A/N: It's a day late, and I'm sorry. It bothers me too, but it couldn't be avoided. :)

Chapter 12

Revival of Spirit

Sam's eyes snapped open in the darkness as he shuffled backwards in his bed.

"What-" he barked.

"Samularis, student of dragons," said a regal voice. "You have been called to Ascend. Will you answer?"

He blinked at the robed figure and tried to peer into the dark depths of the hood to no avail.

"Who-"

"Will you answer?"

"I will," he nodded hesitantly.

"Then follow," the figure bade.


Lyn couldn't help but smirk as Sam entered the room looking as frightened as a rabbit before a dragon and twice as confused. But she supposed she couldn't blame him. After all, it was a long standing rule that no one ever mentioned the test given before each Ascension ceremony. And every Disciple-in-training seemed to make the same assumption that they would be tested at the ceremony. Lyn's grin widened. Alright, it probably didn't help that when the trainees asked about it, the only response they received was a variation on "you'll see". So what if it was usually held in the predawn hours? That just meant they had to really know their stuff.

Lyn watched Sam glance around the room at the circle of five hooded figures that awaited him.

"Student of dragons, you who would master our Way and carry forth the words of the dragons, avatars of the gods. Step forward and be tested."

Sam gulped and nodded to himself, striding into the center of the circle.

"You will stand amongst us, unmoving, until the sun rises and then dips to touch the horizon once more," said Vokun obvious by the mask of a high priest set on a stand beside him. Lyn frowned at the choice to refrain from wearing it, but understood. That mask thrummed with the power of dragons. It was remarkably difficult not to lose oneself within it. "Are you prepared?"

"Well, I wish I'dda had time to grab my shoes," Sam grinned. "This floor's freezing." He chuckled nervously and glanced around, clearing his throat as he felt the weighty stared of the others bore into him. "I'm ready," he muttered quietly.

Lyn nodded once and waved a figure forward from the shadows.

"Vilfred will begin and test your knowledge of the peoples of this time," she stated.

Sam sighed in relief as he stared at the aged man, scribbling in his book stuffed with stray scraps of parchment. Having sat through a number of the sage's classes already, it was a comfort to know the man would be testing him. At least it was familiar.

"Right," Sam muttered. He could do this. He could. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. He could do this.


"Lyn, it's been two full days since I woke up," Matthias pacified. "I appreciate your concern for me, but you don't have to follow me around everywhere anymore."

Lyn glowered and looked away.

"Besides, I'm meeting Claudia for breakfast..." he hesitated, "and you haven't been terribly civil to her."

"I wonder why," she remarked, lip curling into a sneer.

Matthias simply rolled his eyes.

"I don't know how you could just forgive her," Lyn muttered for perhaps the twentieth time.

"Let it go, Lyn," he replied cheerfully, striding out into the hall.

She caught his arm.

"If I cannot be with you, then at least carry this," she said, passing him a sturdy steel dagger.

"Lyn..." he began hesitantly, staring at the weapon with a frown.

She pressed it into his hand insistently. He sighed and accepted it, securing it to his belt, if only to placate her.

"The sharp end is the one you stab with," she smirked.

"Hey! I can use a knife!" he protested. "I just don't like it."

"Sure, sure," she agreed, patting his shoulder.

Matthias paused and bit his lip.

"Lyn?" he said softly.

"Hm?"

He turned and met her eyes.

"Thank you."

She hesitated before shrugging nonchalantly.

"It's just a dagger," she dismissed.

"Not for the dagger," he shook his head. "For… looking after me. Ever since we met."

He fidgeted, embarrassed, and looked away. Alright, that had sounded less stupid in his head. His eyes snapped wide in surprise as he felt her pull him into a gentle hug. He blinked in disbelief as a slow smile spread across his face and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Gods, she felt so fragile, as if he could snap her bones with the slightest effort. He almost laughed at the thought. Lyn could not be broken so easily. She lingered for a moment before she released him wordlessly.

"I..." he murmured, but fell silent immediately. Words would spoil the moment.

She frowned for a breath, hesitating as she seemed to struggle within herself before she at last reached out and ran a hand affectionately over his hair, allowing herself to smile fully.

He stood, dumbfounded by her expression.

"Go have your breakfast," she prompted softly.

All he could manage to do was nod and shuffle away with his gaping face.

Lyn watched him vanish around the corner and let her expression fade to quiet contentment. She was being foolish, and she knew it. There were a dozen and more problems to contend with at the moment, and yet none of them seemed to matter to her. Dearest Alduin, she felt so at ease around him. In fact… she was happy… Dread Dragon, it was so very strange.

She was actually happy.

And for once in her life, she didn't have to hide it.


Matthias looked around the nearly empty dinning hall and made his way to a table in the corner, sitting where he could watch everyone come and go. It was so strange after the maelstrom of activity and madness to finally have a peaceful moment to himself. He sighed gratefully and closed his eyes. Birdsong drifted into the hall from the open grates in the ceiling that let the soft morning light lend its glow to the room.

