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

Chapter 16: Into Darkness

Gareth

The early morning sky illuminated my once darkened window. I snuck back in shortly before dawn approached, getting no sleep the night before. I didn't want to risk losing Mahrig again to this vast land, so I stayed close and observed. Theo was the first to leave their room. I had no interest in following him, so I waited for Mahrig who exited shortly after. I had caught a glimpse of Mahrig the night before when she had peeked her head out of the bathing room, but that had done her no justice compared to the sight I witnessed through my slightly cracked door. I kept absolutely still as I watched Mahrig rummage through her bag at the door of her room. She was no doubt checking to make sure all things were accounted for before leaving the room permanently. I had witnessed her do this on many occasions in our past travels.

Her face was kept from my view by her long blonde locks that tumbled around her in waves. She was dressed in battlemage armor. The light blue robe I had purchased for her was now adorned with a new open front cuirass that hugged her body tightly. She had no doubt had a seamstress refit the once loose robe and trim the length. Knowing she continued to wear the robe I had purchased for her gave me a feeling of pride. She kept something I had given her, she hadn't completely thrown her memories of me away which gave me hope. After she finished with searching her bag she turned to shut the door to her room. Her face came into view as she sighed and placed her hand to her head as if to soothe the headache that she no doubt had.

The night before I had witnessed Mahrig drink heavily. Never in all of our travels had I witnessed her do such a thing. A few times she had even scorned Theo for having a few too many drinks. Overhearing part of her and Theo's conversation had shed some light on recent developments about Mahrig, but I doubted the only reason she took up drinking was because of leaving me. It sounded as if Mahrig had quite a bit on her plate at the moment. She was still running from something and keeping her mind busy so she wouldn't have to think about it.

I thought back to the Templars that had approached me in Shor's Stone two months back. They had mentioned that numerous templars had been trying to locate her whereabouts for about two years. I knew Mahrig for three and a half months, well, a month and a half before she up and disappeared. In the month and a half that we traveled together we found ourselves in many dangerous situations, including dragons. Though through all of it she never ran away. I couldn't quite understand why she would be running from these people, or why they even wanted her. One thing that I was for sure on, was that Mahrig was a good person, and she never gave me a reason to think otherwise. She cared far too much for me for me to turn my back on her.

I wanted so badly to open my cracked door farther so that I could take the sight before me in completely. I wanted to get her attention. I wanted to see the look on her face turn to relief after not seeing me for two months. I wanted to see her smile, but all that I could see from the crack in my door, was a broken woman with dark circles around her eyes that pushed herself forward in life. She didn't look like the Mahrig I was used to, but she was still...beautiful. A beautiful mess that pained me to gaze upon.

My hand gripped the door handle tightly as I watched her prepare to leave. With a long sigh she started toward the stairs. I waited for the footsteps to disappear before leaving my room. I had already prepared my bag and it sat on a small table by the door waiting for me to make my own departure. The muffled sounds from downstairs became clearer as I descended the steps slowly. I waited in the hall hiding myself behind a wall as I peaked around the corner to get a view of the tavern area. Mahrig and Theo were both gone. I wore a dark black fur cloak, with a black hood that would easily conceal my features, but Mahrig would no doubt know who I was if she caught sight of my unique armor.

I followed Mahrig and Theo around Solitude for a while. Mahrig spent a big portion of her time within the Temple of the Divines. She definitely wasn't the zealot Theo had claimed me to be, but she did respect the Nine Divines, not just eight. I was glad to see that her faith had not wavered in her time away from me, but a small bit of anxiety entered my mind. The people who would be looking for her often visited the numerous temples around Skyrim. I had noticed a flux in travelling priests and had even crossed paths with a few Templars that were new to these lands. The two templars that had come dangerously close to finding Mahrig that day in Shor's Stone were probably still scouring Skyrim with a fine tooth comb, but I had yet to cross paths with them since I lost them.

