Chapter Six: Beneath Those Hidden Scars
A/N: Yay chapter six! I was really looking forward to writing this chapter, and I hope you guys look forward to reading it. Lucien, Serana, and Tailsin are now in the Soul Cairn looking for Valerica, but is that all that they'll find..? I don't know, maybe. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and feedback is always appreciated!
For a brief moment, I felt almost weightless. I couldn't feel anything but an endless void and I was too afraid to open my eyes. My body felt weak, and I was only getting weaker as the void grew longer. Though suddenly I saw a flash of my light through my eyelids, which prompted me to open them. I finally felt a solid surface beneath my feet, and I could feel the presence of air around me. However, when I opened my eyes, I did not expect to see this horrible wasteland.
It was dark and gloomy. For miles, you could only see an endless black fog and crumbling towers. On the dead dirt road wandered souls who called for their loved ones. The sky was a dark, awful purple, and all I could see was death. This was the Soul Cairn.
I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. And as I turned around I saw Tailsin, who then looked back at Serana.
"Look at this place," Serana said, looking in the distance, "It's so… dead."
"Why would Valerica want to hide here?" Tailsin asked, turning towards the land as well.
"I don't know," Serana exclaimed, "But if she is here, we should start by going to that large castle."
Serana pointed at the castle way on the other side of the Soul Cairn. It looked even more depressing than Castle Volkihar, and thinking back on Tailsin's question; why on Nirn would anyone want to live here?
We descended down the adjacent steps of the portal and onto the dirt road. On the side, there were ghosts who were moaning about their pain and emptiness. "What kind of place is this?" One would ask. And as we got further down the path, the question seemed to play on repeat. I would try to speak to the lost souls, but Tailsin would pull me away, saying there was nothing I could do for them. I knew he was right, but I couldn't stand not being able to do anything to help them, it was agonizing.
As we made our way down the path, souls would question Tailsin and Serana's presence in the Soul Cairn. Vampires didn't belong in the Soul Cairn. Hell, even I didn't belong here. "The walking dead," some would call them. However, they were very good at ignoring them, despite the soul's efforts.
It seemed as though we were walking for hours. Everywhere I looked I could see death, sadness, horror… Souls would cry out how they were tricked or murdered. Bonemen would rise from the grey dirt and attack us, which would continue for the rest of the way. Serana's face was uneasy and the whole time she remained quiet. There was nothing to say.
Looking forward I saw the large stone castle, which we tried so much to reach. We all walked silently up the large steps that lead to the castle. As we approached the top, however, there was large purple barrier covering the entrance. Serana ran from behind me and Tailsin, calling out for her mother. Suddenly, emerging from around one of the large stone pillars, was an older vampire. She dressed in very similar clothes to Serana, and her hair was black, much like Serana's. Her complexion was wrinkled, and her facial expression was of surprise. This woman was Valerica.
"Serana?" Valerica exclaimed, approaching the barrier, "What are you doing here? Where is your father?"
Serana let out a sigh, "He's not here mother."
"I must've failed. Harkon must've deciphered the prophecy. He must've found a way." Valerica said, her expression becoming full of worry.
"No, you got it all wrong. We're here to stop him." Serana pleaded.
Valerica appeared relieved, though it quickly went away as she saw me and Tailsin.
"You dare bring an outsider here?" Valerica questioned, then turning to Tailsin, "And what are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too," Tailsin said sarcastically.
"Mother you don't understand, they're here to help," Serana said, trying to explain, "How do we get inside? We need to speak with you."
"You," She said, pointing towards me, "Come forward. Now."
I stepped forward hesitantly, still remaining quiet. Valerica stepped forward as well, her glare fixated on my eyes.
"How has it come that a vampire hunter is in the company of my daughter?"
"Oh no, ma'am," I said nervously, "I am not here to hurt Serana at all. This is all a misunderstanding."