Gods, he hadn't realized just how much he had needed this moment. There was no task that weighed on his shoulders with its oppressive obligation, no one dragging him somewhere, no one telling him to get to work. There was simply nothing. Nothing but the soft sound of chatter and the quiet solitude of his own thoughts.

Still, it was kind of lonely…

"Am I intruding?"

He opened his eyes and smiled at Claudia as she hovered on the other side of the table.

"No," he smiled, shaking his head. "Just enjoying the morning."

She sat, somewhat stiffly, staring at him as if she expected something.

"What?" he asked with a shrug.

"I'm still waiting for you to come to your senses and start yelling at me..." she said warily.

The corner of his lip turned up in a smirk.

"You'll be waiting for a while," he laughed. "Well at least until you finally try and strangle Sam for his singing."

She laughed despite herself.

"He's getting… better at it," she admitted with a grimace.

"I'll tell him you said that," Matthias grinned.

She replied with a sound of disgust.

"How are you doing?" Matthias asked.

"Me?" she returned incredulously.

"Yes you."

"I'm… fine," she said. Neither of them were convinced.

"Really? You just moved away from all you know, to a place where several key individuals who could make your life miserable do not trust you, and all you are is 'fine'?" He tilted his head sideways as he studied her.

"Yes," she nodded, meeting his eyes. "I just… I'd rather leave it be for now."

"Fair enough," he agreed respectfully.

The clatter of dishes called their attention as Martha and her aids brought out a large kettle of some sort of porridge and stacks of bowls.

"I've got it," Claudia insisted, striding over to the ensemble and grabbing them each a bowlful of the steaming breakfast before sitting back down.

"Thanks," Matthias offered.

A slightly disheveled Sam materialized beside them and sat down without a word, with two heaping bowls of porridge. He dug into them hungrily.

"Sam?" Matthias ventured after the first bowl vanished. "Are you alright?"

He made an affirmative grunt.

"It's just that you're eating faster than I am," he continued.

Sam swallowed two more bites before responding.

"Everything's better than alright! Everything's great! I passed! I actually passed my tests. All of them!" He grabbed Matthias's shoulders and shook him dramatically. "How many questions can one person ask, you might wonder. I can answer. Five hundred and one. Or at least it felt that way. But I passed! Do you realize what that means!? I get to Ascend to Disciple tonight!"

"Congratulations!" Claudia cheered, smiling. "You've been working toward that for a long time."

Sam eyed her, torn between accepting the praise and steadfastly remaining angry with her.

"I thought your Ascension ceremony was next week," Matthias frowned in puzzlement.

"You've been out for a while, my friend," Sam reminded gently, throwing a subtle glare at Claudia.

"Right," Matthias sighed, resisting the urge to smack his forehead at his own forgetfulness. "Don't worry, we'll be there!" he cheered.

Claudia watched Sam grimace at the "we" before simply clapping his friend on the shoulder.

"Thanks. It means a lot to me that you'll be there," Sam said, looking pointedly at Matthias.

"So what was the test like?" Matthias asked, scraping up the last remnants of food from his bowl..

"I… actually can't tell you too much," Sam muttered apologetically.

"That's alright. Makes sense."

Matthias pushed himself up and stretched.

"I'm gonna go see if there's seconds today. Anyone want anything?"

"No thanks, I've got a lot to do before tonight," Sam said, standing as well.

Claudia shook her head with a smile when Matthias turned to her, leaving him to shrug and stride happily back across the room to the counter.

Sam frowned for a moment and tried in vain to brush splatters of porridge from his robes before sighing in defeat.

"If you need a new robe, I can try to find an extra one before the ceremony," Claudia offered softly.

"I've got one," he said flatly. His face scrunched as if he tasted something remarkably bitter. "Look… I guess if you want to, you can come to the ceremony. It'd make Matthias happy."

"Thank you," she said earnestly.

He replied with an ambiguous grunt, shrugged, and sauntered off. After all, she didn't have to know that everyone was welcome to attend.

Claudia smiled faintly to herself and gathered up the empty bowls strewn about the table. It was a start down a long road, but at least he was speaking to her. Now if she could just get Lyn to stop looking like she'd secretly enjoy feeding her to that dragon… But one step at a time, she supposed.


Lyn watched Vokun reading something no doubt remarkably boring like inventory as he sat at a table in their room. She shook her head and turned her focus back to their bed. Two neatly folded robes sat waiting for them atop it. She picked up one of them and studied it with a critical eye.

"Hm," she mused after a time. "It seems Rayn does excellent work as a seamstress. I didn't expect that."

Vokun looked up from studying a piece of parchment.

"You'd be surprised what people can do, given the chance," he remarked absently. "Besides, you can't be that astonished. I seem to recall her mentioning her hobby several times, in passing. And you've been spending more and more time with her at meals of late. Surely she must have said something about it."

"No, we talk about interesting things, not the boring triviality of sewing," she replied.

He assumed a dramatically sad demeanor.

"And I, you dear husband, am woefully ignored!"

"Oh spare me," she rolled her eyes. "I'd sit with you if you ever attended meals."

