Xylia's eyes snapped open once more. She shivered, as it still felt as if the tentacles from the Black Book were wrapped around her body. However, it was just a ghost feeling. In reality, the book lay dormant in her hands. Quickly, she snapped it shut. There was no reason to give Mora another excuse to entangle her in his world.
She looked about her, expecting to find herself back in her home in Whiterun, Serana patiently waiting for her. Instead, she found an unfamiliar scene about her. She did not know how to explain the precise architecture around her besides as a castle. The tall ceilings provided ample breathing room.
Xylia shoved the Black Book into her bag and pulled her golden hair back into a ponytail. Her pointed elf ears exposed themselves, matching with her bright green eyes in her otherworldly image. As a high elf, she didn't find herself to be very welcome in Skyrim, yet she found her allegiances tying her to the land.
Although she would have liked to have another answer, she knew that the way home would be back through the Black Book. Mora was heinously devious when it came to those types of things. However, since the prince had given her the opportunity to explore this land, she figured she would take up the offer.
Harry was probably the last person in the Great Hall to notice that something wasn't right. He noticed everyone around him looking towards something, then averted his eyes to see what had captured their attention. And there, standing alone in the door frame to the Great Hall, was one of the strangest sights that he had ever seen. It was a woman, he assumed, with golden hair and piercing green eyes. She wore tight red and black armor, and strapped to her back was an ornate bow, along with a…glowing?...sword upon her hip. It was her ears, however, that threw him off. They came to a sharp point, which immediately made him assume she was an elf…except that she shared no other similarities to actual elves.
She stared into the room for a few moments, and the student body stared back. Many of them expected Dumbledore to make an announcement about her.
Then, much to everybody's surprise, she held up her hands in surrender. "My apologies," she said humbly.
The room then exploded in an uproar once the students realized that this woman was not invited to the castle. "Who are you, then?" someone shouted from the Gryffindor table, although Harry couldn't possibly name who.
The woman ignored this question, her eyes focused at the head table. She was obviously smart enough to recognize the power in the room.
Faster than anyone had ever seen the old man move, Dumbledore met the woman. He gently grabbed her arm and lead her out of the room. This move caused more noise amongst the students, loudly speculating about the mysterious elf woman.
"Silence!" Snape ordered the room. Even from across the room, however, the students could see the uncertainty on the professors' faces.
Xylia allowed the old man to lead her from the hall. "I offer my deepest sincerities, I did not mean to disturb your feast," she apologized again.
"Yes, yes, it is quite all right," the man said softly. He had a calming voice, and he knew it, too. "However, I must ask that you come with me so that I may ask you some questions about your arrival at Hogwarts."
"I assure you I did not break in," she said.
"That is quite all right, dear, but I have many questions to ask, still," he said as they came to a statue in the hallway.
"Sherbert Lemon," he said to no one in particular. However, once the words left his lips, the statue in front of them moved to reveal a staircase. Xylia spared no shock for the hidden door, for she was far too used to exploring dungeons across Skyrim.
At the top of the stairs, the two of them found themselves in an office. "Please, have a seat," he told the elf before taking his own seat behind his desk.
Xylia quickly eyed the many things in the office before obeying the older man. She did feel terrible about interrupting their feast, but she was grateful that the man was more hospitable than most Skyrim denizens. She half expected the occupants of the room to attack her as soon as she set foot on the threshold.
"I would first like to introduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," the man said. A light-bulb lit up in Xylia's head. If this was an institution of magic, then she would fare much better here than at any Nordic tribe in Skyrim.
"I am Xylia, Archmage of Winterhold College," she introduced herself. There were many ways she could have chosen to do so, but she figured that she should forgo mentioning the Dark Brotherhood or the Companions. Perhaps her status as Dovahkiin would arise, but she did not like to flaunt that status, as it easily put a target on her back.
"Archmage…" the man said, letting the word roll around on his tongue. "That is not a term heard so often. Where are you from?"
"I come from Skyrim," she stated. It was not where she was born, but it seemed to be the land that she called home.
"And I do not believe that I have heard of…Skyrim."
Xylia nodded. "I am not surprised. I do not believe that our lands generally exist on the same plane of reality."
Dumbledore was taken aback from how casual she was acting about what she had said. "I beg your pardon?" he asked ever so calmly.
Xylia sighed. "I'm afraid I am being toyed with by the Daedric Prince of Knowledge, Hermaeus Mora."
Xylia watched Dumbledore's face, and however hard he may have tried to hide it, she noticed the flicker of recognition in his eyes. "You know of him," she simply stated.
