Part Two: Skyrim
Avari had been overwhelmed with happiness when they had first arrived at the college that sat silently in the ruined, snow covered town. The feeling quickly disappeared when the tests began. She had been against Edgster when he had suggested stopping in Winterhold, not for a visit to the mages or even to ask for their help. No. Edgster's suggestion had been one of breaking the tie between the two Dragonborns, severing that which the Daedra had placed on them. A type of magic that had only showed it's strength when it was tested by others, but once again, after many sessions of being cut or poked in a way to draw blood from their bodies. Avari found herself in a dark room, her head fuzzy, she was having trouble keeping her footing. Choosing to slowly sink to the ground and pull her knees against her body while she tried to keep the contents of her stomach from erupting out of her mouth. She breathed deeply through her nose, trying her best to bring her mind else where. The unfamiliar smell of leather is what awoke her mind. The smell of magic and herbs had been replaced by the overwhelming smell of leather, hinted with the metallic smell of blood. She could almost taste it on her tongue, which in turn only made her stomach protest more. Had something gone wrong with the spell?
No longer able to take the intruding smells, she slowly pushed herself to her feet and opened her eyes. The room looked familiar, the stone and the carvings much fresher than they were, but she would recognize the old stone work of the Nords. Instead of the smell of dirt and decay, she could only smell the leather and blood that burned her nose. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to see against the shadows, a loud crack piercing through the silence. Avari slowly walked towards the sound, a loud, deep grunt echoed behind the crack this time and she wasn't sure, but she thought she heard a man chuckle. Her hands ran across a door in front of her and she slowly pushed it open, weary of whoever waited behind for her.
The image seemed twisted, cloudy. It reminded her of the Elder Scroll that had shown her Dragonrend, the two shapes twisting and forming in to her view as she neared. Two men, one on his knees, with the other behind him wearing dark colored robes. The one who knelt moved slightly, blood racing down his back from the bites of the whip. She heard the chain that likely bound him in place move across the stone, catching her attention away from the whips handler. She jumped slightly at the crack that sounded, much rougher than the last if her ears were to judge. Her face turned to the one delivering the punishment, the familiar mask that covered his face was what caught her attention. A Dragon Priest, one she did not recognize, but one none the less. Avari rushed forward as the priest brought his arm up to ready another blow to the bound man's back. She was forced on to her back with enough force to knock the air from her lungs when she hit the ground. She groaned as she rolled to her stomach, pushing herself up on her hands and turning to look at the two men.
Her breath caught in her throat when the bound man's face turned up from the floor to look at the stone wall. His jaw clenched tightly as the whistling from the whip signaled its next strike to his skin. His face was young, not littered with the small scars that were familiar to her, but the familiar hard look and golden eyes is what caught her attention. The man behind him spoke in the dragon's tongue before he turned and walked from the room, leaving the two alone. She slowly slide her body across the floor until she was in front of Miraak. Reaching out her hand to touch his cheek, but he did not react to her touch. His head simply fell to look back down to the floor as she watched his shoulders shake with pain.
"What is this?" Miraak called out. The room of the college had disappeared and been replaced with a large field, a ruined tower next to him that burned as men and woman screamed in pain.
"Someone must be alive! Look for survivors!" His head jerked towards the voice, finding himself watching a female Dunmer as she ran towards him. Her blade held ready in her hand as her eyes scanned the skies.
He opened his mouth to speak, it quickly clamped shut one the familiar Nord jogged past him. A worn bow held tightly in her hand as she hurried past him. "Avari!" He called out to her when she rushed past him, reaching out for her arm when he finally caught up to her. She ignored his touch, her eyes shooting to the sky when a dragon's voice broke through the screaming from within the broken tower. He followed her gaze, watching the beast as it dove down and plucked a man from the ground with its large mouth. He tried to help her, tried to pick a sword from the ground, to cast a spell, use a shout, but nothing happened. Instead he was stuck watching the Nord battle the large beast with the guardsmen and the unfamiliar Dunmer.
