The Barrow Rescue

~Narrator's POV~

I woke up to the feeling of my strength returning to me. I opened my eyes with a small moan and stood up from my sleeping form. I looked around to find myself inside some sort of cell within an old crypt. Similar to the rooms in the barrows of Skyrim. Urns everywhere, and even a sarcophagus standing in front of me.

"Hello?" I called loudly, hoping for a response.

Within a second, a muffled voice answered, "Is someone out there? I could use your assistance. I'm quite trapped in here."

My ears perked up and I looked at the sarcophagus. The voice was coming from inside. "Hold on. I'll get you out." I answered, as I walked toward the stone coffin and reached for the door.

I grabbed the left side of the door and pulled inward with as much strength as I can muster. The door opened to reveal the pale Altmer from before the attack. He walked out and collapsed onto the ground. I leaned forward and noticed something different about him from last time I saw him. His skin was paler and with veins visible on his face. His eyes were sunken and piercing white with a deep red sclera. He looked like a half-starved vampire.

"Are you alright?" I asked cautiously. I didn't want him to take a bite of me just yet.

The Altmer looked at me and weakly smiled, "I will be. My thanks." Then he frowned and looked around, "Hear me out if you want to escape this place." Then he looked at me and his eyes widen in recognition, "You're the Lilmothiit on the cart. I saw you before those witches caught us and tossed me into this stone box. Glad you're finally awake." He placed his hand over his chest, "Apologies for my ghastly appearance. I'm... Not feeling my best."

I raised a brow at his words. Did he just call me a Lilmothiit? The race of fox-folk that neighbored Black Marsh with the Argonians, that were thought to be long extinct?

I shook my head, "I'm not a Lilmothiit. I'm a human being."

The Altmer narrowed his eyes at me and shrugged his shoulders, "You look like a Lilmothiit to me. You can believe me or not. Either way, I need your help."

I nodded, "Right." Then I extended my hand to him, "Since we're gonna be helping each other, an introduction is in order. Name's Eleanor. Pleased to meet you."

The pale Altmer looked at me, smiled and shook my hand, "Pleased to meet you too, Eleanor. I'm Fennorian."

"Fennorian." I repeated, making a mental note of his name in my memory. I stood up straight and looked around, "Right then, first things first. Where are we?"

Fennorian looked around the cell, "Our precise location? Somewhere in Western Skyrim, I suppose. I was involved in my own investigation when the Icereach Coven witch attacked." He looked at me with his sunken eyes, "We can escape, but I desperately need your help first."

I nodded in understanding, "Of course. What do you need?"

"The witches must have stashed my belongings nearby." Fennorian looked at the cell door, "Among them is a small flask. I can open the cell door. Once I do, I need you to retrieve that flask for me. I'll be too weak. And until I have it, you're in significant danger."

I raised a brow, "Danger?"

Fennorian waved his hands in defense, "I swear I intend you no harm. If I don't get that flask back, however, my intentions won't matter. Retrieve it and we'll break out of here together."

I nodded and extended my hand to him, "Alright. Open the door, and I'll retrieve your flask."

The pale Altmer looked at my hand with uncertainty, then took hold. I pulled him back to his feet. I let go of his hand and he walked toward the cell door. "Don't be afraid." He assured me, "This may be jarring, but it's a necessary part of the plan."

Once Fennorian was close to the door, his form vaporized into red and black mist. He phased through the door and materialized on the other side. My eyes widen in surprise. My guess was right. Fennorian is a vampire! But he seems to have more control over himself than other vampires I've seen.

He walked over to the mechanism on the other side of the door and turned the wheel. The door opened. Fennorian leaned over, looking like he was gonna throw up.

"You're free." He breathed heavily, "Now, please. Hurry and retrieve my flask."

I nodded and walked out of the cell. I looked around the main room, trying to look for anything that looked important. My ears perked up again, as I turned to another cell room. I entered the cell and looked around. Resting upon a nightstand was a flask full of thick, red liquid. I grabbed the flask and walked over to Fennorian.

