When legends collides over a contract part 2
hi everybody, here's the part 2 of this story between my William and Sargemontclare character, Agatha.
hi everybody, as i said a week or so ago, i was working on a story about how my own character, William, and Sargemontclare character, agatha, would react if they ever meet each other, so as promised, here's the story of how two legends collides over a contract.
again a link to William rp background for those who want to read it https://www.reddit.com/r/MydailylifeinSkyrim/s/QTwPpMiryg
a link to the rp background of u/Sargemontclare character, Agatha posted in this subreddit for those who want to read it. https://www.reddit.com/r/MydailylifeinSkyrim/s/HB5HnTpEMM
for the screen, it is a letter written by Agatha to William (read the full story to get the context)
When legends collides over a contract
part 2 : resting at the inn
They head towards the Inn and go inside. The place is very lively. A drunkard is sitting at the bar muttering about the Great War, the place was crowded and the air was thick with the scent of mead, at the tables people were eating, drinking and chatting. William and Agatha finally spotted an empty table a little further away and sat down. A maid quickly arrived.
Waitress: Good evening travelers, welcome to the windpeak Inn. What can I get you?
William: I'll take a beef stew with a beer, please.
Agatha: I'll take steamed mudcrab legs with a bottle of Alto wine.
Waitress: Very well, your food will be ready in a few minutes. I'll bring your drinks.
She walked away and returned to the innkeeper at the bar.
Agatha: So, what's your story, William?
William: Oh, nothing too extraordinary. I was born in 174 of the present era, in a small, isolated village deep in the countryside of Skyrim.
Agatha: So you were born in Skyrim too? I was born in 181, in a village called Dragonwood near Windhelm.
William: Dragonwood? That tells me something.
Agatha: Don't tell me you were born there too?
William: No, I've never even been there, but I heard it was attacked by bandits a long time ago.
Agatha: That's right. To be more precise, it wasn't just a simple attack; the entire village was burned and massacred. There was only one survivor.
William: Sorry, perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it. I should have guessed...
Agatha: No, don't worry about it.
At that moment, the maid returns and gives William a bottle of beer and Agatha her bottle of Alto wine.
William: (to the maid) Thank you.
Agatha: (to the maid) Thank you. (She pours the bottle and takes a sip.) That night, I went into the surrounding woods. When I returned, I saw the village on fire. I ran home, and when I arrived, my parents had already been massacred, and two bandits were holding my sister, Valdis, hostage. I confronted and killed one of them after he did this to me (she shows the scars on the right side of her face). The second one... (a tear rolls down her cheek)
William: I think I can guess what happened next. You know, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.
Agatha: (composing herself and wiping away the tear before taking another sip of her wine) No, don't worry. It might seem strange, but it feels good to get this off my chest with you (she take another sip). After killing my family, these bandits held me prisoner for a while before selling me to a group of mercenaries, with whom I stayed until I was able to devise a plan to escape.
William: You said you had a sister, Valdis, is that right? (Agatha nods) What was she like, if you don't mind me asking?
Agatha: She was sweet and kind. We sometimes bickered, but we were inseparable and very close, she and I. You know how brothers and sisters usually are.
William: Yes, I see what you mean. I'm sorry about what happened to her. I hope I haven't opened old wounds with my curiosity.
Agatha: Thank you for asking, and no, don't worry, on the contrary, it's good to talk about it. Anyway, let's change the subject. Let's talk about you, William. You told me you were born in a small, isolated village in Skyrim?
William: Yes, to a Nordic father and a Breton mother.
Agatha: What were they like?
William: I didn't know them, they abandoned me in the woods when I was only three years old.
Agatha: (shocked) How awful! How could parents do that to their child?
William: Actually, it's a long story, one I only learned much later, being too young to remember it completely.(William takes a sip of his beer) To make a long story short, the inhabitants of the village i was born in was very hostile to magic and mages in general, they believed magic was the work of the Daedra and that mages were their worshippers. So when, as a Breton, I started developing magical talents, my parents were afraid the other villagers would shun them and kill me, so they decided to abandon me in the forest. Later, some bandits found me, and after I accidentally burned the face of one of them, they took me to their fortress. It's actually thanks to one of them that I have this (he points to the scar over his left eye). I then remember hearing the sounds of battle, followed by silence, before a man appeared, a tall Nord named Gudmundr. He opened the door of the cell where I was being held and took me in. He then raised me, fed me and trained me, and became an instructor, a comrade-in-arms, and a father to me.
