Character Backstory: Elara's Journeys in Skyrim, the land of her father, Chapter 17--Northwatch Keep, pt 1

  • “Avulstein, could you move a little quieter?” Elara hissed through her teeth.  She was on edge, slipping through the forest on the way to Northwatch Keep.   It was eerily silent, as if Nature herself objected to the presence of the Thalmor.

    “This is my brother we are going to save, so I think I need to be the one calling the shots,” Avulstein growled.

    Elara rolled her eyes.  Not this again, she thought.  Avulstein progressively became more querulous the further they were from Whiterun.  It seemed the calming influence of his mother, Fralia Gray-Mane, only extended so far.

    She did not have the energy for this, but she would argue it out with the Nord before Onmund stepped in and really made things worse.  He had been seething throughout most of the journey as he put up with Avulstein’s many insults.  It felt just like being back at home with his brothers, he thought wearily. 

    “Look,” Elara turned around abruptly, pointing her finger at Avulstein’s chest.   He opened his eyes in surprise.  “I understand the delicacy of this mission and the need to find your brother as quickly as possible.  Yet how many Thalmor have you battled?”

    Avulstein’s downcast eyes gave Elara the answer she expected.

    “Zero.  Right.  This operation requires the utmost stealth and caution if we care to get your brother out alive, and who knows who else may have the misfortune to be holed up with the Thalmor.  I will not have you blundering about and ruining any element of surprise, as the three of us will need all we can get against who knows how many expertly trained Thalmor soldiers.  Do you understand, or do I need to speak more slowly for your Nordic brain to process this again?”

    Avulstein opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again.  He glanced at Onmund and added crossing his arms across his chest, “But I will not be following a stinking mage.”

    Elara whirled around and marched right up to Avulstein, who tried not to shrink from the fire blazing in her eyes.

    “This warrior mage,” she spat, indicating Onmund with her right arm, “has saved my life too many times for me to count.  And I am finding he is the one redeeming person of your race.  If I hear any more insults, veiled or obvious, I will unleash a fury of storms on you so fierce that you will be burnt to a crisp.”  She began poking Avulstein’s iron breastplate with each point she made. “And when we bring Thorald back this way to show him your burnt body, I will tell him how you repeatedly insulted your brother’s liberators and he will most likely refuse to mourn someone who so clearly besmirched the honor of the Gray-Mane family.”

    Even Onmund was surprised by Elara’s vehemence and he almost felt sorry for Avulstein as the recipient of her venom.  Almost, as he was warmed by her verbal defense of him, which he had always longed for from his family. 

    “You two are all right,” he chuckled, as Elara and Onmund exchanged bewildered looks.   They did not know if the element of certain death by toasting caused Avulstein’s change in attitude, but they were relieved.

    The trio continued quietly through the snow, until they reached a group of trees about a hundred yards from the Keep.  They counted two by the gate and three on the upper level of the fort, Julianos knew how many more inside.   

    “Stay here and I will walk up and try a more diplomatic approach,” Elara asserted, turning and walking towards the keep.

    Onmund grabbed her arm and pulled her back.  “With all due respect to your admirable pursuit of diplomacy, I am not comfortable with you going up there by yourself, leaving us here to watch a hare enter a wolves den.”

    Elara flinched slightly, and then glared at him.  He knew she did not like being compared to a timid animal, but he had to stop her with something.   Since their recovery from Nchuand-Zel, she had become progressively more reckless with her personal safety, and more conservative with his.  Onmund tried to be open with her about her health limitations, but Elara would insist that she was fine.  Bothela was wrong, he thought.  Elara was the one who needed to face the truth, not him.

    “We are tougher than we look,” Avulstein cajoled humbly.

    Elara threw her hands up.  “I guess I am out voted.”  She started to walk away, but turned to look back at the two Nords.  “Just let me do the talking.”

    Avulstein poked Onmund in the ribs.  “You could have convinced her without insulting her.”  He raised his eyebrows at the mage as if to say, Like me.

    Onmund’s eyes narrowed but saw the grin on Avulstein’s face and could not help but chuckle.  Yes, I am going to pay for that one, he shook his head, following the other two towards the gate of the keep.

Comments

3 Comments
  • Eviltrain
    Eviltrain   ·  June 30, 2012
    It's probably my own sensibilities kicking in but I sense a keystone cops moment in there with the three of them.
    You've got me at the height of my attention at this stopping point.... and so, I'll stop and deal with my chores before this roller coa...  more
  • Kynareth
    Kynareth   ·  March 2, 2012
    Thanks to all for reading and commenting, and sorry for the brevity of the post.  I had to break up Northwatch Keep into three posts, as the action seemed to dictate that, but they unfortunately are not of equal length.
    @Bilal, I think Onmund knows ...  more
  • Guy Corbett
    Guy Corbett   ·  March 1, 2012
    This next part is going to be fun I cant wait to how avulstein fits in combat wise with Elara and Onmund. Your conversations are perfectly balanced and felt like I was turning my head to keep up with the "discussion" nice work. Im liking the more firey El...  more