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45% Dragonborn Saga / Chapter 337: Escape

Chapter 337: Escape

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Alaric was awakened from his hut and was dragged by his men out. A crisis happened.

"Prince, you need to come."

"What is that noise?"

"The Nord, 'God Blood', he broke free."

"Impossible!"

It was completely not possible. The Nord was finally dying after two months of anticipation. They almost gave up and now what? He broke free.

"Did you capture him?"

"... No… Prince, something terrible happened."

The man led Alaric to the place where Forsworn warriors were gathered. It was a hole opened in the mountain leading to a cave, that cave was leading to one of the Briarheart Groves.

As soon as Alaric reached the inner cave, more people gathered and a lot of cries were heard. What Alaric saw made him almost go insane with anger.

How in the world… why?

Children, they were lying on the ground in puddles of their own blood. They were his part of his tribe and he knew some of them by name. They were all the children that Grosh plays with.

Just as his brother crossed his mind, Alaric started looking around for Grosh.

"Hey, has anyone seen Grosh? Where is my brother?"

Alaric looked and looked and entered the Briarheart Grove.

"Gods!"

He saw every single tree in the Grove charred black like what happened with the Saplings some time ago. Still, the real shock was still to come.

On the largest Briarheart Tree where the Nord was trapped, there was a large thing waiting for him resting on the tree.

Alaric's being froze in its place. He didn't want to take a look or look away, he didn't want to go closer or go further. He was just frozen.

He saw something his head couldn't accept at all. He didn't understand it even though it was clear to him as the light of day.

Shock!

Disbelief!

Denial!

"No."

He shook his head.

That is not how it was supposed to happen. That is not it at all.

"Grosh! Please no!"

His brother that protected him for years and they stood together in many battles against both Nords and Reachmen was just lying there head and body separated. Jon meant it that the body would be visible and the head stuck on the tree.

Alaric kept looking at the scene with anger swelling inside him, he was about to shout and rage but someone came running.

"We found him! We found the Nord!" A Forsworn boy came running.

"Go down there and capture him!" Alaric shouted with eyes bloodshot.

"He… He didn't go down, Prince. He went up the mountain!"

Alaric and the Forsworn were taken aback for a second. Everyone knew what is up the mountain.

Alaric pushed it all to the back of his head and shouted.

"GO AFTER HIM! Break his limbs and don't let him die yet! GO!"

Alaric shouted at the men behind him and walked to Grosh's body lying it down and putting the head where it should be. He stained his hand with his brother's blood and marked on his face.

"Whoever kills him will be killed. That Nord is mine!"

***

Since the moment he stepped out of the cave, Jon smelled the fresh air he was deprived from for two months. Being forced to live in the hell hole of the Briarheart Grove for that time made him forget how the world smelled so nice. The Briarheart Grove was filled with corpses after all.

Jon knew where he was, according to Shadow, he was southeast of the Reach not far off Old Hroldan. The place he was in was known as 'Lost Valley Redoubt', an old ruin filled with Forsworn savages.

The place was one of the Game's best locations too.

Jon looked around and made sure that he wasn't spotted. Lucky for him, he found a sleeping Forsworn stationed on the cave with a few arrows with him. Jon finished the guy by cutting his head in one slash with [Greed].

He threw the corpse back in the cave and exchanged the rags on him with some of the Forsworn's iconic gear of hide and bone.

There was no way he can go down there mountain as he will be found out right away just by his side. At least the disguise he has can support him for a bit if he went up and from there, he knew the way out.

The road up the hill was not hard, it was still early in the morning and Jon was in a mood that is hard to describe. It was his birthday and he was breaking free after two months of humiliation and imprisonment. He was happy that he was finally free and he was in a grim mood to as he was barely resisting the urge to kill every Forsworn he saw.

Until the way up the mountain, Jon knew he would find a large waterfall with a large portion of the ruins. Up there, there was a Nordic Word wall that he already knew what it was all about as Shadow has memorized its content for Jon.

Still, there was some sort of party going around the Word Wall on the summit. Jon knew what to expect once he reached up there.

'Hagravens!'

He sneaked quietly until he saw the three hags that survived the fight with him were busy creating a Briarheart Warrior in a hurry. It seems they are working on a complicated ritual.

