Unknown Cave, Dragontail Mountains
"Please." Shagram was not above begging. He jumped aside and narrowly missed a sword hit from another corpse. "Anyone." They seemed endless.
They were hard to kill even with a good weapon. He only had a rusted iron sword.
"Please, I want to survive this. I need to survive this." His clan counted on him. The children, the elderly, his wife, they all counted on him to be strong, to protect them from this evil.
Another attack. Another narrow miss. He was pushed towards the cave wall.
Soon enough, there will be no more space to avoid hits. No more space to parry. The corpses will close ranks. He will be overwhelmed. Killed. Eaten - if he was lucky. Cursed to spend eternity shambling alongside these corpses as one of them if he was not.
When the clan heard that a cave nearby was full of walking corpses, Shagram's wife Kharzug felt this threat couldn't be left to fester. She wanted her husband to prove his strength as Moloth Yal's chieftain. Prove his strength to the clan. Prove himself to her. Once again.
"I want to live!" Shagram shouted at the cave's ceiling. He knew shouting anything at the corpses was useless. He'd have more luck with the cold stone.
Strangely, the stone ceiling answered. An impish, insidious voice asked, "What are you willing to give up to fulfill your wish?"
Shagram saw even more corpses approaching and knew he was lost. Without thinking he shouted, "Anything! I will serve you, just let me survive this!"
"As you wish…" the voice replied. Nothing followed, only silence. No rescue was coming. No help given. Was he hallucinating?
Shagram took another step back… and almost stumbled on the Ebony Battleaxe glowing with some strange enchantment that mysteriously appeared right behind him.
With a whoop of glee, he picked it up, jumped forward and swung it with all his might at the approaching corpses. Three of them fell to his first swipe. The rest were enveloped in blue light. They tried to run away, but it was too late. Shagram swung his new battleaxe as hard as he could and soon enough, he was the only one left standing. All the corpses were either in small pieces or piles of dust.
Shagram panted from the exertion. He waited for the other shoe to drop. Will that mysterious voice demand its payment now? Where was his helper anyway?
He looked around but aside from him and the corpses, the cave was empty. After a second of hesitation, he looked up at the ceiling and shivered with dread.
There, carved into the very stone, was a big horned face. No, not a face, a mask. Great stone mask with horns. That face reminded him of some of his old lessons from the Temple. He didn't remember what exactly it signified, but he remembered it wasn't anything good.
Then the mask twisted into a grin, "Well done, my young servant. Looks like you managed to clear my shrine and I fulfilled your wish, all in one go."
Shagram dreaded the answer, but couldn't help but ask, "Who… are you?"
The mask's grin got even wider, "I am Lord Clavicus Vile, the Daedric Prince of Wishes. It is not often I gain one of Malacath's sons; they seem keen to avoid me for some reason."
Vile. A Daedric God. One of the more evil ones, if tales were to be believed. Divines protect him… though Shagram had a feeling even the divines couldn't help him now. But an oath was an oath, "What do you wish from me?"
"Oh, nothing much. For now. Your clan is… waiting for you, after all." The disturbing mask started to sink into the stone. "Just remember, servant, you belong to me now. I'll be back to take my payment one day." With that last ominous warning, the mask disappeared into the stone wall, leaving Shagram to stand there alone, shivering.
He shook it off and hefted the battleaxe over his shoulder. There was nothing for it now. He had to get back to the clan.
He got out of the cave without any problems. On the way back down the mountain to their village, he thought and planned how exactly he will explain this to the elders and his wife. No doubt this will be taken as another proof of his weakness.
This time, he didn't disagree with their assessment.
He sold his life to a Daedric God. One that wasn't Malacath, anyway. He just hoped they won't kill him on spot.
He was already on thin ice with them as it was. Shagram was one of the few Orcs who hadn't left to fight for the Empire in another one of their pointless wars. Someone had to stay behind, to protect the clan. Too bad the clan saw it as a sign of weakness, rather than wisdom.
When the survivors of the last war came home crippled, none were in fit to take up the mantle of chieftain. Shagram, who took up that role while the 'real Orcs' were out fighting for humans, welcomed them back as kin. According to his family, it was just another proof of his weakness. They didn't see that the men needed home. Needed care. They only saw that he didn't wish to kill them. As if their senseless deaths once they came home would please Malacath.