"Valerica you need to calm down for a moment and hear us out," Tailsin said, stepping forwards.
"Oh really, Tailsin? And what are you doing here? I figured you would be out and about blindlessly carrying out tasks for my husband," Valerica said, her tone becoming defensive.
"Wow Valerica, it seems as though you are just as much of a bitch as you were before you left," Tailsin said, his sarcasm becoming deeper.
"Please stop fighting!" Serana yelled.
"Look, Valerica," I said, stepping forward, "We're not here to fight. We're here because we need the Elder Scroll that you ran off with."
"And why should I believe that you won't just turn on my daughter, hm? That you have the interest to help in our struggle?"
"Oh cut the fucking bullshit Valerica," Tailsin snapped, "You're just as bad as Harkon. There is no struggle for you, or for any of us. Our intention is to save the innocent people of Tamriel."
"Tailsin you know nothing of what Harkon was going to do to me and Serana!" Valerica said, raising her voice.
"Would you both please just stop fighting?" Serana shouted, then turning to Valerica, "Mother, we need the other Elder Scroll, we need to stop father before he furthers his plan."
"Serana, don't you see? There is no stopping Harkon. That is why I had to hide you; to prevent Harkon from ever enacting his plans."
"Is that why you hid the scroll, too?" Serana asked, crossing her arms.
"I hid the scroll to prevent any further progression into the prophecy. Harkon wanted to use you to further his own plans!" Valerica pleaded.
Tailsin intervened, only this time more calmly, "Much like how you used Serana to further your own plans?"
Before Valerica could respond, Tailsin spoke again, "You claimed you hid Serana to protect her from Harkon, but Serana had no idea that Harkon was going to kill her. In a sense, Harkon wanted to use Serana to enact his plans for the prophecy, while you wanted to use her to prevent Harkon from doing so. So… you both really aren't that different in the sense that you were both using Serana to achieve personal goals."
Valerica was speechless, which prompted Serana to speak up, "Is this true?"
Valerica had no words. And for the longest time, she said nothing.
"You didn't even ask me if I was okay with everything. You just tore me away from everything I knew; my father, Tailsin, the castle…"
"I did it to protect you-"
"I'm so sick of hearing that! I don't need protection. Do you even realize how hard it was finding out what my father was planning? What he was planning to do to me? Not to mention what he had done to innocent people? Why can't you see how hard all of this is for me?"
Valerica let out a long sigh, and her face seemed full of regret and sadness. Serana was on the verge of tears, which I couldn't blame her for. The whole situation was complicated, much more than I could imagine.
"Mother, please, we need the Elder Scroll," Serana managed to say.
Valerica managed to lock eyes with Serana, which didn't last very long. Valerica let out a sharp exhale before touching the purple barrier that separated us.
"Even if I wanted to, I can't. At least, not with these barriers up." Valerica said.
"Is there a way to disable the barrier?" I asked.
Valerica's gaze strayed, "Yes… however, the only way to bring down the barrier is to take down the three keepers that guard it."
"Sounds pretty easy." Tailsin shrugged.
"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" Valerica said, her voice having a hint of sarcasm, "Except one of the gatekeepers is on top of a really high tower…"
Tailsin's expression turned pale, almost as if he appeared to be nauseous.
"I don't get it," I said, dumbfounded.
Serana broke into a hysterical laughter, "Tailsin's afraid of heights!"
"Shut up!" Tailsin barked.
"Are you really?" I asked, almost laughing myself.
"It's a childhood fear, okay?" Tailsin defended, "I can't help it!"
"Regardless of your ridiculous fears; you need to kill all the keepers in order to bring down the barrier. The keepers are located on the outer perimeter of the Soul Cairn, in the tall rocky towers." Valerica informed.
We all concluded the plan and told Valerica that we return soon. As we descended the stairs, we tried to negotiate which tower to take on first. We chose to approach the right tower first and then make our way to the next two after.
