Scroll 7
"A Monster Unleashed"
Entering the gates, the group returns to a frantic Holgunn. Yelling to the point his voice echoed off the walls, he ordered a group of soldiers in front of him.
"By the divines above, if you milk drinkers don't find a way to stop them, so help me-"
"Holgunn, what's going on?!" Dauragon yelled, getting his attention.
"You've returned….thank Y'sgramor for that at least." he said irritably. "The attack on the beach was just a ruse….I hope your blades are thirsty, friends. The Covenant is in the city!"
"What?!" Aedalyn exclaimed.
"H-How?!" Amrien questioned, balling up a fist.
"Does it matter?!" Dauragon spat. "They're here, nothing is going to change that. We have to kick them out….by force." he answered darkly.
"Holgunn, how did they get into Davon's Watch?" Aedalyn asked in disbelief.
"They scaled the cliffs like damn mountain goats….takes guts, I'll give them that." he pointed in the direction of Indoril Manor. "Get to the tombs, quickly! Tanval's in there, performing his ritual. He has no idea what happened, you must guard him until he's done!"
Aedalyn immediately took off without a word, sprinting towards the northern district.
"Aeda, hold on!" Amrien yelled, running after her.
Dauragon merely gave Holgunn a nod of reassurance, then ran after the Bosmer siblings.
000
Aedalyn sprinted with every bit of stamina she could muster. Her brother was hot on her heels, trying to catch up.
"Aeda, slow down!" he yelled.
A loud, cacophonous blast erupted from a small farm to the right of them as another bombardment of fireballs fell from the skies.
Aedalyn turned around momentarily to respond. "We have to get there, fast!" she yelled over the bombardment. "I will not let anyone else die!" she yelled.
A puff of smoke behind Aedalyn caught Amrien's attention, his eyes widened when he saw someone emerging from it.
"Aeda!" he yelled, trying to run to her aid.
Aedalyn whipped around, a sharp pain in her right shoulder as a dagger dug into it.
An orc woman, two daggers in hand and cowl over her face, laughed in victory as she dug the dagger into Aedalyn's shoulder.
"AEDA!" Amrien yelled, feeling the anger boil within him.
Aedalyn, taken aback for but a moment, narrowed her eyes and crouched down.
Sticking out her right leg, she swung it under the orc and watched her fall prone on the ground.
"I'm okay…." she winced, grabbing the dagger in her shoulder, she pulled it out with a hiss of pain and thrust it down onto the orc assassin.
The orc cried out, but was quickly silenced as Aedalyn dug the dagger into her skull.
Aedalyn stood up, holding her shoulder, and continued to run towards the crypts.
Aeda…. Amrien thought in worry. Why is she being so reckless all of a sudden?
Amrien turned around. "Hurry up, mage!" he yelled, finding someone to take his anger out on.
The Dunmer didn't respond, just glaring at Amrien through a narrowed eye and clenched teeth.
000
When Aedalyn entered the crypts, a battle could be heard downstairs. She ran down, still holding her shoulder. Stopping just near the doorway, she began ripping a piece of her shirt and began tying it around her shoulder.
This is going to be troublesome. She thought irritably. Damn it! It's going to be hard to shoot arrows with my shoulder like this. She exclaimed in her head.
Drawing her bow, she ran into the room.
Amrien, just now entering the crypts with Dauragon, began running down the stairs at the sound of battle.
"By Y'ffre, if my sister gets anymore foolish right now, she's going to regret it."
"I like this side of your sister." Dauragon added.
"No one asked you, mage, you don't know her like I do!" Amrien spat.
A pained cry startled the two arguing mer, causing them to stop and run down to the battle.
"Protect my father!" Garyn yelled, charging a spell in his staff.
Aedalyn blocked an attack with her bow, the wood beginning to splinter in the center. She kicked him away and pulled an arrow back into the string.
She winced from the pressure applied to the wound on her shoulder and let out a pained cry as she released the arrow.
The arrow hit its mark, straight through the redguard's shoulder.
Holgunn was locked in battle with an orc dragonknight, sparks flying as they blocked each other blow for blow.