"Alright, fair point. I've just been rather busy of late," he sighed regretfully.

"You need to eat with the others. It's important for the people to be able to see you," she said, striding to him slowly and brushing the hair from his face.

"I know," he frowned, leaning back in his chair.

Lyn's lips curled in a mischievous grin.

"I'm going to stop bringing you food."

"Meh," he shrugged, returning her smirk.

"So you'd like to be a corpse again?"

His fists clenched reflexively as he shuddered.

"Sorry," Lyn winced, stroking his cheek.

"It's fine," he assured, grabbing her hand and kissing her palm. "I'll at least be there for dinner tonight," he promised with a private laugh.

She cast her eyes to the ceiling.

"I should think so, seeing as how you arranged this event," she remarked.

Lyn turned away, moving back to the bed where she picked up her own set of robes and studied them with a grimace. Not her first choice of color, but they'd serve their purpose. The russet orange garment was neatly trimmed in a rich brown and made from a remarkably sturdy material. She tugged on it experimentally and turned it around to study the other side, then folded it with a shrug and placed it back on the bed.

Lyn rubbed her eyes with a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. Sam's Ascension ceremony would be easy enough, she just wasn't looking forward to the festivities afterward. There were far more productive things she could be doing, after all.

"Are you sure a party is a good idea right now?" she asked over her shoulder. The word felt strange on her tongue. She tried it again with a scoff. "Party, hmph."

"I think it's an excellent idea," he replied, returning to his reading. "Everyone's been working remarkably hard to get ourselves established here. And I will not deny Sam the celebration he deserves just because we've had some hardships."

"Oh yes, someone was almost killed, but don't worry, it's not important," Lyn groused.

"It's important to take a break from the day to day and celebrate achievements, my love." He set down his parchment and stood, walking over to her calmly. "And I think it's especially important for you."

"Me?" she balked.

"I'm pretty sure you don't remember what it's like to have fun," he teased, grinning. "All you know how to do is worry."

She glowered at him.

"I'm your Hand and your wife. It's my job to worry. Twice over!" she protested.

"And I love you for it, but Naiyu will take care of everything. I do have two members of my Hand left, after all," he soothed with a wink. "Be at ease, my love."

Lyn tried to think of a suitable retort but failed, leaving her glowering in defeat.

"Fine," she relented. "But I'm helping Naiyu until the ceremony."

"He'll be thrilled," Vokun chuckled.

"You are such a child," she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

He grinned, unabashed and mimicked an infant's cry.

Lyn almost smacked her own forehead, or better yet, his. But she resisted the urge, and instead withdrew a comb from her robes and ran it through his hair.

"Am I scruffy looking?" he asked.

"Only mostly," she smirked. "And when was the last time you bathed? We can't have you smelling like a bandit."

"Where is there even a place to bathe?" he retorted.

"The great big spring in one of the lower rooms?" she drawled.

"Huh. Didn't know that existed..." he mused.

"Maybe if you left your room once in a while," she admonished.

Before he could reply, she grabbed his hand and began to pull him away.

"Come on, we need to get you ready. The ceremony will be here before you know it."

"See? Your one great big worrier," he grinned, trailing after her.

"Your bath water will now be frigidly cold," she smirked.

"Your mean," he pouted.

"I stick with my strengths," she smirked.


"This'll be easy," Sam assured himself with a gulp. The unassuming door to the balcony loomed like a silent sentinel as he paced before it. "I mean all I have to do is walk up and stand in front of everyone. It's just like walking across the dining hall. Easy. And then the dragon will judge me, right?" He turned to Naiyu.

The altmer nodded and offered him an encouraging pat on the back.

"And I mean, I've already passed the tests, so why wouldn't he find me worthy? I'm super worthy. Yeah," Sam rambled.

"Breathe Samularis. A Disciple's ceremony takes only a few moments. It's not like your becoming an Arbiter. Now those are fun," Naiyu remarked with a grin.

"Right," he nodded. After all, he'd faced undeath. How scary could living be compared to something like that? He nodded again at the realization. This would be easy.


"I am out of here," Sam hissed to Matthias with a sigh as they all but ran through the halls. "I thought that was never going to end!"

"It wasn't that long at all," Matthias protested.

"Yeah, but the dragon looked like he wanted to use me as a toothpick."

"I think that's just how he always looks," Matthias placated.

"And what was with them wanting me to share my 'journey and reasons for becoming a Disciple'? That wasn't fair. They should have warned me. At least then I'd have had a better answer than 'duh, what?'." Sam shook his head, groaning. "I sounded like a troll-brained fool."

"You sounded nervous, but it wasn't that bad. You did fine, honorable Disciple," Matthias said, nudging Sam with his elbow.

They strode through the open entryway doors onto the grounds beyond. As one, their breath caught as they saw the makeshift tables from the dining hall set up near a massive firepit, already roaring as it battered away the evening cold. Three proper tables stood together at one end of the gathering, decorated with an assortment of flowers and colorful leaves. Around them all were an onslaught of braziers, burning with a snapping, sweet-smelling wood.

