Sedsha: Ambushed!

Vaesha and Sedric traveled through the wilderness bordering the Reach. Vaesha barely managing to keep up as she stopped every several feet to harvest some juniper berries as the land slowly gave way to the rocky environment that was the Reach. When they reached a fork in the road, Sedric unrolled a map, Vaesha peering over his shoulder on occasion as she picked away at a juniper bush. After several minutes of standing there, Vaesha scoffed, throwing her hands in the air, sending Juniper Berries everywhere.

“Don’t tell me you got us lost!” Vaesha exclaimed as the Juniper Berries pelted down on them.

Sedric let out a low growl and brushed off some berries that landed on him before looking at Vaesha with an intense glare “I didn’t get us lost you damn mongrel!” Sedric hissed “I am trying to prevent us from getting lost by making sure we are going the right way,” Sedric rolled up the map and used it to smack Vaesha on the top of her head “We’d be almost to the bloody tomb if you didn’t stop every time to stuff your satchel with juniper berries. We are out to gather artifacts, not Alchemy ingredients!” Vaesha gave him a pout, earning an eye roll.

“These aren’t for my alchemy, my dear, they are for Lòki. I promised I’d bring him back something useful, and juniper berries are useful” Vaesha responded as she patted her satchel.

“Would you stop calling me that, it makes me cringe each time I hear you say it,” Sedric said with a groan. Vaesha grinned in response “Damn it, now you won’t stop…” he groaned once more.

“Don’t worry my dear princess, I’ll only use it on special occasions” she said with a wink, leaning on his shoulder. Sedric shrugged her off and opened the map once more, turning his back to her so he could concentrate.

Vaesha looked around the area they were in. She felt an odd sensation the longer they lingered at the fork in the road. She passed it off as nerves however, the Demented were known as paranoid freaks back in the Shivering Isles.

“Looks like if we continue North-East we will reach the tomb by late afternoon,” Sedric said as he rolled up the map “provided you don’t stop to pick juniper berries with every step we take…” Sedric looked over his shoulder and motioned for Vaesha to continue.

“About time princess,” Vaesha said as she took two large steps so that she was beside him “my nerves were causing me to think that we are being watched,” Vaesha faked a shiver before giving him a wide grin. Sedric let out a heavy sigh and continued to press on.

******

“Sedric I’m hungry, when are we going to get something to eat?” Vaesha asked with a whine.

Sedric sighed and looked at her,

“We are almost to the tomb, I am sure you can survive until then,” he said as he continued.

Vaesha let out an audible groan, slumping forward as she dragged her feet,

“Look at me,” she said “I am practically wasting away here!” Vaesha puffed out her lip in a pout hoping he’d look at her again, but he didn’t “Please princess, do something, don’t let me die of starvation!” Vaesha said as she threw her arms in the air.

Sedric gripped the bridge of his nose as he tried to fight off a headache and to attempt to drown out Vaesha’s woes. With a heavy sigh he opened his mouth to say something to get her to stop, but instead her woes were cut short with a loud thump. Thinking she had thrown herself on the ground to mimic dying from starvation, he went to continue onward. As he took a step however, he side-stepped as he dodged a crossbow bolt. He turned to Vaesha to warn her that they were under attack, but he found her face first in the dirt, blood starting to pool around her. Sedric leapt to beside her and rolled her to her back.

“Don’t die on me Vaesha!” Sedric yelled as he tried waking her. After several frantic shakes, Sedric moved to slip his arms under her to lift her, as he was about to lift her however, he caught movement in the corner of his eye. Sedric shot to his feet, sword at the ready and spell at the ready “Come out and fight!” he growled as he launched an ice spike towards some shrubs.

He saw a blur of green jump from the shrubs and into the open, a bow in his hands with an arrow notched and ready. The attacker was an Argonian dressed in leather armor. Sedric narrowed his eyes at him,

“I know there are more of you,” he said with a growl.

The Argonian grinned,

“Well, aren’t you a smart one,” he said “I was sure that you wouldn’t have guessed so easily…” The Argonian lowered the arrow and threw his arm up into the air. Soon the area was surrounded by Dawnguard, crossbows loaded and ready to fire “I wouldn’t try running if I were you,” the Argonian said as Sedric began scanning the surrounding Dawnguardians.

Sedric chuckled,

“Who said anything about running?” he asked as he sheathed his sword “I’m just counting,” Sedric called upon all the Magicka he could as he summoned a powerful spell to the palms of his hands. He let out a roar as he let the magic go, causing a slight tremble in the earth as it shot outward, hitting the Dawnguardians, instilling them with fear.

