Seeing in Darkness 4
He had spent the entire day in Bleak Falls Barrow and had spent most of the night trying to get down from the cliff that he had found himself on after exiting through a secret tunnel. He rested in a hunter's camp sharing a meal with the shrewd hunter. It was almost midmorning when Armandur was on the road again. He stopped in Riverwood to give the trader his golden claw back and sell the treasures he found. Lucan was excited to have the claw back, and he placed the claw back in its usual place, on the store's shelf. He gave Armandur a discount which he bought more spell books and potions. Armandur felt he still wasn't ready for the road. He had discovered that the war hammer slowed his fighting and by the end of the day was heavy in his arms. So he sold it to the blacksmith.
Armandur spent the rest of the morning by the mill carving a walking stick from wood. He listens as Gerdur order the men of the mill around bring order and efficiency to their work. Hod didn't protest his wife's leadership, and actually enforced it, yelling at his men when they back talked to her. Frodnar had followed Armandur watching him until he was bored then ran off. He heard a young girl squeal and Frodnar laughing not far off.
Armandur had nearly finished carving his staff by midday. He rubbed his hand over the hard oak wood, satisfied with his work. Since losing his sight he had found he enjoyed carving, feeling the wood form under his hand was amazing. He was so focussed on his carving that he didn't notice Ralof approach, and was startled when he spoke.
"So this his what you've been doing all morning. May I see?" he asked.
He held it out to him, saying, "I hope Gerdur doesn't mind that I barrowed her axe and carving tools."
"She has already stated that you are free to use anything of ours, Armandur," Ralof stated as he examined the staff fingering the design at the top. "This is good work. You have a steady hand and an eye for detail. Oh I'm sorry . . . "
Armandur laughed, "You don't need to be sensitive about my blindness. I rather people just treats' me like anyone else. But I appreciate the compliment, I'm rather proud of what I can do." He held out his hand and Ralof gave him his staff. Armandur pulled his hood over his head so it covering his eyes.
"Is that why you hide your face beneath your hood? You don't want others to know about your blindness."
"That one part of it. There are too many people willing to take advantage of a blind man for me to travel easily. I rather be a mage walking about. Few thieves seem willing to get roasted trying to take gold."
"And the other part?"
Armandur turned his head and lifted his hood so he could see his milky white eyes. He began is detection spell, and Ralof gasped taking a step away from Armandur. Armandur pulled his hood down saying, "My eyes glow while the spell is active. It hard to always keep up eyelids shut to hide it especially when it doesn't change my view."
"Oh . . . I see." Ralof hesitates before replying. Armandur regretted telling the Ralof knowing the Nords were very superstitious. But he felt he shouldn't lie to the family that has been so kind to him a complete stranger. He reached behind the stump he was sitting on and shouldered the pack Gerdur had given him. Armandur felt the sun on his face figured that he had enough time to reach Whiterun and talk to the Jarl before sun down. Then find him.
"Well, the day isn't getting any younger, and I still have a Jarl to see. You and your family have my gratitude, Ralof." Armandur deep bowed to Ralof as he spoke.
He saw through his spell that Ralof had crossed his arms, "Enough. I've told you many times that you need not thank me. I did all this because you're a good man, Armandur. And because I consider you a friend. You are considered a friend of this family."
A small smile tugged at his lips, "And that doesn't make my gratitude any less truthful, nor your aid any less honest."
"Armandur . . . "
"Let me just say this. If any of your family needs my aid, I vow that you will get it." He said as he began to walk away toward the entrance to the village.
Ralof grabbed his arm stopping him in his tracks, "Don't be a stranger Armandur. You already know that I'm your friend. So I like to think that you consider me your friend as well."
Armandur voice caught in his throat choked by the emotions he felt, before he said, "Aye, Ralof you have my friendship."
"Then say farewell like one," Ralof said before hitting him on the shoulder. "Don't disappear like you did yesterday. And tell me you'll write or at least send a message once and a while. I'd like to hear what sort of adventure you get into."
"Very well," Armandur raised his hand out to Ralof. Ralof grabbed it and pulled Armandur in to embrace him in a hug thumping him on the back.
"This is a friendly embrace, remember it." Ralof said as he broke the embrace. "Now off you go, Armandur. Let's go drinking again, and you can tell me more of your wild tales again."
"Agreed. Farewell. By gods decide our next meeting. " Armandur felt his throat tighten as he said it. He had never met a more honest or courageous man before. Since becoming blind Armandur had found himself more and more isolated from people who as soon as they learn about his blindness try to politely ignore him. Most of them just don't want to have to deal with helping the cripple Nord. But not only is Ralof help him, he accepted that Armandur could take care of himself. Armandur wouldn't forget that.
