Dragonborn 9
"Dammit woman! I said 'leave me be'!"
"Crescius, it is too dangerous down in the mine. I'm not spending the rest of my days as a widow!"
"Then what would you have me do? Stay here while my great-grandfather died and the East Empire Company goes unpunished?"
"Dammit Crescius, you're a crazy old fool and you're going to get yourself killed!"
The arguing voices became louder as Tarrion and Serana entered the abandoned ebony mine of Raven Rock. They had prepared themselves for anything down here and they had also both taken a pickaxe just in case.
"An arguing couple," Tarrion remarked as they saw light just around the corner.
"Ha… sounds like us," Serana joked.
"What? We don't argue like this," but Serana gave him a look that said enough. "Alright… but ours our more civilised."
"Yea, except, unlike you, I remember what happened during the Blood Moon."
"That one doesn't count."
When they stopped arguing about arguments and walked around the corner they saw the couple whose voices filled the mine. An old, Nord man, with barely any hair left on his head, except for a very short beard, stood in front of a Dunmer woman with raven-black hair and a soft grey skin. When they heard the two approaching they stopped yelling at each other and looked confused at the two.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the man asked, but the woman stopped him.
'Crescius, these are the two that saved us from that Dark Spell. Remember?"
"Oh, yes," Crescius said as he recognized them. "I see. But what is it that you want here?"
"We heard there was trouble in the mine," Tarrion answered. "We came to investigate."
"See!" the old man blurted out and he turned to his wife. "They know it too! I told you there was something going on here!" and he turned to Tarrion. "The East Empire Company shut this mine down many years ago on account of it 'running dry'. But I know better. I have found a journal from my great-grandfather, Cratian Caerellius, in which he states that there was something else going on in the mine. He believed that the mine was linked to an old Nordic Tomb. Right before the East Empire Company shut the mine down they sent my great-grandfather down into the mine to investigate. He and his party never returned. The East Empire Company dismissed it as an accident, but I know better. He was killed to cover up what is really down there."
They both had listened to the story and both thought the same thing. 'There is something wrong with his head.' But they had promised Adril to investigate the ebony mine and so they put their own feelings aside.
"That… is an interesting story," Serana said hesitantly.
"You don't believe me do you?" Crescius said unsurprised. "Honestly… I don't care what you thing, but I know I am right. And now my wife nags that I am too old to go traipsing around in the mine to find proof…. And while she may have a point, I cannot sit still and leave the East Empire Company go unpunished!"
The look the Dunmer woman gave Serana said all she needed to know; 'This is what I have been dealing with.'
"Then what about this;" Tarrion said. "We go down into the mine to investigate and we'll let you know if we find anything. It seems Adril also wants the ebony in the mine flowing again, and we offered to help."
Crescius stroked his beard while he thought about it, but his wife jumped at the idea. "That is a good idea, Crescius! Last time you went in there you nearly fell to your death, and these two seem more capable. We accept."
Crescius showed Tarrion the entrance to the mine and explained a bit more about why the East Empire Company shut it down. Serana comforted Crescius' wife Aphia and told her that her husband would be safe.
"Ugh, you don't know what it has been like," she sighed to Serana. "I mean… I fell in love with him after he had an accident in the mine and I nursed him back to health. And I thought that mining was a relatively safe profession for him… but ever since he found that journal of his great grandfather he had been obsessed with it. And he has gotten older and is not the same young man he once was."
"His age is a problem for you?"
"Hmm? What! No! Not like that! I mean that he can't think that he can still climb down that mine like he used to. I loved him when I married him fifty years ago, and I still love him. But I don't want to lose him yet. I want him around for as long as possible, despite that I am a Dunmer."
"I know," Serana calmed her. "That is what I meant. Dunmer live longer lives than humans, right?"
"All Elves live much longer lives than humans," and she looked at Crescius. "I know that he will die in a few years. He is eighty years old… and I doubt he will live to see one hundred. But I will live much longer than him. I know I will probably live another two hundred years, three hundred is more likely."
"So, you're still fairly young compared to him."
She nodded. "I am probably around your age," and she smirked slightly. "I know it must sound odd, or even wrong, for humans… but I love Crescius and I want him around for as long as I can."
