A good way up I came upon an old watchtower with a few bandits keeping watch outside. I counted two outside the tower, quickly taking them out with a blast of fire and a stab of my sword; they were dead. I took some coins off them before searching the tower for anyone else or anything of value.

There wasn't much except some potions and a few coins, but the tower was clear, and I could see the burrow from the top. I quickly left the tower running up the rest of the way up. I made it to the ruins finding four more bandits outside the burrow. Two were armed with bows and arrows, while two others had two handed weapons.

I tried to find a way to sneak past them or get some stealth shots with my fire, but the area was too open. So, I summoned my familiar and charged at them. My familiar pounced on an archer as I fought with an elf using a broadsword. I took him on easily before the second archer got me in the shoulder as I slashed the elf across the chest.

I looked at the second archer as they notched another arrow. I dodge the second arrow before blasting them with fire as my familiar bites into their shoulder. With the last archer distracted I fought the last bandit, an orc, with a warhammer. I managed to stab him before kicking him over the edge of the burrow down a steep drop off. Behind me my familiar finishes off the second archer.

With the guards taken care of I pulled the arrow out of my shoulder, gritting my teeth to keep from crying out in pain, before I downed a healing potion to mend the wound. I could feel the pain lessening as the potion took effect.

After my wound was healed, I looked for an entrance into the barrow. It wasn't too hard to find, and I was able to slip inside. The burrow had several large holes in the ceiling which were scattered about the main entrance with several snow drifts around the ruins. There were a few dead skeevers in front of the door, and at the other end of the room I could see the light of a fire and shadows of other bandits by the fire.

I crouched down so they couldn't see me as I moved about the stone rubble moving closer to the small camp they had set up. I could see there were only two bandits sitting by the fire, a chest across from them as they seemed to be getting bored. It made it easier for me to dispatch them.

I went further into the burrow down a few flights of stairs, it felt like I was going into the mountain itself as I traveled down the steps.

'Other than an odd puzzle this isn't so bad,' I had thought to myself as I went further into the burrow. My confidence was immediately crushed as I saw large webs covering the walls deeper in the tomb.

"Of course," I crumbled as I summoned my familiar to my side then switching to the lightening spell as we went deeper into the tunnels.

"Is someone coming," a voice sounded deeper in the tunnels, "Is that you, Harknir...Bjorn...Soling?"

I followed the voice to a web covered chamber that was blocked off with a thick wall of webs. I managed to cut through them so we could enter the chamber, my familiar started to growl at an unseen enemy. I prepared myself for an attack.

"You, Breton, cut me down before it comes back." On the other side of the room a was a dark elf covered in webs stuck to the wall. My familiar began to growl at the ceiling as a massive frostbite spider lowered itself down to the ground.

"Kill it," a Dunmer male shouted at me, "Kill it!"

It hissed at me before spitting venom at me. I managed to dodge most of the venom, but I still got some on my face and arm, hissing at the pain.

My familiar charged at the spider biting at its front leg as I shot fire at its many eyes, having to bite back my pain from its venom.

It hissed in pain as my familiar bite into its leg, and attempted attack back at us, nearly stabbing me with its front leg. I sliced it off before driving my blade between its eyes, killing it.

"Great you killed it," he called out as I pulled my axe from the dead spider's head, "Now cut me down."

"Be patient," I called back as I wiped off the venom that was still on me and then poured some of my water to rinse it from my hair and face. Once I was assured there was no remaining on me, I went over to the Dunmer.

"You did it. You killed it. Now cut me down before anything else shows up."

"Where's the golden claw," I demanded.

"Yes, the claw. I know how it works. The claw, the markings, the door in the Hall of Stories. I know how they all fit together! Help me down, and I'll show you. You won't believe the power the Nords have hidden there."

"Hand over the claw first!'

"Does it look like I can move? You have to cut me down, first."

"Fine. Let me see if I can cut you down."

"Sweet breath of Arkay, thank you."

I began to cut and burn away the webbing keeping him suspended.

"It's coming loose, I can feel it."

I cut him free from the webbing and sheathed my blade as he fell to the ground. But as soon as he hit the ground he turned and ran from me, "You fool, why should I share the treasure with anyone?"

"Hey," I shouted at him as I ran after him, chasing him through two other chambers before running into a burial room. As we ran into the room several of the dead bodies sat up and climbed out of the crypt slabs.

