Fan-Fiction; Honour, duty or fortune? part 2

GingeNextDoor

Eirthal had given them each a horse, all different colours, Zathal's was pure white, Fingolfin's grey, Glaon's black and Son Dro'kai's was a dark brown, Lierwen rode a chestnut horse, and of course, they had three Thalmor soldiers with them, all Altmer, they were Rhiordan, Zerenthiel and Nadiel, each wielded sword and shield, they rode as a vanguard for the group, up front, they had rode hard for many days before reaching Grahtwood, but they rode steadily through the marshy environment, avoiding the Stranglers and Hoarvers.
“Do you ever feel like you are being watched?” Glaon asked, his eyes looking around the murky, misty marsh
“Yes, this is Briar territory, they always watch, keep your weapons in their sheaths and we should be fine” Zathal answered, a tone of seriousness about him
“Briar's are peaceful” Fingolfin muttered, his eyes looking over the marsh
“Well, this place is bloody depressing” Rhiordan said, his armour clanking with each step his horse took “I can feel the happiness drain from me, like coin from my purse at a brothel”
“What a strange analogy, I’m surprised any woman would accept you into her bed, even if she was being paid a large sum” Nadiel replied, turning her head to him
“It could always be an all-male brothel” Zerenthiel chuckled, to which both other Thalmor joined him, the group gave each other unsure looks, then chuckled
“Must be a posh Elf thing” Fingolfin whispered

The marsh seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance, and the aura was now getting to the group, it was dark and damp, so Glaon decided to lighten the mood with a song “Come gather you young ones and listen to me, I’ll tell you a tale of four heroes you'll see, who battled harsh weather, and in blood be measured, bards forever will sing of their feats” he began, in a jolly tune, he then went on again “First here comes Glaon a riding his horse, the ladies they cheer with incredible force, he battled harsh weather, and in blood be measured, he'll give up his life for a credible cause”
Then Zathal took over “Next comes Zathal with only one arm, it looks as if he can do no harm, but he battled harsh weather, and in blood be measured, he will be doing whatever he wants”
It was Son Dro'kai's turn “Here comes Khajiit who never is wrong, he works in the night when the sun it has gone, but he battled harsh weather, and in blood be measured, he is already really sick of this song”

It was Rhiordan who silenced them, for he had spotted something in the mist, he stopped the group in their tracks “Looks like a person”

This was indeed true, a person had emerged from the mist, looked a young Bosmer, clutching his arm, he spotted the group and rose his free hand “Mara be praised!” he announced “My caravan was ambushed by Hoarvers!”
Zathal rode forward ahead of the group a few feet, he was cautious of the man, then rode Lierwen to his side, she watched the man “Who was in your caravan”
Without hesitation he replied “A dozen m’lady, women and children too!”
Lierwen gave him an odd look, and then turned her head to Zathal as Son Dro’kai rode beside them, she whispered to him “Be cautious, I do not like this”
“See his arm?” Son Dro’kai started “This one see’s no wound on his arm, and he is too clean to have been attacked”
That was when the man started to become impatient, his eyes moving quickly over them.

Fingolfin came from the right of them, a fair few feet between them, he had spotted something, his horse moving slowly.

That was when it happened, the man had pulled an axe from behind him, it all happened in slow motion, Zathal watched Zerenthiel ride past him, his sword drawn, Zerenthiel rode directly at him, they were mere feet away from each other, the man had his axe raised, both of them bought their weapons towards the other with a huge crash, it was Zerenthiel who rode away and back towards them, the man was struck down, but his axe had created a large dent in his shoulder plate, he had a smile on his face.

Fingolfin called out “Bandits!” it was followed by the sound of an arrow being fired from his bow, and a scream in the distance, then out came others from the mist, there were lots of them, all rushing towards the group, the entire group dismounted, mounted combat was useless in the marsh, especially against such great numbers, Fingolfin eventually regrouped with them, all eight of them stood close, in a formation that resembled a sort of circle, although Fingolfin was stood in the centre, the large force gained ground on them, but still the group stood their ground, Fingolfin fired arrow after arrow, each one felling an enemy.

