Dragonborn Alone, Part 3

  • Author's note: apologies if this desecrates any Elder Scrolls lore. Which it probably does. I try to stay true to lore, as I know it, but I make no promises...

    "Come with me, now!" she cried, frantically. "I have summoned Mephala!"

    I join my friend Danica as she sprints up the road towards her temple. The door of my house bangs open and shut in the wind, but I don't care.

    "But...how!?" I shout to her through the darkness as we run. "I know it's her summoning day - but her shrine is near the Imperial City, far from here! Why would she appear here? How?"

    "I do not know, my friend!" she shouts back. "I prayed and prayed to Kynareth, until my strength failed me. I made offerings, I fasted - but there was no response. Then - just now - the Prince of Lies suddenly appeared!"

    "You did all this? For me?!"

    I'm almost speechless. I'm not used to anyone caring this much, just for me. Why would they? Why should they? I'm just a man who couldn't even protect his own family.

    "Yes, of course! After what you did for Kynareth, for her temple, for me? And what you did for Skyrim? It was the least I could do!"

    "I owe you a great debt, my dear friend," I reply as we run. 

    "Never mind that: we must hurry," Danica continues as we bound up the stairs to the Wind District. "Every second this vile Daedra pollutes the holy temple of Kynareth is a second too long: let us deal with her!"

    We reach the temple. Even through the closed doors we can see an eerie, otherworldly light seeping out, and I am filled with foreboding, and trembling with fearful anticipation.

    We cautiously go inside. And 'she' is there, at the far end of the great central space, in front of Kynareth's altar. This beautiful, peaceful place of healing is now ugly, tainted and evil. And yet - yes, there is beauty here, of a sort: tantalising, seductive. Then I see her. She is.... striking. I move slowly towards her shapely form...

    "Idesto!" Danica shouts, rousing me from my daze. "Be careful friend: she is evil, and she has powerful magic!"

    "Yes, Danica, thank you." I reply, as I regather my wits - or what's left of them.

    "DANICA!" A voice emanates from the glowing form at the altar. "ISS THAT ANY WAY TO SPEAK OF YOURR GUESST? I CAME HERE FREEELLY, YOU KNOW. YOU INVIITED MEE."

    "Yes. Yes, I did," the Priestess stutters in reply, obviously very frightened, but bravely continuing, "and you know why I did so."

    "I DOO? WELLL NOW.  I HAVE SSO MANY WONNDERRFULL THINGS TOO OCCUPY MYY PRECCIOUSS TIIME, YOU KNOW.

    Her beautiful limbs - I can't even see how many there are - wave gracefully around her as she speaks, making ever-changing waves and patterns in the entrancing light she radiates. I have never seen anything like it.

    "PERRHAPSS YOU COULD RREEMMIIND MEE?"

    That voice: evil, yet beautiful; at once seductive and repulsive. And so familiar, dredging from deep within me feelings of mutual love and togetherness. Could it be...? Surely not! I...

    "Idesto!" Again my friend interrupts me, urgently whispering in my ear. "Beware her voice! She has the power to mimic those whom you love the most, and she will twist that mimicry to her advantage!"*

    "Yes. Yes, Danica: I see that, now. Thank you. Again."

    Gathering myself once more, I muster the courage to address her directly.

    "Mephala! The Priestess is correct, and I think you know it. Stop playing your games with us, and tell me what I need to know!"

    "GAMESS? GAMESS, IDESSTO? DRAGONNBORRN! THESE ARE NOTT MERE GAMESS: THISS ISS LIIFE!" 

    "Life? What would you know of life?" I reply. "This is my life! 'Our'...lives! It is not a game!"

    I can feel Danica pulling my sleeve, and saying "Caution, my friend: this is a powerful Daedric Prince you are addressing!" but I don't care. I have nothing left to lose.

    "OH, IDESSTO: LIIFE ISS BUT A GAME. WEE ALLL MUSST PLAYY OURR PARRT. YOU,  AND EVENN I. YOU KNOW THISS". 

    Yes, I do know this. There is something in her beautiful, alluring voice which tells me that what she says is the truth.

    "Stay with me, Idesto. Remember what we are here for!"

    Danica.

    "Yes. Yes: Lydia! My children! What have you done with them, Daedra?! And why did you take them?!"

    "SSO MANNYY QUESSTIONSS, DRAGGONNBORRN...

    "YOUR FAMMILLY? WHAT HAVE I TOO DOO WITH THEMM? YOU CANNOTT BLAME MEE FORR EVERRYTHING... 

    "I MERELY TALKED TO HER. THATT ISS ALLL. SHE WALKSS HERR OWN PATH; I CANNOTT COMPELL HERR. AGAINN, IDESSTO: YOU KNOW THISS."

    "What?! Wh - what are you saying? That...."

    "YESS, IDESSTO: ITT ISS TRUE. I DIDD NOTT MAKE HER DO ANYTHIING THATT SHE DIDD NOTT WANT TOO DOO. 

    "WHAT SHE DIDD - SHEE CHOSE TOO DOO"

    "NOOO!! YOU LIE!!" I scream.

    "WHY DON'TT YOU SEEE FORR YOURRSELLF, DRAGGONNBORRN.  I WILLL TELLL YOU WHERE SHEE ISS, ANND YOU MAY ASSK HERR DIIRECTLLY."

    "TELL ME, DAEDRA!!" I spit the words in my crazed rage, "TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!!"

    "I WILLL TELLL YOU, YESSS.

    "BUT FIRRSST, THERE ISS SSOMETHINNG I WANNTT YOU TOO DOO FORR MEE."

    A catch. There's always a catch.

    I wait...

        * Note for trivia buffs: Mephala & Lydia - as well as Ria - are both voiced by the same actress, Colleen Delany.

Comments

12 Comments
  • Idesto
    Idesto   ·  January 31, 2016
    Thanks @Sotek. I think I'll need another 2 chapters at least to finish this. 1 today if I get time, then Wednesday. I thought it was just be a single chapter when I started!
    Yep @Lyall! Maybe things will get better for the beleaguered Dragonborn?more
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  January 30, 2016
    I didn't know they were the same voice actor!
    Plot twist! Lydia and his children were Daedric constructs, just an elaborate lie to bring the Dragonborn to a state he would willing help Mephala.
  • Lyall
    Lyall   ·  January 28, 2016
    That is one man who fate really messed with.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 28, 2016
    Nice to see yet another Daedra's portrayal. There's a few now throughout Tamriel Tales. Danica... It makes a change to see her looming around. Poor Idesto, wonder what he will have to do.
  • Idesto
    Idesto   ·  January 28, 2016
    Watch this space @Unhelpful! Although I'm not making any promises...
  • The Wing
    The Wing   ·  January 28, 2016
    ): There's always a catch... When will Idesto get a break?
  • Idesto
    Idesto   ·  January 28, 2016
    Also: 'destoincarnatons' @Lissette? I like it!
  • Idesto
    Idesto   ·  January 28, 2016
    Thanks @Lissette :)
    Thanks for the spot @Ebonslayer: 1 I missed. And: yes.
    Hmmm...interesting @Axius. We'll see...
    Thanks all for reading, commenting & Liking. 
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  January 28, 2016
    I bet the catch involves killing someone and getting framed, only to escape and become the most wanted man in Skyrim.
    (That's just my thought.)
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  January 27, 2016
    In paragraph 7, line 1 you spelled Kynareth as Kynarath.

    Will there be a chapter 4?