Dragonborn Rising

Chapter 40 -- Staff of Magnus

*****

"What the fuck is that?" I asked no-one in particular as we approached the college. My three girls had joined me as they now wanted to see what was happening through to its conclusion. Plus, I think they wanted to meet Mirabelle and make their own judgement.

Mirabelle was standing outside the Hall of Elements with nearly everyone else from the College, sensing my presence as she turned when I approached her. She smiled though didn't hug or kiss me in front of her colleagues or students. "What's going on?" I asked again.

"I don't know. It's like a ward or something, but who's casting it? Ancano? How?"

"I bet it's that Thalmor bastard," I growled, unsheathing my sword, "Time for him to die."

"I want this down now!" Savos demanded, finally acting like a damned leader, "I want to know what he's doing in there!"

"So it is that Thalmor bastard?" I asked.

Savos nodded. "He's in there, doing... something. We don't know what. We're trying to get in now. I will have his head for this, I assure you. Help take this down, will you? We're throwing everything we can at it."

I wasn't going to bother with magic though looked at my colleagues for help. Aela was probably the most adept of our group, though Delphine showed she had a little talent. With all the students and teachers joining in, the ward slowly but surely withered until it finally disappeared completely.

Charging towards the Eye, we gathered around Ancano, who was doing something to the enormous sphere. "Time for you to die, elf," I growled, though felt a hand on my shoulder to stop me swinging.

"Ancano! Stop this at once!" Savos ordered, stepping towards the elf. "I command you!"

As he reached out to touch him, there was an almighty explosion. I have no idea what it was, but my world turned black for a few seconds before I woke up, giving my head a shake, my ears still ringing, hearing someone call out my name. Faces appeared in my vision as I was helped to my feet by Aela and Mirabelle.

"You guys okay?" I asked.

"I think we're all fine," Aela replied.

Mirabelle didn't look well, and a cursory check of her robes showed a nasty wound. "Don't worry about me."

"Like hell I won't. I'll get Colette to heal you." She looked ready to argue so I kissed her softly. "Don't argue with me now."

"Okay, but we'd better find Savos. I can't see him anywhere."

"And Ancano?"

"He's somehow connected to the Eye and simply too powerful."

We found Savos, or what was left of him, on the pathway leading to the hall. He was missing his head, both arms, a leg, and his body had been torn to shreds otherwise. I could only guess that Ancano had focused the blast on him over everyone else. While I had no love for the man, I was still pissed off. He didn't deserve to die in such a brutal manner.

"We need the staff, Ragnar," Mirabella stated, "Only that will stop him."

Tolfdir appeared through the crowd, quickly inspected the body, before he noticed Mirabelle on my arm. "Something's happened to Winterhold. It must be whatever Ancano did. You need to get out there and make sure it's safe. Quickly now, quickly! I'll take care of Mirabelle and see if we can't put a stop to this!"

I handed her over, and this time she had no problem kissing me in front of everyone. "Be safe and come back to me," she said softly.

Gathering the students, I told them exactly who I was, though I think one or two already knew, and asked if they would help us defend Winterhold. A few of them grumbled but realised it was the right thing to do, and I suggested their magic would help my colleagues and I.

We ran as a group towards Winterhold, finding it under attack from some sort of magical... things, though Faralda called them wraiths, Arniel calling them wisps. Whatever they were, I left it to the mages to deal with, though swung my sword whenever one came too close for comfort. There were quite a few of the little things, but the mages worked together well, and most of the things were soon on the ground, creating small pools of... something where they died.

With the danger to the town now passed, I started issuing instructions to both students and teachers, finding it slightly amusing they were obeyed without question, assuming it was because they knew who I was. I took Faralda and my three girls back with me where Mirabelle and Tolfdir kept watch on whatever Ancano was doing. "It's sorted," I said briefly, Mirabelle glancing my way and smiling.

"We need to get our hands on the Staff of Magnus," she stated.

I heard it. So did my girls. "We? Are you sure?"

"Tolfdir can hold the fort here with the others. I've been sitting on the sidelines for too long. And I want to adventure next to the Dragonborn at least once."

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Okay. We're heading to Labyrinthian." I swear her face drained of colour at the name. "What?"

"Are you sure that's where it is? That can't just be coincidence."

"What are you talking about?"

