Entry posted by Stanoth in TES V: Skyrim - Lucille's journey
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INFAMY
A couple of days later. I had decided to leave Angi's place, she had helped me enough and I was feeling much better, ready to head back to Falkreath. That is... If I stopped sleeping like a log.
My gracious host rudely awoke me from my slumber, by tickling my feet. I didn't know how she knew, but it made me react instantly.
"Time to wake up, Lucille! Oh well, these soles are quite sensitive, aren't they?"
"Ahahah! Please stop, your nails..."
"Are perfectly suited for this? Of course!"
Once Angi had finished playing with me, she got up and started talking about the day:
"When you've finished daydreaming and yawning, join me downstairs. I left an outfit for you in the dresser, so you should be fine."
"Here I am! How do I look?"
"You look great, it suits you! I've been thinking about your collar situation. There's a blacksmith, an old man, back in my former village, Helgen. Send him my regards and I'm sure he'll remove it in a flash!"
"Wow! I owe you big time. Thanks again Angi."
"I have a little extra something for you Lucille, follow me."
"Before you leave, take my old hunting bow and some arrows. This way, you'll have something to remember our time together."
"I really like the gesture! You're such a sweet person Angi. I'll put it to good use in my adventures!"
"Ha, I'm sure you will! Thanks for staying by my side all week, it was nice to have you around, someone I can now call a friend."
"Safe travels Lucille, feel free to come back, my door will always be open for you!"
"Take good care of yourself Angi! We'll meet again, I'll stop by someday!"
I set off for Helgen, a few hours' walk to the east. The mountain path was a little longer, but safer. It's the route my Nordic friend had advised me to use.
I arrived in Helgen in the afternoon. It was the first settlement just over the border with Cyrodiil, which explained the presence of imperial Legion soldiers guarding the streets. I could hear sounds of hammering on an anvil, my intended stop.
"Hi, can I ask you to do something for me? See this collar? I need you to get it off me. I can pay you, and I'm here on behalf of a friend... Angi, who praised your work."
"Oh Angi... I'm glad to hear she's still around! I can help you with that thing around your neck. It looks like ebonite so it should take me about ten minutes to pull it off."
Once the old blacksmith's work was done, he didn't charge me. I left him the collar so that he could use the material to his heart's content. Free at last! I no longer had that pressure on my neck, and I could feel my magic flowing inside me. Bashnag's curse was lifted! Speaking of him, I had to go to the jarl of Falkreath to receive my bounty.
I took another route through the forest back to Falkreath. A guard was stationed at this large village gate, bored out of his mind. He did, however, have a watchful eye on me.
"You! Wait! I've seen your face before..."
"I doubt it, sir, it's my first time visiting this place. I guess I've got one of those faces you recognize everywhere..."
"Mmm, maybe... No! You're lying! I know who you are!"
You could say my bluff has been called.
The guard drew his sword from its sheath, quickly joined by another patrol.
"You're wanted for theft, burglary and assault on Skyrim citizens. You're under arrest, I suggest you come quietly without causing a scene."
"Alright, I surrender, no need to get rough."
"Smart move. All your belongings will be confiscated until your sentence is over. Let's go."
Back to square one. Captive of the Imperial Legion, in rags, already used by the bloodstains on them, and barefoot obviously. The soldier shackled and gagged me and then led me into the dungeon's depths. I had no choice but to comply.
I was forced down on my knees facing the captain and someone else.
"Is this the thief who escaped from Whiterun? Good thing we caught her. Listen Breton, you have no rights here, you're being held as a prisoner of war, which means we can keep you and interrogate you as we see fit. The man next to me, the torturer's assistant, will handle your case."
"Lovely girl... I have an idea for her."
The assistant led me into one of the dungeon's common rooms and chained me to a post in an upside-down position. He proceeded to run his hand over my exposed belly. I tried to hide my shame as hard as I could.
"It's not often I see such hot prisoners like you... A bit ticklish, eh? Don't worry, we won't use it for your questioning. I'll be back in a few hours to transfer you into a cell so behave yourself, okay?"
My infamy had caught up with me. I spent some days in a dirty cell that tarnished my skin. From the corridor, I could hear Stormcloak soldiers being tortured until I was next in line.
"Get up Breton, you're going in the wall shackles today."
"Go to hell, you pig!"
"How rude... Guess I'll have to gag you too."
I met the torturer himself, an old hooded man. He contemplated me with a grin on his face, looking at my predicament.
"Well, what do we have here? A pretty young thieving girl. In your best interest, you'll confess who you work for and who your associates are. When I'm done with the others, I'll deal with you, so rest easy while you still can!"
When the time came, I was moved into a cage inside the torturer's room by his assistant. My hands and feet tightly bound, I could only watch helplessly as my fate befell me.
"Soon you'll be hanging in the middle of this room, your limbs chained to the floor and ceiling. How long that lasts is up to you, because the torturer won't stop until he has all your secrets."
And there I was, locked in an impossible position to escape from. Worst of all, I didn't have any info to give. I made my move alone, solely out of personal gain. There was no way the torturer would believe my words.
"So Breton... Which will it be, the easy or the hard way? I've got all day and plenty of mana to burn!"
"I did this all by myself! Take it or leave it, I don't give a damn, screw you old man!"
"Oh, a tough one! To be honest, I prefer when my prisoners resist, it's so much fun to break them!"
The torturer cast his spark spell with one hand. Despite my natural ability to resist magic, I could feel the pain spreading through my chest. And the way I was shackled, I had no other choice but to endure it until the old man decided to call a truce.
I didn't know how long that first burst of lightning went on, but I felt in pretty weak shape. Between the lack of energy and the chains holding me together, I wasn't going to last another round of torture...
"Are you ready to talk, Breton? I want your partners' names. If you won't tell me, I'll have to use both hands..."
"I worked alone! I swear, I barely know anyone in Skyrim!"
"Still committed to this story version? You made your choice, so be it."
The torturer repeated his spark spell, the amplified variant. The pain had moved from my torso to my arms and legs. As for my shackled hands and feet, with the metal as an electric conduit... It was excruciating. When I began to feel it rising to my head, I gradually fainted until I blacked out.
"Did our Breton friend say anything?"
"She resisted and repeated that she had done it on her own. I believe her, but she's hiding something else, I'm sure. When she wakes up, I'll make her confess."
"No need, change of plan. Ulfric Stormcloak will be with us shortly, so we need to clear the dungeon. Tell your assistant to secure the prisoner. A patrol will escort her to Falkreath prison, where she'll serve out a sentence for her thieving crimes."
"Yes, Captain! Such a pity to get rid of her so soon... She had great willpower."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Yeah, Lucille has a gift for being in the wrong place at the wrong time... But at least she isn't collared anymore! And despite the minor detour, she will be heading back to Falkreath! Not willingly and in a prison cell, true... But those are mere details for a resourceful Breton like her!
Such as pleading her case with Bashnag's clash... Or having a bard friend to help her out...
In any case, Lucille already knows her next stop, Markarth's city. That's where she'll learn more about her family's past. And possibly... New encounters or new magic spells.
Edited by Stanoth
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