When the dragon fell Avari limped towards it, holding her thigh where she had been knocked down by the beast and sliced open her leg through the old and worn leather armor. He watched her when the dragon's soul was taken by her, as those she fought with surrounded her. Watched when she used her voice the first time, followed behind her as she slowly made her way back towards the city and heard the old men call to her from their mountain. Miraak followed her through certain steps of her life, seeing her with the old men on the mountain that she listened to and learned from. Saw her play in a large city with children, crouching behind a bush before jumping out with a roar and sending the children screaming with laughter as they ran from her. Witnessed her rescuing an old man's life and hearing the story about Alduin later from the same old man. He couldn't help shake his head when she later argued with the old man and woman who had helped her when they brought Paarthurnax to her attention. Instead of slaying the dragon as they had asked she just sat with the beast atop that mountain, sharing things with the animal that he had never heard her speak of.
Then he saw his followers as they approached her and the man who accompanied her, listen to them speak before they made the attempt to take her life only to have her take theirs. He read the orders over her shoulder, watched her and her companion as they spoke, went with them to the docks and saw them part ways. He saw her familiar Dunmer companion through her eyes, Avari dropping the coin in his hands and her memory of their time together replayed for him. His chest tightened and anger filled his eyes when the two kissed inside a tavern and he chose to stay behind when the duo made their way towards a room in the back. Fingernails digging in to his palm as he leaned against the wall by the door, this was a memory he did not wish seeing and chose to close his eyes. His own voice is what made him open them again, seeing Avari on her knees looking up at where he stood in front of her. The young and fresh face she had began her memories with was unchanged, after everything she saw and did, it left her unchanged. He had watched her murder, steal and fight, yet the compassion she had for others was overwhelming. She had fulfilled a dying man's wish, cried for a person she had never known, gone out of her way just for another to smile at selfless gift. Miraak was unsure of why he had been shown all of these memories the girl held, but he had enjoyed watching the girl on the journey that brought her to him.
The air seemed to shift around Avari as she walked down the stones halls, the area changing in to a more familiar place. The place that she now called home morphed around her and walked quicker when she spotted Miraak at his throne. Men sobbed above her, some still drew breath while others laid stilled within their hanging prisons. A young woman stood behind his chair, her face downcast at the floor while Miraak picked at the stone arm rest of his chair. She watched his masked face as she made her way up the stone steps, looking over her shoulder when she heard someone call his name.
"Miraak." A familiar woman walked towards him, two men following behind her.
His head jerked towards the voice.
"As much as I am against doing this." The woman sighed as she came to stop in front of the priest. "We find ourselves asking for your help."
"The three leaders of this rebellion." Miraak's voice was mocking in tone as he spoke.
"Miraak, you are one of the few priests to turn against our masters." The older man spoke as he stepped forward.
"And the only one with the power to truly defeat a dragon." A one eyed man moved next to the older one.
Miraak leaned forward on to his knees. "You're going after Alduin?"
The three looked at one another before nodding.
"I wish you luck." Miraak stood from his chair, the woman quickly rushing to his side when he began to walk away.
"You have no choice, but to help us!" The female warriors voice was filled with anger as she yelled after him. "They want you dead more than they do us."
"Miraak, they are coming for you, join us and we can all be free from the dragons." The old man pulled his companion back as she went to follow the priest.
"Let them come." The priest left the room, leaving Avari with the three Nords that had assisted her in Sovenguard.
She began to follow behind the priest as the images twitched and shifted, another memory taking its place. She pushed the heavy door open to their room, quickly stepping out when she saw him with the woman who had been standing behind his throne. Avari stood outside the room, unsure of how to free herself from this situation. The door was suddenly pulled open, the young woman silently slipping out of the area and hurrying down the hall. She made her way back in to the room, finding Miraak sitting on the side of the bed. Avari ran her fingers over his mask that lay discarded on the table, she slowly sat down on the bed next to him. Her fingers grazing over the young man's back that was littered with pink colored scars. She watched as he faded next to her, standing to her feet as the room began to darken again. Avari slowly sat on to the stone, pulling her legs against her chest as the dizziness began to start again.
Miraak opened his eyes to female a Brenton who was hovering her face above his. He blinked his eyes as they tried to adjust to the light of the room.
"He's awake." The woman stood up straight, leaving his view.
"Be careful now." Tolfdir came to the priest and helped him sit upright. "How are you feeling?"
He rubbed his face as he spoke. "What happened?"
"You two drank the potion and I imagine fell asleep, Avari has yet to wake." The old man looked over to the Nord who laid next to Miraak on the bed. He helped the man to his feet, making sure he was steady before asking his question again. "Do you remember anything?"