She looked at where Savos had been lying, though he'd since been taken away. "Savos. Before he died. He gave me something just a little while ago. He told me it was from Labyrinthian, and that I would know what to do with it when the time came. I think... I think he meant this for you, then. I'm not sure why, but there was something very personal about it for him. Also, I think you should take this amulet. It belonged to Savos, but I think it would do you the best now."

I took the first object she mentioned but gave her back the amulet, closing her fingers over it. "I think the next Arch-Mage should have this," I stated softly.

"I don't know..."

Turning back to my girls, I added, "We'd best return to Whiterun, gear up, and the five of us head straight for Labyrinthian. We get the staff, return here, and kill Ancano."

There was firm agreement to my plan, so after a quick conversation with Tolfdir, Mirabelle packed one or two things and we quickly made our way back to Winterhold. It was still light, but with only four horses, Mirabelle had to ride with me. Despite the situation, she seemed rather excited about the journey, riding as far as Windhelm, where we stopped for the evening, before continuing our journey the next morning.

Making it to Whiterun by evening, we had little choice but to wait until the next morning as we needed the rest. I didn't mind riding at night, but a long day in the saddle was tiring. Breezehome seemed much smaller with five people in it, and after dinner, there was the amusing spectacle of trying to organise where everyone would sleep.

"Lydia and I can take her room," Delphine suggested.

"No sex?" she whined, albeit with a cheeky grin.

Delphine looked at me. I just shrugged. "Aela?" Delphine asked.

"I think it depends on our new guest."

I looked at Mirabelle, who started to blush as the four of us looked at her. "Oh... I've never..."

"Question answered. Lydia, with me. I can give your arse plenty of attention with my fingers." Mirabelle gasped as Lydia giggled, walking out hand in hand with Delphine. "We'll try to keep the noise down."

I closed the door and turned back to Aela and Mirabelle, the former already stripping though keeping her underwear on. Mirabelle looked at me and I started to disrobe too. "We'll keep our underwear on unless you want..."

"Yes," she said quietly.

"Okay. Aela will join in though."

"That's okay. You've told me all about her."

"As much as he raved about you, Mirabelle," Aela added sweetly, making Mirabelle blush again.

Lying back between the pair, I spent time kissing both of them before my underwear was removed and Aela began to suck my cock. Mirabelle did it on occasion but I suggested she sit on my face. She loved that idea, so I shuffled down slightly as Mirabelle straddled my face and offered her pussy. She must have been thinking about it as she was already wet, gasping loudly when my tongue touched her. "Ragnar, you cock is really hard. You really like her!"

"I love him," Mirabelle moaned.

"So do I," Aela added before I felt her lips around my cock again.

Mirabelle was soon gyrating on my face, enjoying what I was doing with my tongue, while Aela had always been an expert with her mouth and tongue, little wonder I was getting ready to cum myself. By now, Mirabelle had a firm grip of my hair and was riding my face as much as I was eating her out. Whether Aela wanted to say something or not, I'm not sure, as my cock must have been down her throat, feeling her nose press into my groin, and I could only moan into Mirabelle's pussy as I felt the oncoming release.

Aela swallowed every drop I gave her. Yes, she did squeal when the first shot fired into her mouth, catching her by surprise, though I felt her lips clamp tightly around my cock and she audibly swallowed. Mirabelle came at nearly the same time, crying out as I felt her shudder as I held onto her thighs. Once she'd taken some deep breaths, she moved off my face to kiss me. "Holy shit," she murmured.

Aela kept blowing me as Mirabelle and I both looked down. She just looked up, resting my cock against her cheek. "Already swallowed. Got to get you hard to fuck us both now. I'm thinking Mirabelle has your cock first and I'll ride your face this time. The only question is... Mirabelle, have you kissed a woman before?" She shook her head. "Okay, well, I'm going to ride his face backwards, as he might like rimming me at the same time..."

"Eat that arse? Gods yes!" I exclaimed.

"You like doing that?" Mirabelle wondered.

To prove a point, without saying a word, I sat up and turned Mirabelle over, lifting her arse up and licked it. She moaned when I did so, Aela handing me some scented oil, which I poured onto Mirabelle, before I went to town on her arse. She was soon moaning loudly, pushing back into my mouth. "Gods," she breathed.

"Good, isn't it?" Aela asked, on all fours next to her.

"He mentioned the fact the other two loved anal but... I had no idea and that's just his tongue."

