Oathbreaker

1

Departure

"Nugh…" A voice croaked out, the owner, a bald man in fur armor could only babble out. Standing in front of him, a hooded figure clad in dark robes leaned over his shoulder. Load, audible slurping noises emitted from the figure as blood dripped down from the bald man and onto the stone floor. Soon the hooded figure released his tight grip on the man's shoulders, only for him to fall flat on the floor, dead.

Looking down at his victim, the man sported two sizable puncture wounds along his jugular vein. Crouching down, he ran his hands through the man's satchel at his side, before locating and taking his coin purse along with a handful of potions.

After looting the man, he turned around to survey the trail of corpses behind him.

"Twelve." The black knight stated blankly to himself.

Though death hardly fazed him at this point in his life, one body stood out amongst the carnage. An armored bandit lay on his back, a Warhammer embedded in the bloodied remains of his head. Suddenly, the vampire remembered…

/

Laying on his back, a knight lay defeated, his breastplate caved in. Looking up to his foe, an imposing Orc stood, a bloody Warhammer in one hand. Looking briefly to his right, he noted a teenage Breton charging the orc from behind as his enemy raised his weapon once more.

Before the boy could reach the knight however, the Warhammer came crashing down, caving in the man's helmet and skull with a loud crunch.

"No!" The boy screamed out as he stabbed the orc in his unprotected back with his sword, tears welling at his eyes.

"Gah!" The orc belted out as the sword not only stabbed through his unprotected back but also exited via his chest. Clutching the blade, the orc turned to glare at his slayer before soon falling over.

"...Forgive me... " The teenage boy said, choking on his tears as he hugged the dead knight, the blood on his damaged armor transferring to his own.

/

"Ragh!" A voice wailed out as another bandit charged the vampire, snapping him from his thoughts as the bandit closed in quickly, before drawing his spear back for a medium thrust.

Reacting quickly, he dodged the bandit's thrust before grabbing the spearman and headbutting the man.

"Ooof!" The man belted out gripping his head as he was sent staggering backward.

Following through, he grabbed the spear from the stunned bandit before flipping the head around and finishing off the spearman with a high penetrating thrust to his throat.

"Thirteen."

/

Solitude

The streets of the city were largely empty, say for the town guards. Even then, the few soldiers on patrol seemed more concerned with keeping warm than with warming up to each other and as such seldom spoke to one another.

From the shadows, he lurked, avoiding their view in an attempt to remain undetected. When one patrol passed by the Blue Palace, he made his move. With incredible speed, he slipped into the courtyard, unseen.

/

Solitude

Blue Palace, Throne Room

Sitting at her throne, Elisif yawned in exhaustion. Another day of dealing with finances and the everyday Imperial and Skyrim politics. One of the many unfortunate comings with being High Queen was the added pressure from both the Imperial Council and the combined Jarls of Skyrim.

Rising from her throne, she calmly walked back to her quarters, concluding her day. Closing the exquisitely designed wooden doors, she was granted the peace and quiet she desired.

Looking to herself in the mirror, she stared back at the beautiful nordic woman. Removing her crown, she went through the task of undressing for bed. Removing her wedding band, she placed it atop her dresser, beside the one her late husband had worn. Soon she had replaced her courtly attire with a comfortable white nightgown.

"You can stop hiding now." She calmly requested with a soft sigh.

Pulling the curtain aside, the Dragonborn emerged immediately at the request. Stepping forward, he quickly knelt before the High Queen.

"Please arise, there's no need for that, old friend." Elisif insisted with a kind smile as she put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to see you… I didn't want to scare anyone." The knight quickly apologized as he rose to his feet.

"There's nothing to apologize for, I thank you for your discretion." She thanked the vampire knight. She then reached for a bottle of spiced wine on a nearby table.

"The bandits north have been exterminated." The Dragonborn informed, emotionlessly.

"I see, thank you again." Elisif thanked, turning back to see the vampire making his way back to the window. "Where are you going?"

"Back to my residence, our business is concluded. I require no reward." He answered as he began to unlock the window. Before he could do so, however, a soft hand placed itself on his.

"Won't you stay? I'd like to speak with you, it's one of the few comforts I find." The Nord asked, forcing the knight to make eye contact with her.

"As you wish." He said nodding his head.

"Come then, have a seat." She asked, taking him by the hand before pulling him away from the window.

"What would you like to talk about?" He asked, taking a seat at a small table.

