Ladia glanced around, the large cavern was dark, and only a small beam of silver light was in the far distance. Serana came flying out of the hole that Lorundil and her and came out of, only a few moments before. Serand got up, wrung her crimson cape out, and said:

"What a wonderful journey. What where you thinking?" She hissed, angrily.

Ladia rolled her eyes and walked along the cavern. It sloped upward and it stopped next to a stream, a small bridge lead across it. Ladia walked across it, and all most walked right into a giant Frostbite spider. She resisted the urge to scream and quickly stabbed the spider. It turn and bite at her with it's slimy mandibles. She slashed at the beast's mouth and drove her sword into it's eyes. It backed up, spitting poison at her. She gave one last blow to it's head and it crumbled to the ground. Lorundil and Serana came in just as the spider died. Ladia trudged on. The cave slowly turned into a tunnel which split into two paths. Ladia went down the right one, it soon merged with the left. It lead to a small camp where a dead woman laid in her dried blood. Lorundil and Serana appeared at Ladia's side.

"Dead end." Lorundil said.

"Or not." Serana said, pulling a chain.

The a small bit of the wall shook and lowered revealing another tunnel. It lead to a larger cavern with a marble dome int the center. A tall elf faced them and before Ladia could say something the elf smiled and said:

"Hello, Welcom to the Chantry of Auri-El. I am Knight-Paladin Gelebor. I know why you're here and I am willing to help, but to get Auri-El's Boe you must help me. You must kill my brother-"

"The Arch-Curate Vyrthur." Lorundil interrupted.

"Yes, how did you know?" Gelebor asked.

"Experience." Lorundil said.

"But first you must survive Darkfall Passage." Gelebor explained.

"How do we get to your brother? Why do we need to kill him? Where is Auri-El's Bow? Where's Darkfall Passage?" Ladia asked.

"Let me show you." Gelebor said.

He held up his hand like he was going to cast a healing spell, but he shot an orb of gold light at the dome. With a great deal of shaking and rumbling, the dome rose out of the black rock. It was a pavilion with walls on all sides but one. A shimmering, water like portal was on the far side of the dome and a basin sat in the middle.

"This is a wayshrine, they are dotted are the Forgotten Vale. To get to my brother you must take this Ewer and fill it with the water from each of the Wayshrines. He is in the Inner Sanctum." Gelebor explained, giving Ladia a silver pitcher.

"But way do we need to kill your brother?" Ladia asked, taking the Ewer.

"I believe he has been infected by the Betrayed, what you call the Falmer. His mind has been twisted." Gelebor said.

Gelebor wished them luck and they stepped through the portal.


They were met by inky blackness. Dark rocks were on either side of Ladia. She grasped the wall, steadied herself, blinked, and looked around. She could barely see Serana and Lorundil. She took a small step forward.

"Does anyone have a torch?" Ladia asked.

"I do. Hold on… there!" Serana said, holding a torch.

The tunnel lead past a small pool and into a larger passage. A few Falmer leapt from the wall, but Serana killed them with Ice spikes. They walked on into a large cave, which held a Falmer village. The Falmer snarled and leapt upon them. Ladia slashed, Lorundil shot Ice Storms, and Serana blasted them with her Vampire drain. They pressed on through the cave. It seemed like days before they found the first Wayshrine and burst into a cold sunlight. A huge valley spread out before them. Icy mountains rose up all around them, clouds covered the sun, and a cool wind rushed through the valley. An aura of misery and sadness filled the empty place. The group walked on still silence. They found two more Wayshrines before coming right next to a raging river. Lorundil lead them up a small path next to the Wayshrine of Learning, that you would have never found unless you were looking for it. It lead up high in to the mountains and they could see for miles. He opened a small trapdoor and crept into the hole. He guided them into a shaft so small that they had to crawl. It went on for about sixty feet before the roof rose and they could stand. They walked on and dropped onto the third Wayshine. The ghost welcomed them and open the Wayshrine. Serana dipped the Ewer into the water and they left again. Lorundil found another passage they crawled on.

The passage stopped at a canyon, with Falmer homes clinging to the sides of the ravine. The Falmer jumped down, but the small company defeated them easily. After going through the maze of ramps, bridges, and huts, they found the fifth and last Wayshrine. They could see the Inner Sanctum from the Wayshrine. It was a huge marble building, with a elaborate bridge leading across a river. The group crossed the bridge and they were met by a statue of Auri-El. Lorundil climbed the stairs behind Auri-El and poured the Ewer's water into the basin. The water trickled down small dips in the marble and with a flash of light the doors to the Inner Sanctum opened and Ladia stepped inside. Sad, frozen statues filled the icy hall. Ladia tapped on one of them.

"They're Falmer!" She said.

"Why are they frozen?" Serana wondered.

"Why, indeed." Ladia mused.

Ladia carfully walked to the center of the room. A beam of golden white streamed down. Most of the Falmer were facing the light and she wondered if that was what froze them. She turned and saw that on of the Falmer held a white dagger like Lorundil's. She pried it from the thing's icy fingers, and while she was studieding it, she heard a sound of glass shattering and she heard Lorundil yelled: "The Falmer!" and she turned just as the Falmer drove an Ice spike into her gut.


Okay, okay. Right, I better break the news now: The in going to be a Sequel to this story and no, I'm not ending it here, but after chapter 20 or so, keep your eyes open for The Bronze Tower. Salut!