A breton mage charged an ice spike spell, aiming it straight at Aedalyn.
Anger boiled through Amrien's veins as he used pure shadow to glide to the mage.
With his daggers out, he caught the mage off-guard, digging them into her back.
He backed up enough to thrust a flurry of blows into the mage, a lot harder than usual, watching her cough up a great deal of blood.
Dauragon, drawing his two handed sword, mumbled under his breath as he set the chain ablaze.
Throwing it towards the redguard that attacked Aedalyn, Dauragon pulled him towards the blade, watching as it pierced through his chest.
"From the depths of Ash Mountain, Balreth I summon you!" Tanval called, the magical glow of the ritual getting brighter.
Another group of Covenant assassins entered the room from all sides.
A burst of flame flew past Aedalyn's face as she narrowly dodged it. Unfortunately, it hit Garyn in the side as he was charging a spell.
Garyn was sent flying back into the stone altar where Tanval continued the ritual.
Tanval, hearing his son's pained cry, looked up.
"Don't stop, father!" Garyn yelled, one of his eyes shut in pain. "I'm alright!"
Tanval was hesitant, but nodded and continued to mumble the spell under his breath.
"Balreth, come forth! I summon you!" he yelled, raising his voice as it bounced off the walls of the crypt.
"Tree-siblings, ash-walker, you're going to have to keep them away. I must tend to Garyn, he's defenseless!" Holgunn yelled.
"We've got it, Holgunn, go on!" Amrien yelled, thrusting a dagger into a redguard templar.
Dauragon locked swords with an orc dragonknight, who grinned.
"You're pretty strong, for a puny elf." the orc chuckled out.
Dauragon responded with a mouthful of flames to his face.
The orc screamed in agony as the flames charred his skin. He frantically patted his face, trying to put out the flames, but to no avail.
"This 'puny' elf just burned you alive, Covenant trash." Dauragon coldly replied.
Aedalyn's shoulder throbbed as she drew back another arrow. It quivered in her hand as she tried to hold it steady.
Damn it! She cursed to herself.
The Breton laughed, watching her struggle with the arrow.
"And here I thought wood elves were masters with a bow." she jeered, walking towards her, blade out.
"Y'ffre, guide my hand." Aedalyn prayed aloud, taking a deep breath in.
"Your god won't save you, cannibal." the redguard threatened.
Aedalyn's blood boiled at the words the redguard spoke.
"I'm well aware….." she replied. She lowered her bow and strapped it to her back.
In the same manner Amrien and Sa'raabi used shadow to blink to their enemies, Aedalyn appeared behind the redguard in an instant.
Pulling a dagger from her side, she thrust it into the redguard's back.
"She abandoned me long ago." Aedalyn darkly finished, dragging it up the redguard's spine.
"Balreth, I summon you from the depths of Ash Mountain! Heed my call and lend us your aid!" Tanval called once more.
The ground began to shake and crack.
A bright light churned with the colors of orange, red and white burst from the ground near the altar.
A large, bony hand rose up from within and grabbed the stone floor.
Amrien, Holgunn, Dauragon and Garyn's eyes widened in both awe and and shock as the creature pulled itself from below the ground.
The creature stood a good eight or more feet tall. Three skulls sitting on its body of bones.
Aedalyn stood in complete and utter fear at what now stood before them. A memory from Coldharbor flashed into her mind….remembering the beast that Molag Bal forced her and The Prophet to fight to ensure their escape.
Aedalyn stormed over to Tanval, who had a smile on his face now. She spun him around and grabbed him by the collar of his robes.
"Aeda, what are you doing?!" Amrien asked. "Let him go!"
She completely ignored her brother.
"Tanval, what in Oblivion are you thinking?!" she questioned in a panicked tone. "Do you realize what that is?!"
"I'm well aware, girl, don't patronize me!" Tanval yelled back, pushing Aedalyn away from him. He looked up at the creature of bones and pointed up.
"Go! Destroy the Covenant threat!" Tanval ordered.
The creature of bones disappeared into a bright ball of fire. The ball floated up to the ceiling and out of the hole where little light came through.
