Absolon's ardor and zeal

The supreme leader of Hammers of Justice was in his chambers, waiting for the spies from Hammerfell,High Rock, Skyrim, Daggerfall, Black Marsh, Valenwood, Cyrodiil, Elsweyr and Morrowind to return back. Eventually, all came, only exception being the spies from Morrowind. They must be there, after all the investigations. The traitor has found a troublesome ally. I should have gotten rid of him along with his parents and family, he thought bitterly. With the blasphemous Dragonborn, they have hid there, knowing that the Great Houses don't want to sign anything with Thalmor. It's a bad decision. As they both are Mer nations, they have maybe something in common. They are part of Empire, but also an autonomous province, much to the disdain of Third Aldmeri Dominion and most of all, the only division that cares for world dominance more than any. It's the Hammers, of course. And he, Absolon is filled to the brim with abhorrence upon seeing the reports.

They have been searching for long lost artefacts, but so far had no luck. The Eye of Magnus was a artefact they could put to good use, but the incompetent Ancano and Elenwen who were charged with acquiring it, died at Labyrinthian, a mystical site, buried under the rubble as Estormo reported before his disappearance. The Psyjic Order took custody of the Eye and that's the last it was seen in Skyrim. It happened before we seized power over the College and that fool Savor Aren handed it over to the Order as if it was his to give away. That was the last straw in my patience and I had him and two others confined, under surveillance. They were the last on the to worry about list, though. My concern was that someone must have killed Estormo or the only spy in Skyrim left would come back to College or Alinor, surely.

But maybe luck is about to change. The restless leader of Hammers picked up a particular report from a spy who somehow made it out from the border between Skyrim and Morrowind. The report was a year old, but still better than nothing. The myths about Vvardelfell and facts about the Red Year are well documented. The Red Mountain is still active and Dunmer fear going too close. Many men and mer have asked the question and never got an real answer. But this must be it.

The Heart of Lorkhan is inside that mountain. The heart of a god. With it, the Aldmeri Dominion would be invincible and conquering other provinces would be a cinch. Now two questions arise - how to get inside Morrowind and make it all the way to Red Mountain without getting killed – by natural disasters like ash storms or people, who hate Thalmor. Clearly, sending Khajiit and Bosmer wasn't a smart move – the traitor Ondolemar possibly had informed the Dragonborn that Thalmor employ inconspicuous spies and thus eliminated them. We have to be more selective and secretive, Absolon pondered while reading the report on the Heart over and over.

Second question is more pressing – the interior of that wretched mountain was unsurvivable – the ash, soot, fog and lava – a deadly combination for any mer, much less man or beast. Spells can last long, but the risk of going inside is high. The Mountain could erupt anew at the attempt to remove the Heart, burying not only Vvardenfell again, but also any agents who go to retrieve it. This is a fool's errand. Absolon knew, yet it was all the Dominion needed to break from the stagnate state it has been since White Gold Concordat.

The Justiciars weren't fools – every leader of each division was charged with keeping an eye on armies and military, politics. Skyrim may be soaked in civil war, but the Legion is on the winning streak; the attention of Skyrim's military will focus on Thalmor as next. The war was banging on Alinor's door, sooner than anticipated. They have to act. Now.

And it falls to him to conquer the most potent of all artefacts. Somehow, he had a feeling that disposing of the Dragonborn and traitor will lead them to the Heart itself. Absolon's hunches were never wrong. Someone came knocking and entered shortly after. The leader raised his head from the mostly negative reports to meet the gaze of his second in – command, Tariel. She bore a wicked grin and had a single envelope under her arm. "What's this, Tariel?"

Tariel handed him the paper and he noted it was already opened, so he took it out, scanning the message. It was illegible and a ring fell outside. Absolon examined the ring, but so far it seemed worthless, only lead was the engraved G on the inside... "Who send it? Is this someone's idea of a joke? I don't have time with trivialities, Tariel."

