Day 151
The day had seen us running from many. Both the searching hordes of undead scouting parties and mercenaries under Morgran's control. Our bodies ached as the scorching sun beamed down on us. Rocky surfaces provided little shade but we had little time to stop and rest.
"There it is! Thank the moons!" Zaynabi cried as her face lit up with a smile. I turned to see the walls of Valinka's fort standing higher than we had left them. It was a welcoming sight and the three of us found our strength for one last sprint.
"Hold!" A medium sized man shouted from atop one of the walls. I was surprised to see how much work they had done, adding more onto the already sturdy work we had put into making the fort.
"It is Darius! We have news for Valinka!" I shouted and waited as the man called to someone else behind the gate. Since my loss of control back at the Morgran's old base I had become known throughout the rebellion as a warrior.
As the gates opened, four guards came rushing out to cover the entrance, the captain of Valinka's men came into view and offered a smile.
"We had seen some trouble lately, last thing we need is anyone sneaking into the fort while we opened the gate." He explained as we eyed the guards warily. Kharjo had voiced his worries a few hours before we had found the fort. He had been concerned that Morgran had reached the fort before us and warned them of our "treason."
"With the news we have, there will be even more to watch out for." I said with a grim expression. The captain's face darkened then nodded and lead the way into the fort. We walked past the smithy area that they had added, many weapons and armor lay strewn about as an orc women and, what I assumed was her child, worked on detailing a piece of armor. The orc child had small tusks that barely broke past their lower lip. His or her dark brown hair reached to their shoulders and their skin was a pale green, unlike their much darker mother. I had never seen an orc child in the games and it was interesting to see.
After the blacksmith, was another added area that seemed to be made up of medical tents and large crates of herbs. Many people already were going in and out of the tents to check on injured or sick people.
"Our patrols ran into groups of undead. We thought we had been prepared to fight them but more just kept coming as the battles intensified. We've had to recall all our patrols in order to save our men." The captain sighed heavily as he eyed the men in the tent. Some looked terrible while others suffered from minor wounds. I tore myself away from the scene, uttering a quick prayer that the dying would find peace. Who I prayed to, I wasn't so sure anymore but the prayer felt like it had been heard by someone as a sense of relief and calm came over me when we walked away.
"Has there been any word from the other forts?" Kharjo asked as he watched Zaynabi run into the medical area to assist the wounded.
"We haven't heard anything at all yet. Valinka has been getting restless, talking about taking down the dominion herself!" He laughed and waved at a few guards on the wall. They moved up to the gate area while others armed themselves with bows and went to the walls as well. "From your earlier comment I assume you come with bad news. Possibly trouble behind you?" The captain's smile had faded into a scowl as he donned a more serious tone.
"There is trouble coming in force and there isn't a lot of time to prepare." I replied and Valinka came down from a tower that had been erected in the center of the fort.
"Well if it isn't the daedra lover himself!" She laughed and smashed a hand down on my shoulder so hard my knees buckled. I stayed upright and winced, knowing that the simple gesture would bruise. Her blonde hair was loosely tied in a ponytail behind her, her leather armor hugging her body tightly. She seemed to favor lighter armor due to it's mobility so she can cleave her way through large groups. That's what she said a while back anyway.
"I see you're still taken to calling me that." I groaned and stared at her a moment before shaking my head. "I have news that you need to hear. I would suggest gathering your captains as well." Her face turned around completely from smiling to frowning. She nodded her head then shouted a few orders to those around her.
"'l'll meet you upstairs." She declared and turned back towards the tower.
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Day 151 (continued)
"That bastard!" Valinka was in a rage. Half the things within the top room of the wooden tower had found their way out the nearest window. "I'll kill him myself! Herchel!" The captain straightened up at the mention of his name. "Gather your men, prepare them immediately for any attack and by the divines send scouts to the other forts immediately!" She slammed her fists down on the map of Hammerfell that was in the middle of the room. The large table groaned then gave way as the legs fell out from beneath it. I stepped back and watched as everything on it rolled around on the floor.
"Valinka, it might be a good idea to assume Morgran might have gotten to the others first. If he hadn't beaten us here he might have started with the others." I watched as her captain ran down the steps as fast as he could go.
"I will wait until I hear word from our scouts. Until then I will not be caught off guard."
"Darius!" Zaynabi rushed into the meeting room, her fur matted with blood and sweat. "Undead are at the gates!"
It took everyone only a minute to clear out of the meeting room, rushing into the dry desert air. I choked slightly as it seemed to have gotten even hotter in the last hour that we had been inside. The sight that had awaited us however was enough to make me forget about the scorching heat. A vast army of undead stretched out before us, moving to charge the outer wall.
"This fortress was not built to withstand something like this." Zaynabi wheezed as she attempted to catch her breath.