Aedalyn shook in rage….so much that the wound on her shoulder bled even more through its temporary bandage.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Tanval." she added darkly.
Tanval raised his staff and muttered under his breath.
"I will cloak you in shadow! Hurry, into the portal! Witness our victory!" He yelled, urging them inside.
Amrien and Dauragon walked towards the portal. Dauragon stepped through, but Amrien stopped.
"Aeda, you coming?" he asked.
"You go ahead….I'm going to find a healer for my shoulder." she answered, her gaze resting at the ground.
Amrien only responded with a nod, walking into the portal.
"I'm going to head to the beach. We need to pull our troops away so that beast doesn't mistake friend from foe." Holgunn added in panic.
"Calm yourself, old friend. I only told him to attack the Covenant forces, not our own."
"I'll go with you, Holgunn. I'll get The Pack out of there too."
Holgunn nodded and both he and Aedalyn ran out of the crypts.
"Garyn, are you alright?" Tanval asked, running to his son.
"I might have a broken rib and my robes are a little singed, but other than that, I'm fine." he answered.
A sigh of relief escaped Tanval's lips. "Thank the Tribunal."
"Father…..what was that thing?" Garyn asked uneasily.
"That 'thing' is saving Davon's Watch as we speak, my son. You need not worry."
000
"And here I thought you were deadly with fire, mage." Amrien added with his hands on his hips.
A corpse lay in front of the doorway, charred black from dying flames.
Stepping outside, Amrien and Dauragon stood on the deck of the ship that brought the Covenant force to the beach.
One of the masts' was splintered at the bottom, laying on the side of the ship.
"Stop that thing!" a female voice ordered.
"Dauragon." Amrien whispered.
Dauragon turned his head to the Bosmer and tilted it to the side.
Pointing up, Amrien walked up some stairs to where the wheel of the ship sat.
Looking down at the deck, the pair's eyes widened as Covenant troops surrounded the creature that Tanval summoned.
The creature let out a spine chilling roar as a dark cloud formed over the ship.
"Tree-dweller, get down!" Dauragon yelled, pulling on Amrien's tunic.
Fire rained down from the sky and onto the Covenant troops surrounding Balreth. The ship was set ablaze, turning the wood black.
Balreth kicked a Covenant soldier off the boat and into the water, then proceeded to destroy the ship.
"We need to get off the ship!" Amrien yelled.
Both Dauragon and Amrien quickly ran to the side of the ship, feeling the spell Tanval had placed upon them fading, and jumped into the water.
Upon coming up for air, the two watched as Balreth turned into the same ball of flame and flew away from the now burning ship. The ball of flame arced towards Davon's Watch, where it disappeared from view.
"Come on, let's head back."
000
"Swim back to your king, Covenant dogs!" Holgunn yelled with glee, a hearty laugh following.
Off to his right, Aedalyn sat against a half wall getting healed by Braion.
"It's not like you to be this reckless, Alpha." Braion lightly scolded.
Aedalyn didn't say a word, staring at the ship burning past the beach.
"Will big sister be alright, Braion?" Sa'raabi asked with worry.
"Yes, Sa'raabi, she just lost a little blood. She'll be fine." Braion assured.
"It seems Dauragon and Amrien have returned." Holgunn added, pointing towards the beach.
Dauragon and Amrien ascended the stairs to the group waiting at the top.
"Amrien, that was quite impressive!" Bazgar praised, smacking Amrien in the back.
The wind escaped Amrien's lungs. "T-that wasn't me, Bazgar." he wheezed.
"Then who did that?" Ravena asked. She looked over to Dauragon, pointing.
Dauragon shook his head.
"It was a bone colossus." Aedalyn answered, her tone a bit grim.
Braion's brow rose. "Really?"
Aedalyn nodded.
Braion looked Aedalyn over one last time and nodded. "You're all healed up, Alpha." he said with a smile.
"Thank you Braion. Do me a favor and stop calling me Alpha. We've talked about this." she added as she rose from where she sat.
"Sorry, old habits, I guess." he chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"You all know each other?" Holgunn asked.