He left Riverwood with Ralof waving him off and a tighten in his chest as he promised that he would repay the Stormcloak one day. He listened to the tapping of his staff on stone to keep himself on road towards Whiterun. He only checked the surroundings for enemies with his spell at intervals and listened to the sounds of the woods. Since being blind he found the sounds of the world were sharper and more clear to him. He could hear the flapping of a butterfly wings or the scarping of a stags hooves. It was almost like the world was made of music to him and he always enjoyed the peace of it.
The air was disturbed with the note of discord, and the sound of fighting. He activated the detection spell and saw a couple of people fighting a giant. Armandur didn't move closer but sent a frost spell to freeze the giant's feet. Taking advantage of the giants slowed movement, and the fighter redoubled their attacks.
"You won't get the best of me," a woman cried.
Armandur threw a fire ball at the giant head knocking the beast off its feet. A man wielding a great sword, stepped forward and severed the giant's head from its body. Seeing that the fighting was finished, Armandur turned away and continued on his way down the path. With surprising speed the fighters caught up with him, and blocked his path. Armandur found himself face to face with a woman who radiates strength and agility. He was confused as to why she smelt of a wet dog but he dismissed it at first. But as the other fighters joined the woman, Armandur noticed that the male also smelt like dog fur. He could feel the woman's eyes studying him. He kept his head bowed so his hood deeply shadowed his face.
"You handle yourself well. You could make for a decent Shield-Brother," she said confidently.
"What is a shield brother?" he asked. He had heard that word before but couldn't place it.
"An outsider, eh? Never heard of the Companions? An order of warriors. We are bothers and sisters in honour. And we show up to solve problems if the coin is enough."
"Hmm, is that so. Not a bad system," he thought then asked. "Can I join you?
"Not for me to say," she replied with a shrug. "You'll have to talk to Kodlak Whitemane up in Jorraskr. The old man's got a good sense for people. He can look into your eyes and tell your worth. If you go to him, good luck."
"I wonder what he would see in my eyes." Armandur thought but dismissed the idea. He had to give up fighting as a warrior since his blindness. But maybe they would accept him as a mage, he could work on his healing aiding an order of warriors. It was a thought. The Companions left him and Armandur made his way to the gates of Whiterun.
A guard approached him calling, ""Halt! The city is closed with the dragon about. Official business only."
Armandur decided to take the direct approach to his reason being here and replied, "I have news from Helgan about the dragon attack." The guard nodded, letting him through and warned him that they would keep an eye on him. Armandur heard the loud creaking of the wooden gates as they open a fraction to let him through.
Within the stone walls of Whiterun life seemed completely normal despite the imposed locked down. People went about their business selling wares and walking calmly. They seemed confident in the protection of their walls. But from what Armandur had seen in Helgan that security would be torn away if a dragon did attack. Armandur decided to head straight to the keep to make the Jarl aware of the danger they were in. Heading up the stone steps to the keep he ignored the stares of the guards and walking into Dragonsreach. The hall echoed with voices arguing with each other, and Armandur paused unsure of how to proceed.
"My lord. Please. You have to listen. I only counsel caution. We cannot afford to act rashly in times like these. If the news from Helgen is true . . . well, there's no telling what it means."
"What would you have me do, then? Nothing?"
"My lord. Please. This is no time for rash action. I just think we need more information before we act. I just . . . "
"Who's this, then?"
At this Armandur decide to approach the table and the cluster of men surround a single man in a throne. A woman, Dunmer by her body shape drew her sword and blocked his path.
"What is the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors" her voice was cold and threatening causing Armandur to stiffen in defence.
But he was a Nord and stood firm stating, "Gerdur sent me. Riverwood is in danger"
"As housecarl, my job is to deal with all the dangers that threaten the Jarl or his people. So you have my attention. Now, explain yourself."
"I was told to give the message directly to the Jarl himself." Armandur said firmly. He had to make the jarl aware of the danger his people were in with the appearance of a dragon in Skyrim.
She snarled under her breath at the arrogance of this Nord and said firmly, "whatever you have to say to the Jarl, you can say to me. I'm startling to think . . . "
The Jarl who had been listen to the exchange spoke "I want to hear what he has to say."
Armandur waited till the housecarl sheathed her sword before walking past her and approaching he raised dialis and the throne of the Jarl. His senses could still feel the threatening bloodlust the Dunmer woman still radiated as she returned to her post. All eyes were on him and Armandur bowed to the Jarl politely.