She looked at Tarrion and back to Serana. "It must be difficult to understand for you…. You'll grow up next to him and age with him. I will continue after my husband dies… and between you and me, I am afraid of it."
And although Serana did not show it, her heart became colder and she felt a deep pain come over her… because she knew that what Aphia said about her and Tarrion was not true.
A few minutes later the two descended down into the mine while Crescius and his wife went dback home. Tarrion held a torch in his hand and lit the way while Serana walked quietly behind him. Before long they reached the area that was shut off by the East Empire Company and an iron gate blocked the way, but Crescius had given them a key and the old door opened without effort.
"Serana… are you alright?"
She woke up from a trance-like state and looked at Tarrion with a dazed look.
"Hmm? What? Oh… yes, I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yes," she nodded. "Don't worry about me. Let's just focus on the task at hand."
Tarrion knew there was something bothering her, but he knew he would not get anything out of her here. It was not the time or the place for it and he simply nodded and placed his hand on her shoulder before continuing.
They quickly saw that old Crescius was right and the mineshafts changed into hallways of an old Nordic tomb and both drew their weapons. They knew that these places were never empty and before long they were indeed ambushed by a small horde of Draugr.
"You know," Serana smirked after the last Draugr fell down. "for once I'd like you to take me someplace romantic."
"Like where?" he asked.
"Well… we have explored Falkreath more than enough, so maybe we can go see the hot springs in Eastmarch. The volcanic tundra there makes for an empty and open landscape but the springs there I would not mind visiting. But you have to make up a location for yourself… don't wait for me to suggest it."
"I will think about it," he said with a smile and he winked at her.
It were moments like these that they both loved. While they were traversing an old tomb, beset on all sides by Draugr and all manner of undead, they still found the time to have a light-hearted moment. A short moment of joy to remind themselves and each other that all would be well.
The deeper they went into the tomb the colder it became and they reached a large cavern. A small stream flowed through the bottom of the cavern and disappeared in the far wall. They climbed down but Serana could already see that they had reached what they were looking for. Her Vampiric vision pierced the shadows and she saw two skeletons lying next to each other. They were clearly mines as pickaxes lay next to them and a small, decaying satchel lay against a small pillar. She could also see a strange sword, and a slight, red glow seemed to come from the blade. A few metres in front of the skeletons she saw a large door that had no handles or any discernible way to open it.
"I think we have found the great-grandfather," she said as Tarrion reached the bottom of the cavern.
As Tarrion searched the satchel Serana looked at the sword. It was a large, two-handed sword that would be too big for even Tarrion to properly wield. It was incredibly heavy and she saw that the blade was indeed glowing.
"Ah," Tarrion said and he pulled a journal from the satchel. "A journal."
As he read it Serana still studied the blade and she looked at the door. The door was unlike any other she had seen before. A large arc was made above it that seemed to be cracked in a few places. The door itself was completely covered in imagery and runes, but she could not read them. The door seemed to be able to open by splitting in two, but there were no handles anywhere to be found.
"Hmm," Tarrion grumbled. "It seems Gratian came here with an assistant to investigate the mine. They found out that the miners had broken into this tomb and Gratian was hired to investigate what was down here. Damn fools. Unless you know what you're doing, you should not enter a tomb like this without coming in force. The two of them didn't stand a chance. But here he describes something as the 'Bloodskaal Blade'," and he looked at Serana.
"I guess that is this sword," she remarked and Tarrion nodded.
"Agreed. He also describes that when swinging it 'a ribbon of mystical energy emanates from it'. He writes how he took the blade from a pedestal and they were attacked by Draugr. His assistant was cut down and he was wounded. His wounds refused to heal and he knew he was going to die."
"A slow and lonely death," Serana said and she looked at the two skeletons. "But this blade seems important, right."
"I guess so," and he saw how Serana struggled to lift the blade. "Is it heavy?"
"Yes," and she clenched her teeth trying to properly hold it. "For some reason it is extremely heavy."
Tarrion tried the same and he was indeed surprised by how heavy the blade was. He had used battle-axes that should be heavier, but this blade was almost impossible to swing. If it wasn't for his lycanthropy he wouldn't have been able to lift it at all.
"What….. what is wrong with this thing?" he panted after he was able to lift it to his shoulders.
