Oh dear, here comes the hard part. Make it work! So now we're finally getting to the interesting part of the whole plot, or so I hope, at least. Enjoy your read, chapter 10 is in the works. Please let me know if you liked it and what you anticipate/guess to happen next!
Skyrim – The Unlikely Companions – Chapter 9
"Did you see that?!" Cirilonde's eyes were still wide and she looked pale, trembling as she leaned against the barricaded door with Ganir, which almost gave every time the beast rammed against it, shrieking and roaring in rage, which kind of confirmed neither of them had gone mad.
"Not the type of dragon I have a bone to pick with." Ganir shook his head, eyes wide as well. "Definitely unusual."
"That was a skeletal, undead dragon!" Cirilonde exclaimed. "What was the Arch-Mage thinking sending us here?!"
The two elves were almost sent flying when the skeleton dragon rammed its skull against the door again, nearly unhinging it and decided it was time to venture further into Labyrinthian, which was very unlike most of the Barrows they had encountered thus far. On the exterior, Labyrinthian, long ago, must have been some sort of ancient settlement, and judging by the interior of this part of Labyrinthian, seemed to be a temple of some kind. Over time, Kynareth seemed to have reclaimed parts of it, as the engraved walls and ceilings had collapsed and nature had made its way into the temple. Water flowed freely into the ruins and tore at the stone and plants had weeded their way in. Yet, Labyrinthian's undead guards were still very much present, but in comparison to the skeletal dragon, one could consider the Draugr but a nuisance.
They made to descend the ancient steps further down after having ventured quite far already, when a sudden, blue burst of energy shot forth from the depths and wrapped itself around Cirilonde, who was caught off-guard and fell to her knees, clinging to her head as it ravaged her magickal energies and broke her connection to it briefly.
"Wo meyz wah dii vul junaar?!" The voice that had spoken was ancient, raspy and guttural, echoing menacingly through the whole ruins. Ganir held his daggers at the ready, staying close to Cirilonde. His eyes shot from left to right, as if expecting anything to leap from the shadows and attack them any moment, yet, it remained eerily silent.
"Ciri..." He looked at her over his shoulder.
Cirilonde raised her hand. "I'm all right…not hurt at least, but whatever that was, it just knocked the magicka right out of me. I just need a minute…Urgh…my head." She held on to her head, which had begun to pound. The pain did lessen a bit, but it lingered like a dark cloud.
"Whatever is in here, it's out to get you." Ganir looked into the depths ahead of them. "And the way it spoke…Like that Draugr in Bleak Falls…and that dragon in Whiterun."
"I know…" Cirilonde grit her teeth. This … thing was beating down on her like the Eye was. "We need to push on. We've come too far."
Ganir nodded. "Will you be all right, though?" He had to say he admired her. After all she'd been through, she was still headstrong and refused to give up even if she was afraid, weakened and tired.
She nodded and they continued, but more cautious, only to face a new issue. They had made their way into a long, pillar-sided hallway with alcoves, where neither of them could believe their eyes as the Draugr were spectral, void of a physical body and appeared out of nowhere, taking them by complete surprise and bounded for them, gliding through the air like wraiths, shrieking in rage as the sanctity of their temple was violated by the two elves.
"Nivahriin muz fent siiv aaz het!"
Cirilonde cried out as the snarling voice beat down on her once again. The tips of her fingers crackled with magickal energy as she strained her mind and body to resist it beating down on her. The pain was unbearable and it felt as though her scalp was being torn at, which she clung too with all might as though it was about to get ripped off.
"Ciri…I. Need. Help!" Ganir grit his teeth as he struggled to parry and dodge the blows the spectral draugr, which were immensely vicious and fast. One of them suddenly side-stepped him and caught him off-guard with a parry and dug its jagged, spectral blade into Ganir's leg.
Snarling in rage, Ganir slashed his dagger at the undead monstrosity, except it went straight through the wicked entity, that seemed to grin almost knowingly.