I could understand why Mahrig would be so on edge all of the time, I myself had given into fear at seeing this increase in foreign Holy men and warriors. I had even feared at one point that they would find her before I was able to. I had later reasoned with myself that these Holy men were travelling due to the increase in the Empire's presence in Skyrim. After the Great War ended, and the White-Gold Concordat was signed, Talos worship was outlawed. The Aldmeri Dominion negotiated these terms with the Surrender of the Imperial City, which left most of the people of Skyrim in outrage. The Nine Divines became only eight, but most Nords would not have it. Still though, many Imperials and other provinces that were affected by this continued to worship Talos in secret. Removing him from the temples was simply a formality and a cosmetic touch to appease the Thalmor. Ulfric's Stormcloak rebellion rose in Skyrim, and many nords became weary at the presence of foreigners in their lands. Even the men and women who were born in Skyrim, but weren't Nords were ostracized causing a tense relationship between Skyrim and Cyrodiil. Many claimed that Ulfric's rebellion was a desperate attempt to grasp power and become the High King of Skyrim, but many believed that he was doing this for Talos.

Mahrig talked to a few people and visited a few shops after they opened. I stayed out of sight, but made sure I was able to spot them easily if they started to move. That's when I noticed him. Another man skulking around in the shadows like me, watching Mahrig's every move. I would have thought I was looking at a reflection if I hadn't known otherwise. He wore similar armor to mine, the crest of the Paladin was boldly engraved into the Chestplate. He however, did not hide underneath a cloak as I did. In his right hand was a piece of parchment, and he was no doubt making a comparison. I had been right to be weary. It had been years since I crossed paths with another Paladin in my travels, and this couldn't be a coincidence. The Authorities of Kvatch took the seriousness of Mahrig's capture in strides if they were recruiting the Knights of the Nine. I stood frozen watching the man's expression as a small smile formed at the corner of his lips. I needed to do something, and I needed to do it quickly, but I risked losing Mahrig in the market rabble. I stepped away from the wall I had been leaning against and made my way toward the Paladin that had obviously made the connection.

"Strange seeing a fellow Brother in these lands." I cleared my throat awkwardly before speaking as I approached. The man's features came into view as he turned his attention on me. At first his features registered irritation, but that soon faded as he noticed the matching Paladin emblem that sat mirrored on my own armor. The man's auburn hair was littered with streaks of grey, but his strong jawline and alert eyes showed no other signs of the age he carried. He was no doubt a middle aged man, but by the way he straightened at my approach I could tell he still had many years left wearing his armor.

"Strange? I've seen quite a few recently." I cocked my brow in curiosity hoping that he would indulge his meaning. He however did not.

"I'm brother Gareth, and you are?" I extended my hand toward him, hoping to catch a glimpse of the parchment in his grasp. No such luck would beseech me as he folded the parchment and placed it in a pocket on his belt.

"I'm brother Krahmer." He extended his hand. We shook then stepped back placing our right hand over our hearts and bowed to each other. It was a custom shared between meeting Paladins, Clerics, Seers, Battle Priests and other various classes of the Knights of the Nine. The Paladin Hammer on his armor suggested that he shared a class with me.

We both straightened from our formalities and I took the opportunity to extract an answer to my questions.

"What brings another Paladin to Skyrim?" Krahmer licked his dry lips and answered.

"The scenery and dragons." His answer was plain, but it wasn't that much of a surprise considering I had clearly interrupted his earlier sightseeing.

"Is that it?" I asked. He snorted at my question.

"Does there have to be any other reason?" He retorted.

"No, I just rarely see any brothers or sisters of the order in Skyrim." Krahmer took a quick glance in Mahrig's direction and so did I. Mahrig was slowly making her way to the outside of the crowded market with Theo in tow. She was getting ready to leave. Krahmer turned his attention back to me after undoubtedly coming to the same conclusion.

"I hate to chat and run, but I have places to be." I couldn't think of any other way to stop him, so I stepped in his line of sight blocking his view of Mahrig.

"Oh come now, it's been three years since I've been in the company of a brother Paladin. I've been in Skyrim this whole time, please humor me on this." Krahmer didn't seem bothered by my actions. Instead he smiled.

"So, You've been in Skyrim for three years?" I nodded at his sudden question, curiosity now filled the older gentleman's features.

"Have you met the Dragonborn yet? I only ask because it would seem you are running some sort of interference." His question was straightforward, which caught me off guard.

