(Chapter 27) Solitude's Exodus

The stench of sweat and blood filled the air as we stood before the towering obsidian gate, its once-threatening aura now empty. I couldn't help but feel amazed to know that our efforts had succeeded in closing the Oblivion gate from the inside. My heart raced with exhilaration, though my body ached from the intense battle. Taking this moment to shift back to normal as my ears and fangs returned to normal size. While my eyes shifted from Red back to ice blue. Thankfully, it seemed I still had some mana left as I reactivated my crown, causing my ears to look human again.

"Ellehish, are you alright?" Gergs asked, concern furrowing his brow.

I nodded and managed a weak smile. "Just tired."

"Let's take a breather," Alawion suggested. She leaned against a nearby rock, her beautiful face glistening with sweat. Despite her exhaustion, I couldn't help but admire her muscular form, I guess all that training with Awalion had paid off in more ways than one.

Arnovia sat down beside me, her short black hair matted with sweat. She shot me a reassuring smile, one that caused my lewd thoughts to run wild.

As we rested, I noticed Frerelie eyeing me suspiciously. Her raven hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her dark blue eyes. She was beautiful, but those piercing eyes held an intensity that made me uneasy.

"Ellehish," she began, her voice cold and accusatory, "there's something about you that doesn't sit right with me. You're not telling us everything. Are you… a vampire?"

"Wha-? No!" I protested, taken aback by her accusation.

"Then you won't mind if I test you," Frerelie retorted, raising her hand, which glowed with a sunlight-based spell.

"Wait, Frerelie, this isn't necessary…" Arnovia tried to intervene, but it was too late.

The spell flew towards me, and I braced myself for what would surely be a painful attack. And yet, as the sunlight enveloped me, I felt no pain, no burning sensation that would indicate a vampire's weakness.

"See?" I said, feeling insulted and slightly humiliated by the accusation. "I'm not a vampire."

"Fine," Frerelie huffed. "But don't think this means I trust you. There's still something off about you, Ellehish."

I clenched my fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface. but now was not the time to let my anger overtake me.

"Look, we all know Ellehish isn't a vampire," Arnovia said, stepping up beside me. Her loyalty and friendship meant the world to me, but I could see the strain that Frerelie's accusations had taken on her. "We've been through too much together already. Let's just focus on getting back to Solitude."

"Fine," Frerelie begrudgingly agreed, though I knew her suspicions still lingered. Even Gergs seemed to be wary of me now.

As we began our journey back to Solitude, I couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and fear. We had successfully closed the Oblivion gate, but there were no guarantees we would be able to prevent future attacks.

"Ellehish," Alawion whispered, walking beside me. "I want you to know that I believe in you. You're strong, capable, and you've proven yourself time and time again. Don't let anyone's doubts weigh you down little cub."

"Thank you, Alawion," I replied, feeling warmth rush through my body at her words. The temptation to indulge in my desires was there, particularly with such an attractive woman by my side, but I pushed it aside.

My priorities were clear it was time for me to find my people and figure out how to exact revenge on the Nords.

As we continued our trek, I focused on the task ahead, reaching solitude, securing any information I had on my people and maybe turning Arnovia, and planning our next move. It wouldn't be easy, but it was time with this crazy threat around. There were a few things I could get done.

The stench of death filled my nostrils as we approached the first gate, the charred remains of Daedra and lifeless bodies of various races sprawled out before us. The sight was gruesome, yet a wicked satisfaction surged within me, particularly upon seeing the fallen Nords among the carnage.

"By the gods," Gergs muttered, his face pale.

"Seems like they fought to the bitter end," Frerelie chimed in, her voice tinged with pain.

"Can't deny that it's a beautiful sight," I whispered under my breath, unable to suppress a subtle smirk. I'm hoping no one heard me.

"Ellehish, are you alright?" Alawion asked, concerned by my expression.

"Of course," I replied, forcing a smile. "Let's just focus on getting through this place."

As we picked our way through the carnage, each step carried us closer to the second gate. The air grew heavy with tension as we neared it, and I found myself clenching my fists tightly.

"Look!" Arnovia exclaimed, pointing towards the entrance. There, standing tall and imposing, was the High King of Skyrim a fucking Nord. My blood boiled at the sight of him, but I forced myself to remain composed it wasn't the time yet, considering I didn't have any allies that would help me kill the Nords yet.