"ENOUGH!" Cirilonde released an intense wave of magickal energy that banished the Spectral Draugr, who cried out in surprise and tried to get away, but the energy tore them to shreds. Ganir fell to the ground and clung to his leg, swearing.
"Ciri…Don't. Save your energy." She ignored him, however and healed the wound as best as she could. It was a strange sensation, as he'd always been cold from the moment he joined the undead himself, as the flesh and skin grew warm as it mended flawlessly.
"Whatever that is…whatever awaits us, we will face it together." There was a fiery determination in her green eyes. "I won't let my guard down this time."
They continued further down, except now, Cirilonde had raised all of her defensive wards and as long as Ganir stayed close to her the (spectral) draugrs stayed back. Cirilonde truly was an amazingly skilled sorceress.
The two Elves walked down the crumbled, stone walkway. Icy cold droplets of water sprayed down on them from the water that fell from the ceiling into the ruins, weathering away at the intricate, stone carvings that once told the tale and purpose behind this dark, grim place.
When they reached a large pair of doors at the bottom, they stumbled back as the doors were flung open by the same, powerful and unseen force.
"You do not answer. Must I use this…guttural language of yours?" Even in the common tongue, the voice was menacing, raspy and condescending. "Have you returned, Aren, my old friend?"
Cirilonde and Ganir looked at each other, both startled at the mention of the name and overwhelmed with the same questions, but knew it had to wait and pressed on.
They finally made it to an antechamber, and found the source of the unseen voice and energy. Whatever this wraith-like being was, it had been imprisoned by two, ghostly figures clad in robes they both recognized to be from the College.
What had happened here and how was Savos Aren involved?
The being that was imprisoned by these ghostly mages, floated in a magical orb that kept him imprisoned there for Divines knew how long. "You…You are not Aren, are you?"
The being they faced, unbeknownst to them yet, was a Dragon Priest; a now undead servant to the Dragons of old, clad in tattered, once elaborate and colorful robes. Its face lay hidden behind a wicked, carved mask made of moonstone.
"Who are you?" Cirilonde dared ask, not lowering her guard.
"Aren has sent you to finish what he could not and yet you know not whom you face?" The being sneered. "I…am…Morokei."
With each of his last three words, and the syllables of his name, even more, powerful energy waves tore at the orb that imprisoned him.
The ghastly mages stumbled and struggled to maintain his prison. "I can't hold it… much. Longer!" One of them yelled, voice echoing.
The Dragon Priest, Morokei, at last released a final, immense shockwave and broke free of the prison, tearing the ghostly mages to shreds, who cried out. He had patiently bid his time to finish what Savos Aren had started and now, he had sent these pitiful weaklings to dare oppose him. "You. Will. Die!"
Cirilonde and Ganir's eyes widened when they saw the staff in Morokei's bony, gloved claws which he raised and aimed at them. They bolted out of the way, diving for cover from the jolts, behind the pillars up the stairway to the altar where he had once peacefully had been laid to rest.
"He has the staff!" Cirilonde yelled at Ganir, who stood behind another pillar.
"I. Know!" Ganir ducked for cover just in time as the bolt from the Staff of Magnus barely missed him, but sent the stone of the pillar flying and he was forced to run.
"Like Aren, you have no idea who you are dealing with, fools." Morokei shot the magickal energies at the Dark Elf, who ran and ducked for cover, rolling and diving out of the barrage's way.
"Ciri!" Ganir yelled. "Would be nice if you could help!"
Now that Morokei had focused on Ganir, Cirilonde had managed to break free from his magic, suppressing aura and she uttered the incantation, her brow furrowed in utter, deep focus as she reached into the plains of Oblivion while her hands channeled the magickal energies.
Ganir looked at where Cirilonde was and watched, impressed, how she conjured a flame atronach from the plains of Oblivion, who came from a black and purple, crackling portal with a whoosh.
Morokei spun around, snarling as he had been so foolish to forget about the mage and shot forward, launching a new barrage of spells at the atronach, who gracefully glided on flames and blasted fireballs at Morokei.
