Author's note:
My dear readers, here I am with a new instalment. There have been a few problems with my updates over the last month, but from now on I'll try to resume my usual schedule - one chapter every two weeks starting from now. Also, in case you missed it, I suggest you taking a look at chapter 60, which was published just a few days after chapter 59.
Before introducing the current instalment, I want to thank The Mikaelson Cupcake for their review. It was so good to read that you enjoy so many aspects of my work! I don't think I'm that good at writing battle scenes, so your comments made very happy. Thank you again!
As for Valtieri, I thank you for your remarks, which were as interesting and useful as usual. Chapter 59 was basically an uncalled overload of sweetness, but from now on things get serious.
After making up, erm, out their misunderstandings, Agda and Stein are finally ready to explore Blackreach for good. Therefore, fasten your seat belt and beware of Falmer!
Enjoy!
12th of Second Seed, 4E 202
Steinarius had always been a lightsleeper. As a consequence, when Agda began mumbling in her sleep, he awoke all of a sudden. The Imperial felt the need to sit up and look for the origin of that sound, but he stifled the urge as soon as he remembered about the woman asleep in his arms. Realizing that the sounds he'd heard had been caused by Agda, the Dragonborn immediately relaxed and held her tighter to his chest.
As he looked at the calm features of the young mage, Steinarius was overrun by tenderness. He remembered the caresses they'd exchanged on the previous night, the worry he had seen in Agda's eyes shortly before she kissed him, her tears of happiness when he'd softly sung for her - and as he did, his mind treacherously reminded him of a different woman and a different time, a time when he was a member of the Companions and when all his life was centered around a pair of beautiful black irises. Steinarius, however, was quick to wash away that sudden rush of memories. His whole world was now focused on Agda - and he couldn't be happier than that.
When the woman clung tighter to his chest, the Dragonborn looked at her with a mixture of love and sweetness and protectiveness. Much had changed since their first night together in Riverwood: back then Agda was so painfully kind that it made Steinarius feel guilty for the life he was leading, for the fact that he had to leave her for entire weeks, for the way he often questioned his own feelings towards that girl that seemed unable to understand his inner turmoil, yet was always so amazingly sympathetic to his cause. Now, however, that sweet innkeeper had become a battered woman who had experienced the worst that life could bring - she had been tortured, she had seen good friends like Mirabelle die in front of her eyes, she had experienced deceit and betrayal at the hands of people she trusted. If in Riverwood Steinarius had felt as though he was the only one with problems, now things were entirely different: he still had lot of troubles, sure, but he also knew that he needed to support the woman he loved. Also, this time he wasn't going to use his feelings for Agda as an excuse to hide from his calling - quite on the contrary, he was eager to slay Alduin so that he could conquer a life of happiness with the woman he loved.
Agda woke to a weird feeling of warmth and tenderness. In the dim light of the hut she could make out the outline of the spare furniture, but she couldn't really understand what was going on around her. When she propped herself on an elbow and heard a strangled cry in response, however, the girl immediately remembered about Steinarius: she was still wrapped in his arms and she'd just allowed her arm to collide rather violently with a very delicate part of his body. Yet, before she could apologise, the man chuckled.
"Good morning to you too, sunshine", he said - and a moment later, he laid a gentle kiss on Agda's temple.
The girl blushed at that. At that moment she suddenly became aware of everything that happened on the previous night and she suddenly realized that she now had to put up with the consequences of her actions.
Agda the Cold had melted in the arms of the Dragonborn - and now she had no idea what to do.
Breakfast was weird, at least for Agda. Steinarius was as kind and sweet as usual and didn't even try to kiss her or touch her. Perhaps, she thought, her lack of reaction at his good-morning kiss and the way she had snuck out of bed immediately afterwards had left him baffled and confused.
On the other side of the breakfast table, the Dragonborn was thinking of something else entirely. Sure, a part of him had hoped for Agda to shower him in kisses and remove both their clothes first thing in the morning, but the other part of him - the one that usually spoke in Arngeir's voice - knew that the girl was probably feeling strange about her behavior from the previous night. Willing to leave her enough time to reflect on their situation, Steinarius didn't press the matter; also, he soon focused entirely on the reason why they were in Blackreach.
The man didn't like anything in that weird place - he didn't like the light, he didn't like the water, he didn't like the cold that had him create small huffs every time he breathed; but most of all, Steinarius didn't like the creatures who dwelled in that mysterious place and was set on getting out of there as soon as possible.