Unable to resist the agents were compelled to run, allowing Sedric enough time to collect the still unconscious Vaesha and run to safety. With it being midday, he couldn’t transform without using up all his strength. Instead the better choice would to take the coward’s way out and run. He delved into his memory to remember where a nearby cave might be as he ran along the river. He came upon a small cove and decided it would be best to rest quickly before it was time to start moving again. He set Vaesha down on the ground before he began digging in her satchel for a Magicka potion so he could heal her.

“To Oblivion with these Juniper Berries!” Sedric hissed as he grabbed a handful and tossed them away “Fine, a lesser healing spell would have to suffice,” he muttered to himself as he brought his hand to where he could hardly manage to see the crossbow bolt in her abdomen. With a deep breath he yanked it out and quickly applied the restoration magic to her abdomen. The soft chiming of the spell soothing his nerves as it worked to mend her flesh to cease her bleeding. Once his Magicka had completely drained, he let out a heavy sigh “Why is it that every time I travel with you, we get into trouble?” he asked, despite the fact that she couldn’t answer.

After a few moments of sitting quietly, Sedric began to sense movement approaching fast. He let out a string of silent swears and leapt to his feet, scoping Vaesha back into his arms and started running again. He gazed over his shoulder momentarily and saw rapidly shrinking figures on the cliff above the cove where he once rested. He sighed in relief as he continued to push his legs to go faster until he reached the main road that is when he slowed his pace to a fast walk. Judging by his surroundings, he was almost to Markarth. Thankfully Kaisha had cleared their bounty from their last visit; otherwise he would have turned around to find someplace else to settle.

******

Vaesha awoke with a groan. As she moved to sit up, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, causing her to nearly cry out in pain.

“Be careful or my hours of healing would be for nothing!” a voice from the shadows hissed.

Vaesha looked around until she saw a figure holding a candle that cast an amber glow on the figure. As she strained her eyes, she saw it was Sedric, allowing her to relax slightly.

“I’m not in the Shivering Isles?” she asked in a hoarse voice.

Sedric remained silent and stepped further into the room, placing the candle down on a stone bedside table before sitting in a metal chair.

“No, you aren’t,” he answered “You are in Markarth, we are fortunate that Kaisha was here on business as Thane, otherwise we would be at the Inn…” Sedric crossed one leg over the other.

Vaesha groaned before closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she took notice that one of Sedric’s sleeves was torn; her vampiric eyes saw what appeared to be bandages underneath. She chuckled slightly,

“It would seem that our roles have switched,” she commented as she eased herself upwards. Sedric smiled briefly at her comment “What happened to your arm?” Vaesha asked as she motioned towards the tear in his sleeve. Sedric brought his opposite hand up to cover the tear in his sleeve before sighing heavily.

“Just as I reached the mine right before Markarth, a silver tipped crossbow bolt nicked my arm,” Sedric replied. Vaesha matched the expression that he made before she suddenly felt an overwhelming need to eat.

“I don’t suppose we have any blood to drink, I’m starving…” Vaesha said as she gently rested her arms over her abdomen.

“All we have are the potions,” Sedric answered as he rose to his feet and disappeared in the darkness. He returned after a few short moments with 2 elegant bottles in his hands. Vaesha faked gagging as Sedric sat back down and tried handing one to her. Sedric growled in response “This is all we have for sustenance. You better get used to it, because we are going to be here for a while,” Sedric said as he pulled the stopper from the bottle.

Vaesha looked to the bottle in Sedric’s hands, looking at it with uncertainty before sighing heavily. She pinched her nose and took a large gulp of the crimson liquid and swallowed it so the taste wouldn’t linger.

“Sheogorath’s Madness that’s vile!” Vaesha exclaimed as she shuddered from the bitterness of the liquid “How can you stand drinking something so vile?!” Vaesha asked as she saw Sedric calmly drink from his own vial.

“You learn to acquire a taste for it after a while,” Sedric said calmly before taking another sip “with the Dawnguard on our heels, this is the only thing we can eat that will provide strength,” Sedric sealed his bottle and placed it beside the slow burning candle.

“I rather eat mortal food,” Vaesha said as she looked to her bottle before sighing and taking another sip, not bothering to plug her nose. She shuddered and made a gagging sound once she swallowed, causing Sedric to chuckle.

“You act like a child being forced to eat their vegetables,” Sedric commented. Vaesha narrowed her eyes at him and placed her bottle off to the side so she could pout. Sedric reached forward and ruffled her hair “get some rest, and regain your strength,” Sedric rose to his feet. Vaesha smiled at Sedric, “Why thank you my dear…” she chuckled as she saw Sedric seize up slightly.

“Molag’s Balls you aren’t going to let that go, are you?” Sedric groaned.

“My dear Sedric, I would never think of forgetting something as important as that!” Vaesha said with a Cheshire grin. Sedric squeezed his eyes shut and sighed heavily before turning to leave the room.