Chapter 4
"The Way of the Voice"
[Bleak Fall Barrow]
"Hey! Rundgrim! Is anyone coming?" -Tolfring, one few bandits patroling, asked.
"Nothing!" -Rundgrim said while putting down his bow."Can We get back inside? It's freezing and I could use so warm mead."
"Leader said, no!" -Tolfring said. He covers himself from the cold wind with his fur cloak."Can't be helped. We don't want any intruders."
Then suddenly, out of the blue, arrow plunged into Rundgrim head. Tolfrind eye widens in horror. He turns around and was hit by an arrow that landed between his eyes, killing him on the spot.
"Good shot." -Madara complimented. Haaper smirk at the praise."But...It blew our cover."
As soon as he said that, about 10 bandits came running at them. Quickly putting his bow down, Haaper drew his steel sword. Madara took out his dagger and sword and activated his blood-red eye. He could see that they wanted to split and attack both of them separately. But Haaper didn't need a special eye to see that. The two stuck close and attack them together. With his superior speed, Madara had no problem evading any attack coming to him. On the other hand, Haaper had a bit of trouble. Few of bandits manage to graze him, but he still held his own. Quickly defeating his enemies, Madara joins Haaper and they finally defeated all bandits.
"You good?" -Madara asks panting Haaper.
"Yeah...I just could use a potion or two." -Haaper said and pick two potions from his backpack. One for Health and other for stamina."Alright. Good to go."
After pushing heavy stone doors of Bleak Fall Barrow, Madara and Haaper entered the old ruin. Once inside they heard somebody and quickly hide behind the broken stone pillar.
"How many?" -Haaper asked.
"Just two. One man and one woman." -Madara simply replied. Haaper quickly pulls his bow and smirked.
"This should be easy." -Haaper said taking an arrow from his quiver.
"Wait..." -Madara said and Haaper stopped."There is someone coming. It's...a child."
"What's a child doing in a place like this?" -Haaper wonder.
"He looks like them...I think that their son." -Madara said with a sad look.
"Well, We can't just orphan him." -Haaper said and Madara agreed."So, now what?"
"Let me think..." -Madara mused and then his right eye pulsed. A sudden flash of memories came to him."I think I know what to do. Just cover me from here and don't let anyone get in."
"Um, sure. But what do you want to do?" -Haaper asked and Madara simply smiled.
"You'll see." -With that, he calmly left their hiding spot and walk toward bandits and their child.
"What in the oblivion he's doing?" -Haaper said to himself.
"Hey! What are you doing here?! What happened to my group outside?!" -Bandit asked, drawing his sword. The child hide behind female bandit."Speak up or I'll gut you!"
"I don't think your son would want to see that." -Madara said with a chuckle."Anyway, I didn't come here for a fight."
"Like I said...What happened to my group?" -Bandit asked slowly.
"For that, I need you to look into my eyes." -Madara said as both of his eyes glowed dimly.
"What's with your eyes?!" -Woman hissed at him.
"Illusion Technique: Sharingan!" -Madara said and all three of them stare at him blankly."You'll leave and start a new life somewhere else. Begone..."
"Yes..." -They said in a monotone. On their way out, the family passed Haaper without paying any attention to him.
"You're something else, Madara." -Haaper said with a grin across his face."What was that?"
"I learn that this eye has a name." -Madara said pointing at his left eye."It's called Sharingan."
"Doesn't ring the bell for me." -Haaper said with shrug."At least it's something."
"Yes...Let's move." -With that, the duo went further into the ruin.
After a while, they run into a bandit, giant frostbite spider, and bandit who stole the golden claw. Eventually, they hit the wall.
"Well...any ideas?" -Haaper asked while looking at the wall. There were strange rings with pictures of dragon, bear, and owl.
"I've seen these before." -Madara said, referring to the pictures. Then he looks into his backpack and saw golden claw. It was bearing the same marking as the wall."Look at that."
