17

Aya did not look back as she ran down to the Arcaneum. They had almost been caught. Estormo had literally come out of Ancano's room as she had been coming down the stairs. How long had he waited for Ancano? She bit her lower lip, her eyes looking for the big Nord in iron armour. She wasn't going to let him control her. Damn that Estormo!

He was still speaking to Urag gro-Shub, they made eye contact and he waved her over. The orsimer barely acknowledged her and she fidgeted nervously in front of the big Nord. Now what?

"Do you know where Saarthal is?" He asked her smoothly. She blinked at him, her heart lurching in her throat. Saarthal ! Ancano and Estormo were always discussing it. Oh no…

"Yes," she began slowly, licking her lips, she was going to add that she wasn't going to take him there when he grinned down at her and clapped both her shoulders in his big palms.

"Excellent! Take me there," he beamed, motioning for her to step ahead of him. She moved without being told twice. Aya was halfway up the stairs when she frowned to herself and paused in the stairway. What in Oblivion had just happened…?

The big Nord walked into her and she would have fallen down the steps had he not reached out and steadied her. "Ooof!"

"Careful," the Nord smiled at her.

She straightened and glared at him as she dusted herself off, "I didn't accept to take you there!"

His cold blue eyes narrowed and he tilted his head to the side. "So you like the dragon threat then?" He asked deliberately.

A shiver ran down her spine as she stared up at him. The smile was gone from his lips, replaced by a calculating look. "N-no!" She exclaimed. That had escalated quickly…

"Then take me to Saarthal," he spoke calmly, and then added with a smirk, "I promise your business with me will be done after that."

She sighed heavily and muttered under her breath about stupid, domineering men as she started walking up the stairs again. She had a bad feeling about this.

Hadvar remained silent the rest of the trip. The hunter was unnecessarily anxious around him. He hadn't known why, and he was curious to say the least. He doubted she was in league with Alduin, that evil drake did not associate with mortals, especially not lowly hunters.

He needed the Elder Scroll to defeat Alduin. This was the purpose for all this gallivanting about Skyrim. His first encounter with the black dragon god had not gone according to plan. He'd found himself facing an immortal creature, with no way to kill the damn thing. His ego had chafed and Paarthurnax had advised he needed to locate an Elder Scroll.

And here he was. The mer had been forthcoming, but had wanted the Dragonborn to do him a favour in exchange for the information. There was something buried beneath Saarthal, something the Arch Mage wanted kept under wraps, but needed to remain out of Thalmor hands. Hadvar cared very little for politics, like he had told that Thalmor that had interrupted them, he was only interested in ending the dragon threat.

"Saarthal is just beyond this area," the hunter said as she pointed ahead. He did not say anything and followed quietly behind her. Ten minutes later and Hadvar was staring at an archeological dig.

"You may continue on your way if you wish," he said, dismissing the anxious hunter. She peered at him and nodded. She remained where she was as he descended the wooden scaffolding.

He didn't look back as he entered the ancient Nordic ruin.

Estormo was walking the halls of the tomb, searching as it were, for long buried secrets. He would have continued doing so had he not heard his magical alarm go off. He frowned and moved with assurity towards the entrance of the tomb, casting invisibility on himself. Who had triggered his alarm?

He raised his hands and prepared his lightning magic. Whoever it was, he would kill them if they came any further. Ancano had warned him that no one was to meddle in Saarthal, until the Thalmor had discovered the secrets buried within. Estormo had no issues killing anyone foolish enough to venture here.

His brows shot up in surprise when he spotted the intruder. A large, heavy armoured Nord was sneaking through the halls. A bandit? Here? Estormo snorted in disgust. Nords had no respect for their dead, using tombs as hideouts for their criminal activities. He did not doubt this was a Bandit Chief scouting a new den.

Not on his watch, and definitely not in his tomb.

She did not know how long she stood outside of Saarthal before she stormed off. Good riddance! She had a mind to clear and feelings to accept or run from… like she was doing right now.

Aya had already told Ancano she loved him. He hadn't said it back, but she hadn't figured he would. He didn't readily admit anything… he was too gods be damned proud and careful. She muttered under her breath and stopped walking as she plopped down in the snow and sat down right where she stood.

He was a Thalmor… and she was turning traitor. She sighed heavily and hid her eyes with her hands. She had fucking told him she would always come back to him… stupid ! Was it really treason though? Skyrim was technically a province of the Empire… the Thalmor were allies… right?

She cursed under her breath at her own thoughts. She was overcomplicating things, or maybe simplifying them, trying to justify herself to herself . Why did she care where she stood? Hadn't her contact with the real world been so limited that she'd had no contact with other people since her grandmother had died?

Had spending a few months at the College actually changed that? She sighed heavily and laughed at herself. She was a mess. Her thoughts were in turmoil, running around in circles in her head. She giggled to herself as she visualized Ancano with the word Love attached to his back, running into a wide circle with Estormo with the word Fear and Colette with the word Learning and Ulfric (whom did not look at all in real life as she visualized him) with the word Loyalty.

She grinned as she laid back in the snow and stared at the cloudy sky overhead. She was letting her social life destroy her peace of mind. So what, she told Ancano she loved him, she really did. Did she want to spend her whole life, and it would be a short one compared to his, regretting never telling him? Not really.

Colette treated her like a friend rather than a student. She felt ridiculously guilty for leaving her behind. She hadn't put up much of a fight to see her go and had worried like a relative. Aya sighed heavily. She would stop feeling this way about her teacher. She had told her she was coming back. There was no reason for her to feel this way.

She rolled her eyes as she flicked Ulfric from her daydream. She was not too concerned with politics. He had no business being in her tumultuous thoughts.

Her mind finally returned to Estormo, and she visualized him as she had last seen him. He hadn't made to stop her or talk to her, nor had he chased her down the stairs as she had half expected. Was he done searching for her? Or trying to talk to her? Had Ancano put the fear of whatever-fear-he-could into him?

Her eyes snapped open suddenly. She'd led the Dragonborn to Saarthal… would he kill Estormo? She was almost relieved and then she frowned as her stomach clenched uncomfortably. Estormo was Ancano's agent. The only one in miles. Did she want Ancano alone for ten years, with just her company?

She grumbled under her breath and jumped to her feet. She dusted the snow from her fur and turned on her heels, heading back towards Saarthal. She would just make sure he was all right. That was all she was doing…

Aya stared at the door for what felt like an eternity before she cracked it open and slid inside. It was damp, cold and dark… of course it was… why did he have to be here? She licked her dry lips and prayed to Kynareth for safety and Arkay to keep his Draugr… dead. She was not armed with flaming spells or weapons.

This was a supremely bad idea.