Across from him, the Jarl poured wine into two separate silver goblets. Placing one in front of him, she opened her mouth to speak.

"You" She answered, picking up her goblet before taking a small sip.

"What would you like to know?" He asked.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Elisif asked.

"No…There is no helping me." The knight answered grimly.

"Please, there must be something..." The jarl insisted with a frown.

"No, the fact that your still here and safe is the only thing keeping me from falling on my own sword." The vampire answered crudely.

"You cannot think like that! That's not what the divines have in mind for you." Elisif spoke in shock to the knight's plight.

"The divines!? The gods abandoned me!" He angrily expressed, rising from his chair.

"Henry, please…" The High Queen tried calming him down, placing a hand on his.

"My lady, what's going on in there!" A loud voice boomed from outside.

"I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come…" Henry spoke, gently removing his hand from the queen's grasp.

"Please! I can help you." The queen insisted, attempting to take his hand once more.

"My lady!" The same voice boomed again, this time the door opened. Standing there was her heavily armored housecarl, Bolgeir Bearclaw.

"Apologies, my Queen. I thought I heard shouting in here." Bolgeir spoke, surprising the Jarl.

Turning, she found herself alone. The window beside her open, and the curtains flowing from the night wind.

/

Windstad Manor

Returning to his secluded manor, he sat at the head of the dining table, surrounded by empty bottles of mead and wine. A bottle of half-full Honningbrew mead sat in hand, of which he took long swigs. Despite him downing the alcohol like a drunkard, to his dismay, the drink had no effect on him.

Looking to the chairs, he was soon reminded of the many parties he hosted at the manor, his many followers, allies, nobility and commoners alike.

Seated at the table, the now-former human used to drink and tell adventurous tales with the many friends he made throughout the years. One day it was a bandit clan wiped out, another day it might've been a felled dragon. Those were the good days…

He remembered one that stood out above the others… a dark-haired nordic woman who would always sit at his right. Despite her initial shyness around others, they welcomed her with open arms.

"Beloved…" He muttered to himself, putting the bottle down.

The Breton remembered when he first met her, the raven-haired beauty initially eyed the Breton with suspicion when she caught his scent. He was different then... he was ailed with something different…

Though she didn't trust him initially, fate drew them together. And when all seemed lost, they took each other, both as companions, but also as lovers.

Throwing his now empty bottle into a wall, it shattered. Standing up, he made his way for the door.

Entering his backyard, he stood amongst the many graves of fallen companions and friends. Turning his attention to the largest one, tears couldn't help but well in his eyes.

"Dear love, the truest hero in the lands, when all seemed lost, she inspired all."

"Dear Mentor, a true example of chivalry and valor, he fought well and died young."

"Dear brother, brave, kind and considerate. He was taken far too soon. May he rest in Sovngarde."

"Dear brother, though he was baptized in sin, he repented and became an inspiration to all."

Stopping after the forth, he couldn't read anymore. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he felt a wave of emotions crash over him. Much of it… guilt.

Removing a dagger from his belt, he eyed the red hue it gave off indicating its powerful fire enchantment. Raising the blade to his chest, he leveled it directly over his heart.

Before he could end himself, a blue portal suddenly appeared behind him. Dropping the dagger on the ground, he turned around the look into the portal.

Within it, he saw death and destruction, villages being sacked and torched, massive battles between man and beast, mass rapes and massacres of civilians.

"Perhaps... Perhaps, I still have a purpose..." He said, taking a glance back to her grave.

After sheathing his dagger, he looked down to notice he was only wearing a pair of drab, grey hooded robes.

"This will not do…"

/

Re-entering his armory, he found numerous armor displays. Each one reminded him of the many points in his life. Passing by numerous sets of plate and chainmail armor, he approached one covered in a white sheet.

Pulling back the sheets, he was greeted by the sight of a full set of dark black plate mail. Blue accents ran along the shoulders and collar, along with the waistline.

Turning around, he looked for a suitable weapon. Amongst the racks stood a variety of swords, axes, and maces of varying design, materials, and enchantments.

Taking little time to decide, he found one stood out. A dark sword with a circular pommel, a symbol of Nocturnal engraved into it.

"A fitting blade for a thief of lives…" The vampire spoke to himself as he picked up the blade.

/

Sheathing the sword at his hip, he took one more look at his love's grave before turning back to the portal.

"… Please… Forgive me, my love." He spoke sorrowfully.