Entry posted by Stanoth in TES V: Skyrim - Lucille's journey
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REVELATION (PART 2)
Outside, we were greeted by a stormy day, with grey clouds and drizzling rain. Not exactly the ideal conditions when carrying a yoke and shackled feet... I looked at the sky nervously before my captor brought my attention back to earth.
"Hey, stop zoning out! We have a few hours' walk ahead of us. The good news is, we're unlikely encounter anyone on the road, so let's hurry!"
Call me crazy, but I had no reason to escape. Not only because I cared about my toes, but mainly because the female Orc would lead me to the Eclipse, my potential mother. Provided I could survive the journey itself along with the rain and dirt covering my body.
"Are you still behind, Breton? Good, keep walking. Must be pretty hard with your bare feet, ha ha ha!"
"If I may ask, where are you taking me?"
"Riften. A place for criminals and illegal trade. With all the trouble you caused, the Butcher lost big time, so he tasked me to sell you off."
"Wait, what? I thought you were supposed to bring me to the Eclipse?"
"Actually, if you remember correctly, it was a chance to meet her. She participates in these auctions quite often, so maybe she'll feel sorry for you and become your new owner!"
A little further along the trail, noises came from a fallen tree. The female Orc pinned me against the rock so we could hide. The action caught me off guard, and I let out a small grunt of pain.
"Quiet, Breton! There's a bear hiding from the rain. As long as we don't get too close, it won't attack us. Come on, lets take a detour!"
We passed on the left side, near a small pond where I followed closely in my captor's footsteps. I realized how right she had been earlier: bound and helpless as I was, I didn't stand a chance of surviving the dangers of the wild.
"How's it going back there? You look scared."
"Of course I am! I feel so vulnerable in my current state!"
"Nothing will happen to you while I'm around. Keep going, we have to climb back up that slope."
Getting back on trail exhausted me. I collapsed on a boulder to catch my breath while the Orc scouted to make sure the bear remained hidden in its temporary den.
"What are you doing? Get up, there's still some walking to do!"
"Wait... Just a second... Too tired..."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not buying it. Don't make me drag you along for the rest of the way!"
I struggled to get back on the road, moving more slowly thanks to how heavy my foot shackles felt. I drank a few raindrops to stay hydrated, while my captor halted at a fork to point out the correct direction.
"Let's turn right, we're more than halfway through. Hurry up, Breton!"
"See that fort behind us? Bandits stormed it weeks ago. If I wasn't supposed to bring your ass to Riften, you'd be a tasty catch for them!"
"Bite me! I'm sick of your mockery!"
"Good, keep that defiant attitude of yours cause it won't last much longer..."
"You'll pay for this someday!"
The female Orc chuckled at my last reply and carried on with her pace. Somehow, I couldn't blame her. Nobody would take a defeated prisoner seriously. I stayed at her heels despite the yoke's numbing effect and my sore dirty feet. I looked at the grove on the horizon, hoping to cross it without running into any danger.
Needless to say, we ran into big trouble. A bear lived in that grove and wasn't too keen on letting us pass. I was petrified by its howls so loud and close, fearing I might end up as its next meal. Fortunately, my captor knew how to react: she shielded me against the rocky wall and calmed me down with a game plan.
"Get a grip, Breton! I'll lure the bear further away to fight it while you find somewhere to hide and stay low. We'll get through this, I promise! On my signal..."
From my concealed spot behind a mound of leaves and rocks, I could observe the female Orc fighting off the bear in open ground. She held her own, fending off the paw strikes with her greatsword and even managed to harm it. However, the wounded bear roared, attracting another of its kind, rushing straight at my captor. I had to step in despite my predicament.
The second bear caught the Orc off guard, leaving her in a difficult situation. No matter her skill as a warrior, if she were to die, I would soon join her. So, I decided to tread carefully, taking cover behind a tree. I regained my composure and focused until something burned inside me, my survival instinct. Skooma's effects started to wear off and wouldn't block my magic use anymore. Now I could strike back!
I started running as fast as my shackled feet would allow, channeling every ounce of magical energy within me. I couldn't aim at the bears because of the yoke, but I surely could create a thunderstorm between them. And with the rain, the damages would be much higher. It was my improvised plan, a desperate move to save the female Orc, lying wounded and disarmed on the ground.
"Move away! Here I come!"
Leaping between the bears, I unleashed all my lightning magic. Such a devastating magical blast I had never cast before, all my mana drained away in a split second. My shouts were a mix of pain and rage, fuelling my efforts to defeat those beasts.
My landing was rough, but I was so depleted that I fell unconscious. Just before I fully passed out, I felt a warm hand on my head and heard a familiar voice speaking:
"It was a bold move, Breton. You saved my life, I won't forget it."
I woke up, overcome with panic and exhaustion. The rain had stopped, and I felt relieved, freed from a weight, with the yoke and the shackles on my feet gone. Instead, the female Orc's hand covered mine, holding me next to her. She then began to talk to ease my mind.
