Lindir in War (Prologue)

In the Hall of Attainment, the apprentices of the College of Winterhold study their magic. Spells, incantations, enchantments, et cetera. The old, stone walls shelter them from the harsh climate of northern Skyrim, through either insulation or fire spells. The cold blizzards get worse during the evening.

"Hey Lindir." Onmund called from his quarters, across the round hall. The Altmer, Lindir, gets up off his bed with some hesitation. He leaves his quarters to walk towards Onmund. "Would you mind helping me with something I'm working on?"

"Alright, what do you need?" Lindir asked in a somewhat negative tone. Onmund notices how he responded and hesitates to speak again.

"I'm sorry if I bothered you. You can go ahead with your…. business." Onmund said. He knew Lindir was lying on his bed, yet hesitant to state that he was. Lindir widens his eyes in guilt.

"It's fine. I can assist in whatever you need." Lindir said with haste. He sighs. "I'm just having a difficult time with my past, is all."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am fine." Lindir's facial expression does not match with 'fine'. Onmund knows that he is not.

"I just need help with making my bound sword weightless. It seems I'm just overdoing the summoning process." Onmund explained. Lindir notices the spectral blade in his hand, seeing him handling it the wrong way.

"To make it weightless, you must summon the blade without thinking too much about it. You should know the purpose of melee weapons such as swords, to cut through the flesh of enemies." Lindir explains. He summons a spectral sword from the depths of Oblivion. "The weight of the daedric blade is something to be ignored entirely. That way, it can be handled with no burden." Lindir backs up from Onmund's quarters and into the hall.

He looks around at his surroundings to make sure nobody will get hurt. Then he swings his sword at the blue energy radiating from the focal point in the center of the hall. Onmund watches the altmer wield his blade, understanding the point of swords and other weapons. The nord tries to summon another blade, thinking about what Lindir said. This time, it was weightless.

"Thanks!" Onmund said, excited. Then he notices Lindir walking back to his quarters, still in a negative mood. "Is something bothering you?"

Lindir stops and looks back at Onmund. "Post-war nightmares is all."

"You never told me you fought in a war. Were you with the Imperials or Stormcloaks?" Onmund asked with such curiosity.

"I'm no 'true nord' nor part of the Legion. There is no good reason to fight in the civil war." Lindir said. He paused for a moment. "I fought in the Great War."

"Would it be alright if you told me your story?" Onmund asked.

"Well that depends... " Lindir looks around the Hall of Attainment. "Is Ancano around?"

"He's with the Arch-Mage, doing his 'advising'."

"Good. He doesn't need to know my story."

"I understand he's not a good person, but why doesn't he need to know?"

"I'll tell you later." Lindir looks around to double check for Ancano's presence. "I'll start with my childhood. I was born and raised in Firsthold, Alinor. You may know Alinor as the Summerset Isles, as others like to call it. My birth parents were nobles. Sometimes they participate in political affairs. My father often advises the superior of Firsthold. You may know the leaders role, like the Counts in Cyrodiil or the Jarls in Skyrim. My mother owns a shop that sells spells, incantations and spell tomes; everything a mage would look for. Sometimes my parents can be busy for weeks, having no time to spend with me."

"Did they even take care of you?" Onmund asks, sympathetically.

Lindir smiles, unexpectedly. "Someone had to take care of me. My parents had a house servant. Her name is Noldrasi, Dunmer. When my parents were too busy, Noldrasi would take care and spend time with me. She was like a real mother to me."

"I heard the Summerset Isles are very isolated, never allowing any other race inside." Onmund said.

"The rumors you hear are somewhat true, but not entirely." Lindir explains. "Noldrasi spent much of her childhood in Valenwood, until her parents got relocated to the Isles." Lindir pauses for a moment. "That's all she told me. Nothing more."

"So your childhood was hard, then?"

"Not entirely, no." Lindir answered. "I should just tell you my experience in the Great War."

Onmund remains silent, waiting for Lindir to begin his story.