Chapter 5: You've Got Mail
A Journey Through Ice and Fire
Chapter 5: You've got mail
The group had been traveling for several days, while making several stops to rest up. It had taken Rainbow Dash roughly a day to regain conciousness, but in the end, with some help from Rarkath's healing spells, she was okay, at least physically. After what had happened, and what she had done, the maiden barely talked, speaking only to assure her friends she was fine when they asked how she was.
At the very least there was something good between everything else. They were getting closer to their wish to return home. One evening the setting sun introduced them to the colossal and aweinspiring visage of the Blue Palace. It wasn't as grand as Canterlot Castle, but it did not fail to radiate magnificense to which everyone, with the exception of Rarkath and Rainbow, stared with mouths agape.
After riding for a couple more minutes the fortifications of a city and a harbor of sorts also revealed themselves to the ladies, along with the place where the Blue Palace was stationed.
The dragonborn merely smiled as he said. "We should get within the city walls in about an hour." After which he slid down from the ghostly horse's back and went to Shadowmere, picking up one of the sacks he was carrying, then went behind a tree.
That made the ladies and the dragon look confusedly in the direction he had went. All of them recieved the same thought, but no one dared to speak it. ... Except for Pinkie Pie.
"He Rar, what'cha doin' there?" She called after him.
"My current outfit isn't very fitting for a city environment. I have to slip into something more appropriate to keep my image." He replied.
The man's response was found rather surprising by his company, with the exception of Rarity, who nodded in approval. "Not only a gentleman, but one who appretiates style." She told to her friends, trying to not be heard by Rarkath, but they were not amused.
"Conciderin' the stuff he's been wearing this whole time, Ah'm wondering what counts as "appropriate" to wear in a city?" Applejack asked.
"Ooh! Ooh! I bet it's some sort of fancy suit!" Pinkie beamed.
"That seems highly doubtful Pinkie." Twilight cut in. "Remember, he said he was the...uh...some important position in the nine holds..." She paused as she struggled to recall the word. "Thane?" Fluttershy quietly let out. "Yeah, thane! Thanks Fluttershy." Twilight said, before continuing. "Since that is an important position in society, he probably has some sort of outfit which destinguishes him from the common folk. I'd assume it'd be some kind of sparkly ceremonial armor."
Before any other ideas could be shared they heard movement from behind the tree. The group stared with anticipation, even Rainbow showing some interest. However they were kind of disappointed when the man came out dressed in a simple sleevless metal, with two lower arm guards bearing a dragon like symbol.
Once he neared the horses, Rarkath noticed their very faint pouts. Guessing what they were probably for he smirked and asked. "What were you expecting?"
"To be quite honest dear, something a little more...extravagant." Rarity returned in a sheepish ladylike manner.
He chuckled before speaking. "Dragon scales aren't a common form of dress-ware. I would rather not attract attention while I'm in cities. Speaking of, Arvak can't acompany us any further. He, or anything like him is not percieved well by other people. Some of us will have to walk on foot."
"Alrighty then. Twilight, Pinkie, come along." Applejack instructed her friends that the three got off from the two horses, leaving Rarity and Fluttershy on Shadowmere.
Rainbow Dash also started getting off, which made Rarity say. "Rainbow darling, you don't have to walk, there is room here." She patted the small space from the massive stallion's back in front of her. The fashionista's eyes widened slightly from a quick realisation, after which she turned to the black horse and said in an apologetic manner, an awkward smile on her face. "No offense."
Shadowmere performed a light gruff and shook his head in response as if returning that he was not offended.
"It's alright Rare, I'm fine." The rainbow haired girl told her friend as she began walking down the road. After taking several steps she turned around, seeing that everyone was looking at her. "What?" She asked in a confused manner. After recieving no response from anyone the woman scoffed and resumed walking.
The group shared a quiet moment, before Rarkath addressed Arvak. "Thank you for your service friend. Go now to your master. If I require your aid I'll call." The horse let out a neigh, breathing out some velvet flames from his nostrils. The nord smiled as a purple ball formed in his hand. He made a single waving motion and the skeletal horse vanished into thin air.
With that they marched after Rainbow Dash.
About an hour later the group had left Shadowmere to rest at the stables that were near the main road and continued up the incline it led to. The guards and people that passed them by greeted Rarkath, some even bowed to him addressing him as Thane, to which he simply smiled and requested for them to not overglorify him because of his position.
He must be related to Princess Celestia. Spike thought. At the sight of the little dragon people grew uneasy, but the dragonborn assured them that it was fine. Shortly the grand gates to the city towered in their path. When the guards that stood in front of them saw Rarkath they pushed the gates, making an opening for their Thane and his company to pass.