Amrien nodded. "We were both in The Pack a few years ago. We left to see the world and earn money by other still take contracts as members of the Fighter's Guild from time to time."
"The Pack?" Holgunn questioned.
Ravena chuckled. "A silly name people have given our group." she replied.
A hearty laugh fell from Bazgar's lips. "When people face us in battle, they say we fight with the ferocity of beasts!" he yelled.
"This one wonders why." Sa'raabi snickered.
"Well, you have all proven to fight with the strength of Y'sgramor this day. It was certainly an honor to watch it for myself." Holgunn praised.
"It was an honor to fight with you, Holgunn. Hopefully it won't be the last time we fight side by side." Amrien thanked.
"Aye, certainly not!"
"I suppose we'll head back to the guild and report to Sees-All-Colors." Ravena shrugged. She points sternly at Amrien and Aedalyn. "You two better not leave the city anytime soon, we're going to drink until we drop tonight!"
"You wound me, fair lady. We've never turned down drinks before, Ravena." Amrien jested, clutching his tunic as if he were in pain.
Ravena glared at Amrien, but smiled afterwards. "Alright you fools, let's get back to the guild before Sees-All-Colors bursts a blood vessel."
"Ten septims say she's still barking orders to the poor fools at the guild." Bazgar grins as they walked side by side.
"That's not even a bet worth taking, Bazgar." Braion smirked, shaking his head.
"Brains of a mudcrab, comrade, remember?" Sa'raabi reminded.
"Shut it cat!" Bazgar yelled.
"Knock it off! Let's get moving!" Ravena yelled.
Aedalyn and Amrien watched the lively group walk up the road towards the gates.
"They haven't changed a bit, have they?" Aedalyn asked with a smile.
Amrien chuckled. "No, they haven't." A cough escaped his lips. "Bazgar really doesn't know his own strength, does he?"
"We're weak little wood elves, brother, but when it comes to speed and wits…."
"Fair point, sister, fair point." Amrien laughed. His demeanor changed slightly. "You okay?"
Aedalyn nodded. "Yeah, Braion's good at what he does. I'm feeling much better."
"My friends….." Holgunn interrupted. "Tanval is awaiting our return, let us be on our way."
"Of course, lead the way Holgunn."
000
"You have brought credit to your house! This is a great thing!" Tanval praised with open arms. "House Indoril will always speak well of your actions here today."
"It was our pleasure, Tanval. We're glad we could help." Amrien bowed.
"Not half bad, eh Tanval?" Holgunn questioned with a smirk.
"Indeed, old friends. Our victory is complete. Even now, the Covenant retreats!" he yells jovially. "As grandmaster of House Indoril, I honor you!"
"What will you do now?" Garyn asked curiously.
Amrien and Aedalyn both looked at each other and shrugged.
"Not sure." Amrien answered truthfully. "We have some business outside the city, but we may stick around for a day or two to plan our next move."
Garyn nodded in understanding. "You're welcome to stay here if you need to."
"We appreciate, Garyn." Aedalyn thanked with a smile. "How are you feeling? That fireball hit you pretty good."
"Just a singed robe a few broken ribs, but the healers did what they do best. I'll be fine." he assured.
"Guess we should head back to the inn and plan what we're doing next, sis."
Aedalyn nodded. She turned to Holgunn, Tanval and Garyn and bowed deeply. "Thank you for everything."
"We should be thanking you, small one." Holgunn replied, a hand to his chest. "You helped the people of Bleakrock, stopped the Covenant in Bal Foyen and saved Davon's Watch."
"May the Tribunal watch over you, tree-strider's…..wherever the road takes you." Tanval prayed, bowing in respect.
"You as well, Tanval." Amrien thanked.
Amrien, Aedalyn and Dauragon walked out of the northern district and back towards the tavern.
000
After a bit of rest, the bosmer siblings descended the stairs of the inn to find Ravena waiting for them.
"Ravena? What are you doing here?" Aedalyn asked.
"Came to check up on you, darling." Ravena answered.
Amrien looked around the room, watching out for anyone willing to offer a job.
"Where did our mage run off to?" Aedalyn questioned.