"It is definitely magic," Serana suggested and Tarrion agreed. "I guess we need this to open this door."
"Right…. his journal says that by swinging it, it produces magical energy… so let's try to swing it toward the door."
With extreme effort Tarrion held the blade above his head and when he swung it downward, he indeed saw that the journal was correct. A red wave of energy seemed to cleave the air itself and upon impact the door cracked.
"That seems to work…. Try again."
With more effort than he would admit Tarrion was able to swing the blade another three times before the door finally fully opened and a large hallway had appeared behind it.
"Maybe we should bring the blade along," Serana suggested. "It is definitely important and we might need it again."
And so Tarrion was forced to lug the weapon with them. He refused to carry it for fear of breaking his back and dragged it behind him and sound of cold steel on stone echoed through the tomb.
"Are you sure you don't want to carry it?" Tarrion asked her, but Serana smiled at him "No thanks…. I have to carry the weight of the knowledge that I am doing this to you…. It is a lot heavier."
"Then we'll switch, and I'll carry those feelings."
"I.. really can't do that to you… sorry, honey."
"Thanks… dear," and his voice dripped with sarcasm, but Serana continued to smile.
After a short while, although Tarrion could have sworn it took at least an hour, they arrived at a massive hall. It reminded them of Vahlok's chamber, and a large basin of water, but much deeper this time, occupied the majority of the hall. On the far end they could see another Word Wall, and Tarrion could faintly hear the Word calling to him.
"Tarrion!"
Serana shouted at him and she pointed at the blade, which had started to glow brighter and brighter and now seemed to shine by itself. A bright red glow emanated from the blade and Tarrion could feel the handle shake in his hands.
HA HA HA HA
A deep rumble echoed through the hall and an evil laugh was heard. With a burst the water in the basin exploded and from the surface and unusually large Dragon Priest arose.
He seemed to be almost twice as large as any other Dragon Priest Tarrion had ever faced. His grey mask was made from an unknown material yet it seemed to be crackling with energy and it seemed to glow. His robes seemed to be made from the same material and also seemed to glow with energy.
He turned to the two intruders and he immediately reached out to them. immediately the blade came to life and flew with tremendous speed to the Priest. As soon as it reached its hand the blade itself shone with a bright red light and the Priest laughed again.
Without any effort Zahkriisos, for both Tarrion and Serana knew this was his name, swung the blade and a powerful, magical wave of red energy blasted to them. They ducked behind a pillar where the magical wave broke and the pillar shook and cracked.
For the first time both Tarrion and Serana found themselves cornered by a single foe. With roaring laughs the Priest swung his blade and each time a thundering wave of magical energy crossed the room. The pillar behind which they took shelter had already broken to a pile of rubble, and so did the next two pillars.
"I can't get a clear shot!" Tarrion shouted under the roaring of the waves, and he tried to quickly see where his opponent was standing. As soon as he did a new wave crashed into the pillar and nearly struck him over his face. "We need a distraction!"
Serana had stayed silent, but suddenly she had an idea.
"Be ready!" she shouted at him and with a sudden move she disappeared into the shadows.
Tarrion, and not even the Dragon Priest, was able to detect her and not a second later she stepped from the shadows on the other end of the room. She fired a barrage of Ice Spears at him and shouted.
"NOW!"
WULD NAH KEST
Tarrion stepped from behind the pillar and Shouted. With lightning speed he crashed into the priest and brought him off his balance. The Priest let out a gurgling shout and swung his sword at Tarrion, which nearly lopped his head off. Serana jumped and drove her dagger through the armoured plates of the Priest's robe.
With a flash the priest teleported and shouted at them, but this time Tarrion was ready.
SUN GRA DUN
The magical sword flew out of the Priest's hand and he roared in anger. But with a single move the blade flew back to its master and a new barrage of magical waves was send toward the two intruders. But then Serana had an epiphany.
"Disarm him again! I have an idea!"
She disappeared into the shadows again while Tarrion waited for a clear shot.
Serana jumped from the shadows and fired an ice spell at the priest…. The priest turned around…. Tarrion Shouted…. The blade flew from its master's hands and fell to the ground…. Zahkriisos roared and stretched out his hand…. The blade flew back…. Serana fired a powerful Ice-Spear, but not at the Priest, but at the blade. It shattered against the hilt… the blade flew off balance… spun around and rammed itself into its master's chest.
