The Soul of the Dragon; An Elder Scrolls fanfic

[A Pink Cheetah]

Chapter 1: The Decision

Clavicus Vile twiddled his thumbs, his dog, Barbas, had his head resting on Vile's lap. Standing directly in front of him was Azura, beautiful as always. It was her beauty that had him stuck where he was, in Moonshadow, her Daedric realm. "So, what do you want to do?" He asked nervously. He was never nervous. But he knew that Azura had been watching him in the several thousand years that they had known each other, and the other Daedric Princes had been watching as well, but none so closesly as Hermaeus Mora, sitting on a stool not ten feet from Clavicus. He chuckled to himself. "Well now, you can always just make it vanish." He suggested "But then... the others would know of such an occurance." He chuckled again, a slight, bubbling laughter that was highly inappropriate for this situation. "This child can't just be made to vanish. I see a future in him that will save most of our very existences if he should live. And if he were to not exist, then we would all be forgotten. Save one, of course. I say... We make a deal." Azura suggested, her hands on her lower stomach. "A deal? I like deals. What kind of deal?" Clavicus asked, his sudden worry that the other other Daedric Princes would find out immediately vanished as a mention of his favorite hobby was brought up. "That will be your choice, Clavicus. However, the deal must be made with a woman who has the strength to bear the child of two Daedra, leastwise Daedra as powerful as we are. You may leave. Hermaeus, you however, will not. Not until I've talked to you privately." Azura said, dismissing Clavicus from her realm. "Oh goody. A secret conversation." Was the last thing that Clavicus heard before returning to his own Daedric realm, Barbas with him. "Well then... Barbas?" Clavicus asked turning to his companion. "Let me guess. You want me to 'sniff' out a suitable wish for someone who wants power, or something like that." Barbas replied, sighing to himself. "I'll get right on it." Barbas then disappeared, searching for the appropriate woman to raise his master's child.

Clavicus walked into his room and started, surprised at the sight of Sheogorath lying on his bed. "When you find that which you seek, what kind of deal will you bless her with? Only the partridge knows. Hehehe...." Sheogorath giggled, sitting up. "And yes, I know what happened, but don't worry, no one bothers with the ravings of the Prince of Madness. Ahahahaha!" He said, jumping off of Clavicus' bed, his cane in hand. Clavicus had always been envious of Sheogorath. Whereas Clavicus' tricks brought bits of fun that lasted days, weeks, or even months if he was lucky, Sheogorath always had his fun lasting for years. "I know where your mongrel can search for the perfect bearance of yours and the Twilight's child, but I don't know where it is, only when it is." Sheogorath said, his words barely making sense to Clavicus. "Sheogorath, you're rambling again. You said that you know where, but then you didn't know where and only when?" Vile asked, crossing his arms and glaring at the Mad Prince. "Did I now? I don't remember saying that at all. I do know the name, but not her given name. I don't remember a when or a where though, because I don't know such things." Sheogorath chuckled to himself again before bursting out in full on laughter. "Ok, old man. Listen to me. I'll cut you a deal. You tell me the person, and I'll tell you the whereabouts of three people who wish for excellent musical talent, pure sanity, and happiness. Surely you can help them find these things, seeing as you do what you do."

"Oh, sorry lad, but it'll require more than- did you say three? I'll take two and it's a deal." Sheogorath said.

Chapter 2: The Deal

Salindrel sighed, staring at her husband's sleeping body. She had been a Breton soldier in the Imperial Legion, and had gained fortune afterward by adventuring before settling down, but she had, so far, been unable to become pregnant. Which is why she had been mulling over the deal that Clavicus Vile had offered her two weeks beforehand. Barbas, who had followed her after her encounter with the Daedric Prince to watch her, was lying at the foot of the bed. "Barbas." Salindrel finally said to the dog, sitting up. "Mmmrph. I'm trying to sleep, woman...." The dog answered back, opening one eye. "It was hard enough when you two we-" "I accept the offer." She cut Barbas off, turning her eyes up to the ceiling. "Well then, normally, I'd be on my way right now, but I'm sleepy, so you'll have to wait for me to go on my walk in the morning to tell him that." Barbas replied, closing his open eye.

When Salindrel woke up the next morning, Barbas was sitting next to her side of the bed, staring at her. "Get some clothes on and come on. You need to meet them." Barbas said, turning around to leave the room. Salindrel looked to the other side of the bed, and, seeing that Maximus was still asleep, got up and put on her best clothes, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of two Daedric Princes. She quickly ran after Barbas who was already a little ways down the road, toward where she first met Vile and the dog. As she approached the clearing, Salindrel paused, stunned by the beauty before her. "M-m-my Lady Azura, I apologize. I didn't think that it would be you-" Salindrel stammered, immediately bowing down in respect for the Queen of Twilight, the Mother of Roses. "No need to apologize, child. Come, you know of the deal?" Azura beckoned, smiling softly at Salindrel. "Yes, my Lady." She responded, standing up. "I... I gain your child for the loss of my husband." She responded, balling her hands into fists. "Don't worry, child. His soul will be safe in Moonshadow. My realm. And your child will be watched over by Barbas. That way, we can ensure his and your safety." Azura said. "Now come here. Accept my gift of life." Salindrel hesitated, and then fell into Azura's open arms, quickly falling asleep at her warm embrace. "Sleep well. You'll need the strength in the coming months...." Were the last words that Salindrel heard before falling asleep.

(Will continue later.)