"Oh...I see what you mean." -Haaper said with a smile and moved the rings according to what was on the golden claw. Once that was done, Madara opens the stone wall with golden claw."Now that raises few questions."
"I don't matter. We'll give Lucan his golden claw and get some coins." -Madara said. It wasn't really that important to know how Lucan got that claw."What matter is the stone tablet and getting out of this creepy ruin."
"Don't tell me you're scared of few draugers." -Haaper said chuckling.
"No, but this place gives me chills." -Madara said in an annoyed tone."If you like them so much then how about you stay here for a night?"
"No, thank you." -Haaper said with a bright smile.
Finally, they reach the end of the ruin. They came upon a wall with strange craving and an ancient stone casket.
"What the hell?" -Haaper said as he started to hear voices in his head. Then he noticed that one of the markings on the wall was glowing.
"Is everything okay?" -Madara asked, confused as to why Haaper was walking to the wall.
"I'm not really sure." -As he stands in front of the wall, his vision blurred. Then he said."Fus?"
"What 'fus'?" -Madara said as Haaper turns to him.
"There is a word on that wall. You don't see it?" -At that Madara walk closer to the wall and inspected it.
"Hmm..." -He focused both of his eyes and he could make out few letters on the wall."I see...But I don't see any 'fus' just random letters."
"Weid...They look like craving, but I can see words in them." -Haaper mused.
"I agree. I wonder why though." -As soon as Madara said, they heard something moving behind them.
They turn around to see a Drauger getting out of the casket. He picks up an ancient axe and glared at them both.
"He seems to be a little different than other, don't you think?" -Madara asked and Haaper nodded.
"FUS!" -Drauger shouted at them. They were push back a little, which surprise them.
"Come on, let's get rid of!" -Haaper said, charging at the Drauger. Madara quickly joins him and soon enough, the Drauger fell on the ground, dead this time."Okay, so...where is the tablet?"
"Look..." -Madara pointed at the drauger. He had something sticking out of his stomach."Good thing I have gloves..." -He removed the object from drauger stomach. It was the Stone Tablet!"Finally, now let's get out of here."
"Not before looting this giant chest!" -Haaper in excitement. He opens the chest and his eye widen in surprise."Empty!?"
"That's the lesson for you, Haaper." -Madara said with a laugh."Don't be greedy."
"Pfft...Aw." -Haaper sigh and walk behind Madara with his shoulders down.
After finding secret exit, Madara and Haaper left the Black Fall Barrow.
"Finally...a fresh air." -Madara said while taking deep breaths."Wow, We really spend that much time inside?"
"It's late, so let's go to Riverwood for the night." -Haaper said and after some time they reach Riverwood.
[Next day]
In the morning, Madara and Haaper stop by Riverwood Trader to give Lucan his family ornament. After receiving their payment, it was time to go and head for Whiterun. Once they reached Whiterun, they were stopped by Irileth.
"Hello, Irileth. Is everything okay?" -Madara asked. There were soldiers heading for the gate and seem to be in the rush.
"Dragon was sighted nearby." -Irileth explained."We're heading for the tower near Whiterun. We could use extra men. Are you in or out?"
"Madara, go and give stone tablet to Farengar." -Haaper said and Madara looks at him confused.
"That can wait if there's a dragon you could use my help." -He said seriously.
"We can't let stone tablet get damage in any way." -Haaper said while walking backwards to the , you're pretty fast on your feet. It won't take you long!"
"Tsk, fine." -With that, the two split up. Madara quickly passes through remaining guards in a blur. Finally entering the DragonReach, Madara rush to the room on the right and saw Farengar and some woman in leather armor and hood."I have the Stone Tablet, but I don't have time for talking!"
With that he gave Farengar the tablet, only giving the hooded figure a glance. As he leaves DragonReach, Madara's eye glowed again giving him another memory. Quickly dashing toward the stone stair and jump high in the air, landing on the roof. Smiling, he start jumping from building to building. He passes the gates and from there he could see that Dragon was already attacking the tower.
