About this image

Fjoilda scrubbed the weathered pot with the ferocity that only nord could display. It was in the evening in their Gray-Quarter apartment. Her mother Valah was busy laying her youngest sister, Bruma, to bed, and her father and eldest sister Valah, or Val as father nicknamed her to avoid confusion, were in a heated argument about Val's boyfriend. By Shor's ancient beard how could she love that stupid barbarian. She only hoped mother wouldn't join in.

A faint knock sounded at the door.

Finally, a break in the debate.

Valah answered the door to find a shivering dark-elf at it's threshold. "Olmer! come in, you look frigged!" she stated with a start.

"Thank ye, it is indeed one of those nights."

"Val, Fjoilda, Harnkil, get mead and meat. It looks like Olmer got kicked out of the cornerclub again.

"Aye, Sadri was in one of his moods tonight."

The nords quickly made the haggard guest at home, while the raven-haired elf mumbled about low wages and damp bedrolls. Harnkil eyed the elf's gaze as it darted from one member of the family to another. Something wasn't right, why was he, analyzing them? Olmer was a close friend and ally. "Olmer, are you all right?" inquired Harnkil carefully.

His wife shot him a disapproving glace for the rude comment.

"No, I was...just wondering." replied the elf awkwardly. "I should go now." with that he fetched his cloak and wandered to the door.

"Please, wait." begged Harnkil as he advanced to the hunched elven figure by the door. "Is it skooma? I thought you told us you quit. We will help you again if need be-" 

Valah watched in horror as her husband's corpse struck the wooden floor, even as Olmer withdrew a dagger. "Harn..Har...Harkil? NO! HOW COULD YOU-" The words died in her throat as she beheld Olmer's skin melt away. Fear and dread filled her as she saw in his place a hulking figure clad in daedric, and crowned with horns.

Fjoilda fled in terror. Behind her came the crackling sound of lightning and her mother's scream. As soon as she reached her room, she grabbed Bruma and took her to the wall. Kicking with her foot, she busted a small hole in it. "Go Bruma, go t Eijner warn him, I'll be right behind you as soon as I can." She watched the ten-ear old nod and scramble into the dark. With her hands, she widened the gaping hole. The second scream this time her sister's, sent a wave of fear through her body. Come on, come on. The cold weight of a metal gauntlet rested upon her shoulder. Time seemed to stop as she turned to face it's owner. "Who..who are y..you?" she asked in a pale and trembling voice choked with tears.

A dream, lost in ice." replied The Elder Dire.

Then a feeling akin to burning fire racked her frame. To be continued...