With another gurgling cry the Priest froze and collapsed and turned to ash.
Serana walked toward Tarrion as she looked at the smouldering pile of ashes that was left of Zahkriisos. Her hair had fallen over her eyes, but she was unharmed. Tarrion had a few scratches on his face and his body hurt from diving behind the pillars to take cover.
"Damn," Serana said and dusted herself off. "He was tough…. Were the ones in Skyrim as tough as him?"
"Pretty much, yes," he panted and he rubbed his shoulder. "And I had to finish them on my own."
"And you still struggled with this one while there's two of us?" and she teased him with a grin. "You're getting out of shape."
He gave her a soft smile. "I'm also more careful than I was before."
Serana's grin disappeared, only to reappear with a blush when she realized why he was more careful.
The Word Wall held another Word of Power and Tarrion felt the energy flow through him when he understood it.
QAH
Together they found a secondary shaft that lead upward and outward. As they reached the surface again they breathed in the salty air and the sun had just reached its highest point. The weather was clear and Serana could almost see the fringes of Skyrim in the distance, but the sun blinded her vision too much to make it out. Together they climbed down the Cliffside and returned to Raven Rock.
There Adril waited for them and he was delighted to see them return. They informed him of what happened down there and he went pale when he heard of the Dragon Priest.
"By Azura… and you lived to managed to tell about it? I've heard stories and legends about these priests, but I never imagined them to be real."
"They are very real," Tarrion answered. "and very dangerous. In fact, I think there are two more on the island."
"Two more?!" and Adril went pale, or as pale as a Dunmer could be. "You think one of them might be in that barrow where our people are digging?"
"I think there is."
"WAT!? Then we need to get our people out of there!" and Adril took a few steps back, but then stopped. "You knew this? Then why…"
"Because I need those priests dead," Tarrion tried to explain. "They are linked to Miraak… and if I can kill these priests, I can weaken Miraak's hold over Solstheim. These Priests have a way of digging their own way out, but if we can take them out before they become too powerful… we can end them quicker and safer."
They walked from the town to the barrow and by the time they reached it Adril was only slighty more convinced, but still hated the plan.
"I'm risking the lives of our own people here… if this goes sideways."
"It won't," Tarrion tried to calm him. "If anything happens, I will deal with it immediately, and your people will not have to deal with the priest. We will do that ourselves."
As Adril turned around Serana looked at him with one eyebrow raised. An expression he had seen before.
"We will?"
Over the next three days the miners were able to dig deeper and deeper into the Barrow. During this time, Ralys started to act stranger and stranger. At first he was eager to dig deeper into the barrow, but as they progressed he became more and more exited to the point where it became scary. A few times Tarrion could hear him softly mutter to himself, as if he was talking to someone.
"Not long now… no, no. We're getting closer… deeper yes, but not deep enough…. Not long now."
When he would ask him about it Ralys would immediately snap out of whatever trance he was in and deny it all or just excuse it as 'thinking aloud'. When Tarrion confided in Serana they both agreed to keep an eye on him for now.
They found a number of strange relics and magical artefacts. Ralys explained that they were the 'Relics of Ahzidal' and Tarrion read a book that Ralys had brought; 'Ahzidal's Descent'.
It spoke of Ahzidal and his life. How he was a powerful mage who lived in ancient Saarthal, but wanted to learn beyond what his teachers could teach. How he learned from the Altmer and even rumoured to have learned from the Dwemer. How his thirst for knowledge was unquenchable. But then the Snow Elves sacked Saarthal and killed his family. It was then that he took the name Ahzidal… Embittered Destroyer… and how he vowed to exact his revenge on the Snow Elves.
It was clear that this Ahzidal was powerful and Tarrion could fill in the blanks that the book left after the Snow Elves were destroyed by the Nords. He could guess that Hermaeus Mora tricked Ahzidal… or maybe Miraak did it on his behalf… promising power and knowledge to wipe the Snow Elves away.
When he read the last of the story, he looked at Serana. She lay on a small bed in their tent and she was asleep. He sat on the chair beside the bed and saw how she lay there peacefully. He could not blame Ahzidal's thirst for revenge and he wondered what he would do if anyone would hurt Serana. Would he do down the same path? He closed the book and decided he did not want to know.
