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dalishthunder · 1 year ago

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Destiny Waits for No One

Chapter 5 - Embers

Pairing: Eventual Nebarra/LDB (gender neutral reader)

Rating: Mature

Words: 1452

Additional Info: Slow Burn, Frenemies to lovers, Lots of Trauma

Mirmulnir.

That was its name.

You weren't quite sure how you knew, but it echoed in your thoughts, bouncing around your skull in the night;Tossing and turning and trying to find sleep.

Skin crackling and blistering under the heat.

He wasn't the one who had burned down Helgen.

You tried your best to focus on the slow breaths of Xelzaz and Khash, listen to the rhythm, try to mimic it.... But after several hours you found yourself tiptoeing over them and back into the main room of the inn. The fire was mostly embers, casting a warm dim light on the ceiling. Stretching, you made your way over to a table, rubbing some of the crust from your eyes.

"Well don't you look like a skeever's nest."

You whipped around, heart pounding. You hadn't even noticed Nebarra sulking in the corner. "Hey."

He hadn't removed his helmet, holding a bottle of wine with a straw sticking out of it.

...Weirdo.

No... that was unpleasant of you.

You wished you could will yourself to care.

You sat down on a bench, staring into the glowing coals... thoughts drawn to Helgen once more. If there were already two dragons out there... how many more were you looking at? Dragons were supposed to be extinct... and now they were burning down villages and decimating the countryside without abandon.

How many more souls would fit in you?

Would you still even be the same per-

"You know, you throw a mean right hook, I'll give you that." Nebarra's voice jolted you from your thoughts again.

You stared at him for a moment before the words registered in your brain. "Oh... thanks."

"Even if it was sloppy."

You rolled your eyes, returning your gaze to the embers.

And despite your still smoldering resentment about the way he's spoken to Xelzaz, you found yourself speaking after a long moment of silence, "I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot again."

"Oh, really? And here I thought we were getting along so well." He drawled, taking a long sip of his wine.

Sighing, you leaned back against the table. "I'm not sorry for punching you."

"Ohoho, your diplomacy knows no bounds."

"Talk shit get hit." You replied simply. "But I do hope that we can start over."

"If you're trying to make friends again, I suggest you look elsewhere." The elf drank some more of his wine. "But something tells me that locals won't be interested in hiring me, so I'll settle for traveling with you for now.... And also the whole you saved my life thing."

"I guess I can work with that... for now." You crossed your arms and looked over at him and gave him a wolfish smile. "I'll wear you down with my charm eventually."

He snorted. "Charm. Right."

"I would at least like to get to know you better if we're going to be traveling companions though."

"I... suppose that's fair." He grumbled.

"So, you're not from Skyrim, I'm assuming."

"Gods no." The scorn in his voice was palpable.

The corners of your lips tugged up in the ghost of a smile. "Well, where are you from then?"

"An isolated farm on Auridon."

You waited a good long while before you realized that that he wasn't going to elaborate further. You had only just met... and you had punched him..... You supposed the terseness shouldn't have been surprising.

"Where's Auridon?"

You could feel the reproach rolling off him in waves despite his impassive mask hiding his expression. "People up in the boonies really are dumb, aren't they?"

You grabbed a tankard and chucked it at his head. It clanked against the metal, clattering to the ground.

"Wow... really mature. You're lucky I owe you a life debt or I'd take your hand for that."

"Awww, Nebby wants to hold hands?" Your grin was sharp.

"Careful now, Dragonborn, lest you speak your own desires into existence."

You narrowed your eyes at him. "Gross."

He snickered at that, letting out a yawn after a moment and you just returned to watching the flames idly... It was amazing how something so beautiful and deadly was so necessary for survival.

"You should probably turn in for the night." You breathed into the stale inn air, not turning to look at your tenuously welcome companion.

"There aren't any rooms left," Replied Nebarra.

"You can take my bed."

He nearly choked on his wine, "I may enjoy the Dibellan arts, but you're really not my type."

You raised an eyebrow as you looked at him. "What?"

"Oh, you meant literally."

"What did you think I meant?"

"It appears subtlety isn't your strong suit."

You pinched the bridge of your nose. "Look, I'm trying to be polite here. Can't... can't you just work with me?"

"I'm not sleeping in a room full of lizards," He sneered.

"You know, I'm really starting to get why most nords hate elves," You bit back. "You've got your head stuffed so far up your arse that you can't even accept kindness- I..." A sigh escaped your lips. "Do whatever you want.... I'm not fighting you on this."

