Chapter 39

Lydia

They were making camp on the fourth day when she finally asked the question that had been on her mind. "Why have you been so harsh the Lucia?"

Ragnthor looked at her as he pulled the saddle off his horse. "What do you mean?"

She shook her head. "I mean the headbutt that dropped her to her knees."

Ragnthor turned and lead his horse toward the small stream they camped near and motioned for her to follow. When they got there he let Bowen drink and leaned over his back. "If you think that was harsh I should tell you that there has been worse. That's how I lost that tooth."

She looked at him, amused. "How did she do that?"

"She questioned my orders 3 times. And I gave her the Nords choice."

Lydia was shocked. "A fight for leadership."

He nodded. "I knew I had her. No matter the damage she could dish out, I can give more. But it was closer than I would have liked. She almost had me. Her dagger barely missed major veins in my shoulder. But it was necessary."

"Why?"

He sighed. "Lucia has always been such a good girl. And I know for a fact I spoiled her and I think you did too." Lydia snorted. "She has never been disciplined. And so I have had to discipline an almost 19 year old. She's old enough I can't bend her over my knee but she is under my command. So she is getting battlefield discipline."

"It's been a year. I have been through that myself. It doesn't take this long."

He walked over to Lydia's horse, one of the bays named Prince, and checked his feet. "She's my niece, Lydia. And damn near my daughter. My only blood tie to a family long since dead. And if that doesn't make it hard enough she is as good a fighter as us. Sure she has a thing here and a couple there to learn but she is better than us when we were her age."

Lydia sighed. "We can't do anything for her then, can we."

Ragnthor put an arm around her. "Not much. I just hope we have instilled a strong sense of morals in her, else there could be trouble ahead. You know she has battle scarred armor from that fight."

"Really?"

"She wouldn't let me fix it. It's a point of pride for her. The first time she fought someone who wouldn't be out of place in legends. Warriors like us, we all have little scars like that. Some more permanent than others."

She kissed him. "You more than others."

He smiled. "Now let's get back to camp. We hit Ruunvald tomorrow."

"Why Ruunvald?"

"There is a man there we need for the 'guard. Supposedly he's like me. Can speak to the Gods. Or the God speaks to him. An old friend of ours, Arkay."

"Why is he so special? You can speak to him. Even I can, and before that I had no faith in the Gods."

"When I speak to him I'm as close to death as I can be. You as well. Florentius can, from what I understand, can talk to him as easy as I'm talking to you."

Lydia nodded. "A man like that can be useful. Provided he doesn't have to die first."

"That is important."

Ragnthor

The next morning they pulled up in front the entrance. Ragnthor looked around but Lydia spoke first. "Didn't you say he was here with a group a Vigilances? This place looks abandoned."

Ragnthor swung off and tied Bowen to a bush. "That's what I was told. Something might have happened." He loosened his sword. "We will work in pairs. Me and Lydia, Lucia and Serana. Keep weapons sheathed but be ready." Then he pushed open the door.

They had only walked a moment before they saw someone dress in the clothes of a Vigilant. Ragnthor stopped and raised a hand. "Ho Vigilant! We wish to speak to Florentius." He saw the glint of a bolt a mere moment before it thudded into Lydia's shield, which she had thrown in front of his face.

"Florentius Is OURS! HE BELONGS TO THE MISTRESS!" At the sound of his voice a half dozen more appeared, weapons drawn.

Ragnthor roared as he charged, drawing his sword. 2 rushed forward to meet him. Just before he reached them he stopped and swung. Backed by his fearsome strength, the heavy blade sang as it tore clear through the first and ended halfway through the second. From the corner of his eye he saw Lydia dart forward and take another 2 while Lucia and Serana handled the rest.

Lydia wiped her sword on one of their robes. "What was that?"

He leaned on his sword. "I don't know. The senses of the rank and file wouldn't be able to detect a vampire as old as Serana. And then there is the bit about the mistress. "

Serana walked over. "They're possessed. Or their minds have been broken to do the bidding of someone. Like how we found the priest, only more sophisticated, more permanent."

