Rowan stuck to the shadows, easily avoiding a mage who walked past him and further into the keep.
He found these mages easier to avoid than the warriors and archers, probably because they have more things to think about.
There's never any reason for him to snoop about in a keep full of rogue mages.
He did, however, hear some rumours that these crazy mages have stolen some really valuable treasure.
Since the Guild is now reluctant in giving him any good jobs, he'll have to find some way to make up for his empty pockets.
Usually this wouldn't be a problem but he had some pretty expensive plans right now. And those plans can only be brought to fruition if he pays.
Sometimes he wished he can steal smithing skills instead of having to go through all these trouble.
After an hour of searching, Rowan was almost blasted to death by a flame atronach, was struck twice by magical traps that shot lightning at him and had to hide in a dirty barrel when the mages realized that someone else is here with them.
Now he knows why one doesn't go snooping around inattentive, evil mages. They have the magical traps to make up for it.
Rowan clambered out of the barrel when the coast is clear, wrinkling his nose at the smell of half-rotten cabbages. There's also a slight burnt smell coming from somewhere.
Rowan ran his fingers through his hair and blanched to find that the ends on the back of his head are singed.
Oh, his poor hair.
He'll never sneak around evil mages again.
Rowan was about to look for his way out when he spotted what looked like a sleeping quarters.
He slipped in through the doorway, gingerly pushing the door open a little bit more.
It let out the tiniest of squeaks which made him cringe.
There were six beds in the room, each with their own chests and side tables. There was a man sleeping in one of the corner beds, snoring softly. He scanned the room carefully and could not see anything resembling one of their strange traps. He supposed they wouldn't trap their own rooms but you can't be sure.
Rowan tiptoed into the room, sidling up to the nearest chest.
It was locked.
He took out a set of lock picks and began work on it. The lock looked simple enough and it shouldn't take him too long to get it open.
As soon as he got it to the first lever, however, a spark shot out from the lock and struck his fingers.
Rowan hissed and dropped the pick, sticking his throbbing finger in his mouth.
He glanced at the mage and was a little relived to find him still asleep.
Rowan decided to give up on the lock and went to check the other chests.
He found an unlocked chest and found some crystals inside of it.
Soul gems, he recalled.
These are not as big as some he'd seen before but they'll fetch a high price from the right buyers.
Rowan pocketed the gems and resumed his search through the chest.
He found a ring that glowed with a faint green light.
Enchanted items have good value as well, he'll have to find out what magic is bound on the ring before he'll sell it.
Rowan found a few more trinkets before moving onto the rest of the chests.
The next few are locked as well.
Rowan rejoiced when the fifth chest was easily lifted open.
When he peered into the chest, he found quite a number of items as well, books and soul gems and some clothing.
What caught his eye was a large white sphere-like shape with a number of flat surfaces.
It looked strange, like some sculptor had painstaking carved a sphere out of marble and then proceeded to knock chunks out of the surface with a chisel.
Rowan reached into the chest to pick it up.
As soon as he did it, a voice boomed in the room.
"A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON."
He cursed and dropped the object. It clattered to the floor and rolled under the bed of the sleeping mage.
The voice did not stop talking.
"LISTEN. HEAR ME AND OBEY."
Rowan dived under another bed, afraid that the sleeping mage was woken by the loud voice and that the mages outside have heard it too.
The voice didn't seem to notice his plight and went on.
"LISTEN, MORTAL." It said in what began to sound like annoyance. "A FOUL DARKNESS HAS SEEPED INTO MY TEMPLE."
Temple? Was that a goddess?
Rowan peered out from under the bed to see that the mage is still asleep.
Was it all just in his head or was the man a really heavy sleeper?
"A DARKNESS THAT YOU WILL DESTROY-"
"Wait, wait," Rowan interrupted in a whisper.
The goddess paused, then continued in an impatient tone, "WHAT IS IT, MORTAL?"
So she's not deaf to his words after all. Rowan was seriously doubting that she'll stop, considering the deafening tirade she was going on.
"Well, you see, what should I call you?" Rowan said in the same soft voice, cautiously watching the sleeping mage.
"I AM MERIDIA, THE PRINCE OF LIFE AND LADY OF INFINITE ENERGIES AND YOU WILL HEED MY CALL-"
"Alright, alright," Rowan hissed when the mage turned in his bed, "I mean no offence but I am in a bit of a predicament right now, can we talk later when I'm in a safer place?"
Meridia was silent for a long moment.
"VERY WELL, MORTAL," she said in an obvious tone of displeasure. "I WILL WAIT."
Rowan heaved a sigh of relief and carefully slid out from under the bed.
He crept over to the bed that the beacon has fallen under, glancing at the mage before he looks under the bed.
The thing had fallen quite far in and Rowan had to lower himself to the floor and push himself under the bed.
He retrieved it easily and pocketed it in one of the larger pouch on his belt.
As he pulled his legs from under the bed, his foot caught on a chamber pot that was apparently hidden by the foot of the bed. It caused the pot to tip over, spilling its contents as well as sending a deafening clang throughout the room.
The mage opened his eyes.
Rowan ran out of the room without a moment to lose as the sound of icy winds dogged his steps.
He eventually made it out into a meadow, wheezing as he collapsed onto his knees.
"HEAR ME, MORTAL-"
"Wait," Rowan gasped, "Please, wait just... a second... I need to... breathe..."
Meridia went silent as he crawled forward and fell onto his back.