Walking through the Soul Cairn sent chills down my spine, and the longer we stayed, the weaker I felt. I couldn't quite explain it, but I felt as though I was weak, too weak. I worried about my capabilities to fight the keepers; praying that they would be easy opponents. Though this is a daedric plane of Oblivion, of course, the keepers wouldn't be "easy".
The continuous bonemen slowed our progression but did no major damage to our journey to the tower. As we encountered more of them, I became accustomed to how they fought and operated. Continuously fighting the same opponent over and over again gives you the opportunity to study their techniques. Although as bonemen, they don't really have a set technique; more so just blindness fighting.
Creepy would be an understatement to describe the Soul Cairn. It was cold and dark; no place for a living soul. This place reminded me of Castle Volkihar. While the castle might not have souls wandering in dread, it gave off a creepy and unsettling aura. The dirt beneath my feet was cold and I felt as though it was pulling me in. I felt weightless here. I felt weak in the presence of the Ideal Masters, who probably smiled at my vulnerability.
"There it is," Serana said, pointing at the large stone structure.
The building was dead and dark. Surrounding the building were souls who appeared to be praying. Strange colors were emanating from their bodies. It didn't take long to realize that the keeper was harvesting their souls.
Tailsin drew his sword and Serana her dagger. I did the same. In my left hand was a lighting spell, in my right was my flame enchanted dagger. The keeper, who had just noticed our presence, stepped down from their large stone throne. The creature was massive, and so were their weapons. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that its large sword was made of bone, as well as its armor. It didn't look human, anywhere close; but rather skeletal.
Tailsin launched himself towards the keeper. The creature drew its enormous sword, defending itself from Tailsin's incoming blow. As Tailsin's sword conflicted with the keeper's, there was a small shockwave that threw Tailsin to the ground. While the shockwave itself was small, the force that threw Tailsin was immense. Tailsin was forced to the hard stone floor, so much so that the floor began to crack.
"I really hope that was the floor and not my back." Tailsin groaned, trying to pick himself up.
Serana performed and ice spike spell towards the keeper. The spike penetrated the neck but did little to nothing to the keeper's well being. Serana compensated by casting a drain life spell.
"Do you really think you can just drain its life?" Tailsin asked, his tone having a hint of sarcasm.
"Hey, I'm trying something!" Serana yelled.
The keeper resisted Serana's spell and became even more aggressive. Several feet from me was Serana and Tailsin, who still appeared to be bickering. The keeper set its cold eyes on me and began to make its way towards me. I steadied my balance to the ground and clenched my fists, concentrating on the voices coursing through my head. As the keeper came closer I projected my voice with unrelenting force. But as I gave way to the spell escaping from my mouth, there was no force. The words came out, but there was no force. I didn't prepare myself to roll out of the way, and for a moment I felt entirely weak and still.
The keeper's sword almost touched my head; though as I feared the worst I was quickly pushed out of the way. I felt my body shoved to the hard cold ground, and as I opened my eyes I saw Tailsin, who was kneeling next to me.
"Dammit, Lucien are you trying to get yourself killed?"
I scoffed at him, "Oh yes Tailsin, that's exactly what I was trying to do. I wasn't trying to shout or anything. No…"
Tailsin ignored my comment and picked me up. At that moment I heard the keeper's sword clash with the ground. Tailsin set me down, creating a good distance between us and the keeper. Serana was on the other side, pelting the creature with ice spikes. For a moment I thought about what had just happened. I couldn't shout. My words were nothing. No force, no magic; nothing. Tailsin grabbed my shoulders and shook me back to reality.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked, his face filled with concern.
I looked over at Serana again, who was battling the keeper on her own. I brushed off Tailsin's concern and made helping Serana our top priority. I conjured a lightning spell in both of my hands, pelting the keeper with all of my might. Tailsin attacked the creature from the front, preparing himself for any possible blows. The keeper swung its sword at Tailsin, but he didn't let it take him by surprise again. Tailsin was deflecting the keeper's blow, which allowed me and Serana to attack it ourselves.
