Note: I changed the Midden and made a few secret tunnels that are not so secret in my interpretation. But it should still be as close to the lore as possible.
If you can, please review and let me know if you like it so far. Or just to say hi. I welcome every comment I get – they are one of the sources of my motivation. And I love to hear from you! You guys are important to me – I'd just like you to know that.
And without further ado, let's move right into the drama!
Chapter 16: Come, Little Children
"So? What is it that you and Leyna are so secretive about?"
The wind was warm with the passing summer. Cain was leaning to the wall surrounding the College roof, letting it caress his fiery hair. The day had gone past peaceful, even if Singird had spent half of it sulking, not talking to Yrith for the sole reason she preferred to spend her time with her friends. She was getting used to seeing this side of him, happy that he cared, charmed by his weak side, but also saddened by the lack of trust he put in her. But then again, she too was betraying it at this very moment, and the plan they had devised with Leyna that morning was not going to put her in better light. But there was a complication. A complication that stood right before her.
"Why don't you ask Leyna if you're so curious?"
Cain had not heard the whole conversation. But he had caught enough to make him pose countless questions instead of providing the training session they were supposed to be having.
"Hah! Have you ever asked Leyna anything personal? She could chop your head off with the look she'd give you."
"Then perhaps she does not want to share. I am not obliged."
Cain sighed. "I know we were never close to begin with… but you've drifted so far away. Keeping secrets, commanding magic I could only dream of… did you even see your face when the two of you talked?"
Yrith could imagine. After all, it was not every day when someone invited her to the Midden. She was still not convinced it was the best idea, but it was the only idea she and Leyna could come up with. The only way to leave the College unnoticed. And she had promised. One should never break a promise, that was what her parents had taught her. She believed in their teachings.
"It is none of your concern," she muttered. "I thought we came here to practice."
"We did. It's just…" Cain shook his head in a gesture of utter helplessness. "You know, it's just been two days and I can't get you out of my head. Even when you talk to us, it seems like you're looking right through us. As if we were not there at all. What is happening to you, Yrith? Is it your magic that seems to be so far beyond imaginable? Or is Larkwing giving you a hard time?"
"So it wasn't about Leyna, was it? Then what, Cain? What is it that you want to hear?"
"No… it wasn't about Leyna. Has anyone told you how many times I came to Faralda or Larkwing, pleading to see you just to make sure you were all right? And the answer I got every time… She's not ready yet. Ready for what? What have you gotten yourself into? And what does Leyna have to do with it?"
Yrith stared at him in disbelief, ready to snap. But then she just sighed and shook her head. "I commend your imagination," she said. "But you are wrong. She only asked for help with certain matter of hers."
"And you agreed?"
"That I did. Why do I get the feeling you don't trust Leyna?"
Cain stood there, rubbing his temples, and she could almost feel the cogs in his head turn as he tried to come up with some solid reasoning. "I trust her," he said with sadness creeping into his voice. "I just don't trust her judgement. And I… I've seen enough of you getting hurt."
Yrith smiled gently into the sunset. "Thank you, Cain. But I'll be fine."
"You know, Yrith…" he took a step toward her and pulled her into a hug before she could back away, "if you ever need someone to rely on… remember that I am always here."
Her cheeks flared with a flush when he let go, disappearing in the Hall of Attainment. She stared at the door for a long while, thinking how she should have asked him about the lesson. Perhaps he had not intended to teach her from the start.
She shook her head to chase away the ache in her chest. There was a more pressing matter at hand, and it waited for her down in the courtyard. She cast a quick invisibility spell and slipped through the door to the Hall of Attainment, following Cain's footsteps.
Down on the ground floor, she sneaked into the dark corner behind the stairs. The things she had smuggled from Singird's room lay there intact under the chameleon spell. A pair of breeches, a warm coat and a rucksack filled with dried fruits, smoked fish, a waterskin and two tiny vials of potion against exhaustion. In the best case, she would not even need these things.
She hesitated before donning them. Singird would kill her when he found out, and she did not doubt he would find out. But Leyna was waiting for her, relying on a friend. It had been so long since anyone had relied on Yrith. She could not disappoint her.
With one final swift movement, she flung the rucksack over her back and left the building.
Leyna was waiting for her by the trapdoor to the Midden, carefully hidden behind a bush just by the Hall of the Elements. Yrith did not dare take off the invisibility spell before she was inches from her, and her elven friend jerked in surprise upon seeing her.
"You startled me," she said with a hint of a smile.
Yrith looked her over. Leyna's usual novice robe was replaced by soft leather trousers and an overcoat which seemed to be made of a thick layer of dark cobwebs, a fine piece of elven craftsmanship. Her long, golden hair was plaited into a braid, the lower part hidden under the coat. She had changed from a mage to a wayfarer, taking the same precautions as Yrith.
"Shall we then?"
Leyna nodded. The two of them pulled the trapdoor, wincing at the loud creak it gave. Yrith went first, securing Leyna from below. Then the door snapped shut and they were left to themselves.
Immediately, Yrith felt the cold grip her entire body. The Midden was colder than the surface, walls covered in frost, but underneath them, she could faintly recognize the smell of mold. The floor was littered with debris of all kinds and, to Yrith's horror, with bones. She looked at Leyna with worry in her face.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked, her voice drowned in the heavy air.
"This is my father's life we're talking about. I will find him no matter what. It's just a few bones. I've seen worse." She kicked what Yrith suspected to be a collarbone. It hit the wall with a dark clank. Yrith felt shivers run down her spine but said nothing.
