Ocekatahk@Ocekatahk
This was my main character on the EP side, and my current Master Crafter until Turelis can take over.
Chapter One
My Son the Cub
It was shortly after Cub’s 12th birthday, it was mid-summer in Skyrim and his father Piyisiw of house Sakawmostos and he were staying in one room shack out behind the Inn in Riverwood. It was a small village bordering the southern region of Whiterun Hold, it contains nothing more than a lumber mill, Inn, small shop, blacksmith, and two other homes. It’s partly surrounded by a stone wall that had seen better days and looked as though it had suffered many wars. The wall only stood about 10 feet at its highest, not much for protection but it keep the beast of the wild out. As the name goes Riverwood bordered the White River and is surrounded by forest. To the north is the region capital Whiterun and to the southwest Falkreath Hold. The town is used as a waypoint for travelers going between Falkreath and Whiterun, at rare time visitors from Cyrodiil will use this path to venture into Skyrim.
Cub always knew his father wasn't a local from here but didn't know where they had come from, so that night Cub decided he was going to ask.
Asking in a voice that was more demanding than questioning. "Father, where do we come from and what ever happened to mother?"
Piyisiw walked over to his chair by the fire place and sat down."Uhmm, I was wondering when you would ask those questions, well guess this is as good a time as any.”
Pulling an old arrow head from his pocket he started to tumble it in his hand he started. "It was a summer much like this one, I was on a hunting trip west of here, and I was tracking an elk up over a ridge when I came upon what I first thought were 3 bear cubs by the water’s edge. Watching quietly for the mother I keep my distance only to realize that it was not 3 cubs but 2 and a man child."
Piyisiw paused for a second to look at Cub, almost looking like he was trying to decide to continue or not. "That's when it happen." he said leaning forward "I'm still not sure how she did it, but a great mother of a bear had snuck up behind me and with a quick swing of her head tossed me forward towards the cubs. I thought I was going to be the next meal for the cubs and dropped my bow and grabbed for my battle-axe"
Piyisiw rose up from his chair, arms stretched out and yelled out like a bear "ROAR!!For the first time in my life, I dropped my battle-axe in fear."
Cub was scared and his father could see it, for he stopped and sat back down. Looked at Cub in the eyes and said "From this point on Cub, if ever asked, your mother died during your birth. You understand?"
Not understand truthfully but knowing father wouldn't continue unless Cub agreed he replied "Yes father I understand."
The father leaned back in his chair and said scolding "Nah, you don't, but you will when I'm done."
Piyisiw then leaned forward again, continuing with his story. "That’s when she looked at me dropped to all fours and walked over to her 3 cubs and pushed the man child towards me almost in a, “here take him, he's yours” kind of way"
Cub could see his father was choosing his words carefully now, almost going over them in his head to make sure he got them right. "I picked you up and was about to start to back away when I had the vision. I saw eight figures all standing around me, I then picked up my battle-axe and as I looked back they were gone. I knew then that it was my duty to raise you as my own. I walked back towards my camp."
Then Piyisiw paused again leaned back and asked again, looking at Cub. "Now do you understand Cub why you must never talk of this?"
Cub replied understanding that this story wouldn't be believed by anyone. "Yes I do father, I understand"
Cub after some thought asked his father "The Divines provided you with me since you had no women to give you an offspring?”
Smiling jokingly Piyisiw replied "Maybe, or maybe you were left for dead by some bar wench and the bear found you and hated the smell of man enough to give you back.”
Continuing in tone that meant listen and remember. "Either way you are my son, I told the folks that your mother was a slave trying to run, that died during your birth in the forest while I was out on my hunting trip."
With that Piyisiw got up and started for the door. "So now that you know, I need you to do something, take my wood axe and go down to the lumber mill, get a wagon of wood, winter will be coming soon and we need to start building the pile."
It took Cub a good two hours and when he returned, he noticed his father’s horse was gone. He finished unloading the wood and went inside. Inside he found that his father’s traveling chest was open and emptied. Looking more he found two seals parchments on the table. Not being able to read he left the parchments. That’s when a knock at the door came.
Trying to not sound scared Cub called out. "Who is it?"