"This is awesome," Sam gaped.

"I think we could roast a whole cow on that fire," Matthias grinned, then remembered they actually had a cow and fervently hoped he was wrong.

"Sam," Naiyu said, coming up behind him and setting a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Come with me. There are people who wish to congratulate you."

"Um, alright I guess," Sam said, offering a shrug to Matthias as he followed Naiyu into the gathering crowd of people.


Sam waited patiently while Rayn thought. He tried not to smile as the dunmer woman began to form yet another question about becoming a Disciple. Her current tally was thirty-one, not that Sam was secretly amusing himself by counting. Not at all. Because that would be rude.

Rayn nodded to herself several times and thanked him before melding back into the crowd. Sam sighed in relief and lowered himself back into his chair. Did anyone else feel like this day had lasted for about three? Still good though. Even so, he wondered if anyone would notice if he laid his head on the table and took a little tiny nap. The thought vanished as he noticed someone coming toward him.

Claudia made her way through the mass of people, carefully guarding a bowl in her hands.

"Hey," she greeted simply. "Look, I know you're still mad at me and you have every right to be. But I wanted to congratulate you. I know how much this means to you, after all." She hesitated a breath before she set the bowl in front of him. "You don't have to eat them, but I know you like them, so.. ." she shrugged before withdrawing silently, only pausing long enough to offer him a small smile.

Sam peered over the rim of the bowl and nearly drooled at the sight of the honey glazed carrots within. He vacillated a moment before sighing.

"You know what? I don't even care if they're poisoned," he announced to himself before snatching up a fork. "Worth it."

He wolfed down the bowl quickly and spied Matthias nearby.

"Quick!" Sam hissed, waving to him. "Sit here and look like you're talking to me so that everyone else will leave me alone!"

Matthias laughed and rushed to the seat Sam offered him.

"Sure, but I don't promise not to ask questions."

"Fine," Sam groaned exaggeratedly.

Matthias grinned in response and thought about asking him a number of frivolous things, including "why is the sky blue" and "how many blades of grass can a cow eat", but rejected the idea.

"So what do you plan to do now that you're a Disciple?" Matthias wondered.

"Not sure," Sam shrugged.

"You're not sure?" Matthias repeated incredulously.

"Well, to be honest, I never really thought I'd make it..." he muttered, embarrassed.

Matthias frowned at him.

"Let's face it, I'm not the sharpest arrow in the quiver and we both know it," Sam said pragmatically. "But now that I'm sitting here, I'm nervous all over again. I can't believe it. Me, an actual Disciple."

Matthias gave a small smile. As someone who never thought he'd actually manage to become an alchemist, he could relate to the feeling.

"Come on," he encouraged. "There has to be something that interests you."

"Eh," Sam shrugged again. "I guess… if I had to choose…"

"You probably will," Matthias smirked.

"I might like to try being a missionary. But I don't know. I'm afraid Lyn and Naiyu might get mad at me."

"Why?"

"Alright, don't laugh, but I really really want to go and see the cities beyond here. After learning all about the people of this age from Vilfred, I just… I want to go and see it. And if I can help people along the way, why not?"

"It sounds like a great idea," Matthias encouraged.

"Of course my true mission is to spread the Ballad of Sir Stink-foot across the land," Sam winked.

"The day I hear that playing in a tavern, I will eat my own boots," Matthias chuckled.

"You'd eat your boot any day. All someone'd have to do is put gravy on them," Sam retorted.

"Hey, it could be a new culinary wonder," he shot back.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure," Sam grimaced.

Someone pulled out a lute and began to play a lively tune as Martha lead a group between the tables, setting down pitchers and goblets. She stopped in front of Sam and handed him a pitcher with a wink. He wasted no time in grabbing two goblets and filling them to the brim before passing one to Matthias. Sam sniffed at it experimentally before taking a sip. The sharp spices hit his tongue first as the smooth, sweet liquid slid over his tongue, leaving a subtle tang in its wake.

"That's good! I wonder what it is?" Sam mused. He spied Claudia nearby and pondered for a long moment before finally relenting and calling out to her.

"Yes?" she hesitated, slightly puzzled.

"Do you know what this stuff is?" he asked, pointing to the pitcher.

She frowned and leaned over it, sniffing.

"Hm..." she muttered, grabbing a goblet and pouring herself enough to sip. "I have no idea, actually. Sorry."

Sam saw her shoulders droop in defeat and scratched at his head uneasily.

"Well then… I guess you'll just have to sit here and help us drink it until we either figure it out or run out," he shrugged, gesturing to a chair on the opposite end of Matthias.

She blinked at him in surprise before nodding.

"Thanks," Claudia said softly.

"Eh, I hate mysteries. The more to figure it out, the sooner it's solved, right?" Sam shrugged.

"Right," she agreed, taking the offered seat.

Sam felt Matthias pat his shoulder in gratitude.

"And of course I'll need both of you to help with the next verse of Sir Stink-foot's adventures," he smirked deviously.

They rolled their eyes in unison, but chuckled none the less and nodded their agreement.