"His staff!" Cirilonde cried to Ganir, who threw everything she could at Morokei; frost, flame and shock, but Morokei laughed and every time a spell got near, the Staff of Magnus absorbed it. Ganir smirked and knew what to do and bolted forward at the Dragon Priest, who turned around as he heard the footsteps but it was too late and Ganir rammed into him, tearing the staff from his hands and elbowed the mask off where his face would be.
"No! Noooo!" Morokei clawed as his face, shrieking in utter horror as what remained of his body twisted and contorted. His mask was removed and he no longer held the Staff of Magnus in his hands. His power was broken. Cirilonde had grabbed it and she dove forward, dodging his bolt of shock and she used the staff against him. Magick, crackling energy burst from the staff and tore away at the Dragon Priest until nothing remained.
They both remained on their knees, out of breath and taken aback. They had just defeated an ancient evil and obtained the Staff of Magnus; an amazing but terrible and powerful artefact. The staff looked simple, made of carved dragon bone with an interesting stone and crystals embedded on top of it that seemed to be made of the same material the Eye of Magnus was
"Ganir. Are you all right?" Cirilonde leaned on the staff as she got to her feet. Ganir nodded and looked at the moonstone carved mask in his hands.
"We need to get back to the College…If it's still there." Ganir gestured for her to follow her. "This way, I saw a door ahead, maybe it's the quick way out."
Cirilonde dispelled the atronach and followed Ganir through the gates behind the steps down from the altar on the other side. They opened the doors to a small room and made to walk to the door past that, except it was flung open and they both backed away in a defensive stance, completely taken aback by the appearance of someone they least expected.
They first thought it was Ancano, but the Altmer before them was an entirely different Thalmor.
This High Elf was taller than Ancano, with a strong, wider jawline and high, pronounced cheekbones, full lips and bright, green eyes. He stood tall, graceful but still ready to strike at them should they be so foolish (in his eyes, at least) to attempt anything. "So you made it out of here alive…Ancano was right, you are dangerous." His voice was silky and calm as he regarded his potential opposition. A Dark Elf vampire and an Altmer mage like himself. He looked at Cirilonde. She indeed was beautiful, but there indeed was that fire in her eyes like Ancano had said. "I'm afraid I must take that staff from you, my dear. No one has to get hurt."
"We have no quarrel with you, but we can't give you the staff." Cirilonde gripped the Staff of Magnus tighter and took a step back.
"Do you now?" he chuckled. "I believe Ancano-,"
"To hell with that fetcher, you Thalmor bastard!" Ganir lunged for the High Elf, whose flame bolt shot past him. "Run, Ciri! I'll catch up!"
The Thalmor elbowed Ganir in the gut and spun around to punch him with his fist, which was ablaze with magickal fire but he forgot, realizing this with dread, that the Dark Elf was also a vampire and thus not only faster but also far stronger. Ganir dug his claws into the Thalmor's throat before twisting his arm and brought it down to his knee with full force, shattering the bone. "I don't have time for your sort!"
"Filthy mongrel!" The High Elf roared and made to lash out with another spell with his good hand, but Ganir threw him over the stone casket and into the urns that lined the wall.
Ganir had no time to check and bounded after Cirilonde, barricading the doors behind him.
Once he got outside, he had expected for Cirilonde to have done as he said, yet she was there on her horse, waiting for him and holding the reins of his horse, Tormagg. He wanted to be mad, but on the other hand, he was thankful for her loyalty.
They raced back towards Winterhold, and their hearts sank because just as they made it past Windhelm, they saw the enormous, glowing light in the far distance and upon closing in they saw that the light came from the Eye of Magnus, whose energy field had now fully engulfed the College of Winterhold.
The streets of Winterhold were completely abandoned; something that Tolfdir had convinced the Jarl and his people to do with a lot of effort. The people were angry, and rightly so. First the Great Collapse and now this!