The keeper could no longer withstand the amount of magicka that was inducing it, and Tailsin took the opportunity to cut its head off. Upon doing so, the keeper fell to the ground, and all that was left was its bone-like armor and sword.
Serana walked towards us, panting, "That was not a pleasant endeavor."
Tailsin sheathed his sword, "That's one down. Now we have two more to go."
"Let's just hope the other two are not as difficult," I said, my voice becoming a little raspy.
After our collaboration, we proceeded to the next major tower. The road there was depressing, much like before. Though I couldn't describe this trip any more different than before. It was very much the same; the occasional bonemen attacks never changed. Though my mood was fairly different, as well as my body. As we wandered more throughout the Soul Cairn, I felt my body becoming weaker. It was becoming to the point to where it was starting to worry me.
We had finally made it to the other rocky tower, which was very similar to the one we were just at. After fighting the other keeper, we found it fairly easy to tackle the second one. We knew how they operated and we knew their weak spots. The encounter didn't last very long; it actually felt rather brief. My body, however, felt even more so weaker. Tailsin and Serana took notice and were actually becoming worried. I brushed it off, trying to trick myself to believe it was nothing. To my surprise they actually bought it.
Making our way to the third tower was exhausting. All this walking and then battling two keepers was tiring. We were going slower, taking our time. Fighting the bonemen were becoming a nuisance. It was even delaying our journey further. After a while, we agreed to push on more quickly, for the sake of getting it done.
After spending much time walking, we had finally made it to the third tower. The tower was much taller than the other two, making it even more dreadful. Tailsin's face was becoming pale, almost sickened. Serana looked around for a way up the tower, though there were no stairs. Suddenly, I saw a small well-like structure near the tower. It had a glowing purple substance, which I could only assume was a portal of some kind. We all walked over to the portal.
"Okay, who wants to go first?" Serana asked, crossing her arms.
"Well, um, ladies first," Tailsin said, nervously gesturing towards the portal.
"Oh okay."
With that, Serana went behind Tailsin and pushed him into the portal. As he landed in, he disappeared. Serana let out a laugh as she stepped closer towards the portal. She told me to come along, and as I watched her disappear into the portal as well, I made my way in.
There was a sudden change in my vision. At first, it was blurry, but as I blinked my eyes it became clear again. I looked around and I saw myself on top of a tall tower. I looked over the edge and immediately stepped away. It was a very long drop; death would be inevitable if you fell off.
I turned around and saw Tailsin and Serana. Tailsin was against the wall, breathing heavily. Serana was trying to calm him down.
"You know what, it's okay, "Tailsin said, his voice shaky, "As long as I stand against the wall I'll be fine."
"Then how will you fight, moron?" Serana asked, crossing her arms.
Tailsin and Serana started to bicker once more. After a while I told them to stop, reminding them that we had a mission. We literally had to pull Tailsin along the wall, and all the way up the stairs. The endeavor was not a joyful one.
Finally, at the peak, we saw the third and final keeper. Though this one was different. The keeper had heavily reinforced armor and an enormous battle axe. It rattled my nerves, and I could tell Tailsin and Serana were at unease as well. The keeper drew its weapon and made its way towards us. Tailsin could barely move due to his fear of heights. Serana was barely moving a muscle. I cast a lightning spell, trying to prevent the keeper from moving forward. It worked very little, but it brought us some time.
Serana pelted the keeper with ice spikes, aiming for its neck. Its thick armor was almost impenetrable, which made it difficult to damage. The keeper ran towards me with its battle axe. My only instinct was to roll out of the way, which I barely managed to do. I poorly judged my distance, and the shockwave of the keeper's battle axe pushed me towards the edge of the tower. My body fell off the edge, and my only salvation was the clutches of my hands on the stone.