The High King of Skyrim's voice cut through the air like an icy dagger, his words dripping with authority. "I have just received word that it was the followers of the mythic dawn who brought this disaster upon our land." His gaze swept over us, lingering on the elves in our group as guards brought a man in a red cloak forward and as they removed his hood we could all see it was the Wood elf, the one that had been at the tavern when I had first arrived.

My heart clenched at his disdainful glare, my anger simmering beneath the surface. "Therefore, I hereby declare that all elves are to be banished from my kingdom. Those who refuse will be killed." and with those words, the guards slide their swords into the captured wood elf.

Frerelie, the beautiful half-elf with raven hair cascading just above her ass, couldn't contain her anger any longer. As the court mage of the Blue Palace, she had always been a powerful and helping hand to the people of this city, but now it seemed it was time for her to see their true colors. She was now livid. Her dark blue eyes flashed with fury as she shouted, "You can not do this! We have fought alongside you and protected your people from these Daedra!"

Sensing the tension, the Knight Commander reached for his battle axe, preparing to Attack Frerelie if necessary. A smile was ever present on his face as he looked at us with bad intentions. The High King, however, raised his hand to stop them both.

"Silence!" he commanded, his voice booming through the air. "Your loyalty is commendable, but it does not excuse the actions of your kin. All elves must leave Skyrim by sundown."

Frerelie's face contorted in rage, and I could see the tempest of emotions swirling within her.

She opened her mouth as if to argue, but then, perhaps realizing the futility of arguing with the king, she closed it again. Despite my own burning anger, I felt a perverse thrill at seeing her so helpless, her voluptuous curves quivering with indignation. But this wasn't the time to indulge in such fantasies.

"Fine," Frerelie spat out. "We shall leave this cursed land to its fate."

"However," the king continued, his voice barely masking a sneer. "Given your... assistance in closing the gate, we will grant you passage on a ship of your choosing. But you must leave Skyrim by sundown." He swept his gaze over our group, lingering on elves with undisguised loathing. "You, Girl, can remain," the king said while pointing at me. My Rage was at an all time high.

"I refuse, no, I'm disgusted by the thought of remaining here with you creatures!" I said through gritted teeth. As I noticed the lewd look the Knight commander was giving me.

That was slowly switched to anger as I spoke. "How dare you speak that way to your king!"

The king raised his hand once more, silencing his men. "Very well Elf lover," he said with disgust in his voice, "Your fate will be the same as these Filthy creatures."

I looked up at the sky, not even acknowledging him as he spoke but watching the morning sun casting its brilliant rays across the land. It was not yet noon, but the thought of being forced to leave so soon filled me with a potent mix of joy and relief. The sunlight glinted off my sweat slicked skin, a sensation I couldn't help but enjoy while my heart pounded in my chest like a war drum. Time was running out, and we had precious little of it left.

"Your Highness," Gergs said, stepping forward and dropping to one knee. "Please reconsider. We are all allies against the darkness that threatens this realm. Surely there is another way, one that does not involve the banishment of those who have fought by your side?"

"Enough!" the king snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. "My decision is final."

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my temper in check. It would do us no good to throw ourselves into a doomed confrontation with the king and his guards. Instead, I focused on the details around me, the feeling of the wind on my skin, the rough texture of the ground beneath my feet, and the scent of sweat and blood from the recent battle. All of these sensations were a reminder of just how real and immediate our predicament was.

"Ellehish," "Ellehish," Gergs murmured, turning to me with a look of desperation. "Is there anything you can do? Any power or knowledge you possess that might change the king's mind?" was he hinting at me revealing my transformation, for some fucking shit Nord king. I'd rather be dead than submit myself before a usurper and his people.

"Unfortunately," I replied, my voice loud, "there is nothing I can do in this situation." My Anger at being asked to do that was palpable, but I had to remain cautious.

"Then we must make haste," Gergs said, resigned to our fate. "We have only until sundown to find a ship and leave these lands. Let us not waste any more time."

As we turned to leave the presence of the king, I couldn't help but glance back at him. His gaze met mine, and for a brief moment, I allowed my hatred for the Nords to show on my face. I knew that one day, I would find a way to make them pay for their arrogance and cruelty. But for now, I needed to focus on ensuring the survival of our group.

