Chapter 55: Interlude Five

[4E 525]

"Wow, B'lushona managed to no longer being a whelp, in like two months or so."

"I guess that he managed to show off enough."

"No, not showing off, come on; Kodlak and Vilkas tested his knowledge, and he was on plenty of quests with Farkas, mostly."

"So, is two months quick or slow to go from whelp to full Companion?"

"I don't have a clue, honestly. We have not talked about that, and for me, as a junior member, it's different anyway."

The three teenage siblings - Bha'jhan, the Khajiit, Alander, the Bosmer, and Jomund, the Nord – had managed to sneak off up to the attic once more, and as soon as they had made sure that nobody was likely to come looking for them anytime soon, they had retrieved the old diary from the place where they had hidden it. They had started to read the next few chapters eagerly, but naturally there was a need to discuss various points.

"Did you know that Companion Circle members are werewolves?"

"Well, it is public knowledge that they used to be, but in the time after Kodlak at least they have been more careful, and we don't know for sure. There are rumors that they now have a new cure available, so that anybody can get cured at any time, but I don't know if this is true."

They continued to read for a few more minutes, until Bha'jhan shouted:

"Look, I missed this the last time – he can actually shout now!"

"Yes, indeed, Kyne՚s peace. Impressive, indeed."

"And he used it for a good cause!"

"That he did, yes."

"Do you think that I could learn that shout, too?"

"I guess you can always do the pilgrimage to High Hrothgar and ask."

"Brrr – no, too cold for me."

The others laughed, and then Alander asked:

"So, who is that Vilja lady? Why does she she have a special bottle which can curse people?"

"Come on, that's just imagination. Soon we will read that this is all naturally explained. Those two are just drunk."

"I am not so sure about this. What if it is a magical bottle which has some kind of genie in it?"

"I think that you read too many fairy tales, brother."

"Yeah, maybe, but unless Balu meets her again later on, we may not learn why the bottle is special."

"But this place, Eldergleam Sanctuary, seems to be a nice place."

"Not just nice, but beautiful!"

"And this Amalee – she seems to be really fond of it!"

"Look, there is a comment scribbled on the border: 'Eldergleam tree tourist guide – Don't miss the opportunity to meet the tree of Kynareth! Swim or relax in the thermal waters, kayak through the river; for last, watch the resting point of a dragon, from afar. 3 days 2 nights tour for only 999 septims.' Funny."

"But there can't be a dragon inside, right?"

"No, I don't think so. Maybe this is about a dragon lair not very far from the sanctuary, one you might see from outside."

"Thermal waters?"

"Strange expression. Is this an odd name for the hot springs outside? Are there also hot springs inside?"

"No clue; maybe we need to visit that place to find out."

"So, what's next?"

"Well, he's getting back to Whiterun, as it seems."

"And there is another dragon attack!"

"Just imagine that this dragon actually destroyed the new tree sapling!"

"Yes, everything for naught; that would have been horrible. There is another comment here: 'I can just see Kynareth heading off to yell at Akatosh about how his son tried to burn down the tree she just spent effort on growing' – yes, sure."

"So, does Akatosh really care?"

"For a Dragonborn destined to eventually confront Alduin? Of course he does!"

"But he's not directly intervening, I guess."

"Maybe not, but I'd bet he's watching what they are doing."

"And what's next now?"

"Look, there is another scribbled comment: 'Maurice also seems like a really useful guy to have around; he's well-learned and travelled. Hang onto him'."

"Yeah, Maurice is certainly helpful, but I guess that he's got other things to do. He is what? A monk, or acolyte? I guess that he may not be free to traveling as he wishes."

"Maybe he is destined to help Danica to tend to the new tree."

"Possibly; now, let's read on."

The three siblings continued to read, and only the small sounds from the wooden beams around and the wind blowing around the large house were heard for some time, only occasionally interrupted by a page getting turned.

"Wow, so he's a Thane of Whiterun now."

"That was inevitable, wasn't it?"

"And he gets to be in school another time."

"Yeah, and thinking about that, I can recall that they still use a book there with some simplified explanations about the province and the hold; this concept of his seems to last."

"Yes, I can remember this as well. Smart guy!"

"He did mention that he had a good education in his life before, didn't he?"

"He wrote that he was an 'engineer', but what is that actually?"

"No clue."

There silence again for sometime, and eventually Alander asked:

"Look at that here – he muses about using Dwemer automatons for farming!"

"I guess that this is wishful thinking."

