SiNNeR Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Another glance around the room following another empty mug. Another frustratingly friendly smile from the wench as she walked over with his next drink. Another dose of her depressingly cheerful banter and her sickly sweet cheap mead. He tossed a coin onto the table, landing in his empty mug. She gave an insufferably cheerful giggle as she fished it out of, wiping the dregs onto her apron. Another miserable little tavern in another miserable little town on another miserable day but these hollow-headed, easily amused fools refused to share his misery. His life wasn’t supposed to be like this. A year ago he’d been in Solitude, a student at the Bard’s college who was showered in praise more often than in snow. How fast things can change and how fragile the future can be. His pride had taken him to Solitude but his shame had brought him south.Another hush descended and again all eyes and ears waited on the bard. A pretty young thing, she lifted her instrument but it wasn’t the strings of her lute that her fingers played, instead they brushed across his heart as the haunting beauty of her voice caressed his ears. With a beer in handThe thieves did standCheering a toast to their healthThe cat downed her beerAnd she said with good cheerThe next round is on the elf It wasn’t a song you heard often, he’d only met a few bards who still knew it and none of them would play it again. He’d sometimes hear of bandits singing snippets of it but none who knew all the words. It was the song he’d written, it was his shame. With the beers all drankThe Elf’s heart sankAs he handed over the coinsThe nord made a toastAnd he yelled out a boastAs the drunk cat eyed his loins He remembered when he’d first tested his words on an audience of his fellow students. Let them keep their epic ballads, he’d known the best way for his words to spread across Skyrim wasn’t with some historically inaccurate love story but with a simple drinking song. With three beers downThe orc did frownAnd bid the elf goodbyeFor none could know‘Twas not or showAnd someone had to die He’d dreamed that one day he’d walk into a random inn, some place he’d never heard of before, to hear strangers singing his song. He let out a roarAs the elf fell to the floorThen he snapped the neck of the nordAs the orc grabbed her hairThe cat leapt out her chairAnd she whipped out a hidden sword It was his own fault really. He could have written something simple, he should have written something simple. Instead, despite his plans, he found himself writing a story. The orc downed one last beerAnd he said with a sneerThe treasure will all be mineShe knew that his knifeCould cost her a lifeBut that cat she had nine It was supposed to condemn the treacherous nature of bandits but the college claimed it romanticised and celebrated their thefts and backstabbing. He’d left in shame when he’d heard that the very people it was supposed to criticise had taken it as an ode to their heroism. As the cat dodged his bladeThe orcs courage did fadeAnd slowly gave way to fearThe cat slashed his throatThen brushed off her coatAnd ordered another beer The small crowd cheered their drunken approval but the bard had eyes only for him. She ordered drinks and took a seat at his table.“You don’t remember me, do you?” she asked.“Of course I do,” he smiled. “I’d forget my own name before I forgot your face.”“Liar!” she teased. “You barely noticed me at the college. I noticed you though.”The barmaid brought over the drinks and this time he returned her smile. He’d finally found what he’d been searching for. Another walk along another road on another day. His misery had been merely momentarily misplaced last night. One more bard who knew his song but would never sing it again. He wondered how long before they found her body. A little less of his shame in the world, but what of the drunken fools who’d heard her? He could only hope that they were too full on drink for the words to fill their memory. After all, he thought as another caravan of captured rebels passed by, it wasn’t as if he could silence everyone in Helgen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maharg67 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Disturbing but interesting! A story of madness? I look forward to more such works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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