Sometimes Shagram wondered why he thought leaving the Imperial City to live as an Orc in tribal villages of Dragontail Mountains was a good idea.
But… they were family now. A real Orc would never abandon family.
After several hours of steady walking, he was torn out of his heavy thoughts by the smell of burning wood and flesh. The smell was too strong this far away from the clan to be from cooking. Unless there was a camp nearby…
He walked past the stone outcropping blocking his village from view and stared in horror at the scene before him. "No…"
The whole village laid in ashes. Several burned corpses of what could only be the clan's children were piled near what used to be the gate. His wife's head was piked at the far stone wall, along with all the other women and the ex-Legionnaires. The wolves were already sniffing around the corpses of his elders. The ground and what was left of their buildings was burned with magic - both fire and shock spells... The Thalmor.
"No, no no,…" Shagram couldn't accept it. Not like this. His victory was worthless. His sacrifice was worthless. It was too late to help anyone. That was… too much. Tears streamed down his face as he fell on his knees, staring sightlessly at what used to be his home.
Vile's mocking laughter echoed within his mind.
-iwwo-iwwo-iwwo-
Three Years Later, The Blue Palace, Solitude
"…so just pack your things and leave. You are no longer employed here," Una dismissed her in her usual crabby voice. Old cow. What Daedra stole her emotions so she became such a heartless shrew, Erdi wondered. She couldn't reply over her tears, though.
Looked like that monster, Erikur, got what he wanted after all. It just wasn't fair! All Erdi did was run away when he tried to put his disgusting, clammy hands on her. How was she to know he will get her fired from the only job she could get in this cursed city?
When her parents died, the good king Istlod accepted her as a maid, so she wouldn't end up begging on the streets. And Erdi was willing to work hard.
She could clean, so that was what she did, and when she grew up a little bit, she also made sure the Palace and its kitchens were always well supplied. She could barter like a merchant now. She kept everything presentable – fit for the royal family. She could probably repair furniture and clothes better than any master in their profession.
Will she be cast aside just because some stupid Thane didn't get what he wanted? She was a servant, not a slave for Mara's sake!
The Queen can just wait for until the food stocks ran out. Or the goat horns chandeliers needed to be filled with wax again. Just wait until that bookshelf in Bryling's room broke down again. Just you wait…!
Her shoulders slumped.
No doubt Una could do these things as well. Erdi was not irreplaceable. She was just another servant. So maybe that bastard Erikur was right; maybe she was just a worthless wench. But she will not spread her legs for that… that cur! Then her beloved knight in golden armor would not want her, once he came. And he must come! He must! Especially now, when she needed him.
Erdi packed her things through tears. There wasn't much to pack in the first place. A few cleaning tools she bought with her own money, a couple of her beloved romance novels from Cyrodiil, some food and drink, one extra dress, coinpurse with all her savings…
She knew the coin won't last her long. The Winking Skeever might be of high quality, but it was also very expensive. She'll need to find her own food and lodging somewhere else, and soon. Maybe if she asked nicely, Odar would let her stay for a bit in the Palace kitchens, until she found something… but how long? What were her options anyway?
She could put on her beautiful second dress and try to seduce some farmer into marrying her, but then, that would not be so different from what Erikur wanted from her. Spread her legs for survival? No, thank you. So what if she got a ring out of it? She'd also get a husband - and no poor farmer could ever compare to her knight who will whisk her away to his castle.
She reached the bottom of her chest. There was one last item - an old iron dagger.
Erdi picked up the old dagger and stared at it for a moment. It belonged to her father, once. She remembered the old lessons he gave her, how to stab, strike, how to wear armor properly… Maybe…
No, surely it was foolish. Reading a few novels didn't make her skilled enough to be an adventurer. But she could leave Solitude and go to some other city. If her knight won't come to her, maybe she should go and find him? And take a look at the strapping mercenaries at the various inns in the mean time…
"Are you finished, yet? I need to get back to cleaning," Una all but spit at her. As if she was afraid Erdi would take some of these oh so precious pots and pans if she wasn't watching. Hagraven. "And watch where you step, I just cleaned here!"