I was hanging on for my life, screaming almost hysterically. I tried to pull myself up, but I was far too weak. I felt my hands slipping away. Fear had overcome me. I was in tears, trying to hold on. I could hear Serana shouting for me, all while fighting the keeper.
But I slipped.
My hands were no longer in contact with the stone. I watched as the edge became farther and farther away. I tried to shout, to become ethereal, but my body was too weak. Death was inevitable now. I was screaming hysterically, and my stomach was dropping at the speed of light. For a moment I looked below me, to see the ground that I would soon come to impact with.
Though suddenly I could no longer see the ground. Nor did I feel the sensation of falling. I opened my eyes, terrified of whether or not I was alive. Upon opening them, I saw Tailsin, who was shaking in fear. He was holding onto me tightly, which I welcomed because now I was no longer falling to my death.
"You scared the shit out of me."
I was alive. Alive because Tailsin saved me. I couldn't save myself from falling. In a normal world, I would've just shouted my way out of a problem. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like nothing. Tiny and insignificant. I felt vulnerable to death.
"I can't shout," I choked, "I am nothing without my shouts."
Before Tailsin could respond, Serana called for us. In the blink of an eye, Tailsin blocked the keeper's incoming attack. Underneath the keeper, I cast a lightning rune. One slight move of the keeper and the rune would explode. Fortunately, the keeper took a step forward and the rune beneath it exploded. Tailsin took his sword and plunged it into the keeper. This final blow prompted the defeat of the final keeper, and we were more than relieved.
Tailsin looked around and remembered the massive height of the tower. He literally forced himself to the ground, shaky and terrified. Serana came over and pulled on his hair, dragging him over to the portal only a few feet away. After throwing him in and watching him disappear, Serana turned around.
"What a baby." Serana scoffed.
I couldn't laugh at her witty remark because I had just had a near-death experience and nothing sounded joyful or hilarious. Serana gave me a concerned look, asking me if I was alright. I responded quietly, insisting that I was alright; but I knew better. Nothing about this situation was alright. I can't fight without my shouts; I can't protect my allies without my shouts. This made me think about my inability to fight proficiently. How can I fight with consistency if I can't even shout? I am the damn Dragonborn and I can't even shout. Am I even the Dragonborn?
Serana interrupted my thoughts by gesturing towards the portal. After she had stepped inside, I followed her. On the other side was the ground in all its deathly glory. Tailsin was nearby, still shaking in fear. Serana tried to beat him back to reality. Meanwhile, I was looking around, trying to spot the castle that Valerica was being held in. Upon doing so I prompted Tailsin and Serana to follow me. It took a moment for the fighting to stop but they came around eventually.
Walking up the dirt path was a pain. I was still in shock from the fall, and I could feel my bones getting weaker. I could only think about getting out of the Soul Cairn, and back to Tamriel, where I can shout. Aside from all my depressing thoughts, I glad that we had finally brought down the barrier. We were now one step closer to the Elder Scroll.
We had finally made it to the castle, Valerica could be seen standing against the large stone walls. As we walked up the stone steps, Valerica rushed over. She seemed eager and rather surprised. She commented that she didn't expect us to achieve victory, and Tailsin responded with a snarky remark.
"Can you give us the scroll now?" I asked.
Valerica reluctantly replied, "Yes, follow me," And just as she started to walk, she turned around to face us again, "Oh, and stay on watch for Durnehviir. He is the dragon that roams the Soul Cairn."
There is a dragon that roams the Soul Cairn? I thought that used souls travel to the Soul Cairn. So did someone soul trap a dragon? By the Gods that boggled my mind.
Valerica led us through the large double doors of the castle. The interior was not inside, and it reminded me of the courtyard at Castle Volkihar. It was large and spacious, looked like an arena almost.
As we were walking down the steps, there was a sudden bolt of lightning that touched the stone surface of the courtyard. It made me jump in surprise, but Valerica brushed it off, claiming it was a frequent occurrence.