Miraak turned to look at the Dunmer mercenary who was sitting in a large chair against the wall of the bedroom. His jaw locked as Avari's memory began to replay in his mind at the sight of the Elf's face. "I need a moment." He hissed out between clenched teeth.
A moment after the priest had left the girl stirred and her eyes slowly opened. She took hold of the wash bin, spilling its contents to the floor before she emptied her stomach in to it. Teldryn quickly stood from his chair and made his way over to her. Pulling her raven strands back so they did not dip in to the vile substance she was quickly feeling the metal bowl with. He helped her back on to the pillows while Tolfdir helped her in drinking a potion to ease her stomach.
"Perhaps you will be more willing to discuss what happened?" The old mage sat on the edge of the bed, raising his eyebrow when she looked to his face.
"Where's Miraak?" Avari looked around the room.
"He said he needed a moment." They all looked towards the open door as Tolfdir spoke.
"Tolfdir?" The old mage looked over to her. "Did you know what that potion would do?"
"No, I warned you both that we had no idea what may happen to either of you."
She pushed herself upright, looking over at Teldryn. "I saw some of his memories, like I was there." She turned back to the mage. "Did he see mine?"
Tolfdir shrugged his shoulder as he moved towards the desk. "If he did he did not see."
"Was he upset?" She turned to Teldryn.
"When is he not upset, Avari?" The Elf teased.
"Teldryn." She whispered, putting her hand behind his neck and pulling his face down to the side of hers. "I saw an intimate moment in his memories. Do you remember that night in Raven Rock? Before we ever met Miraak?"
The Dunmer began to laugh nervously, sitting up right and looking over to the old man who was more involved in writing down things in a small journal.
"Do you think?" She whispered again, looking up at the Elf.
"I think you should go talk to him before he comes down here and pulls an Ulfric. I prefer not to be shouted to pieces."
Avari nodded her head, slowly sliding off the bed.
Miraak pulled his robes off his shoulders, his skin was slick with sweat while he tried to fight against the sickness in his stomach. He left the robe fall to the ground and braced himself on the stone ledge, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath out of the cold air.
Avari carefully closed the heavy door behind her, fingers playing with the glass bottle in her hand. She put her palm against his arm when she reached him, smiling softly when he looked over at her. "Tolfdir gave me this to help you." She held the potion out to him, watching as he emptied the bottle and tossed it over the edge. "Miraak."
"What did you see?" He looked over at the Nord.
She looked down at her hands. "Not a lot, I saw the whippings and the three who defeated Alduin coming for your aid." She looked over at his face. "I saw Rylan too." She watched him look down at his hands, picking at the tips of his fingers. "I did not watch what went on behind the closed door though, I tried not to violate too much of your memories." She covered his hands with hers, stopping his fingers from continuing. She moved to pull at his arm until it gave her enough room to slip her body between the stone ledge and the priest, forcing him to look at her. She smiled and lightly kissed the side of his mouth before resting her head against his chest.
"Have you two..."
"No." She cut him off before he could continue, already knowing who and what he was referring to. "That happened once, we never even spoke of it again."
He kissed the top of her head before slowly pulling her back. "Avari, I just need a moment." He spoke softly, looking down at the bright blue eyes that watched him closely. "I saw a lot, I'm just overwhelmed."
She nodded her head. "Come find me when you are ready?"
He smiled and nodded, kissing her quickly before she walked away.
"Where is she?" Miraak couldn't help the bite in his voice as he looked at Teldryn.
"She's out on the bridge, I believe." The Dunmer looked up from the table where he sat with a young female. The girl looking up at the priest with awe.
Miraak looked between the two before he walked away, hurrying down the steps and out the large doors. He made his way across the bridge, spotting the Nord making her way through the ruined city. He jogged to catch up with her, calling out her name as he came near. "What are you doing?"
She looked over his shoulder as she spoke. "Walking?" She laughed slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"To where?"
She took hold of his gloved hand and pulled her with him. "I'll show you." They stepped off the road and on to the fresh snow that quickly swallowed their legs. She stepped through a ruined doorway and in to a home that had long since been destroyed, she drug her feet against the wood until the latch caught her foot. "I found this place with Farkas, said he smelt something that was off. Turned out to be very aged cheese." She laughed to herself as she kicked the snow clear, Miraak coming to help her pull the door up.
"I see you went in to places like this casually." He watched her as she began to descend in to the cellar.
