{"id":2558,"date":"2018-11-24T07:30:12","date_gmt":"2018-11-24T13:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2558"},"modified":"2018-12-01T07:29:00","modified_gmt":"2018-12-01T13:29:00","slug":"dovahkins-flight-part-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2558","title":{"rendered":"Dovahkin’s Flight – Part 7"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dovahkin’s Flight<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 7<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Zoe made her way down the street with the stars overhead.\u00a0 It had taken her longer to return than she expected today, but she\u2019d be home in a short time.\u00a0 Already familiar sights were all around her.\u00a0 She had gone over everything which had happened in the past year since coming to Skyrim on her way back.<\/p>\n

It turned out she was the Dragonborn, and had the unique ability to learn shouts.\u00a0 She also learned that dragons coming back had been the result of a dragon called Alduin, the World Eater.\u00a0 Now, it was all over as she turned to cross the bridge and headed to her destination.\u00a0 A long house which had the best bathing suite in all of Skyrim, the Bathing Beauties Luxury Suite.<\/p>\n

Lights were on outside, not that unusual as it was open pretty much all day round.\u00a0 It got visitors at all times, from people looking for a place to sleep on the road to visitors from all the major cities.\u00a0 Its reputation had grown that much since she had become owner.<\/p>\n

She learned it had much to do with the Bride of Migal, located under the bathing house.\u00a0 Its energy fed the waters giving it a magical quality, and filling the entire suite with a relaxing, wonderful feeling.<\/p>\n

Her adventures had kept her on the road a lot but she allowed the girls to run the suite, along with OMB and the guard, Farquar.\u00a0 The suite had become very profitable, and the girls were now also well-known all over Skyrim, many visitors had their favorites and more than one had secret suiters.<\/p>\n

As long as no one got out of control it only enhanced the reputation of the suite.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t hurt that she was the Thane in all the major cities, had a house in several cities and helped many people out.<\/p>\n

She thought of her first impression of Skyrim, as she rode into Helgan on a cart to her execution because she ran into a skirmish between the Stormcloaks and the Imperials.\u00a0 She had misgivings about joining the Imperials, but Hadvar had helped her out in the beginning.\u00a0 She learned General Tallius didn\u2019t have much love for the Thalmor either.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Farquar, how are things,\u201d she said, stepping up the stairs to the suite seeing him sitting on the rail along with a young woman from the farm across the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuiet tonight, not many visitors,\u201d he replied back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, been busy otherwise?\u201d Zoe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNormal lately with dragons all about,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that should be ending,\u201d Zoe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, finally got to the end of it all?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, the one who was resurrecting them is dead,\u201d Zoe replied, answering the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a relief, was afraid to walk around outside the towns with these dragons about,\u201d the woman said, and Zoe recalled her name as Gwendolyn.\u00a0 From the looks of things it appeared their friendship had gotten closer over the past couple of months.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould be good for business as well,\u201d Zoe said, bidding them good-night and headed inside.<\/p>\n

The smells of water, and food seemed to welcome her home as several stopped to see who had arrived.\u00a0 She noticed Leah behind the counter, and gave her a smile which her lover returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cZoe, you\u2019re home,\u201d a blonde said, who Zoe recognized as Wyla.\u00a0 Several other girls gathered around to greet her, giving her hugs before she gathered Leah up in her arms giving her a kiss.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, that\u2019s how you greet me, good,\u201d Leah said before stepping back.\u00a0 \u201cFirst, get out of that armor, and second take a bath.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou saying I smell?\u201d Zoe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she replied moving Zoe off and pushing her upstairs where she could take off her armor.<\/p>\n

