\Paige Fjalltinder - Updated 6/9/14

It is my opinion that all good stories should begin, "Once upon a time". -- The Narrator.


Once upon a time.. In the mountains of Tamriel just north of Cyrodill, there was a beautiful kingdom of fire called R'sviga, or "The People of Fire". The R'svigan people were fire elementals of various kinds. From the smallest Embers, to the largest Elementals. The most powerful of them was their King: Sviga Fjalltinder, literally "Fire of the Mountain". Sviga was a very boisterous being, and loved to battle ice giants, and earth golems. Time came however when even fires begin to dim. Sviga knew he needed an heir, and the council was pressuring him to marry; but where to find a queen? He searched throughout his land for a bride suitable to bring him an heir. Finding none, he began to explore outside the mountains, and into the Human lands to the south. He took human form, and travelled the land until happening on the town of Bruma, where he found Brenna Forgeborn. Brenna was a human with extraordinary powers and skill as a blacksmith. With her magic, she could lift molten metals from the forge in her bare hands, and mold it into intricate charms, beautiful statues, and often terrible and majestic weapons. The king courted and proposed to her, earning her trust and love. When he revealed himself in his true form to her, she embraced him with love, and was not even singed so great was her power and their love.

Returning with Brenna to the mountains, Sviga proclaimed his bride and brought her before the council. However, the council was offended by this human. How could a mere human become their queen? Sviga insisted, and the council judged that if Brenna was so good at working with fire and metal as was claimed. She was to make a sword that could cut fire. Enraged, Sviga threatened to destroy the council. As explosive and violent as Sviga could be; Brenna was very calm and well centered human. She calmed Sviga, and told him that their love was great enough to overcome any obtacle that the council proclaimed. The council then entrapped Sviga while Brenna had Sviga distracted. As punishment for his outburst and threat, Sviga was chained to his throne, and barred from seeing Brenna. If Brenna made the sword that could cut fire, they would accept her as queen. If not then Sviga would be wed to the High elder Jal of the counci's eldest daughter Emragga and would never see Brenna again, remaining chained to his throne untill Brenna's mortal death. Brenna was then brought to the low forges in the heart of the mountain for her trial. There she toiled for a year to craft the finest and most deadly sword she could. She named the sword Maltindre. Brenna was brought before the council, and when they brought forth a mystical flame, she swung the sword, and sliced it cleanly into two parts. Immediately there was an uproar in the council chambers. Emragga whom thought her place as queen was assured, would not stand to be replaced by a puny human woman, and she challanged Brenna to a duel to the death.

Brenna and Emragga battled for two days, each tiring, and attempting to gain advantage. In and out they battled across the mountain range. Emragga's fire was violent and powerful. Brenna's magic was both terrible and beautiful to behold. Emragga, However had not counted on Brenna's ability to resist that fire, and her strength from years of work at the forge. In the end, Emragga tired before Brenna, and made what could have been a fatal mistake. Brenna's sword was immediately at her neck. Emragga Knowing the power of the sword saw her death in Brenna's eyes. Terrified for her life Emragga begged for mercy and though she had been the one to declare the battle to the death. Brenna graced her with mercy with the council's blessing. As Brenna turned to salute the council with her victory and their blessing of mercy. Emragga; betrayed by her jealousy and pride, attacked with both hands, slashing them down Brenna's back in two parallel lines. Acting upon nstinct, Brenna swung Maltindre cleanly cutting Emragga in half at the waist. Emraga the Betrayer dissapated with an abbreviated scream. Falling to the floor, the mortally wounded Brenna pleaded with the council to release Sviga from his bonds, and let her see him one last time.

Quickly coming down from his place at the dias of power, the Eldest councilman Jal, and Emragga's father begged Brenna's forgiveness, and gave her a part of his soulfire to heal her wounds. The ugly burned and cracked skin on Brenna's back healed, however because of the power of Jal's soulfire, the flames that burned her so severely became wings of fire, and she was gifted with the long life of the elementals.

Sviga was released from his bonds and, united at last, He and Brenna were married in a celebration that lasted five years.

On the fifth year Brenna Fjalltinder gave birth to her first child. He was named E'Jall in honor of Brenna's savior. Brenna bore Sviga two more sons, and it seemed that the kindom would be at peace at last.

