F'arrasha Skyrim Fic

Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to Bethesda Studios. I own F'arrasha.

Chapter 11: Buried Secrets Part 1

Making my way to Snow Veil Sanctum was not easy. I had to go to Windhelm via stage coach and, when I arrived, I had to leave the city and circle around. The Sanctum was located north, in a snowy, mountainous area of Skyrim. I dressed appropriately, wearing a long, heavy cloak over me as I traversed the landscape, keeping warm. It was the middle of the night and the snow was just starting to pick up. I shivered, barely feeling my fingers, but I had to keep going. My daggers were at the ready as usual, for I did not know if or when any predators would attack me. But, as I got closer to the sanctum, I could hear wolves howling in the distance. I stopped and pulled out my daggers, listening carefully for any signs of where they would come from. Then, I knew.

I dropped my cloak, my heart racing with excitement. A wolf came at me and I rolled out of the way. Another came at me from another angle and I stabbed it with both of my daggers into the back of its head. That wolf went down, whimpering a death cry as he died. The first wolf dashed through the snow again and tried to bite me. I struck at its face, leaving two scars on it. The wolf backed away, but growled again and snarled. It was hungry. So was I, but I was going to beat him first. The wolf pounced again and made a dash for me. I was quicker, and more cunning. One of my daggers scored a hit on his belly and he whimpered as he landed behind me. He was cut open, deep enough that, in the next few moments, he would die. I did two flips and slammed the daggers into its spine, killing the wolf. I put my daggers back in the sheathes, picked up my heavy cloak, and continued onward.

It was about an hour or so later that first light broke and the sun was coming up. I was glad. The storm had passed and made things much easier for me to see, though the light reflecting off of the snow was also blinding. I preferred the night. It was easier to see in the night, anyway.

I happened upon a campsite not far from the ruin. There was a dead horse there and, as I examined it closely, I found the saddlebag contained some potions and some gold. I pocketed the gold and Mercer met me. He said that I would be leading the way inside, and that he took care of Karliah's horse and campsite. I had a feeling I knew why he wanted me to lead, with my enhanced senses and whatnot, but, when I asked why me, he seemed to pull rank on me. I shook my head and got to the front door. The door was locked with a lock I could not pick, but Mercer touched it somehow and seemingly opened it. I would love to learn how he did that.

Inside the sanctum was slightly warmer, but the cold was still there. There was also the stench of death. I covered my mouth; it was worse here than in the Ratway. This was some sort of ancient tomb of some kind, and I had a sickening feeling in my stomach. I pulled out my daggers and Mercer pulled out his sword as I led the way inside this place. An ancient tomb like this had a lot of treasure, but also a lot of undead and a lot of traps. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I imagined it like breaking into a manor. Just a very large manor that was heavily trapped. But, in this case, if I killed any of the undead, then it would be of no real consequence to me. They were already dead and there would be very little that could be done to them any more than what they already experienced.

As we continued onward, we found many of the traps in this place had been reset. The original intent of these traps was to keep grave robbers out from plundering these tombs. Mercer and I carefully moved through each one, taking care not to activate them, or to activate them onto our enemies. The stench of death was overpowering at times, and I felt myself getting dizzy at times. When we got to one room that we knew no one would be in, I fell to the floor, my nose and my mind under constant assault from the sense of death. It was also a sense of fear. I wanted to rest for a moment. Mercer nodded, but he said I would only rest for a moment before we had to move on and meet Karliah. I braced the wall for support. The deeper we got into the tomb, the temperature seemed to change. Though it was slightly warmer, the cold touch of death was still ever present. These undead monsters that were all about, these fallen warriors; I understood why they existed. But, I also knew treasure existed, and that was what I was here for.

After dispatching what appeared to be the leader of the undead that was buried here, Mercer and I came to a door. The door was ancient looking, but there was something about it that I could understand from it. As I stared at it, Mercer managed to unlock it simply by touching it. He must have known the trick or something, but, as the door opened, I felt an arrow pierce my body. I then collapsed.

I do not know what was happening next; my senses blurred and distorted. I was drugged. I do not know with what, but, as I tried to move, I felt I could not. I was totally paralyzed, a prisoner in my own body. As I looked up, though my vision was blurry, I could make out Mercer and the woman he was talking to. Karliah. I saw the bow in her hand and, as I listened closely, I could hear her cold voice say that Mercer had betrayed the guild and his oath. Mercer shot back, saying that it was her and Gallus that betrayed him. Karliah then seemed to vanish into thin air. As I tried to get up again, my body would not heed my command, and Mercer came near me. He kneeled next to me and shook his head, apologizing that I had to be dragged into this, and that I knew too much. With that, he seemingly slit my throat and left me to die in this sanctum…

Next Chapter:

An unexpected Rescue!