Highreach Keep: Solitude, Skyrim

Asuna Sainama Ameridas was pressed tightly to Calder in the back of the carriage. She felt like a treasured princess in his arms while they rode along. "My beloved, I wish for us to be there soon. She said while feeling the slow drain of the sun. She wanted to be alone with him again when they reached their destination and join with him in passionate love as she had become addicted to him now.

Michael Scott Kroush "For Mara's sake," Mikkel seethed, then pulled a young, red-haired Nord out of the drill, "listen, Bjorn, you need to remember that in these formations, YOU are responsible for protecting the man to your left from thigh to neck with your shield. THIGH TO NECK." The King emphasized his words by showing the boy. He then removed his shirt, showing a lengthy scar across his left side. "Large bandit operation in Pale Pass. I was 20 years old," Mikkel explained, " the guy next to me faltered for just a second. If I hadn't been proficient in Restoration, I would have died. You're part of a unit, and you MUST protect the man next to you. If not, the formation falls, and we're all dead. I kept you out of the dungeons as a favor to your mother, Jarl Iona, but you must remember that you are now part of the defenses of this entire province. Now, back to formation."

Calder Odinnson The sun rest just over the horizon when the Legionnaire driving the carriage knocked upon the roof of the carriage. My brother's eyes snapped open instantly, Ellisa woke drowsily, while Ameridas simply blinked awake at the noise. I on the other hand growled and shifted my gaze from the pages of the journal in the failing light and glared at the roofing. Grumbling I clenched my fist, shaking it, "Bloody Coldharbour man! You distract me now!" I narrowly missed the gentle thump of something carriages front wall. I scowled at the sound a tad confused at its perfect timing with my hand striking the being pulled back and placed on the seat beside me.

Vorm Odinnson I noticed my brothers startled look and asked, "What is it brother? You look... Ill at ease."

Calder Odinnson I was looking at my hand hardly noticing his question, "That was.... hmm? Oh, uh right well its rather simple brother when last I was here..."

I cut myself off hesitating and realized it was futile given the annoyed glare my brother was giving me, "UGH. Fine, you win, you overgrown Daedroth. Last I was bloody here I was damned near arrested, accused of a NON-existent theft, and well... I may or may not have killed a few men in defense of the priestess and I's well being..."

Vorm Odinnson I glowered back, "Really brother... Must we? With the names I mean, seriously, what are you, some sort of Daedra worshiper?"

Calder Odinnson I rolled my eyes grumbling, "Does it honestly bloody matter brother? So what if I am? Nocturnal and Mephala have seen to my needs and safety more often than the Nine have."

Vorm Odinnson I could hardly believe my ears, my own brother, a follower of the Daedra? It made some sense I supposed, our parents well they were always quite strict and always driving us towards the Aedra's Light. Yet they always spurned poor Calder, it angered them that they would be cursed with a magic wielder for an Eldest son.

"Calder... mother... father... they did love you you know... right?"

Calder Odinnson Hearing by brother speak of our parents, it angered me. The frigid mist began to gently drift from my hands. I would need to get these new gauntlets enchanted soon. I knew how untrusting my modernist, Nordic brethren are towards those who wield the elements.

Vorm Odinnson "Brother keep silent about your last visit here to Solitude. If the King were to learn of it Akatosh only knows what might happen." We passed under the gates into courtyard of the high King.

"Well looks like we're here..."

Calder Odinnson I frowned, bowing my head and tucking away my journal sighing heavily, "So it would seem..."

Michael Scott Kroush Stepping out in front of the carriage, flanked by Hanali and Fjolfrin Fire-Eye, High King Mikkel Septim and Queen Camilla Septim came to greet Vorm and Calder.

Asuna Sainama Ameridas looked to Calder and hugged him before they were to get out. "I am terrified my beloved." She whispers to him as she gently kissed his neck before preparing to meet the High King. She hoped he wouldn't recognize her from when she entertained the Septims, so she hid behind her mask and robes before holding onto Calder's hand.

Calder Odinnson I helped Ameri from the carriage and whispered softly, "Of what, I've met the king hes not half that bad. Rather fair to be honest..."

I stood a step behind her a half step to the left with my hand on her right hip, letting the primal senses learned in the wilds and streets of the empire settle into place. As rich and profitable as the cities of the mainland may be they always kept me on edge myself.

Vorm Odinnson I spotted the High King as he began his decent down the stairs to greet us and back handed by brother in the shoulder to get his attention, "My Liege, I trust our arrival has not inconvenienced you in any way... We set out as soon as we were able and hope we have not arrived too late in the evening."

Calder Odinnson I rolled my eyes at Vorm's words and called out, "Evenin', Majesty. Seems you lot made it back alright... Apologies for disappearin' like that, figured it was time to hunt down the little Vermin here... and see for myself this 'noble heeero' you calm I share a bloodline with..." I scoffed jokingly, "Must say, not at all impressed, is it me or is he not shorter than how you described the lil runt..." I waved my hand over his head, "seriously though I hadda pick up nearly every rock in the Rift to find the little fuck."

I couldn't help but snicker at the look Vorm gave me out of the corner of his eye, "Though I mist say his head ye did underplay the shininess of his, dome here," I clapped my hand on his bald head, "I hadda squint just to see him in the dead of the night just to see the lil bugger."

I couldn't help it, I started laughing at the look he and the Forsworn woman gave me. I was promptly rewarded with a not so light punch to the ribs which knocked the wind from me and sat me down wheezing with laughter.

