My housecarl led me by horseback across the fields of dawn. We were nearing the source of the teal explosion. All of Skyrim could see and hear the event that sent ripples through nature. Trees rustled, rabbits fled, and birds scattered as the faint shockwave reached us in the plains. The source of the light was uncertain to me, but Meranden seemed sure that it had come from Winterhold.

An acidic doubt began to seep through the remains of my hopeful heart. My mind knew he must have been there, but my spirit refused to accept it. My love, my life, could not be dead.

The clopping of the horse's feet began to soften. Hooves became paws, and trees grew to surround us. I looked around as I found myself standing. Lydia, nor the horse, were anywhere to be found. I was in a forest. One from a long-lost life. The trees rustled and footprints crossed every which way. It was strange. I felt almost... younger. The birds sang in a peaceful pattern as strange voice awakened my senses.

"Hey, K..."

The spectral voice was one of youth. A tone I no longer recognized, but could just barely scratch from my memory.

"K, over here! Come on!"

The boy beckoned me further through the forest, past nostalgic streams and familiar cliffs. I had an urge to keep up my pace. I began to run. My legs already hurt, but I still pressed on.

"You're way too slow. Speed up!"

I'm trying!

The songbirds increased in tempo. The orderly beat began to deteriorate. My heart started to race. I couldn't stop running.

"Come on!"

I neared an opening. There was a figure there. No, a shadow, as I hurried closer. I immediately halted as the figure cleared its form as a beast. Its mouth moved.

"Hurry up, Karal'e!"

Its scabbed, spider-like claws reached behind it, and pulled something in front. A head. The head of the lover that I couldn't protect.

"Move!"

"RI'SAAD!"

Dirt. Air. Gasping in a cold sweat.

"Karal'e, what happened?! Move!"

Eyes staring down. A firm ground beneath me. Some strange, unsettling radiance.

Where am I?

An arm pulled me up and brought me towards a blurred horizon. My vision cleared. A haunting, ocean color filled my vision. I looked to my side, where I could focus. Lydia was pulling me, with Meranden behind. I looked back ahead.

"Oh my-"

Teal smoke billowed from the ruins of the ancient institution. The bridge trailed from one side of the river to the other, split into chunks, already being chipped away by the rushing water. A few figures crawled from the remains. I recognized none of them. I didn't give them a second glance. I limped down the steep slope, not caring for my damaged senses. I heard a voice call towards me. Was it him?

"Hey! This one is-" I immediately interrupted with a tight hug. He seemed... smaller. "...looking for help for my mentor, Ri'saad...?"

I pulled away. The kid's eyes widened. Not him at all. "W-where is he?!"

"He is over by the bridge." He gave me a inquisitive look as I hurried away. "Or what's left of it. You're his... partner, correct?"

"Where are you?" I muttered continuously as I dug through the brush and rubble. "By the Eight, where are you?!"

A weak gasp sounded from further down the slope. I turned immediately, seeing a weak figure lying under the shadow of an old oak tree. I stumbled to my knees beside him, inspecting his wound, which tore through his leg. His light, green eyes gazed through his face as the contorted fear fell to relief. Unable to hold myself in any longer, I threw my arms around him and held him as tight as I could, hoping my strong embrace would protect my dearest love from the catastrophe that ravaged the ruins surrounding us.

"Oh, this one and his close calls," he snarked through his weak throat. "You're going to need to lock Ri'saad up if it gets this far again."

"I won't let this happen again." I lifted my chin from the seat of his shoulder to look at him as I spoke. "I can't let this happen again."

"You did not let this happen. It was never your fault."

Holding my face above his, I felt tears as they began to reach the tip of my cold nose. I needed warmth so desperately, to calm my mind, body, and soul.

"I love you, Ri'saad," I finally choked.

"Karal'e," he barely replied. "Ri'saad loves you, too."

Our faces slowly neared each other, with our eyes closed in anticipation. Our lips locked together as if they were made to fit so perfectly. In an instant, the world around us was gone, and only we remained, with fur against fur providing the only warmth we would ever need. It felt as though an eternity had passed when our faces departed. Reality returned to me as the soaring sun cast its brilliant light upon my life's most perfect miracle.

End of Part One