Mahrig

A small part of me wished that I had stayed in bed a bit longer, but Theo's close bond with nature meant he was up with the Rooster's crow and had no reservations when it came to being loud while other people tried to sleep. This often meant I was up before the sun was even in view above the Eastern horizon. Theo and I had finally gathered enough information on the supposed dragon that could be spotted periodically flying high over the peak of the mountain above solitude. Taking the roads would be a much longer trip, and I had hoped that someone would know of a, not necessarily easier, but faster route to the top of the mountain. I soon found out that I would have to take the roads, unless I could sprout wings like a dragon instead of just being able to shout like them.

The road Theo and I took lead us up to the Thalmor Embassy of Skyrim. A heavily guarded place for Thalmor Ambassador's and visitors from the Summerset Isles. After explaining our reasoning to a nearby guard, they confirmed the dragon sighting and directed us to a path that would lead us up the mountain. The trip to the top only took about two hours. The day was quickly slipping away, the sun now basked the Western skies with vast colors of red and orange as it slipped slowly toward the Western mountains. The trip through Solitude, gaining information and shopping for supplies, had taken up most of the morning. The trip to the Embassy had set us well into the afternoon hours, and the two hours it took to reach the top of the mountain was headway into dinner time, which Theo and I would have to postpone.

"There he is." Theo whispered, pointing toward the large Bronze scaled beast that occupied the peak. Its large wings were folded around its body, and it almost seemed to be in a slumber. Its breathing was steady, and its eyes were closed. I motioned for Theo to retreat farther behind a cluttered formation of rocks so that we could devise a plan of action. His eyes were on me, waiting for my orders.

"I say we take care of it quickly. I don't want to fight a dragon after dark. You remember how difficult it was to fight the dragon at Dawnstar?" Theo shook his head as I spoke. I remembered the crowd of guards that had rushed forward with their torches, only to become easy targets for the beast that lingered in the dark cloud shrouded sky. The sky was moderately clear in this area, but I still liked having the advantage of a clear view of my surroundings.

"We could always wait until morning, we have no idea how long this battle could drag out. He doesn't look like he's going anywhere, and so far he hasn't attacked Solitude or the Embassy yet." Theo exclaimed.

"How do you know its a he?" I asked curiously in a low voice.

"Isn't it obvious? Look at those muscles." Theo jokingly replied.

I slightly rolled my eyes and thought about his proposal. It wouldn't be wise to spend the night so close to the beast. We would have to travel back down the mountain to gain a reasonable distance in order to build a fire. Being up north made having a fire crucial for survival when spending the night in the cold. I didn't want a fire to alert the dragon of our presence, so Theo's idea was a no go. We would have to work quickly to bring the dragon down before nightfall.

"We can't build a fire too close, and I don't feel like trekking back down the mountain. If at all possible this needs to happen now, and we need to move in quickly." Theo sighed at my resignation of his plan.

"Alright, but we atleast need to get a feel of this landscape. The terrain is too rocky for a full on attack, but we can use it to our advantage with a surprise attack, and we might even be able to stay hidden and wear him down if we time our attacks right." I nodded slowly.

"That's a good plan, and the rocks will keep us from being out in the open, so even if we are spotted, we'll have cover." Theo smiled as I spoke.

"Exactly my flower.!" He beamed his infectious grin toward me, causing the muscles in my own face to react in a similar way.

Our plan to end the battle before dark failed miserably I realized as the two moons lit the night sky. The dark silhouette of the dragon hung in the sky in front of my view of the beautiful moons. He was approaching once more, and my magicka reserves were dangerously low considering the amount I had used to heal Theo on numerous occasions. Theo was wounded once again, the left side of his face was badly burned, and his cloth shirt that slightly showed from underneath his leather armor was smoldering. I myself was suffering from a sharp pain that ebbed through my right arm. I had been caught off guard by the dragon's low descent as it swooped into striking range with its tail. I had been expecting another torrent of flames to strike me and had erected my ward. The ward did not protect me from the physical contact as the dragon's tail collided with me, sending me sideways into a large boulder.