As they abandoned the small hut where they'd slept, Agda started to focus on the upcoming task too. The close encounter with a chaurus had taught her not to be too curious about Blackreach, but the beauties of that amazing cave left her in awe and had her wish she could find out more about it. Nonetheless, the Archmage soon stifled her enthusiasm. It was clear that Steinarius wasn't at ease in that underground area and, after all he'd done for her in the previous days, the woman wasn't going to force him to explore Blackreach with her.
I'll come back with an expedition from the College, Agda promised herself - and as soon as she did, she could finally focus on the Elder Scroll she needed to recover.
As he ventured along the road that led to the opposite side of Blackreach, Steinarius sighed. The man could feel Agda's heartbeat beside him and the presence of dozens of other creatures around him. The Imperials was worried because his werewolf senses were sending him lot of warnings related to the most different beings he could imagine- Falmer, giants, chauri, frost trolls, wispmothers... All the most horrible creatures of Skyrim seemed to have a delegation dwelling in Blackreach.
Soon enough, the many information gathered by his senses caused Steinarius to feel weak and dizzy. He wished he could block sounds and smells from entering his brain, but there was no way to achieve that result; as a consequence, after a few hours of trekking the Imperial had to ask Agda for a break and find shelter inside an old pumphouse. The place was noisy and damp, but at least it gave him some peace from the waves of information that were flooding his mind.
Steinarius remained sitting on the floor for what felt like a lifetime. Beside him, Agda was looking at him with a mixture of worry and confusion.
"Are you alright?", she asked after Steinarius took his head in his hands.
"I'm fine", the Dragonborn forced himself to answer. "I'm simply unused to spending so much time in darkness", he lied.
The man could tell that Agda didn't believe him, but the girl nonetheless avoided any further question. Frowning, she simply sat down beside him and offered him some apple-pie.
"If you're feeling bad, apple pie is always the right answer", she timidly said.
Steinarius chuckled at that, then he accepted the food. He also felt the desire to drape an arm around Agda and pull her closer, but until then the girl had avoided any physical contact. Sure, she had taken his hand every time he had offered her his help along the way, but she had let go of him as soon as she could. To be honest, Steinarius was rather confused by that behavior; yet, he didn't want to press the girl - after all, he thought, he couldn't turn a frozen icicle into a hurricane of feelings overnight.
It took the Imperial another hour before he could finally find the willpower to leave his shelter - and when he did, he discovered that his break from the weirdness of Blackreach only succeeded in making him feel even worse when he stepped into the cave once again.
The Dragonborn sighed: if he wanted to get out of that place alive, he needed to find the Scroll immediately.
Agda didn't miss the way Steinarius was feeling. There was something weird going on with the Imperial and she was frustrated by the fact that he wouldn't tell her what it was. Luckily enough, his problems allowed both of them to take their mind off the fact that she seemed unease every time he touched her.
The two adventurers continued their exploration of Blackreach for at least two days. Time was different in that cave and Agda soon lost contact with the surface world; also, she noticed that she and Steinarius were seemingly going around in circles.
"Damn it, we got lost again!", the Imperial hissed one evening, after he and Agda came across the same old farm once again.
Even though they had carefully followed the only road of Blackreach, the warriors were having a lot of troubles with their orientation skills and seemed unable to reach the tower Septimus Signus had mentioned to them.
"Maybe we should leave the road", Agda tentatively said in reply to Steinarius' rage. "Also, we could try and explore the central area of the cave, the one with the weird bright sun".
Steinarius snorted. The globe of light Agda had called 'sun' was a weird manufact in the middle of Blackreach. It was surrounded by many buildings full of Famriel and other creatures, therefore the Imperial had never got close to it. Yet, he knew it was time he faced his fears and finally dealt with that area of Blackreach - after all, he was getting more and more exhausted and his supplies were growing scarcer and scarcer. First, however, the man wanted to take a look around the old farm in front of his eyes.
Steinarius was surprised when he and Agda came across a weird elevator. The mage gave him a perplexed look, then she activated a lever. Steinarius frowned and wished she hadn't done that. Before the man could unsheath his sword, however, the lift reached its destination, causing the Imperial to deadpan. By some miracle, he was now breathing the fresh, clean, healthy air of Skyrim. Steinarius was so happy he felt the urge to kneel and kiss the floor of the elevator.
"I know this place", Agda said, thus breaking the astonished silence that had fallen on her and on her companion. The girl looked as relieved as her friend. "We're not far from an inn".
Steinarius felt his heart swell with joy as he heard the news; yet, when Agda made to walk out of the elevator by activating another lever, he suddenly stopped her - the Dragonborn knew that, had he left Blackreach for good, he would have never found the strength to return there.