Lierwen used her mastery of magic to create a large sphere, it was coloured red, but then it separated, and engulfed the weapons of the group, giving them a faint red glow, Glaon stepped forward ever so slightly.
They were mere feet away, that’s when the group charged forward, meeting the horde dead on in a frenzy of swings and battle cries, in approached several bandits on Glaon’s position, he only had his sword, the first swung for him, but he stepped backwards, his blade then thrust into his throat he quickly moved against the next, bringing his sword down upon him, cutting through his leather shoulder pad, his blood spilling freely, then with a quick slice from Glaon, and down he fell, the other bandits stopped before him, in hesitation.

Zathal had use of only one arm, that’s why he stayed close to Zerenthiel, who was deep in combat, using his Thalmor training to create crowd control, he had already defeated several by the time Zathal was beside him, one dived for him, but was quickly impaled on his sword.
Son Dro’kai used a sword, the redness seemed to provide him a brief burst of speed, he used it to dodge the incoming strikes, quickly jabbing at each bandit near him.

The group found themselves very close once again, they had been surrounded, still more stood before them, they approached, one rushed at Lierwen, who simply raised her staff, he was raised in the air, then he seemed to just explode, spraying blood at them.

Son Dro’kai felt his anger build, a colourless mist forming in his hand, he watched it form, then it formed in his other hand as well, his eyes narrowing, his anger rising, the power growing, but that was when he got a hold of himself, memories flooded his mind, causing him to stumble backwards, holding his face.

That was when a horn was heard, those in front of the group fell, arrows rained down from the sky, then forward came ones clad in black, all armed with bows, it was the Briar's.

After a brief exchange of words, mostly “leave or die” the group were stood outside Haven, on foot, as the horses had bolted, the small town seemed rather empty, almost deserted, and the buildings were crumbling, so of course the group decided to go in, slowly and very quietly.
Zathal's eyes darted around the ruined buildings, his face held a confused expression, Glaon noticed this
“Something wrong, friend?” he asked
Zathal only shook his head, but his eyes kept darting around, they settled on a Bosmer, who was stood cross armed, a large two handed sword on his back, the group approached, a few more came to stand with the lone guard, that was when Zathal spoke in a muttered voice, none of the group heard him, but the guards stepped aside, letting them pass, but Son Dro'kai could feel eyes trained on him.
The centre was busier, there were many Bosmer there, all in the same attire, one spotted the Khajiit, and drew his sword, only to be glared at by Zathal, they then sheathed their sword again, there seemed to be a crowd in the very centre, the group stopped short of it.

The crowd parted to reveal a white haired Bosmer stood over a Khajiit who was clad in irons, the Khajiit had horrible cuts all over it, Son Dro'kai gasped, clenching his fist, the white haired Bosmer looked up, his eyes settling on Zathal, a smirk rising on his face, he stood, his height level with bot Zathal and Fingolfin, only he was handsome for Bosmer, with defined features, he stepped forward towards the group.

“Delagraht!” he announced “How wondrous to see your traitorous face!” He added heartily, the surrounding guards laughed, his eyes then travelled between the faces of the group, eventually settling on Son Dro'kai, who was still staring at the body “Ah, keeping grand company I see, Dominion soldiers, looks like a dense Bosmer that one” he pointed at Fingolfin “A tall pansy, and a smaller female pansy” he pointed from Glaon to Lierwen, then finally to Son Dro'kai “And the very, very thing we don't appreciate here, but you know that, don't you Delagraht?” His voice maintained a happy tone, but that made it all the more sinister “I'm sure an ex Jackdaw would know better than to bring a little kitten to Haven, where the filthy things are being cleansed, you know, for a better, cat free society, but you already know that don't you, after all, you had slain the largest amount until you left!” he added a little laugh on the end, Son Dro'kai's eyes pierced the back of Zathal's head.

“Enough of your games Erion, you know why I have come” Zathal said quickly
Erion gave him a long sharp look, then laughed quickly “Oh yes! Your debt!” he said loudly “Although, the boys got a bit restless, and you do have a pretty little wife..” He was cut off by the unsheathing of Zathal's blade, but Erion merely cracked a smile, and a slight chuckle, he ushered one of his men away, he then returned a few minutes later, two Elves along with him, one was a woman, she was in ragged clothes, she had long blonde hair, her face bruised and scarred, the other was a girl, much younger, she looked healthy, sharing some of Zathal's features, mainly the hair and eyes, Erion smiled at them, then only his eyes moved to Zathal “See, no harm done, a bit of wear and tear on your bird, but mostly intact”

The young girl looked Zathal in the eyes, a smile on her face “Look mother, I told you he's come for us, I told you!”