He didn't respond, and you returned your gaze to the floor, a shriek echoing in your mind.... For a moment, you'd almost forgotten that you carried them within your heart.

You weren't quite sure how long you sat there like that, but the bench groaned as somene sat beside you. "Mornin', Trouble."

You shook off the stupor and gave him a smile. "Morning, Kai. Sleep okay?"

"Can't complain. How are you holdin' up?" He must have noticed the bags under your eyes. "Did you sleep at all?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Didn't sleep well, but someone had to make sure the tavern didn't burn down." You rubbed at your face, casting a furtive glance to where Nebarra had passed out in his chair.

Bandits stopped you on the road, but it didn't take much effort to wipe them off the map. And you had to admit, you weren't sure who was the better swordsman between Kaidan and Nebarra. You’d had every intention of allowing them to go if they surrendered… but neither of them were the sort to show mercy.

"Well, we can rest up again when we're in Redwood." Kaidan placed his hand on your shoulder, "It's only a half day's travel or so from here."

Nodding, you stood and stretched, grabbing a quick bite to eat before waking everyone up and heading out.

“Do you think they’d treat you just the same if you were weaker than them?” Kai had asked, a knowing look on his face as he took you in. Lucifer and Nebarra had taken the bodies off the side of the road, and while Nebarra seemed keen to just let them rot, it didn’t feel right to you.

“I know… I just….” You couldn’t meet his eyes.

“You’ve done a service to Skyrim. They could have picked up any trade they’d wanted, but they chose to cut innocent people down for coin instead because it was easy. There’s no reasoning with that.” Your friend placed a hand on your shoulder and gave you a smile, and though it was comforting, you didn’t miss the blood splatter on his cheek.

You nodded, “You’re probably right.”

But you already knew their faces were seared into your mind.

They all were.

The way Xelzaz carved the bodies up both horrified and fascinated you.

“It would be a shame to waste fresh ingredients.” He’d said when you asked, and he did have a point. It was better than them just… rotting away. So you worked with him to gather their hearts and flesh, burying what you knew you wouldn’t be able to use before rot set in.

Khash was relatively vocal in her displeasure of your desecration of the bodies, but it was either that just let them uselessly decompose. At least they could help the world in death in a way they couldn’t in life.

The gurgling of blood in their throats as they choked on it faded into the chorus of screams as you entered the gates of Riverwood.

With a deep breath, you steeled yourself, hesitating only briefly before knocking on Alvor’s door. It took a moment for him to greet you, a mug in his hand, everyone sat around the table.

“I’m sorry.” You said softly, “I did not tell you the whole truth of what happened with Hadvar….”

The flames licked around you, Hadvar’s hand closing around your own as he ushered you into the keep. How many had you seen erupt around you?

“Divines have mercy….” Sigrid had whispered as you recounted everything you could.

You weren’t sure they did.

#nebarra #kaidan 2 #xelzaz #khash the argonian #lucifer the argonian #lucien flavius #skyrim #elder scrolls #TES #x reader #thunderous applesauce #custom voiced followers #inigo the brave #odt #Destiny Waits for No One

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dalishthunder · 2 years ago

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Destiny Waits for No One

Chapter 4 - Fool's Gold

Pairing: Eventual Nebarra/LDB (Gender Neutral Reader) Other Characters: Kaidan, Xelzaz, Lucifer, Khash, Inigo, and Lucien Rating: Mature Words: 1875 Additional notes: Very slow burn, frenemies to lovers, Nebarra is an ass, Xelzaz continues to be the coolest Read on AO3

The wing beats were growing distant, and with a quick glance to the skies, you sprinted forward, coming to a sliding halt by the survivor's side. Already, you could feel the heat radiating from their armor.

"Fan out! Get Khash to that barrow we saw not too far back!" You called out over your shoulder.

"On it, Dargonborn!" Behind you, you could hear Khash's protests as Lucifer coaxed her to follow him.

"Inigo, I heard it in that direction, scout it out. No heroics, get back here alive."

"Aye, aye."

As he disappeared into the mists, you reached down to the poor sap, gently helping them sit up. "Are you alright?"

"I'm bleeding out like a gutted nebarra. Of course I'm not alright." He hissed, breath shaky, coming in ragged gasps.

"Hold still, I can heal you." You'd been practicing your healing hands since the last dragon attack. Xelzaz had been more than willing to teach you.