Zoe allowed herself to led, pushed, to her room.\u00a0 It strangely felt nice to not be in charge of anything.\u00a0 After all of her adventures, there was something comforting about this as Leah went about helping Zoe out of her armor.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, no new scars?\u201d Leah asked as she took off another piece of armor.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot this time,\u201d Zoe replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d she replied.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t like it when you get a new one, means you got hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, I don\u2019t go out to get hurt,\u201d Zoe said.\u00a0 \u201cI try really hard to avoid such things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd for that I\u2019m grateful,\u201d Leah replied, giving Zoe\u2019s shoulder a kiss as it was exposed.\u00a0 \u201cI just happen to like your body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I look forward to returning back to you and this place,\u201d Zoe said, turning around giving Leah another kiss.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah, bath first,\u201d Leah replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d Zoe said, as she slipped out of the rest of the clothing under the armor and heading down to the water.<\/p>\n

She stepped into the water and relaxed a bit feeling Leah walk in behind her.\u00a0 It was something which happened every time she returned, and in a way, both looked forward to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what happened this time?\u00a0 Are you finally done with these dragons?\u201d Leah asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Alduin has been defeated, no more resurrected dragons,\u201d Zoe said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, maybe business will pick up even more,\u201d Wyla said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be good news,\u201d OMB said.\u00a0 \u201cThough, we are doing quite well at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zoe nodded, the location of the suite was about in the middle of Skyrim making it a perfect spot for any traveler.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019d you defeat him?\u201d Rashaal asked, from her spot at a table and eating.<\/p>\n

\u201cWasn\u2019t easy,\u201d Zoe stated telling them of her adventure.\u00a0 \u201cYou all know that with the help of the Jarl we captured a dragon called Odahviing?\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched as a few nodded, recalling that bit before she had gone off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith his help we figured out where Alduin was going, and how he remained so powerful after our fight, especially after the battle at the Throat of the World,\u201d Zoe said to them, knowing that Rayna knew about that battle, having traveled with her there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gave it everything we had and still didn\u2019t beat him,\u201d Rayna said from her spot listening in.\u00a0 \u201cHe managed to retreat, not a battle I wish to do again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found out he was going to Sovngarde,\u201d Zoe said to her, and then looked at the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe place of heroes?\u201d Wyla said, sounding slightly shocked.\u00a0 Being a Nord she\u2019d know about the place rather easily.\u00a0 Of the girls she and Trudy were the only Nords who would understand what Sovngarde is and what it means to the people of Skyrim.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Zoe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, he went there?\u201d Wyla asked, sounding surprised at the statement.\u00a0 \u201cSo, what did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, its not like you can just go there,\u201d Trudy said getting into the story as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, that\u2019s exactly what we did,\u201d Zoe replied seeing the shocked expressions on their faces.\u00a0 \u201cI packed up some supplies, weapons and headed off for Sovngarde.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, you make it sound like it was no different than walking across Skyrim,\u201d Leah said, her hands had stilled at the moment at the idea of what Zoe had actually done.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you\u2019re still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, with Odahviing\u2019s help I was able to enter Sovngarde, and it wasn\u2019t easy,\u201d Zoe replied.\u00a0 \u201cHad to fight my way in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really went to Sovngarde?\u201d Wyla asked, now sitting at the ends of the pool with her feet dangling in the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and upon entering it wasn\u2019t what I was expecting,\u201d Zoe replied.\u00a0 \u201cIt had a mist hanging over the entire region, took me a while to find the Hall of champions where I met the old Dragonborns, Feldir, Gormlaath, and Kadon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ones who fought Alduin so long ago,\u201d Rayna said,<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, though it took me a while to convince them to help me,\u201d Zoe stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be persuasive if you need to be,\u201d Leah said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess, after gathering everyone together we moved out to meet our destiny against Alduin who had returned as well.\u00a0 He seemed surprised to see us waiting for him.\u00a0 I think we all knew one side or the other would not be leaving this fight,\u201d Zoe said, recalling the air of finality of the fight.\u00a0 Everyone seemed to understand that part.\u00a0 \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you defeated him in battle I assume,\u201d OMB said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we could only hurt him after we used Dragonrend on him, so we had to time our attacks and defend against him when it wore off,\u201d Zoe explained.\u00a0 \u201cAll those dragon fights paid off.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think he expected to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe arrogant rarely do,\u201d OMB stated.<\/p>\n