Erion stepped towards Zathal, a light smile on his face “How sweet, now, let us discuss what shall happen next, but, let me remind you of your great feats as a cat slayer, shall I?”
Son Dro'kai moved towards Zathal, stopping behind him
“Oh, does kitty not know about his big bad friend? Did he not tell you how he got that scar?”
One Jackdaw piped up “Aye it was from that big 'un weren't it boss? That 'un that looked like a Lion, but he beat it good, cut it down where it was”
“You forced me!” Zathal raised his voice “If I didn't, you would have killed them!” he pointed at the two Elves.

Son Dro'kai had heard enough, he drew his sword behind Zathal, who quickly turned to see his darkish yellow eyes glaring directly at him, a fire hidden in them, Zathal moved backwards, but the Khajiit pursued slowly, like a predator on it's cornered prey
“This one does not appreciate deception or murderers” He hissed.
In a flash, Son Dro'kai had swung his sword at Zathal, who had only just dodged it, he would have done it again if it wasn't for Rhiordan catching his hand and pushing him back into the group.
“Get the stupid kitten out of here, and the rest of 'em, me and Delagraht have some business to talk about”

That's when the group, apart from the three Thalmor were escorted away, taken to a small encampment down the hill, which was full of cages, they were all thrown in different ones, two to a cage.

Back in the centre, Erion was standing close very casually “Now, let us talk of your crimes” he said “First, you sympathise with the cats, then you tried to help them revolt against us, now because of that, we're losing more and more men each day, because the stupid cats decide to fight back” he folded his arms “But I’m willing to forgive and forget, because I’m such a kind soul, you promised to find us a cat, a powerful one, and you have, so therefore your debt can be wiped clean, but first, I’ll give you a choice, honour, duty or fortune?”

The cages were quite close, Glaon and Fingolfin were in one, then the Khajiit and Lierwen shared another, there was one across from them containing what appeared to be two Bosmer but could not be made out very well,
“I cannot believe he sold us out” Glaon muttered angrily
“This one cannot believe he killed so many poor Khajiit, or that he lied to us”
“Can you guys keep it down, some of us are trying to sleep for eternity” a voice said, then appeared in the cage opposite, a white haired elf, it's ears very long, and it's hair white as snow, he looked very different to other elves around here, his face was quite flat.
“And who might you be?” Lierwen asked, her eyes watching over him
“They call me Turien” He said weakly “The last of one of the first races of Mer, well, one that hasn't turned into a blind slave, bound to the dwemer, but is a slave nonetheless, oh how the Gods have a twisted sense of humour”

“Duty” Zathal said calmly, to which Erion nodded, directing his family to move to him, the youngest rushed over, into Zathal's arms, but the older woman just walked calmly, she was feet away from him, arms outstretched to embrace Zathal.
“Hold a moment, would you?” Erion said quickly, Both Zathal and his wife looked at him, his wife turning fully around.
Erion raised a sly smirk “You know when I said I’d forgive and forget?”
Zathal nodded, his grip on his daughter tightening, his wife gave Erion a confused stare.
“Well, I lied” Erion chuckled

In that moment, Erion had pulled a small dagger from his belt, he stepped forward, quick as a flash he threw it, before Zathal could process what had happened, his wife was falling, he pushed his daughter to Zerenthiel who was behind him, and quickly extended his one arm, catching her before she hit the floor.
His eyes widened in horror, the dagger stuck right in her throat, pulsing blood out as her mouth gasped for final clutches at life, but quickly it stopped, the life had gone from her eyes, she lay still as the blood poured down her and onto the floor, Zathal was in shock, complete shock, he could not figure out what was happening, Erion stood where he was, Rhiordan and Nadiel drew their swords, but Erion only laughed at this.

“Now, I cannot do anything to these Thalmor agents, because if word gets back to the dominion, well, I’ll be a dead, but handsome Bosmer” He chuckled “Providing there is anybody left to give word that is” he added sinisterly.
Quickly two spears came from the crowd, one thrust directly into Nadiel's chest and out the other side, blood sprayed all around her, impaling her as she flopped to her knees, the other stabbed Rhiordan straight in the back of the knee, forcing him down, two Jackdaws were then upon him, both swinging wildly, hacking away at him, his screams were chilling, though he managed to stab one through the stomach, he eventually dropped to the floor, still being hacked by the other, his screams sounded no more, Zathal turned to Zerenthiel “Get her to safety! Free the others, get them all to safety!” he said quickly, lowering his wife's body to the floor “Liryanne, you must go with the soldier, he will keep you safe, but I swear I will be with you again” he added quickly, both of them nodded, then quickly fled.

