Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the Elder Scroll Series.

Chapter 13: Misguided Impressions

Mahrig

I slowly drifted in and out of my thoughts. I was aware of my surroundings now, and my surroundings were the only thing keeping my mind from being completely taken over by my memories. I was alone on Arlow. My hands were still tied, reminding me of more than just the horrible events that previously unfolded. I kept my mind away from the dangerous temptation of shutting everything off. I just sat on the horse and listened to the sounds that echoed through the forest. I heard the clash of weapons, and the cries of men in their final hours. I drunk in the fresh air that no longer smelled of alcohol and blood. Blood, Gareth's blood. I quickly shook the images of Gareth's body tied to the table as the bandit leader Ahnvir had embarked on a series of tortures.

Tears once again threatened my eyes. I could feel the burn on my face as the slight breeze swept across my skin. Ahnvir had traced my scar with hot metal, covering up the not only physical scar, but the emotional scar it had once carried with a new kind of emotional scar. I had obtained the original scar from my first battle I had encountered after gaining my freedom in Cyrodiil. I let my mind slip back into a seemingly simpler time.

The Imperial city had made its way into my view. I had been making my way to anywhere that was away from Kvatch when I had stumbled upon the run down tower. I remembered encountering a group of bandits there as well, but they had been less in numbers, and more greedy toward gaining coin. My scuffle with one of the women had left me with the scar that once decorated my cheek, but was now covered with a fresh burn. It had been my first encounter with anyone outside of Kvatch, and for an instant I had wished that I was still behind the bars that had imprisoned me before. It was the first time I felt fear outside of Kvatch in the real world, and it was a reminder that this world could be ugly. I was now reminded of that very fact once again.

Ahnvir, the bandit leader, had attempted to force himself on me. My memories after that were a blur. I know that Gareth brought me here, or was it Gareth? He had seemed so different, not like his normal self. The glowing eyes only now sent chills down my spine. My memories registered his appearance, the way his skin had glowed a faint white in the beginning that grew in intensity and engulfed me as he had carried me. His skin held such heat, it had felt as If I was being cooked within his grasp. Finally the realization hit me. Gareth had witnessed everything that had happened, up until the very last moments and even after my memories had blurred. Gareth had seen my naked body, and the man that sought to defile it.

The tears escaped cascading down my face and leaving red smeared droplets on my tied hands that I looked down at. My nose had stopped bleeding at some point, but now the dried blood caked my face causing me to feel the need to itch. I didn't however, because the need to itch was exactly what I needed to keep myself sane. I focused on the way my skin felt like it was crawling, and how my hands sole instinct was to want to reach up and make the feeling disappear.

I heard footsteps approaching. I stilled my body and my breathing halted as I scanned the area where the footsteps neared. Out of the shadows stepped a worried Theo. He glanced up to me, the notable pain marked his face as he took in the sight before him. I must have looked terrible, because for the first time since I had known Theo, he looked as if he could burst into tears. I turned my head away from him as he made his way to my side. I didn't want to catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection of his wide eyes. I felt a his hand rest on my leg and I involuntarily flinched away from him.

I felt a tugging motion at my hands and they were soon free after hearing the sound of Theo's knife rip through the rope.

"I'm so sorry Mahrig, this is all my fault." Theo's words tugged at my heart. This was his fault. It had been his plan that I had stupidly went along with. Yet again I had disregarded Gareth's concerns after assuring him that I wouldn't't and Gareth had payed a steep price for my decision. This was mine and Theo's fault. I couldn't hate Theo for what happened to me, but I could hate him for what happened to Gareth.

"I had no idea things were going to go south so quickly. I didn't notice the scouts in time. One of them struck Gareth from behind and I panicked. I knew I wouldn't be able to engage the whole camp by myself." Theo paused as I threw up a single hand.

"Where were you?" I looked toward him as the croaked words formed from my hoarse voice. His eyes quickly found the ground before he answered.

"I went back to where we left our things to gather a few ingredients from my bag. I had to make some swarm arrows before I started my assault." The shame was thick in his words. I almost felt sorry, but the anger slowly boiled.

"I'm so sorry Mahrig, please forgive me. I stopped him before he could do anything." My hoarse voice found strength as my chest released the anger I felt inside.

"You didn't stop him before he mutilated Gareth! Why? You couldn't have been gone that long. This was your plan, and Gareth unwillingly followed your lead and now…" Theo's face turned to an expression of anguish as my tears and sobs cut off the continuation of my argument. Theo stepped forward once more and placed his hand back on my leg trying to calm the waves of sobs that overtook my body. I pulled away from him.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed.