Ragnthor looked at her. "And how do you know this?"

"I tested it. When put under great physical trauma, a new thrall can break free." Ragnthor glared at her. "And since the Vigilants do not pose a threat, Father wouldn't send someone here."

He pulled his sword out of the ground. "Something of this level, this power, someone will take credit for it. Serana, you and Lucia search any side passages we come across. Whoever this mistress is will have left something. We will keep them off you."

And so they went down, fighting their way through a shattered ruin. Fight after fight, floor after floor. Suddenly Lucia came up to him and handed him a book. "I think I found it."

Ragnthor read through it then handed it to Serana. "Your understanding of this is better than mine. Tell me if it means what I think it means."

Serana quickly read and looked at him. "Of course it means what you think." At Lydia's confused look she explained. "She has imposed her will in such a way that she has literally become part of them. In theory it could prolong her life a fair amount if she can get enough 'followers', allow her to obtain pseudo-godhood."

Lydia nodded, thinking. "If she has become part of them, then…."

Ragnthor nodded as he finished. "If she is killed, they all die."

Lucia looked shocked. "Is there no way to save them?"

He shook his head. "No Lucia. And they wouldn't want us to. They would be forced to make an atoning quest that would likely end in their death. So we kill them." He turned and faced down the tunnel and roared "MINOME! WE HAVE COME FOR YOU! YOU WILL CORRUPT NO MORE VIGILANTS!"

A laugh floated up out of the depths. "You will join my flock, OR DIE!" A roar of blood mad fighters followed.

Ragnthor cursed as he walked toward the cage that he guessed held Florentius. Heavy damn sword sheared thru the damn key. And the scar tissue on my hands hasn't softened enough to pick the lock. And it's too hard for anyone else.

He drew his sword and spoke to the man in the cage. "Cover your eyes." He swung and the sword broke through the lock. He grabbed the gate and swung it open. "You must Florentius."

He nodded and stepped out. "And you must be the famous Ragnthor. Arkay has told me much about you."

"Such as?"

Florentius smiled. "That the Gods like to bet on you. The bets flowed like Imperial wine while you were in the Soul Cairn. Akatosh lost a fair amount betting against you."

Ragnthor rubbed his chin. "Akatosh has a strong dislike of me, considering he is the one who gave me my soul."

Florentius nodded. "According to Arkay, he has a very rigid point of view. Where as yours is rather…fluid."

"With all this winning, Talos must be close to regaining a fair amount of power."

"More than the elves would wish. Now Arkay has told me why you have come but I need to hear it from your mouth."

"Isran needs your help. Elder Scrolls, ancient prophecies, vampires, things that a man who can talk with a god would be good for."

Florentius looked shocked. "Elder Scrolls, now why didn't you tell me about that Arkay?" Ragnthor felt something pass through the air and looked at Lydia.

She was looking at him and he knew from the slight widening of her eyes that she had felt it too. The presence of a god, no matter how small, had just flowed through the room.

"Felt that, did you? Arkay says you're telling the truth. He will show me the way from here. Thank you for freeing me from that cage."

"Actually, we'll travel with you. We're headed back to the fort to talk to a Moth Priest about these Elder Scrolls. And save for my wife, who I've not seen in a while, I'm sure the other 2 are getting sick of my company." Serana and Lucia nodded.

"Then ride with me, Champion of the Isles, and tell me tales of you and your companions. Lydia, who speaks with the Gods as you do and fights better than the Companions, Serana of Coldharbour, and young Lucia" He paused and looked at her. "What do you call yourself?"

She looked at Ragnthor and Lydia. "I am of the Isles. Ragnthor and Lydia are the only real family I have known." Ragnthor nodded as Lydia hugged her.

"Then we ride."

A few days later they were riding toward the outer fortifications. Durak yelled down at them "Greetings Long Hunter! How have you brought us this time?"

"Florentius, a former companion of Isran. And my wife, Lydia."

Durak laughed and opened the gate. As the rode through he eyed Lydia up and down. "She must be quite the woman to grab the heart of you."

