3 To Skyrim: The border 1/2

(Narrator's Pov)

The chill morning wind moaned, gently caressing the thin, trifling branches of the ice tipped trees. Untouched snow blanketed the would be vibrant grass, tainting the lush greens into a depressive and blank, frosted white.

Grey, rocky slopes trapped the still scene. Surrounding it like a cornered rat. Whitened tips of the stained mountain peaks rose from the constant battering of winter's fall.

Twin sets of crunching snow resounded across the vale, and two silhouettes, flashing in a fiery orange, appeared from the nights shadowy embrace.

A flickering light flashed and revealed a set of charming blue orbs encased by shining silver hair.

"The border is just over the valley. After we pass, we can talk." Announced Lucius, with a 'no nonsense' tone.

"That's fine by me. How are we crossing the border? Do you need some sort of pass, or document? Might~ be some issues, if that's the case." Drawled out a curious Ciri, pointing at herself.

"We'll just have to wait and see, won't we? It's my first time in Skyrim too." Shrugged Lucius.

Ciri hummed in response. Pulling up the fur trim of her collar the wade of the chilling air.

"Are you not cold? I highly doubt that armour is lined with fur, it's too well fitted." Ciri queried.

"My mother was a Nord." Lucius sighed, he continued when he realised that means nothing to the woman beside him. "The natives of Skyrim after the snow elves. The Nordish people are resistant to all type of cold. Be it spell, weather, or an enchantment. The cloak is sufficient enough." Lucius responded.

"That's convenient. Lucky you." Ciri praised.

"Mhm, lucky." Was his mumbled response.

Ciri opened her mouth, only to let out a quiet sigh as the border came into view.

"Let me do the talking." Asserted Lucius. Receiving a short nod in response.

A great wooden gate ladened with steel reinforced knobs and hinges that stretched to either side, of the now narrowed, valley. A small wooden cabin labelled 'border office' neatly set on the connected rock face to the right of the gate.

A small fire parallel to the office lay idle as three figures guarded the gate, one of which, was leaning on the mortar mixed wall that so valiantly held its vigil.

The night brought such a silence that the crackle of the distant campfire was all that could be heard, a natural music in the black-duvet of night. Flames sent red sparks dancing into the breeze. Illuminating two vague figures who sat around it. One clearly of female stature, whilst the remaining shape boasted the height and width associated with the burly men of the North.

'How splendid. A very welcoming view to any weary traveller.' Lucius snorted internally as he began his approach, followed closely by Ciri.

"Halt! What business d'ya have here?" Demanded one guard, who pushed themselves off the wall.

Lucius in response just gave the guard a deadpanned stare.

'Not the brightest bunch.'

"We're here to cross the border into Skyrim. If you'd kindly move so we may proceed to the office, we'll be on our way" Lucius said with a sweet smile.

"Nice try, knife ears. The Thalmor can fuck off, right back to your little island... And that includes you, lass." The closest guard hissed. Trying to rile up Lucius.

"Of course they can, in fact, i agree with you. However, if you'll take a moment to notice the lack of insignia or colours you would notice the fact that i'm not Thalmor. "You S'wit." Lucius calmly ignored the blatant racism, not without whispering his own insult back.

Behind him Ciri let out a short, amused, puff.

"Hmm. Pay the tax and you can go." The female guard spoke up without her eyes leaving the fire.

"What tax?" Replied Lucius.

"The one i just made up." Was his response from the woman.

'Akatosh help me from shooting these fools with fire.' Lucius rolled his eyes.

"Do you really want to fight that badly? I'm not an enemy, if anything i despise the Thalmor just as much as you, let us through to the office and we're gone. I'm sure you'd much rather drink and toast around a warm fire than dodge blasts of an arcane nature? Yes?" Lucius tried to bargain.

"I think i'd much rather have a heftier pouch of gold on my way back down the mountain actually." The closest guard spoke up again. Placing his sword on his shoulder. "So, why don't you stop your flowery words and hand over, let's say, 300 gold... Each."

His eyes shined with overflowing greed.

'No one can say i didn't try being nice.' mused Lucius.

"Ciri, stand behind me. I don't want to hit you with the spell." Lucius whispered so only she could hear.

With glowing hands behind his back, Lucius smiled.

"Fine. Have it your way. Let me get my pouch." As Lucius finished speaking he quickly brought both hands forward and launched triplet of vivid white-green bolts at the guards.

What resulted was a brilliant explosion of green that slowly disappeared into the ground.