"Mahrig please!" He grabbed my arm to try and contain my flailing limbs. I pushed him away, but in the process lost my balance on top of Arlow, sending me falling toward the ground on the other side. I hit the ground with a hard thud that sent pain up my side. I heard the gruesome crack in my side as I landed. I had thrown my arms up in an attempt to grab onto Arlow's mane during my fall, and had landed with great impact on my unguarded ribs. The sharp intake of breath I tried to inhale sent even more pain that spread through my chest cavity originating from my side. I stayed still in my position on the ground taking small breaths to avoid pain. I heard Theo's footsteps rush to my side.

"Mahrig are you alright?!" He gently touched my arm.

"I said don't touch me, leave me alone." My voice was unfamiliar to even my own ears as I gasped for the air I had lost at my words that were laced with such hate and malice. I couldn't see Theo's face, but I heard another set of heavy footsteps charging up from behind him.

Gareth

I knew Theo had only been trying to comfort her, but in the moment I saw him reach for her arm and grab her, my temper boiled over once more. How dare any man lay a hand on her if she did not wish it. I burst into a sprint from my previous hurried steps. Mahrig had pulled her arm out of Theo's grasp, and in the process sent herself tumbling off of the opposite side. Theo raced around the startled Arlow and knelt beside Mahrig.

"Mahrig are you alright?!" Theo's voice was trembling.

"I said don't touch me, leave me alone!" Mahrig's voice was full of anger and desperation to breath.

I grabbed the caller that was visible from the back of Theo's leather tunic and picked him up. His shock registered only moments after I had thrown him to the ground away from Mahrig's form. I glared down at the elven mixed bastard for a moment longer, and then turned my attention to Mahrig. She stayed in the position she had landed in. Her eyes were wild and full of tears, her hair was now a mess and dampened strands from perspiration stuck to her face. Her eyes lingered on me as I knelt to her side. I quickly scanned her body, averting my attention from the area of her body that had become exposed once more due to my quick attempt at a knot with the sleeves of my shirt that was now loosely draped around her. At the time it had been the only thing I could think of to cover her, and I had quickly wrapped it around her and tied it in haste.

Her frame was slightly shaking, either from anger or pain, but I guessed it could have been from both. I let the heat fill my hands as my restoration awakened. I gently placed my hand over her ribcage and released the flow of energy. I quickly felt my powers take hold and mend the bone that had been broken. Her breathing became noticeably stronger than it had been before, and a small sigh escaped her mouth. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths after the energy from my hands ceased. My power had sought other areas of injury within her body, but I had kept them focused on the rib for a speedy process. I scanned over the area's that had made my magicka react. I caught a glimpse of a dark bruise that had begun forming on a small area of her exposed hip. I placed my hand over the area, careful not to touch the skin and hovered. I slowly moved my hand following my magickas pull. It seemed as if the bruise stretched across the width of her left hip, to her right. Most of it was still covered by the shirt, but my senses told me that if the fabric were to be removed, Mahrig's lower region would be painted by bruised skin.

My mind flashed back to the memory of Ahnvir throwing Mahrig's body against the table. In my panic I hadn't realized how hard the action had been committed, but it was clear now that he had used great force. I felt the heat build in my palms once more. I glanced up to Mahrig whose eyes were glued to my actions. Her small hand reached out and pushed away my glowing ones.

"No, don't" Her voice was shaky, and her hand matched it.

"You're in pain Mahrig." Her eyes glanced down to my hand and then back up to me.

"No I'm not, you are." tears glazed her blue orbs once more as she reached for my hand. I glanced down, and noticed what her attention had found. On my right hand where my smallest finger should have been was a small nub. I had healed the injury in my haste to make it back to the bandit encampment, and had neglected to retrieve the lost morsels in my hurried attempt to evacuate Mahrig before. It was too late for anything to be done now, but it no longer hurt. My restoration had completely sealed off the wound, and mended new skin around it. I was confused by Mahrig's words.

"It is completely healed, There is no pain Mahrig." Her faced twisted at my reply.

"You endured so much, and now you would simply brush it off? You are missing a finger because of us." She motioned to herself and the still grounded Theo.