Vokun smiled as he watched his people laughing and dancing. Lyn meanwhile, seemed to be watching the crowd with a mixture of apathy and aloofness. He covered her hand with his own.

"It reminds me a little of our wedding," he remarked.

"Oh?" she replied.

"Yes, although it distinctly lacks you using magic against anyone," he smirked.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," she chuckled throatily.

"You threw a frost spell at Gissette," he said, giving her a sidelong glance.

"I most certainly did not," Lyn protested. "I pushed her in the pond and froze it."

"What?!"

"Only a little," she said dismissively. "She was able to break through the ice." She smirked deviously. "...Eventually."

"Well that explains why she left..."

"You were glad," she said.

"Alright, that's true," he admitted. "But it's still cute that you were jealous."

"Of her? Not in the slightest," Lyn scoffed. "But the woman couldn't take a hint, and her advances made you uncomfortable. So I decided to deal with her myself."

"It's terrible of me to say, but to be honest, I'm glad you did. That woman was… rather unpleasant," he admitted with a grimace.

Lyn smiled and moved her chair closer, letting him wrap an arm around her as she leaned against him.

"I know. And if we're both being honest here, well, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm a little possessive," she whispered into his ear.

"You should have been a dragon," he chuckled.

"That'd be the day," she laughed.

He took her hand and ran his thumb across it.

"Dance with me," he said, tugging at her.

"You know better than that," she refused.

"No one cares if you can't dance," Vokun soothed.

"Dancing is pointless. I'm going to sit here and enjoy your arm around me along with my whatever-this-is," she said, gesturing to her drink.

"Before the night is through, I'm getting you to dance with me," he promised deviously.

"Good luck," she smirked.


Sam was fairly sure his spine was going to break. Besides, was this hug dignified? His feet weren't even touching the ground. Rolf set him down and gave him a hearty slap on the back.

"Well done! I might have to stop calling you mutton-head," he grinned. "Nah!"

"Your complements still sound like insults," Sam glowered, but that was part of their game.

Rolf's expression softened a moment as he lowered his voice.

"We're all proud of you, lad," he smiled, clapping the boy on the shoulder. "Here, a gift for you." The smith drew out a dark dagger, and a scabbard done in rich brown leather. The end of the hilt was carefully worked to resemble a dragon's head with a wise and thoughtful expression.

"You copied the old Nord weapons," Sam breathed, taking the dagger in hand.

"Aye," Rolf nodded proudly. "Had to melt a couple down from the old storage room for the metal, but erm, don't mention that, aye lad?"

"Hey, they won't hear it from me," Sam assured, turning the dagger over again and again as he studied it in wonder.

Rolf nodded and offered another slap on the back in gratitude.

"Now, someone has to go and teach those kitchen imps how to build a proper fire!" he announced, stomping off.

"Thanks Rolf," Sam said earnestly.

"Make us proud, lad."

Sam sat down again with an appreciative sigh.

"Alright, I don't mind people, but even I want to sink into the background now."

"We'll hide you under the table," Claudia proposed.

"I don't think that'll fool them," Sam lamented.

"Suppose we dug a hole?" she offered.

"Might work..." he agreed.

"We'll even throw some fish stew down in it so you don't starve," Matthias added.

"Why would you do that to me?" Sam asked, face curling in disgust.

"It's good for you," Matthias said cheerfully. "Hey look! It's Martha! Maybe she's bringing you some!"

Sam looked up in momentary horror to indeed find Martha coming toward them with a platter in hand and had to fight down a groan.

"Can we pretend I'm not here?" he muttered.

"I'll start digging," Claudia whispered to him.

Martha breathed a sigh as she approached them.

"Whew! What a night, eh?"

They nodded agreement, smiling politely.

"I won't keep you, but I brought you all something special," she winked, setting a bowl down in front of each of them. "And someone said they owed you pie, Matthias. Can't remember who, but I had a whole mess of them cooking, so I brought you one."

Matthias stared at the steaming pie, nearly drooling before his manners interceded.

"I get to eat the whole pie?" he asked hesitantly.

"You might regret it later, but sure," Martha shrugged. "Anyway, you kids enjoy. I've got to get back to it."

"Hey Martha?" Claudia asked.

"Hm?"

"Everyone else gets to celebrate, but you have to work. That doesn't seem fair," the girl murmured.

"Don't you worry about me, dear. I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. And all my helpers for the night elected to work during the party. Of course, the extra pay doesn't hurt 'em either," she gave another wink and waved over her shoulder as she made her way back to the roaring fire.

They each dug in to their respective desserts without another word. Matthias ladled giant forkfuls of pie into his mouth and chewed happily. Life was remarkably good.

After a moment's quiet, Sam muttered something unintelligible.

"Please don't talk with your mouth full," Claudia sighed.

Sam swallowed before trying again.

"Isn't that the creepy guy that kept watching you?" he asked, pointing with his spoon. "And the other creepy guy from the farmer's hut is right next to him."

They followed his gesture to the line of trees where two men were standing, chatting together.

"Looks like them," Claudia affirmed.