The 'calm' spells hit their mark and left three dazed guards behind as Lucius finally opened the wooden door to the cabin.

"What?! You can do that!?" Ciri whisper shouted with awe, quickly following behind. 'I need to learn that. So many uses. Damn, this world's magic is truly magnificent.' A giddy thread of thoughts arose in her mind.

"Yup. It's a fairly basic spell too. I don't mind teaching it to you, if you want that is." Offered Lucius looking Ciri in the eye. Seeing her excited expression.

'It's not like it can affect me anyways. She doesn't need to know that though.' Lucius chuckled in his thoughts.

"Really yo-"

The conversation was cut short by sounds of loud arguing in the next room.

"- nd what of those bandits outside?! You see how they look at me. It's only matter of when, not if. You know it as well as i do, Ulran!" A feminine voice sobbed out.

"What would you have me do! With the blasted civil war going on d'you think they care?!" A man, now revealed as Ulran, spat back.

'Civil war?' Noted Lucius.

"It's been nearly 6 moons...You could've done something long ago." Sniffled the woman.

Ciri and Lucius shared a knowing look before Lucius knocked the oak door.

"One moment!" Ulran snarled.

"This sounds lively at least." Lucius nudged Ciri with a mischievous smile.

When the door opened, a man of short height stood idle looking up at Lucius. He sported mud brown hair and matching eyes that cautiously studied the pair in front of him. Roughed up clothes that may once have been of high quality, bleached black that slowly fade away, matched with an aged fur cloak tied round his scrawny shoulders.

Behind him. A woman sat by a cozy hearth tending to the dying remnants of fire. Small tears prickled at her eyes but she kept her gaze trained on the embers. A common dress of forest green and worn out brown leather gloves was all she wore.

"Ahem. How can i help you." Asked Ulran.

"We're here to cross the border into Skyrim. Obviously." Lucius couldn't keep the condescending tone from slipping out.

"Right, right. Apologies friends. My mind was... Elsewhere." Was the response.

"It's fine, but if we could please hurry this up. i'm quite tired after the events of tonight." Lucius politely requested.

"Of course, just pay the fee of 50 Septims per person, and you can go." Ulran said bluntly, catching the hint.

'Hmm, i'm a bit short. I didn't account for a second head.' Thought Lucius glancing at the woman beside him.

"Say. i overheard the end of the argument between you and your wife. If we take care of the so-called 'guards' outside, what say you let us pass. No questions asked?" Smiled Lucius.

Ulran looked a bit uneasy at the offer and replied.

"Are you certain you can do it? They're trained soldiers, brutes, but still soldiers."

"Of course. You wont even hear a thing of it, this i swear." Lucius's pale blue eyes brightened and gained a brief glint when his silver tongue started wagging.

Ulran took a quick glance behind him to look at his softly weeping wife before replying. "Fine, I agree. I never saw you. Only if you get rid of them quietly." Ulran uttered.

"A pleasure~." Lucius took a mock bow and lazy smile before turning around to head outside.

"Are you sure you're not a sorceress? Almost perfect looks, magic, and now you reveal yourself to have a tongue that belongs in the mouth of a devil too." Ciri questioned Lucius as he opened the door to the night air.

"I think the presence of my cock answers that one, darling." Lucius boldly laughed out.

A harumph later and they came upon the still dazed guards.

"So, how we doing this? Slit their throats, or some more magic~" Ciri asked whilst wiggling her fingers in front of her.

"Easy. You kill the woman sat by the fire, while i get the two halfwits by the gate. Do as you please, though, no more light shows. I did promise quiet and, contrary to belief, i'm a man of my word." Lucius disclosed, giving the beauty one last glance. He put a hand on one's head and point a finger at the other.

A small flash of blue and a quick bolt of white hot fire later. A coin-sized hole appeared through the head of the second guard and both slumped to the ground, like dolls cut from their string.

Lucius looked over to Ciri and saw her wiping the blood of her sword on the now dead woman's cloak.

"Seeee... Easy." Lucius cheekily remarked before taking off down the cobble path heading down to Falkreath hold.

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Chapter 3 done.

Ideas and criticism welcome.

I split this chapter apart because i didn't like how it went with both together.... it kinda dragged.

Too much information added all at once takes away interest in my opinion.

I'm rewriting parts of the next chapter already and adding bits for world-building and backstory of Lucius, so it should be done by tomorrow night hopefully.

Have a good one,

Adios amigos.