"You may not even have the scars now, but your chest was covered in burn marks, and all I could do was watch. So please. Spare your magic where I am concerned. I do not deserve it." Her words didn't make me angry toward her, but for some reason a rage began to boil in my very being. Theo stood and began walking away. I sat in silence staring down at the weeping Mahrig who felt such sorrow for me. She had placed herself among the guilty party that had consisted of mainly Theo. She blamed herself along with Theo for what had happened to me. My torture was the only thing she had mentioned. She didn't even seem to be phased by the fact that she had almost been raped by a mad man.

She was being so damn selfless. In my mind I couldn't understand how someone could go through something so traumatic, and only seem affected by something that had happened to another. Then the realization hit me like a landslide. I had felt the same way concerning Mahrig. Mahrig had pleaded with the man during his exploits of torture to my body, and had even gone as far as offering to give herself to him willingly if only he would stop. Panic had built in my chest at her words causing me to forget the pain Ahnvir was inflicting on me. I begged Mahrig to not continue her efforts, and in the process had given mine and Mahrig's knowledge of each other away. Ahnvir discovered that we knew each other, and it angered him to the point of no self control. He targeted his rage toward Mahrig and had proceeded to force himself on her. He had been stopped by one of Theo's arrows and hadn't been able to continue, but he had come dangerously close to robbing Mahrig's purity. That had been my fault, and yet she was only worried about my well being.

Theo returned holding Mahrig's blue robe, and the cuirass I had purchased for her after nursing her back from her encounter at Helgen. It seemed like it had been such a long time ago, but the reality was that it had only been about a month and a half. I glanced toward Theo's direction. His face was calm unlike it had been earlier, and his eyes scanned Mahrig's body. Something about the way he looked at her in her current state didn't set right with me. I knew he was only scanning her injuries that I had earlier observed, but I knew deep down that something in him had wanted her before, and it angered me. I stood from my kneeling position and before I could stop myself my fist connected with Theo's face.

I could feel my bare hand connect with his flesh and crush it against his bone. He stumbled backward, and I proceeded to follow. Another strike to his face sent him to the ground. Mahrig's robe was now discarded as Theo scrambled trying to regain his footing.

"Stop Gareth, I'm not your enemy!" Theo begged.

"Why didn't you intervene sooner?" I kicked him with my unarmored foot, sending a small pain through my exposed toes. I ignored the pain and and leaned over Theo.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't beat you like those worthless bandits." Theo cringed at my words and held up his hands.

"I wasn't prepared to take on a whole encampment by myself." He gasped, catching his breath.

"You were captured and I needed a backup plan." He glanced toward our bags that were near a tree where I had left Arlow.

"I came back here for ingredients I would need to put a spell on my arrows." A bit of anger registered on Theo's face.

"My magic can't be summoned from the God's like yours, I actually have to prepare mine. I may be a druid because Kynareth blessed me as such, but most of my strength comes from things I've taught myself over the years." Theo spat blood toward me. His lip was now seeping the crimson liquid where my second punch had connected with his face.

"Why didn't you prepare them before we decided to approach the encampment? Why didn't you come up with a backup plan?!" A mocking smirk crossed Theo's face as he prepared to answered my questions.

"You didn't have a backup plan either. Why waste ingredients on something that should have been a piece of meat pie? I hadn't anticipated that you would be captured. Originally I was going to rely on you to take the bulk of them out while I attacked from a distance. I was going to cover you." Theo stood up at my break in assaulting him. He stepped back gaining some distance. I lowered my gaze and spoke.

"At what point did you arrive back at the encampment?" Theo's gaze held my own as he pondered how to answer my question.

"I don't need this, I'm not the bad guy here." Theo spat in my direction.

"When did you leave, and when did you come back?" Theo eyed me, realizing I would very well continue my swarm of attacks if he didn't give me some kind of answer.

"I left as soon as they started removing your armor Paladin." Theo narrowed his eyes.

"I got back in time to see Mahrig use her shout toward the leader. Why?" I glanced back toward where Mahrig had pulled herself into a sitting position and was staring at us with wide eyes.

"Are you sure you didn't wait around a bit to see if they would kill me?" I lowered my voice so that Mahrig couldn't hear. We were a few long strides from where the fighting had started. Theo's brow furrowed.

"What?!" Theo hissed.

"I know you want to make a move on Mahrig, you admitted as much. I'm guessing you thought it would be easier if the Paladin wasn't around to keep her safe." I let the accusations fly. My emotions were on the edge of every direction. I could have easily been influenced by any emotion that presented itself, and right now it was anger. Theo scoffed in my direction in disbelief.