"Passively, in a book," Dumbledore admitted. "Although I did not expect such a being to exist, nor would I expect one to toy in the affairs of someone."
There was a silence in the air. Xylia did not care to try and speak more of the Daedric Prince, and Dumbledore could tell. "Forgive me for asking…but are you an elf?"
This was perhaps the first question that confused Xylia. Was the man blind? Next, he would ask a Khajiit if they were a Khajiit. "Uh…yes. A high elf."
"I have never seen an elf such as yourself," he explained. Xylia inwardly groaned. Elves often faced harsh racism and were usually all grouped into one large group. She was personally offended to be grouped into the same category as the falmer.
The door to the office opened once more. Xylia turned to see a man with longer black hair and a hook nose enter along with an older woman who wore green along with her small glasses perched on her nose. "Professors, this is Xylia. Xylia, these are Professors Snape and McGonagall."
"A pleasure," Xylia greeted first, standing from her seat to offer a nod.
"Yes…" the man answered, whereas the woman only gave her a small smile.
"Xylia, you mentioned that you are being toyed with…is that was brings you to Hogwarts?"
Xylia once again took her seat and returned her attention to Dumbledore. "Yes. I was in Apocrypha, when my exit took me not home, but to this very castle."
"Apocrypha is what exactly?" the man that had entered asked. Xylia was fairly certain that this one was Snape.
"It is a place in Oblivion in which Hermaeus Mora resides. It is said to contain all knowledge, but it is a land that would easily kill and ensnare the curious. Mora is also dangerous. I myself was roped into a deal with him…" the Dovahkiin trailed off.
"What kind of deal?" Dumbledore pried. He seemed mighty curious about Mora, which scared Xylia. Perhaps this man was the reason that Mora had sent her here.
"I am his champion…I suppose. I will not be surprised if he traps me in Apocrypha, just as he did with Miraak…but that is besides the point."
"And this Apocrypha...it would likely be the same way home, yes?" McGonagall asked.
Xylia shrugged. "I assume so. However, I also assume that Mora intended for me to come here for a reason, and I care not to incite the wrath of a Daedric prince. An eternity of torture is not one that I crave, you must understand, so my mission as of now is to discover what he wants of me."
"Can you not ask this…Mora…what he intends for you to do?" Snape asked condescendingly. Xylia got the feeling that he didn't quite believe her story.
She smirked. "That is knowledge, and it always comes with a price. The last time I desired information, a life was taken."
The man silenced himself. "You must all understand that Hermaeus Mora does not do anything good or evil, he only acts for his own desires and whims. He was instrumental in helping me save the lives of many, but he was just as instrumental in the deaths of many others."
"If that is true, then why would such a being have an interest in making you his…champion?" McGonagall asked. Her question had no malicious intent, yet it still stung Xylia's ego.
"Because I am the last Dovahkiin. The last dragon born."
This answer helped none of the occupants in the room, only gaining her a few raises of the eyebrow. "Pardon?" Dumbledore asked her. They most certainly were not taking this seriously.
"I am a dragon slayer, and I can utilize the power of dragon shouts by absorbing the souls of slain dragons," she summed up for the trio.
The two professors seemed off-put, but the headmaster seemed all the more intrigued by her. "Explain to me what a dragon shout is," he told her. There was a sparkle in his eyes that made her slightly uncomfortable.
She glanced at the two professors before giving her answer. "The language of dragons is powerful, so much so that their words have literal power in them. Although some have managed to master a word of power, only a Dovahkiin has the ability to absorb the knowledge of these words nearly instantaneously."
"Can you demonstrate?"
Xylia knew that this one was coming. She sighed, irritated. "As I've said, it's powerful. And dangerous. Unless you want me to completely destroy this office, I suggest that I keep this to myself."
Dumbledore nodded once more. He opened his mouth to-presumably-ask her another question, but his eyes instead focused behind the Dovahkiin and the professors. They took note of his sudden departure and turned around to see what had stolen his attention.
Xylia rose from her seat once more to greet the being that was now occupying the door frame. The black mass of tentacles, adorned with one large eye, seemed to bring a terrifying presence to the room, which silenced the other occupants. Xylia, however, approached fairly casually. "Hermaeus Mora," she simply stated.
"Dovahkiin…" the daedric prince returned the greeting. "I see you have been somewhat accustomed to your surroundings."
"I would be if I had any idea of where I am. I implore you, why have you brought me here?" Xylia returned. Even Snape was shocked as he watched the elf talk with the…thing…so calmly. His hand itched to grab his wand, but Dumbledore could tell his intentions even before himself. The old man gently placed his hand on Snape's shoulder, a silent message. This was something that the woman was far more equipped to deal with.