I was simply lucky that the impact hadn't crushed me, the force from the beast had been great and my breathing was still painful as I calmed myself. Our terrain had been terrific for hiding, but after the dragon discovered our location, we found it difficult to maneuver around the uneven landscape. Every step had to be taken with caution. Our battle zone was now dangerously close to the side of the mountain. The cliff hung above Solitude, and the lights from the blue palace were barely visible in the distance below. My heart had taken on an irregular rhythm that felt increasingly painful with each beat. The hard thrum in my chest, and heartbeat in my ears accented the horror that registered at the sight before me.

The dragon was coming in for another attack and I was defenseless. My sword was long lost to my view as its whereabouts lay hidden among the many rock formations. Though my body was absolutely still as my breathing halted, a word flooded my vision. A word I had obtained within Skyrim's very own Labyrinthian.

"Tiid" Time, though intangible, seemed to wrap around me in tendrils, slowing as the shout escaped my being. I however, was completely unaffected by the change and so I had plenty of time to summon the last vestiges of my magicka, aiding the regain by using my health in exchange for magicka with my knowledge of Equilibrium. The beast, mere feet away with gaping jaws lined with dagger sharp teeth, was in mid swoop of taking my life. I watched painfully slow as his jaws opened wider. I moved my body out of his path, and sent a wave of fireballs toward his gaping maw while continuing to use my pained right arm to siphon my health in exchange for Magicka. Time was beginning to speed up as the effects of my shout faded. I felt dangerously weak, nearly sacrificing too much of my health in exchange for the magicka it took to cast my entourage of fireballs.

`Time snapped back into a normal perspective. The heat from the fire gorged dragon passed me quickly and sent tremors through the mountainside as the gigantic beast collided with the ground behind me. The roars that escaped from the dragon were muffled by the flames that engulfed its body. The tremors from the dragon's impact only grew. I seen the ground beneath me start to crumble as a section of the mountain threatened instability. I quickly tried to distance myself from the section, but tripped due to my lack of sight in the darkness. I blindly fumbled for anything that would assist me in gaining my footing, but my body was weak, and my fingers were slowly becoming numb. I had not anticipated that my attacks would cause the dragon to crash land on the edge of the mountain, and so I held no reservations while using Equilibrium. I had no clue that I would have needed to run for my life, but there wasn't a shout or spell that I knew that could go back in time. I could hear the landslide begin behind me as the dragon tumbled and stones of the mountain collapsed toward the darkened forest below. The ground gave below me, and all that I could feel was my body being pulled toward the downfall of dirt and stone. My scream echoed through the valley below as I fell into darkness.

Gareth

Krahmer and I made camp at the foot of the mountain near the Thalmor Embassy. We were a few hours behind Mahrig and Theo, but we were informed by some of the guards that a woman and man had already set out for the peak of the mountain. I wanted to follow them, but there was only one trail up the huge mountain, and neither me nor Krahmer wanted to gain their attention at the moment. Krahmer knew of Mahrig, but wasn't in Skyrim to harm or take her back to Cyrodiil. After a rough start to a heated conversation, we both discovered that our need to protect Mahrig was something we had in common.

I thought back to our earlier conversation.

"Yes, I know of her. Why do you ask?"Krahmer eyed me suspiciously and observed my aura, looking for any signs of dishonesty. He blinked a few times before crossing his arms and spoke.

"I figured as much, I noticed the urgency in your aura. My perception of those type of things comes from years of service to the Divines. No doubt the news will reach you soon enough, especially if you frequent populated areas. Our order is at a standstill with the Kvatch officials. The Elder council in Kvatch has put out a bounty of sorts on the dragonborn. Normally the Knights of the Nine would abide by the decisions the Elder council in Kvatch has made, but this was different."Krahmer motioned for me to walk with him in the direction Mahrig headed. We stayed behind keeping a slow pace while he continued.

"The Senior council of our order met with the Elder council in Kvatch. It would seem there were some unanswered questions. The Elder council was unwilling to provide an explanation for retrieving the dragonborn. The Elder council attempted to Usurp our own Senior council and in the process we unveiled corruption within Kvatch and some questionable motives. Needless to say, our order will have nothing to do with the movement to capture the dragonborn made by the Elder Council." Krahmer glanced toward me as we continued to walk.