"What kind of a man do you take me for? If I'm going to lay with a women, I'm gonna make damn sure she agrees to it." Theo snarled his reply lowering his voice to match mine.

"You said before that you thought her attention was for me only. Whether that is true or not you believe it, so what better way to avert her attention than to get rid of the object of favor?" I could feel the hate seether into my voice. My whole being began to shake with my anger. I could feel the hot seething heat under my ribs as the adrenaline burst through my body. Theo shook his head in defeat at my words.

"Do you honestly believe I would hurt Mahrig like that, just to get you out of the way?" Theo's body relaxed from the rigid stance he had taken in defense as he spoke.

"Not to mention it would no doubt hurt her if anything happened to you. She cares a lot about the stuck up Paladin with vows and such." Theo waited for my response to his words.

"You claim you wouldn't want to see her hurt, and yet it was your idea to use her as bait in your less than dignified plan." My words caused Theo to flinch slightly.

"It wasn't supposed to get that complicated. I haven't been out in the world as much as you Paladin, I'm not prepared for most things. I don't plan ahead. I had a good idea, or at least what I thought was, and ran with it. I wanted to be useful to Mahrig, like you always seem to be." His words trailed off as his eyes fell.

"Yeah, well your efforts to gain Mahrig's attention almost ripped her innocence away. The very thing you want was almost taken because of your plan." I saw the spark of anger return to Theo's eyes at my words.

"Alright Mr. High and Mighty I can do no wrong, if you didn't notice, Mahrig was okay with the plan. We didn't have one, and you sure didn't bring one to the table." Theo spat.

"You didn't give me time to come up with a plan, you were too busy hatching out a quick one that suits your dark personality." This time Theo came toward me as I spoke my last words.

He swung toward my face, which I dodged, but in the process he brought up his knee catching me in my chest as I dodged his swing. I let out a groan as his knee made contact. I staggered backwards and brought my body back up to an upright position. Theo glared at me, the wild look was thick in his eyes.

"You have had an obvious dislike of me since you laid eyes on me in the cavern where we met. You obviously didn't know who I was then, and you don't know now." He took a few ragged breaths as he spoke, the anger continued to build.

"I haven't done anything to you besides accompany and help you in our travel. Sure, I have taken an interest in Mahrig, but it's not a vulgar endeavor. I truly care about her. I admit, in the beginning I was attracted to her looks, but I got to know her. She's a kind, intelligent and strong woman. Any man would be lucky to have her. Don't take your anger out on me, because you are missing out on the chance. That isn't my fault Paladin, its your own."

His accusation of making this about an emotional reaction irritated me. I wasn't jealous of him, or was I? My dislike of him had nothing to do with seeing him as some sort of competition. It was because he was a druid. My experience with druid's was laced with dark memories that I tried hard to forget and somehow I had let affect how I seen Theo. It wasn't fair to him, but his actions toward Mahrig had only fueled my dislike. His dark lust filled personality was hid under his little bouts of flirtation he often exhibited toward Mahrig. I knew deep down what kind of desires he held, and it maddened me at him and myself for being able to see it. I had seen the look in his eyes that the female druid had shown me so many times before in my adolescence. What was I to do other than to submit to her. She had been my slave owner after all. I lowered my voice even further, securing what I was about to say from Mahrig's hearing.

"No, I just think that your dark druid indulgences wanted to see Mahrig in such a fragile state. You wanted to see how she would look scared into submission. All of you druids are alike." Theo didn't even blink as he withdrew his dagger.

"You son of a bitch, how dare you!" He came toward me with speed I had never imagined he could posses. The dagger he wielded was an extension of Theo's anger as I continuously attempted to dodge his strikes. He snaked around my body like a shadow leaving his next strike a mystery. I blindly swept my leg hoping to knock Theo off his balance, but in the process failed to dodge a strike. The blade of his dagger grazed my skin on my shoulder. I couldn't feel the sting that should have been presented, only the urge to get my hands on him.

"Stop, please no!" I felt small arms slide around my stomach as Mahrig pressed herself against my back.

"Both of you stop please!" Theo halted. As I glanced over my shoulder. He was frozen mid execution of his attack, the dagger mere inches from me.

"This is my fault, please stop fighting." Mahrig continued to wail. Theo withdrew from his stance and sheathed his dagger. His attention was on Mahrig. I couldn't see her face, but I knew she was crying again. I could feel her moist tears against my back and her hot breath as she buried her face against my skin.