"It must be nice being held in such high regard, no?" Rarity asked.
"Believe me, it's more trouble than it's worth." The nord replied, chuckling.
By then the former mares and dragon took notice of the city. It was not as big as the capital of their homeland, but its intriguing architecture and busy streets were more than enough to "wow" the equestrians.
"Sweet Celestia, this place looks marvelous." Rarity noted, but was almost completely overshadowed by Pinkie's exclaimation. "THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!"
Her booming statement made everyone that was around stare at them. Before anyone could react the pink haired girl said. "I have so many new friends to make!" And dashed away.
"Pinkie!" Her friends called after her, but it was too late, the former earth pony had left them outside of her earshot. "Ah'ma go get her before she causes any trouble." Applejack said.
"Don't be so worried. How much trouble can someone as nice as her cause?" Rarkath asked, chuckling afterwards.
Twilight put a hand over his shoulder and replied in a slightly worried tone. "Trust me, you don't want to know."
That removed the smile from the man's face, after which he turned to Applejack. "Alright, then you'd best make haste. When you find her meet us back here." He pointed at a building that had a sign with a winking rat on it. "If you get lost just ask someone to show you the way to The Winking Skeever."
"Winkin' Skeever, got it." The blond maiden replied, before she ran in the direction Pinkie Pie had headed.
"In the meantime..." Rarkath turned to the rest of the group. "...we'll go sell the armors and get you some new outfits from the Bits and Pieces."
"What's that?" Spike asked.
"It's a shop where clothing designers sell their creations, along with other materials." Rarkath said.
Upon hearing that, Rarity's eyes widened and glimmered as glee took over her expression. "There is a boutique here?! Oh I simply must review the local fashion. Perhaps I can integrate some elements from it into my own for when we get back home."
"Um..I'm not feeling very well." Fluttershy quietly said. "And I'm not very comfortable being surrounded by po-err..people I don't know." She added as she put her hands over her head to cover her face as she quickly looked around and up at the sky then back at her friends.
"Don't worry dear." Rarity said, placing her hands on Fluttershy's shoulders and gently pulled her in for a hug in an attempt to comfort her. Next the fashionista looked back at her friends and asked. "Rarkath, is there a chance for us to get in the tavern and wait for you to sell the armors?"
"I suppose." Rarkath said. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small pouch, which he handed to Twilight. "There should be about a hundred gold pieces in there. You three go inside and buy yourself something to eat."
Twilight nodded. "That sounds reasonable. Come on guys, let's get inside."
"I'm not really hungry and sitting indoors sounds kind of boring right now. I think I'll hang a bit with Rar here and look around." Rainbow Dash casually said, causing everyone to stare at her with bewilderment.
"Are you sure about this miss Dash?" The nord hesitantly asked.
"Yeah I am. What, am I not cool enough to go around with the Thane of the place?" The maiden shot back.
"No." He returned. "If you so wish then by all means I will not stop you."
"Alright. See you later guys, I'll see you later." The rainbow haired girl parted with the other three and the dragon as she and Rarkath continued down one of the streets.
It took the ladies and Spike a few moments to process what had just happened, during which they stayed silent. "That was rather odd..." Twilight spoke up, receiving a synchronized "mhmm" from the other three. After which they walked into the tavern.
As the two walked, Rarkath couldn't help but ask. "What's with the sudden change of heart about being around me?"
"Nothing. Just wanted to look around the place instead of being stuck in some boring tavern." Rainbow Dash replied in a slightly harsh manner.
The man narrowed his eyes at her. "You are aware that I am not buying that, right?"
She sighed and crossed her arms as she let out. "Fine. I just wanted to tell you something, but didn't want the others to hear it."
That made him raise a brow in curiosity. "I'm listening." He calmly said, awaiting to hear her words.
Rainbow bit her lip, before she said with a timid tone. "Thank you. ... For saving us from those elf guys." Rarkath opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Rainbow Dash cut him off. "I know, I know. I should have thanked you when you helped us escape from the bandits, but at the time me and my friends were on the sideline and away from the action that made it seem, to me at least, that we could have gotten out by ourselves even without your help. But...after encountering the elves I got proven wrong. Normally I have no problem helping my friends, but back then I was useless and couldn't protect them."
Rarkath's expression grew stern, after which he spoke in a slightly harsh way. "That right there is a lowly lie Rainbow. You did save your friends back there. If it wasn't for you, you would have most definitely returned home in fewer numbers."
"And I did something horrible in order to prevent that...Now they must think of me as a monster..." She let out with a gloomy tone.
"Your first I take it?" The dragonborn asked.
"My first what?" She confusedly questioned.