They went down, into the depths. The thick stone walls made Yrith feel uneasy. The stale air was hard to breathe and the dark tunnels seemed to be endless. The cobblestones were slippery, sometimes hidden underneath several layers of ice, and the cloudlets of steam rising from their mouths were thick with the contrasting warmth. A strange echo seemed to follow them, causing Yrith to turn around from time to time, scanning the walls as if something was to emerge from them. Just several steps into the tunnels Yrith froze, looking at the crossroad ahead.
"Now what?" she asked as she turned to Leyna. Her friend shrugged and crossed it without a second thought.
"They say that when you don't know the way, you should follow your nose."
"Leyna…"
"Just follow me. I've seen the map of this place. We'll be out in no time."
"I sure hope so…"
Descending the stairs ahead, the two of them could spot a soft glow. It grew stronger with every step, flickering and ominous in the dark, quiet maze. Yrith stared forward, trying to recognize its source. She felt vulnerable. If something came at them from behind, there would be nowhere to go. But Leyna kept a steady pace, marching forward without ever looking back.
The tunnel led them into a circular room with a round platform filling its center. Countless candles were burning on its edges and a large symbol of Oblivion was carved in its middle. Before it lay something reminiscent of a small furnace dominated by a ghastly-looking carved skull. A box of seemingly Dwemer origins was attached to its front. Yrith stifled a gasp when she felt a sudden wave arise in her, like the high tide washing over the reefs. She stared at the image before her, closing her eyes and reaching out to the platform. She was welcomed by a force so strong it made her stagger.
"Yrith?"
"This place is brimming with ancient magic," she said quietly. "Where are we?"
Leyna looked around curiously. There was no mold in this chamber, no ice and no cold. "This must be the fabled Atronach Forge. I heard it lets you summon just about anything that can be found within the boundaries of Mundus if you use the right ingredients. Though its true purpose is probably long forgotten."
"I had no idea," Yrith uttered as she knelt down, touching the dwemer box. Contrary to what she had expected, it was cold on touch, almost freezing her fingers in place. She wondered if Singird knew of this place. It can summon just about anything from all over Mundus… so what about souls of the deceased?
She made a mental note to look for Atronach Forge in the library. Perhaps there was something that Singird could have missed.
"Let's go," she motioned to Leyna. "There's no time to lose."
Leyna nodded and the two of them followed the tunnel further. Coldness wrapped about them once more. Yrith pulled her cloak closer, stooping down every now and then to avoid the sharp icicles hanging from the ceiling. They were led into a series of tunnels with walls of pure ice. Yrith felt the cold bite into her flesh and freeze her very bones. She heard her own teeth chatter, and judging by the echo next to her, Leyna was not any better.
The tunnel, at times so narrow the two of them had to proceed one by one, suddenly forked into two passages. Yrith frowned.
"Let's just go this way," Leyna waved to the left, rushing in, no doubt to chase away the cold. Yrith put a hand on her forearm and shook her head.
"No. We can't take any more guesses. Maybe we're following the wrong way from the beginning."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Many times over, Singird had reminded Yrith not to reveal too much of her power to anyone. Given that nearly the entire collegium knew of it, Yrith saw no point in it, but she respected his wish nonetheless. Now, for the first time, she was about to break her word.
"I will lead," she said, spreading her magic far and wide, touching every corner of the Midden. Even the magical touch sent more shivers down her spine. She hovered over the frosty walls, inspected the stones and crevices. There were countless dead ends, pits they could fall into, slippery paths where one could easily break a limb, piles of broken ice that blocked the way… and creatures. Upon the first touch, Yrith yanked her magic away, paralyzed by the sole nature of the beings she found. She had felt this before, in her dreams. Always for a split moment before the soul tore from its vessel and found its way to Aetherius. Death. But these were different. Tainted, bound to Nirn by twisted magic. She pulled away entirely, covering her mouth as she felt her insides turn and tumble.
"But how will you… Yrith? Are you all right? Did anything happen?" For an Altmer, Leyna managed to produce an unexpectedly caring expression. Yrith nodded, taking deep breaths to steady her heart.
"Just fine. But there are… undead." The word felt strange on her tongue. As a child, she had believed the undead to be a fairy tale to scare little children like her. She had considered the term funny, unreal. Now she had felt the whole weight of a soul unable to transcend to the outer spheres and it made her feel sick.
"Undead…? How do you know?"
"I saw them… felt them… with my magic."
"I thought you'd changed when you returned to the classes, but this…" Leyna's gaze turned to the icy floor, mind caught in some inner struggle. A moment passed before she turned back to Yrith with a soft sigh. "I have never heard of such a spell. But I believe you. Does it make you feel unwell?"
"A little. Anyway… I think we can avoid the undead. Unless they hear us… the passageway we should take passes it by a distance. But there are other… things lurking around. Let me see…" Yrith closed her eyes, fully concentrating on her magic and their surroundings. She had never spread it so wide with the intention of feeling every single thing it touched. It was exhausting. She resisted the urge to lean against the wall, too afraid she would freeze into it.
"An ice wraith down in the lower tunnels. That should not be much of a threat… but there is a bridge in the lowest parts with a troll on the other side. We could make a run for it, the exit is not far from there, but it would mean jumping down from the bridge and taking a leap to a ledge that's quite a distance below. And there would be no way…" Her voice faded at the sudden discovery.
"Yrith?"
