Chapter 55.

So when the walk started, it was morning, and I woke in a nice grassy woodland. It was beautiful.
Now it's late afternoon, and I followed this talking dog up into the rocky, snow-topped hills of Skyrim.
Barbas seems to know where he's going but despite the cold, I am starting to work a sweat, I'm still sticky from the dried deer blood from my wolf escapade.

"I want a bath so badly…" I sighed, lamenting the fact that the closest to a bath Skyrim has is probably a metal tub warmed by a fire. Even that would be nice.

"I hope you come up with a better wish before you meet my master" Barabs barked to me.

"Hmm? I was just thinking out loud. What's your master like anyway?"

"His name is Clavicus. Clavicus Vile"

"That a, nice name…" I smirked to myself, internally wondering if Clavicus Evil was already taken. Clavicus Nasty maybe. "I suppose if he keeps such a friendly and helpful doggie, names are deceiving"

"My master is the one who banished me" Barbas explained.

"What? Why would you want to return to someone who kicked you out?" I knelt in the snow to fluff his fluffy fluff. "I've been banished too you know. People like that aren't worth your time, find someone who'll treat you with the respect you deserve"

"You don't understand. My master and I grow weaker the longer we're separated"

"So what, you're a magic dog? Is that why you can talk?"

"Y- yes… Did you really think I was a run of the mill dog?"

"I thought it was because of this…" I held up my ring so Barbas could see. "See, this ring carries a curse, it-…"

"The ring of Hircine" Barbas answered. "My master can get that off you if you like… maybe…" He seemed unsure.

"Well, I'd like to see him try… But more importantly, how do you know about this ring? what do you mean by you and your master get weaker?"

"Clavicus and I are two halves of a greater whole. But he is better known as the Prince of Bargains, or the Daedric lord of wishes"

"D… Daedric?" My feet came to a complete halt. "You never said your master was a Daedra!"

"I am Daedra too, in a way"

"oh super…" Like learning that I've been digging for treasure in a field of landmines, I felt Barbas' presents in a new way.

"No, No!" Barbas jumped up, pushing me back with his front paws. "Don't leave!"

"I want to help you, I do. But I'm not educated enough to make a sound judgment on if I should…"

"My master can get that ring off you! Once we're together, he'll have the power to grant any wish you want!"

I have a choice to make. By helping Barbas, am I entering a deal with my end already fulfilled? Would it be that easy for me?
Valerica made a deal to save her daughter's life. It cost her daughter's virtue, and as a result, she's cursed with vampirism.
Serana suffered a lot of torment from her experience with Daedra. But Molag Bal kept his promise. She's alive and more powerful for being a part of the deal.
Niik dealt with Daedra too, and he's near unkillable now.
The Daedra will give you what you want, but they'll take something from you, or from those you love.
All those talks with Niik and Serana, yet I still feel no better equipped to handle this.
I've always needed to be guided in the past, but I thought being removed from the academy would make me into the person I was born to be. Maybe it will, but right now I'm just not ready to make these kinds of decisions.

"I wish you were here" I whispered to myself.

"You need to think up better wishes before you meet my master" Barbas barked.

I looked at the cute doggie.
"Has your master cured a werewolf before?"

"Only one person wished of that before, for their daughter. He granted the farther the power needed to free her of the curse"

I rubbed my finger over the ring.
Would it be wise or cowardly to wish for freedom of this curse?
Perhaps some would even call it selfish of me.
After all, I got myself into this mess through ignorance and curiosity. Maybe there's a more selfless wish I could make instead.

After a few more hours of following this dog through the snowy paths of Skyrim's southern mountains, Barbas led me off the road and into a hallowing in the cliff.
"Another goddamn cave?" Why can't Daedra ever occupy a garden for once?

"My Master's shrine is deep within. Follow me!"

"Yea sure…" I kept the dog close by as he led me deeper in. "wait, why did you need me for this? You already knew the way?!"

"My master shut the door behind me and I can't reach the handle"

"aww" That's actually adorable. "Was there really no one else you could have asked?"

"It's not that simple. I asked you because only those willing to make a deal can hear my voice"

"I see…" That's concerning. Who wouldn't make a deal with a wish-granting Daedra? The answer, someone who knows better.
That I can hear his voice tells me I might be walking to my mistake. As it is, Barbas owes me but I don't owe anything to him.
I kept my eye on the fluffy dog, wagging his little tail as he showed the way.
"no…" He delivered the clothes I'm wearing, now I'm going to clear the way for him. Dept repaid. So one could argue that if I want to be free of my wolf curse, or be granted any other wish, I'll owe them this time.
Still, I don't have to accept anything. We're neutral if I do this, I can just walk away as soon as the door is open and Barbas is returned to his master.
If I do decide to take this further, I can consult Niik about it once Omnico tracks him down for me.

"It's just around this corner…" Barbas led me around.