Her grin widened. "Sir, a commoner delivered it, saying he was charged a great sum for delivering it. I opened it and run some tests on the ring, but it didn't react with anything I tried. Then, I tried revealing spells on the ring, but it didn't work. And then..."

Another knock. Absolon grimaced and send the pestering dunmer girl away. Since he took over the College and Archmage's quarters, the mages have been persistent on bothering him with daily trivialities. "Tariel, you sent for someone who can translate it?"

"Yes, sir. The orc – I mean, the one in charge of library of this esteemed College has kindly agreed to translate the cryptic message for us – he only asks we release Savos Aren and others who rebelled."

Absolon laughed. "They always think they have the option to condition us, the agents of the Third Aldmeri Dominion? Very well. Tell him he shall come here and we'll release the Archmage and two others. You know what to do."

She backed away, taking the message, smiling. They all knew. After all, they were the best the Thalmor could offer. She bowed and exited, leaving the leader of Hammers alone. His sight immediately fell upon the mysterious ring – which was strange – it had no enchantment. Why would someone send a message to encode and a ring? Absolon backed up more comfortably, examining the ring over and over. A similar grin formed on his lips – the grin of a hunter. This was a plot – or a clue. Or maybe both. Like everything in this world, it was double – edged and potentially life threatening. They have no clues or anything – this message in some strange language is their only lead at the time. And he, Absolon will take his chances.

….. Meanwhile...

I had enough of being stuck in one place. Only one more day and we're leaving for Skyrim and the place where out battle with Thalmor began – and that's where it'll end. Cir and Viran were weeding out the unwanted greenery from their crops and we (me, Glorfindel and Gelebor) were on the watch if some fools wanted to taste premature death.

Fin went to his sister's, to lend a hand and Gelebor scooted closer from his post to mine. His eyes followed the one that brought us together in this fight. "He's trying hard."

He was trying? I was trying to figure out what to do since he robbed me of my future in Alinor. Or maybe I robbed it from myself – I was Goldanna's brother and it's acute I follow in her footsteps. I wonder how strange it would be to meet her and that Dunmer here. If they weren't found out so easily. The Divines are on our side. But back to Gelebor's proclamation. "What do you mean?"

The Knight – Paladin shook head. "I first met him when he brought a vampire girl with him, asking for Auriel's Bow. The girl, Serana was destined to become a tool in my brother's – Vyrthur's revenge against Auri – El. As Glorfindel told me after confronting him up close – my brother told them he was cursed into being a vampire by one of his initiates. Vyrthur was asking Auri -El to cure him of that unholy state, but to no avail. Thinking that our god abandoned and turned his back on him, he hatched a plot and created a false prophecy foretelling the shadowing of sun. Glorfindel and Serana fought him valiantly and won. My brother was finally freed of his curse and Auriel's Bow was Glorfindel's to claim. I wonder if he knows the history of that bow. Do you know its history? It was once wielded by the god Auri – El himself. He went into ancient battles with it and its brilliance shone a path on the battlefield. The legend tells of it sealing a god's heart somewhere, tying it to an arrow and sending it to the other side of Tamriel."

So he knew of the Heart. At this point, nothing had me in awe for long. The Knight – Paladin wasn't done. "I don't doubt Auri – El's decision. Some things are best kept sealed or forgotten to the ages."

"You agree that it should be sealed?"

Gelebor's gaze fell upon me. " I know everything. It's here, in that mountain. After we deal with your enemies, I want to go there and see it personally it's sealed. Power like that isn't meant for anyone – no mortal nor god should claim it. " His words sounded sincere. "Did you know we planned to do the same thing?"

"No, but it's comforting to know good people are still around in this world. I've been in isolation for too long. I am relieved that you don't want to use the heart for selfish reasons."

"No, Fin told me the tale of his people – Dunmer and the three that rose to godhood, using Lorkhan's heart. Good intentions they had at the beginning and then it spiralled downwards into the abyss of bottomless madness."