It had not occurred to Yrith before to scan the area behind them. Now she wished she had done so before. There was someone trailing them, a living, breathing person. Had a teacher found out about their little trip? Yrith concentrated on them, touched their presence and felt their emotions. Fear, apprehension, an urge to protect. Singird? No. It was…
"What is it?"
She wildly shook her head. "Nothing," she lied. "Just my imagination. So, the troll should be our only concern."
She could not bring herself to give Cain away. Leyna would not get another chance like this. And he was here on his own volition. She clenched her fists, praying that things would not go awry. Not one friend to watch out for, but two… she could not bear if something were to happen to them.
"I think the leap down is our best option," Leyna mused. "How far would it be?"
"About ten feet, but there's a gap that leads straight to the bottom of the pit. It is risky, especially if we want to be fast."
"But you are good at conjuration, are you not?"
"What are you implying?"
"That we can keep the troll occupied."
Yrith shuddered at the prospect of two or more monsters having a battle to death while the two of them were trying to take a leap that could very well end their lives. A part of her wished that Singird would find out, drag her away and lock her in the safety of his room. That someone would make a stop to this foolish plan. But strangely enough, there was another part that found thrill in the current situation. She could be of use… or even more, she could be a hero. She had the means to do so. For the first time in forever, someone relied on her, trusted her with their life. The sudden responsibility, the need to make decisions that would matter, was liberating. She could not believe her own thoughts.
She glanced in her mind behind several corners. Cain was close by. He must have heard them talk about the troll. But he did nothing. She wondered if he was simply going along with their plan. Why he had not tried to stop them. Perhaps he was ready to save the day lest something happen. She frowned. The troll could mean danger to him too.
"Let's go," she said through gritted teeth, stepping out with a thin strand of magicka leading her way. Leyna followed her with a nod.
The two of them walked in silence, rubbing their arms every now and then. Yrith could feel a film of frost settling on her lips and nose. A few moments later, she found herself almost unable to talk. She stretched her arms and fingers, refusing to give in to the cold.
Their footsteps were drowned in the crackling of the ice. Yrith cast candlelight as the last ray of light from the vents faded, blocked by the thick mass of frozen water all around them. It had become even harder to breathe. Yrith wondered if jumping down the bridge would not be impossible with so little air in their lungs. As they went on, her concerns grew heavier on her. She wished to stop and relay them to Leyna but found herself unable to do either. Stopping would mean allowing the cold to claim even more of her than it already had. Talking would be wasting the much precious air, and the effort she would have to invest in moving her lips would surely drain her of strength.
She kept moving her arms, clenching and unclenching her fists, refusing adamantly to give in to the whims of Skyrim's eternal winter. Behind her, Leyna was fighting the same battle, just as unyielding in her struggles.
As they approached the undead parts, Yrith cast a quick spell to muffle their footsteps. They moved slowly, careful to not slip on the ice, although Yrith was now more afraid that a single moment of hesitation would result in them being frozen to the ground. The ice was sticky as resin, working against them on every step they took. Yrith quickly checked if Cain was still following them. He kept a steady pace, easily matching their own. She would have let out a breath of relief had it not been so difficult.
Fortunately, they passed the undead without an incident. Yrith kept looking around, still afraid that there might be something she had overlooked, but the only thing coming to meet them was the ever-present silence. The ice walls were replaced with stone once more, covered in fissures as the winter had taken its toll on it. Yrith stared at the image in apprehension. These tunnels were not safe for passage. Instinctively, she picked up her pace, not willing to risk more than necessary. Leyna followed her without a question. Somewhere in the rear, Cain did the same.
After what felt like several hours of walking, though Yrith was certain it could not have been more than half an hour, they stopped.
"The ice wraith is just a few paces away," Yrith forced her lips to motion, whispering as quietly as she could. "I think two atronachs should do the trick, so I will send them ahead. Keep your ward at the ready."
Leyna nodded, stepping back and forth to keep herself warm. Her soft leather boots would not be enough to protect her from the cold.
With a quiet hum of magic, Yrith summoned two blazing creatures and willed them forward. They floated weightlessly through the air, aflame as if the cold of the place did nothing to them. A few moments later, she heard the familiar crackle of the ice wraith's skeletal body. The creature twirled through the air like a feather carried by the breeze, light and playful to the eye. But Yrith knew from books that ice wraiths were everything but playful. They attacked on sight, mercilessly and with no exceptions. And so did this one.
It plunged forward, biting into the first atronach. The elemental hissed, returning the favor with a ball of fire. The second atronach joined the battle with its own missile. It hit the wall behind the ice wraith and left a circle of moisture on it. The surrounding ice sent a threatening crackle. Yrith clenched her fists, ward spell ready in her hands. They had little chance of escaping if the walls came down upon them, but Yrith would not give up without a fight.
The ice wraith backed away momentarily only to attack again, icy jaws clattering against each other. Yrith saw that its efforts were futile. Back when she had been sent to fetch fish with Cain, she had defeated the wraith with a single atronach. She doubted that any more than two would be necessary. For a split moment, it seemed as if the ice wraith would break through to her and Leyna, both girls instinctively taking a few steps back, but then the atronachs made short work of it. The only thing left was a pile of ice on the ground.
"T-that was… surprisingly easy…" Leyna uttered through the chattering teeth. Yrith nodded. It had been too easy, and she did not like it.
"Let's keep close to the atronachs for the time being," she said. "They will keep us warm."