It was Luna the Inn keeper’s wife. "It’s me Cub, open up"
Realizing he had been crying and not wanting for anyone to see his tears. "My father isn't here” Cub replied
"I know, I'm not here for him, I'm here to talk to you." she replied as she opened the door. "Your father told me to give you instructions and to watch out for you while he was gone." she was looking around, almost to take survey of the room.
"While he is gone?" Cub asked, "So he's coming back?"
"Well of course he is, did you think he'd leave you? You are everything to him." she said scolding, pulling out a parchment and started to read. "Now here are your instructions."
-You shale have all your meals at the Inn.
-You shale take on work at the blacksmith as an apprentice.
-Listen to Luna as if she were your mother. I gave her permission to hit you if you don't.
-I will be back at the start of winter, make sure there is a full pile of wood.
-The two parchments on the table are for the blacksmith owner and Luna.
With that Luna walked over to the table and took one of the parchments, she opened it up and read it after which she turned to Cub and said "Well then Cub, where are the emergency bags?"
Cub walked over to the corner near the wood pile and reached behind. Pulling out 2 small bags Cub tossed her one. "I take it that is for the food? What’s this one for?" as he juggled the other in his hand.
Opening the bag and looking inside Luna replied, "Probably for the blacksmith, so he doesn't take a loss in employing a child that keeps asking questions, would be my guess." She turned towards the door stopped and looked back towards Cub. "Meals are at Sunrise, noon, and sundown. Miss them and you go hungry." Then she looked Cub up and down. "And don't think you will be getting any mead or wine, your father didn't give me enough coin for that." she walked out the door.
It was three months later, the snow was starting to cover the ground. Cub had just returned from a delivery of weapons to Helgan when he noticed his father’s horse outside the house. Running and bursting inside he found his father, packing Cub’s thinks and turning to face him. "Good you’re back, and from the complaints from Luna on how you almost ate her out of business. I can see you've gained some muscle." He said smiling.
Looking about and seeing that there was a number of other things packed Cub asked "Where are we going father? Hunting? What about all the wood I've gathered?"
Standing up and looking around the small one room shack that had been home for the better part of 12 years Piyisiw replied "It'll make selling this shack easier."
"Selling? Where are we going father?" Cub asked not understanding why they would be moving.
Looking almost shameful but now accepting what needed to be done. Piyisiw replied "We’re going to Whiterun, you need to learn to read and write and the Jarl has granted me the ability to purchase a house there, the court mage will teach you between your other chores." he said commandingly.
"What about my apprenticeship? The blacksmith needs my help." Cub said stubbornly.
"Ha, if that's what you are worried about" Piyisiw said smiling, "I’m sure I can find you apprentice work in Whiterun, which will keep you out of trouble."
They made a quick stop by the Inn for some hot wine for the trip and were off. They were a day out of Riverwood, camping near the river when Piyisiw called for Cub to come down by the river’s edge. When Cub arrived, Piyisiw grabbed him and pulled him into the icy water. He tore off Cub’s clothing and scrubbed Cub almost raw. Later when Cub was warming up by the fire Piyisiw tossed him some new cloths.
"Here, those old rags wouldn't do in the city of Whiterun and at least now you look like a boy and not a beast." He laughed as Cub got dressed.
"Also when we get there, there are rules when living within the city walls." he listed them off almost ordering.
-You will respect and listen to the city guards, they are there to protect you.
-Don't talk to strangers, most are thieves.
-Stay away from the keep on the hill, unless you’re with me, and when you are, no talking unless talked to first.
"Yes father." Cub replied trying to get used to the feel of the clothing.
When they were getting close to Whiterun Cub was amazed, never had he seen such a sight. The walls were as high a cliffs and the city stood up almost like a mountain. The gates were huge and the smells of the city was not like that of Riverwood, it smelled of people, sweat, food, smelters, and raw meat. Their new home was small as well, but it had a basement and upstairs bedrooms. Upon arrival Piyisiw told Cub to look under the bed, a wooden battle-axe! Cub picked it up and gave some playful swings at his father. Piyisiw blocked them and laughed, then sat Cub down.
"There is one important rule you must always follow with a weapon” he said first, "Only raise this battle-axe if you plan to hurt that which is about to receive it"
Not fully understanding the rule Cub asked "But then how am I supposed to practice father?”