"No!" He coughed, the sound wet, almost bubbling in his throat. "I've seen the kind of scars the legion came away with.Healing potions."

You nodded, fishing around in your pack and pulling out one of the condensed formulas you'd been experimenting with. "Here. Drink this then."

He lifted his helmet only a fraction, and you saw only a very bloody chin as he gulped it down.

You listened intently for the sounds of anyone else, but all of the other bodies were charred beyond recognition. "I'm sorry about your friends."

"Not my friends." His breaths began to steady after a moment, the potion beginning to work its magic.

"O... kay then." You could vaguely see a set of gold eyes staring warily at you from the eye slits of his helm. "Well, who did we save today?"

"... Nebarra. Just... just call me Nebarra." Something about the way he said it almost sounded... defeated.

"That's um... an interesting name." You said, not quite liking how it had rolled off his tongue.

"It isn't a name, it's an insult." He rasped, and he stretched his back, joints popping and crackling like the fire that had consumed the carriage. "It means unwelcome and foreigner in Altmer."

You frowned, "Why would you want me to call you something like that?"

"Because I don't want to tell you my name, and I feel like a bloody nebarra in Skyrim." Strength was beginning to come back to his voice, and his cadence coupled with the condescending way you spoke was... grating.

But you figured he did just survive something traumatic so you let it slide, and you stood, offering your hand to help him to his feet. "Alright then. Where were you headed? Do we need to get you anywhere?"

Nebarra got up on his own. "Not anymore. I was a caravan guard. Ernurd wanted to avoid the roads, so we stuck to the forest. Figured it was contraband or something... must not have been that important if he left most of it out here though. Not that any of that bleeding matters with a giant lizard that can light up a whole valley flying about."

Inigo crept around the cart, "It appears to have headed for the mountains. We should be safe for now."

"Oh, great, a cat.Let me guess, you have contraband as well?" The altmer sounded bored.

You stepped between him and Inigo, "No contraband here. Just a group of intrepid adventurers."

"... Lovely. Well, I unfortunately don't have much that wasn't completely incinerated, and Ernurd certainly isn't going to pay me anymore, so instead of coin, I suppose you can have my sword at your side."

"We don't just let anyone travel with us," You lied.

... Well it wasn't a full lie. You had turned Lydia away when you'd been appointed Thane of Whiterun, and left her back at Dragonsreach.

"What skills do you bring to the table?"

He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. "I think you'll find I'm very, very good at killing things."

"And yet, the Dragonborn was the one to save you." Kaidan eyed up your new potential companion with a great disdain, slowly stepping closer until he was only a few feet away. "And you don't even seem particularly grateful."

"What about offering my services free of charge doesn't seem grateful?" Nebarra crossed his arms, straightening up.

You placed a hand on your companion's shoulder, "I'm a thane now. It's my job to save people, Kai. And there's a dragon out there. We have strength in numbers, so let's just get him to safety and discuss compensation after."

"Heel boy." You could hear the sneer in Nebarra's voice. "It seems at least your leader has some sense."

"I'll show you some sense-"

"Enough." Your eyes looked your newest... potential recruit over as you motioned for everyone to head back to the cave to pick up Khash and Lucifer. "Xelzaz, where's the closest settlement?"

"Falkreath. It shouldn't be too far from here."

"Good. Lead the way... mind the skies, everyone." You walked in silence, scanning your surroundings for danger, falling into step beside Nebarra. "I think we got off on the wrong foot, friend-"

"Oh hohoho... we're not friends. I owe you a life debt, no need to take it further than that."

You narrowed your eyes at him.

He truly was grating.

"If we're going to be travelling together, I don't see how it would hurt to at least try."

He turned to look at you, face frustratingly hidden by his helm. "You're new to the whole adventuring thing, aren't you?"

"What makes you think that?" Your smile didn't waver.

"Look, uh.... What did you say your name was?"

"I did-"

He cut you off with a shake of the head, raising a hand to stop you, "Doesn't really matter given you'll probably be dead in a few days. Don't become an adventurer to find yourself; You'll sooner find your grave."

Deep breaths.

"You can't talk to the Dragonborn like that!" Lucifer cut in.

"The what?"

"A legendary hero of Skyrim that can shout and eats dragon souls."

Nebarra just laughed... a grating, wretched noise, "Of course I can, I'm the long lost prince of Alinor."