Fennorian turned to me, "Did you find it?" He extended his hands shakenly, "Give it to me."

I nodded and handed him the flask. Fennorian took the flask and drank the contents. Within seconds, the veins vanished, he looked a little less pale, and his eyes were back to normal. He looked like the man I saw back on the cart.

Fennorian sighed in relief and smiled, "Yes, that's... Better." He looked at me, "Thank you, I could feel my control slipping away."

I tilted my head slightly and raised a brow, "The contents in the flask... Was that-?"

Fennorian nodded, "Yes... That was blood." Then he shook his head, "But, I swear there's no cause for alarm. Not every vampire is a monster. I'm part of a group that only drinks from willing donors. We regulate the actions of less scrupulous vampires."

I folded my arms in curiosity and interest, "What group of vampires do you belong to?"

"I belong to House Ravenwatch, one of the noble houses of Rivenspire." He explained proudly, "We adhere to the teachings of our founder, Count Verandis Ravenwatch. We take no blood by force, we help those in need, and we curtail the actions of more hostile vampires."

I smiled, "Sounds like a noble house, Fennorian." Then I lightly frowned, "But what are you doing here? Western Skyrim is a long way from Rivenspire."

"We go where we're needed." Fennorian answered, "I was investigating a burial site in Bangkorai when I discovered smugglers stealing ancient remains. I followed the trail, ran into the witch and... Well, you know the rest. Now we need to get out of here."

I nodded in agreement, "And you said you have a plan for that?"

Fennorian nodded, "Sort of. I regained enough of my senses when they carried me in here to remember the way out. It's pretty straightforward. I'll guide you the way if you defend us from anyone who blocks our path. If we work together, I'm certain we can escape."

I rubbed my chin in thought, "Like an escort of sorts?" I nodded and smiled, "I'm game. Lead the way, Fennorian."

Fennorian smiled and walked ahead to a pair of large iron doors, "Follow closely! You never know what's lying around in these old barrows."

I nodded and followed close behind the Altmer vampire. He hasn't harmed me so far, and something in my gut tells me I can trust him. We walked through the doors and entered some kind of vault. Full of urns, armor and weapons.

"I wonder why the witches are storing all these things." Fennorian wondered out loud, then told me, "See if you can find a weapon. I'll grab something more suited to my skills." He walked over to the other side of the vault and grabbed a staff.

I looked around the area and saw a couple of daggers resting on the table on top of the steps. I grabbed the daggers and swung them around. They felt good in my hands and there was a natural feel about them. Like I was meant to have these daggers as my weapons. I strapped the daggers to my sides and joined Fennorian.

Fennorian turned to me and saw the daggers, "That looks dangerous enough." Then he made his way another pair of large iron doors, "Now come on, this way."

Fennorian and I entered a large and empty room. But there was a large Nord male blocking our path to the other side of the room.

The Nord looked over and saw me and Fennorian. He frowned angrily, "What are you two doing out? Urgala still has need of you."

Fennorian looked at the Nord and gasped, "That's the brute who threw us in our cell! We have to get past him."

The Nord glared at us and drew his great-sword, "I'll put you two milk drinkers back in your cage!"

Fennorian and I drew our weapons, ready to fight our way through the brute. "The only way out is through him!" Fennorian told me, as he stepped back, "I'll support you from back here!"

I growled at the brute and charged toward him. I threw a fury of blows toward the Nord. Some were able to pierce through his armor, some he was able to block and counter. Fennorian struck the brute with a blast of white and golden magic from his staff, knocking the brute back a couple of steps. I charged toward the Nord brute and struck him in the chest, knocking him to his feet. With my daggers, I sliced open his throat. The Nord brute gasped, grabbed his heavily bleeding throat and fell to the ground, dead.

Fennorian and I sighed in relief and withdrew our weapons.

Fennorian covered his mouth, "The smell of blood here is... Overwhelming. We should move on." He turned to me and smiled, "You handled yourself well. Not sure I would have made it past that savage without your assistance. We'll be out of these crypts soon enough."

I smiled shyly with a small blush and followed him toward the other side of the room, through the large iron doors.