"Let's sleep here", the Dragonborn said when confronted with Agda's confused stare. "I don't want to go too far".
"But Stein, we are running out of food", the mage replied. "Also, I think we both need some time to recover from tiredness".
"It would be good to leave Blackreach for some time, I agree", Steinarius said while lowering his gaze. "Still, I'm afraid that if I do, I'll never be brave enough to get back in that foul cave".
There. Steinarius had finally confessed to Agda how he felt about Blackreach and now he stood waiting for her to either call him crazy or to burst into a mocking laughter. Against all odds, the woman didn't do any of those things.
"I didn't know you were doing so bad", she frowned. "I mean, I did realize that something was wrong, but I didn't think Blackreach scared you so much".
"I'm not scared", Steinarius pointed out. "Or maybe I am, but I don't realize it. It's just... That place makes me feel dizzy, Agds. My eyes hurt, my head spins and I have troubles breathing. I blame it on my werewolf senses: they carry me too much information".
Agda frowned.
"Have you ever thought that you could be allergic to the giant mushrooms in there? Their spores are all over the place".
Steinarius was surprised by that idea. Before he could comment on it, however, Agda shrugged and laid her bedroll on the floor of the elevator.
"I suppose it doesn't matter, does it? Not for the next few hours, at least. We both need some good sleep and this elevator looks safer than any other place we could find in Blackreach".
Surprised by that comment, Steinarius took a long look around. The bars of the elevator were impossible to destroy and thick enough to prevent any foul creature from entering the space where he and Agda were standing. Also, the area was large enough to put up a tent that could keep him and the girl safe and warm.
When the mage proceeded in casting a few defensive runs outside the elevator and used a spell to protect herself and her companion from the cold, Steinarius finally smiled.
Agda was right: he could take a break from Blackreach and finally get some good sleep.
Agda was strangely silent as she cooked dinner. Steinarius had volunteered to fulfill that task on her behalf, but the mage had been very firm: she wanted him to rest and enjoy a well-deserved pause from the horrors of Blackreach. The Dragonborn felt slightly embarrassed by his sudden weakness, but he was also relieved by Agda's presence. Without her, everything would have been much more difficult.
After supper, the Imperial laid down in his bedroll and bid the woman goodbye. He was surprised when Agda draped an arm around his waist and pulled him towards her, so that he could rest with his back to her front. When Steinarius turned to give her a confused look, the mage blushed.
The man's confusion had a simple reason: since their night in Sinderion's laboratory, Agda had avoided every prolonged physical contact with him.
"I... I thought we could share our body warmth", the mage said as her cheeks flushed even redder. "Also, I wanted to hug you. I've never seen you look so tired and depressed".
Steinarius looked for something to say, but he soon found that in that moment words were completely useless. He therefore turned towards Agda and buried his face in the crook of her neck. The woman chuckled at that gesture and pulled her lover even closer, then she started stroking his hair and massage his shoulders.
When Steinarius looked up at her, she immediately took the lead and laid a shy kiss on his lips.
"It's the first time we sleep like this", she whispered, her face still red from embarrassement.
Steinarius nodded, then he placed a gentle kiss on her chin.
"Is it a problem?", he asked, his grey eyes fixed on her face. "If you want, you can sleep in my arms just like the other times".
Agda shook her head, then she tightened her grip on her man.
"No, it's just... I think like it. Actually, I may even get used to it".
Steinarius chuckled, then he smiled as Agda started stroking his hair once again.
"Stein, I know I haven't been very touchy-feely as of late", she suddenly told him out of the blue. "I just... I'm having a bit of troubles with physical contact. I hope it isn't a problem".
Steinarius tilted his head upwards at that unexpected confession, then he gently caressed Agda's cheeks.
"Agds, this isn't a problem at all", he told her with a kind smile. "I don't want you to feel unease because of the way you are, alright?"
"I used to be a bit more emotional back in Riverwood", the mage pointed out. "After Ancano, however..."
"Riverwood was a long time ago for both, honey", Steinarius gently broke her off. "To me, the only thing that matters are our feelings, Agds: I like being with you and I hope it is the same for you. Right now, for example, there is no other place I would like to be but here. It's just a little tent in the middle of nowhere, but I'm in your arms - and to me, this feel utterly like heaven".
