Chapter 1

"Come on, Teldryn!" The Dragonborn urged as he lagged behind her in the old crypt.

"I'm getting too old for this." The Dark elf scowled as he brushed off the dirt on his armor and carefully tread past several slain draugr. "I might have to decline next time you hire me. It's not good for my health."

"You knew what you were getting into, Elf." The woman teased as she headed deeper into the ruin. Teldryn grinned and followed her. It was never dull for mercenaries when the Dragonborn came to visit Solstheim. The liberator of Solstheim was always traveling and exploring. She preferred varied company and liked to hire skilled Men and Mer as her companions.

Lucky for Teldryn, she chose him this visit. And he was happy to have something interesting happen.

"What do you mean Teldryn is not available?" The Dragonborn scowled at the Bosmeri barmaid before her. She was sitting at a table in the Retching Netch. She had just finished her meal and had waved over the barmaid when she didn't see Teldryn.

The Dark Elf was one of her favorite companions in Solstheim. She had been hoping to take him along with her to a newly discovered dwemer ruin she had heard rumors of.

"He got hired by someone last week. He won't be back for another week or two." The barmaid explained with an apologetic shrug.

"Damn." The warrior cursed. She thought about who else she could hire and spoke again. "Well, then where is Ragnar?"

"Left for greener pastures somewhere in Skyrim."

"Avina or Mika?"

"They quit. They actually got married... To each other. Didn't see that one coming. I thought they hated each other. Last I heard, they're trying to start a family."

"Is there anyone available to hire in this place then?" The Dragonborn sighed, letting her head droop on the table. She had been hoping to go to the ruin tomorrow. If she could not find a companion then she would have to wait. It would be stupid to go alone. More than likely there would be numerous enemies.

"Well, we do have a newbie that just moved into this place last month. He's pretty good considering he has no memory of who he is. Really good, I've heard. He's proficient in both swordsmanship and magic. A friend of mine actually found him and took him in."

"Really? And what is the name of this man?" The warrior found herself intrigued. A man with no memory but can still fight? Wouldn't he be an interesting new friend. Maybe she could help him regain his memory as they traveled? She was always willing to help those in need.

"Miraak." The name coming from the lips of the woman caused the Dragonborn to freeze. She stared at the Bosmer.

"What?"

"His name is Miraak. It seems pretty familiar for some reason so I must have heard it before. It's an odd name but it's not the worst one out there." The barmaid giggled, as though remembering some of the worse name she had heard.

"Where… Where did you find him?" The Dragonborn spoke softly, though her heart raced in dread.

"We found him injured near the town half a year ago. We took him in and healed him but I don't think he remembers anything."

"Are you sure?" What if he did? What kind of havoc could that man cause?

"Yes, he only knew his first name when he arrived. He didn't know where he was and where he came from."

"... I see."

"Don't worry though, he has been given high praise by those who've hired him before. I know he won't let you down if you decide you'd like him."

"Would I... Be able to meet him?" The Dragonborn asked. The barmaid seemed oblivious to the woman's tenseness and hesitance.

"Of course! Follow me, I believe he's in his room right now." The barmaid turned away and the Dragonborn numbly followed. She breathed deeply, calming her nerves. It couldn't be Miraak.

Could it?

"That's his room over there." The barmaid pointed at an open door. "I have to get back so let me know if you need anything else." The woman smiled and hurried away.

The female Dragonborn hesitantly approached the door, apprehension in her gut. It was not him, she thought. Miraak was dead. He had been dead for half a year. It was just a coincidence. Maybe someone had lost their memory and just happened to only remember the name of the man that tried to enslave him. That was possible, right?

The woman breathed in deeply and knocked on the door, before stepping inside the room. It was well lit, there were several large candles illuminating the place. Books lay scattered about, some open as if their owner stopped reading them part way through. Two bookcases were crammed full of even more books in a far corner. Near the bookcases was a desk, where a dark haired man sat.

The man turned around at the warrior's knock. As he was sitting, the Dragonborn could not tell how tall he was. 'Miraak' looked to be about thirty or so with pale skin and dark, almost pitch black hair. The man looked like a Nord but also somehow different. His eyes, when she focused on them, were normal. They were a pretty shade of green. Nothing about them hinted of the taint of Hermaeus Mora. Neloth had told her once that the whites of the eyes of Hermaeus Mora's servants would show black flecks. With how long Miraak had been serving the Daedric Prince, she wouldn't be surprised if his eyes were entirely black.

"Miraak?" The woman ventured, relaxing as she figured this could not be her former enemy. He did not look threatening, staring at her with open curiosity. She figured if it was truly him, she would know immediately. But then the man spoke.

"At your service." His voice was the same. The Dragonborn froze. It was him, it was Miraak. How? Why? She almost missed his next words in her shock. "What may I do for you?"

"... I..." The Dragonborn spoke slowly. "Sorry, I thought you were someone else. The barmaid said..." She trailed off, her thoughts all a jumble.

"Did you? It's a shame I am not the one you seek. I had been hoping for someone to recognize me. No doubt she told you of my situation?"

"Yes… I'm… Sorry. For intruding. I'll take my leave." The Dragonborn stuttered. She wanted to get out of here fast and figure out all of this later. Miraak did not seem to recognize her. That was good.

But as the woman was about to leave, she had an idea. She needed someone to go to the ruin with her. And she would need to watch him. Both things could be done at once, if she was willing to take the risk.

"Wait… You are a mercenary, right?" The Dragonborn asked. Miraak was turning away when he stopped at her words.

"Yes, I admit I haven't been doing this long but I seem to have remembered how to fight. I haven't disappointed an employer yet." He said this proudly.

"I'd like to hire you." She stated. The woman didn't allow herself to think. There were many things that could go wrong. She would have to make sure they didn't.

"Wonderful. My rate is 500 septims a fortnight, if that is alright with you?" Miraak was pleased. He smiled. It was an eerie thing to see knowing this man wanted to enslave the population of Solstheim at one point.

"Yes, it is." The Last Dragonborn accepted.