"Shit!" -Madara cursed as he went into a series of hand seals."Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Madara spat a large fireball at the Dragon spitting his own fire at the guards and Haaper. Haaper and some guards manage to hide behind the destroyed stone post. The dragon was shaken by the attack and immediately turn his head toward Madara. It roared and turn his massive around and took it to the skies. Madara landed on the ground and stare at the creature heading his way. He jumps to the left to avoid being grabbed by the Dragon.
Haaper saw that and rush at the Dragon. He quickly jumps and starts climbing Dragon's back.
"Haaper?! What the hell are you doing?!" -Madara yelled, dodging another fire stream from the Dragon."You wanna die?"
"Trust me! I know what I'm doing!" -Haaper said with a confident grin. Finally riding on its head, Haaper stab Dragon repeatedly and then jump back on the ground. Madara quickly joins him and both slash Dragon face together.
"Dovahkiin! NO!" -Dragon shouted, much to everyone shock. Those were it's last words before falling to the ground, dead.
"Well...That's that." -Haaper said with a grin. Madara shakes his head in disbelief.
"You're bat shit crazy, you know that?" -Madara said and something unexpected happened. Dragon scales started to burn away and glow."What the hell?"
"Woah, look at that." -Haaper said in awe. Then some sort of energy came out of dragon and moved toward Haaper. The energy surrounded his body."Hey! What the hell is this?!" -Finally, the energy stop swirling around them."Oh, wait. This actually feels great. I feel stronger and somewhat powerful."
"Does that happen to people when they kill a dragon?" -Madara asked in confusion.
"N-No...At least I think so." -Haaper said and then a soldier came to him. His face shown amazement."Um...excuse me?"
"I can't believe it...You're Dragonborn!" -Soldier said and Madara raised his eyebrow.
"What's a Dragonborn?" -Haaper asked, his interest greatly visible on his face.
"In the oldest tales, back from the when there still were in Skyrim, the Dragonborn would slay dragons and steal their power." -The soldier explained and Haaper nodded. That would explain why he felt so strong now."That's what you did, isn't it? Absorbed that dragon's power."
"I think you're right." -Haaper said with a confident grin.
"It's nice that you're special, but don't let it get to your head." -Madara advice.
"Don't tell me you're jealous..." -Haaper teased with the biggest shit eating grin.
"I'm not, don't forget that I have a few tricks up my sleeves." -Madara said with a smirk as his Sharingan flared to life. They gave each other confident smirks before smiling."Do you even know what you can do?" -At that Haaper paled.
"The Dragonslayers can use Thu'm or shouts to fight in battle." -Soldier added."Try it."
"Em, okay...Raargh!" -Haaper shouted, but nothing happened."Tsk...C'mon."
"Hey, remember that Drauger in Bleak Fall Barrow?" -Haaper nodded."Remember that he shouted 'Fus' just like that word You've read on the wall?"
"Hmm, maybe You're right." -Haaper said and takes a deep breath."FUS!" -That knocks the soldier in front of them"Shit! I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Dragonborn." -The soldier said with a smile, as Haaper help him get up."It's actually an honor to be shouted by You."
"But I didn't do anything." -Haaper said confused.
"You and your friend did." -Another soldier said."Without your help, Gods know what would happen."
"All I see is dead dragon, and that's all you should care for." -Irileth said with crossed arms."You two should inform the Jarl about this. We'll clear this mess here."
"Right, come on Madara." -Haaper said and Madara nodded. With that, they left to Whiterun.
On their way, they heard shouts coming from the mountains.
[…..DO...VAH...KIIN!...]
"Right...You've heard that?" -Haaper asked and Madara nodded.
"Yeah...This is just getting weirder and weirder." -Madara said with a sigh.
"For now let's just ignore it." -Haaper said and they head for the gates to the hold.
End of chapter.