Twenty years later, however Brenna was melancholy. She loved Sviga and her sons, but she ached for a daughter to raise and teach the secrets of the forge, and magic. She talked to Sviga, and the council members she had become friends with. They proposed a great spell to summon a female spirit to inhabit Brenna's womb. Sviga and Brenna agreed readily, and preparations were made. The spell was long, and arduous, and caused great pain to Brenna. Sviga toiled at the spell and finally when the moment was right, went to Brenna. The spell complete, and the ritual over; Brenna gave birth to a beautiful daughter, and named her Paige Fjalltinder, Princess of R'sviga; the people of fire. All of R'sviga rejoiced knowing that the couple had gone to great lengths, and finally had the daughter Brenna so craved.

To be continued...

Chapter 2 - Madille

Ten years ago...

Paige walked briskly up the steps to the top of the forge careful not to step in patches of snow and cautious not to expose her skin to the chilly air and snow. The heavy falling flakes drifted in ponderous arcs and lazy spirals to the ground; except those that fell too close to Paige. Those snowflakes instantly flashed to water and fell in heavy drops. Those drops that fell on Paige were mostly absorbed by the heavy cloak and blankets she wore.

Now and then a drop or two would angle in perfectly to impact Paige's skin directly inciting a hiss as it instantly evaporated away, and a quick intake of breath and slight whimper from the fourteen year old. The droplet left behind an ugly black circular burn on her skin that slowly faded to red, then back to her ivory skin, as if her flesh had been burned to char with a cigar then healed miraculously in a few seconds."I have to hurry it up" Paige thought urgently to herself. "I'm going to be late again!"

"Oh Hello Paige" a saccharine voice called out. Paige hunched her shoulders and tried to keep moving, pretending not to hear. A hand on her shoulder brought that ploy to an end.

An exasperated voice said "Oh, Paige! Don't be rude, Madille is calling you". The owner of the hand brought Paige around. Attached to said arm was a burly woman, with laugh lines and ruddy cheeks; Aunt Chella.

'Go on now, greet Maddy like a good lil one' Chella reprimanded.

'PaigeFault canna help it mum' teased Madille 'She 'fraid of th' snow -- s'prising since it's Paige's fault' Madille tittered at her own joke.

Chella boxed her daughter's ears 'Madille Ejallsdottir! Don't you call her highness that. You bow now and ask forgiveness, ye daft girl' Chella hissed.

Paige's spirits plummeted further. Even worse than the others her age teasing her, was their parents forced deference to her. She would never make friends, or be able to be normal. She didn't ask to be "special", she didn't want to be special.

Madille's eyes went flat with spite as she went to one knee and bowed her head. 'Yor forgiveness oh great highness' She said in a voice dead of emotion.

Paige started to silently cry, She couldn't help it, she hated all of this. Why couldn't she just be normal? As she cried, her red tears fell into the snow, and where they touched the snow it melted and spat and hissed.

Paige fled in embarrassment and self loathing. Her protective layers flapping in the wind as she ran. She didn't even feel the snow burning into her skin in streaks of soot and fire.

Chella smacked her daughter. "When will you learn you stupid, stupid girl!" She is the heart of the mountain, the child of flame, and the daughter of the earth. You will bring ruin to us all with your teasing and bullying".

Chella had just decided that a few more whacks might do her daughter good, and was preparing to deliver them when a flash of red out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She bent down to examine the ground where Paige had been standing, and scooped up what she found there. Four rubies, perfectly tear shaped.

Chella stood, and smiled at her daughter, but it was not a good smile. It was a smile that frightened Madille more than any beating ever had. It was a smile of justice, and it struck her with terror. "You have made her highness cry, and there is proof laid here in the snow today". Chella intoned.

Madille shook her head and backed away from her mother in horror.

"Oh yes. This is justice for your crimes. Go and get your father from his shop, and bring him home. You should probably tell him what is coming, it will be less hard on you if he brings with him what is needed instead of having to return to the shop for the necessities". Chella's voice was hard, and immoveable.


Ejall Fjalltinder, first son of Sviga, high king of the mountains was working in his silver smiths shop. When the door suddenly banged open.

To his surprise his daughter stood in the doorway, breathless from running. Somewhat concerned he said "What is it girl? Is someone hurt?".

