Chapter 15 Teasing and Winterhold
The road to Riverwood was quiet, lined with tall pines swaying gently in the cold breeze. Snowmelt dripped from branches, creating soft plinks against the muddy path. Birds chirped occasionally, but the forest felt strangely tense like it was listening.
Astrid and Delphine walked side by side, their boots crunching against gravel. For a while, they simply traveled in silence, the air filled only with the distant sound of the rushing river.
Astrid broke the silence first.
She glanced sideways, her brows drawing together.
"So… who exactly are you, Delphine? And what do you want from me?"
Delphine didn't answer immediately.
She slowed her steps, shoulders rising and falling as she exhaled a long, tired breath one that sounded like she'd been carrying it for years.
"Yeah…" she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. "I owe you that much."
Her expression tightened, her voice dropping to a lower, cautious tone.
"I'm one of the last surviving members of the Blades. Long ago, the Blades were dragonslayers we served the Dragonborn, the greatest dragonslayers to ever live. But after two hundred years since the last Dragonborn Emperor, our purpose faded. We scattered. We hid. But now, with dragons returning…"
Her eyes narrowed with resolve.
"Our purpose is clear again. We must stop them."
Astrid's lips pressed together, her voice hesitant.
"Is your clan… gone? Extinct? You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Delphine shook her head slowly. "The Thalmor have hunted us for years."
Her hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of her dagger, fingers curling tight.
"We're not extinct but we came close. Many of us went into hiding, living like ordinary citizens, pretending our past didn't exist. That was the only way… to survive."
Astrid tilted her head, confusion in her eyes.
"But why? Why would the Thalmor hunt your clan?"
Delphine stopped walking.
Her jaw clenched.
Her eyes hardened into something cold something angry, something deeply wounded.
Snow crunched under her boots as she turned toward Astrid.
"Because the Blades were trained as agents protectors of the Dragonborn Emperors. We embodied the old order… a stronger Empire. An Empire that once held Tamriel together."
Her voice changed rough, edged with bitterness.
"When the Empire weakened, the Thalmor saw an opportunity. They grew paranoid. Afraid. So they did what they always do silence anything they can't control."
The wind picked up, scattering dead leaves across the road.
"The Thalmor are a separatist, Altmer-supremacist movement from the Summerset Isles," Delphine continued, practically spitting the word Altmer. "Their goal is to crush the Empire and replace it with an Altmer ruling class. They want Skyrim weak. They want the Empire weak. They want everyone on their knees."
Her hands balled into fists.
"To them, the Blades are a threat an Imperial weapon. Something they cannot allow to exist."
Astrid swallowed, her expression softening.
"I… see. I'm sorry for bringing up such a painful past."
Delphine forced a small, tight smile one that didn't reach her eyes.
"It's alright. I'd rather you know who your allies are… and who your enemies should be."
The wind howled softly through the trees as they resumed walking, the shadows of the pines stretching long across the path gloomy, watchful, almost foreboding.
The forest gradually shifted as they neared Riverwood. The chill of the upper mountains faded into a gentler breeze that carried the scent of pine resin and damp earth. Sunlight filtered through the tall evergreens, casting warm, golden patches across the dirt path. Birds chirped from the branches, and somewhere in the distance, the river murmured softly between stones.
Delphine's boots kicked up small clouds of dust as she walked. Her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly Riverwood's calmness was creeping in. She glanced at Astrid.
"So," Delphine said lightly, "what about you? Where are you from?"
Astrid's steps faltered. It was small barely noticeable but Delphine caught it.
Astrid's fingers instinctively brushed the strap of her armor, gripping it as if grounding herself. Her eyes darted away, avoiding Delphine's gaze.
"I'm from… somewhere far away," she said quietly. "You could say… outside of Tamriel."
The forest seemed to hush for a moment. Even the birds softened their song.
Astrid didn't speak further. Her shoulders tensed, her posture closing off subtle, but Delphine knew not to push.
"Hm. I understand," Delphine said softly, lifting both hands in a small gesture of retreat. "I won't pry."
Then her lips curled into a sly smirk an immediate shift to break the tension.
"So, our next step is figuring out who Alduin really is. You know… just like your lover asked."
Astrid almost tripped over her own feet.
"H-Hey! A-Alex isn't my lover or courtship"
Her cheeks flared a soft pink, and she waved her hands defensively. "He's just… a companion. A comrade. And he saved my life, that's all!"
Delphine raised an eyebrow, amusement glittering in her eyes.
"Oh really? Because from what I've seen, it doesn't look like 'just comrades.'"
Astrid let out a strangled noise and lightly punched Delphine's shoulder not hard, but with enough flustered energy to express her embarrassment.
"Hey! What was that for?" Delphine laughed, rubbing the spot dramatically.
"You keep teasing me!" Astrid pouted, crossing her arms. A faint breeze ruffled her hair as she looked away, trying to hide her reddening face.
Delphine's laughter gradually faded.
Her expression shifted softening, then sharpening with seriousness.
"Astrid… this world is cruel," she said quietly. "People die every day. You can lose someone before you even realize you needed them. Don't you regret not telling him how you feel? You or he could be gone in a heartbeat."
Astrid froze mid-step.
The rustling leaves, the river's murmur, even the distant lumbermill all of it felt muted.
A tight knot formed in her chest. Her throat tightened.
She pictured Alex alone on some mountain trail, or surrounded by wolves, or facing something worse…
"I just…" she whispered, voice trembling slightly, "I just hope he's safe right now…"
Delphine couldn't resist. She grinned and nudged Astrid with her elbow.
"See? You definitely care about him."
Astrid flushed deeper and swatted her again.
