent of Mara?"

"Love and compassion," Vilkas responded.

"The Listener for the Dark Brotherhood," Naadia blurted-out, thinking that this would truly stump him.

"The consequences for one's actions," he said wryly, with a grim smile.

She was flabbergasted by his simple logic, as her mouth dropped open.

Vilkas went on to explain that he felt they were all on Mundas for a reason and he looked her in the eye and finished by saying she had taught him the importance of everyone. She blushed with embarrassment and smiled. Naadia steered her horse closer to his. She placed a gloved hand on his thigh and said, "I'm sorry for being a bitch before."

Vilkas smiled and replied, "I can't imagine the pressure you're under, but I am always going to be here. I have your back, shield sister."

"Thank you, my love," she replied as she leaned toward his for a kiss.

Just then, the world exploded in flames, as a huge ball of fire exploded under their horses, flinging them from their saddles. One mount had been killed in the explosion and the other had bolted in fright, leaving them in the middle of the road. Staggering, Vilkas came to his feet and drew the massive two-handed sword.

Dazed, Naadia got to her feet and waved her hands. Instantly, a sword made of magicka appeared in each hand. Another fireball exploded near them and showered them with flaming debris, as out of the trees four black armor-clad warriors charged them.

Naadia knew exactly what they were and exclaimed, "Shit! Dremora."

These demonic, manlike beings were from the plane of Oblivion. As they charged them brandishing hideous black swords, they screamed, "Die mortals!"

As the Arch Mage, Naadia knew these were summoned beings. If they could find the mages who had made the summons, they could end this battle quickly, but until they did she knew they were in a fight for their lives.

Vilkas moved to take on two and Naadia maneuvered to fight the other two. The clang of steel rang out and sparks flew as Vilkas used the massive steel sword to block the demonic looking Daedric swords the Dremora wielded. He ducked as one of the Dremora slashed and then came up in a massive counter-swing that removed the creature's head. The figure disappeared in a cloud of noxious black vapor.

Naadia braced herself and seeing that her two opponents were approaching together, took in a breath and shouted, "Fus Ro Dah!"

The concussive unrelenting fore shout slammed into the Dremora, knocking them over like rag dolls and flinging them through the air. One crashed into a tree and the other tumbled across the ground. Over her shoulder she heard Vilkas cry out in pain as he was slashed, but didn't have time to look over her shoulder. She leapt forward at the closest Dremora and drove both swords into it, as it shrieked in pain and disappeared. She then backpedaled as her second assailant charged forward again, screaming, "I will feast on your heart!"

The Daedra's sword connected with her right arm as she was attempting to block the swing. Too slow she thought to herself, as pain screamed up her arm and blood began seeping from the deep wound. She couldn't maintain the bound sword with that hand, so she let the spell drop.

They swung and parried, each trying to gain the upper hand. Naadia was slowly losing ground in the fight, as she felt her stamina fading from the blow she had received. Then out of nowhere Vilkas appeared with a mighty down swing of the two-handed sword's heavy steel blade that nearly cleaved the Dremora in two.

As the Daedra vaporized into noxious vapor, Naadia knew she had no time to rest. The summoning mages was nearby and had to be dealt with, before more Daedra were summoned. She glanced briefly at her husband and saw that he had been wounded in several places as well

"I don't know what I hate worse," Vilkas panted, "Frost spiders or fucking daedra."

Just then, Naadia saw a flash of movement from the hillside on their left. She dropped the bound sword she held and pointed up the hill. Just then a massive bolt of lightning crackled from her fingertips and they heard a screech of pain.

They ran together through the brush and came upon a female Altmer in black robes. There was a scorch mark on her side that was smoldering, from where the lightning bolt had struck her.

"Pathetic bitch," she screamed and raised a hand to cast a spell. Naadia raised her free hand and instantly a shield of magicka energy appeared, which deflected the stream of fire that leapt from the high elf's hand.

Vilkas leapt into the fray and swung his sword with the flat of the blade crashing into the elf's chest and she slammed back into a tree. He then pivoted and brought the blade around and cleanly severed her head with a jet of crimson gushing from the stump of her neck, as the blade sank deeply into the trunk of the tree behind her.

He staggered and fell to one knee and muttered, "Fucking mages. I hate them too."

He got to his feet and worked the blade of his sword out of the tree with a grunt, as Naadia scanned the surrounding woods. She thought to herself, there had to be more than one mage as there had been four daedra.

They searched around the mage and found an intricate looking staff in the brush. The elf must have lost her grip on it, when she was struck by Naadia's lightning bolt. Naadia had never seen a staff like it before. A search of the body found a few potions and about 50 gold septims. Before she examined the staff further, Naadia used her restoration magicka to heal Vilkas and then herself.

Vilkas shook his head in wonder and said, "I would have expected a few bandits on this road, not some high elf mage."

"There should have been more mages, but I don't see any other trails." She looked at the staff in her hands and said, "This probably has something to do with it. I'll need to examine this further, but we can't stay here"

She then suggested they stop first in Riverwood to procure another mount and get some food before heading onto Whiterun.

"I'm all over that," said Vilkas.

After a search for nearly an hour, they found their horse and brought it back to the road, it was Vilkas' mount. Hey quickly stripped the saddle and tack from Naadia's now dead horse and secured it to that of Vilkas. He then swung up into the saddle and then pulled her up, behind him. The going would be slower until they got a second mount and they figured they would make it to Whiterun, sometime that evening.