"What in Oblivion happened?" Cirilonde cried over the howling energy as she joined the Masters on the bridge. "Where is Mirabelle?!"
Tolfdir, who had looked so relieved to see them, choked up as emotions overwhelmed him. "She told us to run. Had it not been for her sacrifice, we all would have perished. The Eye grew unstable, and she stayed back to contain the damage, but we've not seen her yet…I think…I think she's gone."
Ganir looked at Cirilonde. "You still believe he's innocent?!"
"Master Tolfdir, I have the Staff of Magnus, we need to get in there and stop this once and for all!" Cirilonde cried. "Whatever you do, do not get anywhere near Ancano. Let me handle it. Do not kill him. He is possessed by the Eye, I saw it myself." She looked at Ganir as she said the last sentence.
"Let's go then, Cirilonde. After you." Cirilonde was taken aback as the Masters; Tolfdir, Faralda, Phinis, Colette, Drevis and Sergius, stepped back. They were expecting her to take the lead. She nodded and stood facing the next half of the bridge where the energy whirled, howling and tearing away at the stone.
She raised the staff and aimed it at the storm, which rippled as if recoiling from the Staff's presence. In the distance, she could hear the Eye snarl in rage and fight back, but it was no match for the Staff and the joined forces of the Masters who cast their spells at the storm as well and it dissipated.
"Hurry, before it regains its strength!" Cirilonde yelled and they ran across the bridge, which shook as they crossed it, but they had no time to be afraid or hesitant and ran across the snow-covered courtyard. "Look for any survivors. Ganir, Master Tolfdir, I need you with me to face Ancano!"
They ran into the Hall of Elements, where the Eye of Magnus awaited them, along with Ancano, who still was bound to the Eye, but on his knees. No doubt the breaking of the ward had dealt quite the blow to him and Cirilonde grew quite aware it could cost the Thalmor's life if they broke his connection to the Eye.
"Ancano, can you hear me?!" Cirilonde kept the Staff of Magnus at the ready as she carefully approached Ancano, whose skin was lined with web-like scars that glowed with wicked, magical energy that burned.
"Do you truly think you can even hope to stop me, you fool?!" He snarled as he got up. Cirilonde gasped, startled. His eyes were glowing with madness. "The power to unmake the world is at my fingertips and you think your pitiful attempts at magic can do anything?!"
"We'll show you pitiful, Ancano!" Tolfdir lunged at Ancano from behind with a bolt of ice, but it bounced off Ancano, who spun around and the magickal, wicked energy from the Eye whipped from Ancano's arm to Tolfdir who raised a defensive, magickal ward in time but the old Nord was thrown back. Ancano then spun to lash out at Cirilonde who raised her staff in time and the lightning-like energy was devoured.
"So, you dare oppose me, elf?" Though she heard his own voice, this definitely wasn't Ancano.
"All right, enough of this." Ganir muttered to himself and he pulled his daggers out.
"Cirilonde. The Eye! Use your staff on the Eye!" Tolfdir pointed at the Eye and kept his ward up, backing away.
The young High Elf glared the Eye, that seemed to taunt her to do so and she raised the Staff of Magnus, shooting the energy from the crystals on the staff to the Eye and it shrieked, enraged as it twisted and contorted. This time, she was prepared and she shielded her eyes from the bright, white flash as the Eye opened itself once more.
"I will destroy you, worm!" Ancano snarled and charged for Cirilonde with the magical anomalies that had spawned from the light but Ganir and Tolfdir got their attention. Cirilonde still had to content with a possessed Ancano, whose face was contorted in rage as he flung spell after spell at her, but they were absorbed by the staff.
"We have to break his connection to the Eye!" Cirilonde cried to Ganir, who protected Tolfdir that fought against the anomalies, blasting them to shreds with his wide array of spells.
Ganir looked from the Eye to Ancano and charged at the Thalmor while he was focused on Cirilonde.
The Dark Elf rammed into the shoulder of the possessed Thalmor, who made a surprisingly fast recovery and as he spun around, shot a bolt of ice at Ganir, burying it deep in his chest. "One mistake, friend. I'm already dead!"