"Welcome back, Breton! Everything's fine, we're safe and almost arrived. I had to take off your restraints so I could carry you. And judging by your condition, it looks like I'll have to pick you up again."
"You saved my life earlier and you have my gratitude, but unfortunately, I still have to turn you in. It's not personal, just business."
"I get it, but can I ask you a favor?"
"Well, I guess you earned it, tell me what it is."
"Please let the Eclipse know that Lucille is looking for her, that's all!"
"Alright Lucille. I, Gharol, will pass on your wish."
We entered the city of Riften, where Gharol escorted me to a deserted neighborhood. She stopped and dropped me off in front of a door with posters advertising the sale and trade of slaves, supposedly illegal in Tamriel. I was anxious about it but too worn out to resist.
"It's not exactly the ideal situation for you, and it's natural to be worried, Lucille. But you brought this on yourself. Now face it like the tough woman you are!"
We descended into a dark underground cellar and were greeted by a female Dunmer who seemed to be acquainted with my captor. She pushed me forward, forcing me onto my knees. I was so weak that I simply let it happen.
"Gharol! What have you brought me today? She doesn't look like your usual bandit or hag."
"In fact, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I want her ready for tomorrow afternoon's auction. Can that be arranged?"
"Sure, she'll make an excellent closing sale!"
The guard escorted me to a cell where she restrained me with my hands locked overhead and my feet firmly secured to the ground. Gharol stayed behind to watch before sharing her final words with me.
"Look Lucille, I'll let the Eclipse know about your auction. I give you my word!"
"Yeah, thanks... Please go away and just leave me alone."
The next day, in the underground slave market of Riften.
I was stripped naked to be washed, had my hair cut, and shackled in a cell to witness the auction. They also fitted me with a golden collar that completely blocked my magical powers, along with a wooden gag to keep me quiet. Soon I would become a slave, and there was nothing I could do to prevent it, except pray for the Eclipse to put an end to this madness.
The guard at the door released me and put handcuffs around my wrists, then instructed me to get on the stage. With the collar around my neck and its calming effect, I had no choice but to comply. It didn't stop me from expressing my repulsive anger about the audience, who went wild upon my appearance, the final prize of the day.
I got chained up on stage to be displayed for the open bidding. Standing fully naked in front of this crowd with my arms and legs spread out, I felt so exposed... Even more so when the auctioneer began to fondle my breasts and tickle me slightly, hence my startled reaction.
"Last prize of the day, lot number 768110! Check out this gorgeous Breton beauty in her twenties, folks! She's in great shape with a stunning body and firm breasts! Oh, she seems ticklish... Sorry about that! Bidding starts at 1,000 gold coins."
I could see Gharol in the audience, indifferent and detached from the spectacle unfolding before her eyes: my own auction. The bids rolled in, first 2,000 gold coins offered by a Wood Elf hunter, then rising to 3,000 gold coins from a Redguard Alik'r warrior. Both offers were outbid by a nobleman upstairs who proposed 4,000 gold coins before an Altmer Thalmor Elf also entered the fray with 5,000 gold pieces on my ass.
"6,000 gold coins offered by the gentleman upstairs but I hear 7,500 gold coins from the elven lady! 7,500 going once, 7,500 going twice..."
"10,000 gold coins for this woman."
"Whoa, one of the most expensive bids ever received here! 10,000 going once, going twice... Sold! To bidder 837372, and we thank you!"
My fate was sealed, sold to a stranger who paid a fortune for my ass...
I was escorted back to the underground entrance where Gharol stood waiting with handcuffs and a blindfold she held out in front of me.
"Here, you must wear this, orders from your new owner. I will then take you to meet this person."
"Who is it? The Eclipse?"
"Sorry, Lucille, I can't tell you anything. Just obey."
Gharol guided my steps to an unknown destination. Despite being blindfolded, I could smell the water nearby and feel the damp wood beneath my feet but my bearings were completely thrown off, just like my walking.
"You're doing great, we're almost there."
"Very funny... You're not the one naked and blind in a foreign city!"
"As promised, here is your purchase. It has been a great honor to work with you, ma'am!"
"Thank you, Gharol. You will be paid in the next few days. Now, would you please take off her blindfold?"
That voice... An echo from my past. Could it be who I thought it was? I gathered enough courage to voice my assumption:
"Mo... Mother?"
Once I could use my eyes again, seeing that elderly woman staring at my face brought back memories. This revelation removed any doubt I had, she was definitely my mother.
"Hi Lucille, it's been a while, hasn't it? I hear you've been quite the troublemaker, always getting herself into some kind of predicament. Luckily, as your parent, it's my job to help you with that. Shall we get started?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Here we are, the highly anticipated moment: Lucille and her mother are finally reunited! Sure, she's also her mistress, but still!
I plan to develop this new character in the upcoming chapters. And you'll see, you'll find her quite entertaining!
2026 will continue at the same pace, one chapter per month at least, while I still have ideas. And trust me, there are still plenty of places and characters left to explore!
Edited by Stanoth
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