Lydia laughed at that. "We might look that way now but back when we met Ragnthor was naught but a sapling, branchy and thin, and I was but a wisp of a girl who's father fell from one hard time to another. It took him leaving Skyrim to forge the both of us."

Durak shut the gate and motioned for them to head off toward the fort. Ragnthor swung down as he started to walk with them. "Now that doesn't seem right. You're as near a match to your father as I have ever seen, and from the markings in the great hall of Orsinium you are stronger still. They still tell the stories of your fights in the Arena and the various battles fought across the continent."

Ragnthor laughed. "That's just what happens when your only marketable skill is fighting. No use for a wandering farmer."

"Your only marketable skill is punching holes in enemy lines? I was there that day in Hammerfell, the day you punched through the line of ex-Legion Orcish infantry."

Ragnthor grew angry. "I was given an order and I followed it that is all. I would rather not talk about old battles. I have the scars to remember each one. Now if you will excuse us, Serana and myself need to talk to Isran." With that he hastened.

Lydia

As she watched him leave she heard Lucia. "Why doesn't he like to talk about anything that happened before he came home?"

Lydia sighed. "Because he wishes to forget. That's why he came home truly."

"But his stories could teach people."

She shook her head. "No they can't. Ragnthor doesn't think when he fights like you and me. Fighting for him is a natural as breathing. In fact when he fights, he fights 2 battles. One against his foes and the other against himself. And there is only one kind of fight he ever loses. He is a man filled with anger, though anger that is held under lock and key."

Lucia looked at Durak. "Is that what happened that day in Hammerfell?"

He looked at Lydia and she nodded. "You can tell her, it's the only way she will know. I only know a few details myself."

Durak nodded. "Now to fully understand what happened, you must know of Hammerfell. It is made up of city states that, more often than not, war with one another. Numerous different factions that, more or less, fall under 2 points of view. All swear loyalty to a king, in a way that is similar to your high king. Ragnthor was employed by one such lord, I another."

Lydia looked at him. "It is rare for nobility to employ Orcs. They tend to view you as less than refined."

"That is true, but also the reason so many of us were there. You employ an Orc and treat him well and he will tell his brothers and friends and they will tell their friends and soon you have your own Orc army."

He rubbed his chin, thinking back. "We were on the edge of the desert, the great Alik'r. His lord had been waging war against mine, and winning. He had us pushed back to walls. For 2 days we held them back, our main line of defense being 50 Legion trained Orc infantrymen backed by powerful healers. On the morning of the 3rd day, one man stood ahead of their lines. Even from that distance we knew who it was, few men reach his size. And if that wasn't strange enough, instead of his sword he had an axe. From up on the wall I heard few laugh, for Ragnthor was known as a master swordsman. But no one was left laughing that day."

Lydia looked into his eyes and saw they still held traces of fear, even after all these years. "I have never seen the like of that battle before or since. 1 man charged 50…and laid waste to them. Have you ever seen an Orc flee? I have. 5 of them in fact. And every single one was on that day, all who stayed died. Later we learned, when his lord was gloating, that Ragnthor had been given one order. To break our line. But that's not what we thought at the time. We thought he was some beast from the Ashfields, sent by Malacath to punish us. For every blow that struck him, he killed 2. Even his own side knew to stay well clear of him. They only came forward after he had broken his axe on the gate and had calmed. He had almost made it through the gate."

Lucia looked up at him, eyes wide. "What happened then?"

Durak shrugged. "He grabbed a sword from one of the fallen and helped his men take the town. It was that night when Ragnthor made a choice that made him even more famous. The lord offered his daughter to him, and Ragnthor turned him down. In fact, he immediately quit and walked out into the desert, with nothing but what he carried on his back. We thought him dead yet a month later we heard he was in service to another lord on the other side of the Alik'r. He had crossed it alone."

Lydia nodded as she looked at Lucia. "You see Lucia, you can't teach that. It's something you are born with. I'm thankful every day you aren't like that. Headstrong, yes, and more than a little spoiled but not bloodmad. And I pray to the Divines that Ragnar isn't like that as well."