"Please don't hurt him Theo." Theo closed his eyes at her words and took a breath. He glanced back up to me, anger still danced in the shadows of his eyes, but his body relaxed. Theo walked back toward Arlow.

"I'm so sorry Gareth." One of her hands slipped up to my shoulder. I felt the small pool of heat form in her palm. Her flow of restoration was weak, but plenty enough to heal the small cut that had been left by Theo's dagger.

I didn't turn around to look at Mahrig, It didn't even register when Mahrig stepped around my body. I had closed my eyes and let my actions replay in my mind. Mahrig's touch had instantly brought me out of my angered state. The moment her arms reached around my body, I ceased everything. I felt ashamed of the way I had reacted, of the words I had spoken. I had lost control of myself and became riddled with such anger and bias toward Theo. I had dishonored myself in the presence of the Divines. I slandered Theo's personality because of my own whims. I became too personal with Theo and he probably hadn't even deserved half of the accusations I had voiced. I assaulted Theo first out of anger, losing control and ignoring my vows of justice. What I did was not justified.

Mahrig's eyes were searching my face as I opened my own. A deep sadness etched her face and accented her eyes. Mahrig's tears had been so consistent recently that the crusted blood no longer painted her features. The bridge of her nose was darkened with deep hues of purple. It was no doubt broken. I brought my hand up without thinking and released the energy of my restoration. This surprised Mahrig and she tried to pull away, but I halted her by wrapping my arm around her scarcely covered body and pulled her back to me. She gasped as the heat from my hand spread out across her face. I was half tempted to release a burst of restoration from my other hand that was now holding Mahrig in attempt to heal her bruised hips, but I wanted to focus on her nose before she decided to attempt to move away from me again.

The scar that had once marked her cheek was now covered by a burn mark that slowly disappeared as my magic ebbed through her face. The pink scar from before surfaced as the burned skin receded to its former state. Mahrig closed her eyes and didn't open them until I finished.

"If you are going to be mad at Theo, you have to be mad at me too." Her words were like ice through my veins. I couldn't be mad at her. I shouldn't have even been mad at Theo. Looking down at her solemn stare, and the hurt that lingered in her eyes broke some kind of barrier that I had erected. My heart ached, and all I wanted to do was wrap her in my arms, and try and make her forget, make us both forget if only for a little while. I wanted to hold her, to make her feel safe and lov-… By the God's. I knew that I cared for Mahrig. A great deal more than I had cared for anyone in such a long time, but I never thought I would…

"We have to go back!" Mahrig pulled away with a sudden wide eyed expression. My thoughts were lost to the new emotion of urgency Mahrig displayed.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Mahrig squinted her eyes and her hand found her forehead as if she were combing her thoughts.

" I remember hearing something, I think there was someone else there." I glanced curiously toward her as she walked toward her discarded robe. I averted my eyes as she walked away. Certain parts of her makeshift cover, were starting to come loose. My mind now buzzed with what Mahrig could have meant, and slightly lingered on the word I had almost uttered within my thoughts. A certain feeling I harbored for Maharig that had snuck up on me in our darkest hours.

Mahrig

I fumbled with the loose knot that kept Gareth's shirt loosely tied around me. I remembered the small cry I had heard from the tent where Ahnvir had come from. I wasn't completely sure what the sound had been in the beginning, but later revelations led me to believe a suspicion I had. There were a few things I needed to clear up between Gareth and Theo, but this was more important at the moment. I glanced down at my bare hips, the bruising that appeared on my lower abdomen was a reminder of events that I currently pushed from my mind. I pulled my robe on and tightly fastened it, my cuirass followed.

I sent Theo into the cave to retrieve Gareth's missing armor. Him and Gareth needed some time apart, but Gareth had been reluctant to leave my side as we entered the camp. Bandit bodies now cluttered the area causing me to keep my eyes straightforward as we approached the tent. The scrawny redhead that had entered the tent after Ahnvir left was dead just a few feet away from the entrance. An arrow was lodged into the base of his throat. I stopped before entering the tent. I mentally prepared myself for what I might find behind the fur flap. A bit of fear trickled back into my mind. I glanced back toward Gareth who stared at me wearily. I took a deep breath and slightly moved the flap that served as a door. The tent was dark inside. The campfire that had been burning earlier was now only dim embers that held no aid for me. I cast my candlelight spell and my heart stopped at the sight that lay in front of me. In the corner of the tent was a huddled figure.