Ganir plunged his dagger into Ancano's shoulder, who cried out in pain as blood sprayed from the deep, wicked wound the dagger inflicted on him. Ganir made to raise his other dagger, but he was flung back by a burst of energy that came from Ancano. In that brief, swift moment, Ganir saw the eyes of the Thalmor change and the flicker of utter fear as his connection to the Eye was broken.
Ganir charged forward again and shoved Ancano against the wall, who was overwhelmed by utter, terrible pain as the Eye's wicked energy lingered on his body and burned into his flesh, the scars glowing. "I will make you pay for what you've done!"
"Ganir, no!" Cirilonde cried. "I beg you, this wasn't his fault!"
"Cirilonde, the Eye!" Tolfdir's eyes were wide in horror as he pointed at the Eye. Ganir, Ancano and Cirilonde both stared at the Eye, terrified as it had opened further than before and looked about to explode, but suddenly, that familiar, strong sensation overwhelmed her as out of nowhere, four Psijic monks appeared from portals and though they all saw them, time was soon frozen after, save for the four Psijic monks and Cirilonde.
Quaranir ran over to her. "You have done it. You have succeeded!"
"The Eye…It's going to explode any second!" Cirilonde was trembling from the rush of adrenaline and looked at Ganir and Ancano. The pure look of horror and agony on the Thalmor's face, made Cirilonde's heart sink and fill with pity.
"He got what he deserved. He's shown that the world truly isn't ready for the Eye." Quaranir spat angrily. "We shall take it from here, however, and take the Eye with us, and hide it."
"Wait." Cirilonde said as she could feel time's ripple. "Let me save him. I beg of you. He doesn't deserve this."
Quaranir raised a brow and looked at his associates, who nodded. "I suppose we owe you."
Cirilonde ran to the two Elves and grabbed Ganir's hand. Just then, time began to flow once more and it was just barely that they all saw how the four Psijic monks teleported out with the Eye and Ganir's blade stopped just in time from piercing her heart. Behind her, she heard Ancano slump to the ground.
"What are you doing?!" Ganir roared. "You've seen what he's done. He deserves to die!"
"You've also seen he was possessed by the Eye. This wasn't his fault!" She bellowed back, enraged he would do such a thing.
They looked up when the Masters ran in and looked at Ancano, whose blood pooled from the wound inflicted on him, along with the scars that marked his face and body.
"Is it over? Is he dead?" Faralda sounded far too hopeful for Cirilonde's liking, but she couldn't blame them at the same time either.
"No. He's not dead. And I won't let you kill him!" Cirilonde knelt down next to the Thalmor. She was angry with him and she was sure he wasn't innocent, but he must have realized too late as well he was in way over his head." Cirilonde's voice shook. "This is not our way. This is not what Savos would have wanted. There's already been so much death…"
They all looked at each other and then at Cirilonde, who began to heal the deep wound in Ancano's chest, only to receive a shock from the scars. Ancano's face contorted in agony but remained unconscious. "Mistress Colette, please…"
"No…I can't…I just can't. Not after what he's done." Colette shook her head and stepped back.
Cirilonde wasn't sure what to feel. Anger, sorrow or hurt. Nor did she know for sure if she made the right choice and looked at Ganir, whose anger subsided. Her words echoed in her mind. He hated Ancano, but she was right, there had been too much death nor would Savos have wanted this and he sheathed his daggers.
"I hope you're making the right choice, Ciri, but I will help you." He then looked at the Masters. "She's right. He will face the consequences of his actions but we will be fair, unless anyone wants to argue what Savos intended to maintain for the College."
"He's right." Tolfdir sighed, shaking his head. He then looked at his colleagues. "We need to get the students back on the grounds and informed and take a look at the damage done."
"Where do we take him?" Ganir asked, nodding at Ancano, who was tended too by Cirilonde.