The meaning of his words caused a flood of relief to fill my rigid features. I had relaxed at the mention of the Knights of the Nine denying the Elder council support in the retrieval of the dragonborn. This, however, brought another question to mind.

"Well, if that's the case, then why are you here?" Krahmer glanced back toward me. His features hardened a bit before he answered.

"I have more personal reasons for being here." He fixed his attention toward the crowd that continued to grow in size on the streets of Solitude.

He took the folded parchment from his belt and handed it to me. I assumed to already know what was on the parchment, but I unfolded it anyways. At first I thought that it was Mahrig that stared back at me, but something was different.

"This does look like Mahrig, but then again it doesn't. This picture makes her look older, and the hair is too straight." I kept staring at the perfectly sketched woman on the parchment. Every detail was well defined and the artist was clearly a perfectionist.

"Mahrig you say? Is that what she's decided to call herself?" I looked up toward Krahmer, pulling my attention back away from the parchment. I had let Mahrig's name slip, unveiling that I had a more personal relationship with the dragonborn than I had admitted before.

"Uh, yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to withhold my knowledge of knowing her, I just needed to be sure your intentions before imparting with much." I paused for a moment, registering his earlier statement while concocting my own reply.

"Are you saying she used to go by something else? In that case you probably know her right?" Krahmer nodded slowly as he reached out for the parchment in my hand.

"The woman depicted on the parchment isn't the dragonborn, Mahrig. It's her mother. If you'll tell me about your knowledge of Mahrig, I'll tell you what I know."

Krahmer's words caused me to halt in my footsteps as he walked over to a group of people and began chatting with them. I had seen Mahrig talking to them earlier and we had approached after she had long departed. Krahmer was no doubt gathering information on her plans, but I already knew where she would be going. To the mountain peak above Solitude. Upon finishing the interrogation, Krahmer came back to me. I watched as Mahrig and Theo left through the gates of Solitude.

"If you would like to accompany me, I know where they are headed. It's best we give them a good head start. I'm going to stock up on some supplies before we leave."

Krahmer had taken a while gathering supplies as I waited by the gates for him anxiously. If he was going to follow Mahrig around then I was going to go with him. I didn't completely trust the man, but he was a Paladin such as myself, and all that I could gain from his aura was a sense of sincerity. He was an honest man, whether he hid motives or not, and I didn't get the uneasy feeling around him that I had gotten from the many Templars that now scoured the land of Skyrim.

During our journey toward the Embassy I had imparted on a few of my own experiences in Skyrim, some including Mahrig. He was interested to hear of her feats, and was already aware of her position at the College of Winterhold.

Most of our journey up the mountain had consisted of tales of my own travels with Mahrig. I told him things that wouldn't necessarily put her in danger if he did in fact have an ulterior motive. We both sat quietly staring at the flames that heated the bottom of the pot that hung above the fire. I wanted to ask him how he knew Mahrig, but I knew that it could come off a bit nosy. I wanted him to part with the information willingly as I had my own.

Krahmer poured a cup of tea and handed it to me. The Lavender scent wafted from the cup, causing my body to relax aided by the heat from the fire. Krahmer slowly sipped his tea as he gazed down at the parchment with the depiction of Mahrig's supposed mother. Mahrig had always told me that she didn't know her family, or ever have one. In fact she had led me to believe that she had been a drifter of sorts in Cyrodiil. She hadn't given me a timeline, but I had assumed she meant all of her life.

"Who was she?" Krahmer glanced up toward me as I pointed toward the parchment he held. He slightly chuckled before setting down his own tea to fold the parchment.

"An old friend." He closed his bluish green hazel eyes and took in a deep breath.

"I knew Adria a long time ago. She was a well known Scholar from High Rock. Most of her work was Archived and used as reference to most novelists and other numerous Scholar's that visited the Imperial city. She prefered anonymity when it came to her work due to her shy nature. Her understanding of the world was truly immense and outlandish, but it all made sense. We met in Kvatch where my initiation was to take place the next week." Krahmer brought his cup of tea to his lips and sighed.