"Oh, Dauragon? I saw him heading for the Mage's Guild." Ravena answered.
"I wonder what he went there for?"
"Probably to report what happened at Bleakrock and Bal Foyen." Amrien answered. "He's probably done with us since the job is finished." he leaned against a pillar and sighed "It dragged on a lot longer than it needed to, to be perfectly honest."
Aedalyn nodded. "I guess you're right."
"So, you all coming to the celebration tonight? There will be a lot of stiff drinks." Ravena grinned.
"I could really use one." Amrien smirked.
"We'll be there, for sure!" Aedalyn grinned. "Wouldn't miss it! We need to catch up, anyway."
"Yes, we do, darling. You're going to tell The Pack why you've been missing for the past six months."
"Uh….sure." Aedalyn chuckled nervously.
"Well, time for me to head back to the guildhall. I'll see you guys tonight!"
Amrien and Aedalyn waved goodbye, now standing alone in the main hall of the inn.
"So….what now?" Aedalyn asked.
"Don't you have a visit with a creepy old man?" Amrien asked.
"Ugh, don't remind me." she groaned.
There was a moment of silence as they stood in the main hall. A loud crash startled the two, watching a dunmer fall flat on his butt from inebriation.
A smile stretched from one pointed ear to the other as Amrien watched his sister laugh and thank the innkeeper.
Six long months of searching for her and he was lucky enough to have her alive.
But what did alive mean exactly? If what she said about her time in Coldharbor was true, she had no soul. Yet she acted the same as if she did.
The thought of Molag Bal holding his sister's life, quite literally, in his hands made Amrien shake in anger.
The only lead they had to determine how to get it back was this so called 'Prophet' Aedalyn mentioned.
Could he be trusted?
"Amrien? Come back to Tamriel, brother, your staring." Aedalyn called in a sing-song tone.
"Huh? Oh, sorry….I was just thinking."
"About what?" she questioned with a raised brow.
Amrien shrugged.
Aedalyn puffed out her cheeks. "You're weird."
Amrien chuckled. "Come on, let's find something to do before the celebration tonight."
000
Stepping through the doors of the guildhall, a held in sigh of relief escaped Dauragon's lips.
Finally. He thought to himself. I don't have to be with those idiot Bosmer any longer.
Walking into the main room, he leaned over the balcony, looking over each mage on the bottom floor.
Eyeing a dunmer girl, he smiled.
The dunmer girl was nose deep in a tome, leaning against a table. A stack of other books and scrolls littered the table.
"Still studying hard, I see!" Dauragon yelled below.
The dunmer girl looked up from her book and beamed.
"Dauragon!" she yelled, quickly slamming the book she held closed.
Running up the stairs, the dunmer girl collided into him with a hug.
"Thank the Tribunal! You're alright!" she yelled.
Dauragon grew a bit uneasy at the eyes now staring at the two dunmer. He smiled, awkwardly, and carefully pulled the girl off of him.
"You really didn't think I'd be taken out that easily, did you Daela?" he questioned, a brow rising.
She shook her head. "No….your too stubborn to die." she jested.
Dauragon glared at her.
"So…..you done traveling with the bosmer siblings?" she asked, leaning against the railing of the second floor.
Dauragon nodded. "Finally."
"You say goodbye?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No need to….they don't want me around and I don't want to be around them. It's mutual."
Daela sighed in frustration. "Idiot."
Dauragon looked over at her curiously. She stared at him with a stern expression. She places her hands on her hips and sighs again.
"Well….it's decided." she says after a few moments of silence. "We'll go to the celebration at the tavern tonight!"
Dauragon's eye widened in surprise, then contorts to uneasiness.
"Why?" he asked, getting a little irritated.
Placing her hands on her back, she grins at him. "I'm willing to bet that you didn't even thank those tree-strider's for saving your life, did you?" she asked.
"I did…..before we left for Bleakrock. Again, why are we going to the celebration tonight?" he asked again.
"Because nothing happens in this stupid town….well, other than the occasional siege, I guess, but I want to drink and talk with your new friends!" she speedily replied, taking a large inhale of breath afterwards.
