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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Story [Elder Scrolls] The Great Collapse

Discussion in 'Non Star Wars Fan Fiction' started by darkspine10, Aug 29, 2017.

  1. darkspine10

    darkspine10 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Dec 7, 2014
    Chapter 1

    Between the swirls of snow, a carriage emerged. Cutting a path through the snowdrifts, the horses pulled their passenger ever closer to the coastline, and the vast cliffs towering over it. The driver sat resigned on the front of the carriage, used to this gruelling journey, and willing the long miles to pass. With the storm, any sense of distance was lost, and it seemed as if they were making no progress. Within the carriage, the passenger sat on padded cushions, her only comfort on this long trip. She was a girl of 18, her long golden hair, which reached almost to her waist, was tied messily behind her head. The cold was biting, even in here, and her hands were frozen. However much she wanted to rub her hands together for warmth, she was too engrossed in her writing to consider it. She had regretted her choice of clothing at first, the short skirt her mother suggested had been foolhardy in these climes, and she had looked forward to acquiring a more practical set of robes. But now she was deep in thought, thinking back on the path that had lead her here, jotting it down in the notebook. The world could be ending outside the carriage, and she wouldn't notice.

    Talara of Alinor remembered her mother and father, escorting her as far as the Imperial City, in a gleaming white ship, with majestic triangular sails, that put the rest of the waterfront to shame. Talara just couldn't wait to see the back of it, and them. The show of wealth and power just made her feel embarassed. That her parents had insisted on coming had been a damper on the journey, her chance to finally have some freedom from their endless cloying. Their conversations on the boat had mostly consisted of trying to change her mind, trying to suggest other options. Mother had taken her to the Arcane University on their last day together, a last ditch attempt to change Talara's course. It had failed, of course. The University had detailed library's training rooms for every kind of spell, and a lustratorium filled with rare ingredients. But it was a clinical place, all the different departments clearly delineated and regimented, no room for experimentation or freedom. And it was still too close to her parents.

    So she had booked the carriage to Bruma as planned, and Talara bid farewell to Mother and Father for the last time outside the stables of Weye, across the river from the city. Father was as predictable as ever, very formally wishing her a successful time, with a hope for a successful career in the Mages Guild, or even the Thalmor. Mother hugged her tight, but it was a tight hold, and Talara felt the ever so-slight feeling of entrapment she always did when hugged by her. "We hope you have a safe time up north. You will write and visit us for New Life Festival, of course?" A sideways glance back to the bridge into the city. "Andritus and I must be going now." That was always the way with her parents, never mum or dad, just Indrathel and Andritus. "Goodbye Mother, Father. Have a swift trip home. May the moons watch over you." She had added the last part mainly just to spite them. She knew that they disapproved of her interests in the Khajiiti moon cults. As she watched the two of them walk back towards their ship, she could only think how glad she was to be alone at last. She had wondered whether she would feel a pang of sadness on their leaving, for a part of her life receding away. But she had felt only relief ever since.

    The carriage suddenly pulled to a stop, and Talara was pulled out of her reverie. Putting her notebook away in her satchel, she stepped up to see why they had stopped. As she emerged into the cold, her eyes were overwhelmed with the blinding whiteness of the snow, and she longed for a hood to pull over her face. Staring out into the blizzard, she could barely make out the horses at the front of the carraige. Panning across the identical snowscapes, she suddenly caught a glimpse of something in the wind. A tower, jutting out of the sea, suspended on a vast bluff of rock. Just as suddenly, the tower was gone, and the carriage driver was clambering down. Talking in a sarcastic tone, he said, "Welcome to Winterhold m'lady, home of all magic and wonder in Skyrim. That'll be 60 septims."
     
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  2. darkspine10

    darkspine10 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Dec 7, 2014
    Chapter 2

    22nd Hearthfire, 4E211

    I've finally arrived at Winterhold! The journey was long and tedious, but I had a lot to occupy my mind with. Thinking about my newfound freedom from Mother and Father, wondering what life would be like at the college, wondering what I was going to do with my life once this was over. Now that I'm here, I feel the opposite. The waiting around in the inn is mind-numbing. The Altmer on the the bridge just wouldn't look at my entry papers. Said that the College was accepting no new applicants at this time. I tried to explain that I wasn't a new applicant, that I already had a place at the college, by she wouldn't listen. At least the inn here is a warm enough place to rest my head. And thankfully the innkeeper had some spare Mage robes to replace Mother's stupid High Elf 'fashion'.