"Stay away from me," the Dunmer cried as one chased after him right into some kind of spring trap, swinging a spiked gate into the two killing them both.

I didn't have much time to process what I'd just seen as a drauger came at me with an axe. My familiar jumped at the undead biting into its leg giving me time to draw my weapon and cast fire against it. It gave a painful groan before falling over dead as another ran at me with a greatsword in the air. A blast of fire then a stab to the stomach took that one down.

With the duager dealt with I went over to the dead Dunmars body and began searching through for the claw. I found it next to a journal in his satchel. I quickly read through the book, learning about what the fool had been clambering on about before I had cut him down from the webs.

"Well, this just got more interesting," I said to my familiar as my spell wore off and he faded away. I tucked the claw and the journal into my bag before heading deeper into the crypt, avoiding the trip stone, and now keeping an extra vigilant eye out for traps.

After several more druagers before I finally made it to the puzzle door the journal had spoken of. It would be a lie to say I wasn't done with this crypt by then. The druager, an axe trap, almost getting set on fire and I wasn't even sure how far in I was now but thank Akatosh that this room was empty allowing me to finally catch my breath and rest a bit, even heal up a few minor injuries too.

I sat down in front of the odd door eating a slice of cheese as I looked over the claw and the dunmer, Advar's, journal hoping there'd be more detail on how everything would work.

"The key is in your hand," I read out loud as I looked over the claw noticing a set of images in the palm of it. I looked back up at the door noticing three rings of a large lock with the same symbols on it, though not in the same order. At the center of the door was a print of the claw. I stood up lining up the claw on the print, "So just put this here."

I hadn't intended to set off anything as I was figuring out the door, but there was a click of the lock and arrows began shooting from a trap above the door. I got shot in my arm and leg before falling away from the trap till it ran out of arrows. With a painful groan I snapped the shafts off leaving the heads to stem any bleeding.

"Okay code wrong get killed got it," After matching the images correctly the door went into the floor, opening to a cavern chamber with a grotto being fed by a waterfall behind a decorative wall. It was actually really beautiful though I couldn't help feeling on edge as I walked to a raised platform. As I walked closer to the wall I could see odd carvings onto it, faint chanting began to ring in my ears. Growing louder as I walked closer, some of the carvings began to glow matching the intensity of the ghostly chanting. It grew so much I couldn't see or hear anything around me before it suddenly stopped.

"That was odd," I shrugged turning around to leave just as the lid of a sarcophagus blew off with a loud crash before a drauger climbed out of it. I stumbled back as I drew my blade and summoned my familiar again.

The drauger stood to its full height before it shouted at me in a strange language that made me stumble back from the force of it.

Force

"What," I gasped as it swung an axe at me. I dodged it as my familiar bite at the things legs. As it turned its attention to the ghost wolf, allowing me to shoot fire at it. The druager growled and yelped in pain as it burned. I ended it with a slice down the back.

As it fell dead once again, an odd stone slab fell from its belt. I stepped closer to them, picking up the slab. It had what I could only guess was some kind of map carved into it. I gave a shrug before placing it into my bag, "Might be worth something to a wizard or something."

I then examined the axe discovering it was enchanted so I took that as well, having plans to either sell it or disenchant it later. After gathering treasure from a chest nearby I found my way out of the crypt following a set of stairs that led me to a hidden door which led to a tunnel. I could feel cold wind blowing from the outside.

So close to being out I hardly noticed as I started to limb from my earlier injury. I just wanted to get out of there. Finally, I exited the tunnel breathing the fresh air, looking around I was on a ledge on the side of the mountain, a lake in front of me giving me some idea of where I was. I climbed down from the ledge and went to the lake, dunking my head into the water. It was freezing but so refreshing at the same time. As I shook my head of the water, there was a snap of a twig behind me. I looked back just as a large grey wolf pounced on me.

I didn't even have time to scream as I held back the wolf from biting my face, my arm pressed against its throat to hold it back. With my free hand I tried to grab my weapon, managing to grab my blade as I pushed it off me.

It growled as it attacked again, but this time I thrusted my blade forward as it came at me, stabbing it in the face, killing it instantly. It's body fell limb as I pulled my blade back and stumbled backwards, panting hard as I felt my adrenaline draining from my body.