Matthias looked harder. He vaguely recognized the taller man with his black hair and even darker eyes. A shiver ran along his skin as he saw the short, bald man that he'd delivered a poison to not long ago.

"Yeah, that's them," he grimaced.

"I wonder what their deal is," Sam mused, tapping his spoon to his lips. "There are way too many mysteries floating around today. Funny drinks, random pies, and now those two."

"Sam," Claudia cautioned. "Please tell me you're not-"

"I'm gonna go see," he declared triumphantly.

He strode off heedlessly, waving them both away as they tried to stop him. Clearly they didn't understand how annoying mysteries were.

The black-haired man turned toward him slowly as the bald man eyed him with distaste and vanished into the shadows of the trees. Sam ignored the action entirely.

"You know," he stated bluntly, "you're kind of an odd one. Always watching everyone all the time and lurking in the shadows."

"Oh?" the man asked, lifting one eyebrow.

"Yeah," Sam said, folding his arms.

The man smirked.

"Sorry, it's just habit."

"Habit? From what?" Sam protested.

The man stared at him for a moment, seeming to weigh his options, but at last shrugged and responded.

"I was a ranger in the Imperial Legion," he said calmly.

"A what?"

"Ranger. Usually it just involved me following certain parties as they crossed through Cyrodiil's borders, gathering information, or dealing with bandits that the guard had a hard time tracking. Nothing too fancy."

Sam studied him carefully.

"There's a lot more to it than that, isn't there," he accused.

The man simply smirked in response.

"You're not spying on us, are you?" Sam asked warily.

"No," he shook his head, almost sadly. "I was a ranger. Not anymore. But I'm sorry if I've unsettled you. Vigilance, like so many old habits, is hard to shake."

"Huh. You know, you're not so bad. That other guy with you? Still creepy."

"Who, Zedrin? Yeah, don't mess with him. Won't end well."

"Right, that much I got," Sam muttered, taking a step back before excusing himself. That had probably not been the best of his plans, but at least it solved the mystery. Stupid mysteries.


Lyn extracted herself from the throng of people with a sigh of relief, running her hands through her hair. A grand shadow lurked near the trees, lingering outside the ring of warm firelight.

"How are you liking the festivities?" she asked Krahsilsaan.

He growled, thoughtfully and dipped his head into the barest pool of luminescence.

"I do not understand such frivolous things," he mused, ruffling his wings. The action blocked out a remarkable number of stars. "Besides, these creatures keep pestering me with their ceaseless questions. The farther I retreat, the more follow me. Perhaps they are part duckling," he chuckled.

"You like the attention," she accused.

"Even a wolf wearies of sheep at times," he replied.

"By the way, what's a duckling?" she asked.

"Small water bird. Tasty if you can catch enough of them." He licked his lips with his forked tongue.

She smirked and rolled her eyes. Of course his description of anything would involve an assessment of its taste.

"Well, try and bear the attention," she said, reaching out to touch his jaw. "We held the party out here so that you could be present."

"I'm aware," he replied with a huff.

"Want me to stay here with you and scare them all away?" she smirked.

A laugh reverberated like thunder in his chest.

"Well, I would enjoy that, but I think your mortal would be rather upset about it."

"Vokun? No, he loves it when I threaten people," she protested sarcastically.

"Hmph, I'm sure," he scoffed.

Lyn glanced back as she heard her name called and saw Vokun beckon to her.

"Speaking of," Krahsilsaan laughed. "Go, little one. I will be fine. Attend to your little mortal."

"My mortal, huh? You realize I'm mortal too, yes?" she smirked, raising an eyebrow at him.

His wings slumped almost imperceptibly.

"More than you can imagine," he said softly.

She lingered hesitantly, frowning at him for a moment before she heard her name called once again. He nudged her gently with his nose and she relented with a sigh.

"I'll come back," she promised as she ran her hand along the length of his jaw before turning away.

Krahsilsaan lifted his wings and stretched each of his limbs methodically, then curled up on the straggly grass and pillowed his head on his tail. His deep breaths marked Lyn's departure nigh perfectly as her scent receded with each inhale. He had to fight the urge to growl as another scent approached him. Surely there was a nord saying about letting sleeping dragons lie. He rolled his shoulders as he lifted his head, tilting it as he beheld his visitor.

"You're… less unpleasant," he mused.

"Huh?" Claudia asked him.

"Nothing," he dismissed. "What do you..." he searched for the mortal word, "require?"

"I… um. Can I ask you a question?" Claudia said.

He drummed his claws as he considered.

"I suppose," Krahsilsaan nodded.

"I just… I've always wanted to know something. It's said that the dragons wanted to kill or enslave all mortals, back in the day. But meeting you, speaking with you, it doesn't feel quite right. I'm wondering if it's true."

"It is, little one, much to my kin's own shame," he nodded.

"But why? It doesn't seem like you have any interest in that."

