The World of Coldharbour

~Eleanor's POV~

I woke up to the feel of freezing air licking my skin. Looking around, I found myself someplace unfamiliar, but familiar at the same time. Some sort of large prison cell. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. My vision was blurry, at first, but it was clearing as I was regaining my strength.

I stood up and rubbed my throbbing head. My hair was soft and smooth, but my ears were at the sides of my crown, large, furry and pointed. Like I'm some sort of animal. I guess Fennorian wasn't lying. But I can't be too certain yet.

I tried to think back on how this happened. The last thing I remember was helping an Altmer vampire, named Fennorian discover why the Icereach were working with vampires and werewolves. We escaped the vale we were held captive, and we stopped a devastating storm from being launched all over Skyrim. Then I found a Dunmer female laying the ground, then I woke up here.

I need to figure out where I am and how to get back Skyrim. Fennorian is probably wondering what happened to me.

"Whoa, there. Are you alright?" A female voice asked from the other side of the room.

I turned to a barred, cell door, "Are you talking to me?"

"Yes." The voice answered.

I made my way to the door. On the other side was a large woman. Not large, like on the heavy side. Large as in she was a giant among men. She was a Caucasian female with long blonde hair, tied in a braided ponytail. Blue eyes with a scar over her left eye. Her ragged clothes were a light greyish blue. I knew this woman.

"The name's Lyris." The woman introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you, Lyris. Name's Eleanor." I greeted with a small smile.

"Stand back, I'm gonna get you out of here." She told me.

I took a step back, as she drew a large battle axe, attached to her back, and swung it at the door. The lock shattered and the pieces fell to the ground.

"I hope you have some fight in you." Lyris told me, "You're gonna need it."

I opened the door and exit the cell. Lyris ran toward a dead body in dark armor laying on the floor.

"Dead. Must've been the runt of the litter." She sighed.

I felt around the body. Cold, metallic armor. Cold skin. Humanoid, but wasn't human. Two familiar daggers were strapped to its side. Wait a moment, those were my daggers! What the heck was he doing with my daggers?!

I took the daggers and strapped them to my sides. Lyris charged ahead, "Keep your weapon ready and stay sharp. This place is full of surprises."

I followed her close behind, through the corridor. Something appeared in front of us and attacked. Lyris attacked, but it blocked. Following my instincts, I snuck behind it and stabbed the sword through its back. The creature screamed and fell dead.

"Good work." Lyris smiled, then charged ahead, "Keep moving. There are more Daedra on the way."

"Daedra?" I repeated, as I followed behind her, "You mean the demonic creatures that try to take Tamriel and claim it as their own?"

Lyris nodded, "The very same."

I couldn't believe it! The cult's ritual transported me into the Elder Scrolls universe! I can't believe it worked! But... What about my family? My mother? My younger sister? Wouldn't they be wondering what happened to me? No... They never check on me when they're out. Why would they care if I'm trapped in another universe?

Enough of that! Lyris and I continued down the hallway. A group of prisoners were holding a door closed. I followed Lyris past the prisoners and down the hall. Two Daedra appeared. A melee fighter and a sorcerer. Lyris took out the melee fighter, while I was able to take out the sorcerer by interrupting her fire spell and plunged one of my daggers into its chest. Both Daedra dropped to the ground dead.

Lyris withdrew her weapon and instructed, "Let's get out of here, my friend."

We reached for the door, but a ghostly image appeared. It was an old man in ragged robes and a staff. Spectral moths were flying around him.

"The Prophet!" Lyris gasped.

"Greetings, Vestige. Like you, I am a prisoner in this place." The man, the Prophet, spoke, "You must rescue me. And I, in turn, must rescue you." Then he vanished.

"The Prophet. He's a prisoner here too." Lyris gasped, "It was very dangerous for him to speak to you, even for a moment. He must think you can help me."

"Help you with what, exactly?" I asked.

"Break him out, of course." Lyris folded her arms, "Believe me, I can use all the help I can get." Then she added, "That blind old man is the only person alive who can help us get back home. Tamriel is a long way from here."

I nodded in understanding, "I understand, Lyris. We're in a Plane of Oblivion, named Coldharbour. The domain of Molag Bal, so we must tread carefully, if we're gonna get out of here."

Lyris nodded with a small smile, "Strong and smart. Good." Then she frowned, "And to top it off, well... There is no easy way to say it. You're dead."

I took a step back in shock, "Dead? But how?" I scratched my head, as I searched my memories, "The last thing I remember, before coming here, was running into a Dunmer female laying on the road and getting hit on the head." Then I thought back, "Does this have something to do with Mannimarco and the Worm Cult?"

Lyris nodded her head, "Your memories serve you well. Mannimarco was responsible. His Worm Cult was doing some kind of ritual back in your world. They sacrificed you, and everyone in this prison, to the Daedric Prince, Molag Bal. After you died, whatever was left showed up here. They call you the Soul Shriven."

"Soul Shriven? What does that mean?" I asked, raising a brow.

"It means you're a slave and you'll spend the rest of eternity here in Coldharbour, working under the lash of the Daedra." Lyris explained, "Unless of course, you come with me."

I nodded in determination, "Alright, Lyris. How do we rescue The Prophet?"

Lyris smiled at me, "I admire your determination." Then she frowned and shook her head, "It won't be easy. The place is watched by magical construct called Sentinels. We won't stand a chance unless we can blind them. I'll tell you more when we get there. And we'll never get there if we don't get moving."

I nodded, "Right. Let's go."

With that, I followed Lyris to the next room. Inside the next room was another Daedra, holding a male Soul Shriven by the neck. The Daedra seemed angry about something. Then he saw us and threw the Soul Shriven into a metal spike poking out of the ground. He drew his weapon, ready to fight us.

Working together of taking the Daedra down, Lyris and I made quick work of him. I gave one quick swing and my daggers sliced the Daedra's head clean off his shoulders. His body fell to the ground and burst into flame. Same went for his head.

"Well done, my friend." Lyris smiled, "Arkay's beard you are good in a fight."

I smiled bashfully at her compliment.

"The God of Brutality knows of your escape. Hurry!"

I nodded, "The Prophet's right. We need to keep moving."

Lyris looked at me with raised brows. "What are you talking about?" She asked me.

I pointed to my head, "Just now, I heard The Prophet's voice. Molag Bal knows we've escaped. We need to take down the Sentinels now!"

Lyris looked around and shrugged, "Strange. I didn't hear him. Are you sure you're not losing it already?"

I shook my head, "There's no time to talk about that. We have to move on."

Lyris nodded, "Right."

With that, Lyris and I left the room and exit the Wailing Prison by the skin of our noses. Next on our list, take down the Sentinels and rescue The Prophet.

Easier said than done, right?