"Yeah, but a neat idea. I don't think that they can be used for anything useful, right?"

"I do not know. But I like the idea that he's having another goal now – off to Solitude!"

"Indeed, and it's kind of funny how he writes about exploring his Khajiit senses."

Bha'jhan sighed and replied:

"Again, he has not grown up in this body, and who is going to teach him?"

"Right, but still funny."

There was silence again for a few minutes, and then Jomund suggested:

"Maybe, at some time in the future, we could also do some traveling and visit places where B'lushona had been? Go from Whiterun to Granite Hill, further to Rorikstead and so on?"

"Including the dungeons?"

"Eh, not sure about that one. Depends on who is going to be with us, I guess."

Again there were a few minutes of silence while the three siblings read on, and eventually Alander stated:

"Those times – many Nord people did not believe in magic, and those few who actually wanted to learn mostly had to be secretive about it."

"Like Sissel here, in Rorikstead?"

"Yes, like here. I am glad to know that this perception has mostly changed nowadays, and while Nords in general may not have much magical talent, they can learn about it at least. Look at me; I will never be a great mage, likely, but at least I can do basic healing."

"True, Jomund, but you are here with us, and our home is different from many other homes."

"Also correct, yes, and likely there are still some places where things are different and magic is frowned upon."

"Sure, but at least the young people have options nowadays. I have heard that the number of students at the College of Winterhold has increased a lot over the last couple of centuries, including quite a few Nords."

"Oh yes, that's a place I would love to visit."

"Maybe that's where you will end up for you education, Alander?"

"Potentially, yes; I have not decided that. I like magic, but the Arcane University in the Imperial City is also an option."

"I guess so, but they are very picky, and they don't accept everybody as as student."

"So, is this Balu also going to visit the College or the University?"

"He should, but so far he seems to be otherwise occupied."

"He could visit the guild house in Solitude at least!"

"At that time, I learned, there weren't any mage guild houses in cities in Skyrim, I think."

"Oh, right. But, back to the story again. Look, he killed another dragon!"

"Yes, he did, but not alone."

"Of course not, but still. And now, of to that ruin, I guess."

"Does he like going into dungeons?"

"We don't know for sure, but based on earlier statements, he seems to prefer being outside. But at least he's got reliable companions with him, and there are his two saber cats, too."

"Yes, and inside the tomb he needed them, too. Look, there are some more notes written: 'I think the rule is: If it attacks you and you defeat it, anything that's safe to take is fair game (check to make sure nothing cursed, poisoned or explosive).'"

"Sure, that makes sense. And he did ask that priest of Arkay in Whiterun earlier about that, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did, and there's a note right here about that, too: 'It's all good to check with the cleric to make sure there's not a end the dead and let that be that stipulation.'"

"What's a stipulation?"

"Something like a condition, I think. The people who wrote the notes must have been scholars with all those complicated words. Now, let's read how he got out."

The three brothers reads on for some minutes, and then one of them mumbled:

"At least there aren't any vampires there."

"Oh yes, when did the big vampire threat start?"

"Actually, it was around that time, wasn't it?

"Kind of, but I forgot the year when they formed the new Dawnguard. Was that before or after the Dragonborn showed up?"

"Don't know either."

The three siblings agreed that there were many details they did not know, and for the time being they focused on the events outlined in the diary again. They read about the writer getting to Solitude eventually, and when they got to the part where the ladies of the 'Radiant Raiment' store offered the elegant clothes, Alander asked:

"What's wrong with wearing proper armor? Surely everybody knows that one needs to protects themselves?"

"Agreed, and sure the Jarl knows that, too?"

"Yeah, but court is a different thing. At least in the palace it seems to be a good idea to wear something more elegant."

"Hm, I don't know, but maybe we should ask one of our sisters about this.

"True, girls might view this in a different way, and Jarl Elisif is a girl after all."

"And what about that construction site in Solitude? Is that going to be a museum as they claim?"

"I believe that one of our grandparents has actually mentioned that; it's called something like 'Dragonborn Museum', and it's still there. We should go visit it as soon as we're old enough!"

"And look, there is another scribbled note there: 'I'm looking forward to the museums, sounds like the mod makers have put a lot of work in'. What is a 'mod maker'?

"I don't have a clue. But look, it's getting late. Why don't we continue to read at another time and wash our hands now; I would not want to get scolded for coming to dinner with dusty hands."

The other nodded, and they carefully stored the diary in the secret place before the left the attic, to return at another time.

[Author's Notes: Next few chapters will be in and around Solitude.]