Madille stood speechless in the doorway, and stared at her father. All of what she had done to the little girl laid bare before her. All of the unfair jabs, the teasing, the malice she had given over to the girl who used to be her best friend, and now the payment was due. Her true punishment was before her now. She would have to confess to her father every petty act she had performed to the man who thought the world of her. The man who, above all, thought her above reproach. The man who loved her and his youngest sister very dearly. And she would have to tell him how utterly miserable she had been to her aunt. A girl two years her junior yet her fathers sister. Blood of her father's father. The cursed child. The heart of the mountain. The child of flame. Daughter of the earth. The one who brought life to the city, who's joy brought summer, and who's sadness brought winter. And Madille had hurt her in every petty way she could think of. Because Paige was special, and Madille was not.

Madille had been jealous, and petty. She lied to herself. Convinced herself that everything had been Paige's fault, and was just now truly aware of it. She blamed Paige for being special, and that was the true unfairness. Tears began to fall down Madille's cheeks. Her father, surprised rushed forward to comfort her. Madille backed away saying, "No father. I have no right to these tears." Ejall was taken aback, but waited for an explanation.

Madille straightened her back, and wiped her tears. "I have done terrible things father" she stated. "Only now that I have to confess to you do I truly understand the depth of my error". Madille explained in slow steady words how her friendship had soured with Paige over the last four years. How since Paige had begun to show her powers she had waited for her own powers to show. How she had railed against not having them, and how she had hoarded her jealousy, and spite using it as a weapon to hurt her friend.

Ejall sat, stunned. The deeds were not too bad, but there were so many. They were not as horrible as Madille thought they were, but he had not been told. Surely Chella had known.

When she told him that her mother had asked him to bring four silver rings home, and his piercing tools, he understood that his wife did certainly know. And he nodded at Madille and gathered his tools grimly.

As he was leaving, Madille put up her hand and said, "Father, wait". Ejall looked down at her suprised, Madille wasnt one to back out of anything, and would not shirk this duty, what could she want?

"Father. Would you please do me one favour this night? I know I do not deserve it, but I ask as your daughter, if I have the right to still do so".

Ejall smiled, "Of course Madille, you are my daughter. Your crime is not so great as that. You will learn from it, and you will grow stronger because of the learning".

Madille grimaced, but went on. "Please bring the betrayers rings father".

Ejall was once again stunned, and gasped "NO".

"Please Father, I cannot forget this lesson" Madille begged.

Ejall spoke with Madille, trying to convince his daughter to change her mind, then seeing that she would not, Ejall went back over the counter, and opened the silver safe. He pulled out a single chiming pouch. "Are you absolutely sure Madille; You are but sixteen, and this is a grave, grave thing that you ask of me. You must be absolutely sure".

Madille looked her father in the eyes, and without a tremor said simply "Yes, absolutely".

Madille's screams were heard throughout the valley that evening as her mother held her down, and her father pierced her left ear with the a betrayer's ring. Starting at the twisted hooks and barbs of the ring were worked in and out, up the outside of her ear, piercing and re-piercing a braid around the whole of her outer ear. The magic in the betrayer's rings amplifying the pain a thousandfold. Once the left ring was in place, a single small red ruby dangled from the silver just above the lower curve of her earlobe. Ejall brought over the second betrayers ring, and after adjusting their daughter's body, he began to pierce the right ear.

As Her mother dabbed at the blood on her daughter's ears, and wiped the sweat from Madille's brow as she panted, small piteous whines escaping now and then.

"All done now Maddy.. It's fine now.. It's done".

Madille looked up at her father, eyes feverish "F-Father.." she whispered raggedly. "You brought all four, didn't you".

Horror filled her parents eyes as they realised what she was suggesting.

Chella rocked Madille against her chest "No!.. No! Daughter it is too much, you don't deserve this! It was just ..."

"STOP" Madille hissed from clenched jaws. "You do not know what I thought, or what I did, and therefore cannot justly judge what I deserve! There are four tears mother. FOUR. It will be done".

Chella looked sick, and looked to Ejall who nodded.

"Best to get this over with quickly as possible" Ejall stated looking slightly green.