As the laughter faded away Ameridas helped me back to my feet, only to find the High King standing before us shaking his head like an annoyed father who hadn't yet reached the point of scolding me.

Vorm Odinnson Aedra damn my brother... i could hardly blame my parents for throwing him out of the house if this was how he was raised to act, "Apologies your Majesty, it would seem my brother has quite a bit to learn about... civilized behaviour let alone courtly behavior."

Michael Scott Kroush Mikkel Septim looked over to his wife, who was lightly laughing at the two brothers, then turned back to Vorm, saying, "It's alright, Legionaire Odinnson, or is it Legatus now? You surely did well for yourself after I transferred to Helgen." This got a look from the Queen, so the High King went on to explain, "I remember this man from my days in the Legion, stationed in Kvatch. He basically saved my life in Pale Pass, taking my spot in formation, and allowing me time to heal myself."

Vorm Odinnson "Legatus M'Lord, well former Legatus. I was supposed to have been retired 3 years back but... well, you know how the Empire is. One minute its one thing, the next... vicious cycles," shrugged and my armor clanked softly, "My apologies m'lord but... Centurion Ironwall, is, is that you?"

My mouth dropped open as realization dawned, "Well I'll be damned! Centurion Mikkel the 'Ironwall' your... well damn me to the Deadlands you're the uh what did they call it, oh High King, your the High King of Skyrim? Well I'll be damned... Never thought I'd see you again. Well then again none of us thought we would see anything more than a Bosmeri shaft ever again for that matter, how are you? How have the years treated you?!"

Michael Scott Kroush "Life's been good, Vorm," Mikkel nodded, "I'd like to introduce my wife, Camilla. We met after I transferred to Helgen. Also with me is Fjolfrin Fire-Eye, he was a Centurion under my command in Helgen. He now commands my infantry. The elf is Hanali. She's a Lunari, and commands my battlemages. Why don't we head inside, and we can continue this over dinner."

Calder Odinnson I frowned and sat back on the side of the carriage growing bored and began tinkering around with the spell Telekinesis spell had been working on all throughout our trip. Id reached out across the courtyard and began plucking at the tunics of the guards. One of the stuffy bristle-maned guards wandered by and began bitching at one of the other scrawny looking new guards. For some reason or another this irritated me, and i began to grumble under my breath about how id like nothing more that to yank the "baby guard's" sword from its scabbard and bust the "Bristle-mane's" nose with it. While I grumbled I gripped my hands into claws without thought and tugged them back towards me and pushed them away glaring at the men. No sooner had I done so than the blade leapt from its scabbard colliding with an audible crack with the "Bristle-mane's" nose. I looked down at my hands, shocked, and then back at the guards, I leaned froward and tugged gently at Ameridas' robes laughing, "IT WORKED! HAhahahaha it fucking worked! AHA tis a good bloody day people!"

Vorm Odinnson "Blessed evening to you al-" I looked back at my brother giggling like a child, "I swear, my parents got our birth order wrong, he's more of a child than one fresh out of the womb!" I looked over at the elf and asked, "Any chance you'd be willing to try to kick him into some form of a line, I doubt you'd accomplish much but? I could hardly care if its straight or not just as long as it isn't all over the bloody map... CALDER WOULD YOU GET OFF YOUR ASS? Talos above," I shook my head, "Ameridas dear, be a saint and drag the giggling idiot along would you? If you need help I am sure we could we could send a guard or two along to help..."

Calder Odinnson I climbed slowly to my feet wrapping my arm around Ameridas waist, chuckling behind my hand, "Right, right inside, inside. Wait did someone say something about food?" I asked.

Vorm Odinnson I turned to Ellisa and commented, "Did we stop in an inn along the way here? He's giggling like a drunken Bosmer."

"No," she replied in the short blunt manor of the Forsworn speaking the common tongue.

Michael Scott Kroush Mikkel pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is the same guy that killed a dragon priest," he thought, as he and the queen led everyone to the dining hall. He finally spoke again, "Vorm, if I'm not mistaken, your settlement is in the Reach, am I right? If so, I could send some troops and supplies to help you deal with the Forsworn. With the number of narrow passes in that region, you could line the cliffs with archers and block a pass with infantry. Quick and effective."

Vorm Odinnson "Wait... this idiot older brother of mine killed a Dragon Priest?! That's... shocking to say the least. He's never taken much seriously, even as kids. Rather effective once he gets past the jokes from what I remember. He's the one who taught me to fight as a kid to keep the other kids from picking on me."

We walked side by side down the halls towards a small dining hall talking once more like two Imperial officers of the Legions, "Alas, my sincere Apologies M'Lord but no, The Imperial Traders Village, they've taken to calling it Skogurheim Traders Village instead actually, but no it is located within the Rift along the western bank of the river between lake Geir and lake Honrich, about half way between Ivarstead and Riften. The fact that I have been joined by Lady Ellisa here is well irrelevant as she has been cast out by her people within the Reach and has become my ward until i can ensure the men hunting her have been dealt with."

Michael Scott Kroush Mikkel nods. "Well, I'm still going to send you back with some equipment for your guards, compliments of Highreach's master blacksmith."

"It has been some time, Lady Ameridas," Queen Camilla added, "It's good to see you. I hope the time has been kind."

Vorm Odinnson "Many thanks m'lord, I know our legion heavy armor has made a number of the locals a little nervous. It would be nice to give them something a little more local."