Chapter 2: Dreams of a Life Long Lost

That night I dreamt of my darling Juukravia. It was at the time when I proposed to her. We were in the mangroves of flowers and luscious grass. This was the only shining beacon of beauty inside our muck filled Black Marsh. I had brought a lunch and we ate while talking about our day. Somehow I had coaxed her into talking about a life we could possibly have together. She grew fond of the idea and admitted to have pondered it over herself. We talked of little hatchlings scampering around across the deck while we lived together 'till death. At that moment, I presented her with my ancestral Argonian wedding band. It was gold and silver laced with 3 flawless diamonds within each gem indent. I knew her favorite gemstone was diamond and I strove to find them. It took a matter of ages to find them in a land such as Black Marsh. I had to use my contacts at the trading warehouse down in Archon to order them from off-province. It took a long time, but It was worth it to see my darling's face when she saw it. Almost immediately she answered yes in a low tearful tone. I grabbed her in happiness, kissed her and carried her to the nearest wedding chapel. That day was the happiest of my life. Then, the memory changed and faded. I was now surrounded in darkness, in what seemed to be marsh water. There was some algae and moss on the topmost layer of the water. The trees hung down like dark, shadowy beasts. A sense of impending doom ran down my spine, sending a shiver throughout my nerves. I wadded out of the water and to the shore only to see my house. I walked in and saw myself. I was yelling and flailing maddened gestures around. I diverted my eyes from the sight, for I knew what this was. I could hear my beloved yelling and crying at my darkened memory about thinking of the child. My mind was set and I was outraged. I heard a piece of furniture flip, a loud scream and the door slam shut. All was quiet except for a whisper. A faint sobbing was heard from inside. I opened my eyes to find my figure walking away from the house hitting trees with my bear fists. I reached for my face and found tears running down its scaled and roughened texture. A sank down to a mess onto the front deck. I wept like a man would never weep. I always knew what it was that I had done, but I never once thought of the other side of the situation. The door opened and out came the sorrowed Juukravia. Tears also ran down her face as well. I stood up and went to hug her, telling her how sorry I was. I only phased through her and into a spiraling abyss in my mind. All the terrible things I had done, all the wrongs I had made, all of this torture yelled and screamed at me in loud, high pitched voices. I could only yell for it to stop. I repeated it over and over, hoping it would make a difference. In the darkness, I saw my love's face in a beacon of light. She was smiling, a vision I had long forgotten. I walked towards it as the horrid memories formed as ghost-like figures and grappled me, trying to tear me from the past and keep me in a prison of depression. I fought and fought until I broke free.

I awoke with a gasp as I reentered the land of reality. My friend, Derkeethus, was shaking my arm yelling at me. I could not understand his sayings as my mind was still focused on the dream. I felt his hand punch me in the face. That broke me out of this state of mind and I went to strike him back. He told me to stop and to survey my surroundings. Upon looking around, I saw all the men to be gone. Everything from their bed rolls, their supplies and even the fire pit itself was gone. I suggested that they just left. Then, I was told to check my own things. Right next to where I slept was a void of emptiness. My things had been taken as well as Derkeethus'. I flew into a rage, cursing them out in anyway I could think of. I was told that the spot the fire once sat was still warm, signifying that they are not too far away. I picked up my dagger, which I always carry on my person and went off to find these deceitful bandits.

We followed the trail of crunched shoeprints in the 14 inch deep snow. They seemed to head towards Dawnstar, but they came to a stop. All the footprints split into 6 separate tracks. They had most likely split the loot and went their own ways to con some more innocents. Darkeethus and I decided to split up from this point. He would follow the 3 tracks that swayed to the East while I would follow the 3 tracks to the West. I bid him farewell and good luck. I watched as he climbed a mountainside. He slipped and fell backwards in a humorous fashion. I cackled to myself and went on my way. I crossed the barren wasteland of ice and snow for what seemed to be hours. Without my insulated armor, the 20 below degrees weren't kind on me.

I tracked the prints to a small encampment outside of Dawnstar. The bandits were all gathered there, all 6 of them. I realized they must've made the other tracks as a safety maneuver. It was clever, I will admit, but my scale brother is out there now following a false track. I grew even more angry, but reminded myself to keep my cool. Silently, I unsheathed my dagger from its spot and readied it for combat. My initial analyzing of the camp showed a group of bushes and trees in the back of the camp, close to their tent. My body went low to the ground and I sneaked over into position as quietly as I could. Luckily, they never even noticed me over their laughing at their latest victory. I improvised a quick plan in my mind. My hand reached for a rock which I threw into their tent. The rock went in and made a loud crackling noise. Almost on queue, they all got out their weapons and turned to the tent, ready to fight. However, I was quicker. I had placed myself behind the tent. One of the men, I believe the one who killed the prostitute, slowly crept up to the tent. The blood in my veins was boiling with anger. All I wanted was to slit this fool's throat. He went into the tent. I raised my dagger in preparation. A sound, one that resembled a ZIP noise followed before I could attack. The man dropped with a thump. Through the fabrics in the woven wool of the tent, I could see an arrow struck him in the back of the head. From the other end of the camp I heard,

"Score one for the pond scum."

None other than Derkeethus stood there with his bow already drawn with another arrow. Immediately, all the bandits rose to combat him. He picked one off with a headshot as fast as he could. I ran out from my cover yelling in a compellation of mixed emotions. I deflected an incoming blade with my dagger and stabbed a man in the neck. I went to strike the bandit thrashing to attack me, only to find an arrow in him as well. The other two fled into the environment, but I suspected another trap. Derkeethus ran to my vicinity and picked up his looted equipment while I stood watch. Once he was suited up, I did the same. As I grabbed my armor, a sharp pain hit my shoulder. It felt as if a lightning bolt had hit my nerves and sent a burning sting throughout my body. However it was no lightning bolt. I turned to see an arrow protruding from my skin. Just as I noticed the arrow, I heard another arrow shot and felt the same kind of pain. The noise sounded once more and I rolled out of the way. No arrow hit me, but I heard something fall from the trees. Derkeethus had located the archer and sniped him out. I thanked him and raised my hands to cast a Healing spell on the injured areas. Slowly but surely the wounds healed. I turned my head to see Derkeethus with his guard down. A shadow from behind him lunged and stabbed a sword into his chest. Right at the moment the sword made impact, I had thrown my own sword which stuck into the bandit's neck. The barbaric bastard fell to the ground, as did Derkeethus. I ran right over and started to cast Healing Hands on him, but the wound had hit vitals. He coughed up blood as he said his last words,

"Hell of a run, wasn't it, Has'kar?"

Then all was silent. The last breath could be heard retreating from Derkeethus' body. I had no idea what to think. So many things were running through my mind. The sword in my hand dropped to the ground and I flew into an uncontrollable rage. I punched and kicked at the bodies of these bandits laying at my feet. I grabbed my dagger and butchered their bodies, stab after stab went into their unloving flesh. Once I finally came to, nothing but a mangled mess of organs and limbs were there. In my mind, I knew that it was not right to desecrate the bodies of the dead. However, I had no pity or mercy for those who killed my friend, my scale brother. I stood over the dead bodies in deep thought. I said a prayer for Derkeethus in Jel, the Argonian native language, and walked off to the path after burying him. I didn't even bring my things from the camp with me.