I couldn't tell what time of day it was or even if it was the same day as when I entered the burrow, and I didn't want to risk setting up a camp incase another animal decided I'd make a good meal. I shivered as a breeze blew through my still wet hair. My energy was low, and I only had a few potions left plus I was getting hungry too.

"Stamina, health and magic," I sighed, uncorking the stamina, "Hopefully this will get me back to Riverwood."

I downed half the bottle before corking it up before following the lake shore to the river bed in a casual jog till the wound on my leg began to hurt again. I sat against a tree resting before deciding I couldn't wait to heal the arrow wounds any longer. I dug the arrow heads out of my flesh before drinking some of my remaining healing potions.

The wounds began to seal over leaving nothing but fresh scars. I gave a sigh of relief as the pain faded as the wounds healed. Even though I was still pretty exhausted I could make it the rest of the way back to Riverwood, then Whiterun. I've put that off long enough. Luckily, I didn't see any evidence of that dragon being near the mountain so that was a relief at least. I managed to cross over to the town at a shallow past and immediately went to the traders. Alvor was at his anvil when I crossed the river and was the first to see me.

"Sif," he gasped almost dropping his hammer, shocked to see me.

"Good news no sign of the dragon," I gave a weak smile, "Bad news, I hope you won't mind me barrowing a bed for a time. Before I deliver your message to the Jarl."

"Of course," he nodded back to me. I smiled tiredly at him before stumbling inside and immediately collapsing onto the guest bed. Not even registering Halvor and Sigrid greeting me before I fell asleep.

A few hours later I woke up refreshed and energized. I gave my thanks to Alvor again for his hospitality before running to the trading post to return the claw. The siblings were happy to see me back as I gave them the claw back. With that I set off to Whiterun, I'd put it off long enough and I didn't feel comfortable leaving Alvor and his family so open if that dragon were to come back.

I ran at a steady pass till I made it to the city gate passing a Meadery and a few farms before making it to the city wall when a guard stopped me from entering the gates.

"Halt! City's closed with the dragons about. Official business only."

"Riverwood needs the Jarl's aid," I replied.

"Alright but I'm keeping my eye on you," he replied before unlocking the city gate for me.

"Thank you," I replied before entering the city. As I did there was an imperial soldier speaking with the towns blacksmith about a large order of weapons. I made a small note to come back and ask if I could get work from her after I talked with Jarl.

I followed the road up the hill through a market square with several vendors calling out their wares to others as they walked by. A set of stairs brought me to a park area with a large almost dead tree surrounded by four wooden benches around it. The tree looked sickly, as if a strong breeze would send it falling over.

"Excuse me miss, spare a coin."

I looked down in front of me to a small blonde, dirt covered little girl, staring up at me with big green eyes. I reached into my pocket giving her a septium.

"Divines bless your kind heart," she smiled up to me.

"Why are you begging," I asked her.

""It's... it's what Brenuin said I should do. He's the only one that's been nice to me since... since mama...Since she died. My aunt and uncle took over our farm and threw me out. Said I wasn't good for anything. I wound up here, but... I... I don't know what to do. I miss her so much... "

I frowned at the poor girl, knowing all too well of what a life on the streets can be like. On closer inspection I could see dark bags under her eyes from restless nights sleeping outside, her cheeks where sunken a bit, not having had a decent meal in some time. I peeked into my bag seeing if I still had any food left. I had a few apples and two loaves of bread left. I took out a coin purse with about 15 septum.

"Here," I said giving her the purse, an apple, and a loaf of bread, "There's about 15 septums in there. Get a warm meal from the inn and tell the keeper to hold a room for me till I get done with some business with the Jarl. Do that for me and I'll throw in an extra 10 for you."

Her face lit up as I gave her the gifts, "You're the best. Can you be my mother?"

I frowned a little, "I'd love to be your mother, but I don't have a home yet for us to live in."

"Oh," her smile faded. I kneeled down to her level, "But I'll make sure you are taken care of till I can."

Her smile returned as I told her this. I smiled back as I stood up, "Now I have to get to the palace. I'll meet you at the inn when I'm done alright sweetie."

"Yes ma-er miss, oh by the way I'm Lucia" she nodded.

"My name is Sif, and you can call me 'mom' whenever you feel comfortable," I smiled back to her. She did the same before heading to the inn. I smiled at her as she left before heading up a long set of stairs to Dragonsreach.