"I have gained knowledge of this realm, namely due to a wizard who dabbles in the arcane not of this world. He seeks answers from Oblivion. You should know about these practices, they are much like the black sacrament," Xylia nodded, but a clear answer still wasn't given to her.
"This has nothing much to do with you, personally, but you are an easy instrument to use given your ties to both myself and Sithis."
Xylia blinked in surprise. "I had no idea that you and Sithis…got along."
"This is simply a business matter. I seek knowledge of this world, and Sithis seeks an instrument to deliver his word. As Listener, you are well equipped for his needs, and as my own champion, you are my only choice."
"Who is the wizard that Sithis seeks?"
"It is the one who Dumbledore himself seeks. The one that they dare not speak the name of."
Xylia made no attempt to get a clearer answer. It was obvious that Dumbledore would have an answer to her once Mora was finished. "And what knowledge do you yourself seek?"
"Any. Deliver to me any kind of book to Apocrypha and I assure you it will be worth your while. Knowledge for knowledge, if you will. That will be all, Dovahkiin. Do not disappoint me as your predecessor did."
The tentacles and black mass started to fold in onto itself, until within a matter of seconds, it had disappeared completely from the room. Xylia took a deep breath of relief before turning around. What she found was two professors pointing sticks at her. Dumbledore seemed torn as he looked between the professors and the elf.
"Have I done something to offend you?" Xylia asked. She would rather not create more bloodshed than was necessary, but she was no stranger to the sword.
"That creature has just asked that you become a messenger to You-Know-Who, which would be completely unacceptable given his status as a dark wizard," the other woman explained to her, although the mention of "dark wizard" made it clear as to why he would try to contact Sithis using something like the black sacrament.
"McGonagall, please. Let us discuss this matter," Dumbledore interjected.
"She is currently a threat to Hogwarts and the students," Snape answered, not lowering his wand.
"She is not a threat. She has only been asked by Mora to investigate. If anything, this could be useful to us," Dumbledore reasoned, although Xylia had to disagree. She was most definitely a threat to them, but she could use the information that they had. Besides, if she could avoid fighting, that would be preferable.
Slowly, the two professors lowered their wands. "Forgive them, Xylia," Dumbledore implored.
"Certainly. However, now I must ask. Who is this wizard that Sithis seeks?"
Harry was practically hyperventilating by the time he made it back to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione had her arms crossed as she sat in one of the armchairs, since she was strictly against him following that elf in the first place, but now she was interested in what the so-called chosen one had to say. And, she had to admit, she was at least a little concerned at the wild look in his eyes.
"What happened in there, mate?" Ron asked Harry.
"She's dangerous. Very dangerous," Harry answered between breaths.
"What do you mean?" Ron continued.
"She…she…there was this…what did she call it…daedric prince?"
Now, Hermione's attention was piqued. "Harry, did you just say daedric prince?"
He nodded. "And it…was there. Tentacles and his eyes and that voice…even Snape was scared."
"Why was there a daedric prince, Harry?" Hermione continued to press. She moved over to the couch where the two boys were sitting and sat on the other side of Harry. She placed her hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
"It called that elf his champion and told her that she needed to talk to Voldemort."
Both Hermione and Ron were taken aback by that. "Are you sure?"
Harry nodded once more. "I'm positive. It said that he was trying to contact some other being, like Mora, and that she was working with them."
"Harry, that's insane. Daedric princes…we know so little about them, but we do know that they are dangerous. They come from another reality. They're like gods. If she's aligned with one…"
The thought hung in the air between the trio. "What happened after that?" Ron asked. His face had crunched up, as it usually did when he got scared or nervous.
"Dumbledore said that they could use her to try and stop Voldemort. She's allowed to stay here while she completes her mission. I think she's going to help out in some of the classes."
"Did you find out anything else about her?" Hermione continued the questions.
"Well…" Harry tried to think back to the office. He'd followed Snape and McGonagall into the office, careful to not alert either of the professors to his presence. Then, he'd stowed himself away in the side of the room where he could watch their conversation. "Oh, she said that she was the last dragon born, and that she can…shout words."
Hermione raised her eyebrows at that. "I can bloody well shout words too, mate," Ron answered.
"No, she said that they had power to them. I don't know if she was lying or not, because she refused to actually shout. She said that it would blow the room apart."
"Right. Then we'll just have to figure this out as we go. If Dumbledore said she could stay, I'm sure we'll see her again," Hermione said as she stood up. "I'm off to bed."
Ron and Harry shared a look. "We'd better go, too," Harry said.
Ron nodded. "Right."