"This is the door that stopped you?" I smirked looking at the tall metal door. "My turn to shine…" I mutter as I grip the hoop handle. "Blessed art thou hands of opposable thumbs, open thy way that thee shalt pass"
After gripping the hoop handles, I was easily able to pull the door open. "And there we go~" I followed Barabs inside.
As the dog scampered ahead, I felt the walls as a guild through the dark passages.
Although, my eyes seem to be adjusting a lot better than before. Has becoming a wolf just that once already improved my vision?

I could hear Barbas arguing up ahead, but he ran back down the tunnels to meet before I'd caught up.
"That's the statue up ahead" He yelped, running around my ankles trying to get me to hurry.

"Okay okay" I followed at his pace, and to my surprise, the Daedric statue was that of a rather handsome man.
Lean build, flowing hair, a mysterious face staring out towards the 'sky'. His light fabric robe was half-open, exposing his chiselled chest.
"Not bad, Barbas…" I mused to myself, having spent the last few hours painting the image of some demonic monster in my head.

"When my mutt told me he'd brought home a guest, I wasn't expecting it to be such a charming young lady"

"Oh, the statue talks…"

The stone carving was motionless but the softly spoken voice still echoed in my head.
"Barbas told me you walked all this way with him to reunite us. I can only apologise for your suffering, having to put up with that mangy pup of mine"

I glanced at Barbas. He looked sad by his master's harsh words. "He's not so bad, he was actually very nice to me"

"Tell you what. Why don't you take him with you?" The statue offered. "That sounds ideal. You get a new friend, and I get to be free of him! It works out for everyone, even if it does mean I'll be stuck in this shrine at the back and beyond of… nowhere…"

"umm… I've got a lot on my plate without adding a doggie to the mix. Please, just take him back. He's very loyal to his master"

"Oh, you're no fun. Fine. I'll take Barbas back"

The dog barked with joy. "I did promise we'd grant her a wish too" Barbas added. "I think she wants to be rid of her wolf curse"

"Oh is that right? Most would be happy just to have the blessing of a Daedric lord. But the heart wants what the heart wants"
I felt a little excited. The statue shined with a purple glow as something started to phase into existence.
"I, the lord of wishes shall free you of your curse…"

"Thank you very much" I checked my hand, waiting for the ring to either fade away or fall off. Whatever happens, I do hope I can still return it to Niik. I'll even buy him a proper lock for his display case for the inconvenience it's caused our journey.

"S- STOP!" Barbas jumped at me, biting my hand and pulling me.
It hurt and I screamed, but he got me out of the way just in time before a massive axe split the tile right where I was standing.

"Oh Barbas, you're such a pest!" The statue scolded. "There I was about to free this poor girl of her curse, and you had to go and ruin it"

He was going to kill me.
"You, bastard…" I crawled backwards on the floor away from the statue.

"Oh relax. I only had the one axe. I guess you'll have to grant the wish yourself now"

I ignored him as I stood to face Barabas. "I did as you asked, but I must be going now…" I shot a glance at the statue. He better hope I don't return with a hammer and chisel, or his future victims will find him with rather unflattering graffiti.

"Oh please come back, I really can free you"

"He can!" Barbas called to me as well.

"How can you expect me to trust him after that little stunt?!" I demanded after turning back around to face the dog.

"Look, if you simply take the axe I've leant you and kill Barbas, then I'll have the power to rid you of the curse and keep you breathing. Simple as that"

Barbas, for the first time, looked alarmed. "k-kill me?"

"I won't do it!" I yelled back.

"Then we have a problem…"
I heard metal creaking then slamming shut. The door just closed.
I tried to open it, but there was no handle on this side.
"I am the Daedric lord of wishes and desires, not second guesses and indecision. You came here with a wish, have it granted or you will never leave this place"

As angry as I was at the statue and myself for walking in here, part of me was pissed at Barbas. He must have known his master was nuts, yet be brought me here anyway. My opening the door was his opportunity to warn me to run away.

"Nothing comes from nothing. If you want that ring off you can kill Barabs to grant me my full power to make your wish come true. Or, you can make a personal sacrifice"

"What sacrifice?" I demanded.

"Oh it's very simple. If the ring can't be removed from your finger, then remove your finger. I've even graciously leant you an axe to that effect"

I looked at the battle axe. It split stone like it were pinewood. It could easily chop bone. "But I love my fingers…" I felt my tears swell up.
Kill the friendly dog or remove a finger. The choice is obvious. But I really don't want to do it.
"and… what if I don't want to lose the wolf curse?" I asked, taking my eyes from the axe to look back at the statue. "What if I have another wish that doesn't involve axes?"

"And what would that be?"

"… give me a minute… Th- THAT'S Not the wish! Don't count that!"

I could hear the statue chuckling as Barbas moved his head under my hand and lifting his snout between my fingers for a pat.