Though suddenly, a loud and monstrous roar could be heard in the distance. Valerica stopped in her tracks and turned around.
"Jeeze Tailsin, what did you eat..?" Valerica trailed, rolling her eyes.
"That wasn't me you old hag!" Tailsin shouted.
The loud roar could be heard, only this time it appeared to be getting louder. We all stood in silence, but I knew what it was. That roar was too loud to be thunder. It was a dragon roar.
Suddenly, a large green dragon flew in from over the tall stone walls. Valerica stood there frozen and terrified.
"Wow, I guess your comment isn't all that funny now huh?" Tailsin said, drawing his sword.
Valerica ignored Tailsin's comment, "By the All-Maker… It's Durnehviir! Defend yourselves!"
Serana and I drew our daggers and spells, while Valerica did the same. The dragon landed on a small stone building across from the courtyard. As it landed, it shouted strange orbs of light that immediately fell to the stone floor. As the orbs blended with the stone, boneman came from the surface. Wonderful. Valerica and Serana started to attack the incoming boneman. Meanwhile, I was trying to cast my lighting spells at the dragon, who was flying at an accelerated speed.
My efforts were deemed wasted as none of my spells managed to hit the beast. I was beginning to get frustrated, but my mood quickly changed when the dragon landed on the ground. I lost my balance for a moment but then regained it once I looked up at the dragon. As the creature turned around I prepared myself for a fire breath. Though instead, the dragon shouts some sort of spell that I was not familiar with. It was a purple wave that went through my body, and the effects caused me to collapse to the ground. It wasn't paralysis, it was stamina drain.
I went into muscle failure. I couldn't move, or at least I couldn't get up. I turned my gaze towards the dragon and he was about to snap his jaws on my head. I pushed my body backward with all my might, avoiding the dragon's bite. Looking up I saw Valerica and Serana, who were pelting the dragon with ice spikes. This caused the dragon to turns its attention towards them.
I tried to roll over and get up but to no avail. My body was much too weak to move. Suddenly, I saw Tailsin rushing over and kneeling down next to me. He gave me a small bottle that I could only assume contained some type of liquid. Tailsin ushered me to drink it, and without hesitation I did as I was told. I uncorked the bottle and drank the substance. It was a stamina potion. I felt relieved that I had my energy back; and even more so now that I can move.
I left the potion on the ground and got up. Tailsin stood next to me, ready to fight. Valerica and Serana were still holding off the dragon, though that quickly changed once I cast a lightning spell. As the dragon turned around towards me, I cast a fire rune, which the dragon inevitably stepped on with its wing.
As it was staggered by the effects of the rune, I grabbed Tailsin's sword and launched myself towards the dragon. I swung the sword at its jaw, which caused it to become even more disoriented. Upon doing so I jumped on the dragon's head, pelting it with the sword. The dragon screamed in agony, trying with all its might to throw me off its head. After one last attempt, I jammed the sword into the dragon's head, hopefully killing the beast.
Normally once I kill a dragon, I would absorb its soul. Though this time was different. I didn't absorb the creature's soul. Instead, the dragon just disappeared. It's body just disappeared from sight. After the dragon disintegrated beneath me, I fell to the ground. I was completely baffled.
"I never thought I would see the death of that dragon," Valerica said, completely in shock.
"The dragon didn't die…" I said, trailing off.
"Volumes written on Durnehviir allege that he cannot be slain by normal means. It appears they were mistaken." Valerica stated.
"Unless…" Serana started.
"The soul of a dragon is as resilient as its owner's scaley hide." Valerica finished, then turning towards me, "It's possible that your killing blow has merely displaced Durnehviir's physical form while he reconstitutes himself."
"How long will that take?" Tailsin asked, crossing his arms.