No ice could quench the fires of Oblivion. The two girls reveled in the sudden feeling of warmth, staying as close to the creatures as their self-preservation allowed them to. Yrith could feel the blood returning to her lips and fingertips, bringing about a sudden rush of pulsing pain. She gritted her teeth, concentrating on the road ahead.
Not too long after, they heard a low growl, far closer than Yrith had anticipated. They froze. There was not much time left until Yrith's atronachs would return to their home plane. She assessed her options. If the troll was approaching, the only option would be to face it head on. Trolls were territorial creatures and normally did not attack anyone unless that person was too close for their liking. But life in isolation deep under the surface could have a different effect on the poor animal. Perhaps the two of them were a welcome dinner for the starving creature.
She raised her hands to summon new atronachs. But before she could call to her magic, Oblivion broke loose.
The ice shattered and fell in million pieces from the walls as the troll stomped into the tunnel. The two girls screamed in unison. Both atronachs disappeared with a loud crack. They were on their own, trapped in a narrow tunnel with nowhere to escape except the way they came. Yrith grabbed Leyna's hand and ran. The animal followed. They could hear its breath and the thuds of its paws as it leaped toward them like a giant sabre cat. And they ran.
There came an intersection. Yrith went for one way, Leyna instinctively took the other. They split, Leyna quickly disappearing from Yrith's sight. Yrith's mind raced. There was no time to stop, no time to consult or devise a plan. She slowed down only to see the troll approaching her. Its snow-white fur almost glistened in the light of the still present candlelight spell, heaving on its ape-like figure. Three eyes stared at her like large beads of dark hematite, two real and one simple light detector with no ability to discern shapes and colors. Yrith took one terrified step backwards, staring at its huge jaws and cube-like teeth that were meant to crush. She could not bring herself to run anymore. No matter how hard she tried, her feet were glued to the ground in complete paralysis. She stared at those eyes, all the facts she had read about them flashing through her mind despite knowing that now was not the time for lessons on troll physiology.
Or was it?
An idea came upon her. She threw a quick glance at the light spark following her, then at the troll. She smiled, savagely, like an animal, and let the magic flow. An orb of light appeared just before the troll and attached to its front. The creature roared in pain and anger, staggering backwards. Yrith took a breath, her whole body still trembling. She had gained herself time. She needed to run. Find Leyna… they had to reach the surface. She forced her legs to move. Magic… she needed magic. She let it flow, spread… two more flame atronachs appeared before her. It felt like a dream. As though she was only watching while some other person, an entity that had been hidden inside her, did the fighting. She let the atronachs fight and ran. The troll roared and snarled, enraged by the blinding light. Upon the first fireball, it cowered and wailed.
Yrith gritted her teeth. The sound made her mind freeze in terror. She had caused the animal incredible pain. But she could not afford to die here. There was too much for her to do.
She ran as fast as she could, spreading her magic to find the way. Leyna was close by, in a parallel tunnel, but there would be no connecting point until…
Yrith's heart almost stopped. Leyna was running straight to the dwelling of the undead. Yrith sped up, almost slipping on the ice. She had to think of something before she reached the skeletons. Something, anything… but fear had left her mind entirely blank. Out of despair, she searched, scanned the place over and over with her magic… and then she noticed the troll suddenly moving toward her, leaving the atronachs far behind. She touched its primitive mind and found rage beyond anything she had ever felt. Cold gripped her, an entirely different kind from the one keeping the ice in place. The troll was behind her. Ahead was a group of soulless skeletons. And she was running out of breath, the weak and untrained novice she was. She looked around desperately as if the key to the escape route was to be found nearby. She found nothing. And so she ran. And ran further. When her legs began to betray her, she ran even faster. Closer to the skeletons, closer to the end, but she did something. She would not give up. Not now.
At last, she reached the crossing and took a turn to the left. And she ran again until she almost crashed into something. She screamed and raised both hands, lightning crackling between her fingertips. That something screamed back.
"Leyna!" Yrith panted. Her legs were shaking and giving way under her, holding up by the sheer power of her will.
"Yrith… what… the troll?"
Yrith shook her head. "Still behind me."
"This way then!" Leyna pulled Yrith by her sleeve, taking the route she had come from. Yrith fought to catch her breath, letting herself be dragged through the long arcade of ice. She stared blankly at the ground, watching as the cobblestones and ice rubble moved underneath them in slow motion. Too late she heard the clatter before them. Leyna came to a sudden halt, gasping as she locked Yrith's hand in an iron grip. Yrith raised her head.
There were two of them, skeletal figures, jaws frozen for eternity in an eerie smile. One smaller, one taller. Their eyes were shining with otherworldly magic and thin fingers clutched the most primitive weapons Yrith could imagine. A hatchet and a rake. Yrith backed off instinctively. Leyna stood there, frozen like a statue.
"Calm down," she said and Yrith knew she was talking to herself. "They're just skeletons. Pitiful, feeble creatures… what do we know about skeletons?"
"F-fire…" Yrith whispered behind her.
"R-right… fire!" A fiery orb flared in the palm of Leyna's hand. She aimed, fired… and missed. The two figures sidestepped nonetheless. A passage opened before them. A chance.
Yrith took the lead, now being the one dragging Leyna along. There was no time for words, but her friend understood. They ran again. The skeletons darted toward them. Then a roar shook the tunnel. A shower of tiny ice shards sank onto Yrith's shoulder. Inadvertently, she turned around. The troll, beaten and wretched, its fur coat charred and torn, made its last effort to catch its prey. It fell right into the trap of undeath. The skeletons gave up the chase, turning face to face with their new enemy. Yrith and Leyna shared the same idea. They ran again.