Zoe considered that and realized OMB was correct, Alduin was arrogant.\u00a0 He seemed confident no one could defeat him and as a result was unable to comprehend that a mere group of humans could come up with a way to defeat him.\u00a0 Perhaps his downfall was in inability to understand how someone else could be stronger.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, now that he\u2019d out of the way, what will the great Dragonborn do now?\u201d OMB asked, with a slight smirk on his face.<\/p>\n

Zoe gave the question some thought.\u00a0 Something she had been thinking about for a while now and after everything she had done.\u00a0 In her journey to defeat Alduin she had risen high up as a member of the Campions, the College of Windholm and been a tremendous help in quelling the Stormcloaks.<\/p>\n

The Blades were not really her friends due to her resistance to killing Paarthurnax.\u00a0 She declined to join the Thieves guild and the Dark Brotherhood kept clear of her.<\/p>\n

Of course she had helped out many people all over Skyrim, and probably knew a good number of people either directly or indirectly.\u00a0 Many considered her a hero of sort which she never expected upon coming here.\u00a0 It really surprised her when she recalled her first encounter in Skyrim and how close she had come to be executed.<\/p>\n

She knew there were still some rogue dragons out there, and some words of power she had yet to discover.\u00a0 Perhaps with the help of the Greybeards she could find the rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess, for now, I\u2019ll probably settle down a bit and relax.\u00a0 Its been a long journey to this point,\u201d Zoe said to them all.\u00a0 \u201cMight spend some time learning the business here, take a week off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd by the end of that week you\u2019ll be itching to do something,\u201d Leah said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, you\u2019re probably right about that,\u201d Zoe said.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, guess I\u2019ll have to wait and see what comes up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing how things are around here, probably won\u2019t have to wait too long to find out,\u201d Trudy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways something, with someone,\u201d Wyla said.\u00a0 \u201cBut with things settling down, people travelling around more, wouldn\u2019t be surprised if bandits start showing up more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been operating in the areas between cities, won\u2019t take it long to have patrols on the main roads again,\u201d Zoe said knowing travel was too important to commerce for the cities.\u00a0 The Jarls would get together and work on it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll probably hire you,\u201d Estria said, having been quiet all this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps, if they do, I\u2019ll help out,\u201d Zoe said wondering how that might work.\u00a0 Of course she had encountered many bandits in her journey across Skyrim.\u00a0 Seemed like the very nature of the land breeds such people.<\/p>\n

For now she had wealth and fame, something she never could imagine before leaving for Skyrim.\u00a0 She suddenly recalled a strange encounter she had shortly before leaving the Imperial City in what seemed a lifetime ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa know, before I left to come here I had an encounter, very strange,\u201d Zoe said.\u00a0 \u201cThe same day I received the note from OMB.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, then somedays are meant to be,\u201d OMB said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, hadn\u2019t thought about it since, but met a seer,\u201d Zoe said seeing all of them look at her.\u00a0 Of course it was rare for her to talk about her past so they were all listening.\u00a0 \u201cShe said that the World Eater had returned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he did,\u201d Rayna said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe also mentioned I had great potential,\u201d Zoe said.\u00a0 \u201cAt the time I had no idea, I was barely surviving, out of money and down on my luck.\u00a0 In fact it was leaving from meeting her that I ran into the courier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zoe gave a small laugh never realizing how much her life changed that day.\u00a0 If it hadn\u2019t been for Valis, she might have ignored both of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, well, its good to be able to relax, no new missions, no saving the world,\u201d Zoe said.<\/p>\n

She knew tomorrow would be a new day, and hoped the peace lasted a while.<\/p>\n

End part 7<\/p>\n

Continued in part 8<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dovahkin’s Flight by AJ Marks Part 7 Zoe made her way down the street with the stars overhead.\u00a0 It had taken her longer to return than she expected today, but she\u2019d be home in a short time.\u00a0 Already familiar sights were all around her.\u00a0 She had gone over everything which had happened in the past […]
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