(Told by Melody)

I guess I can be surprised by Bishop every once in awhile. I never would have imagined him suggesting that we help whoever we can in Solstheim. I know and he knows that he taught me long ago that if we were to survive, we needed to do jobs that got us paid. Then came the time that we had enough money to run off and enjoy life, but of course things fell apart when I decided to help the world out of survival, duty, and compassion. Two years later and he's back in my life, still not liking that I'm helping people.

That fact that he even suggest it was odd enough. Now it's been a few months since we first came to Solstheim and he acts nervous around my father and my brother. He says that it's a man thing, but I hardly believe it. In the meantime, Varric hasn't really been talking to me since our fight. I still haven't told my family about Mamae, but every time I sleep, I still get nightmares of Miraak and my mother trying to wake me up.

The dreams are getting better now, but when there was even the last stone we had to purify, they were so bad I could barely sleep. When I did, Bishop had to watch to make sure that I didn't go anywhere or worse. My markings even turned red on their own and burn me more that when my markings were first maturing. I haven't had this much restless sleep since my time as a werewolf.

On the side of trying to defeat Miraak, helping people, and dealing with Bishop practically being my personal guard and tester for me going crazy, I did what I can to figure out how I got red lyrium in my system. Anders had adjusted to using magicka potions and was willing to give me a lyrium potion to help me test theories. I tried using magic, pouring some of in some of a cultist's blood after killing them and before killing them, and tested the sand or ash since it's producing what the locals call Ash Spawn (Anders laughs every time he hears it since it reminds him of Darkspawn). Nothing. Despite everything, nothing is making the lyrium potion turn red. At least nothing that I know of. Not even dragon's blood.

However, while exploring Apocrypha in one of the Black Books I found, I found a book with a spell. It looked innocent at first, but once I read further, it contained knowledge about red lyruim. I managed to keep it and began studying it whenever I could. From what I found so far, the spell I read about was a secret frost spell that was really a way to give someone red lyrium. Looking back at the fight in Riften when I was first attacked, I choked on some frost that one of the cultists threw my way. It wasn't just an attack on my life, but a chance to poison me. The book also had other red lyruim related spells, like how Thorn had a red lyrium tattoo, crystalizing blood when he died, and was able to overpower me. There's more, but some of it is in an unfamiliar tongue. Not even Merrill knows that some of the words say. I'm guessing code of some sort, but I hardly have had the time to figure it all out.

With the stones purified and most citizens of Solstheim trusting me, Bishop and I are currently in Raven Rock collecting pay for a few jobs and trading. Over the last couple of months, I have sent and received letters from all of my organizations. In my absence, I left people I trust to take over until I officially returned. I've been getting good reports and a few jobs to do while I was in Solstheim, but I still worry that they can't do a thing without me. The Dawnguard however, just send me reports of vampires in Solstheim. I did get a letter from Serana not to long ago about how she decided to become human. Her mother is still thinking about it, but I'm happy for her.

Point is, we were in the market place, getting ready to head back to the Skaal village and get the final word of a shout that will help me defeat Miraak for the last time and this messenger comes up. I thought he was looking for me since sometimes my shout catches attention of fans and they tell my about an ancient tomb with a Shout hidden inside, but he goes to Bishop instead. He blocked my view when he opened the package and hid whatever was inside. I tried asking him about it, but he keeps dodging the question by bringing up Karnwyr since we left him with my family (another surprising suggestion by Bishop).

He's lucky that my mind was to preoccupied with what we have to do. There is a price for the final word. The Black Books of Apocrypha are basically gateways to Hermaeus Mora's realm. He's offering the final word in exchange for... well, a few things. Me permanently becoming his champion like Miraak after I kill him, me accepting my fate to be his, and the secret knowledge of the Skaal. Dealing with him is like dealing with a demon back where I was from. Even if I find a way to get back, I fear that if I agree to all these terms, my soul will forever be Hermaeus Mora's. I still remember the conversation between the daedric god and myself.

"So what's your price for the final Word of Power? " I asked, knowing that a price from a Daedric God was going to be high.

"Knowledge for knowledge." The floating tentacles and eyeballs float around me. "The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many long years. The time has come for this knowledge to be added to my library. "

I remembered how the Skaal were protective of they're culture, only sharing the bare minimum with me."What if the Skaal refuse to give up their secrets? "

"My servant Miraak would have found a way to bring me what I want. So will you, if you wish to surpass him." Hermaeus Mora sounded like he was trying to bait me, but he unfortunately had a point.

"How do I know I can trust you, demon?" I hissed at the floating creature in front of me.

Tentacles had suddenly wrapped tightly around my neck, making a point. "My word is as true as fate, as inevitable as destiny. Bring me what I want, and I will give you what you seek."

"Why do I need this Word of Power to defeat Miraak?" I spoke my thoughts after he released my neck.

"Even dragons submit to Miraak's Voice. Without that power, you cannot face him. So say I, Hermaeus Mora, master of the tides of Fate." I felt chills up my spine.

Something still didn't feel right. "Isn't Miraak your ally? Why help me defeat him?"