"We reinforced the walls and built our own siege weapons. It'll last." Valinka said reassuringly though it felt hollow after what I had witnessed in Skyrim. I decided not to mention anything and turn my attention to the groups of soldiers rushing to the tops of the walls. They began to fire arrow after arrow into the horde. I could only guess though that it was hardly making a dent. Valinka's captain had rushed to the back of the fortress and I could see him turning the corner now, helping others to push up two catapults. I rushed forward to help, Kharjo in tow.
"Set up!" The captain shouted and everyone moved to set up the catapult. It took several minutes to get them ready to fire their first shots. During that time one of the archers from the wall reported to Valinka.
"The guard around the gate has been destroyed." Valinka said as she approached us. She then turned he face towards the wall. "Fire!" She shouted, her face turning red with anger as she drew her blades. Her two long swords shone in the sunlight, one held high as she gave the order to fire. The catapults released their burdens, the wood giving a loud groan as the large rocks were hurled into the air. We could hear the crunch of bodies as they disappeared over the wall. Valinka then ran onto the wall where she lept off!
"She's rushing them!" I drew Dawnbreaker and followed up onto the wall where we saw Valinka surrounded by undead. She swung her blades again and again, the greenish blood of these creatures sprayed around her. Leaping off the wall I rolled as I hit then brought my blade up to meet the flesh of an undead. It severed the creatures arm then it burst into flames.
"Meridia, guide my blade." I whispered to myself and brought the sword down on another. Valinka was in a rage, I had to get to her before she-. My thoughts were cut short as an arm slammed into the back of my head. I saw spots but swung behind me in an arc. The blade sliced into three different creatures and they all burst into flames. Putting a hand to my head I was able to try and steady myself before falling over, the creatures seemed to sense I was off and began to move in as a group. I knew by now that these things weren't just mindless, they felt nothing and moved as a pack to take down whatever target they had been pointed at.
It seemed to me that they weren't just monsters that had just been conjured to form a horde. They were smarter, stronger and slightly faster than the undead Tamriel was used to. These things were of another world, this I believed.
"Darius!" Balls of fire seemed to fall from the sky as Zaynabi dropped from the wall, Kharjo behind her with his blade in hand. The creatures around me sprung back, some too late and were caught by the flames. "Dark moons take you!" Zaynabi cursed as she helped me back to my feet, switching to another book that hung by her belt and channeled healing magic.
"You are most fortunate my friend." Kharjo smiled when he reached us. He sliced into a few of the creatures then helped Zaynabi to steady me.
"We need to get to Valinka!" I shouted as the catapults fired again, crushing large amounts of undead that were not too far from us.
"Her men are already fighting at her side." Zaynabi pointed behind me. The gates had been slightly opened, many men stood ready with spears and blades while others rushed past them to get to their leader. Valinka was busy slicing away at the creatures, sprays of their green blood shot high into the air from the force of her blades. This was the image I was left with as darkness took my vision.
I had never been hit behind the head like that before. Had never gotten a concussion so I honestly wouldn't know what it had felt like before this. I believe I had a dream though. Of a floating ball of light that made me feel safe and loved. Very familiar to how a mother's embrace should feel I think. I can't recall exactly what she had said to me. The only thing I really took away from it was that she had said something about the amulet piece I was searching for will find me? It hurts to try and remember.
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Day 154
The next time I woke I was within the medical tent, Zaynabi placing a cool rag over my forehead.
"Darius!" She exclaimed with a smile when my eyes had flickered open. I realize now that I black out a lot more now than I ever have in my life.
"Ugh! My head! What happened?" I groaned and attempted to sit up. Zaynabi placed a clawed hand on my shoulder to push me back down. Only then did I realize I had been shirtless. "W-wait. What happened to my clothes?" I was only in my cloth pants as I lay on the small cot.
"You had broken out with a fever. We had to try and cool you down somehow." She explained as I lay my head back down. It felt as though I had been hit by a truck, but the expression would only confuse the Khajiit. I sighed and kept my gaze on the roof of the medical tent.
"How long had I been out? I assume the battle went well since we're all still alive."
"You are right. We had driven them back, but we had taken some losses. They attempted to attack us again the second day you had been out. If they continue to do so we won't have anyone left on the wall." Her expression was hard to read as she changed the cloth my forehead which had already gotten hot. I sighed heavily as I thought about our situation. I was ill, we still hadn't gotten the amulet piece, we were hunted by Morgran and probably most of the rebellion now, an army of undead and powerful sorcerers now roamed and probably controlled most of Tamriel, and to top it all off we were surrounded by part of said legion.
"Meridia visited again. I'm not sure what she said though." Zaynabi's expression darkened then she became concerned. My head began to throb as I attempted to remember what the daedric prince had told me.
"Do not push yourself. It wouldn't do us any good if you got too reckless and died." She shook her head and placed the cooler cloth on my forehead. "Get some rest. Valinka will want to see you soon."