The ice was slippery. Yrith caught herself holding tight onto Leyna who returned the grip with the same vigor. Having support… in spite of the desperate situation, Yrith smiled to herself. She had never felt this before, and it was a good feeling. She felt her strength coming back to her. They would make it out. She was certain of it.
At last, they reached the bridge. The air was warmer here, gusts of wind from the surface flowing here through several vents. The ice floor was covered in a thin layer of snow, with large clawed footprints all over. The troll was somewhere far behind.
"I don't think we have to…" Leyna started, waving all breathless toward the ledge that spun along the wall on the left.
"… take the leap anymore," Yrith finished, suddenly laughing. They both did, filling the ancient frosty walls with a sound they had never heard before.
Yrith felt incredible, as though all that had transpired just moments before had been a dream. It felt unreal, an illusion that had passed before her eyes. Her life had been in danger. There had been an enraged troll, a pair of soulless skeletons and a slippery path. Now she felt ready for anything. To go out and explore the world. To face whoever dared threaten her head on. Then all her thoughts dimmed, turning into one memory. Cain. He was still there, in the tunnels, and Yrith had completely forgotten about him.
She searched one more time. It did not take long to find him. He was not far, approaching them from the tunnel where she had fought the troll. She touched him lightly, feeling his thoughts. They were a tangled mess, shaken with fear, more for the lives of his friends, rather than his own. But he was safe and in one piece. The troll was still battling the undead, growing weaker and more hurt by the moment. Yrith let out a sigh of both pain and relief.
"The way out is just around the corner," she beckoned to Leyna. "Let's go before something else decides to show us how unwelcome we are here."
"You're right. Let's go."
Crossing the bridge, they trod through a small maze of winding paths until an icy passageway opened before them, leading to a porch with a view of the Sea of Ghosts. Countless ice floes bobbed lightly on its surface, glinting in the moonlight. Yrith stood there, closing her eyes momentarily to feel the warm breeze on her cheeks. She drew in a breath, absorbing the freshness and the faint smell of salt. They were out. Out of the Midden, out of the College. They had left everything behind. Only Cain was still on their trail.
"Now we need to find my father." Leyna's face was dark with worry. "There should be an encampment not far from Saarthal. We just need to make it through the Winterhold pass."
"That's still quite a distance from here. We won't arrive before morning."
"But we will arrive. I will not disappoint him." Face filled with determination as someone who has little to lose, she took the first step forward. Treacherous path awaited them, the ice before them descending in cascades to the shore. One wrong step and they could be falling head first onto the ice gravel below. Yrith quickly fumbled through her rucksack, withdrawing two vials. She offered one to Leyna who accepted with a nod of thanks. The potion stung in their throats, burning its way down, but almost immediately, Yrith could feel her exhaustion fade away.
With utmost care, she slid down the first cascade, keeping her whole body close to the ground. Her legs were trembling, now adding to the fears from the Midden. But as she landed smoothly on the second level, she felt her confidence grow, her next steps more daring and secure. She waved to Leyna, smiling in encouragement. Her friend followed, joining her in an elegant leap. One by one, they conquered the tall steps, holding onto each other in moments of necessity. Despite herself, Yrith felt satisfaction when she finally set foot on the solid ground, staring back at the crackling mass of frost.
"I guess that was the worst part," she half laughed, half sighed.
"So now we go back to Winterhold. I think it would be best to avoid the guards. Especially since they are on the Stormcloak side. I don't want my father to get any unwanted attention."
Yrith nodded. "I happen to know a few hidden paths."
"Lead on then."
Through the city of Winterhold they went. Yrith relived her memories, the times when she had played alone in the streets, finding secret passages and pretending she was still with her friends back in Daggerfall. Where there were houses, rocks, trees and bushes, there were also secret paths. She never failed to find them, setting out on adventures of her own. Brushes of snowberries and mountain flowers worked in her favor. She loved sheds and barns behind which no one ever looked. Some even stood on poles, providing yet more ways to keep out of others' sight. To surprise people by leaving one way and returning from the other was a feat she excelled at. She felt the memory warm in her chest, bringing her peace in an uncertain situation.
She led Leyna into the familiar dark corners of the city. Close to the mountains, sheltered by low bushy pines, scattered rocks and piles of firewood, they strode quietly past the humble thatch-roofed abodes, backs bent down like two old ladies far beyond the zenith. At times, they saw a guard from a distance, but their gazes slid over the shady places without so much as stopping to blink.
They moved through the stillness of the night, drawing in the smoke from the chimneys. It carried the taste of homemade stew and the memories of long-lost comfort by the family hearth. And then it was gone as they entered the Winterhold pass, a deep gorge cutting through the mountain ridge that separated the eastern shore from the Winterhold basin.
The pass was shaded, hidden from the moonlight, and entirely silent. The surrounding trees were motionless, branches leaning down limp like withered flowers. Shivers ran down Yrith's spine as she picked up her pace. Leyna gave her a questioning look.
"Yrith?" she mouthed.
Yrith shook her head. "I… I don't like it here. Can you feel it?"
"Feel what?"
"Exactly… feel what? There is nothing here. No life, not even the wind passes through this place. It gives me the chills."
It was more than that. Yrith could not find a trace of magic in the pass, the life force of all. The only sources of magic were the two of them and, to Yrith's relief, Cain, still following them with boundless determination.