"What this about Riverwood being in danger?" the Jarl asked confirming Armandur earlier statement.
"A dragon destroyed Helgen. Gerdur is afraid that Riverwood is next." Armandur replied.
"Gerdur? Owns the lumber mill, if I'm not mistaken. A pillar of the community. Not prone to flights of fancy . . . " the Jarl said to Armandur who nodded. "And you're sure Helgen was destroyed by a dragon? This wasn't some Stormcloak raid gone wrong?"
"The dragon destroyed Helgen. And last I saw it was heading this way." Armandur confirmed. He decided to leave out the fact that he was going to be beheaded at the time or that the Stromcloaks were there. He needed the Jarl to focus on the real threat at the moment, the dragon.
Balgruuf turned to the smaller man beside him and said, "What do you say now, Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a dragon?"
The Dunmer spoke up, saying "My lord, we should send troops to Riverwood at once. It's in the most immediate danger, if that dragon is lurking in the mountains . . . "
"The Jarl of Falkreath will view that as a provocation! He'll assume we're preparing to join Ulfric's side and attack him," the steward reasoned.
"Enough! Irileth, send a detachment to Riverwood at once."
"Yes, my Jarl," she said and bowed leaving the dias.
But the steward wasn't finished, and said "We should not..."
The jarl wouldn't heard any of it and cut him off with a firm response, "I'll not stand idly by while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people!" Armandur sighed with relief upon hearing that. The Jarl show he had good sense and a dedication to his people. Armandur stood waiting to be dismissed.
He'll then turn to Armandur and said, "Well done. You sought me out, on your own initiative. You've done Whiterun a service, and I won't forget it. Here, take this as a small token of my esteem." He reached behind his throne to a small chest and pulled out a pair of steel gloves. He handed them to Armandur who took them respectfully and felt the nordic carving in the metal as well as the hum of enchantment.
"Thank you, Jarl." Armandur answered placing them on his hands and felt the firmness of their leather. Armandur was glad he had kept his hood pulled low and no one had asked to see his face.
"There is another thing you could do for me. Suitable for someone of your particular talents, perhaps," the Jarl said, as he stood up. "Come, let's go find Farengar, my court wizard. He's been looking into a matter related to these dragons and... rumours of dragons."
Armandur followed the Jarl as he said, "Farengar is probably puttering around in his lab. Day and night. I'm not sure he ever sleeps." The Jarl led him to a room off the main hall and introduced him to a similar robed mage. Armandur could tell that Farengar was a strong mage as his life fire swirled with the colours of magic. Armandur always wondered why he could see magic in others with his spell but it alway helped him identify other mages.
But that was pondering for another day as the court magician addressed him, "The Jarl thinks you can be of use to me? Oh yes, he must be referring to my research into the dragons. Yes, I could use someone to fetch something for me. Well, when I say fetch, I really mean delve into a dangerous ruin in search of an ancient stone tablet that may or may not actually be there."
Armandur wondered, "What does this have to do with dragons?"
"Ah, no mere brute mercenary, but a thinker - perhaps even a scholar? You see . . . " as the mage began to ramble, Armandur stopped listening. He wasn't a scholar, how could be when he could no longer read. But he did want to know what he was actually retrieving and how an artifact could be used against a dragon. He suspected that he was going to see a lot more of the dragon if he was going to stay in Skyrim, and he wanted to be prepared to face them.
Then the mage said something that caught his attention, "I, ah, learned of a certain stone tablet said to be housed in Bleak Falls Barrow - a 'Dragonstone." Armandur blinked and wordlessly reached into his pack and pulled out the tablet he had discovered in the tomb.
Farengar saw the stone table and exclaimed, "Ah! The Dragonstone of Bleak Falls Barrow! You already found it! You are cut from a different cloth than the usual brutes the Jarl foists on me." He took the stone like a child receiving a gift and ran a hand over the runes of the stone tablet.
"Can you read it?" Armandur was curious to know why the runes were similar to the ones that had appeared in his mind.
"Surely not, the rune inscribed on the tablet predates any modern script but if I cross reference it to . . . " Farengar trailed off.
But before Armandur could ask anything further, Irileth came charging into the room calling, "Farengar, there has a dragon sighting. You are needed by the Jarl."
Another chapter finished. It was heavy in dialogue but the actions starts again soon. I'd like to remind everyone that I don't owe Skyrim (dah) or am I profiting from this writing. This is purely for my own satisfaction and those that read it. So enjoy!