But this time, Delphine's laughter was warm purposefully breaking the gloom she had stirred.
"Relax. That kid is tougher than he looks," Delphine continued with a half-laugh. "You saw his talent. He enchants armor like he's been doing it for decades, then does insane things like stabbing himself and healing just to 'level up faster' he said, and i dont know what that mean. And the craziest part?"
She threw her hands up.
"He wants to craft Daedric armor for us! I mean who does that? He's completely insane."
Astrid chuckled despite herself. The tension in her shoulders visibly eased.
Sunlight warmed her face as they followed the bend in the path, and Riverwood's wooden rooftops began to appear between the trees.
"Yeah… you're right," she said with a small, relieved smile. "Traveling with him… If I were alone, I wouldn't have made it this far. He's someone you can rely on."
Delphine nodded, this time without sarcasm or teasing just a quiet, earnest certainty.
Her eyes softened for a moment, almost proud.
"That he is."
Astrid felt warmth bloom in her chest, but she straightened, trying to refocus.
"Exactly. So before he returns, we should gather intel like he asked."
Astrid folded her arms, shifting her weight slightly as her mind switched into strategy mode.
"Right. So what's our next step?"
Delphine glanced around the path, as if checking for wandering ears, then leaned in slightly.
"First, we figure out who's behind all this. And my suspicion?"
Her voice dropped into a low, sharp edge.
"The Thalmor. They're the most suspicious."
Astrid raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering across her face.
"Why them?"
Delphine's jaw tightened. She began pacing slowly across the dirt path, boots crunching against pebbles.
She motioned with her hands as she spoke frustrated, animated.
"If they aren't involved, then they know who is and that alone is enough."
Her fingers snapped sharply.
"Think about it. The Empire finally captured Ulfric. The war should have been over. Then suddenly dragons appear out of nowhere."
She mimed a burst with her hands, like an explosion of chaos.
"Ulfric escapes. The war reignites. And now the dragons don't stop coming."
Delphine stopped pacing and pointed toward the distant mountains, her expression dark.
"Skyrim grows weak. The Empire grows weak."
Then her hand curled into a tight fist.
"And who stands to gain from all this?"
Astrid watched her closely as Delphine exhaled sharply through her nose, an unmistakable hatred burning in her eyes.
"The Thalmor."
The name hung in the air like a bitter taste.
Astrid nodded slowly. "So we have to find a Thalmor who knows something about the dragons. Any ideas?"
Delphine ran a thumb across the pommel of her dagger a habit she seemed unaware of before answering.
"We could infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy."
She scoffed under her breath, shaking her head.
"But that place is a fortress. Layers of guards, wards, locked rooms… paranoia made into architecture."
Astrid frowned. "So… impossible?"
Delphine's lips curved into a sharp, confident smirk.
"Hard. Not impossible."
She tapped a finger against her forehead.
"I've slipped into places more paranoid than that. And I already have a few ideas on how to get us inside."
A breeze rustled the leaves, and the peaceful hum of Riverwood began to rise as they drew closer sawmill creaking, villagers talking, distant hammering from Alvor's forge.
Delphine looked toward the village.
"For now, stay in Riverwood. Rest. Blend in. Let me handle the preparations."
Astrid nodded. "Alright. Let me know when you've figured it out."
Delphine gave a small salute with two fingers and a half-grin.
"Oh, you'll be the first to know."
They continued down the sunlit path toward Riverwood, the quiet village waiting for them just beyond the line of trees unaware of the plans and dangers quietly forming at its doorstep.
Winterhold
The wind howled violently as Alex stepped onto the ancient stone bridge leading into Winterhold. Snow whipped at his cloak, stinging his cheeks like tiny shards of ice.
"Finally… I made it to Winterhold. Hah…"
Alex doubled over, bracing his hands on his knees as he panted for breath. Cold steam escaped his lips with every exhale.
The journey had left fresh cuts on his arms, faint scorch marks on his gloves, and frost clinging to his hair. He glanced back at the white expanse he had crossed.
"Ice Wraiths… Snow Wolves… a damn Troll… and a Polar Bear," he muttered, shaking out his tired arm. "What a welcome party."
Each battle replayed in his mind dodging the Troll's massive swings, shattering the Ice Wraiths with fire, healing claw marks on the move. Brutal. Painful.
But also
"…worth it."
A small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Level Gains
Main Level: 25 → 28 (after sleeping)Perk Points: 4 → 6 (after sleeping)Destruction: 35 → 40One-Handed: 26 → 30Restoration: 28 → 35
His body ached, but his magic felt sharper more responsive. His muscles felt stronger. Even the cold biting into him couldn't dampen the sense of progress.
He stretched his neck, hearing a faint crack.
"If this were the game," he groaned, dragging his feet across the bridge, "I could just fast travel… but in real life, I have to walk every damn step."
The blizzard eased slightly as he entered Winterhold proper. Small, dim lanterns flickered on wooden posts, their light barely cutting through the swirling snow. The few remaining houses stood half-buried in frost, their roofs sagging under years of neglect.
The town felt… hollow. Quiet.
Just the wind, the crunch of snow under his boots, and the distant creak of old wood.
He shivered and pulled his cloak tighter.
"I should rest at the inn first," he muttered, spotting the warm orange glow through the Frozen hearth Inn's windows. "I'll visit the College of Winterhold tomorrow."
Alex pushed open the door, letting a wave of warmth spill over him the smell of cooked stew and burning firewood instantly melting the cold off his skin.
For now, at least, he had made it.
Alex booked a room in the nearest inn and immediately melted into the warm bed, savoring the comfortable, much-needed rest.
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