"We became very close before, and even after my initiation, much like you and Mahrig were before your separation." He glanced up toward me before continuing. His focus was completely on me now.

"I followed her everywhere, until I realized that my feelings were becoming unorthodox toward her. I left for a long time until Akotosh guided me back to her. I knew my feelings were unacceptable because of my vows, I was too tempted to be around her. I'm not afraid to admit that now, but now she's gone, and I regret the time I spent away from her, because she was so abruptly taken from this world."

Krahmer's eyes dropped back to the flames. His grip on his cup tightened as white washed across his knuckles.

"The people of Kvatch are not what they seem. It's more like a cult if you ask me." Krahmer's expression turned dark as he spoke. My eyes widened a bit at his sudden change in demeanor.

"Our order should have never turned the place over to the Elder Holy men, but our order had no idea what to do with what had been discovered in Kvatch after the reconstruction." My brows creased at his words. The meaning was unclear and I became confused.

"What do you mean?" Krahmer sighed and replied to my confusion.

"I know Mahrig was secretive with you about her past life, but she had reason to be. It's been a few generations since the discovery ceased circulation within our order. The Elder Council in Kvatch seen no reason to let such sensitive information flow too freely. The Knights of the Nine were kept in the dark about it, but certain members of our Senior Council remembered the rumors dating back to the beginning of the fourth era. It was passed down through generations of Knights of the Nine but is barely heard of today. I had no idea about any of it, until Adria was summoned back to Kvatch." I listened intently as Krahmer spoke. His dark demeanor vanished as he furthered his statement, but a bit of sadness entered his tone at the mention of Adria.

"Adria and I were in Morrowind when we received the summons back to Kvatch." Krahmer unsheathed his sword. He slid the blade under the handle of the pot, and slid the boiling stew to the side of the flame. When he was done he sheathed his sword and continued.

"Our journey led us there to help with ongoing restoration efforts. Many generations of dark elves and other residence that inhibited Vvardenfell were killed during the Eruption of Red Mountain and many were able to flee the Vvardenfell Province of Morrowind, to the mainlands of Morrowind. Still, all that lived on the coast were forced to evacuate, and only now in this time and era are some returning. The Red mountain still to this day spews ash and cinders from its 200 year old Eruption. Adria and I were both trying to help the many refugees spread across tamriel have a place to return to. There wasn't much we were able to do, but help rebuild the many civilizations that were covered in Ash and ran down from Neglect. It was a harsh environment, but still people wanted to stay because they felt unwelcome in foreign lands. Morrowind was their home." Krahmer pulled two wooden bowls from his bag and dropped a ladle inside of the soup.

"When Adria and I returned to Kvatch, I learned the reason she had been in Kvatch when we had met. She didn't even try to hide her excitement or reasoning for being back, and even let the templars know that I was her supposed "associate" helping to gain my entry." He paused and glanced in my direction handing me a filled bowl. I took the steaming soup without hesitation letting it rest in my lap with the help of my hands.

"Tell me Gareth, what does your generation of Knights know about Kvatch?" I searched my memory of my own experience there. It had seemed like a quiet place. Not too many people had trafficked the streets, and most areas were barricaded by templars. Kvatch contained no residential district for Civilians considering the Empire had deserted the place after the Oblivion Crisis. Kvatch had served as a settlement for Holy men, and travelling scholars for as long as I could remember, but had originally been a settlement erected and reconstructed by my order the Knights of the Nine who later turned it over to the Elder Council and their many branches of officials. The main temple became a place where travelers could come to ease their weary hearts and find Serenity within dark times, strengthening their ties to the divines, or even discovering the divines. It was a place of pilgrimage with a past of light overcoming darkness. It was a Holy place, so I had been taught.

"From my experience and what I've been taught, it could be considered Holy land." Krahmer nodded as I spoke.

"It was for my generation also, until I discovered what went on in the caverns underneath Kvatch."

Krahmer paused to take a bite of his own soup. He blew the steamy substance that danced around his spoon. I was anxious to learn the meaning of his words, so anxious that my body began to shake. I looked down at my bowl of soup that was now beginning to force ripples to the center. The ground beneath us was emitting a low rumble, and a distant scream echoed through the valley. A woman's scream.