A Few Feet from Vex...
My first instinct is to run from the talking dog. I rise and turn, but that's as far as I get. The dog just appears in front of me like nothing's happened.
"Whoa! Hey, calm down here!". I turn to talk to Vex. What I see causes a shudder to run up my spine. The woman's a statue as she looks with wide eyes at where the dog once was. I think it's just her until I see the woman's hair is frozen in a breeze that's no longer there. I flip around and see Cupcake likewise a statue as he strains his neck to get some needles while Lucky's frozen halfway through relieving himself. I can feel and hear my own heart beating as I look back at the dog. He's sitting and wagging his tail.
"You done?". Slowly, I find myself nodding.
"Good. Now, I believe some introduction is in order.". He rises and tosses his head backwards in obvious pride.
"I'm Barbas.". He lowers his head and I see his eyes are completely white.
"Though, you already know who I am, don't you?". I slowly nod again. He's Clavicus Vile's other half and half of the Daedric Prince. I feel my throat go dry as I begin to take a step backwards.
"Wait! Before you go running off into the woods, hear me out.". I feel my foot forced to the ground and realize I don't have much of a choice. That doesn't stop me from shaking as Barbas talks. As he does, the dog heaves himself onto his hind legs to look me in the face. Somehow, that doesn't put me at ease.
"I know what you're doing here. Great pilgrimage, getting rid of Her, saving the day, etc. I can help.". I begin shaking my head out of reflex. Barbas already has an argument ready.
"You took the Ebony Blade, didn't you?". I stop shaking my head and he keeps going.
"I know what's beneath those clothes of yours. I know the scars and burns all along your spine. Hurts, doesn't it?". I find I can't lie to the dog. I nod.
"You can't fight with those wounds. They keep ripping open and aching, don't they?". Another nod is my contribution to this conversation.
"I'll tell you what I'll give you. I'll give you a trinket of Clavicus Vile's to help you in your quest, heal those nasty wounds all up and down your back, and tell you where you need to go next to really begin this quest of yours. If you get things done to my liking, then I'll even lessen Her presence inside of your head.". Everything Barbas offers sounds tempting, but I know better than to accept gifts from Daedric Princes. I try taking another step backwards. I'm still stuck on the spot and the Ebony Blade on my back rattles as I try to move.
I've already accepted the Ebony Blade. I'm not the one that made a deal with Mephala, but I still took her blade when it was offered.
Barbas seems to sense my hesitation.
"I should also mention I'm not going to let you go unless you agree to do what I need done.". A tingle runs up my spine.
Really, there's no reason not to take whatever Barbas is offering. Besides, how bad could it be?
I find myself nodding. A small smile graces Barbas' lips as he thunks back to the ground. A single wag of his tail unfreezes whatever bubble we've been placed in. Vex gags and flips around with a start. The poor Imperial is panting and grasping her chest as Barbas looks between the two of us.
"It's nice to meet both of you. Now, follow me. You two're going to help me reunite with my master.". Barbas turns around and bounds away without another word. I consider mounting Cupcake and shoving Vex on Lucky, but decide not to. I'm sure that Barbas won't take us far.
It turns out I'm very, very wrong. Barbas leads up further north and up into freezing, biting winds as we push up into a mountain pass. The pooch even takes us by a bandits' trap in the road along with a bandits' burnt town along the way. The criminals easily scurry away when I flash the symbol of the Knights of the Eight on the back of my robe, though that doesn't put me at ease.
The scum of Skyrim aren't renown for their respect for the holy. Still, I don't complain as Barbas takes us up an abandoned, snowy path. The wind is beginning to nip at me and my feet are soaked with snow as we finally arrive at the cave Barbas has been leading us to. The dog runs in without a single glance over his shoulder. I go to follow, but a gentle hand wrapping around mine stops me. I turn around and see Vex looking at the entrance to the cave and biting her lip. The woman shakes her head.
"We shouldn't go in there.". My chest clenches. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I need to go in there.
"Vex-". She shakes her head even harder and begins tugging on my arm.
"No!". I dig my heels in. We're about the same size, though the thief is mostly muscle while I have fat clinging to my ribs. That's why when push comes to shove the woman can't make me budge. Sadly, her pulling also means I can't enter the cave.