Chella exposed her daughters breasts and turned her head away, holding her daughter firmly, but not being able to watch. Ejall brought the third betrayers ring over, and began piercing Madille's right breast. To her parent's relief; before he had completed half of the right side, Madille fainted. Even as she lolled unconscious, her body still twitched, and moaned as he completed the right, and started on the left.

To be continued...

Chapter 3 - Heart of the Mountain
Page ran blindly through the snow, red tears cascading down her cheeks and dropping to the snow below making a hissing trail of red droplets.

'Why must I be this way' Paige thought bitterly. 'My brothers are all normal, F'Jall was a silversmith of amazing skill, his wares destined to bring wealth and prosperity to the city. Second eldest M'Keth was a great swordsman, and master at arms in the guards. Aketh was a bit moody, but also a merchant and wise in the way of the world. It was just Paige, the littlest, the strange. She was the only one who's body bled lava, tears made gems, and was always accidentally catching things on fire.
'It's just not fair!' she muttered aloud.

'What's not fair little one?' a voice said.

Paige ignored the voice, and kept running. She was already late for her lessons, and didn't want to be scolded yet again.

'Perhaps I can help' the voice said.

Paige slowed and looked around, there was no-one there. She sped back up, and raced through the castle gates, then headed right down the parapet wall.

'Don't run Paige, you're wasting your breath, and you could slip and fall' the voice said from behind her.

Paige whipped her head around, but again, there was no-one. Now more distracted than sorrowful, her eyes dried, and she became wary.

'Great' she thought 'Now I'm also crazy'.

She did slow a bit, as thanks to her mood, winter snows had yet to melt. She took the inner stairs down to the lower levels, then out into the cavern of fire.

The cavern of fire was essentially the caldera of a dormant volcano. In the centre of the caldera was a lake of fire, and in the centre of that, was the grand forge.

As Paige approached, she could hear the hammers of the smiths, and the wheeze of the great bellows. She could hear the fire elementals singing their song of fire. Hissing and sputtering in time with the metal. Calling to it to help shape it into what they desired.

The great forge was not exactly unique in the land, but it was the only forge of it's kind Paige knew of, so it was the most wonderous thing to her.

As she waded out into the lava, she smiles at the working elementals, who nodded back at her as she passed. She had to 'light up' a bit bringing out her fire skin, to prevent her body from cooling the lava solid around her.

She trudged to the centre of the caldera where the small island forge lay, and where her mother worked her steel and anvil.

'Morning mother' Paige called, and extinguished her fire skin.

Brenna looked up from her work, and smiled at Paige. 'Almost on time today daughter' she said, laying down her tools, and an iron rod she had been flattening. 'You must have run, didn't you'.

Paige blushed. 'Yes ma'am' she said meekly. I got held up at Madille's,'.

'Hmph' her mother responded. 'That's a pretty weak excuse. What time did you wake this morning'.

Paige blushed again. 'I did sleep a little late' she murmured.

'I thought as much. Fifteen ingots today as pennance' her mother said fairly. It was better than she had thought it would be. Fifteen she could set in a half hour.

'And help D'mel with his bellows, he's doing extra harness rings today, and his hands are tired of making rings'. Her mother added.

'Mom!' Paige whined 'I was going to go to market today, they have new silver from Valenwood, and sand from Dune'.

'You can do that after, there will be plenty of time.' Brenna replied, 'D'mel is almost done, so go help him first'.

Paige dutifully walked over tot he elder D'mel. 'I'm to help with the bellows today D'mel' she said.

'Oh, princess. I couldn't ask it of you'. D'mel demurred.

'Be as it may D'mel, but mother can, and has. So I had best be about it'.

'As you wish' D'mel said; turning back to his work shaping the harness rings.

'After several hours of working with D'mel, and chatting with the other elementals. Paige forgot herself in the work, and began shaping ingots between times at the bellows. She would pick up pig iron, and some salts and charcoal. Then she would push fire into the iron, and rub the charcoal on it. Sprinkling salt and adding glass now and again to bond to the slag, pulling out the impurities. She folded and re-folded the iron and carbon, glass and salt. When she was done, a gleaming blob of steel remained. This she placed into an ingot mold to cool. The iron slumped into the mold, taking its shape as it cooled.