"Take him to the Arch-Mage's quarters…"
"And what about Savos…What about Mirabelle? Do they need their bodies stored in the Midden while he lies in his bed?!" Faralda exclaimed, enraged.
"We should just dump his body in the Midden and let the wraiths take care of the rest." Phinis muttered.
"We shall make preparation for their funerals." Tolfdir was surprisingly calm. "We shall keep their bodies in the Arch-Mage's quarters as well while we prepare them for their final journey. Please…we've all been through a lot. Cirilonde has made her choice…"
They all looked at Cirilonde, who looked at Ganir. "Please, Ganir. Help me get him upstairs."
Ganir threw the unconscious Thalmor over his shoulder and carried him up to the Arch-Mage's quarters, soon followed by the Masters, who carried the bodies of Savos and Mirabelle upstairs. He wasn't too gentle, but laid Ancano down on the Arch-Mage's bed.
He grudgingly realized that he felt sorry for the fool, who, judging by his injuries, must be in a lot of pain. Good thing you're not conscious, s'wit.
"Ciri…I hope you know what you're doing." Ganir squeezed her shoulder. "But what you did there…That was brave. Know that I will support you."
She held Ganir's hand. "I don't even know what I'm doing…but it feels right. He doesn't deserve this…if I even manage to save him."
"Make no mistake, he might still be out for our blood when he wakes." Ganir warned her. "Don't forget what he is and what his lot does and has done."
"Please, just let me take care of him." Cirilonde was tired and had no strength left to fight or argue. Ganir looked at Ancano and shook his head, but left them nevertheless to see if he could help the Masters.
He would face the consequences of his actions, but he knew that this was just the beginning.
He looked at the bodies of Savos Aren and Mirabelle. Savos Aren lay peacefully, whereas Mirabelle's body was wrapped in linen which were stained with blood. No doubt, her sacrifice had been a most painful one.
He looked at Tolfdir, who stared at the bodies of his two peers and dear friends and then to Cirilonde, who was occupied with tending to Ancano.
"She's brave." Sadness resounded in his voice. "I don't think I could ever bring myself to do such a thing, regardless of what Savos would have wanted."
"Try to rest some, sera." Ganir laid a hand on the old Nord's shoulder. "We will need our minds clear for what's yet to come. I am sorry for your loss."
A few days later…
All the lights on the grounds had been dimmed. Only a few, select torches and candles lit the courtyard of the College of Winterhold and there was a sad, serene silence, save for the wind that swept the snow in a flurry around all of them.
In the center of the courtyard, they had built a funeral pyre on the center font, where the bodies of Savos Aren and Mirabelle lay, wrapped in burial linen with the College's Arcane Eye on it. Ganir squeezed Cirilonde's hand, who clung to Staff of Magnus. Everyone from the College walked by the pyre, clad in black robes and wept quietly if they didn't remain silent as they left offerings and loving thanks and goodbyes.
Ganir nodded at Cirilonde when Tolfdir beckoned for her to follow him and Ganir joined the rest of the students whereas Cirilonde joined the Masters in front of the statue. Cirilonde stood next to Tolfdir, who stood in the center and he stepped forward, hands raised to the sky. On que the funeral pyre caught flame, except the flames were white-blue and its glowing embers floated skyward as the bodies of Savos and Mirabelle were consumed by the magickal fire.
Cirilonde finally caved and wept, as did everyone else. They had survived, but at a terrible price.
Though the flames had died down an hour ago, Cirilonde and Ganir stood in front of the font, watching the ashes get carried away by the wind. Everyone had gone inside for dinner, though no one seemed to have much of an appetite.
"Even if he wakes, what makes you think he will not run to the Thalmor?" Ganir asked. He had been most calm and patient, but it had run low.
Cirilonde tensed, but not from anger, but her eyes glazed over as he'd clearly opened an old wound. "He won't. Trust me," she said softly. "If you think that his current state is a terrible fate for anyone, you do not know what they would do to him if they found out he let slip the Eye of Magnus into the hands of the Psijic."