Lucia looked confused. "But that's just one story."

Lydia shook her head. "There are hundreds more like it, some of which I have seen. Have you seen his scars? Sure some are just regular fighting scars. I have some and you will get them if you keep fighting. But others show wounds that should have killed him and without that rage, and more than a little cold and hardened cunning, they would have."

"But rage, when tempered, gives a person strength."

She sighed. "Ragnthor isn't like that, he bottles it, locks it down with a force of iron. And he will never learn, because his rage is too great and deeply part of him. And so he fights, using small bits of rage. But when the odds are great enough, the enemy dangerous enough, or he gets hurt enough the walls crumble or he tears them down. It's a crutch Lucia, a very effective crutch but a crutch nonetheless. And dangerous, because anger is a killing thing. Every time you give in to it, it takes something away from you."

"But…"

"Enough Lucia! You don't know. We are trying to teach you but you are stubborn enough you won't listen. So pin up your ears and listen to this. Even if he could teach you to fight as he does, you would not be able to. You lack the sheer strength that Ragnthor naturally has, never mind the strength he has worked to achieve. You are a slight girl Lucia, you take after your mother in that regard, where as Ragnthor has surpassed even your grandfather, though he refuses to admit it. And while your warrior training has made you stronger than most women and a fair few men, your blows will never have the sheer power of his no matter how angry you get. Ragnthor knows this, surely he has mentioned it."

Lucia glowered at her. "Yes, he has."

Lydia put a hand on her shoulder. "You and me, we are strong. Strong enough to fend off almost any blow. But not strong enough to take any blow and hit back hard." Lydia tapped her forehead. "So think. Where strength fails, clever thinking will prevail. But you lose control and you will lose. Do you understand?"

She scowled. "Yes."

Lydia smiled. "Good. And when we are done with this cursed task I will teach you some tricks to goading your enemy into attacking you. It's easier to beat a mad foe. They don't think as much."

Ragnthor

Shite he cursed Goddamn cursed shite. Just my luck that the only personable able to properly read a damned Elder Scroll goes blind after reading one. Sending me on yet another fools errand. Goddamn shite.

He was still cursing as he walked toward them. They stood as he got close and from the looks on their faces his frustration must have been showing.

"What's wrong Ragnthor?"

He sighed. "The Moth Priest is blind. He prepared poorly for the trial of reading the scroll."

Lucia looked up at him. "Then what are we going to do?"

Ragnthor gave a small smile. "Thankfully there is a way. There is a cave in the south of Falkreath where there are some Ancestor Moths, they supposedly allow the priests to read the scroll. Dexion has given me instructions on a ritual that should allow me to read them."

Lydia looked at him, questions in her eye. "Then what's the problem?"

"We are going over the pass between Falkreath and Ivarstead. We will have to break trail for the horses since there is like to be 6 or better feet of snow."

Lucia pulled out her map. "Couldn't we go around?"

Ragnthor shook his head. "It would add better than 2 weeks to our trip. We will stop at Ivarstead for some warmer gear before attempting the pass. Besides, Klimmek and Fastred want to see you Lydia. They were upset we didn't invite them to our wedding. Now get saddled up. The faster we move, the faster we're done."

Author's Note: Here it is, the long awaited next chapter. Proving, that once again, this story inst quite dead. I honestly can't remember the last I put a chapter up. Feels like it has been years for me. I'm just dealing with issues and I swear as soon as I beat one into submission another steps forward and says "well I guess it's my turn." So I'm not going to promise you an update in a week, or even 2. I don't know when it will be done. I'm kind of starting to regret doing the dlc. I could have kept the ending for the main game and jumped straight to my after without even touching the dlc. All the dlc serves to is flesh out the after. I would have been done and free to move on to another game, another of the half dozen projects in various states of first chapter completion. But Ragnthor wanted his story told in full, so I'm stuck. Cursed to be trapped by my own creation. And sorry this is mostly filler, filler seems to be all I can write these days. I hope you enjoyed reading this new chapter, may the next one come swiftly.