"Life that you've taken." He cleared up.
The maiden put on a flustered expression and tried to reply, but couldn't keep it for much long. Her face darkned and her head hung forward, her response coming out in the form of a single nod.
He put a hand on her shoulder and calmly spoke. "That one is always the hardest. Believe me, the negative feelings fade with time. And if you did it for a worth cause, that also helps."
Rainbow took a deep breath and sighed. "I don't think that I'm tough enough to handle stuff like that. Especially when I know what my friends think of me."
The dragonborn moved his gaze from the woman and looked forward. "I'm afraid I can't provide better council on that topic other than trying to learn how to live it it." He said after sighing.
"C..Could you perhaps teach me?" She asked out of the blue, with a hint of shyness in her tone.
"Excuse me?!" He asked in disbelief of what he had heard.
"Y-You heard me." She spoke, looking away from him. "Could you teach me how to...live with it?"
Rarkath was about to speak against her idea, but he remembered that there was probably no one that could help someone with a mentality like hers in such a situation. He leaned his head backwards so that his face looked up at the sky as he muttered. "By the nine..." With a deep sigh he brought his head down and looked at her, saying. "If you are certain you want it, it would be my pleasure to help you. But I suggest that we leave this for tomorrow and first deal with the issue of our stay in the city."
"Yeah. That sounds fine." Rainbow returned just as the two began climbing an incline platform that led to the upper level of the city. Looking around the former pegasus noted. "This place doesn't look very cheerful for a prospering city."
"You and your friends are lucky." The mad spoke. "The first time I ever visited Solitude happened to be just when a public execution was taking place."
The woman made a disturbed expression and shivered slightly. "I guess you are right."
With that their conversation ended, because they had made it to the local blacksmith, to whom Rarkath planned to sell the armor sets.
Nearly an hour later as the sun had completely set the group met up at the Winking Skeever. There were good news. First and foremost - Applejack had managed to locate and "aprehend" Pinkie, before she could cause any trouble, and Rarkath succeeded in striking a fine bargain with the blacksmith. However, Rarity and Twilight informed them that Fluttershy was not feeling well. She had begun coughing and looked as pale as a sheet. So they all agreed to save the sightseeing for the following day and retreated into the warm halls of the tavern.
Food and drink addorned their table as they shared more stories about their homelands, while Spike happily slept in Twilight's lap. She couldn't quite put her ho-...finger on it, but for some reason the atmosphere around them felt friendlier and much more relaxed.
"Does the singing lady know any other songs?" Pinkie Pie asked excitedly.
Putting his mug down, with a smile on his face, Rarkath called out in a cheerful manner. "Lisette, play my usual!"
The bard nodded in his direction, a sincere smile on her face, then spoke up from her spot at the center of the tavern. "This one is a favorite of mine. A legend we all know and love, and are greatful to have among us." With her final quote she gestured at Rarkath, making the people around the tables cheer his name, to which he humbly bowed. Then the woman began to sing.
Once she finished the tavern echoed with applause.
"That was incredible." Rarity commented.
"It's not what I preffer listening to on a daily basis, but it was still cool." Rainbow added.
"It was nice." Fluttershy sweetly said.
"I've got to say, Lisette is a great performer. With her talent and such beautiful songs, she would most definitely make it into the royal orchestra in Canterlot." Twilight noted.
Chuckling, Rarkath said. "You should be careful how much you speak her about her, because if you do it too much you'll make her ears turn red." After all of them shared a short laugh the dragonborn got up and stated. "You ladies finish up here, while I go to arrange rooms for us." Then he walked towards the bar where the innkeeper was, leaving the equestrians to chat amongst themselves.
A moment later the door to the tavern opened and a man with simple fabric clothing entered. He looked around and when he spotted the group made his way towards them. "Good evening lades." He greeted.
All of them looked at him confusedly and greeted back with a simple "good evening", but Pinkie shot up from her seat, grabbed his hand and shook it violently while blurting out. "HiI'mPinkiePie! Nicetomeetyou! What'syourname? Wannabefriends? Doyoulikeparties?" Before her friends could get her seated down.
Overcoming the slight shock from the woman's surprisingly joyful outburst he spoke. "Uh, yes. I am a courier and I bring a letter, which I am supposed to deliver to you."
That made the girls even more confused. "Oh! Is it cake?" The pink haired woman asked. Her company either rolled their eyes or faceho-...palmed, Twilight speaking up. "There must be some kind of mistake sir. We are newcomers to this land and we don't know anyone who would know us, let alone send us letters."
"No, the hooded person who gave me the letter described your band as those who are to recieve it." The courier explained as he pulled out the letter in question from his pouch. "Here you go. Have a nice evening." He said as he handed it to Twilight and then exited the tavern.