"Daela, you can't be serious? First of all, they are not my friends. Second, you can't hold your ale….you'd be passed out from two or three drinks."
Daela puffed out her cheeks. "So?"
"My answer is no." Dauragon answered.
Daela smacked the back of Dauragon's head with her staff.
Dauragon groaned at this. "Ow."
"You're an idiot." she groaned. She sighs out heavily and smiles. "Oh, well. It's not like you have a choice anyway." she grinned.
"And why is that?"
"Because the whole town is attending." she grinned. "And seeing as how you were there to help…."
Dauragon smacked his forehead. "Great."
Daela laughed. "Come on, don't be like that. It's going to be fun!"
"For you maybe." he groaned.
There were a few moments of silence before Daela spoke again.
"Will you at least go for me?" she asked.
"Do I have a choice?" he asked.
Daela just stared at him expectantly.
A long, frustrated sigh escaped Dauragon's lips.
"Fine…..I'll go." he groaned. "But don't expect me to stay inside."
Daela hugged Dauragon super tight. "Yes! Thank you!"
Dauragon looked down at her and smiled. "You're evil, you know that?"
"I know." she answered. Her eyes widen and she lets out a panicked yell. "Almalexia's magical tit!" she cursed, gasping at her sudden curse. "Sorry! I got to go back downstairs. I'll meet you at the inn tonight!" she yelled as she ran back down the stairs.
Dauragon stood there dumbfounded, but couldn't help but laugh at Daela's naive attitude.
She hasn't changed one bit. He thought with relief. Just like old times.
Dauragon walked down the stairs of the main hall and walked out of the guildhall.
Guess I'll find some work.
000
That night, the town echoed with cheers, laughter….and the occasional sound of a drunken fight.
Aedalyn and Amrien sat at a large table with The Pack, laughing and reminiscing about the past.
A loud, hearty laughed escaped Bazgar's mouth as he smacked Amrien on the back. He poured more ale into Amrien's glass with a big grin.
"And then you slid under that thing and gutted him!" he laughed. "There you were, covered in dreugh guts and you walked to the next enemy like nothing even happened!"
"My armor smelled for a week." Amrien grimaced, a smirk following. "Worth it."
"This one remembers big sister shooting that high horse altmer off that cliff!" Sa'raabi drunkenly added.
"I think you've had enough Sa'raabi." Aedalyn chuckled, taking Sa'raabi's mug of ale away from her.
Sa'raabi purred in protest, wrapping her arms around Aedalyn. "But big sister…..I'm having so much fun!" she yelled in delight, nearly falling backwards in her chair.
"That's all well and good, darling, but you are really going to hate it in the morning if you don't sober up a little." Aedalyn laughed.
"How can you scrawny tree-strider's….." a hiccup escaped Braion's lips. "Drink so much?"
"Well….unlike you, Braion…." Amrien replied with a smirk. "We can actually hold our strong drink."
Ravena sat at the end of the table, just sipping away at some wine with a smirk on her face.
"You sure you aren't half Nord?" she asks.
"Last time I checked we weren't." Amrien jested, looking over at his sister. "Maybe we should go home and ask dear old mom and dad, eh sis?"
An amused snort followed as Aedalyn held her mug to her lips. "Screw that place." she chugged down what was in her mug. "I'm quite content not going back there."
"Do you ever want to go back home, big sister?" Sa'raabi asked, grabbing for the mug Aedalyn took for her.
Aedalyn was silent for a moment, looking into her tankard of ale. "All the time." she answered, moving Sa'raabi's tankard away. "But we can never go back."
000
Sitting outside the tavern, Daragon sat on a bench near the fountain square. He looked back towards the tavern, the loud and boisterous laughter reaching out to here. His face contorted to a bit of an unamused scowl as he shook his head.
"There you are!"
Dauragon rolled his eyes. "Hello Daela."
"Why aren't you inside? It's really fun in there." she grinned.
"I'm content sitting out here, Daela." he answered dryly, looking down at a tome in his lap. "I'm a hot headed pyromaniac and that place is filled with stiff drink…..do I need to put two and two together?" he asked.