"He has served me long and well. But he grows restless under my guidance. His desire to return to your world will spread my influence more widely. But it will also set him free from my direct control. It may be time to replace him with a more loyal servant. One who still appreciates the gifts that I have to offer." Almost sounded like a slaver getting tired of a slave and wanting a newer, younger slave. "Send the Skaal shaman to me. He holds the secrets that will be mine."

After that, he forced me out of Apocrypha with little to no choice. I haven't even told Bishop what had happened. He knew something was up, of course, but he's been very cautious with me since we discovered red lyrium in my skin. He knows about the book, thank the gods, but without any knowledge of a cure, my options for our next move are very limited. I don't even know if the Daedric bastard himself let me find the book just so I could trust him blindly. But, like I said before, my options are limited.

"Ladyship?" Bishop appears to be done with whatever he was doing, I honestly wasn't paying attention. "Everything alright?"

"That a trick question?" I ask, trying to joke but only getting a worried look from the man I love. "I don't know. What we have to do to face Miraak seems like the only course of action, but I can't help but feel like there's something else. Something we're not seeing. Something doesn't feel right."

"Neither was riding a dragon or having a vampire for a friend, but you did it anyway." Not sure if he's trying to make me feel better or not. "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. Together, right?"

"Right." I nod my head. "Let's get to the Skaal village and talk to Storn."

...

"I spoke to Hermaeus Mora. He asked for the 'secrets of the Skaal.'" I inform Storn, hoping he has a better solution.

"Hermaeus Mora...old Herma-Mora himself." Herma-Mora? "So he is the source of Miraak's power. Of course. We have many tales of Herma-Mora trying to trick us into giving up our secrets to him. And now he comes again for what we have long kept from him."

I see the question of why in his eyes. "He said that's the only way he'll teach me the final Word of Miraak's Shout."

"So it falls to me to be the one to give up our secrets to our ancient enemy." The old man nods. "I do not know if I have the strength to face him. But with the stones restored... it may be enough. It will have to be."

"You mean you'll give him what he wants?" I was afraid of that; this could go horribly wrong.

"Yes. The Skaal also tell of the day when we must finally give up our secrets. When Herma-Mora finally wins. As shaman, it is my duty to guard these secrets, but also to decide when it is necessary to give them up. I believe that time is now. If I am wrong, may my ancestors forgive me. Give me the book. I will read it, and speak to old Herma-Mora myself. I will make sure he lives up to his part of the bargain." He looks so brave, so confident.

I want to ask him more questions, but time is of the essence. "I hope you know what you're doing."

I give Storn the book, hoping my worry is for nothing. "That is my hope as well. I am trusting that you will make this sacrifice worthwhile."

Frea approaches us, my family close behind her. "Father, you must not do this. That book is... wrong. Evil. Against everything that you have taught me my whole life."

Storn tries to calm her down. "I must, Frea. It is the only way to free Solstheim forever from Miraak's shadow. There comes a time when everything must change. Nothing that lives remains the same forever. Do not fear for me, my daughter. This is the destiny that the All-Maker has laid out for me."

Frea bites her tongue, I can see she want to fight. "I stand beside you, father, as always."

"I am ready for whatever the foul master of this book has in store for me." He opens the book; dark tendrils dig into his mind as Herma-Mora manifests.

"At last, the Skaal yield up their secrets to me." Hermaeus Mora cries out in delight.

Frea screams reaches everyone in the village. "Father! No, stop!"

I know Storn is talking to the demon, but I can't help but feel guilty myself; I knew something was wrong. "You... liar... Gah!...I won't... not... for you..."

"Do something!" Frea now yells at me.

I whip out my bow and try to shoot to book, but a tentacle grabs my arms and lifts me off the ground.

I barely hear the cries around me for Hermaeus Mora invades my mind. "Dragonborn, you have delivered me the gift I requested. In return, I keep my promise, as befits a Prince of Oblivion: I give you the Word of Power that you need to challenge Miraak. You will be either a worthy opponent or his successor, as the tides of fate decree."

"Nooo..." Storn could hear him too and tries to stop him with his mind but he crumples to the ground, dead.

This was all my fault. That's all I'm thinking as knowledge of the final word of the Bend Will Shout is forcefully enters my mind. I can feel the monster trying to dig into my head for more knowledge.

"Get... out..." As I speak, my markings glow until they're red. "Of my... HEAD!"

The red lyrium burns Hermaeus Mora's tendrils that are wrapped around my arms. He lets out a scream for all to hear before dropping me and vanishing back into the book. Bishop rushes to my side as I try to recover, but my eyes are on Storn.

"Father!" Frea looks from her father to me in disgust. "What have you done?"

"Frea, I'm so sorry. I didn't-!"

"Go!" She interrupts me. "My father sacrificed himself so that you could destroy Miraak and lift his master's shadow from the land. Go, then. Kill Miraak. Do not fail."

I won't. Not again. I slowly rise, ignoring my throbbing headache. Bishop tries to assist me, but I dare not look at him in the eye. We walk towards Miraak's Temple. It has been somewhat abandoned since Frea and I cleaned it out and I cleansed the nearby stone. Without a word, by family follows Bishop and me to the temple as the Skaal mourn their shaman. Miraak, I hope you're ready to face me, because I am in a really bad mood.