"Heart of thorn... bones of the wild... in life, Forsworn… rise from death, Blood of our Blood!" The hags kept chanting.

Jon has seen that ritual a few times in the Grove so he was familiar with all that Dark Magic. Because of that, he kept waiting until the crucial moment came. Once the Hags were about to place the Briarheart Seed in the dead warrior, Jon transformed [Greed] into a bow and used and Arrow to shoot the hand holding the Briarheart Seed.

"GAAAA!" The hag screamed but Jon didn't give her any chance to cause a scene. In the next second, he shot three arrows all to her head.

The other two hags were busy trying to cover their sister and Jon used that to sneak in as fast as possible and assassinate one of the hags.

The second was about to lash at Jon but he took the third Hag as a hostage right away!

"Stay!" He said.

"Curses! Curses on you…"

The free hag seemed to be retreating so Jon kicked her sister towards her and the thrust with [Greed] in the form of a spear.

The two hags struggled for a bit but Jon transformed [Greed] that was stabbing them and obliterated them from inside.

A smirk showed on Jon's face as he interrupted the ritual successfully. He finally killed those three annoying hags that tortured him a lot the past month.

He looked around and destroyed some evil totems then gathered some alchemical ingredients that are easy to preserve and fetch money in a bag he found. As he finished, started to make a big fire at the end of the way to the summit.

***

Alaric finally caught up to Jon only to find Jon waiting for him near the waterfall on the summit. This summit was known as 'Bard's Leap Summit', a place only the bravest of souls would step in.

Jon stood alone on the end of the way up with a fire in front of him facing Alaric and his horde, he seemed to be preparing for something big.

Alaric looked at him with rage.

"Nord, I'll kill you for what you have done." Alaric stepped forward aiming [Bloodskal] at its owner.

Jon smirked disdainfully and picked up something from the ground. It was the three severed heads of the Hagravens.

"No!"

"It can't be… he killed the rest of the Matrons!"

The Forsworn were infuriated at Jon and all aimed their weapons at him. Sadly, none can hurt him now as his plan was already complete. He just threw the heads of the Raven in the Fire along with some other prepared ingredients. The Fire in front of him turned green and some strange noises came out as if the hags were still screaming. This was one kind of the Hedge Magic that Jon picked up from observing the Hags the last couple of months. Something that didn't need Magicka but rather a sacrifice.

As the screaming sounds started to settle, three points in the ground formed up and expanded like portals. From them, three foul creatures walked out.

The creatures were large humanoids with crow heads and legs with large black wings on their backs and sickles in their hands. They looked like a very advanced form of the Hagravens but only Jon knew what these are. They are called 'Wraiths of Crows' and they come from the daedric realm of Evergloam, Nocturnal's realm in Oblivion.

Once those creatures appeared, the Reachmen froze at their places. Something so unfamiliar can bring confusion regardless of the situation.

Jon, on the other hand, walked away with light steps. He may have summoned the 'Wraiths of Crows' but he has no power over them. These creatures were unbound which means he will get attacked if he gets noticed.

*SCREEEECH*

Sure enough, the creatures he summoned we're powerful and didn't disappoint him. They viciously screeched and rushed at the first target they saw, the Forsworn.

"Get rid of those. I want to rip him apart." Alaric was still enraged and rallied his men at the Daedric creatures.

A fight started at the narrow path up and the 'Wraiths of Crows' proved to be too tough to. The Briarheart Warriors were all stationed away from here and there was no time. No one knew what Jon was planning next.

Alaric was desperately fighting the creatures Jon summoned and seemed desperate.

"Prince, there is no way down from up there. The Nord won't go anywhere." A man said.

"No! There is a way down. The Leap."

"That's… impossible… Damn it! We will buy you time, Prince."

The man understood what leap Alaric was talking about. Bard's Leap Summit is high place on the Jerral Mountains and a place where a river flows down into a waterfall. On the edge of the waterfall, there was a walkway overlooking the whole reach. One can say it is a very high and steep place that walkway was on.

Right now, Jon was standing on the Edge of the walkway and someone arrived behind him. Jon barely looked with half an eye before looking forward again.

"You… You murderous son of a bitch. I won't let you die if not by my hands." Alaric spoke to Jon with hate.

"So… far… you are… not doing a… very good… job." Jon mocked.