"Myself? Not particularly. But what you must understand is that the desire to dominate thrums through our very blood. When Alduin asked us to forsake it, it was challenging, but we did so for him. When hid mind was tainted and he asked us to embrace it… it was far too alluring a call to refuse. Even I was not immune, am not immune. I feel the pull, the call, the desire, deep within me. Each day I work to fight against it. It is not impossible, but it is..." he hissed a sigh, "...difficult."

His claws dug tracks in the ground.

"Once my brother became corrupted, we had no one left to keep us in check. It is not something we are proud of. Or perhaps it is simply something I am not proud of..."

"I see," she replied. "I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's fine," he dismissed.

A clamor of laughter rose behind them. Claudia turned to see Lyn and Vokun in the middle of a group of people. From their posture, Vokun was enjoying himself and Lyn was ready to set something on fire.

"You know," Claudia remarked offhandedly. "I'm surprised she hasn't turned him into an apple yet. Or some other magic..."

Krahsilsaan chuckled merrily.

"Oh, she's much too fond of him to ever harm him. And besides, she knows that in a real fight, he'd win."

"No," Claudia denied, gaping.

"Do not forget that we grant the Priests power, little one," he smirked.

"That's a myth," she blurted before she realized who, or rather what she was speaking to.

"Is it now?" he asked merrily.

"Well then how?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"Knowledge can be gifted to others, if one knows how. We simply shared enough with the Dragon Priests to ensure they could defend the faithful against those that would do them harm."

Claudia blinked at him, dumbfounded.

"That's… actually pretty amazing," she commented.

"True, but as with everything, it comes at a price. In time we came to realize that the power we gifted the mortals sewed within them the same will for domination that plagues us. In the beginning, we thought they could rise above it, but... they were consumed, much as we were."

She looked back and stared at Vokun as he grinned and tried to drag Lyn toward where the others were dancing to no avail.

"He doesn't seem affected," she refuted, smiling.

"He is still relatively new to his power," Krahsilsaan said sadly. "But he does seem more resilient than the others. Still, he fights it at every turn. You notice he does not wear the mask of the High Priest, yes? The mortals in their ambitions might have forged them to rise above their fellow Priests, but we were the ones that eventually imbued them with magic."

"Then if he wears it..." she murmured.

"He must fight all the harder," Krahsilsaan lamented.

"Gods," she breathed.

Krahsilsaan nodded slowly, then heaved a grand sigh as he shook away his thoughts.

"Ah, but tonight is a celebration! Go little one, leave behind this melancholy," he decreed, pushing at her with his nose.

"Right. I should probably get back to the others," she agreed. "Thank you."

He nodded once, before rising and padding around in a circle until he was satisfied and settled himself back down onto the ground again. A familiar scent tinged the air before Lyn's voice snapped him out of his would-be nap.

"What were the two of you talking about?" she all but demanded.

Krahsilsaan couldn't decide if he wanted to laugh, or loose a torrent of frost.

"Well," he began, lifting his head. "I was telling her all of our closely guarded secrets and all the things that would most annoy you."

She glared at him silently and he glared right back, looming over her like a breathing mountain.

"I have seen the child's mind, the child's soul. There is nothing she could hide from me, and still you treat her as the enemy," he said calmly, eyes shining with reflected firelight..

"I don't want her here," Lyn growled. "Whether or not her brethren believe her lie of joining their rival guild, they will eventually discover the ruse and find their way back here. She has caused me no end of problems as Vokun's Hand. How can I keep him safe now? I can't kill the assassins, as per Vokun's foolish orders," she spat venomously. "I'm just stuck here waiting for them to show up!"

"Are you so ensconced in yourself that you cannot see another solution to the problem?"

"Vokun won't let me kill her," she groused as if that was his next suggestion.

Krahsilsaan rumbled a low growl and pointedly stuck his head in her face.

"There is a way to ensure they trouble us no longer," he rumbled.

"What do you mean?" she demanded. "Why didn't you mention that sooner?"

"The answer is simple, if you would only have the desire to see it."

"Would you stop speaking in riddles?" she spat.

A gravelly laugh grated from him.

"Come, Child-of-Snow, I will show you."

She hesitated, then rolled her eyes as he dipped his neck to allow her to climb up.

"Fine," she groused, holding on to his horns tightly as he leapt in the air. "But if I don't like the solution, I'm setting things on fire and neither you nor I know anything about it."

"Hmph, I'm glad to see you're growing," he quipped, casting his eyes hopelessly to the stars.


Matthias and Claudia walked the grounds, enjoying the cloudless night that granted them a feast of stars glimmering in the sky.

"Are you sure you're not tired?" Claudia asked him, frowning with concern.

"I'm really sure," he promised. "Besides, it's way more fun to wander the gardens that sit in a chair and stare at people."

"True," she agreed.

The air shuddered as a tremor ran through the ground. Matthias marveled at how accustomed he'd become to Krahsilsaan coming and going that he hardly noticed when the leviathan landed anymore.

The dragon began to pad toward him in a mass of roiling scales and Matthias turned and paid attention at once. After all, it was only prudent to give a fire-breathing reptilian one's full attention.