That cause Lucifer pause, and you placed a hand on his shoulder. "Doesn't a prince usually wear a crown?"

He... didn't take to subtlety or sarcasm very well.

"Hence the Long Lost," Drawled the elf.

"That still doesn't give you the right to talk to The Dragonborn like that."

"Yeah!" Khash butt in. "Do not be rude to our friend!"

"Oh, good. Another one."

You exchanged a glance with Xelzaz. "Hey, guys," You interjected, "How about a song for the road to lift the spirits?"

"That is an excellent idea, my friend!" Your Khajiit companion gave you a wolfish smile.

"I'm beginning to think you didn't actually save my life.... You just ruined my death." Nebarra muttered, walking faster to get away from the noise as Inigo began to sing his rendition of Ragnar the Red.

You joined in once or twice, but you didn't quite know the words.

Xelzaz being pleasant, and lovely, as ever introduced himself with some sort of Altmeri greeting only to be rudely dismissed.

"I'm afraid I'm at my limit of for my knowledge of High Elven words."

"Yes, I do imagine the complexities of elf-tongue would prove a difficult task for a slek such as yoursel-"

It took you two bounds to cross the distance.

Torque in the hips. Fist extended. "FUS!"

Your punch sent the elf flying, the intentions of Force behind it strengthening the blow.

Ignoring the blossoming pain in your hand from where bare skin and bone had met with the metal of his armor. "You do NOT speak to him like that. Ever again. Am I understood, fahliil?"

The word had rolled off your tongue as though they were something you understood.

And for some reason... you did.

Fahliil.

Elf.

The singing stopped. All eyes on you once more.

Khash let out a little whoop. "Tusk yeah! Get his ass! Can I punch him next?"

"What in Oblivion was That?" Nebarra hissed, his armor had cushioned him from the full force of the blow.

"That wasn't really necessary," Xelzaz said. "I'm more than capable of dealing with people like him."

But your blood boiled, "You shouldn't have to." You slowly made your way to where Nebarra was sitting up. "You owe me a life debt, and I am willing to overlook how unpleasant you are to me. But Xelzaz is my friend, and I'll not have you speak to any of my friends like that. I will not tolerate slurs in this party. Got it?"

You exhaled, extending out a hand to help him up. He immediately batted it away, getting to his feet himself. "We're going to get along just swimmingly aren't we?"

"Clearly."

He hung back towards the rear as you all walked in silence. The mood thoroughly ruined.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, friend." Xelzaz chuckled after a moment, finally locating the road to Falkreath. He must have noticed your hand because he took it in his own and began inspecting it. "But people like Nebarra aren't worth getting upset over."

"Do you think we should let him travel with us?"

The bruise that had begun to bloom receded as he cast healing hands on you. "That's up to you. I won't complain one way or another."

Gods, he was so cool.

You wished you could keep your cool like that.

"We'll see how he fairs next time we encounter some bandits or something...." You mumbled.

"I say we ditch him the first town we get to." Kaidan muttered, glowering at your newest recruit.

"No... he owes me a life debt, and I'll see he repays it." You narrowed your eyes at Nebarra as well.

"What happened to him proving himself?" Xelzaz asked.

"I've made up my mind. He's coming with us. Just let me know if he mistreats you."

The gates of Falkreath loomed before you.

"I think that's a bad idea, friend. He'd betray you for a single septim, I can smell it on him." Kaidan huffed.

You just winked at him. "And that's where you come in. If he betrays me, I know you'll be able to keep me safe."

You almost missed the way his ears flushed as he gave you a sheepish chuckle, "Aye.... Our bond is forged in battle, I've got back."

"Good." Patting his arm, you ran a few paces ahead to jump up and slap the sign of the inn. "It's settled then. We'll rest the rest of the day, recover, get a few ales, and set out for Riverwood in the morning."

"Won't say no to that plan." Kai grinned. "Hopefully they'll have a good bard.... No offense, Inigo."

"I wasn't offended until you said that." Inigo gave him a dry look.

You all got food, eating with a reedy man named Lucien who offered you a great sum of gold to travel with you. And so your party grew by two in one day.

Kaidan and Khash danced to the bard's tunes, and the mood stayed fairly light... except for one surly elf sipping wine through a straw in the corner.

#nebarra #nebarra skyrim #xelzaz #lucifer the argonian #khash the argonian #Kaidan TES #lucien flavius #inigo skyrim #skyrim #thunderous applesauce #destiny waits for no one

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