"Even if you survive the leap, you won't go too far. We will drag you back and I will torture you to death. I swear on the name of my grandfather, King Madanach, that you won't get away from me." Alaric held [Bloodskal] and pointed it at Jon.

"Madanach?! Right… they call… you 'Prince'."

Jon smiled vividly. He knew the King in Rags, Madanach. He put many dots together now.

"I will… come for... you, Blood Eagle." Jon left Alaric with those words.

"DON'T YOU DARE! DON'T YOU DARE JUMP DOWN!" Alaric was desperately trying to get his hands on Jon.

Jon looked at Alaric disdainfully.

"Bitch… Dare is… my surname. And, I fly."

Jon reached the end of the walkway and let himself fall.

"NO!"

Alaric ran towards Jon only to see him falling but not for long. Suddenly, [Greed] expanded on Jon's body and made a wingsuit. Jon glided outside of the Forsworn camp to the Karth River.

~~~~~~~~~~

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next chapter

Chapter 338: Good New, Bad News

Just in case if you were wondering why I let Jon get captured, this chapter will explain everything!

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*Winterhold*

Alina was still in a dazed state of what happened yesterday. She met someone (or something) that she never ever dreamt of meeting before. That was obviously Gleam. A part of the Cult of Kyne, that is known as [Guardians of the Grove] and resided in Kynesgrove, had tales about a Legendary God-like being that lives in the Eldergleam Sanctuary who shown herself in history barely once or twice but the tales are still there.

Known to have some God-like powers, that being was always associated with Kyne and the sanctuary was always treated as a sacred place. The origin of the name 'Eldergleam' was unknown but to think that the spirit of the tree itself was called Gleam.

Well, Alina was petrified when she met Gleam. She fainted and woke up while being tended to by Gleam herself.

Gleam was a very beautiful being with wide green eyes and brown hair surrounded by a mystic aura that can't belong to a mortal. Her petite appearance and curious wide eyes didn't reflect her true age of being the oldest known being on Tamriel.

It was a traumatic experience in many ways. Alina was always a fangirl of the Spirits of Nirn and dreamt that she can one day meet with one of those Faeries. Still, the idea that the most ancient tree in the land was actually a Faerie made Alina question the existence of the universe and the meaning of life.

Still, the meeting wasn't all that bad. Alina benefited a lot by simply talking with Gleam.

Out of all things in the world, Gleam knew about Jon and assured Alina that he is alive. More so, she explained Jullanar's situation to Alina and told her that the 'Twilight Rose' is watching over both Jon and Jullanar. The 'Twilight Rose' is of course the Daedric Prince Azura.

Alina couldn't wait to fly back on Lokthur and spread the news in Winterhold but she regained her sanity and started to think of how to decisively retrieve both Jon and Jullanar. Sadly, Gleam couldn't interfere with Jon's Labour and started to explain the meaning of the Labours to Alina.

She was rather shocked when she learned that Jon bore such a burden alone without telling anyone. She knew about Jon facing a problem with some Daedric Prince and he said that he will resolve it but for that to be Azura of all the Daedra! It was shocking. Azura can be argued to be one of the top dogs in Oblivion despite her benevolent image and offending such a Daedra can worsen the relationship between Winterhold and the large population of Dark Elves that worship Azura.

No wonder Jon kept the matter under the rugs.

"Worrying about him is pointless. He is already recovering his power and planning to get back at his enemies. If you want to go to him, I'll aid you." That was what Gleam said.

Apparently, Gleam has taken a liking on both Jon and Alina and she mentioned something about Nefertiti too being a similar race to hers. Alina couldn't make heads and tails of the way Gleam spoke in but she couldn't help but worry about Jon and miss him. She wanted to be with him no matter the cost.

"You do not need to worry, Elder Gleam. I know Jon alright and will find a way to reach him." Alina said.

"Not with those eyes of yours. Don't you feel like losing control over the power you have?" Gleam dropped a bomb on Alina's head.

Alina was shocked and couldn't muster a word to reply with. Contrary to her expectation, Gleam offered help.

"The trinket that the boy made for you is quite useful but you are getting more powerful. I can help."

"Please!"

Alina was desperate for help. It was true, her eyes got stronger and the [Fire Keeper Mask] was barely suppressing her eye powers. Her eye may out of control and accidentally kill someone, that was how strong her eyes were.