    Perhaps if I wait for the proper semester to start, I can find another new student, and try and get in with them. Though they still might turn me away. I haven't tried to think what I'll do if I can't get into the school. I could try to get an audience with the Arch-mage, but if I can't get past the bridge I have no hope. I can't go back to Alinor. That's just not a possibility I can consider. It was hard enough getting away this time, but if I come crawling back to them a failure, they'll never let me exercise my independence again. I'll be trapped.

    Talara.

    -----------------------------------------------

    The Frozen Hearth was a standard Imperial style inn, common in most of Skyrim. As the sun was setting on another day, Eirid, who had inherited the inn from her parents, knew to expect the usual gang of wizards from the college soon. She dreaded this every day, as they had a habit of getting very drunk. And a drunk wizard was never a pretty sight, especially knowing what kind of power they had. Eirid supposed that that might have been what caused the Great Collapse, 90 years previously, just an overpowered mage drunk on Black Briar mead and underestimating their own power. Smiling at this thought, Eirid continued to set the tables for the inrush she was expecting. Once term started in a week's time, she knew it was only going to get worse. The new students arriving from all over Skyrim or further afield would flock to the inn most evenings, seeking a break from their studies. At least some of them might be young a willing to chat, she idly considered.

    Finishing setting up the last table, Eirid noticed the young Altmer girl who had arrived last night. She felt sorry for the poor thing, having been soundly rejected by Faralda over at the bridge. The girl was probably no older than her, though with elves you could never be sure. She might be older than her mother. "Hello Talara, I hope you slept well. You've spent all day in your room." Talara turned, eyes baggy, and shoulders slumped in a way that indicated just how little sleep she'd had. "Not really, could I have something to eat?" Eirid smiled, that was something she could do to help her. "Of course dear, what wouldl you like?"
    "Just some soup please, I just need something to sip. Has anyone else passed through here today?"
    Eirid had seen few customers during the day. Few travellers took the coastal road, this far north. "Just a few of the Jarl's guards on break."
    The girl's shoulders seemed to sag a little, but she at least tried a weak smile. "Thank you for keeping an eye out at least."

    The soup was thick and rather tasteless, but at least it was warm, and made Talara feel a little better. The innkeeper's genial nature had also warmed her, and she was starting to wonder if she should just go back to the bridge and ask the High Elf just to listen to her again. At that very moment, the door of the inn swung open, and a skinny Bosmer in the robes of the college she had seen on the Altmer yesterday swaggered in. He went straight for Eirid, and as he passed, Talara though that she smelt ale on his breath already. As he spoke, his speech was slurred and clumsy. "I would like a nice, tall, glass of Black Briar's please, fair Eirid of the Hearth!" He made an exaggerated bow, and Talara couldn't help but stifle a giggle. Eirid was having none of it though, rolling her eyes as she said, "You can have some mead. of course, 'fair sir'! If you can pay for it this time."
    "I can pay!" Talara blurted, and both their heads turned suddenly at the outburst. Talara immediately started to regret what she had said, as the Bosmer shakedly walked over to her. "Well, I haven't seen you around Winterhold before. And believe me, it's a small town these days." He bent close, bared a broad grin and winked exaggeratedly at her. "I am Enthir, mage, salesman, and amateur enchanted, at your service" Talara just recoiled from his breath. "And what might your name be, young maiden?"
    "Ah, leave the girl alone Enthir, she don't want anything you have to sell."
    Talara shuffled her chair back slightly, and began to address the mage, hoping that he would at least be able to remember this conversation in the morning. "I am Talara of Alinor, I'm trying to get into the college. I recieved a letter from your Arch-mage, I'm supposed to have a place. But the woman at the gate, she turned me away."
    Enthir pondered these words, for what seemed like several minutes, before grinning again, and said "Well well, my friend, I may be able to help. Faralda is an individual who does not particularly like me, but I at least have some influence in this dreary town. Let's say you get me a drink first, and I'll see about helping you out." He started leering towards Talara, but she gently pushed him away.
    "Let's talk to Faralda now. Then I can get you all the drinks you'll need" She hadn't expected that the mages here would have such low standards as this, but at least she might finally be getting inside.
     
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