Erdi stood and with her head held high, left with all her meager possessions. She couldn't be rid of this stupid Palace fast enough. Just you wait, she'll live in her own palace one day! Then all the maids, cooks and staff here will be so jealous of her! Even the Thanes would beg for her favor. But she'll only have her eyes for her knight…
Good thing she was kicked out so fast. Una was in such a hurry she didn't even ask for Erdi's keys. Maybe Erdi will come back and hand those keys right to that delicious Falk Firebeard in full view of the court. That would serve her right.
But for now, it was better to leave Solitude altogether. Only… where to go? Morthal was out. Nobody ever went there. It was not place to be if she wanted to find her knight. Markarth was out too, they had beds made of stone, for Dibella's sake! The only other city she knew was Whiterun. Tall, proud Whiterun with its fabled Dragonsreach and the Hall of Companions, Jorrvaskr. If nothing else, she could listen to the tales of their glorious battles and look for a promising Companion to be her knight.
Her mind made up, she walked past the city gates. The guard posted there called after her, "Hey, Erdi, back to the docks for more supplies?"
Erdi was in no mood for conversation. She simply nodded to him curtly and continued on her way. They will learn of her departure soon enough, anyway. If she told them, someone might try to prevent her from reaching her dream!
Oh, who was she kidding? Not even she was naïve enough to believe that. Not anymore.
If she didn't end up killed by bandits or some wild beast, she'll probably end up as one of Jorrvaskr's maids. She heard their current one was really old. Maybe that would be her fate, too. To end up old and alone in a hall full of strapping young men sharing stories while she mopped their floors…
She couldn't go on. She sat by the road, not even an hour's walk from Solitude. What was she to do now?
"Now, now, that's no place to rest for a pretty young girl like you," said a kind if growly voice right beside her.
Erdi almost jumped out of her skin. Wide eyed, she started looking for the voice. There was no one there except herself and an old stone statue of a dog.
Then the statue spoke up, "That's no proper way to greet someone, little one."
"You… you speak," Erdi stuttered out.
"Yes, I do. And I will continue to do so. Best you get used to it. Now what was it you needed?" The Dog statue didn't move, but Erdi could swear it was looking straight at her.
"How do you know I need something?" Erdi asked suspiciously.
"Heh, I'm Barbas, servant of Clavicus Vile, the Daedric Prince of Wishes. It's my business to know these things. I help people and point them to my master, so he can… fulfill their wishes."
That was… shocking. A Daedra? All the temple ever said about them made her want to run for the hills. Except nothing waited for her behind those hills. And the Gods never helped her before. What if she…
"Wait, did you say wishes?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I said! My Lord fulfills people's wishes, if they can pay his price." Barbas said, getting a bit excited. "So, again, what do you wish for?"
"I wish to marry a strong, proud knight, who will love me and we will live together in his castle!" Erdi blurted out without even thinking about it.
If at all possible, the dog statue gave her a despondent look. "Yes, that is the sort of wish my master... fulfills."
Erdi couldn't contain her excitement, "Can you take me to him?"
"Do I look like I can walk?" the statue barked out. "If anything, you need to take me to him. That would work to summon him, too. You can't expect something for nothing, after all. So, pick me up and let's go!"
Erdi took a good look at the statue. It was not all that big, but it was stone, and so way too heavy for her to carry far. "Where exactly are we going?"
"My master has a shrine in a place called Haemar's Shame, but he accepts requests in a small cave nearby, too." Barbas started to sound excited again. "I'm a part of his power that was lost a while ago. Offering me to him will definitely put him in a good mood. We only need to reach that cave. It's just up that hill."
-iwwo-iwwo-iwwo-
'Just up that hill,' Erdi thought morosely, as she stumbled up the steep path going past the Thalmor Embassy. 'That filthy mongrel said Just up that hill, but forgot to mention how far that was'. Her feet hurt. Her hands hurt from carrying the heavy statue. Her eyes hurt. All of her hurt. She wanted nothing more than to give up, but the vision of her beautiful, rich, noble knight kept her going.