"Oh, his cock is an entirely different matter, but it's good that you're being open-minded about it."

"What about you?"

"It's something we do occasionally. I prefer that cock pumping my pussy."

"Ragnar," Mirabelle breathed, "I need you inside me now."

I licked all the way up her back until my lips rested by her ear as I gently slid my cock inside her. "Good?" I whispered.

She grabbed one of my hands, holding it to her chest as I started to fuck her. Aela simply lay to the side and watched, Mirabelle turning to kiss me. I eventually sat back, taking her with me, Mirabelle resting against my chest as I ran the same hand down to her pussy. "Yes," she hissed, my fingers starting to tease her as I fucked her. Now Aela sat up in front of Mirabelle and softy kissed her. Mirabelle obviously hesitated at first, but when Aela moved her hand down to replace mine, the next kiss was met with no hesitation at all.

"Fuck her, Ragnar."

"Yes, fuck me, Ragnar," Mirabelle exclaimed, "Cum in me like always."

"I love you," I whispered into her ear, "And I love you," I told Aela.

Aela did nothing more than kiss her and fondle her a little bit, obviously not wanting to push the boundaries too far, and I think Mirabelle was just caught up in the moment. She'd never mentioned any real interest in women prior, though that didn't mean anything anyway from what I'd learned with numerous previous lovers. But what Aela and I were doing made her cum again and hard, needing to turn her head so I could kiss her, before Aela moved out of the way, Mirabelle fell forward, and she begged me to fuck and cum inside her.

She got what she wanted a few minutes later, burying my cock inside her again and again before releasing, gently resting on top of her once I was done, kissing her cheek before resting my head against hers. "By the Nine, Ragnar..."

"Good?"

She squeezed my cock with her pussy. "Part of me always wants you inside me. Not practical, but I can't help the thoughts."

"We have the same thoughts," Aela added.

Mirabelle looked up. "Thank you."

"Oh, I can see the affection you have for each other. And I'm happy to wait for my turn. One thing I know about Ragnar is it won't take him long to get hard for me and I'll ride him hard and fast until I cum a couple of times, then he'll cum again too."

"I'd like to see that."

This time, Mirabelle pushed me onto my back and moved down to pleasure me with her mouth. Watching her do so filled my heart with joy. As I said, she did it rarely, and that was only because I enjoyed doing it to her so much, it was a subject rarely broached. She showed plenty of enthusiasm though, and my cock was rock hard within a few minutes. She was pleased with her work, lying next to me as Aela quickly hopped onto my cock.

She wasn't exaggerating either. She rode me hard and fast once she was comfortable, I think caught up in the moment, and perhaps slightly showing off in front of Mirabelle. As Aela rode me, Mirabelle was quite complimentary of Aela, but showed no sign of wishing to be intimate with her, and Aela insisted that she didn't have to be. Aela rarely was except if we invited Lydia into our bedroom.

Aela came quicker than usual but kept on riding me through it, Mirabelle giggling as Aela shuddered through her orgasm. "Well, an understandable reaction," she whispered before kissing me, "Your cock is magnificent after all, Ragnar."

"Gods yes," Aela muttered as she leaned down, hands on my chest. That was a signal to bend my knees, put my hands on her arse, and start to pump her. "Fuck me!" Leaning down to kiss me, she rested her head on my forehead as I slammed my cock into her, loving the little gasps and moans she was making. Mirabelle was still snuggled into my side.

"Does it feel good, Aela?"

"Gods, Mirabelle, I think you have a good idea..."

"Are you going to cum?"

That made Aela giggle. "Definitely. Though I'm hoping Ragnar will soon too."

"Not too much longer," I grunted.

We nearly came together, Aela enjoying another orgasm and while she was still experiencing it, I buried my cock and unloaded inside her again. Aela collapsed onto my chest, wrapping my right arm around her, holding Mirabelle close to me with my left. "Fun night," I joked, earning giggles from the pair of them.

"Perks of being Dragonborn perhaps," Aela added. Aela slid off as both girls snuggled into my side. "I think it's clear visits to the College will be compulsory," she continued, "It's clear you two love each other as well."

I glanced at Mirabelle, who simply blushed. "I understand if..."

"No. I know Ragnar and I have a future, but I have no expectations of him being just with me. He's intimate with Lydia, I have no idea how long the thing with Delphine will last, and I know there are other women out there who will take his fancy. What I do know is that, most nights, he will be sleeping at my side."