"And you know this…why?" Ganir cocked a brow.
"I don't want to talk about it." Again, that cold, defensive distance that was very unlike her.
This had been exactly what had pressed his patience. He made to push the matter, when Tolfdir joined them. "Cirilonde, the Masters are ready and wish to speak with you."
Cirilonde didn't look at Ganir and walked past him, into the Hall of Elements, with leaden feet and heavy heart, but still, she was ready no matter what they would throw at her. The Masters could tell this about her right away and bowed their heads.
"You wished to see me," she said, noticing that Ganir had slipped in as well but kept her eyes on the Masters, who all were clad in different, black robes with silver, embroidered sashes.
"It's been nearly a week since the incident. You have no idea how much effort we've gone through not to just re-establish the daily affairs within the College, but also smooth things over with Jarl Korik of Winterhold. Yet, you have failed to supply us with one, valid reason as to convince us why he could be trusted not to run to the Thalmor." Faralda seemed to be the only one who dared speak her mind.
"Savos and Mirabelle are gone, leaving the College in a most vulnerable state. Ancano is the exact reason why we've been so strict about letting just anyone into the College," she continued angrily. "And look what he's done! So again, if I don't get a valid reason right now, I will go up there and put that Thalmor scum out of our misery."
Cirilonde's face was set in cold, silent rage as she stared Faralda down. Ganir had never seen her like this. "I hardly knew Savos or Mirabelle, I shan't lie, but Savos was a man I could highly respect for welcoming a Thalmor in his College, maintaining his views for the College to be a place of learning, void of politics, which included the presence of a Thalmor, no matter how he, or anyone, felt about them.
"We've all seen, felt and experienced the Eye's wicked influence. You've seen what it has done to us and to him. No one deserves that…" Cirilonde swallowed and bit her lip. "You worry he'll talk to the Thalmor? He won't. Do you have any idea what would happen to him if his superiors found out he failed his mission and let slip the Eye of Magnus into the hands of the Psijic, killing two people in the process, out of his control, because he was possessed?"
Everyone was silent. No one dared to argue. Cirilonde wasn't threatening them, but she had gained an immense amount of respect from everyone in the College for what she'd achieved, even if they frowned upon sparing a Thalmor's life.
"My brother was a Thalmor…" she finally said. Her nails dug into the Staff of Magnus as she struggled to maintain composure. "He was to guard one of the Wise with his life. He failed...and paid with his life. I still hear his screams. I still smell the blood. I still remember crying for mercy and no one would hear it as they made me and my parents watch. First they gauged his eyes out. Then broke whatever bones they could before they let the horses carry him off to let him bleed to death…"
Silence. Had it been able too, Ganir's heart would have broken. No one deserved to suffer such a death, let stand be forced to witness it.
"Have you condemned me for discovering the Eye of Magnus? Have you been enraged at Savos for bringing it here? Have you looked at yourselves for not intervening, but instead, I was left to do so with Ganir? You have no right..." Cirilonde swallowed. "Yes, he will hold a grudge. Most likely, he will be enraged, but Ancano will cooperate because he will have no. Other. Choice. So you can either deal with one Thalmor, or deal with a legion because we've killed one of their own before razing the College to the ground to find anything they can on the Eye of Magnus, or the Staff, for that matter."
Cirilonde's eyes seemed to dare anyone to contradict her or argue with her. She'd had enough as she'd been pushed well beyond her limits. Finally, having spoken her mind at last, she seemed to calm down some. "Now that this is settled, I have a solution we can put to work when Ancano recovers, unless anyone wishes to voice any criticism or objections?"
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you thought and if you liked it. Hope you enjoyed the read. Enjoy your day!
Now, as you know, the Dragon Language is tedious and perhaps you do or do not want to know what's being said, so I popped down the translations from Labyrinthian down here:
"Wo meyz wah dii vul junaar?" Who dares enter my dark kingdom?
"Nivahriin muz fent siiv aaz het!" Cowards shan't find mercy here!