"There is a straw dummy in the basement, and you can practice with me.” Piyisiw gave Cub a stern look to be serious, "Remember, Only raise this battle-axe if you plan to hurt that which is about to receive it."
Thinking about practicing with his father Cub spoke his thoughts out loud "But I don’t wish to hurt you father.”
Piyisiw grabbed the battle-axe from Cub’s hands. "Then I should take it away from you if you won’t use it correctly, weapons are made for killing, this is only a wooden battle-axe so it’ll only hurt.” He held the battle-axe up to Cub’s shoulder and gave him a hard whack. It was only about 2 inches away but felt like he tried to take Cub’s arm off. Cub screamed in pain and looked at his father in fear.
"That is the way you use the battle-axe, with full intent to hurt that which is about to receive it. Understand” Piyisiw said waiting for an answer.
"Yes father” Cub could barely get out the words behind the tears. Piyisiw rubbed Cub’s shoulder, but he never did say sorry, it was Cub’s first lesson and the most important one. They would practice every few days when Cub’s father didn’t have to go out and Cub was done with his wood deliveries.
Last edited by OfTheEight on Mon Jan 25, 2016 2:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
"Come to me, Stendarr, for without you, I might be deaf to the manswarm murmurings of thy people, and forgetting their need for comfort and wisdom, I might indulge myself in vain scribbling."
CHAPTER TWO
GIRLS
The years went on and Cub learned to read and write during the evenings and continued his blacksmithing during the day. It was around when he was 15 that a girl came to the house and had asked Piyisiw if Cub could take her to the keep for the Jarl’s birthday. Piyisiw looked back towards Cub, which was trying to silently tell his father no. Letting out a small laughed Piyisiw told the young girl yes and that Cub would pick her up the night of the party.
Red faced and ready to scream Cub whined at his father "But father I don’t know how to dance!” He proclaimed "Plus why would I ever want to take a girl to the keep?”
Cub had never seen Piyisiw laugh so hard, it even made him cry. Gathering his composure he said "Cub someday you will learn why there are women in this world, and when you do, you’ll probably swear at me for not teaching you sooner.” He then told Cub to go clean up a little and come with him to the tavern. Cub had only been to a city tavern twice before, once to find his father, the second to come carry him home after he had passed out.
"What are we going to do at the tavern?” Cub asked "I don’t need to drink that mead do I?”
"No” Piyisiw replied "But you need to learn to dance, and although I can teach you to fight with any weapon, dancing is not my skill.”
When they got to the tavern Piyisiw tossed a man a golden coin and told him to play some dancing songs. He then went to talk to a young lady that was caring drinks and couldn’t dress right since her dress seemed to be a few sizes too small as the top was partly undone on her dress showing the top halves of her plump firm breasts.
She came walking up to Cub and said "So, you wish to take a young girl to the keep and you don’t know how to dance?”
But before Cub could reply "what else does a young boy not know how to do?” as she ran her hand though his hair and down his chest and before Cub knew it grabbed his cock, which somehow had gotten hard without him knowing it. "Well at least his body knows what to do” she laughed.
Piyisiw yelled from over by the bar. "I’m only paying you to show him how to dance, don’t put those other thoughts into his head, at least not until he’s a man.”
She looked back to Cub and whispered "I’m sorry, please try to relax and let Olay guild you.” She took his hands, placed one on the small of her back and held the other up in the air. They, well mostly Cub, stumbled around for what seemed forever, it was hard to tell if he was getting better or not.
Finally Olay turned to his father and said "You’ll need to bring him back the next two nights if you wish him not to look a fool.”
"He’ll be back here tomorrow at noon, you can have him for the day, bard you as well she’ll need songs” Piyisiw tossed them both a coin each. With that they were off and the next day Cub returned to practice. They bar seemed as it had never emptied, Cub thought the rest of the people there were having so much fun watching him stumble and saying sorry to Olay for stepping on her feet from the night before that they never left.
"This won’t do” Olay proclaimed, stopping to sit and rub her feet a moment "He’s made like a mountain not water, he cannot flow across a floor.”
With that she grabbed a mug of mead and handed it to Cub. "Drink this, my feet cannot take you stepping on them any longer.”
"But that is mead, it makes you pass-out and be silly” Cub protested.
"You’ll look silly all on your own if you don’t, now drink it and all of it” she handed to him again.
