((Thank you for Reviews! And note that from this point on, I'm experiencing Darinya's story line along with her. I am unaware of anything ahead, unlike before. It's all new to me too.))

-xXx-

Loredas 12, Second Seed

Dear Diary,

I was going to wait until we got to Solstheim to write, but I can't wait for days on end. I don't like skipping nights. The upside is I'm writing on the 'Northern Maiden', the downside is my handwriting looks like crap. And water keeps splashing on me. It's getting pretty bad, actually, so I'll cut this one short.

Ulfric gave us more money and a great breakfast. On the way to the docks I was giving out coins to beggars. The more I gave the more they seemed to come from the wood-works. Then I realized it was the same person wearing different clothes. I was almost going to go back to Ulfric and tell him the shocking amount of homeless I came across before Farkas pulled the false beard from the scrawny lady in oversized clothes. I was suspicious of the little girl selling flowers. I went ahead through the doors, the two of them followed behind me.

When we found the docks and Gjalund, he was giving us problems. Momma kept telling me to intimidate him. I refused. She kept saying 'Tell him you'll shout him off his boat.' I didn't. Even though she was pestering me, I was happy to know she didn't try to blast Gjalund, like that thief. Although she did mumble 'Hey, these are the times kid.' I ended up pointing out to the guy that the Cultists attacked me because Gjalund gave them passage. To his defense, the story goes that they knocked him out and made him take them over. But still, they did attack me. He gave in.

Momma and I had a little discussion about ethics while the guys readied the ship. I voiced my thoughts about my upbringing. I asked her why she taught me to be respectable, to grow up thinking that Momma was just as caring. Momma gave me the floor, and I talked and talked. Finally she spoke and said...

'Darinya, my dear. I have no excuse for my behavior as a young woman. Instead, I have reasons for them. As for anger at me for seemingly being two-faced, I'm glad you are as mad as you are. It means I had been doing my job as a parent. That I gave you the moral conscience I wasn't raised with. Believe me, my daughter, I'll tell you right now. There is more to me then what you know about so far. I have to live with my mistakes. I am ashamed and horrified that you will be affected, and I'm sorry for that. But during this adventure, you have to admit you are grossly unprepared. You're my baby and I will defend you. Even if I have to expose my ugly side.'

I fell silent and just sat quietly until we set sail. Vilkas and Gjalund got along right away. Farkas and I played an improve game of stix. Then we shared a pastry behind Vilkas's back. After that Farkas pulled out a flower. He had bought one from that girl. For me. I blushed. Then Momma yelled at me to cut it out. She said I'll get too emotionally attached and make stupid decisions. Momma explained that she was attracted to Jervar, but she didn't do anything until after her adventures. I called her on her own lie, telling her that Aunt Lydia let me read her journals and letters. This was before we found out that Momma wasn't really dead.

Momma was embarrassed. She asked if I read her journals from Riverwood. I told her no. Then she noted that she did make some mistakes that she wished she could take back. I had to agree. It was in her own words after all and I-

And-

Okay, I have to close my book, water is getting everywh-

-xXx-

Jumping up, Darinya barely missed a wave crashing over her. Tucking away her journal, Darinya slid under a tarp to sleep. Or not sleep. Depending on how well you think a person can drift off in cold weather on a wet boat.

-xXx-

Sundas 13, Second Seed

Dear Diary,

I feel dejected. I'm all alone in the woods of Solstheim. This place is Morrowind country, it feels eerie and scary. There are more creatures here that I don't recognize. The air feels close and foggy. I hate it. I feel like the quiet all around me is just the quiet before the storm. Momma want's me to note that I have her. I want to note, that I feel being in a stone isn't what I call company.

Alright Diary. It's time I lay it to you straight about what has happened so far. Although I lay in the darkness of the woods, I feel a whole lot better writing on solid ground than on a rocking ship. The last day on board was nothing special. I was too exhausted to do anything. I didn't get much sleep. I mostly laid under the tarp like a dead girl. When we got to Soltheim, I was in no mood to talk to the snotty Adril Arano, the Second Counsel guy, who just walked up to us. He talked to Vilkas. Farkas and I dragged our gear off the ship. When Vilkas and Adril finished talking, Vilkas told us that Adril said he wasn't sure about Miraak, but we could ask Neloth at the shrine.

On the way to the shrine we got blank vacant looks from the surrounding workers who were building some kind of monument to Miraak. The closer we got to the shrine, the stranger Farkas and Vilkas seemed. They complained of a queasy feeling in their stomachs, and headaches plagued them. Momma did not have answer for us. Soon, they became vacant eyed. Vilkas began chanting something. Farkas followed suit and they both started doing work like the other people.