"Very well."

Gleam floated in the air and flew to her body which is the tree then took a leaf and a branch.

"Careful!" Alina was flustered as she saw someone break their own body.

"Here you go. Eat this." Gleam offered the leaf to Alina.

[A/n: Why am I thinking of 'All Might'?]

"What is that?"

"What do you think it is, silly? A leaf!"

"Isn't this… awkward? Getting your hair… I mean leaf eaten?"

"Why is that? It happens all the time?"

"Oh! Yes… I see you are… a tree after all! Haha! A person and a tree… why does that sound awkward all of a sudden?"

It was too much for Alina's brain, stress then shock and now confusion! It was exhausting.

"What will this leaf do?" She asked.

"You will be carrying my presence on you and that will be enough to make you powerful enough to stop the 'Blessing of the Dreamweaver'."

"TRULY?"

Alina couldn't believe she is ridding herself from the curse on her eyes even though Gleam just called it a blessing. It was true, if a blessing is too powerful then it is a curse.

"It is true. You can finally free yourself from the blindfold."

Alina was thrilled to hear the news and agreed immediately.

Once she ate the leaf, changes started to happen. She felt a strong surge of energy in her Energy Center she sat down and started circulating her energy to consume it. Her pupils that were fixed in a vertical slit shape turned back to normal round pupils

Gleam kept watching what Alina was doing in wonder and could tell that the leaf that she gave to Alina was being consumed at a rapid rate.

While doing so, Alina's skin turned red and normal a few times in the span of a few hours until she opened her eyes again.

She was mystified by the feeling. One leaf of the Eldergleam shot her level to 'Level 7, Jade Skin stage'.

This was really some unexpected harvest. She was not sure about her eyes but jumping up a few levels in one day is something rare.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she had to endure one hour of Gleam talking about various stuff. In the end, Gleam offered the branch she took with the leaf.

It was a straight and big branch enough to craft a cane but it is a branch from Eldergleam herself. This was no ordinary branch. If Alina's guess is correct, this branch can break Wulfur's best swords. The Eldergleam is an existence older than any metal on Nirn after all, it was impossible to harm it by normal means.

"What is this branch for?" Alina asked.

"It is a branch? What do you mortals do with branches?" Gleam asked.

"No idea. I think a bow can be a good choice."

"Oh! I see, you are not the creative one. Fine, take it to the boy and he will have an idea what to do with it. Tell him it is a gift."

"To Jon… fine."

Alina thanked Gleam a thousand time and headed off the sanctuary holding the branch and the [Fire Keeper Mask] in her hands like a kid going out of a toy store. Once Lokthur saw her, he landed but kept looking at her with hesitation.

It was the first time he sees his owner in the eye so the gryphon was still trying to rope its bird brain around the situation. Alina decided to turn the [Fire Keeper Mask] into the [Storm Rage Crown]. It still can amplify her magic and eye powers greatly.

Hopping on Lokthur's back, she flew back to Winterhold.

This all happened yesterday and she can accept it with an open mind. She arrived at Winterhold late and went to bed as no one was up when she came home but when she woke up, why on Nirn was there a tiny Gleam sleeping next to her?

***

*Between the Reach and Falkreath Holds - Black Bone Clan Hidden Cave*

Screams and wails echoed as blood and guts spilled on the ground. Many men were holding their shields up trying to protect the others behind them who controlled the undead. The Black Bone clan was being invaded and its men were being slaughtered.

None in the Black Bone clan could ever think that their family that held on for thousands of years and thrived in the late 200 years would face annihilation on this day. Their defenses crumbled and their ancestral cave was besieged.

The women and children managed to sneak away from the back of the cave and the men had to buy enough time for them to escape.

Ever since that chaos started in the Reach 3 months ago, those bloody Firemanes were bound to appear to look for their relative, Jon Dare. Still, not in anyone's wildest dreams could they imagine the most infamous Firemane to come knocking on their door without even asking questions.

It was her. The worst living killer among the clans, the [Bloody Hilda].

'What brought that nightmare here?'