"I forgot that I can't really share any of my secrets with you since you seem to know them all now." She teased, looking around the open area. She smiled at Miraak when a flame appeared in his palm and directed him towards a hanging lantern. Avari made her way back up the ladder to close the latch behind them.
Miraak ran his fingers over the spine of books that had collected dust on the shelf that was their home. He stopped on the one titled Dragonborn, pulling it out slightly to look at the cover.
"I have more in Whiterun." Avari spoke as she walked past him, pulling her cloak from her shoulders and carefully spreading it out on an old bedroll she had left. She gave the cloak a pat, signaling Miraak to come sit with her. "I have wine, it is not as tasty as what you are use to." She turned to dig through an old wooden box. "I didn't have the coin to spare it on such things the last time I came here." She took hold of the hold cork with her teeth and pulled it loose.
He slowly sat down across from her, watching her tip her head back and her face twist as she forced herself to swallow. He shook his head with a smirk, taking the bottle from her hand when she offered it. They both felt awkward with each other, neither knowing what the other saw. She had mentioned seeing Rylan and he could only imagine she was feeling the same way he was about seeing her with Teldryn. But Rylan was dead, Teldryn was alive and someone Miraak had trusted to keep her safe. They had been alone more than once and he couldn't stop his mind from wondering if what he saw had happened again when she was not with him. Most of his time in the Imperial City had been spent away from her, and she had been with Teldryn all that time. He gulped down a good portion of the bottle before setting it aside and looking over to the Nord. Avari smiled at him, her black hair framing her sun touched face and making her blue eyes more vibrant in the fire light. He reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear, keeping his hand on her cheek when she leaned in to his palm and closed her eyes.
"Avari?" He sighed, causing her to open her eyes and look at him with concern. His voice was quiet and unsure, something that did not fit his usual personality. He had to know, she was different from Rylan, she did not need him for safety and did not stay in his company for his power. She had her own power and after what he saw, he knew she could keep herself safe without him. But he had to ask her, he wanted to believe that she was there with him out of true affection and not some other reason as Rylan. Avari was not someone he wanted to keep in his hand for his own selfish reasons. "Do you love Teldryn?"
"No." Her quick answer surprised him, she said it without a second thought and her eyes became stern when she answered. "Teldryn is like a bother, I care about him, but what I have for him does not go beyond that." She placed her hand over his and kissed his palm before pulling it in to her lap. "I love you, Miraak. I know it is not something we really say to one another, but I do. That moment when I saw you give Mora your life so that he would give me mine, you did not even know me."
"You bested me in combat, I figured I was dead either way." He smirked.
"You're ruining my moment." She glared at him, brow coming together when he moved towards her and pushed her on to her back.
"I just wanted to hear your answer, Avari. If you say no then I believe you and wish to put this behind us."
"Good, because Tolfdir wants us to try again. He said this may be our way of breaking our chain." She kissed him when his face moved closer to hers.
He raised himself up on his forearms, looking in to the girl's eyes as he spoke. "What all did you see, Avari?"
She opened his robe and pulled it off his shoulders, turning to tug at his gloves. "I first saw you being whipped, by a priest." Her hands went to his back, tracing the deep scars with her fingers. "It was difficult to watch, I tried to stop him."
"You saw Rylan?"
She nodded her head. "I saw her in our room, I watched her sneak out when you two had finished and when I entered after her you were on the bed. Is that when she left?"
"Yes. I ordered her to leave me, she did. She didn't argue, she didn't say a word. She dressed and she left without a word. That was the last time I saw her alive."
"I've never seen you look so... broken."
"It was a difficult time, Avari. I didn't understand what she wanted, until I met you." He smiled before he quickly kissed her. "That night when you first let me take you, the way you looked at me was when I knew that Rylan had no type of emotion for me, other then hate."
"What did you see of mine?"
"A lot." He laughed. "I saw you killing your first dragon, playing with children." He combed his fingers through her hair. "How sweet and kind you are. How evil and dark you can be. I read a bit of this Brotherhood you are apart of, I would have never thought you of all people would join their ranks."
"I was just trying to help a young boy."
"I saw." He smirked, it quickly faded and his brow came together. "I saw when you first met our friend, Teldryn and when you two shared a room. Like you I chose not to watch the process of what happen, I saw the kiss and turned away as you two headed for your room." He kissed her back when her lips found his, resting his forehead against hers when she pulled away.