When they finally reached the cave, Erdi was ready to cry. She was tired, filthy, even if thankfully not injured. Barbas said they were lucky they 'only' had to fight one frostbite spider. That spider was bigger than the statue! It reached almost to her waist! And it spit poison! It definitely was not 'only' a spider! Now even her one and only common dress was all but ruined. Her knight better appreciate all the work she put into meeting him.
The cave was not even really a cave - more like a big hole in the mountain. The middle of the hole held a giant stone mask that stared at her disdainfully. At its base lay several full coinpurses and some gems. Erdi had nothing to offer besides the statue, so she put Barbas at a small pedestal that seemed to be made exactly to his measurements. The moment the statue sat properly, it sunk into the very stone.
The mask opened its mouth and a childish yet unholy voice filled Erdi's ears, "What? Who brings that thing here?" The mask glared down at the dog, "I thought I got rid of you for good, mutt."
"Master, but surely…" Barbas tried to speak, but the Mask wouldn't let him.
"Silence!" Then the Mask took a closer look at Erdi. "So, looks like you brought that cur back to me. Congratulations; you managed to summon me here. I should strike you where you stand for…"
Barbas gave a bark of accusation from his pedestal.
"Oh, fine, you mongrel," the Mask rolled its eyes. "What do you want then," Barbas barked again, "…and what are you willing to pay for it?"
"I… I thought the statue…" Erdi stuttered. Wasn't the statue the price? That was the whole point of dragging it here, after all. Right?
"Ha! You thought that was price enough to fulfill your every wish?" The Mask smirked at her. "No, that merely gained my attention. Now you have it." The Mask glowered and continued in a sinister voice, "You better have something to pay me with, too."
"I… I can…" Erdi tried to think of something she could offer a Daedric God. She doubted he'd be satisfied with an offer to clean this little hovel or some old patched up clothes. She definitely didn't want to bargain her soul. Then inspiration struck. "I can build you a shrine in Solitude."
She still had the key to the old Pelagius Wing. If she build a shrine in there, no one would need to learn – no one but those who wanted to pray to Vile themselves.
"Hmm, a shrine right in the middle of the Blue Palace," the Mask said. Erdi shivered. She only mentioned Solitude. Was that… thing reading her mind? "That would be a poke in the eye to that old clown, Sheogorath, too. Yeeeees, that's an acceptable price." Vile smirked again, "Now, name your wish."
Erdi shook from fear and excitement. Finally. Finally she'll have her knight in shining armor. A lover of legend. Life of romance, passion and luxury, just like in those romantic tales from Lady Monrius. Her dreams, her hopes… she could all but taste them!
"I want a strong, proud warrior for a husband; one who will care for me and provide everything I want!" Just you wait, Solitude, Erdi will be a noblewoman, yet!
Vile's smirk got even wider. With a sinister cackle, he replied, "But of course! Nothing is impossible to an all-powerful God! Especially if that God is me. I even have the perfect candidate in mind to be your… husband."
The air around her got colder. Much colder. Unnaturally so. Erdi felt a gathering of power and took a step back.
The air seemed to… fold. The whole reality around her distorted in a bluish-purple light. Right in the middle of the distortion, a figure started to appear.
Male, that much was obvious. And tall – very, very tall. He seemed to be dressed in… fur?
The energy vortex finished its work. The man stumbled, "What…?" His eyes met Erdi's disbelieving ones. "What have you done?!" he… growled… through his… tusks… Gods. No.
It was an Orc. Erdi couldn't believe it - Vile summoned an Orc. No, there had to be some mistake, surely he wouldn't expect her to accept… that? Then his question registered.
"Me? What do you mean, what have I done? What have you done with my knight?!" she shrieked at him.
"Now, now, children, do not argue, or I might just have to strike you where you stand," Vile smirked at them. Erdi shuddered and fell silent.
The Orc turned around and saw the mask. His eyes widened, then closed as if in pain. "Have you summoned me here… my Lord?"
The mask's smirk only grew wider, "Yeees, that I did. This young lady wished for a strong husband. You'll do just fine." At the Orc's disbelieving stare, the statue paused, then added in a sinister voice, "This is your payment, servant. Be grateful I found a use for you other than taking your soul."