Glorfindel went inside to bring refreshments and his sister's voice reached my ears. "Ondolemar, do be a dear and help him?" Gelebor nodded in a sense – I have it covered and I rose to my feet, heading inside. "I'll go."

I found him balancing the jugs of sujamma and four mugs. "I'll take some, but only because your sister asked me to help you." He turned and grinned. "Thank you! Here, take this and this..." I carefully took the two mugs and one jug, splitting the carrying. "You're awfully cheerful. Gelebor thinks you're trying too hard."

He stayed silent and when he turned, that uncharacteristically cheery grin was there. "I think the man's famished, that's why he's saying nonsense. Thirst has that effect. Come, before Cir learns how to shout like me."

"That's not funny. That Shouting is the reason you're a target."

His face drooped. "I know I have caused trouble. Am causing trouble. We have no guarantee that my fight with Thalmor ends with Hammers agents deaths. For all we know, it will lure more and more after us, until one day..."

I turned to leave. "Then I give it my all. Until then, I'll live my life. Those are your words. Did you forget them already? Or was it all talk?"

Fin shook head, a weak smile was spreading like a wildfire. "Those are my words. I should remember them. I'll give it my all, hoping it ends with Absolon's death."

Cirendel's voice reached our ears and we shrugged – Fin got ahead of me and Viran was telling a joke about local wildlife – silt striders and netches and I listened. We drank and enjoyed the calm before the coming storm.

…... Back at College of Winterhold, Arch Mage's quarters...

Absolon leaned on the door frame. "Tariel. Give me the translation."

His second – in command gave him a paper with neatly written text. He read out loud for all assembled Hammers. " I am writing to whoever wants justice as I seek justice for my brother who was murdered in cold blood by someone I thought to be my friend. My name is Vyrthur and I am the Arch – Curate of Auri – El's Chantry. The murderer I abhor to even write his name, but I have to now – his name is Glorfindel Girethi. He gave me his family ring before killing my brother, Knight – Paladin Gelebor for fun or maybe just out of spite to see my reaction. That made me realize he's unpredictable, heartless monster who won't stop at anything just to upset someone. He's dangerous and I fear deranged, mad. Now he's in hiding, but I had to hide my intentions of revenge. Glorfindel must think I am on his side. We'll trick him, you and agents of justice. I'll lure him out near a ruin of collapsed Tribune, in Labyrinthian. The murderer told me once that the Thalmor of Summerset Isles (or is it Alinor) are after him for a reason he didn't say, then gave me that ring and vanished, saying he'll come and get it once it's safe. I implore you, we must put him down. Not only for my brother's sake, but for all of Tamriel. I fear he's a menace and that Voice magic he does is on border with abomination. We must liberate existence from this villain in sheep's clothing. Meet me on 22th of Morning Star near Labyrinthian. Signed Arch – Curate Vyrthur."

Absolon's long speech ended and his gaze fell on the small ring on the desk. "So it belongs to our Dragonborn, as I suspected. 22th of Morning Star... that's in two days. We should head out immediately."

"Sir, with all due respect, this could be a trap." Another Hammer spoke up, Ettrian. "Even if it is a trap and this "Vyrthur" is fooling us, it's the only lead we have and this ring seems to be authentic and that emblazoned G confirms it belongs to our target. And where is the target, there is the traitor. We'll get them and nothing stands in our way to Heart."

"Shall I prepare all necessary for our departure?" Tariel asked cautiously. "Yes. For now, release the Arch – Mage and two others. When we return, the news of Dragonborn's demise will crumble their spirit and taking back College won't be a problem. Hammers of Justice, prepare for departure in hour. We're going to the site of Labyrinthian."

Tariel bowed and left and other five members followed after her, leaving the leader in the quarters. He ain't gonna back down now. Be it trap or genuine alliance, that remains to be seen. Either way, someone is going to die, very slowly, in agonizing pain.