Now and then as she was working the metal, she would take some of the slag and glass, and put it into an iron cask at her feet. This was her own pet project. She found that she could reshape the glass and slag into a bar, then using a grinding wheel she could mill it down to a powder. Adding various materials to the powder and re-melting and grinding, she could make brilliant glazes for the potters in town. For this she made quite a bit of money, and secretly put it aside for market purchases.

After the forge work was done, her mother dismissed her, and gave her a clay tablet with items she wanted Paige to pickup from the market. Paige gathered up her glass powders, now safely in clay jars, and put them in her pockets. She had a good batch today, and could probably sell them for a good amount of gold.

'Dont be late for supper, you should have a couple of hours extra to browse the markets' Brenna stated. 'Now skooch out, I need to clean up and meet your father in the council hall for daily complaint list'

Paige smiled at this, there was nothing Brenna hated more than dealing with the whiny nobles, and sanctimonious council members.

Paige skipped up the stairs feeling happier than she had in days. She loved the market with it's exotic smells and strange and unusual goods. Walking briskly out of the castle and down the road, she caught site of Madille running into her father's shop at a frantic pace. Paige saddened a bit at the sight of Madille. She missed her friend, and didn't understand her change in attitude. Paige couldn't help having the powers she did. They had been best friends growing up, and until two years ago when Paige came of age, and into her powers. From then on, it was as if Paige had gotten some strange disease. And, as teenagers do, the others banded together to pick on, and abuse Paige; who was baffled by it all, and hurt that her friend would do this to her.

As she passed out of sight of the Crafters circle, she again thought of the market and all of the wonders there. Her mind switching back to her destination, and what mysteries it held.

The market was a dazzling array of color and a cacophany of sound. Merchants hawking everything from furs, to gems, circlets to swords. Exotic herbs, strange animals and the normal mish mash of 'normal' items such as meat, livestock, vegtables and sundries.

Paige's heart soared. As her mood lifted, and she felt gleeful, the snow stopped falling, the mist cleared and clouds gave way to the sun. The change was dramatic, and the crowd stopped and looked to the sky.

'Princess must be near' one seller said. The man next to him nodded. "Yep yep, can always tell when she comes down. She really loves us here'.

Paige felt happy for the first time in weeks. Merchants had always been good to her, giving her sweets and special deals when she was younger. And explaining the tricks of the trade as she grew older. She trudged through the slush into the market proper, and started fulfilling the requests on the tablet her mother had given her.

A small boy, at least two or three years younger than her ran up and offered his services as a porter for the outrageous sum of ten gold.

'Are ye daft' Paige exclaimed 'Theres no way your scrawny little butt is worth ten gold. You could barely lift a melon with those noodles' She eyed him critically.

'Stronger then I looks miss. Prolly could lift a horse and carry it if I needed. How about eight gold?' he countered.

'Eight I could get two burly men for eight. I'd give you two, expect some silver change' She scoffed.

'Aye I suppose you could get two burly men' he said leering 'But tha's not the type of service I'm offerin'. I'm only offering porter; six gold'

'Four and you'll carry it to the castle.' Paige stated 'Final offer'

'Done miss' the boy said. 'Name's Piotr. Wha's yours'

She smiled at him, 'I'm hiring a porter, remember? not a gossip'.

'As you will miss' he said, smiling back.

They worked their way through the market, Paige oohing and aahing at the different things to buy. Finally, her mothers list done, and her selling her pottery glaze for a tidy sum. Paige went looking for something special'.

'Theres a necklace you want Paige' said a voice.

Paige turned to her porter 'Offering me advice again?' she stated imperiously

'No, miss. I said naught'.

Paige frowned. 'I could have sworn I heard someone say something'.

'Aye, well it's been a long day' the boy said assuringly 'and a hot one finally as well. Feel like I haven't seen the sun in months'.

Paige frowned again. She knew she should try to be happier, but it was hard with all that was going on.

They continued browsing the shops until they came upon a charm dealer. 'Miss, lovely as a princess you are!' the merchant crooned. Paige smirked at that.

'I've got just thing thing for a pretty princess such as yourself Miss' the merchant said holding out a necklace. There was some kind of rune in the center, it looked like a dragon of some kind, with a red diamond in the center. It was surrounded by a circle of what looked like dragons, or dogs eating each others tails.

'Sorry' she said. 'I'm not much into finery'.