Agatha: Where is he now?
William: He died of old age shortly after my 23rd birthday, four years ago.
Agatha: I'm sorry. What was he like, if you don't mind me asking?
William: He was a rather cold and harsh man, but loving nonetheless. When I was younger, I hated how harsh and cold he was towards me, i thought he didn't love me, but as I got older, I came to understand why. In professions like you and I have, we're often faced with difficult decisions or have to improvise, acting on the spur of the moment without time to think. And it's precisely because he loved me so much and wanted to toughen me up and prepare me, wich is why he was so harsh and cold towards me. (William gives a small smile) In all honesty, I think you would have appreciated it.
Agatha: I think so too.
The maid returns with two plates, which she gives to William and Agatha.
Agatha: Thank you.
She begins to eat her steamed mudcrab legs.
William: (to the maid) Thank you. Tell me, Agatha, when we briefly crossed swords, I noticed that you are very skilled with your weapon. Who trained you?
William begins to eat his beef stew.
Agatha: My father, and I also learned a few things from the mercenaries I was sold to. And you? I imagine it was Gudmundr who taught you everything?
Agatha takes another sip of Alto wine.
William: Yes, he taught me everything he could.
William takes a sip of beer.
Agatha: Since you mention it, I was wondering about that. Most of the Bretons I've met have a great aptitude for magic, but you seemed to use weapons more extensively.
William: It's quite simple, actually. Gudmundr was a pure Nordic warrior; he had absolutely no magical skills and even looked down on magic. So he taught me to rely primarily on my martial skills and equipment, and to consider my magical talents as a useful and practical aid, but one that shouldn't become indispensable. As he always told me, you can always find ways to neutralize a spell, but not martial knowledge.
Agatha: Wise words.
William: I think so too.
Agatha: Let's raise a glass to that then. To the wisdom of the ancients!
They both raise a glass.
William: To the wisdom of the ancients.
Agatha: I must admit I was surprised at the mound when you changed. You're not the kind of person I would have imagined to being werewolf. Were you born that way?
William: My adoptive father, Gudmundr, was a pureblood werewolf. I had the opportunity to witness the power that came with being a werewolf, so shortly before he died, I asked him to grant me that same power, and he agreed.
Agatha: So you're of pure blood. I see. That explains why you were able to control yourself in the mound.
William: That's right. And speaking of which, when you saw me transformed, I didn't feel any fear or disgust, unlike the few other people who have seen me in that form. How is that possible?
Agatha: It's simple, (she blinks, a werewolf pupil is visible in her right eye then blinks again, her pupil returning to normal)
William: That explains a lot then, why I didn't sense any fear from you. I remember when I saw you for the first time your smell did seem strangely familiar to me.
Agatha: Yes, that's because we give off a slightly different scent than other races.
William: what about you, Agatha? Were you born a werewolf or did you become one later?
Agatha takes a bite of steamed mudcrab leg and a sip of alto wine.
Agatha: I wasn't born this way, I became one when I joined the Companions.
William: I'd heard rumors about that, so it's true then? The Companions are werewolves?
Agatha: Not all of them, only the Circle. You know the Companions, I imagine?
William: Yes, I've heard of them, but haven't had the chance to meet them yet.
Agatha: You should join them; I'm sure you'd enjoy yourselves among them.
William: I thought about it after Gudmundr's death, but the Companions are a large group and are based in Whiterun. I, on the other hand, am more of a lone wolf who doesn't like having to answer to anyone or settle down anywhere.
Agatha: I understand, but you should consider it. Everyone is his own man and woman in the companions.
The maid returns to them.
Maid: Do you need anything else?
William: No, that's perfect, thank you.
She walks away, giving William a tender smile, which Agatha notices.
Agatha: I have a feeling she likes you. I think you're exactly the kind of man she'd dream of having as a husband.