Hilda was infamous with her bloodthirst. She killed many people following the events of the chase that Skyrim's clans cooperated with the Thalmor after her. Her vengeance was bloody and she dyed the sea with blood for five years until the Firemanes themselves had to put an end to it. Following these events, she was said that she has put down her axe and settled somewhere at the end of the world yet here she is, as bloody as twelve years ago and with her battleaxe at hand and her infamous crew that has sworn a blood oath to serve her and her family at her back.

She was that famous.

The only reason why they can think she would come for them was because of the attack they initiated at the Firemanes with Bloodsails more than a year ago. It was Jon Dare who managed to sabotage their plans back then so it was natural that they wanted vengeance and so they were visited by the Firemanes.

"Hrolf Black Bone! You know why I am here."

Hilda spoke and her voice echoed.

An elderly man wearing armor stepped forwards from the ranks of the defenders and the skirmish was halted.

"Bloody Hilda! I know why you are here. We don't have the Firemane boy. Leave us, damn you!" The man replied.

"If you don't have him then you know where he is. Why on Nirn did you mobilize your clansmen the day he disappeared. You are into that plot! Who's after it, you pile of old bones?" Hilda had her own scenario into her head.

"We didn't ambush they boy. We don't even have business with him. Ask the Forsworn, we only moved because they moved." Hrolf Black Bone was desperate. He knew the result of the fight.

"Don't make me get you, Black Bone. Say it or I am sending you all here to Oblivion."

"Lord Molag Bal as my witness, I didn't even know anything." Hrolf swore in his God's name.

The Black Bone clan was a Daedra worshipping hidden clan after all. Much like cults but less harmful because of the blood bonds that tie them.

"I don't care about your Daedra. Swear to me on your son's life." As she said so, Hilda's crew dragged a warrior in his thirties right beside Hilda.

It was Hrolf's son, Hjor. He was accompanying the women and children who escaped the siege.

"... No!" Hrolf's face turned ashen pale not trying to think of what happened to his clansmen that escaped.

"... Sorr… sorry, father. I got captured… the rest escaped."

"YOU FILTHY FIREMANES!"

Raising his sword, Hrolf didn't care anymore and ran towards Hilda.

She clicked her tongue and threw Hjor away to face Hrolf. Only three exchanges were enough to kill the old fool.

Hilda was depressed as she found no clue from the Black Bones.

"Last chance, whoever knows anything will save your doomed clan." Hilda said looking at the Black Bones.

The Black Bones' blood was boiling once their patriarch died. They didn't withstand the shame and raised their weapons one.

"For the patriarch!" "Save Hjor!" "Kill that bloody woman!"

They all charged at Hilda and her crew at once.

"Damn you!"

Hilda knew that she is now fighting a cornered beast and readied herself for a hard fight but suddenly, a fire stream came from behind them and landed on the Black Bones burning them in one go.

Screams and cries filled the place as they the men were burned to ash and the ones who survived ran for their lives.

Hilda looked behind her to see a large man in black cloak and hood with a flaming sword standing behind her crew.

"Leave us."

With one word from that man, Hilda's crow dispersed in a few seconds.

"Hilda, go home. You are just killing people." The man spoke.

"..." Hilda's face hardened and she shook her head.

"You can't stay here. You just gave birth a few months ago. Thor and Idun need you."

"I am not…" She wanted to say something but she stopped.

Her heart finally found happiness and she can't give it up that easily.

"Jonrad, I can't." The bloody beast from a while ago turned into a meek woman in front of her husband.

Jonrad shook his head with a sigh.

"You can't do anything like that. You are just starting fights, not looking for clues. Let Tyr and I handle that. We already have a lead."

"... Re-Really."

"Yeah. Merchants gave us a tip. A large man was seen jumping from a summit inhabited by Forsworn into a river. They say he flew for a bit before landing in the river then forcing one of them off a horse and taking it deep in the Reach. You know who loves to jump from high places so much, don't you? It's Jonhild, Hilda. Our son is okay and jumping off mountains."

Jonrad smiled as he pulled Hilda to his embrace and kissed her head.

She was tearful for a bit but she listened to him and walked with him out of the Black Bone cave.

Still, they made a single mistake. A very big one.

They didn't check for survivors and sure as hell, there was one.

Hjor son of Hrolf Black Bone was hiding under the rubble behind some corpses.

~~~~~~~~~~

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CREATORS' THOUGHTS
El_Don El_Don

Just in case if you were wondering why I let Jon get captured, this is the reason.

WAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!

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