'I'll give you a special deal Miss" the merchant cajoled, "Buy one for your mother, and I'll throw one in for you! -- very lucky these charms.'

Paige frowned at the turn of speech. Then she heard the voice again. 'Buy it Paige, you'll need all the luck you can get in the coming days'.

Paige looked around again, but as previously, there was no sign of the speaker.

'How much' Paige asked.

The merchant's eyes lit up. 'For you miss? Only 200 gold'.

'Ha!' Paige laughed. That'll get me 50 worthless trinkets like that one. 'I'd give you ten each and forget the freebie'.

The merchant looked aghast. "Ten? Ten? Miss I'll have you know that these were rendered by Do'meketh of the Khajiit tribes in Dune! They were enchanted by the Moon Sisters themselves! I couldn't ask for less than one hundred each.'

Paige's eyes flattened. 'Right, and I'm the Princess of the Dominion. I'd give you twenty each, Fourty in all and it's a rip off at that'.

The merchant looked hesitant, almost scared. 'If you please miss, I want to make a sale here, but my wife would kill me for not getting at least seventy five each. It's just barely a mark up from what we bought them for.'

The man looked truly afraid. 'He's either a good actor, or his wife is brutal' she thought. Then said 'Well, I wouldn't want you to be beaten, but It's not really my fault you made a bad deal. I'll give you a hundred and twenty, that's theft for sure. But I'd hate to have them fish you out of the falls after your wife finds out what you've sold them for'.

The merchant licked his lips, and looked around. He really looks scared' she thought, her eyebrows scrunching up in thought. "His wife must be a badger"

'D-Done' the merchant said, holding out the charms in one hand, and his other hand empty waiting for payment. He kept looking furtively around him, as if his wife would show up any moment to peel his skin off.

Paige handed the man the gold, and took the charms. 'I suppose they are pretty' she thought. 'And if the moons blessed them in truth, perhaps lucky as well'

'Yes Paige. Put it on. See how it looks. See how it sparkles just for you.' Paige whirled around, trying to catch the speaker off guard.

Piotr looked in askance of Paige, but seeing she wasnt going to explain her sudden turn, he shrugged, and repositioned the load she had him carrying. It felt like a ton of lead. 'I should've haggled better' he thought. 'I'll have to retire from old age after this haul. What's in here anyway'.

Paige looked at the charms in her hand. One of them seemed to glow a light blue. She smirked a little. 'Well, I guess it couldn't hurt'. She thought, and put it on.

Piotr barely got out of the way as the girl fell down. After which he thought, maybe he should've caught her. A shadow passed over him, and he looked up. The sky was darkening, as if the snow was suddenly returning.

'Oh. Great.' he thought. 'Now I'll be freezing too'.

As soon as he thought of it, sleet began to fall. Piotr rolled his eyes and shook the girl. She didn't stir. He started getting anxious. 'I hope she's not dead' he thought, then - alarmed he called out to the nearest merchant.

'Sir. Good Sir, please. he pleaded 'Miss has taken a fall, I think she may be hurt'.

The man looked down and a horrified expression passed over his face. 'Gods!' he exclaimed. 'Mikail, Marcos, Jon! To it lads! The princess has been hurt!'.

A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance.

The men ran over to Paige, and someone called for a physician. Sleet fell on them all, and still Paige didn't move. Worse yet, the icy rain didn't burn her skin. As if she were truly dead.

The men got a blanket and carefully moved her onto it, then lifted her and started to the market center where the Inn was. As they walked quickly, the ground seemed to leap under them. A thunderous 'CRACK' sounded, and pieces of masonry and stucco broke off the nearby stalls and buildings.

The ground lurched again, just as they arrived at the Inn. They rushed her in, and placed her next to the fire. 'Warm her up lads' She's an elemental, she must be freezing.

One man, reached out to rub some warmth back into her, and he stopped as his hand touched her skin. He fell back onto the floor. 'She's.. She's dead. Stone cold'. He said with finality.

As one, the men fell to the floor, as the ground disappeared under their feet. The building shifting to one side, as if swatted by a giant hand.

'Heart of the Mountain is dead.' someone whispered. 'Gods have mercy on our souls'.

Then Hell opened up, and swallowed them all.

To be continued...

Great story, I like it :)