My blood drained down to my toes. The silence of the forest was deafening, my thoughts turned to Veruna. The images of my dead parents flashed in my mind, my ears started buzzing. I couldn't stop my mind from rushing. I was in no state to give for thought as what to do. Where should I go? Was I tailed? Was I sure?

I lowered myself to my knees and took deep breaths. Was there anyone who had been in a situation like this before? And just like that it came to me, my Elf friend Antherio from the summerset isles. I bounded from the ground and ran in a straight line back to town. I zigzagged from alleys, climbed roofs, and bounded through the street. And after a fear induced journey I found myself down the street from his house, heaving in air and matted in sweat.

I slipped into a nook between two houses and shimmied to the roof, then rushed on all fours as quietly as I could to his roof. I reached over the overhang and tapped on the glass of his window. He opened the shutters and peered down to the path below. As I whispered his name he was startled to find my face hovering above him. I hung over the edge and climbed in.

After I calmly retold him my story we both milled over and before speaking, knew we would have to go to the guild for help. If anyone could get me out of my situation like this, it was them.

they go and assemble her friends at the guild hall My elven friend Antherio went off to retrieve more of our group and I made for the guild hall. I slipped through an open window as not to be seen by any followers. I came to find the elder sharing a drink with some of the older members of the guild. I entered the chamber and they were surprised to see me at such an hour. When the wiser elder saw the look in my eyes he knew something was amiss and when I asked him to speak with me in the other room as I needed the guilds help he looked to his friends around him. ''If there is help you need from the guild you'll have to tell all of us.'' The crowded room fixated on me with anticipation, their joyous spirits not fading. To my surprise, as I explained my situation they did not fall to dis pare, but instead pulled within themselves and assessed the situation, not putting their drinks down, or their spirits.

''Eye that's quite the conundrum you have there, didn't knew you had it in you girl.'' said one Breton. They casually debated back and forth of what must be done. Becoming more serious as they weighed the thalmor influence with the Daggerfall government. Many were part of the local guard as their living.

I don't want to discuss more details on fears that the thalmor may use the information to find those who helped me, but they concluded that they had most likely would figured out it was me who killed the spy if they didn't already. But if we were to suddenly act uncharacteristic of myself it may cause my demise.

So, I was to continue living as if nothing had happened and wait for them to make the first move. Very brazen considering who we were facing. My other friends had arrived during the discussion and were put on a mission to aquire details of thalmor activities in our land from Daggerfall castle.

I spent the night there in the guild hall. One friend of mine, an Argonian, volunteered to keep me company whilst everyone retired for the night. I dreampt of her evil and arrogant smile as she laid there in the dirt. Looking at me like how a hungry frog looks at a fly.

I awoke with a sharp breath and tightened muscles. I walked home in complete silence, the brisk morning air accompanied by early morning frost and landscape that seemed drained of color. My only thought being of Veruna. I for a moment imagined her being dragged away by the thalmor, only to suffer a fate such as my mother, brother, grandmother and father. My courage sank but I pushed the notion out of my head.

I arrived to Veruna eating her morning breakfast. She was no more upset or puzzled as to where I had been as she assumed I had too much to drink and stayed the night at a friends house, which I didn't do very often but partook on occasion.

I fixed some eggs as there would probably be no mood to fix them after I filled her in, and sat with her. She was her sweet self, always resilient and never one to be bitter. But I simply sat with her, I didn't want to ruin the moment. A moment like and unlike any other we shared. She could tell there was something on my mind, but no idea of the magnitude of what I had for her. I slowly explained the situation for her. Her smile ran away and she looked at me like a deer that just caught wind of her hunter. It was about to become thick in that room which was uncharacteristic of our relationship and I tried to excuse myself to go off to Jurlian to help brew, she protested but I insisted. I stood and made for the door. ''Zeicuana don't you walk out that goddamned door!'' She hissed.

I was caught dead in my tracks, Veruna had never raised her voice at me, let alone swear. I turned to face her. I looked at my dear Veruna before me. I now had a few inches on her, I could see rage filling her eyes which I had never seen and it terrified me.

"I have lost my brother, and I have lost my best friend... I'm not going to loose you too! Ever since Reroy died you've changed. You don't help me with weaving, you're colder, all you care about is going down to that damn guild hall and hitting a dummy with a wooden sword... But the world doesn't fight with wooden swords... and the world doesn't let you get back up!"

She was on the verge of tears but her anger prevented her from breaking down.

"And now you've gone and killed one of them... your a fool! Now they are gonna take you too and what will I have then?! More family to bury in the ground!"

I myself was on the verge of tears, I felt like I would drop to the floor and grovel at her feet and tell that I loved her but I kept myself.

''I won't let them hurt you."

"I don't care about myself I care about you!" she shouted.

She stood there for a moment a look of bewilderment on her face, I could think of nothing to say, the seconds drew out like a knife. Finally I retreated from our Cabin with a brisk pace, as I took two steps away from the door I could hear Veruna break down inside. But I was cold inside, and I could see the truth in what she had said.

I took to Jurlians brewery to go about and act normal. I came in and took to preparing a new batch of wart. A few hours later when I saw Jurlian and Ky'ainden take to have their lunch. I sat with them and explained the situation.

After the whole shock of it all, Ky'ainden whom seldom spoke told of one of his friends whom would be willing to help. He was another Argonian who lived alone northeast of Camlarn on the northern coast and was a fisherman for a living.

I thanked him for the possibility but I wasn't about to abandon home just yet.

That night I went to the guild hall again to assemble with my companions. My friends had discovered that there were only a few thalmor agents operating in the area and that they were low ranking members on the outskirts of thalmor influence but it would not take long until they begun sweeping the area of low threats in retaliation of the death of one of their agents. My friends and the guild agreed to prepare to watch over me and others from an attack most likely to occur within the week.