Valerica then began to pace back and forth, "Minutes? Hours? Years? I cannot even begin to guess. I suggest we don't wait around and find out."
With that, we all followed Valerica, who led us to the side of the courtyard. In a small cut-out of the stone wall was an alchemy station, as well as long wooden encasing. Valerica opened the case and inside revealed an Elder Scroll. I was so ecstatic and relieved that we have finally found it. Tailsin and Serana sighed in relief as well. Valerica picked up the scroll and handed it to me. I gently took it and held it tightly in my hand. Despite the cold and rigid atmosphere of the Soul Cairn, the scroll and warm and radiant.
"Now that you have the scroll, you should be on your way." Valerica sighed.
"Wait, you're not coming with us?" Serana spoke, her expression filled with disappointment.
Valerica let out a long sigh, "I cannot return now. If I do, it will increase your father's likelihood of bringing about the Tyranny of the Sun."
"So after all of this, you won't be coming back?" Serana asked.
Before Valerica could respond, Tailsin spoke up, "We could use your help in Tamriel Valerica."
"As much as it pains me to send you all back to Tamriel alone, I cannot risk it. Not while Harkon is still alive." Valerica said, her expression filled with sadness.
In a final exchange of goodbyes, Serana hugged her mother one last time. I envied her, being able to hug her mother with so much love and affection. I will never be able to experience that again, but it brought me joy knowing that others could experience it.
As we walked out of the castle, the green dragon we saw before appeared on the stone structure. The dragon didn't attack, it just merely sat there silently and patiently. We all looked at each other, completely dumbfounded. I drew my dagger and approached the dragon slowly.
"Stay your weapons. I would speak with you Qahnaarin." The dragon spoke, its voice deep and booming.
I hesitantly sheathed my dagger and held tightly on the Elder Scroll, "I thought you were dead."
"Cursed, not dead," the dragon corrected, "Doomed to exist in this form for eternity. Trapped between laas and dinok, between life and death."
"Didn't you try to kill me and my friends?"
"The hostility was necessary. I was bound to an oath." The dragon stated.
I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Why are we speaking?"
"I believe in civility among seasoned warriors, and I find your ear worthy of my words. My claws have rendered the flesh of innumerable foes, but I have never been felled on the field of battle. I therefore, honor-name you "Qahnaarin", or Vanquisher in your tongue."
I felt a small smile creep up my lips, "I found you equally worthy."
"Your words do me great honor," The dragon said, "My desire to speak with you was born from the result of our battle, Qahnaarin. I merely wish to respectfully ask a favor of you."
My wits became suspicious, "What kind of favor?"
"For countless years I have roamed the Soul Cairn, in unintended service to the Ideal Masters. Before this, I roamed the skies of Tamriel. I desire to return there."
"What's stopping you?" I asked, already knowing the answer to my question.
"I fear that my time here has taken its toll upon me. I share my bond with this dreaded place. If I ventured far from the Soul Cairn, my strength would begin to wane until I was no more." The dragon replied, its tone filled with disappointment.
"What can I do to help?"
"I will place my name with you and grant you the right to call my name from Tamriel. Do me this simple honor and I will fight at your side as your Grah-Zeymahzin, your Ally, and teach you my Thu'um."
"Just call your name from Tamriel, that's it?" I asked, trying to obtain clarification.
"Trivial in your mind, perhaps. For me, it would mean a great deal." The dragon replied.
With that, the dragon flew from the structure and into the endless, dead sky of the Soul Cairn. In the back of my mind, I heard words flowing through my head. "Durnehviir". Faint yet almost clear.
The journey back to the portal was longer than the journey from the portal. We were all eager to get back home, where everything was alive and nice and sunny. Though the whole time, I looked back on our journey in the Soul Cairn. How I had that near-death experience, how I learned that Tailsin was terrified of heights, and how I had met a dragon eager to escape this wretched realm.
We achieved the one thing that we came for, and now we were one step closer to the end.