"I think that's just you, still shaken from the Midden," Leyna said, her elven voice unable to express the comfort Yrith craved. "It will pass when we're back in the open."
Yrith sighed, keeping all the words to herself. They spoke no more, eyes fixed on the path ahead. Soon, she kept reminding herself. Soon they would find Leyna's father and then…
Then what?
Leyna had never mentioned her plan to her. She would have one, right? She, an elf, smart, one of the few children that were born throughout the generations of the Altmer… she surely would have one. Yrith thought of Singird. She had to return to him. By now, he would be searching for her, mad with worry. The sooner she went back, the better. Feeling her stomach knot, she sped up even more, almost feeling Leyna's silent protests.
The eastern horizon was lit in pale glow when they finally left the pass. A vast land opened before them, with cliffs rising in terraces from the lowlands surrounding the northern coastline. Ruins of ancient structures were scattered here and there, dominated by the golden domes of the dwemer city of Alftand far in the distance. It was a sight to behold, both terrifying and beautiful. This part of Skyrim was almost devoid of life, with barely any trees or bushes to feed the stray animals.
"There," Leyna pointed to a chasm nestled in the shade of several cliffs, "down in that ravine. That's where we are going." The place was shrouded in a thick cloud of white fog. Even from afar, Yrith could sense the magic in it. It made her skin tingle and her hairs stand on end. That was no ordinary magic. She recalled a memory from her days in Daggerfall, a vague feeling she had had when her parents imbued the walls of their house with a layer of protective enchantments. Spellbrewing. The fog had been real once, but it had been altered. She gave Leyna an uncertain look, unable to hide her concern. This was more than a coincidence. She knew she ought not to be here. But she had promised. But then, what if this was all a trap? But Leyna wouldn't… or would she?
"Let's go," Leyna urged, now pulling at Yrith's sleeve. "We're so close…"
"Leyna," Yrith said slowly, refusing to move.
"Yes?"
"What are you going to do once you find your father?"
"Why now, Yrith? We're almost there…"
"I need to know. For… peace of mind."
Leyna sighed, eyes roving endlessly here and there. "I will most likely stay with him. He called for me, after all."
"But you know I will return to the College, right?"
"I… suspected as much. Despite how it treated you, you seem to have a strange affinity to that place. But please… talk to my father before you leave. I think he would be interested in getting to know you."
"That is a peculiar choice of words," Yrith muttered under her breath.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Nothing. I guess we should be going."
They went on. Yrith felt butterflies in her stomach as they neared the ravine. The fog was impenetrable, she could not make out a single shape. She tried to explore the place with her magic, to no avail. Everything was obscured, as if torn away from existence. She wondered if the two of them would even be able to pass through. But to her surprise, as they took the first step toward it, the fog opened before them, creating a path. The tingling was now so strong Yrith felt as though she was to turn inside out. She took a deep breath, glancing over to Leyna, but her friend seemed unaffected.
The view began to clear after a short distance's walk, first revealing vague silhouettes of wooden structures. Platforms on poles, scaffoldings, bridges and watchtowers, a whole settlement stretching across the small valley. Yrith wondered where all this wood had come from. Then the air cleared entirely, and she saw people. Two men in dark robes with gilded hems, the Thalmor attire. They gazed at the two newcomers, faces dark with suspicion.
"Who dares disturb at such an ungodly hour?" one growled, not trying to hide the animosity in his voice. Leyna stepped closer, back straight and head high. In an instance, the man's face changed from hostile to surprised, humble politeness lining his features. "Young Lady Leyna… at last. We have been expecting you. But who have you brought with you?"
"This is Yrith Ravencroft… my father should know."
Yrith's heart skipped a beat. She turned to Leyna, feeling the time stop and weigh on her. "Your father should know? That's the first time I hear about this."
"You'll see, Yrith… please."
"That's…" the two guards exchanged bewildered looks. "Let me get Master Selas. I apologize for keeping you, I won't be long."
He disappeared in the labyrinth of structures. The other guard, a man with falcon eyes who did not appear to have seen more than thirty winters, bowed slightly to Leyna. He did not take his eyes off them for a single moment, regarding them with wariness despite the courteous look he wore on the outside.
"Explain yourself, Leyna. Why are we here?"
"Yrith, I know you must be uncertain, and I understand. But my father is a decent man and…"
"Oh I am uncertain. You sure that's the right word for it?!"
"Yrith…"
"You know…" The guard stared at Yrith, a sign of warning clear in his face. She sighed. "Uncertain… right. I've just been lied to by… a friend," she shook her head, helplessness forcing tears into her eyes. But no… she could not cry. Not now. She had to stay on her guard. She had let herself be deceived, led far from the safety of the College. But if her life was to be threatened, she would not give up without a fight. She clenched her fists, containing the words that strived to surface. She was angry. Angry at Leyna for betraying her trust. Angry at herself for being so utterly foolish. Angry at the whole world for being so unfair. How could she ever face Singird? Would she even get the chance?
From behind the tallest watchtower emerged the guard who had welcomed Leyna, accompanied by another dark-robed man, exceptionally tall even for a high elf. Slim face, beautiful and elegant, spoke of ages' worth of wisdom. Memories of both pain and joy mirrored in those golden eyes, the same as Leyna's. As he walked toward them, pace calm and measured, his long silver hair waved around him in gentle swings. Yrith stared at him, calmness spreading through her as she realized she was not afraid of this man. Rather, she felt the need to bow before him as she would before a king.