Four nights later I was in the inn playing music with Veruna. I strummed my bouzouki but my mind was not on the melody, not that it showed. I could tell Veruna was the same, we were both worried about each other. She did not look at me, fixing her eyes on the tavern before us. I studied the back of her head, some white hairs had come to her over all the years since I had been with her. She was older, taking care of the daughter she had never been able to have. She truly did love me, and I loved her. She was my only family I had in the world. But I could feel the winds changing, and I knew our time to depart was fast approaching, I suspected she felt it too. My mind then was consumed again by the thalmor.

The next night I sat alone at the tavern, enjoying my regular when I heard two voices which I didn't recognize. I thought for a moment to not look, then the thought came that maybe they would notice I was purposely not staring into the beasts eyes. So, I took a deep breath and casually observed my surroundings suspiciously and found two high elves staring at me intently from the corner. My eyes lingered on them for a moment naturally, as would anyone. They averted their gaze to the bar then back to themselves. Low ranking newcomers indeed.

I returned to my drink and listened as a few minutes later they left swiftly.

There I sat at my bar. I had sat there a large portion at my life, so careless. So many memories with friends, innocent and happy. Now my height protruded over the counter, I had matured physically. I was no longer the half starved child from all those years ago. And now death was tugging at my shoulder.

I sat alone and cold for a moment, then that high I felt when I fought the Lamia came to me. I no longer felt the same as a dead man, I felt more alive then ever. The rush of the wish to continue came to me and it was a very inebriating feeling, it felt wonderful. Then the thought of my enemies came and it turned to a burning rage. These bastards wanted to end me? I'd end every one of them if they dare try. I had the skill, I had good friends and I wasn't about to fail.

An arrogant smirk came to me, and I held back a chuckle. I was insane I thought to myself. I sat there and enjoyed my drink. The tavern seemed different after that moment somehow.

Another hour rolled by, and after the two agents left I departed about ten minutes later. I walked naturally. I walked casual but alert, waiting for the arrow that would take me but it never came. I went down the road to my home, it was pitch black that night as the moon was absent and only the glow of the stars shown in the sky. I listened to the sound of my footsteps and the deaf forest around me.

Then as I was no less than a mile from my home I heard someone whisper my name. I slowly stopped and readied myself and turned to the direction it came. Then I realized it was my friend in the brush. I rushed and squatted in the tall grass with him. It was then that I realized I was surrounded by a brotherhood of guild members and town guard. I had much to improve on my perception I thought.

My curly haired Breton explained no more that five minutes ago a group of about fourteen high elves passed by dressed plainly, no doubt headed for Veruna. My blood ran cold and I said that we must save her. He reassured me that they sent a tangent up to the cottage to retrieve Veruna, but if we were to stop their terror we would ambush them there.

We crept through the forest and then I saw the glow of the giant torch that was our cottage broke from the trees ahead. Images of my mother, father, my brother, and my grandmother filled my mind then of veruna. My stomach twisted, "she's safe I promise" my friend whispered. I pushed my thoughts to the side and continued. Focused on our target.

As we approached a bit away from the clearing, half of our number broke off and circled around to the opposite side of the clearing. The agents stood around the cottage, focused of casting flames onto my home. After we were sure everyone was in position and my curly haired Breton friend handed me a sword someone shot the first arrows and two elves crumpled to the grass. Some of the thalmor didn't even notice initially.

We burst from the treeline and ripped into them. It was probably over in less than ten seconds but it felt longer. As I rushed at the elf turned abreast of me he noticed after I had closed half the distance. He shot me in the chest with a bolt of lightening. My vision turned blurry it was so painful but I filled with rage. I roared as I continued to charge him, he panicked and I had him. I plunged the blade so deep into his rips. My goodness the heat from the inferno was raidient and intense. I pulled it out and as he somehow still stood he tried to cast one more shock on me but it came as a tingle. I raised my sword high and cleaved in diagonally at his neck and there he fell.

There we stood surrounded by our dead adversary, victorious. I began to shout out for Veruna, a moment later she appeared and we held onto each other she cried deeply and I fought tears. She was safe and I simply tried to slow my breathing.

One of the wiser older members came to us, and elaborated that word shouldn't have spread to the rest of the thalmor as they intercepted the messenger. But they would come looking to where their agents went. We left to Reroy's old cottage and out posse went their way. Me and Veruna shared the bed.

We stayed there for for a week and I decided to take Ky'aiden up on his offer of help. I would miss my home but staying would risk everyone around me.

I told Veruna and she reluctantly accepted my decision. If I left it could be said that I died in the fire and they would have no reason to come looking. I went to the brewery and found Jurlian and Ky'iaiden there. Kyiaiden gave me a sealed written letter to give to his friend Qiurz-rehy. I was anxious about leaving my apprenticeship of brewing before I was finished. Jurlian told me I had learned most of what there was to know. I had only not been taught the most rare of brews from around Tamriel, such as some Argonian ales. It was quite difficult to take a final look around the brewery.

I went to the guild and to my friends and companions I owed my life to. They promised they would check on Veruna from time to time.

To shorten the pain, the next morning I left. Veruna and I shared one last breakfast, I packed one of Reroys sacks and said goodbye. She led me to the path and walked with me to a fork in the road a mile and a half up. We hugged tightly and she saw me off.

My heart was heavy for the next two days, then after I passed twice the distance I had ever been from home, I preyed and focused on the task at hand.

The path was long as it was beautiful, the rolling hills and the smells of late summer complimented each other. The sound of sequoias and the call of ##### were the melody of the country. I reminisced of my days when I walked all the way across the continent to high rock. I felt as though I had lost the strength of that little cat that I was then. I wondered why, and resolved to gain that feeling back.