The boat cut through the water, carrying them away from the burning town. I could hear the screams of those left behind, my enhanced hearing making their final moments all too clear. It was a haunting chorus that would stay with me.
"Ah," i whispered, moving to help S'lani as they pulled down the sail on their small boat. The vessel had seven rows of seats, allowing two people to sit safely beside each other. At the center, there was a small sail, worn and dotted with holes. Nevertheless, it would serve its purpose for now.
"Come, let us set the sail," S'lani instructed, his voice steady despite the grim scene they were leaving behind. The boy slept in the middle row, seemingly unaware of the horrors unfolding around him.
Together, we worked to raise the sail, the movement stirring the air around us.
The cold wind sliced through the air, stinging my cheeks as I wrung out my soaked clothes. my fingers were numb from the icy water, and I could feel a shiver run down my spine. S'lani's voice broke through the sound of the waves crashing against the boat.
"Why does that one remove their clothes? This one is not interested," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
I bristled at the comment but couldn't help feeling a little bit relieved that he wasn't gawking at me but also a little hurt as my pride took a hit. "I'm not doing it for your benefit," I snapped back. "Wet clothes can make you sick."
"Ah," S'lani replied, nodding in understanding. "This one did not realize."
The tension in the air dissipated slightly as they continued to sail, their journey filled with quiet conversation. I chatted through chattering teeth, trying to keep my mind off the cold. "I didn't think you knew how to man a ship, uh, boat I mean."
S'lani smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "This one learned to facilitate trade. It is useful knowledge." He began to explain the basics of sailing to me, though i found it difficult to absorb all the information at once. The conversation shifted to our destination, with S'lani mentioning that they were headed towards Skyrim to avoid pirates and find food.
As my slender fingers worked with a quiet determination, breaking the remaining collars and cuffs that bound us. I glanced at the other person with us, who watched my movements with wary eyes. "There," I whispered as i tossed the remnants of our restraints overboard. "We're free."
They seemed unsure but I offered him a small smile before laying down next to him. The boat gently rocked beneath them, the rhythm soothing my frayed nerves. As I wrapped an arm around the boy, he hesitated before finally leaning into her warmth. There I could somewhat feel little mounds that I thought were strange.
"Rest now," I murmured, my voice barely audible above the lapping water. "We're safe for the moment," I said as I was too tired to even think.
As we slept, S'lani continued to navigate the small vessel through the open sea, his feline gaze scanning the horizon for any sign of trouble. Night gave way to dawn, and still, we sailed undisturbed.
"Land!" S'lani's shout shattered the silence, waking me and the other one. "This one sees the shore of Skyrim!"
As i rubbed the sleep from my eyes and peered across the water, catching sight of the distant shoreline. my heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of excitement and trepidation. We were finally reaching land, but what lay ahead was anyone's guess.
As the boat meandered through the large river, i couldn't help but shudder at the sight of the gloomy castle looming in the distance. It stood as an eerie sentinel guarding the desolate coastline, isolated and seemingly abandoned. The waves lapped gently against the hull, a soothing contrast to the unsettling scene before them.
"Let's keep sailing," I suggested, my voice strained with apprehension. "The last thing we need is some angry noble breathing down our necks."
S'lani nodded, his eyes never leaving the ominous structure. "This one agrees. We must be cautious."
For hours, they continued along the river, the sun slowly rising above the snowy marshlands to the east. Its golden light cast long shadows across the water, revealing the intricate patterns of frost on the surrounding foliage. The beauty of the landscape was marred only by the oppressive air that seemed to cling to their very souls.
Finally, S'lani spoke up, breaking the silence that had enveloped them. "This one believes we are almost to Solitude, the once domain of the Wolf Queen. we Should get some supplies and decide if we should continue together or go our separate ways."
The icy wind stung my face as I pulled my damp clothes tighter around myself, the biting cold seeping through the fabric. I glanced at S'lani, who seemed unfazed by the chill, his steady gaze focused on the distant shoreline. Must be nice to have fur I thought. Thankful it wasn't freezing cold.
"Who's this friend of yours?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"An old acquaintance who can help us while we're here. But this one must warn you – your ears may cause some trouble."
I instinctively touched my ears, my heart heavy with the reminder of the prejudice I would face in this foreign yet familiar land. She sighed, resigned to the reality that her appearance would forever mark her as an elf, Not that she was ashamed.
"And why is that?" I asked, starting to enjoy the cold.
"This one believes Elves are not liked in Skyrim, something about an old war between them. This one is not sure, but it's what this one has been told," S'lani replied, his voice carrying over the sound of the water lapping against their small boat.
The thought of facing hostility and prejudice simply because of my appearance made my stomach churn, my hatred for Nords flaring like a burning flame within me. As I clenched my fists, trying to keep the anger at bay, knowing it wouldn't do me any good right now.
"Damn Nords," I muttered under my breath, my heart heavy with the knowledge that finding any surviving members of my people would be an uphill battle in this unforgiving land.
As we continued sailing, I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift toward the horrors I had faced so far, the burning town, the screams echoing in my enhanced ears, and the desperation I felt as we fled.
"Remember some Nords died in that town as well," I whispered to myself, a small smile etching on my face.
As stared into the water, my reflection rippling with every small wave. The sight of my elven ears reminded me of the challenges I would face in Skyrim. As I recalled the crown, a gift from the goddess, and knew it could help me blend in among the humans.
"Time to put this thing to good use," I muttered, concentrating on the idea of having human ears. A strange, sparkling cloud enveloped my ears as they shifted, morphing into their new shape. Once the cloud dissipated, I was left with perfectly normal human ears.
"S'lani did not know you could use Illusion magic," he remarked, eyeing me with new appearance with curiosity.
I shrugged, not really in the mood to explain myself. "Well, now you do."
"That's incredible," a feminine voice whispered, clearly impressed.
"Thanks," I replied, offering a weak smile. While being confused wait are they a girl???
"Stay focused," I told myself, " Hey silly question but are you a girl?"
This seemed to make the person laugh as the nodded " Right I haven't introduced myself, My name is Arnovia."
As we continued our journey, the boat sliced through the water with ease.
"Row harder, Arnovia," I said as i and the young girl strained to push the oars through the water. Our nonexisting muscles ached from the constant effort, but we couldn't afford to slow down.
"Almost there," S'lani encouraged, his eyes locked on the horizon.
At last, the mountain bridge came into view, its imposing silhouette casting dark shadows across the water. The beautiful castle atop it seemed to defy gravity, somehow managing to cling to the edge of the cliff despite its massive size. The city walls around the edges appeared impenetrable, their stone surface cold and uninviting.
"Finally," I huffed, wiping sweat from my brow.
"This one welcomes us to Solitude," S'lani said.
"Let's hope they're more welcoming than the last place," Arnovia muttered.
"Indeed," S'lani agreed, his voice tinged with caution. "But we must be careful. Trust is a valuable commodity in these lands."
"What do you mean?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Simply that not everyone is who they appear to be," S'lani replied cryptically, his gaze still fixed on the approaching city. "Keep your wits about you."
I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. I knew that trust was hard to come by and that appearances could be deceiving. It was a lesson I had learned all too well in my past life, and I didn't intend to forget it now.
With renewed determination, I and Arnovia continued to row, our sights set on the city before us. As the boat inched closer to Solitude's dock i couldn't wait to stop rowing.