Zathal stood up, unsheathing his brother's blade, all Jackdaw's did the same, only to be halted by Erion, who only smirked.
“I will spill your blood traitor!” Zathal yelled
“Traitor? Now that is very funny coming from you, Delagraht”
Zathal rushed forward, his blade raised, Erion did the same, they clashed, steel hit steel with a deafening ring.

Zerenthiel had found his way to the cages along with Liryanne, all the occupants stared out at him, it was Turien who spoke first.
“Are you the one who brings the food?” he mused “Because you do look like a tin can”
Zerenthiel shook his head, striking at all of the locks, breaking them instantly, the group began to clap and cheer at him “Woo! Yeah!” that's what was heard, but instantly Jackdaws were upon them, Turien rushed forward, disarming one, and using his sword to fight off several others, they were slowly falling back in the direction of the woods, but Liryanne cried out “What about father?!”
“He ordered us to go, we're getting to safety!” Zerenthiel replied, striking down a Jackdaw as he said it.
“We cannot just abandon him!” Fingolfin piped up, using one of the Jackdaw's swords to defend himself, he quickly gripped Liryanne and pulled her to one side, out of the way of the combat “We will help your father” he said, leading her back up the pass towards the centre, Lierwen went with them, using her magic to stay undetected, meanwhile Son Dro'kai, Glaon and Zerenthiel, along with their new found ally Turien were fighting their way down towards the woods.

In the centre, Zathal and Erion were locked in a vicious duel, both men going at it, but each time, steel hit steel, or thin air as one dodged, then it was Erion who landed a strike against Zathal's arm plate, causing him to move back, which Erion immediately capitalized on and moved closer, swinging in a clockwise arc, which Zathal had little time to lean away from, Zathal then pushed his sword towards the exposed Erion, who lent over with a cry of pain, Zathal stood up and raised his sword, bringing it down, but he was caught off guard by a quick jab to breastplate as Erion straightened with a laugh “Just kidding boot-licker!”

Zathal quickly formed a counter attack, he fainted an attack to the right, Erion took the bait and paid with a quick shot to his leather shoulder guard, but he hopped backwards avoiding further damage, poking his sword forward, which was immediately parried, Zathal once again made a daring strike for Erion's shoulder, but was caught exposed when Erion moved swiftly to the side, a quick boot to side of the knee, causing Zathal to drop onto one knee, but he quickly slashed with his sword, catching Erion under a weak point in his leather, creating a small gash, to which he stepped backwards, Zathal rose slowly, but Erion made a quick strike, causing Zathal to lose balance, but still he blocked it, using his free leg to kick Erion's from underneath him.

That was when a figure appeared over them, horses were heard around, clashes of steel sounded, the figure appeared to block out the sun, but was quickly shunted away, and Zathal bought to his feet and hurried away, it was Fingolfin who had shunted the figure away, and the figure was the hunter from Kvatch, Fingolfin had little time to duck under the axe swing, that managed to decapitate three Jackdaw's, but he swiftly pursued Zathal. Who was being hurried away by Lierwen and Liryanne, Erion immediately retreated with a few men, they disappeared into the nearby tree line, opposite to the one that Zathal, Fingolfin, Lierwen and Liryanne had entered.

Down the hill the others were just about at the tree line, but Jackdaws were everywhere, at least 5 to a man, Turien was doing very well indeed, felling each one that came at him, but he was getting tired, his swings getting slow, Son Dro'kai yelled a command, and darkness erupted from their position, knocking some Jackdaws down, but others came, he yelled it louder, this time the blast knocked Turien into the tree line and he dissapeared, the others quickly moved in while the Jackdaws were incapacitated, there was Turien, leant against a tree, the three surrounded him, Zerenthiel shook him by the arm, his eyes snapped open.

“Oh, I rather hoped I would wake up dead” He then pondered what he's said “Or not at all as the case may be” He added, rising “Where are you guys heading?” he asked, as if nothing had happened, the others were still panting, but all eyes passed onto Son Dro'kai.
He paused a moment “The Nord woman mentioned a Dovahgolz” He began “This one thinks that sounds very interesting and shiny, worth a pretty penny”.