He didn't think it was so difficult to lose the crazy mages that he'd ran out of stamina just like that.
Rowan laid on the grass, catching his breath until his heart was no longer beating so wildly.
He sat up and brushed grass off his back.
"Alright, uh, Lady Meridia-"
"FINALLY." She said, startling him, "HEAR ME, MORTAL. YOU WILL DESTROY THE FOUL DARKNESS THAT IS IN MY TEMPLE-"
"Hold on," Rowan said, holding a finger up.
"WHAT IS IT NOW?" Meridia snapped, her sharp voice piercing through his head.
Rowan rubbed his ear absently, "You keep talking about this darkness in your temple, what exactly is it?"
"THE DARKNESS," Meridia said angrily, "MY TEMPLE HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE UNDEAD, NECROMANCY, THE FOULNESS OF IT, THE UNNATURAL, BLACK MAGIC. IT MUST BE PURGED! IT MUST BE REMOVED! YOU WILL RETURN MY BEACON TO MOUNT KILKREATH AND I WILL MAKE YOU AN INSTRUMENT OF MY CLEANSING LIGHT..."
"Oookay," Rowan said, "That sounds good and all but I don't think I am qualified for this task."
"WHAT?" Meridia snapped, "NO, YOU MUST REMOVE THIS DARKNESS-"
"Right, right," Rowan said.
"I COMMAND YOU-"
"I'm more likely to die than succeed in removing the darkness," Rowan mentioned before she could go on. "You mentioned the undead and well, I can't fight."
"YOU- YOU CAN'T?"
"Nope."
"CAN YOU NOT WIELD A BLADE?" Meridia inquired, "DO YOU NOT HAVE MAGIC?"
"No and no," Rowan said, "Did you see what happened with those mages just now? Can you even see what's happening?"
"I SEE ALL, MORTAL," Meridia said arrogantly.
"Well, then you see how I am certainly unqualified for this quest of yours," Rowan reasoned.
Meridia was silent, clearly displeased.
"So I think you'd better ask someone else."
"YOU HAVE MY BEACON."
Rowan paused.
"Oh, this thing?" He uttered as he pulled the object out of his pouch.
"YES, LEAVE IT." She ordered, "AND I WILL SEEK OUT A MORTAL THAT IS MORE... CAPABLE."
Rowan was about to put it on the ground as told when he hesitated.
"WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" Meridia demanded, then asked in a hopeful tone, "OR DID YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?"
"No," Rowan replied.
"But I might know someone who's suited for this quest."
Ondolemar unfastened his robes and was about to pull them off when he felt like there was someone staring right at him.
Lightning sparkled and danced in his hand as he slowly raised it.
He spun around and was about to throw it in the general location of the presence when a rogue popped out of nowhere.
"Whoa wait," he cried out, throwing his hands up, "Don't shoot me, I've already been hit by way too many magic bolts this week!"
"Rowan?" He blurted, the lightning dissipated from his hand.
"Hello," Rowan said, his hands still in the air, "I was totally not watching you disrobe or anything."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Ondolemar demanded, pulling the front of his robes closed.
Rowan looked mildly disappointed.
He lowered his hands, though and said with a smile, "I passed Markarth and thought I might come and see you."
Ondolemar rolled his eyes, "Yes, I am very touched. Now get out of here before I call the guards."
"But..." Rowan pouted, "Didn't you miss me?"
Ondolemar gave him an icy stare as he crossed his arms, "No, get the hell out of my chambers!"
Rowan hung his head, his voice reduced to despair, "Oh, alright."
Ondolemar stared at him as he stood up to leave, his back hunched over.
Rowan was almost at the door when he called out, "Wait!"
He turned and Ondolemar was faced away from him.
"You can stay," he declared, "But there will be no repeats of that last time, you hear me?"
He peeked at Rowan to see him smiling brightly.
"Okay," he said, heading towards Ondolemar and throwing him a tight hug.
The elf was startled but he managed not to react, standing stiffly as Rowan nuzzled against his chest.
He tried not to blush and shoved Rowan away, the latter stumbling with a stupid smile still on his face.
"Did I tell you how much I like you?" He mentioned dreamily.
"Whatever," Ondolemar grumbled, "Just don't bug me, I have things to do."
Rowan pouted, "So, no hugs?"
"No."
"No kisses?"
"No."
"Not even sex?"
Ondolemar spluttered, "What? No! Absolutely not!"
Rowan gave him a pitiful look.
"Stop that this instance!" The elf ordered shakily, "You look like a kicked puppy."
"But you like puppies," Rowan smirked.
"I do not," he said firmly, "Now, get out."
"You said I can stay!" Rowan whined.
"You've overstayed your welcome," Ondolemar said, walking up to the door the throwing it open. "Now get out!"
"I was just teasing," Rowan grumbled, walking out.
Ondolemar eyed him suspiciously as he left, fully expecting him to run back in.
He didn't.
That was even more suspicious.
He didn't quite care at the moment, though.
Ondolemar shut the door and leaned against it, sighing.
He couldn't handle another moment of that man, despite how he doesn't really mind his presence.
Ondolemar pushed his back against the door when he felt something hard press into the small of his back.
He was puzzled, slipping his hand into the pouch on his belt to find what seems to be a bag of money inside.
Ondolemar was sure it wasn't his as he opened it up.
Inside the bag was a strangely shaped white stone.
Curiously, he took it out of the bag.
As soon as his hand touched the thing, a loud voice boomed in his room.
"A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON."
He cursed and dropped it.