The Orc's shoulders slumped. "Yes, my Lord."
Vile lost interest in him and sneered down at Erdi, "Now that you are, heh, married, I'll expect my shrine to be build soon. Do not forget your debt, servant."
"But… Wait… I…" Erdi couldn't speak over her shock. Vile couldn't mean this seriously, right? He must be joking!
"I hope you do not plan to throw my gift away just as I so thoughtfully gave it to you," he hissed menacingly.
Erdi shrank away, "No… my Lord." She desperately added, "But.. it's an Orc! A beast! Surely…"
"He will make for a fine, strong husband." Vile didn't let her finish and spoke over her. With a mean smirk, he added, "Be sure to… enjoy him as much as you can, my new servant."
With those last parting words, the mask lost all expression and turned to plain stone. Erdi stood there beside… the Orc, all alone in the wilderness.
The Orc sighed and went to sit on a stone near the shrine. "Shagram gro-Moloth."
Erdi looked at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. "What?"
"My name. Shagram gro-Moloth," he growled at her in a scratchy voice. "What is yours?"
"My… my name?" She only got angry, "You ask my name? Why should I tell you that?! You just ruined my life!" Her fists clenched at her side.
The beast barked out a laugh, "I ruined your life, eh? I sure must have a lot of power to force you to make a stupid-ass deal with a Daedra from a different country altogether." He looked around. His hand went into his filthy, matted hair, "Where are we, anyway?"
Erdi shook even more, then her shoulders slumped too. He was right, she had no one else to blame but herself for trusting a Daedra. Damn the beast. "We are near Solitude," she answered in a near whisper.
"Solitude?" The Orc just stared at her blankly, "Where is that?"
"In Skyrim," she added dryly. Did he live under a rock that he did not know of Solitude?
"Skyrim?!" He stared. "That… You had me pulled from Dragontail Mountains all the way into Skyrim?"
Dragontail Mountains? That would fit. Where else could Vile have dug up… this? Erdi felt the need to defend herself anyway, even to this beast, "I did nothing! I merely asked Vile for my knight to come save me. I never asked for you!"
The Orc snorted, "You did ask for me, Princess. This," he gestured at both of them, "is merely Vile's sense of humor." Strangely, he didn't seem too angry. More… resigned.
Erdi swallowed back a new batch of tears. She did not want this… monster to see her cry. Instead she decided to take a good look at her supposed knight.
He was tall – very tall. Especially compared to her. Green, that was a given. Broad shouldered and muscular. The only thing protecting his modesty was a little bit of muddied fur armor around his waist. His hair was dark-brown… or maybe blonde, she couldn't tell over all the filth that covered him. And filthy he was. His entire body was covered in mud, dust and grass. Did he sleep in a cave or what?
A new wave of despair came over her. How will she explain it to… well, anyone? She, who always declared she will only marry her noble knight and live in a castle was now… married to an Orc. Did Orcs even marry? They were little better than beasts!
Her look of disgust must have been obvious, for he sneered at her. "What? Am I not good enough for you, oh noble lady?" He stood up and mockingly waved his hand as if he was offering himself up. "You heard our Lord. You should… enjoy me, as much as you can."
"Why, I've never… You… you filthy…" Erdi glared. She felt her eyes start to fill with tears and swallowed them down again. "I will only ever want my knight. Then we will live together in his castle."
"Well, it's no castle, but you could come live with me in my cave," the beast mocked her again. "All you need to do is get to Dragontail Mountains, several provinces away."
So he did live in a cave. Erdi was now sure the entire universe hated her. It was all too much. She didn't even care anymore. She started crying.
The Orcs eyes widened. For a moment, it seemed he had no idea what to do. Then his face hardened and he barked at her, "Stop it! Stop crying!"
Erdi cried harder just to spite him.
The Orc's face looked terrifying. Like he might strike her.
Killed by her new husband; that would fit. It would serve her right, to think that anything good could come out of a deal with the Daedra.
Then the Orc slumped back down on the rock and put his filthy face in his hands.