It was to most foul tasting thing Cub had ever had. Father had made him drink wine before but this mead stuff was more like drinking piss mixed with oats. Cub thought he was going to be sink then the room started to spin a little.
"Well there now, Cub is already floating, this must be your first time drinking mead, my how I will have fun with you when you become a man.” Olay grabbed Cub again and this time they danced. They danced and drank and danced until Olay herself had to stop and say enough go home and rest. Cub must have looked silly dancing down the street on his way back home. The next morning he wasn't dancing, but his stomach sure was.
Helping to keep Cub’s head over the pail "That damn wench!” Piyisiw said, "I told her not to give you mead.” Once he thought Cub had emptied his stomach he through a pail of cold water on Cub and told him to go have a bath. When Cub was done Piyisiw returned from an outing and tossed him a new set of clothing.
Trying to drink down a mug of water Cub looked at the clothing and asked "What’s this for? I already have clothing.”
Looking into the upper cabinet which contained some potions Piyisiw replied "I will not have my son going to the Jarl’s birthday in common cloths, these are cloths for when you visit the keep.” Then he let out a chuckle "Or would you prefer that you looked like common rabble to that young girl?”
Cub’s head hurt too much to complain any further on the subject. He took a potion that his father had passed him and took a drink, almost having to get sink again his forced it to stay down, recognizing the potion that his father took when he got drunk the night before. He’d have to buy himself some of that before long, he thought to himself.
A night later when it was time to pick up the girl Cub had just finished dressing and was starting to head out when Piyisiw stopped him by the door. "Now where do you think you’re going like that?” he asked as he got up and took his cloak off the hanger by the door, he wrapped it around Cub’s shoulders and said "There now you wear the cloak of the House Sakawmostos.” he proclaimed. Cub had never worn the cloak, he was always told he had to be a man and earn the right to wear it.
He wasn’t a man yet nor had he slain anything worthy enough. Looking back at his father puzzled he spoke questionable "But father, only the man of the house wears the cloak?”
Standing proud or was it envious Piyisiw replied in a father’s loving tone "Aye and tonight Cub, you are that man, I will be here waiting for your return, don’t you tear that cloak or I’ll have your hide.”
Standing tall and looking like he did many years ago as a child wearing his father’s armor and pretending to be him "Yes father, is there anything else?” Cub was almost scared to ask, stumbling for the words.
With a final smile and tossing a log on the fire "Yes, when you pick up this girl, tell her how beautiful she is in front of her parents, and try not to say something stupid. Remember you’re representing House Sakawmostos tonight.”
So Cub went to picked up the girl said what Piyisiw told him to say and they were off to the keep. When they got there Cub was presently surprised that when they entered a city guard announced his arrival with "House Sakawmostos” and offered to take Cub’s cloak for safe keeping and showed them to their spots. Cub was dreading having to keep an eye on that cloak. Looking around Cub noticed every other young girl in the room was staring at them, He looked over to comfort his partner only to find her smiling proudly as though she had gotten her first kill. They sat down and she took a glass a wine, Cub asked for a mug of mead but got a wine instead.
It was then that the young girl looked at him and said "All this time and you still haven’t asked me my name, do you not wish to know who I am?”
Cub was so nervous he never even though of asking, force something out "no no my lady, I..I..”
"You couldn’t think of how to ask, is that it?” She saved him "My name is Leanna of house Windspear, my father’s a noble from Windhelm.”
"Leanna, what a beautiful name.” Cub replied not knowing really what to say but a version of when he told her she was beautiful.
With a quick giggle Leanna let out "My goodness, I hope you can dance better than you can talk, and that name? Cub what a strange name.”
"It was the name given to me by my father upon my birth, I don’t get a man’s name until my manhood.”
With an interested look Leanne asked "What custom is that from?”
"It’s our way” Cub said "It’s the way of The Maker.”
"The Maker? You mean Akatosh?” she inquired
"No our beliefs are that there is only one god The Maker and he commands the great spirits in the form of the beasts of the world.”