He stopped a few paces before them, frown deepening in his face as his eyes slid from Leyna to Yrith.
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked, voice a mere whisper, yet clear in the quiet morning. Leyna raised her head to face him and Yrith noticed a tremble in her knees.
"Father… I brought her. Just like you asked me in your letter."
Silence. His eyes, hard like two diamonds, sized his daughter up from head to toe. He was assessing, and the more time he took, the more frightened Leyna became. Yrith felt shivers run down her spine, imagining this was common practice in the Travi household.
"There was no such letter," he breathed at last. Leyna's eyes reflected sheer dread.
"But…"
He stepped closer to her, putting one hand on her shoulder. "The letter I truly sent you… it must have been swapped. I should not have contacted you. I should not have been greedy… I… I have never expected my own allies to betray me. My closest friends. They made an oath…"
"Father…" Leyna gave a quiet sob, shoulders stooped down in defeat and humility, "I'm… I'm sorry…"
"Raise your head, Leyna. You are a high elf. You have just been deceived. You know what to do."
"I…"
"I hold no grudge against you. You of all people should know. Now raise your head and wipe those tears away. There is no place for tears in the eyes of a Travi." Without waiting for her to oblige, he turned to Yrith who tensed, suddenly forgetting to breathe. As he approached her, he gripped her chin, raising her face to look her in the eye.
"Yrith Ravencroft… I would not have expected to see you here. A spitting image of your mother… how beautiful she was."
Yrith felt blood rush into her cheeks, filling her with a desperate need to step back. But she couldn't. His sharp eyes pinned her to the ground.
"I am Selas Inarion Travi," he continued. "Under any other circumstances, I would be thrilled to meet you. But your arrival is untimely, and I fear it brings about dark times."
Yrith stared at him, words heavy in her throat. "My mother… you… knew her?"
"Aye… sweet Adine. She is one of a kind. Bright, gentle… with the ability to teach an old elf how to love. I never found the chance to tell her how much I appreciate her. Perhaps one day…"
"She's… dead. Half a year ago she…"
The face of Selas Travi grew even darker than it had been moments before. "That is grave news. Is Damasy as well…?"
Yrith nodded.
"I can't express…"
"Master." It was the falcon-eyed guard, eyes on alert. "Pardon the intrusion, but we have another visitor."
Selas Travi did not even lift his hands to send out his magic. Yrith felt it nonetheless, strong and swift, penetrating every inch of the ravine. As if following some hidden sign, he made his way to a wall hiding the entrance. From beyond it, he pulled out the startled Cain, the look in his eyes so hard it could split a mountain in two.
"Well well, look what the gods have brought upon us. An Aldaryn heretic."
"I'm not a heretic!" Cain spat as he tried to shake his captor off his collar. "Don't compare me to… that lot."
"Truly? Then why are you here?"
"I…"
"Master, shall I put him down?"
"No… he means no harm… for he came to protect. The Ravencroft family has a fascinating ability to teach others to see in color." He let go, leaving Cain to grumble in defiance. The Dunmer boy glanced at Yrith with a sheepish smile before quickly turning away. "Tilion."
"Yes, Master?" The first guard stood to attention.
"Prepare a horse for Yrith. The fastest stallion we have."
"Right away, sir." The man turned on his heel and was gone in an instant.
"Yrith…" he put both hands on her shoulders, a gesture of trust and protectiveness, but it made Yrith shiver nonetheless, "you must leave immediately. You are not safe here, and nor are we as long as we have you. I may be too late already… but before you leave, tell me. Did your parents ever inform you what their mission was?"
"I…" Had they? She had no recollection of it, save for the bits and pieces she had overheard when they'd had a visitor, and the cipher they had left behind. The cipher. She did not even know what it meant. "I… don't think so…"
With a sigh, he let his arms sink back to his sides. "I thought as much. The enemy fears you, Yrith. You're not prepared yet. I can feel your magic swirling inside you, wild and uncontrolled. But when you are, you must find him."
"But who is this enemy?"
Selas Travi gave a bitter laugh. "That's the intricate part. We do not know."
"What? But then… what makes them an enemy?"
"What indeed? The pain that he spreads. The discord he sows. The chaos he creates. It has been like that for millennia. Thousands of years we have spent trying to get on his trail. And he is close. But we know one thing. To defeat him, you need a—"
The sentence was cut from his lips with a swishing sound and a gurgle. Yrith stared in horror as the man who had been talking to her moments before sank to the ground, his chest pierced by three arrows, blue and black feathers adorning them on their ends.
"Father!" Leyna shrieked, and the sound froze the blood in Yrith's veins. "NO! FATHER!"
"Master!"
"Godsdammit!" Cain cried, grabbing Yrith's hands as he jumped to her side. "Out! We have to move out! Come on!"
Yrith could not move. She could not breathe. She felt her whole body tremble, knees weak with the sudden dread. She could not even cry. The scene before her eyes was so surreal… this was not happening. It could not be happening. Leyna was kneeling on the ground, mindless of the frost and dirt, turning her father to face her. Her eyes were full of tears, yet still begging, refusing to give up the last speck of hope, no matter how futile it was.
"Yrith…" he rattled, with hardly any sound escaping his lips, "you must find it… his name…"
"Father!" Leyna cried. "Please, no!" At last, Yrith finally sank to her knees beside her.
"Midget, no, come on! We have to leave!"