Daela smacked him in the back of his head.
"Ow." Dauragon added, still looking into his book.
Daela sat next to him, handing him a tankard of ale.
Dauragon took the tankard without any objection. After all….her could really use a drink after the week he had.
"Thanks." he said with a smile, taking a sip from the tankard.
"You're welcome."
There were a few minutes of silence. Ash continued to fall from the sky like little gray snowflakes. Aside from the sounds of the celebration in the tavern, the only other thing that was heard was Dauragon turning the page in his tome.
"Why are you such a jerk?" Daela questioned.
Dauragon turned to her, a brow rising in confusion.
"You're just realizing this?" he asked with a smirk.
Daela sighed. "Listen….I know things have been hard for you….I get that." holding her tankard in both hands, she stared down into it. "But, life is way too fleeting for you to just remain alone."
"I'm not good with people, Daela. You of all people should know that."
Daela nodded. "True….but it doesn't have to stay that way. I believe that your life would be a bit more complete with more friends." she added.
"I don't need anymore friends. I've got you and that's enough." he replied, finally closing the tome in his lap.
"What about those bosmer siblings you traveled with these past few days?"
"They're a pair of idiots." he replied hotly. "The girl is naive and reckless. The other one is an arse. They played in the snow on Bleakrock like a bunch of children, they bicker and rant and are infuriatingly stupid."
Daela laughed. "I'm surprised you haven't burst a blood vessel." she teased.
"Not yet." he replied with a smile.
There was another few moments of silence before a sighing Daela broke it.
"Are you afraid you'll lose them if you get too close?" she asked.
Dauragon stopped, staring down at the ground, gritting his teeth.
"I'm right…..aren't I?" she asked, a look of worry etched on her face.
000
Aedalyn and Amrien continued to enjoy the company of The Pack. It had been a long time since they could enjoy themselves like this. Especially Amrien, who could finally lighten up and not have to worry about finding his sister dead somewhere in Tamriel.
In the corner of Aedalyn's eye, she saw Tanval walking into the tavern. He looked about and saw Aedalyn looking at her.
He walked over and stood behind Bazgar, who was hunched over asleep.
"Aeda, Amrien, it's good to see you. Might I have a word with you?" he asked.
Amrien and Aedalyn looked at each other and nodded.
Tanval led them to a table in the far corner of the room. Sitting down, he cupped his hands together and let them rest on the table.
"Where's your dunmer friend?" he asked curiously.
"We've parted ways." Amrien answered. "He's doing his own thing now."
"I see….well I hope you two will be enough to handle this job I have for you."
"You planning on summoning another monster, Indoril?" Aedalyn asked coldly.
Tanval narrowed his eyes at Aedalyn's remark and sighed. "No…..I do not." he replied irritably. "But I would like to put said monster back where he came from."
"Get to the point, Tanval." Amrien added in frustration. "What do you need us to do?"
Tanval was silent as he took a sip of wine.
"Balreth has done its job. The Covenant has been driven from Davon's Watch. We need to put it back where it belongs: in the depths of Ash Mountain."
"So why hasn't it been done already? I thought a powerful mage such as yourself would have done that by now." Aedalyn added coldly.
"Aeda, knock it off." Amrien turned his attention back to Tanval. "How do we put Balreth back into Ash Mountain?"
"I'm….not exactly sure." Tanval replied honestly. "I made use of ancient rites and secret lore to wrench him from his cell. You saw the conclusion of my efforts."
"Yes….it was quite the show. Watching all those people die from fire and brimstone." Aedalyn said sarcastically.
"Aeda." Amrien groaned in irritation.
"I understand why you're upset, tree-"
"Call me tree-dweller and you're getting a well placed kick from under this table!" Aedalyn yelled, her voice almost soaring over the rest of the noise in the tavern.
"Aeda, stop!" Amrien yelled, grabbing his sister by the arm. "Sit down!"
Tanval cleared his throat. "Charming sister you have there, Amrien."
"Don't provoke her."
