Skyrim RP series...Danifae (Chapter 4) The summit

  • Danifae put down the book she was reading and rubbed her weary eye. It seems like she had been reading for days but it had only been a few hours. She sat back in her seat and had a sweetroll and a drink of milk. She reflected on the journey here to High Hrothgar and her meeting with Arngeir and the Greybeards.
    After helping out the people in Riften with various tasks and also putting a Skooma factory out of operation in the city for the Jarl, she had been made Thane and had been able to purchase her second home, Honeyside, in the town. She had made enough gold to fully furnish it and it was a quaint little house with its own garden and enchanting table in the basement. Maven Black-Briar had also expressed her thanks at putting the Skooma den out of operation, as it was competition for her mead factory, which she could well do without. She reassured Danifae that nobody from the Thieves Guild would steal anything that she owned from the house. Danifae wasn't so reassured about that though and so was going to make sure that no valuables would be kept there. It was going to be more of a place to sleep and rest rather than a proper home.

     


    She still had some fire salts to collect for the blacksmith, some ice wraith teeth to collect for the food seller and some nirnroot for the alchemist, but they would be collected on their travels. She felt it was finally time to go and see the Greybeards and see if they knew anything about any past Dragonborn having remarkable healing powers.
    So the four companions left Riften to journey to Ivarstead. On the way the encountered a group of three men led by a man named Stalleo. He had apparently been 'displaced' from his ancestral home of Treva's Watch by some bandits and wanted his home back. Danifae was glad to help, knowing what it's like to be 'removed' from your home. So the four sneaked into a tunnel which led into the basement and from there managed to infiltrate the area and take the bandits by surprise. After a few brief skirmishes in the living quarters and then outside in the courtyard, the bandits were subdued and defeated. Danifae used her restoration spells to heal her friends. She had suffered a few cuts and bruises herself but she knew that they would be healed in a few hours.

     


    Stalleo was grateful and rewarded them with some gold and a place to stay if they ever passed by again. The four companions moved on towards Ivarstead.
    They reached the town at night and Danifae decided they could not go up the mountain until morning due to the risk of snowstorms. They decided to stay the night at the Vilemyr inn. The innkeeper told them of strange noises from the barrow nearby and this was something that got her interest, but it would have to wait until after she had come back from High Hrothgar.
    So they stayed at the inn for some food and rest and Danifae played her flute along with the bard, Lynly Star-Sung, for the patrons. They seemed to enjoy it and gave them a few coins. Everyone commented that she played beautifully and she thanked them. The four of them retired to their room for the night.

    Larkspur 'I didn't know that you could play the flute'

    Danifae 'My mother taught me. She used to play in the towns round about the Valenwood. I found this branch on my way to Riverwood and have been shaping it when I get the chance. I've still got some adjustments to do to it so it sounds right to me, but at least the people enjoyed it'

    Zora 'Has your memory returned?'

    Danifae 'I can remember some things about my childhood. But a lot of it is still fuzzy and unclear. I'll tell you what I can on the way up the mountain tomorrow'

    Zora 'Time is a good healer, so they say'

    Danifae 'Yes it seems to heal some things faster than others, at least in my case. But hopefully my memory will return soon'

    The four decided to turn in for the night and set up the mountain in the morning.

     



    The next morning dawned bright and clear, ideal for the trek up the mountain. They had met a man named Klimmek and decided to take his supplies up the mountain for him.
    So the climb began. Thankfully the weather held and they encountered a few wolves and a Frost Troll on the way up. Then they encountered an Oblivion Dragon further up the path. It kept spawning atronachs as it flew past and they were forced to kill them first so they could get some hits on the dragon when it flew over. Eventually, with the aid of Danifae's crossbow, Larkspur's bow and Lydia and Zora doing the hitting on its neck and wings it was eventually defeated and Danifae gained another dragon soul, which sent a shiver down her spine as always.
    After a few hours of climbing, they eventually reached the monastery of High Hrothgar. They left the horses outside, deposited Klimmek's supplies in the chest and entered.
    Danifae removed her hood and face mask and was approached by an old man in hooded robes. He said his name was Arngeir and wanted Danifae to shout at him

    Danifae 'What? Do you mean use my Thu'um?'

    Arngeir 'That is precisely what I mean. Don't worry, your shout won't harm me. I need to see if you are truly Dragonborn'

    So she shouted 'Fus' and revealed to Arngeir and his three companions she was Dragonborn. He took her aside and asked her to train with them for a while. She told her companions to relax and get comfortable, as she may be a while.
    She learnt the next word in Unrelenting Force, 'Ro' and then went outside and learned the first word of Whirlwind Sprint, 'Wuld'
    She asked Arngeir if he had heard of any Dragonborn from the past who had remarkable powers of recuperation from physical injury and if dragon blood had such abilities. He admitted he hadn't and hadn't heard or read about any shouts which could do such a thing. Dragons could be injured and die from physical injuries and he had heard that they had no remarkable powers of regeneration. Danifae had fought some on her way here and could confirm this. However she was welcome to stay as long as she needed to peruse the tomes in the monastery.
    So, the four companions had decided to stay a few days. They had brought plenty of food and drink and gladly shared these with the Greybeards and they slept on their own bedrolls, as the Greybeards slept on stone beds, which the companions felt were rather uncomfortable.
    So, Danifae found herself reading through the books in the monastery's library. It wasn't an extensive collection, but there were some books she hadn't seen before.
    Lydia, Zora and Larkspur and been exploring the monastery and had been duelling outside. They entered the room where Danifae was sitting and she healed their various bruises. Her own bruises had completely healed by now. The three companions gathered round and Danifae told her what she could remember of her parents.