William: (while briefly glancing at the maid, busy filling pints of beer at the counter) She seems like a very nice woman, but I almost got married once, and it was a disaster, so even though the circumstances would surely be different, I'd rather not do it again, at least not for now.
Agatha: You were married? Interesting. Who was the lucky lady?
William: Engaged, actually, but as for the lucky lady, believe me, you don't want to know.
Agatha: (surprised) Why not?
William: Because it happened during a night of heavy drinking, and it's a bit embarrassing, so believe me, it's best you don't know any more.
Agatha: It's too late for that, you've already said far too much! So, who was the lucky lady?
William: (sighs) Okay, if you really want to know, it was... a hagraven.
Agatha bursts out laughing, nearly choking on her wine.
Agatha: Are you serious?
William: I know it sounds crazy, but I assure you, I’m completely serious.
Agatha: But how on Nirn did you end up engaged to a hagraven?
William: Engaged, not married, and it's a very long story.
Agatha: Go ahead and tell me! It's far too ridiculous not to share!
William: (sighs again) Okay, so it all started a few months ago when I met a jolly fellow at the Bannered Mare in Whiterun. He said his name was Sam Guevenne, and he challenged me to a drinking contest to win a mage's staff. I thought it was a fun idea and i didn't have any contracts to fulfill at the time. We downed a few tankards together... and then I woke up the next morning in the Temple of Dibella in Markarth.
Agatha: Markarth? That's halfway across Skyrim from Whiterun!
William: I know. Having absolutely no memory of what happened during the night or how I ended up there, I tried to find Sam and piece together what had transpired. Believe me, it was more than memorable. I started by asking one of the temple priestesses what had happened. While yelling at me, she explained that I'd arrived at the temple in the morning, completely drunk, shouting about a wedding and a goat in Rorikstead, before I started defiling the statue of Dibella.
Agatha: A goat? (She laughs harder) This story is getting juicier by the second! Keep going!
William: If you think that's juicy, it’s far from over. I set off toward Rorikstead to find out what this business about marriage and a goat was all about. There, I ran into a farmer who was furious with me. He claimed I had kidnapped his prize goat, Gleda, during the night and sold her to a giant. I had to get the goat back for him, and in exchange, he told me I’d left a note about a debt I owed to Ysolda in Whiterun. When i got to Whiterun, Ysolda explained that I owed her money for a wedding ring I’d given to a woman I’d met in Kynesgrove, whom I was apparently planning to marry. I traveled to the grove, and that's where I saw my "fiancée." She was a hagraven named Moira.
Agatha: You didn't...
William: By all the gods, no! Thankfully! I retrieved Ysolda's wedding ring from her and brought it back. In exchange, Ysolda revealed that the ceremony was supposed to take place in Morvunskar. I went there, and that's where I finally learned the truth. Sam Guevenne was none other than the Daedric Prince Sanguine.
Agatha: Sanguine? You actually met a Daedric Prince?
William: I don't trust Daedra, or even the Divines, for that matter. What happened with Sanguine was an accident. I only discovered at the very end that "Sam" was a Prince, and that he’d dragged me into that drunken night against my will just for a laugh. In any case, the misadventure wasn't for nothing. After revealing his true nature, he confessed he’d had a great deal of fun and gave me his staff, the Sanguine Rose, as a thank-you.
Agatha: (Her laughter barley containted) By the Divines... a night of heavy drinking and a marriage proposal to a hagraven. That sound like a really wierd adventure William.
William: I told you it was completely insane.
Agatha: I believe you. And speaking of the staff, do you still have it?
William: Not anymore. Each time I used it, I noticed one of the petals on the flower at the end would fall off. The day the last petal fell, the staff suddenly disappeared. I assume it went back to its owner. Anyway, it's better this way. Whether it's the Divines or the Daedra, I prefer to have nothing to do with them.
Agatha: I can understand that regarding the Daedra, but why the Divines as well?
William: Because whether they are Divines or Daedra, they never do anything for free. There's always a catch, a price to pay. You don't get something for nothing in this world. It’s a very dangerous game to be indebted to a god.