"Vex, this isn't any different than when you made a deal with Mephala to get the name of Vaermina!". Slowly, Vex stops kicking up puffs of snow and turns back to face me. She shakes her head even harder and I see steel in her eyes.
"It's different. That was me making a deal with Mephala, not you!". She seems to realize something because she begins smiling.
"This is a trial! The Divines are testing your strength and willpower!". She goes back to causing a miniature snowstorm as she begins trying to pull me from my path. I'm not moved in the slightest.
"I'm not going to make a deal with him! I'm just going to reunite Clavicus Vile and Barbas so we can learn where to go on my quest!". Vex stops and looks at me with her face tightened. Her voice takes on a high, mocking tone I'm sure I don't sound like.
"I'm just returning Clavicus Vile to his full power in order to get the knowledge I want!". I feel rather than control my lips as they turn upwards to show Vex my fangs. The Imperial isn't intimidated in the slightest. She continues covering my legs and soaking my robes in snow as she continues fighting to pull me away. My heels threaten to leave the ground, but twisting my feet quickly gives me enough leverage to keep myself grounded. Vex doesn't give up, though. My heart aches at how upset the woman is, but I try to talk some sense into her.
"Vex, I need to find out how to get Her out of me. If that means making Clavicus Vile whole again, then so be it. It's not like he's one of the powerful Daedric Princes. It's like I'm just putting things back to normal.". Vex doesn't see how much this means to me and keeps trying to force me to move. At this point she's beginning to kick up dirt her heels have dug so deep into the earth.
"Vex!". Finally, the woman stops running and looks me in the eyes.
"Do you know how long I have to get Her out of my head before the Knights of the Eight expect me to return back to the Imperial City?". She, obviously, shakes her head.
"A year. I have one year before I have to start heading home. So far, I've wasted a month.". I knew how this pilgrimage was going to end the second I left the Imperial City. I was going to waste an entire year going around Skyrim gathering recruits like my cover story was, then either go home with Her still attached to me or-quite possibly-have Her consume me. Neither were appealing options, but I'd accepted my fate. Now there's a chance I can actually get Her out of me and return to my normal life. Vex needs to see that.
"If I don't get Her out of me in that time, then the Knights of the Eight are going to want to force her out of me. That means-". Vex both interrupts me and impresses me with her knowledge of holy punishments.
"Scourging, burning, beating, and all that. I know.". Slowly, her hands remove themselves from my arm. I let my arm drop, but don't run and break the trust Vex has put in me. Instead, I keep trying to talk her into it.
"I know I can't survive going through that again. So, I'm going to die if I don't get Her out of me.". Vex offers up another weak excuse.
"We could find another way to get Her out.". She once again relies on her first argument.
"You're supposed to serve the Divines. Helping a Daedric Prince isn't serving the Divine.". She has a point, but I have a better one.
"I can serve the Divines better with Her out of my head. Restoring Clavicus Vile to his normal power isn't making him any stronger than he originally was, so it's not like I'm serving him. And you and I both know there's no way we're going to find out how to get Her out of me.". Ultimately, what makes the decision is Barbas. The dog comes spluttering out of the entrance and stops right beside me. The hound's a mess of white as he looks up at me with the best glare he can muster plastered across his face.
"Are you coming or not?". I look at Vex. The woman's gazing at the snowy ground and biting her lip. I've made my decision.
"Vex, I'm going in there and finding out how to get Barbas and Clavicus Vile back together. You can either wait out here, or come in with me and help me get Her out of my head.". As an afterthought, I tell her what I'm prefer.
"I'd like you to come with me.". Barbas turns and returns to the cave as I take a few steps backwards. I assure Vex I won't be mad at her.
"I'm fine if you wait out here. Just stay warm and safe.". I don't wait to see her reaction. I turn and follow Barbas into the cave. I find myself waiting, though. I wait just inside the entrance to the cave where I can't really see anything, though I can't be seen from the outside of the cave due to the shadows the entrance throws. Slowly, the chill begins to leave me and I realize I can't wait around forever. A soft, gentle hand comes to rest on my shoulder. I feel a smile come to my lips as my friend speaks.
"I think you're a damned fool, but I'm not going to let you get yourself killed. At least, I'm not letting you get yourself killed alone.". I raise one hand and pat the back of her's.
"Thank you. I promise you won't regret it.". We don't speak anymore as we go deeper into the cave.