Krahsilsaan halted a handful of steps from them and dipped his head. Lyn swung down from his neck, russet robes whirling. She studied the two of them, and Matthias couldn't help but prepare for a fight as her glaring eyes seemed to glow in the light of the braziers. But Lyn simply blinked once and turned to Claudia.

"Your brethren will no longer hunt you," she stated flatly.

Claudia took a trembling step backward.

"What? But… how?" she protested.

Lyn's features coiled into a smirk as she chuckled softly.

"It turns out, you were right," she said to Matthias. "Asking nicely does work better. Especially when you have a dragon do it for you." She ran her hand along Krahsilsaan's neck affectionately.

"I don't understand," Claudia murmured.

The dragon laughed, settling his bulk on the ground and folding his front legs over one another.

"My voice is stronger than any mortal's pitifully mutable will. It is a simple thing to bend it, should true need arise."

Matthias took an involuntary step back.

"Fear not," the dragon smiled with gleaming fangs, "I do not use it unless I must. You are far more interesting when left to your own desires."

Claudia stared at the two of them in turn.

"Are you sure they won't-"

"Oh I am sure," Krahsilsaan chuckled.

"Very," Lyn assured.

"Thank you," she breathed, feeling as if her legs were made of jam.

Krahsilsaan dipped his horned head once.

"I owed you a debt, after all," Lyn shrugged dismissively. "And it solves my problems nicely."

Krahsilsaan glanced sidelong at her.

"Oh yes, because all of this was your benevolent plan," he grumbled.

She retorted with a rapid string of words in the dragon tongue before spinning away. Krahsilsaan chortled merrily in response as he sauntered after her, tail cutting swaths in the grass.

Matthias frowned after her and desperately wanted to know what she had said before Claudia rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck.

"Gah! What-" he began.

"Sorry," she laughed. "I'm just… this is so strange! I can finally just…" she broke off as a laugh shuddered from her. She set her head against his shoulder, hoping he wouldn't see the silly tears that escaped her eyes.

Matthias uncertainly wrapped one arm around her, and used the other to pat her back.

"Um, Claudia?" he murmured.

"Hm?"

"Are you crying?"

"Only a little."

He hesitated, then wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her closer.

"That's alright. Cry as much as you want," he offered. "I wont tell anyone."

"Sorry," she muttered.

"Don't be."

"I promise I'm actually really happy. Stupid leaky eyes," she huffed, pulling back. Her face was red as she wiped away her tears.

"Sorry," she said again, then hurriedly changed the subject. "Let's go see if we can find Sam."

She took his hand and led him back toward the temple.

"Matthias?" she whispered softly. "Thank you."

He squeezed her hand tightly.

"Anytime."


Tyr Snow-strider scraped another shaving of wood from the piece in his hand, helping it resemble the wolf he wished it to be. He studied it with a grimace before he threw it in the fire beside him. It snapped and sent up a trail of sparks toward the dark ceiling above. He ignored it, confident that he and his men were deep enough in the cave that prying eyes would not notice their fires. The air shifted and his hand was on the hilt of his weapon before he saw the scout from Markarth materialize from the shadows. He nodded a greeting and pulled out another piece of wood, starting to carve again. She returned the gesture as she sat on a rock across from him, warming her hands in the fire's glow.

"Well?" he asked.

"Autumnwatch was as close as I got," she said. "But where the people go from there, I'm not sure."

Tyr nodded thoughtfully.

"There must be more to their stronghold than we can see," he surmised.

"Yes, I feel the same," she agreed. "There's a man at the towers. I think he leads people to their monastery. Maybe if we posed as new followers, we could-"

"No," Tyr said calmly. "We will not resort to the same trickery that they use. Then we are no better. We must conduct ourselves as warriors."

The scout shrugged, auburn hair falling free of her hood.

"As you like," she dismissed.

He stared into the depths of the cave at the sleeping forms of the soldiers with him.

"We'll continue on at first light. For now, the men need to rest. We've covered a lot of ground, and most of it mountains. In their armor, it's no small thing that we've managed to pass Falkreath already."

"Are we waiting for any more to join us?" she asked.

"A few, but I'm not sure I want to waste any more time," he replied thoughtfully.

He shrugged in a manner that ended the conversation, then reached down and rummaged through a knapsack at his feet before withdrawing a bottle of mead and tossing it to the scout.

"You should get some rest too. You look tired," he said, returning his attention to the block of wood in his hands. "There's some stew left in the pot over there, if you're hungry."

The scout nodded and offered her thanks, ambling away slowly on sore legs.

Tyr glanced at the distant entryway of the cave and sniffed the air out of habit.

Soon...

A/N: Hello, hello. Alright, honesty time. The next chapter is going to be delayed by about two weeks. I am burnt out on this story. I need some time to step back from it and breathe. I want to get the next chapter out, but I know that if I don't set this down for a little bit, I'm going to end up hating this story, and the story will suffer for it. The story doesn't deserve that, and you don't deserve something just thrown out there to have it done. I'm not abandoning the story by any means, just taking a much needed breather. Forgive me. I'll do my best to make it worth the wait.

-Azi