Agatha: That’s not a bad point, I suppose.
William: Agatha, may I ask you a personal question?
Agatha: It depends, but go ahead.
William: Nothing extraordinary, I assure you. I was simply wondering if you had someone in your life you cared about.
Agatha: You mean if I'm married or seeing someone? (William nods) Well, I've had my share of fleeting adventures, a few seasoned warriors and mercenaries, but never anything serious. And you?
William: Like you, I've had my share of short-lived flings with maids or village girls. But I did have one very serious, passionate relationship for several months once.
Agatha: What was her name?
William: Her name was Valerica. She was a vampire.
Agatha: You had a romantic relationship with a vampire? First a Hagraven and now a nightstalker, you have quite the taste in women.
William: Yes. I know what you're thinking, but not all vampires are sadistic monsters who see other races as cattle. It's rare, but some simply try to lead normal lives and find ways to feed without harming the innocent. Valerica was one of them.
Agatha: How did you meet her?
William: I met her in High Rock in 4E 193, when I was only nineteen. Gudmundr and I had seen a notice from a woman claiming to need a mercenary to track down a vampire. We paid her a visit, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn't immediately drawn to her. She was stunning: fiery red hair braided into an elegant chignon, pale skin, bright green eyes, and a flawless face, save for a small beauty mark just below the left corner of her deep red lip. She always wore a long, elegant green dress with a brown leather corset over it.
Agatha: She sounds beautiful.
William: You have no idea. Gudmundr and I spoke with her, and she told us her story. To keep it short, she had been a simple alchemist who was bitten by a vampire over a century ago. Her life was ruined, and she had spent years trying to track down the one who turned her, but she only had a few scattered leads. She needed mercenaries to help her explore them. Gudmundr accepted the contract, and she traveled with us for several months. We spent more and more time together, and a very intense relationship developed. It lasted for quite a while, until one day, she decided to end it.
Agatha: Did she tell you why?
William: Yes. She explained that it was because of her past. She had once watched the man she loved grow old while she remained young. At his request, she had transformed him into a vampire so they could stay together forever. But unlike her, he became a monster, and she was forced to kill him. She told me I reminded her of him. That was why she loved me so intensely, but it was also why she feared history would repeat itself. She couldn't bear to watch me grow old and die, nor could she risk turning me and watching me become a monster.
Agatha: That's truly sad. I imagine it must have been terrible for you. I hope my curiosity didn't rub salt in the wound.
William: No, everything's fine, don't worry. It was difficult for the first few months afterward, but I've turned the page now.
(Agatha takes the last sip of Alto wine from her bottle while William finishes his beer. Agatha smiles at William, looking him deep in the eyes.)
Agatha: You know, William, I'm not one to beat around the bush, so I'll be frank. You're a good person. You're an honest, brave man, and you’re incredibly kind and thoughtful. It's not something I'm used to. I won't lie, i like this very much. I like you very much. I was hoping the feeling was mutual.
(William smiles back at her warmly.)
William: Well, allow me to be just as honest with you, Agatha. I think we have a lot in common. You're a good woman, sincere and honorable, not to mention very beautiful. It would be a lie to say I wasn't attracted to you.
(Agatha’s smile brightens. She leans across the table, brings her face close to his, and kisses him on the lips.)
William: So... what do we do now?
Agatha: (whispering in his ear) I might have a few ideas. Why don't we start by getting a room?
William: I'm right behind you.
A few minutes later, the door to one of the inn's rooms burst open. William and Agatha entered, embracing and kissing passionately. Still kissing, Agatha untied the strap holding William's claymore to his back and tossed it into a corner. She began removing his armor piece by piece, while William did the same for her.
Agatha pushed William against the wall, pulling his shirt off and discarding it carelessly. William, in turn, unwound the bandages Agatha wore beneath her armor before gently pushing her onto the bed.
Several hours later, the next morning, William woke up in the bed. He turned his head and saw that Agatha was gone. He got up and began to dress, noticing a note lying on the table near the bed. He picked it up and read the farewell message Agatha had left for him. He smiled, tucked the note into his bag, and left the inn to continue his journey across the frozen wilds of Skyrim.
The End.