"My apologies." he takes another sip of wine. "Garyn works to return him to his slumber. He will guide your hand and tell you what needs to be done. He's west of the city, on the slopes of Ash Mountain. I sent a detachment of soldiers with him to ensure his safety. I'm certain he already knows what needs to be done."
"I suppose we'll head that way once we're done with our own business." Amrien replied with crossed arms.
"A fair warning….the longer we wait, the worse it may get." Tanval coldly stated, getting up from his seat.
"No one to blame for what will happen but yourself." Aedalyn added darkly.
Tanval scoffed. "I did what needed to be done. I don't regret my decision."
Tanval walked away, leaving Aedalyn and Amrien alone at the table.
Amrien looked over at his sister, who seemed to fidget in her seat.
"What's gotten into you today?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"Nothing….I can't believe that guy. Summoning a monster like that." Aedalyn said irritably, taking another drink from her tankard.
"You….looked pretty terrified when Balreth was summoned. Have you seen one of those before?" Amrien asked, placing a hand on his sister's shoulder.
Aedalyn nodded. "In Coldharbor. Molage Bal summoned one to stop The Prophet and I from escaping. It was called the Child of Bones."
"Can I ask you something?"
Aedalyn nodded.
"Can we trust this Prophet guy? I know its the only lead we have to getting your soul back, but I'm not sure about him."
"He saved my life. I owe him an audience for that at least." Aedalyn added.
Amrien nodded. "True. I'll have to thank him for that."
"I hope you can thank Lyris one day." Aedalyn said a bit sadly. "She's the real one who saved me." she lowered her head, gripping her tankard tightly.
"Did she-?"
Aedalyn shook her head. "No….I don't think you can die in Coldharbor, per say, but she took The Prophet's place in his cell." her lip quivered slightly. "She…..she's still in there, Amrien. I want to help her when we get the chance and I think The Prophet will give us that chance."
"Alright….we'll head for this Harborage in the morning, or whenever we recover from our hangovers, and get some answers."
Aedalyn hugged her brother. "Thank you."
Amrien smiled. "You're welcome."
000
"I'm right, aren't I?" Daela asked again.
"And if you are?" Dauragon questioned.
"Those two bosmer need you….and you need them. It's pretty clear you trust them enough to have your back in a fight. All I'm saying is that you can't keep pushing people away forever…..something's got to give, you know?"
Dauragon turned to her.
"Did you forget how the world is right now, Daela?!" he questioned aloud.
"No, I'm well aware." she replied calmly.
"You're in a town surrounded by walls and soldiers ready to keep you safe! Out there, people die quickly and without mercy!"
"And?"
"What else is there to say, Daela?! I barely know those two tree-dweller's! Why would I, let alone they, want be friends?!"
Daela was silent for few moments and sighed.
"One day Dauragon, you're going to wake up alone with no one around you. You'll be an old mer, with no purpose, no incentive to do anything. One day you will wish that you did have people who cared about you. Who worries for your well being like I do. Who would be there to tell you when you messed up or did something right." she stops, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Do you really want that?" she asks.
Dauragon was silent. How could he even respond to something like that? The grip on his tankard tightened and he gritted his teeth.
Daela stood up.
"At least think about it, okay? If you don't want to, I'll understand." she stands in front of him and puts a hand on his head. "You may have that tough shell around you, but inside…." she places a finger to his chest. "There is kind and understanding mer waiting to get his chance to be himself."
She walked away, heading to the Mage's Guild instead of the tavern.
"A little bird told me that the bosmer are leaving town tomorrow!" she yelled in his direction, her back still facing him. "At least consider going with them! You have been looking for work after all!"
Dauragon sat in silence after Daela disappeared behind the door to the guildhall.
Gritting his teeth, he chugged down the rest of his ale and threw the wooden tankard. It clattered to the ground, rolling out of sight under a bush.
Damn it….. Dauragon cursed in his head. She's right. Why is she always right?
(Balreth has been set free and The Prophet is waiting. What will Aedalyn learn when she meets The Prophet at the Harborage? And what will Dauragon do now that the debt to the bosmer siblings has been repaid? Next Chapter: The Five Companions! Look forward to it! ^.^)