After days of digging they finally reached the bottom of the barrow. A few Draugr had awakened during their excavation, but only minor injuries were sustained, as Adril had insisted on sending the Redoran Guard to guard the miners at all times. When they found a large door that did not look like a normal door, the miners were evacuated and Tarrion and Serana went in. Without the sounding of pickaxes and the digging of spades in the barrow, it seemed dead and empty now. The relics they had found were brought safely to Raven Rock and the two walked deeper into the bowels of the earth.
"What kind of Priest do you think we'll face?" Serana asked him as she looked at the statues that loomed over her.
"Hopefully one that surrenders quickly," Tarrion said sarcastically. "But I doubt it. We'll have to prepare for anything. He is a servant of MIraak, just like Zahkriisos, so he will be powerful."
"Well…. At least this time we know what we're up against."
After a while they reached the large door. They saw that it was weathered and old, but the mechanism still seemed to work. When Tarrion pulled a lever, they could hear the clanking of gears and the large, stone slabs were lifted up.
Behind them they saw a large hall. It was perfectly round with dozens of sarcophagi placed against the walls or in alcoves. At the far end they saw another smaller door that would no doubt lead to a secondary shaft to a different exit. On the ground they saw a massive stone slab, that was perfectly round and a great number of runes were engraved on it. It seemed to be made of a different type of stone, and it almost seemed like marble. Tarrion looked at the runes while Serana studied the sarcophagi.
"Hmmm…. None of these seem to be of any significance," Serana mumbled. "They are all normal. None of them would hold a… TARRION WATCH OUT!"
As he looked up he felt a sharp pain shooting through his shoulder as a pickaxe was rammed through it.
AAAAAAAAHHH
"A sacrifice… yes, yes. A sacrifice for the master. A blood sacrifice… nothing less… you will do.. yes, very nicely… the master will be pleased, yes."
Ralys Sedarys started mumbling again and pushed Tarrion onto the stone slab. With the pickaxe still in his shoulder Tarrion fell on the seal and he could hear a rumbling coming from it.
"You will awaken the master… yes… you will wake him. His will guides me… he told me it would work… He will rew-…"
With an unsettling sound an Ice Spear jammed itself into Ralys' eye socket. His body fell limp on the seal and the blood poured from his head.
Immediately the ground started shaking again and the seal started to glow red. Serana ran to Tarrion and quickly pulled the pickaxe from his shoulder. She was able to cast a quick healing spell before they were both launched away. A shockwave slammed them both into the walls and from the marble slab a Dragon Priest arose.
He was not as large as Zahkriisos, yet still taller than any man. His mask was made from a red metal, just like his armour. His staff had a red orb at the tip which burned with a fire from within. With erratic movements Ahzidal looked at the two intruders and he screamed at them.
DIR
With a massive stream of fire he incinerated Ralys' corpse to ashes while Serana and Tarrion were only just able to duck behind a collapsed pillar. The fire was spreading fast, and Draugr emerged from their sarcophagi, yet the rage of Ahzidal was so intense that they too were burned to ashes.
Behind the rubble the two could hear the old priest rage. There was no laughter heard like Zahkriisos… no intelligence sensed like with Vahlok… there was only rage and destruction, and as soon as a Draugr would appear, Ahzidal would destroy it on the spot.
"Arg…." Tarrion grunted as he grabbed his shoulder. He could feel the warm blood pour from the wound and he leaned against the rubble.
Serana cursed when she could sense how much blood he was losing. "Damn that Elf!"
"I.. I can't move my arm," he clenched his teeth as tried to move it. "Damn… I can't-…"
But Serana placed her hand on his cheek. "Then I'll handle this."
"Wha-.." but Serana shook her head and jumped from behind the rubble and engaged the Dragon priest.
Using her Vampiric abilities Serana was able to dodge many of Ahzidal's attacks, but her clothes started to char and burn, and her cloak had already caught fire. She fired ice spell after ice spell at her opponent and saw that it dealt damage… if only a little. Every few seconds Tarrion grunted in pain behind the rubble and Ahzidal would turn his attention to him for just moment… moments that Serana used to fire barrages of Ice Spears at her opponent and she saw that Ahzidal's rage made him unable to think. As soon as he would turn around Serana fired a barrage of spells at him. The Priest roared and turned around again and fired a wave of fire at her.