I crouched even further to gain entrance, and slowly crawled toward the figure. I was half expecting whoever it was to be startled at my approach, but the stillness of the body was rather eery. That's when I noticed it. A startled gasp escaped from me at the realization of what I was looking at. A dark pool of blood had formed on the fur beneath the unclothed woman who sat huddled in the corner. A bloody dagger sat beside the still form. I rushed forward. I felt Gareth's presence behind me, he too was now inside the tent and starred in the direction of my attention. I shook the woman before me, hoping to get some sign of life. Nothing, her skin was cold to the touch, and her body had already began to stiffen. It was far too late to do anything for the poor woman who had taken her own life. I could see the deep gashes in her wrist. The blood no longer flowed from them exposing the depth. Her hair was a few shades darker than my own, or it could have been the lack of hygienic practices.

I swallowed hard, the tears threatening my eyes once more. We were too late. She had been the person I heard cry out in the tent. The men had no doubt been keeping her as a slave, and when she had gained the opportunity, she ended her suffering. Why she hadn't tried to escape during all the commotion I will never know. I felt Gareth's hand on my shoulder. I turned away from the scene before me. The woman couldn't have been much older than me. Her body was thin as if she had been starved, and her skin was smeared with dirt where she had gone days, weeks who knows, without bathing.

"We will give her a proper burial." I looked toward Gareth who now eyed the horrific scene as he spoke. His face was grim as he glanced back toward me. I couldn't control the swell of emotion within my chest. I collapsed into Gareth's arms. This time he didn't go rigid, or slightly move away. Instead his arms embraced me, and his hand gently caressed my disheveled hair. He was attempting to comfort me, and through all of our travels, if I had ever needed comforting it was in that moment. His kind gesture and low sounds of shushing my sobs only succeeded in making my waves of emotion intensify. The woman who sat before us huddled in the corner had experienced so much pain, that she would have rather died than live through anymore of it. I felt sorrow for her, and I felt a sick realization hit me. That could have been me. I could have been the next body the bandits used to satisfy their indulgences.

I placed a small blue mountain flower on her grave. We buried her away from the bandit encampment in a small little grove that lined the side of the mountain. Gareth was now clad in his armor once more, and Theo walked farther behind us than usual. Whatever they had been arguing about was a mystery to me. They had both lowered their voices as the fighting had taken them farther from my spot I had been in on the ground. I wished I knew what words had crossed their lips, but a part of me felt ashamed at wanting to be so nosy. We all walked in silence for the remainder of our trip, disposing of wolves as we crossed them.

We arrived in Shor's stone about mid morning. The sun slowly climbed in the height of the sky still shy of its highest point. My feet felt heavier than usual, and the pain in my hips was now apparent from the sore feeling I experienced every time I took a step. I hid my discomfort, knowing full well that Gareth would attempt to heal me again. I had disliked the sneaky way he had healed my nose, pretty much not even giving me a choice. I still felt horrible and held such guilt for putting Gareth in the situation he had been in. Gareth was tortured because of my ignorant acceptance of a plan that was shy of being thought through. This was my way of reminding myself of what I had done. It was my form of penance as Gareth often referred to his personal punishments he put himself through when he acted in a way he thought below him. I decided to carry this injury as reminder that I had done Gareth wrong. I couldn't even bring myself to gaze at his hand anymore. The pain I felt was heart wrenching.

We set up camp just outside of Shor's stone. The guards had eyed us wearily at first searching for any sign of ill will. They soon lost interest once Gareth approached the Khajiit merchant that shared a tent with an argonian alchemist. The familiar atmosphere of old friends reuniting filled the area as Gareth spoke to the Khajiit. I could see in the distance how the two smiled and laughed. It was clear that they knew each other. I sat my bag down just inside my tent and pulled out a few linen cloths. I sat on my bedroll and grabbed my waterskin. I wetted the cloth with water and washed my face and hands. After finishing my small effort of cleaning up, I propped myself up on one arm and gazed across the sight that was Shor's stone. It wasn't much of a town. There were a few houses, a blacksmith, a mine, and what appeared to be a bunk house for the workers. A few people sat out around a fire eating and carrying on in laughter. Theo stayed quiet in his tent. I assumed that he had already fallen asleep.

A few new figures appeared in the town center. The robes they wore registered a dark feeling of dread that grew in intensity. I recognized the robes. Templar robes, and one of the robed figures headed straight toward Gareth with a folded piece of parchment. A parchment that no doubt held an illustration of my likeness. A sight that had sent me running from previous places I had tried to call home.

I gripped my bag and held my breath.