"You're a very understanding woman, Aela. I admit to already feeling pangs of jealousy."

"You get over it because, when you're alone with Ragnar, you are the only woman in his world at that moment."

"You're right there," Mirabelle whispered, snuggling into me a little more.

And that's how we went to sleep.

Aela and Mirabelle were both rather happy in the morning, while Lydia was her usual explicit self, regarding what she'd been up to with Delphine. I think she was trying to provoke a reaction, as in bending her over and giving her arse a good fucking, but we needed to leave for Labyrinthian. I had been past the complex at least a couple of times but never stopped to explore it.

Mounting up, Mirabelle once again rode with me, and while nervous about the potential fight to come, she was excited about joining me on an adventure. It was a bitterly cold day. If I believed in omens, the dark clouds overhead suggested troubled times ahead. Mirabelle sat in front of me, holding her with one arm, the reins with another, Aela riding alongside with Lydia and Delphine behind.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, we still managed to chat away, cracking the occasional joke, as we slowly approached the massive complex. By the time we arrived, a snowstorm had descended, reducing visibility and, somehow, it felt colder than ever. "Anyone ever been here?" Mirabelle asked.

I'm surprised anyone heard her over the howling wind. "Once on a contract," Aela replied, needing to raise her voice, "Didn't enter the main barrow. I passed through it and over the hill to a nearby camp. Had to take out some bandits."

We eventually had to dismount and lead our horses up some stairs towards the entrance, tying them to a pillar and leaving some furs on them so they were kept warm. As we approached the main door, I took the object Mirabelle had given me from my pack. However, as we approached, ghostly figures seemed to appear out of nowhere, and Mirabelle gasped, stating one of them was a younger vision of Savos. Listening to the conversation, it was obvious they were here for various reasons. Once inside, the figures returned again, Savos stating they could find various objects, though mentioned nothing about a staff.

"Guess they were adventurers themselves," Lydia stated. Mirabelle murmured agreement.

Walking forward, we were greeted with what felt like innumerable skeletons. Even Mirabelle had dealt with such things before, so wasn't surprised and showed her skill immediately as an elemental mage, raining fire down on the skeletons, though she left enough for the rest of us. Walking through an archway, we were greeted by more skeletons... and a skeleton dragon.

I took care of that quite quickly with a couple of Shouts, Mirabelle continuing to rain fire while Lydia watched my back as I dealt with the dragon. Aela and Lydia had bows out, hearing them firing from a distance.

Once the dragon was dead, not taking a soul as it was clearly an undead creature. Gathering around it, I couldn't help look at Mirabelle. "Holy shit!" I exclaimed.

"What?"

"How good are you?!" That made her blush. "I think you should join us more often!"

"We could definitely use a mage during some of our adventures," Aela added.

"Well, it will all depend on what happens next with the College," Mirabelle stated.

The ghostly figures appeared again, mentioning one of the six had died in the previous chamber. Moving on, we found an etching on a pedestal, a stone tablet mentioning a great city by the name of Bromjunaar. I asked if anyone knew of the city but no-one did. "Something to do with the Dragon Cult probably," Delphine suggested, "This complex is positively ancient. Pre-First Era I reckon."

Moving on, remaining ever vigilant now, as in addition to the usual enemies, traps were also waiting to catch the unwary. Continuing our descent, I was surprised when a voice suddenly called out. Knowing the dragon language, I understand what it said.

"Wo meyz wah dii vul junaar?" it asked.

"Who comes to my dark kingdom?" I added.

"And the voice belongs to?" Mirabelle asked.

"Guess we'll find out soon enough," I muttered.

Making our way through the closed door after figuring out it was opened by magic, we entered an enormous chasm, full to the brim with enemies. Draugr patrolled the tunnels, Aela and Delphine taking them out from distance, attracting the attention of others that Mirabelle, Lydia and I could deal with. Since entering, Mirabelle had shown absolutely no fear, and I couldn't help but be impressed, though I think she was proving something to herself, but also to me. She had no reason to regarding me, at least.

Draugr infested the chasm, like every other ruin I'd been through since arriving in Skyrim so long ago. None really caused us concern, even those who possessed the power of the Thu'um, as I could fight fire with fire regarding that, laughing away as I sent draugr flying end over end, usually unable to get up before one of us had put a sword through it.