IIZ SLEN NUS
Immediately Ahzidal was encased in ice and Serana saw how Tarrion nearly fainted from the pain in his shoulder. She took her chance and fired another wave of Ice Spells, ran to Ralys' pickaxe, picked it up and threw it at the Priest. It embedded itself into his head just as he broke free from the ice and with a low, gurgling cry his body incinerated to ashes.
Serana ran to Tarrion who leaned heavily on the broken pillar and he grimaced in pain. He started to remove his gauntlets in an effort to take off his armour. With her help he removed his armour and she saw that there was a sick-looking wound on his shoulder, near his spine. Serana wasted no time and planted her lips on the wound and tried to suck out the poison.
"Ah…. You'd better not be enjoying this," Tarrion remarked with a grimace.
"Under different circumstances, I might," she responded and she spit out a bit of a bitter tasting venom.
Walking back out the tomb and to Raven Rock was tiring for Tarrion. Someone had already run ahead and came back with a potion to combat the poison in his blood. This quickly worked and by the time they arrived at the herbalist he was feeling better already. There Adril Arano asked him what in the name of Azura happened.
"Ralys happened," Serana said and she gritted her teeth as she said the name. "He followed us into the tomb and attacked Tarrion from behind."
"Where is he now?"
"Dead," Serana said bluntly. "I killed him and his body was incinerated by the Priest that attacked us afterwards. Good riddance I say."
Tarrion could only agree with this, and yet there was something that did not add up. He remembered how Ralys had muttered something about the 'Master' and how 'he would be pleased'. The more he thought about it, the more he started to realize that this was not about Ahzidal… but about Miraak. He realized more and more that he had underestimated the influence that Miraak had on people.
Yet a small part of him also smiled at this attack. It meant that Miraak started to see him as a real threat to his plans. He was becoming less of a nuisance and more of a real problem. He was getting closer, and he knew that there was only one Stone left to free… and two last Dragon Priests to kill.
But that evening, as he lay next to Serana he felt a dark feeling come over him. After freeing the last Stone, and after killing Dukaan, the last Dragon Priest before he could confront Miraak… there would be one last decision he would have to make.
"I have another proposition for you…. One I am sure you will find… hmmm, interesting."
Those words from Hermaeus Mora still echoed through his head and no matter how hard he tried, he could not get rid of them.
"It seems you are torn…. Ever since that fateful day in Dimhollow, where you met a child of my brother. She has shaped your path to here as much as you shaped hers, and now…. She looks ahead… to her future. To your future…. Hmmm… I wonder, though. Would you choose her, or your own self-righteous quest for power?"
"I will never choose anyone or anything over her!"
"Hmmm…. Foolish words inspired by nothing but emotion…. But we shall see if you can back them up…. Oh yes. We shall see."
And since then, Tarrion has felt torn. Every second since then, he felt ripped apart by two sides of him. Neither side willing to concede to the other, and both sides as strong as the other. Whatever choice he would make…. He did not want to face the consequences of the other.
=End of Chapter=
=Author's Notes=
Two Dragon Priests down… two to go (that includes Miraak of course.) Anyway… I hope you liked the chapter. It took a bit to write though…. Writer's block is annoying.
I would also like to thank everyone that is following and/or reading this story. Without you I would have stopped writing this a long time ago. I don't thank you guys often enough, but I'd like you all to know that I appreciate it enormously.
Dragon Language Used:
IZZ SLEN NUS: Ice Flesh Statue (from the Ice Breath Shout)
WULD NAH KEST: Whirlwind Fury Tempest (from the Whirlwind Sprint Shout)
QAH: Armor (from the Dragon Aspect Shout)
Dir: Die
As with the previous chapters….. I plan on writing two 'intermission chapters' titled; Interview with the Vampiress and Interview with the Werewolf. These are two chapters that would explain a number of details about the characters like daily life… likes and dislikes… current and past relationships… views on events, and more. I do this in interview-form, because otherwise I would have to slowly give this information in small chunks in other chapters… and this is much easier. So… that's why.