    'My father's name is Minast and my mother is Thaena. They both had been 'recruited' by the Thalmor as spies and agents and that is where they met. They immediately were attracted to each other but due to their work commitments it was many years before they were able to get married. They had been given leave from the army for a time so took that time to get married and settle down and return to the Valenwood. My mother was a musician as well as an alchemist and she could play the flute and harp. She was fascinated by plants and alchemy and it was in this capacity that the Thalmor had recruited her, to make healing potions and poisons and such. She didn't like working for the Thalmor but the chance they gave her to further her research meant that she could bear it.
    My father was more of a hunter and his skills with bow and knife were much sought after. He was 'recruited' to carry out assassination missions for the Thalmor and was also a renowned scout. He hated having to kill people in cold blood but was given no choice in the matter.
    I can't really remember much more. I can see some Thalmor in the room after I was born, Ancano amongst them. As I'm just an infant I can just see their faces and don't understand what's happening or what they're saying. I can remember the times when I'm growing up, going out hunting with Minast, learning the bow and knife and axe and how to skin pelts. And climbing up trees and cliffs and my father gently scolding me about me going to hurt myself. And my mother, Thaena, playing me to sleep with the flute and she trying to teach me how to make potions and the properties of plants and herbs. That's why I've always had a fascination with all types of plant. Due to the green pact we had to import a lot of the ingredients and the Thalmor used to make regular deliveries. They were keen to further her research.'

    Danifae's voice suddenly went very quiet and soft. She was struggling to hold back the tears

    'Then there was the time of my 'removal' from my parents, them hugging each other and crying when I was taken and Ancano's face sneering down at me as I was restrained and thrown in the back of that cart. I can't remember much more apart from my experience in the prison. I intend to go back there and see if I can dig up any evidence as to why they experimented on me. I might have missed something in my haste to escape'

    Danifae's face suddenly changed from sad to angry

    'I AM GOING TO FIND HIM AND DEMAND ANSWERS!'

    She slammed her fist down on the table and shattered the glass bowl she had been eating from. The shards of glass stuck in her fist but she ignored the pain. She had endured worse and she knew it would heal completely in a few hours.

    Zora got up and hugged her friend. 'I'll be with you until the end' The two of them embraced each other for some time.

    Lydia gave a small choked cough before getting up and leaving the room and Larkspur pretended he had something in his eye.

    Larkspur eventually asked 'Don't you think you had better inform your parents that you're still alive?'

    Danifae 'I don't want to risk my message being intercepted. Besides, if they knew I was still alive they might do something to put themselves at risk. Also, the Thalmor could hold them hostage and force me to return and be recaptured. No, it's best they don't know where I am for now. I don't like it but it's for the best'

    Larkspur 'A wise course of action. I would hope you'll be reunited sooner rather than later. Would you like more milk?'

    Danifae 'Hmm...a warm bed right now would be good'

    Larkspur 'I can bring the milk to you when you're in bed if you like'

    Danifae 'That sounds good. You can warm it up for me' giving him a wink

     

     

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Comments

7 Comments   |   Caladran and 3 others like this.
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  July 16, 2018
    I was bit surprised about the Bosmer alchemist interested in plants at first, with Green Pact being a big thing, but then you quickly explained the ingredients are imported. So yeah, that bit was definitely interesting. As well as the whole backstory. :)
    • HaggisHunter
      HaggisHunter
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      I was bit surprised about the Bosmer alchemist interested in plants at first, with Green Pact being a big thing, but then you quickly explained the ingredients are imported. So yeah, that bit was definitely interesting. As well as the whole backstory. :)
        ·  July 16, 2018
      Yeah I'm trying to be careful with the whole Green Pact thing here... ;)
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 1, 2017
    Backstories adds so much more to characters. The way you've added just a bit of her background works well. It leaves questions but also allows readers to form conjunctures and ideas on her past.
  • GailOlm
    GailOlm   ·  March 18, 2017
    I enjoyed reading about Danifae's backstory so we could get to know here a little bit better.
    • HaggisHunter
      HaggisHunter
      GailOlm
      GailOlm
      GailOlm
      I enjoyed reading about Danifae's backstory so we could get to know here a little bit better.
        ·  March 18, 2017
      Slowly it's being revealed and coming back to her... ;)
  • HaggisHunter
    HaggisHunter   ·  March 11, 2017
    Thought it was a good moment to share some of her back story here. Got a bit choked up myself... :'(
  • Caladran
    Caladran   ·  March 11, 2017
    Lovely scene at the High Hrothgar, and the memories part. :)