I tried to talk to them, trying to get them back. But nothing I said would stop them. I ran to the only guy I say not doing work. It happened to be Neloth. When I talked to him he said if I want answers, we should find the Temple of Miraak. As for the mind control, he said he wears amulet. I was furious that we weren't told about this when we docked. Now both my followers were M.I.A. As for me, apparently being Dragonborn lets Momma protect me.

So, unable to do anything else, I began a trek to Miraak's Temple. It got dark along the way. I set up camp even though I can seen Miraak's Temple in the distance. I ate dinner, talked with Momma and then built a small fire. Just enough to keep home but not so big to blind me or draw too much attention. Right now I'm writing, of course.

Before I set my pen down, I want to mention a concern of mine, I placed Momma's necklace down. But something feels wrong. I still feel connected to Momma in some way. With out it on. In fact, lately, I have been feeling an odd pulling sensation when I wear it. A soft tug on my soul, so to speak. Maybe it's just my body freaking out about all this crazy stuff happening.

I can't wait to get all this stuff over with.

-xXx-

Morndas 14, Second Seed

Dear Diary,

I have had a terrifying day. Again. Right now I'm tucked in a bed provided by the good Skaal people. Things seem a whole lot harder now. Let me begin with the scary way the people chant when you pass them. You can shout and poke, but they just mindlessly go on with their building schedule. Vilkas and Farkas are still down at the shrine. Probably doing the same thing. When I got to the top of Miraak's Temple there were more of them. But there was a woman we met called Frea. She's a Shaman, or so it seemed.

Frea voiced her concerns about Solstheim being controlled and mentioned that she tried using amulets on the ones already controlled, but it didn't work. Then the center of the temple rumbled, revealing a spiral path downward to a door to the Temple. A few Cultists charged us when they came out. I killed one with out Momma's help! But I just had to 'Fus Ro Dah' again, cause it's fun. Frea asked me to go down into the Temple with her, to find a way to stop the mind control. I agreed.

At the end of the temple, which was familiar to me, since Momma had been through a ton of those kinds of things. She even found the first part of a new word on a Word Wall. I have to say, sharing memories and experiences is a huge help. But none of her past travels could have prepared me for what came next. We found a Black Book, called the 'Waking Dreams'. As soon as I opened it, I felt a rush through my body. I found myself on my knees, in a strange realm. Standing before me was a man wearing a similar, yet better, outfit to the Cultists I've been picking off like flies.

He declared himself as Miraak. He sensed that I in particular wasn't the Dragonborn. He commended Momma on her clever ploy to deceive him and that it would have worked if I had not worn the gem. Miraak congratulated Momma on killing Alduin, but made it clear that he could have done it if he wanted to. If my vocal cords had been working I would have let out some nasty things to say, that Momma wanted to tell him. He went on to say that Momma had no idea about the true power the Dragonborn can weild. Miraak then Shouts 'Mul Qah Diiv'. A shout Momma was unfamiliar with, though she recognized that 'Mul' was the word she learned from the wall we found.

After giving the impression that he'll be coming back soon, Miraak tells these weird looking black floating squid-octapus creatures to send me back to Solstheim, while he hops on a dragon and flies off. The shock of being transported back felt like fire. It was pulse after pulse of green light. I felt nauseous and Momma was cursing at them. So that meant a headache on top of it all.

Frea, was all freaked out that this happened to me. From her point of view I had a fixed stare at the pages of the Black Book and I was translucent. Then I made a distressing gasp and finally became solid. I told her what happened and Frea insisted I come to Skaal. When we got there I met Storn Crag-Strider. He said that Momma and Miraak are some how connected, just by being Dragonborns. I don't know what that means for me. Then he said that somehting about me seemed strange. He placed a hand on my head and then glanced at the stone in worry. I was going to ask what was wrong, but then he began speaking.

Storn asked us to go to Saering's Watch to learn a new dragon shout, so I can use it on the 'Wind Stone'. This is to hope that it would free the rest of the villagers from mind control. Then I hope Vilkas and Farkas and I will get together again. And oh yeah, there are these 'Stone' things. Like the 'Tree Stone'. They are the All-Makers Stones, magical stones found in the wilderness that maintain the 'Oneness' throughout the land.

Anyway, I can't stay awake any longer. My whole body feels sore. I hope I don't dream about Miraak. He's creepy.

-xXx-

((Okay! I hope you enjoyed this!))