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The plot thickens in my Skyrim playthrough. I've done so many quests and they just keep appearing, it's insane. But it is very pleasing to look at a map with quite so many markers.

And it means I have a lot of stories to write. They'll be pretty random, some from before Skyrim time (what I can write for my OC anyway) and some encounters from earlier and later days.

This one is about the battle of Whiterun after I sided with the Empire and had to fight Ulfric's men. 

Xillith/Lydia; T; - Under the Gildergreen tree - 381 words

Long after the battle is over, Xillith slumps onto a bench under the Gildergreen tree and exhales. Everything hurts tremendously, from the burning wounds that Stormcloaks delivered to the lungs that hurt from ash of the burning buildings. By now most fires are out, but the skies are gray still.

At least here under Gildergreen she feels more or less safe and relaxed. Lydia sits beside her and looks up at the Dragonsreach.
 
“I wondered when we would have to stand ground for the city,” she says thoughtfully, turning her dark eyes at Xillith.
 
“Is it strange that I feel like I was protecting my home?” she asks, surprised at the straightforward honesty of her own.
 
“I don’t know. You do spend a lot of time here.”
 
“But this is not… home, not exactly. Home is Lakeview Manor. Home is back with the Black Sparrows, at least, it used to be. It is so strange to feel at home in Whiterun with barely any ties to it.”
 
Lydia only smiles as Xillith keeps talking, and the Dragonborn falls quiet too. It’s not like her to be quite so open, perhaps, the bluntness of the battle made her blunt too.
 
“In other words, when Balgruuf suggested I make Whiterun my home, I was almost halfway pulling out my coin pouch.”
 
Both her and Lydia laugh, moving closer to each other and lacing their fingers together. Lydia’s hands are a little rough, but so are Xillith’s. She rests her head on Lydia’s shoulder and closes her eyes.
 
So many goals set ahead, yet Xillith finds herself caught in a whirlwind of a war she didn’t much care about up until later. Taking up the Imperial oath and committing to the cause was not on her plan, yet she finds herself invested. She wants to help. She feels it is right.
 
Gildergreen tree sways softly in the wind and spreads its sweet blossoms and fragrance in the ashen city. Tomorrow it will bloom brighter and the sun will warm it. And the city will be as it was again. But right now in this moment, wounded and holdings its wounded soldiers, Whiterun truly feels like home, and Xillith consoles it in a way she knows best - by protecting it and by keeping it safe.
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As Skyrim slowly eats my soul, I decided to write a tiny ficlet for my oc Xillith and Lydia, who travels with her. I have no idea if they can marry (I sure hope so!), so for now I just headcanon them smooching under the moon during camp nights and building the Lakeview mansion together!

Xillith/Lydia; T; - Lavender Kisses - 463 words


“I received word from the Jarl today that your deeds are being noticed,” Lydia says, sliding a stone across the blade of her axe. It tingles with magical energy a little, almost like a cat, but makes no harmful discharge.
 
“I’d like to hope so. Running around, slaying dragons and helping the people of Whiterun is not a hobby done out of good heart,” Xillith smiles, crushing some lavender in a bowl, its smell spreading in the air and mixing with honey-sweet wild flowers and smell of the lake.
 
“I hope you wouldn’t say that to the Jarl’s face, my Thane.”
 
Lydia’s expression of surprise is a little funny, but Xillith hurries to comfort her that she certainly wouldn’t. Speaking her mind has always been a feature that people had to come to terms with, especially considering that her mind wishes to be bold and not always witty in necessary situations. But for so many years she made do, and nothing prevents her from going on the same way.
 
She sighs and looks around to glance across the house. For now it’s a small one, a cottage on the edge of the lake, named after it as a Lakeview mansion. Xillith hopes that one day it will indeed become a mansion and a proper home.
 
Carefully she adds crushed lavender to the brew she is making and mixes it.
 
“When my mama baked tiny pies, she would sometimes add some lavender in them. I liked it a lot,” Lydia mentions, setting her axe aside and pulling feet up, arms resting on them. Her arms are strong and muscly, refined by years of hard work and training.
 
“It sounds delicious. Here, you should like this, then,” Xillith says and pours some of the brew in a small tankard, which immediately heats up with hot water in it. Lydia blows on it and makes a sip.
 
“Just like at home…”
 
And like that they fall quiet, enjoying the herbal tea Xillith prepared and bites of some rye bread. Peace like that is a treat both women enjoy, seeing as their adventures keep them on their feet all the time, alert and in fight. But here, by the lake, where foamy water coming in from the rivers and streams swishes in whispers, they can relax and enjoy each other’s company.
 
It is not long that Xillith moves closer and cups her companion’s cheek. Their lips press together - Xillith has to brush away her long black hair behind the pointed ear, lest it gets in the way - and their noses bumping sometimes. When the sun hides behind the mountain, they will head home to rest before the next day of travel. But that will be later. Right now, they want to kiss lavender off each other’s lips.
 
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I am back at it again, playing Skyrim! I started last winter, but never finished it and eventually uninstalled it, but as nostalgia would have it, I decided to give the game another go. Yep, actually playing Skyrim for the "first" time.

I am enjoying it so so much. The views of the game are really stunning (I installed some mods to make the graphics and immersion of surroundings a little better). I keep pausing here and there just to stare at the trees or the sky or the rivers, at the cities and villages.

This time around I'm playing a high elf warrior lady named Xillith, and I thought, "oh, I'm going to play her like she is haughty and mean". Well, that didn't really work out :D Skyrim is not the best for developing your character that way, but it definitely gives you grounds to develop your OC "off-screen". I've already started putting together an aesthetic board on Pinterest!

I have to say that I really enjoy the quests and storylines in Skyrim. While they are a kind of fetch quests, they don't feel that way? There is often impact, the story is developing, you get more quests out of it. And it is often rewarding, not just in money or items, but getting reputation, larger gifts, friendship. I feel like I haven't touched upon even 20% of the game, things just keep happening :D

By now I am a Thane of Whiterum (I love that city???), a member of the Companions (though not turned into their "secret" something, and not sure I want to), I got Lydia tagging along with me everywhere, I got land from the Jarl of Falkreath - I have a HOUSE, how amazing is that! I trained as a Dragonborn, killed a few dragons... damn, there is just so much going on.

I want to play on and to see how it all unfolds. Not sure who to side with yet in regards to the Imperials/Stormcloaks conflict, but I'll see how it all works out and which allegiance or taking side with works best for my character. Oh and I definitely want to write some fics about my Xillith and Lydia, because you bet they are making out during camps by the fireside <3

>>> some screenshots below )

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