"You don’t believe in the Daedric do you, if you do this ends now.” Leanna started to get up
"No by all your Eight Divines no. The Maker is just our belief, you see him as Akatosh. I know him as just The Maker” Cub touched Leanna’s arm, trying to calm her down. They talked during the rest of the meal, nothing much but of how each of their ways were different but also the same. The rest of the evening seemed to go smoothly, after they ate and Leanna went to go say hello to some of the other girls, Cub though he must have looked silly or something. They kept looking at him and giggling. Leanna was always smiling though.
"She likes you” came from behind. Cub turned to see the Jarl standing there.
"Happy Birthday, my Jarl” Cub tried to stand to bow as his father had instructed him before.
"Oh enough of that now, you are Piyisiw’s son that is for sure, he never had the skills to understand women either” he said smiling as he put his arm around Cub to turn him around and face the girls.
"Look here now we’ll really make them giggle.” as he raised his mug towards them and smiled.
Even Leanna giggled this time, but Cub thought it was due to Cub face probable being as red as a tomato.
"Well do you at least plan to dance with this girl or are you as unskilled in that like your father?”
"I was taught how to dance two days ago, I do plan to dance” Cub tried to proclaim proudly.
"Really? Then this should be an entertaining evening after all” the Jarl laughed and headed for his throne.
Leanna returned and keep asking Cub what the jarl said. Cub mention "He thought I was lucky to have brought a beautiful girl with me.” That seemed to make her happy.
The music started after a thanks from the jarl for attending his birthday and after another cup or two of wine Cub was ready. They danced and danced, drank some wine, danced some more, even Leanna had to ask Cub to stop so she could rest her feet. Later that evening as they was starting to walk home, Leanna seemed to almost trip, favoring her right foot.
"Is something wrong? "Cub asked helping her to stand
"It’s my feet, with all that dancing I think a have blisters.” Leanna looked to be in pain "I don’t think I can walk home.”
With that Cub picked her up like he had seen other men pick up their woman to keep them from walking through a muddy puddle. "Then I shall carry you home” he said and Leanna put her arms around him and gave Cub a kiss. He just stood there, staring forward thinking back to what his father had said. "Cub someday you will learn why there are women in this world, and when you do, you’ll probably swear at me for not teaching you sooner.”
Leanna leaned closer "You’d better start walking now before everyone starts laughing.” Cub turned around to see almost everyone behind them and what seemed to be all the other girls with their mouths wide open.
Without another thought he proclaimed "Leanna’s feet hurt, I will carry her home” he exclaimed and turned to walk away.
After Cub had gotten to Leanna’s house and lightly kicked at the door, her father opened and went wide eyed. "What did you do to my daughter!” he yelled and Leanna’s mother came running to the door.
"Nothing father.” Leanna shouted, "I hurt my feet dancing and Cub being a gentleman offered to carry me home.” With that Cub asked where he could put her down. Leanna’s mother pushed in front of her father and guided Cub up stairs to Leanna’s bedroom where he laid her down on her bed.
"Thank you Cub” she said leaning forward for another kiss.
"Yes thank you.” Her mother cut her off and escorted Cub out of the bedroom shutting the door.
Leanna’s father seemed like he wanted to say something, but instead excused Cub for the evening and sent him on his way.
Cub didn’t see Leanna for another week until she came by the house. "I’ve come to say goodbye Cub, I’m leaving Whiterun” she said sadly.
"But why” Cub asked, "Did you not have fun at the dance?”
"Oh I did, the best time of my life, I will never forget it, but my father says he’s being recalled to Windhelm and we must leave right away.”
That was when Cub felt his father hand on his shoulder. "We will miss you Leanna and your family. May your travels be safe.”
She then looked behind herself then turned and jumped up to wrap her arms around Cub’s neck and give him a big kiss. "Good bye my Jarl, you will always be in my dreams.” She whispered in his ear, then she was off down the road towards a wagon.
A number of the other girls tried to get Cub’s attention as the weeks went on but Cub paid them no attention, he only wanted to dance with Leanna again and would not dance with another. It was sometime later that his father told him the reason for her leaving. It seems her father didn’t like the ideal of his noble daughter dating a motherless warrior’s child. He mentioned something about bloodlines and all. It didn’t make any sense to Cub then nor did it for years to come.
"Come to me, Stendarr, for without you, I might be deaf to the manswarm murmurings of thy people, and forgetting their need for comfort and wisdom, I might indulge myself in vain scribbling."