Agda blushed again, then she murmured something that sounded suspiciously like 'flatterer'. Steinarius propped himself on his elbow and gave her a long, slow kiss on the lips, the first one the two of them exchanged ever since that night in Sinderion's laboratory. During that long moment Agda closed her eyes and produced a tiny mewl that caused Steinarius to smile without pulling away from her. A moment later, when the mage buried her fingers through his hair and started kissing him more fiercely, the man couldn't hold back a groan.
They continued like that for a long time, then Steinarius forced himself to break the contact - his inner beast was slowly rising to the surface and he didn't want to ruin that beautiful moment by becoming too bold with his movements and kisses.
Agda seemed confused when he broke away from her but a moment later, when the Imperial kissed her softly on the cheek and rested once again with his head on her shoulder, she smiled and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
They stayed like that for a long time, until the night got full of stars and tiredness took over.
As he drifted off to sleep in Agda's arms, Steinarius smiled: he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so warm, just like he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so loved and protected.
Thanks to the warm night he spent enveloped in Agda's arms, on the following morning Steinarius felt much better. As a consequence, when the woman laid a hand on his elbow to stop him from pulling the lever back to Blackreach, he was rather confused.
"I can go back alone", the mage told him. "You don't have to come with me if that place makes you feel bad".
Steinarius stood still for a moment. Agda's brown eyes were full of determination, but the Dragonborn didn't miss the fear behind them. She would go miles for him, but the Imperial wasn't ready to let her face that task on his behalf - after all, Blackreach was his own challenge, not hers.
"We can make it together", he said with a kind smile. "I'm sure that this is the best choice for everyone".
When Agda nodded, Steinarius realized that his words hadn't convinced her - and when he reached Blackreach and a violent rush of nausea washed over him, the man understood that he had told his lover a huge lie. That place somehow made him sick; yet, he had no choice but to venture through it in order to take another step towards his destiny.
That morning Agda and Steinarius finally agreed to explore the central area of Blackreach. They were both visibly nervous, but the Imperial tried to encourage his woman by squeezing her hand every time he could and by smiling every time she looked at him. He knew Agda was looking for signs of weakness on his part, but he was determined to hide his distress.
The buildings in the middle of Blackreach hosted different towers; therefore, for a long moment the Dragonborn hoped the Elder Scroll could be in one of those tall buildings. His anticipation for the exploration of that place, however, vanished as soon as the man noticed the creatures that were defending it. Not only was the area full of Falmer - among them there were also many humans. Steinarius had heard lots of legends about the former Snow Elves and their human slaves, but he had never believed them. When he saw a man work together with one of those creatures, however, he realized that the rumors were true.
Beside the Imperial, Agda looked equally shocked. As the two exchanged a worried glance, one of the Falmer seemed to notice their scent - and when the creature snarled, some of his human servants ran towards the Dragonborn and the Archmage.
Given the situation, the two adventurers lost no time at all: they abandoned their hiding place behind a tall wall, then they fought at the best of their skills. Soon they dispatched the enemies who had attacked them and the Falmer who had commanded them; then Agda and Steinarius ventured into the huge halls surrounding that vast area. On their way towards the final chamber of the former debate halls the two of them came across a Bosmeri woman who was seemingly repairing some Falmer weapons. Since the unlucky servant was alone, Agda tried to speak to her; yet, when the Elf screamed and threw an axe at her, Steinarius used a Shout to protect Agda from the blow, then immediately dispatched the woman. Attracted by her shrill shouts, many Falmer soon flooded the area.
It took Agda and Steinarius a while to get out of those wretched halls. As they did, they were both angry and tired and covered in blood. Their efforts had been in vain: that area hosted no Elder Scrolls at all.
"I can't believe it", Agda said as she walked through the wide area between the different buildings at the center of Blackreach.
The weird globe she had nicknamed 'Blackreach sun' was casting its light on her and Steinarius, but the mage ignored it completely: right then she was too angry to think about anything but her failure.
"We have explored all of Blackreach, but we still haven't found the Scroll. Do you think Septimus lied to us?"
The Dragonborn didn't answer. Unlike Agda, he felt strangely attracted to the globe of light above their head - but most of all, unlike Agda, he believed that they still weren't safe from the Falmer dwelling in that area.
There was a sudden movement to his right and Steinarius realized his fears had been funded: before he could do anything but shout a warning, a couple of Falmer seemed to pop out of thin air and suddenly lunged towards him.
The Dragonborn saw Agda cast a few spells at the creatures, then he noticed the way she turned on her heels in order to face another Falmer who had attacked her from behind. The man quickly killed his adversaries, then he made to help Agda with her enemy - and as he did, he noticed that yet another Falmer was about to activate a menacing crossbow from a terrace right above his head. The creature was going to fire the first bolt and was aiming for Agda. When he heard the whooshing sound produced by the weapon, Steinarius reacted out of instinct: he lunged towards Agda with a Shout, then he got her out of harm's way.