Cain's words were like water, flowing, in, then out, washing over her and leaving her cold, but still frozen to the ground. Selas Travi reached out, trembling fingers touching Yrith's.
"Find the name… lost… in time…" he breathed.
The last spark of life faded from his eyes. He was gone. Yrith felt his magic, the tremendous burden he had carried in his life, leave the vessel that had been its refuge. Her heart ached. She raised her head, seeking the source of the arrows. There were yells around them, people running and unsheathing their weapons. Magic crackled and sparked in the air. There were more arrows. People were falling and dying. Yrith watched the scene, paralyzed with fear. There was nowhere to run. Cain flinched her to the side as another arrow made its way to where she sat.
"Yrith! Please!"
She looked at him absently as though he was but a ghost.
A cry tore through the air, commanding and fierce. "Stop! Cease the fire! You'll kill Yrith!"
Yrith turned her gaze after the voice. Someone was running toward her. A sturdy man… her vision was blurred, but she could see the blue he was clad in. She blinked and the image sharpened momentarily. Toddvar… the Stormcloaks were here. She had suddenly found herself in the middle of a battle. Next to her, Leyna was shaking with sobs, wrapping her arms around her father's body. Cain was tugging at Yrith's hands, despair in his crimson eyes. The falcon-eyed guard lay nearby, blood soaking the snow underneath him. No… this could not be real.
"Yrith!" Toddvar's voice bellowed somewhere above her. "What in Oblivion are yeh doin' here?!"
"I…" she had no words for him. There were none she could offer. The only thing on her mind were the dreadful images passing before her eyes at that very moment.
"Get up! Yeh need to leave now!" She felt herself being pulled on her feet. "C'mon. Get a grip, lass! Yeh need to move! Horse!" he yelled as he turned to his comrades. "Bring me a horse, the first you can find!"
"Yessir!"
"General Toddvar!" Another man approached, breathless, gripping an axe with ornate handle and shining blade. "Imperials! They found us!"
"Oblivion take it! Yrith, move! Stick to yer fellas here and get out, for the love of Talos! Go!" He pushed her toward the entrance, then turned around, drawing his great axe like a wooden stick. The first man in red came on horseback, long sword down to cut anything that stood in his way. Toddvar was faster. He jumped backward as he swung his axe at full length, chopping the body of his opponent seemingly without effort.
Yrith's senses came back to her, hitting her like lightning. She felt her insides turn at the sight of the falling body and let out a stifled cry. Cain was gripping her arm with both hands, unyielding in his efforts. She glanced at him and understood.
"Leyna!" she shouted, pouncing on her friend. She was holding her father's head in her lap, heedless of the battle around. "Leyna, we need to…"
"It's no use, Yrith, she's…"
"I'm not leaving without her!"
"Dammit, you can both die here in vain, or you can at least save yourself!"
"Then I die!"
Cain staggered back at the power of her voice, staring at her in shock. Two Stormcloak soldiers with spears held high ran past them, shouting and growling like wild animals. "Yrith, please! I beg you!"
"Leyna! Get up!"
"No! Give him back! Give him back!"
The red-collared riders were closing in. Toddvar still fought his battle, taking a wide stance and slaying everything that came in his way and wore red. But there were more. More riders…
"Children!" someone gave a vicious laugh. "The Stormcloaks have children!"
"No! Yrith, run! RUN!"
"Come, little children, the hour is nigh
for demons of night to wander,
come, little children, when sleepless you lie,
watchful of shadows yonder."
Someone was singing, laughing at the ancient tune sung to children since time immemorial. Yrith felt her blood freeze in her veins. She grabbed Leyna, mindless of her protests, taking the friend with her, away, away from the battle, away from the carnage. Chaos everywhere. The weapons were rattling and clinking. Horses were neighing, the ground was shaking under their hooves. Cain was holding tight onto Yrith's wrist. She held onto Leyna's, dragging the staggering girl one step after another, with strength she didn't know she had. A battling pair before them, they took a turn to the left. A falling horse with arrows in its neck, another turn. Duck before the volley of arrows coming their way. Cain with his quick instincts pulled her to the ground. The way out was close. So close…
"Come, little children…" the voice was dark, full of malice and twisted lust. A rider stood before them, his face a wicked sneer. An arrow flew past, he dodged it with a quick yank of his head. Cain pulled Yrith back. He was too late.
The man laughed as he plunged the handle of his spear into Yrith's chest. She staggered and fell on her back, unable to even cry with pain. Her vision blurred, the sounds turned into a cacophony of rattling and stomping, sharp and deafening. Someone was shouting beside her. It hurt. Everything hurt. She felt another blow, this time in her stomach. She could not breathe. There was blood on her tongue and on her lips, she felt it come down in streaks over her cheeks and drip into her hair. She stood no chance. She could not raise her hands to cast a single spell. Her fingers felt numb and broken under the weight of her body.
Singird… if she could see him once more. Tell him how sorry she was…
A strong hand wrapped around her waist and hauled her away, then up, swinging her mercilessly over something warm. In one last attempt, she tried to tame her senses to obedience. Then she felt a blow in her head and the world drowned in darkness.
This chapter was unbelievably difficult to write. Good 30, or maybe 40 hours went into it. I'm starting to think I really am a masochist… oof! If you have any feedback to give, I'd be more than happy to hear from you. Always!
Again, many many thanks to iNiGmA for her continuous support. Your words really here and outside of FFN as well help me keep going!
Mirwen