"Come on, Ellehish," Gergs urged, pulling me away from my seething thoughts. "We've got a long journey ahead of us."

The sun was still low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets as we made our way to the tavern. The cold air nipped at my exposed skin, but it did little to quell the burning fury within me. Alawion led us through the winding alleys, her graceful stride belying the urgency of our situation. I couldn't help but admire her toned legs, a testament to her years of hunting and tracking.

"Alawion," Arnovia called out, her voice strained with concern. "Do you think we'll be able to gather everything we need before sundown?"

Alawion glanced back at us, her brown eyes filled with something but I couldn't tell what... "We have no choice, Arnovia. We must make do with whatever time we have left."

I felt a surge of appreciation for her strong will and resourcefulness. It only served to deepen my attraction to her, even in the direst of circumstances. As we approached the tavern, I could still smell the familiar scent of alcohol and stale sweat, which, despite our situation, I found strangely enticing.

"Alright, everyone. Let's grab our things and get out of here," Alawion commanded, her voice firm yet gentle.

As we entered the dimly lit establishment, I followed Alawion and Arnovia toward the back my eyes roaming over their shapely forms. I knew that now was not the time to indulge my desires, but it provided a temporary distraction from the anger that plagued me.

"Ellehish, help me gather some of our clothes and supplies," Arnovia said, beckoning me toward our room. Her short black hair framed her face, giving her a tomboyish charm that I found irresistible.

"Of course," I replied, doing my best to focus on the task at hand.

As we rummaged through her belongings, I couldn't help but notice the way her shirt clung to her body, accentuating her curves. My mind began to wander, but i shifted my head away as i couldn't help but come to understand that my emotions were being amplifieed in a weird way. Look I know I was a pervert but this seemed a bit much even for me.

"Ellehish, are you alright?" Arnovia asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," I stammered, forcing a smile. "Just worried about everything."

Arnovia placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "We'll get through this together."

"Thank you, Arnovia," I said, my heart swelling with gratitude for her unwavering support. "Hey, how about i show you something amazing," I said as I placed a hand on the pile of our clothes and made them disappear into my inventory.

"How did you do that? did you make it invisible? come on, we don't have much time, Ellehish, " She whined, but I could still see her excitement in her eyes. "Don't worry, it's not invisible. I just put it somewhere where it will be easier to move it all."

She gave me an odd look, but as I pulled one of her rags out of my storage and into my hand, she seemed to believe me now. With that, we quickly gathered everything and made our way to the kitchen. It seemed we were the first ones done, I could hear some noise coming from the basement, so I made my way there to find Awalion there.

"Everything okay," I couldn't help but ask as I watched her bend over into a crate. My eyes lingered as I licked my lips.

"Yes, Ellehish, just struggling with what to leave behind." Meanwhile, Alawion had been busy gathering her own belongings, her horned silhouette moving gracefully around the room. The sight of her confident stride stirred something within me, igniting a fire that threatened to consume me whole.

"Are you two ready?" Alawion called out, slinging her pack over her shoulder. Her strong, athletic form was more than enough to make any pervert's heart race.

"Almost," I replied, walking towards her and touching the bag and willing it into my storage. This caused her to raise an eyebrow.

"It's one more of my secrets which I'm trusting you with, so don't go worrying about leaving anything behind. " causing her to relax a bit and let out a deep sigh she seemed to be holding in. "Alright, is there some sort of limit to what you can vanish?"

"You're going to trust my word just like that," I asked a bit surprised.

"You haven't given me a reason not to cub," Alawion said with a smile. On that note, we moved to store the rest of the other items with each thing stored. I could feel my sites become heavier. So that's how it worked, I thought.

Coming up, Arnovia offered me her hand, which I gladly took. Though I decided to hold on to it, this caused a noticeable blush on her face. Oh no, that's too cute. Now I'm going to have to bully her, I thought. But that would have to wait. And so I let go of her hand for now. "Thanks," I replied.

Awalion came out from the basement around this time and began to lead us out of the tavern.

As we stepped back onto the streets of Solitude, the weight of our situation settled in once more. We each carried the burden of our uncertain future, but we would be better off than being here, I thought.

"Let's get going," Alawion said, her voice steady and resolute. "We have a ship to catch."

"Where will we be going?" I asked since no one seemed to have told me, but they were rather calm.

"We will be heading to Cryodiil."