"Think hard, I'll help you make your wish"

What felt like an hour passed. The door to this cold tomb remained locked. The statue hadn't said another word and Barbaus was curled up on my lap trying to keep me warm as I thought about what to wish for.
My mind went to the cliché of wishing for infinite wishes, but surely that would create an infinite debt to Lord of Axe Chucking.
I thought about wishing for Skyrim's civil war to end, but the Academy won't be happy if I do that. If only I knew Skyrim's history. Did the civil war come to an abrupt end? If so, am I the reason it did?

"urgh, time travel suuuucks!"
Barbas yelped after receiving some frustrated pats to the head.
"Sorry Barbs" I sighed, giving him a few gentler pats. "you're a barbie mutt, with a fluffy butt~ Your master's nasty, and your breath is ghastly~… AH!"I screamed when I heard and felt the Axe crack into the solid stone wall just next to my head.

"Sorry, that was my mistake!" The statue called out to me. "I Was aiming for your head"

"It's hard to be wishful when you're throwing Axes at me!" I yelled back. "Why don't I just wish that you accept Barbas back and leave me alone!"

"The only sacrifice in that wish is me. I don't want the mutt back"

This genie is so annoying. Before, I was thinking of selfless wishes I could possibly make. But would that also push the personal sacrifice cost onto the person I'm wishing for?

My thoughts went to Serana. What if she could be human again.
The upside is she could enjoy her life and no longer need to worry about the sun. She'll be warm, living, and the sacrifice would be the loss of her powers.
Would she want that?
She talked about the ritual to become a vampire like it was necessary, calling her power a gift for having endured so much trauma.
I can't undo what was done to her, but Serana rose like an undead phoenix after Molag took her life. Taking away her power will only rob her of the only consolation she has, but the memory of what was done to her will remain.
Could I wish for her to forget that ordeal as part of the package deal? Have her believe her family was born twenty or fifty years ago respectfully and think that they've been human this whole time?
No. I'm being selfish with that wish.
I'd be turning Serana human for me, not for her.

Niik then.
No part of me thinks he'd be grateful for turning him human. As much as I loathe it, he really does get off on flaunting his power as if he's a god. Watching him take hits that should kill, even other vampires, only to get back up and destroy his opponents.
The deals he's made to get where he is. The legacy he's living.

"oh…" I know a selfless wish.

I could wish to undo the damage I've done. Take the last few weeks back and never allow Niik to capture me. I'd watch him from afar like I was always meant to. The timeline is restored, I'd be an active agent again.
And the sacrifice would, of course, me losing the ones who made me feel wanted most in the whole multiverse.
Already I felt tears leaking from my eyes at the idea of losing them. I can't commit myself back to the Academy either, not after what they did to me.

The feel of Barbas' warm fur under my fingers. Being locked in here like this, I'm like a grounded kid in her room, playing with a pup for comfort.
"kid…" A selfless wish. I rouse Barbas from his nap and rush towards the statue. "Can you bring someone back to life?"

"Took you that long to come up with such a boring wish? Very well. Provided you knew where the body is…?"

I don't. And I don't think it'll be in any condition for resurrection.
"Plan B then…" I should speak to Niik about this. Give him a chance to say goodbye before I send his daughter to the afterlife. We should find Betty too, god knows I don't want to be on her hit list for denying her a chance to say goodbye to her sister.
"Don't grant it right away… I want to make sure my friend wants this, he'll need time to prepare himself"

"You're not leaving until I hear it"

"F-Fine!" Sorry Niik, but I don't know how else we can help Helgi cross over. I hope you understand, I'm doing this for both of you. "Niik Havod…" I sigh. My face feels so heavy in my hand as I try to bring myself to do this. "His daughter died and, I want you to send her soul to Sovngarde"

"Oh, you're friends with Niik Havod?" He said with a cheerful tone. Does Niik just know every Daedra in the world? "Why didn't you say so? I have a message for you to deliver to him…"

"What would that…" I heard stone chipping from behind. I hit the floor just in time before my head nearly came off. "Enough With The Bastard Axe!"

"My aim is off today. Maybe it is better if I take Barbas back after all"

I heard the door unlock. Is he actually letting me go? I don't trust him enough to turn my back to the axe, so I backed away slowly from the statue.

"What about her wish?" Barbas asked, but I wish he'd shut up. I'm getting out, that's a win.

"Oh yes! I somehow forgot" The door slammed shut again. "What was it again? Hearing that name brought back vengeful memories"

Damnit, Barbas.
But fine, all I need to do is restate my wish. The sacrifice for Niik will be not getting to see Helgi again since when his time comes, he'll go to Coldharbour with Molag Bal. I can at least offer him this comfort that his daughter is safe.

"I want you to help Niik's daughter crossover to Sovngarde!"

"I see. That's very doable. I can manage that even without that mangy mutt… Depending of course on one small detail…"

"Which is…?" I held my hand out, ready to try and stop the axe in case it flies at me again.

"Well, which daughter do you mean?"