The maidens looked at it for several moments, then looked at eachother. With a mutural nod Twilight opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper, which bizzarely had an ink hand print on it with some strange letters bellow it.
"What'n tarnation is this 'sposed to mean Twi?" Applejack asked.
"I have no idea Applejack." The former unicorn replied.
"Is there any chance for you to read what's written on the bottom?" Rarity questioned.
"Not right now." Her frined explained. "But Rarkath showed me how spells are cast with these bodies. Perhaps I can use one for translating texts, but I'm not sure how effective it will be due to this being my first time trying to use a spell with hands."
"Don't worry Twilight, I'm sure you will get it right." Fluttershy encouraged her friend.
"Yeah, you got this Twi!" Rainbow Dash added.
Sighing, Twilight left the paper on the table and let out. "Here goes." Then she pointed her hands at it, two whitish blue orbs of light appearing in her hands. Suddenly the paper began to glow and after a short while both its glow and the orbs in Twilight's hands vanished, leaving the woman panting.
"Well? Did it work?" Pinkie asked.
Taking another breath Twilight looked up at the paper. A disappointed expression formed on her face as she leaned back. "I think I might have done something wrong. I highly doubt that all it would say is We know."
"Alright ladies, your rooms are taken care of." Rarkath said as he returned to the table. Noticing their confused faces he asked. "What's wrong."
"Some fella came to us and left us this note." Applejack replied as she held up the note for the dragonborn to see.
When he saw it the man froze.
"Do you know what it is?" Twilight inquired.
Shaking his head he returned. "N-No. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it before."
"This seems like...a mystery!" Pinkie stated.
"I'm sure it's nothing. Perhaps someone saw that you are newcomers and decided to play a prank on you. I suggest we get some sleep and think it over tomorrow." Rarkath said. The maidens did not seem very convinced, but they were very tired and agreed to his suggestion. Getting up, all of them followed the dragonborn to their rooms. After wishing eachother good night they split up and went to bed.
Late in the evening Rainbow Dash got woken up by a noise. She slowly got up from her bed and opened the door of her room, just in time to see Rarkath slipping around the corner of the hallway. Quickly putting her clothes on she got out and followed him without alerting anyone else.
Her "mission" took her out of the city walls and down to the stables. From about a yard she saw the nord taking Shadowmere from the stable keeper, mount the black stallion and rode off. When he was gone she got to the house and knocked, getting the owner to come out.
"Excuse me, do you know where the person who was just here headed to?" She asked.
"Sorry milady, but I do not." The man replied.
Rainbow patted her clothing and pulled out a small pouch which let out sounds of metal hitting metal. "Can you drive me after him, I will pay."
The man shrugged and returned. "Just let me call the peddler." After which he turned around and entered the house, leaving Rainbow to wait outside. In about five minutes another man came out, and after the woman told him to ride after Rarkath he tied one of the horses from the stables to a wooden wagon. The two got on and went after Rarkath.
Well...this took way longer than it should. I apologize for the long delay, life gets in the way, and also working on The Koprulu Sector. First I thought this chapter would turn up shorter, but it made a nice word lenght. I hope you enjoy.
Have a potato.
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Heh, I forgot which side of the conflict Rarkarth belonged to until I read the Winking Skeever.
5538766 Death to the Stormcloakcs!...for bullying my favorite races(argonians and dark elves).
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....that is bad. and explains so much.
Also-
.......
dappercadaver.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/22400365.jpg
5542215 Yes. Yes it is alive.
Do tell what is explained? I wish to hear your theory.
5543342
mainly the story art on the page, you know...the COVER art.
rainbow never struck me as an assassin.
5543663 prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/files/2014/01/loki-shh.gif
By the way... You lied about Fluttershy not becoming a vampire... Didn't you?
WE KNOW
What levels do you think the ladies would be in the game from looking at the cover art?
5569455 I didn't lie. You can be certain that no such thing as the one you are implying has occurred.
5600015 So far, all are a steady 3, except Twilight who is a 4 because magic level up, and Dashie - single handed level up.
Also, I have pretty much reached the point where my body can't handle the amount of retard in League of Legends so I decided to quit. Hopefully the next chapter comes out within the next week or two.
5603429 Oh wow it would be so satisfiyng to hear Rainbow Dash gloating about being real dangerous, and then wondering where i went, only to suddenly get her face smashed in by an axe!
After reading this, I was wondering. Why is it that Rarkath got rooms at the Winking Skeever when one of the requirements of a Thane is to own a piece of property in the city? I would think Proudspire Manor would be big enough for company.