Chapter Two

The pair reached Whiterun, heading into the city. Dar' led the way up to the Temple of Kynareth and going inside. She looked around, remembering times past as a Nord woman came forward. "Welcome to the Temple of Kynareth," she said before getting a good look at the white-furred Khajiit, hugging her. "Dar'Mora..." she breathed. "I thought your family had gone back to Elsweyr."

"They did," came the reply. "I stayed here and have been roaming ever since." She took out some Septims, handing them to her. "For the temple," she added, watching Inigo wander over to the shrine and murmur to himself.

Danica watched him. "Your friend seems troubled." She said.

"It's something we're working on together my friend." Was the reply. "As for myself, I have been travelling." She looked at the woman with her bright green eyes. "I have never forgotten the talks we had when I was young and what you taught me-I think they shaped how I am quite a bit." She looked down for a moment. "Do you have some paper, ink and a quill I can borrow? I have the place where my parents are and wish to write them a letter."

Danica chuckled. "You can use the desk over there." She gestured to the nearby desk, watching her go over and sit down, beginning to write.

Turdas, 21th of Last Seed, 4E 201

Dearest Mother and Father,

I received the letter you entrusted to Ahkari yesterday-it was wonderful to hear from you. I am writing to you from the Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun-I'm sure you both remember the place. Danica Pure-Spring was good enough to allow me use of this roll of paper as well as her ink. There is much to tell you. I had been captured along with some 'rebels' and taken to Helgen, where I was to be killed. The reason I still live to write you is because a Dragon attacked. Big black thing with clawed wings and red eyes. I escaped with one of the people I was brought in with-a Stormcloak soldier named Ralof; I may join up with them-I really can't see myself joining with the people who tried to kill me because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. All I was trying to do was save a little girl from being hurt! I have not forgotten my path too far, but, what is it the Nords say; 'To Oblivion with them'? Yes, that is the term. To Oblivion with the Imperials and the Thalmor-I've seen the second group taking Nords as prisoners and so take them out. The captive doesn't know what to make of it most of the time when I free them. I'm travelling with another Khajiit currently-Skyrim is no place to go it alone right now. He and I worked on a job before splitting off-his name's Inigo and I've never seen anything like him. He's got blue fur (yes, I know some see that as a bad omen but you raised me to base my view on actions, not how someone looks Ahnurr) and he's funny. We get along well together. Might head up to see how the old place looks-I will let you know what I find.

Know that I miss you.

Raj ahziss shal

Your Clever Shadow

Dar'Mora read over the letter before folding it, sealing it with some wax before writing the names and location it needed to go, spotting a courier delivering a letter to the temple and getting up, paying him and handing the letter over. The young male took both the payment and the letter before leaving, the Khajiit handing Danica some coin for the use of the paper and ink. The pair bid goodbye to the priestess before leaving. They walked up the steps to Dragonsreach, staring up at the building before entering. As they walked up the steps, an elven female with dark skin came over to them with her weapon drawn. "Who are you to approach the Jarl's throne?" she demanded, the Khajiit sighing. "I have news from Helgen." Was the reply, the woman letting them pass as she approached the throne, bowing slightly. "So you have news from Helgen, eh?" Jarl Balgruuf asked, watching her swallow. "Helgen was destroyed by a dragon, Gerdur thinks Riverwood is next." She managed to get out, watching him turn contemplative. "Gerdur hmm?" he said. "Runs the lumber mill. Pillar of the community and not prone to flights of fancy. And are you sure it was a dragon and not a Stormcloak raid gone wrong?"

Dar' held back a snarl. "I'm sure-it destroyed Helgen then headed this way." She replied, ranting mentally as he conferred with the elf and his steward. 'Puffed-up pompous...ignorant son of a...I've never lied you little...'

Her mental rant was stopped by Inigo touching her tense shoulder, the Jarl finally addressing her. "I could use your help on something. Follow me-we need to talk to my court wizard."

The pair followed, speaking to the wizard before heading out, making it half-way to the path up the mountain before the female Khajiit started ranting out loud. "I have always disliked that man!" she fairly screamed. "I've done work for him in the past and he has the gall to think I was lying when I have never done so before?!"

The blue-furred male let her rant for a while. "Dar'Mora," he said calmly. "I understand what you mean. I saw you tense up in there and I remember how badly it ended last time when that happened-the bandit ended up looking like a pincushion-not to mention where you kept aiming."

Dar' looked at him, remembering what had happened before the tension melted away and she started laughing. "Thank you Inigo," she said, smiling gently. "I needed a good laugh."

They headed up the path, lowering their heads as the snow began blowing. The two Khajiit drew their bows, taking out the few bandits outside the barrow before slipping in, brushing the snow from their cloaks before moving on. They easily fell into a pattern, taking out the bandits and draugr that came at them, along with a giant frostbite spider that Inigo went toe-to-toe with gleefully. The bandit that they freed from the webbing had taken off, getting killed by a trap. They looted him for a golden dragon claw and a journal, along with some gold, before moving on. The blue-furred feline noticed his friend was more relaxed as she holstered her bow and began burning the undead with a powerful flame spell. "Please don't singe my whiskers off," he quipped, watching her turn to him and stare. "I kinda need them."

Dar' wiped her forehead as she leaned against a wall to catch her breath. "Probably wouldn't be best to get in front of me then-I'm still kind of learning. Honestly, I need to practice more with my spells-it's just I'm not..."

"How long have you been able to do that? You never showed that when we traveled before."

"I'm...wary of doing so-I fear my lack of control hurting someone."

Inigo touched her shoulder. "Practice on the undead-I will back you up if you run out of energy."

The smile that she gave him warmed him in that dreadful place as she stood up, pulling a chain to open a gate and leading the way through. It took them a good half an hour to get to the main chamber, Dar' tilting her head at the wall at the back of the room. "W-what is that sound?" she asked, her companion looking at her strangely as they went over, the thing lighting up before the sarcophagus behind them opened, the pair taking out the high-ranking draugr. The white-furred Khajiit looted the creature for the Dragonstone before turning back to the wall, taking out a notebook and sketching the markings. "I would like to find someone to translate this." She said, putting the book away when done and looking at him as they headed out the back door and out into the sunlight.

(A.N.: Translation time-the following Ta'agra words were used in this chapter:

Ahnurr: Father

Raj ahziss shal: All my love

[I found a wonderful translator that makes this all possible!)