From then on everything happened very rapidly: the Dragonborn grunted at the violent collision with the ground, he heard Agda's surprised cry, he sensed the smell of blood coming from her robes; a moment later, the man felt a sharp pain at the center of his chest and realized that his vision had just got blank.
When Steinarius lunged towards her and violently shoved her to the ground, Agda felt the air abandon her lungs.
The girl let out a cry of protest, then she noticed the Falmer who was aiming at her with a crossbow - and as soon as she did, she got back on her feet and killed it with a spell. There was a loud cry of rage and Agda turned to see that another enemy was approaching Steinarius, who was still sprawled on the ground. The girl didn't wonder why the Imperial still hadn't got up from the floor - she just took aim and killed the Falmer. In the very same moment, Steinarius used a Shout and sent another of those creatures flying through the courtyard of the halls. A brief moment of perfect silence followed, then Agda heard the two most unexpected sounds she expected to hear at that moment.
First, a bell seemed to ring deep in the heart of Blackreach; then, something roared in the distance.
Agda couldn't believe her eyes when a huge bronzed dragon appeared in front of her - and when she turned to look at Steinarius and realized that the man still hadn't got up from the floor, she understood that the bolt originally meant for her had probably hit him instead.
The realization filled her with dread. It wasn't the first time Steinarius was hurt while they were fighting together, but it was the first time he seemed so severely injured that he couldn't even move.
How was she to fight a dragon without him?
The Archmage had no time to look for an answer: as the creature landed in front of her, she could only cast a defensive ward and hope Steinarius would be safe during the battle.
Steinarius came to to the sounds of angry battle cries and rageful roars. The Imperial realized that he was still sprawled on the cold floor of Blackreach and that blood was dripping from his mouth. The man snorted - if that meant anything, his injury was probably very serious.
When the man finally realized what was going on around him, he couldn't believe his eyes. Now he knew why he'd felt so attracted by the weird globe of light above his head: somehow, that foul thing was used to summon a dragon. As to the reason why a beast like that had been imprisoned in Blackreach, the Imperial decided it was better to ignore the question altogether - right then, he was too busy trying to find a way so that he could help Agda kill the wicked creature. Unfortunately, from his place on the floor Steinarius could only watch and pray for his friend to escape the fight unscathed.
Run, you foolish girl, the Imperial thought when the dragon' sharp teeth snapped closed just a few inches from Agda's face. The mage had just teletransported herself on the head of the dragon in the hope she could smash her dagger through its skull, but she lacked the sheer force to fulfill that action.
Run, Steinarius thought once again when Agda's Atronachs distracted the dragon, thus allowing the girl to find a safe shelter and rest for a few seconds. Run and don't come back. I'm going to die anyway.
Steinarius even tried to voice his thoughts, but the effort caused his head to spin and his vision to become blurry again.
The Falmer bolt was still buried deep within his back and had cut through armor and skin and bones; somehow, however, the Imperial was still alive, which meant that the weapon had likely missed most of his vital organs. Yet, Steinarius had the feeling that his current state was about to undergo a drastic change very soon.
There was a loud roar as the dragon took off. Steinarius followed it with his eyes until the beast abandoned his visual field, causing Agda to run after it in the weak effort to hurt it with her spells. As the girl disappeared in the darkness of Blackreach too, the Dragonborn cursed and felt many sour tears well up in his eyes.
He should have listened to Agda and never gone back to that foul place, he thought with rage. In that way, he wouldn't have stuck himself and the woman he loved in that horrible situation.
When the air echoed with the sound of a loud roar, Steinarius allowed the first tear to leave his eyes. He was crying because he was hurt, because he was angry, because he was in pain - but most of all, he was crying because he was downright terrified. He didn't care about his life, but he was afraid he had led Agda to her own death.
As soon as the first tear left Steinarius' eyes, the huge cave was overrun by an innatural silence.
It's over, the Dragonborn thought. The battle is over and Agda is either hurt or dead - and it's all my fault.
The man made to raise his head from the floor, but without success. A moment later, he heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching.
A Falmer servant, he thought with a shiver. I'd never thought I'd become food for Chauri.
When he found himself face-to-face with Agda, however, Steinarius felt a little tingle of hope at the bottom of his heart.
The Archmage was pale and covered in blood, but she seemed unhurt - and if she was unhurt, maybe he had a chance to survive too.