Author's note: This prompt was quite a bit of fun, though it did run away from me and became longer than I expected. Anyway, this involves the Bleak Falls Barrow and the Golden Claw. I couldn't help but write about this early adventure. The swinging pendulum reminded me of, well, The Pit and The Pendulum by E.A. Poe. That and the atmosphere was fantastically frightening.

So, thanks and hope you enjoy.

Prompt: Strange Contraption

As both adventurers watched the giant blade swing back and forth in the narrow passageway, they both seemed to have the same thought going through their minds.

'I'm not running through that.'

Gabrielle turned to find Faendal staring straight at her, almost willing her to face the giant blade first. She tried to smile reassuringly, but it only looked pained and hurt her cheeks.

"Oh, come on. I mean, how bad can it possibly be?" She said in a strained voice.

They both looked back at the blade, swinging rhythmically, whistling through the air, gleaming in the flickering light of the torches…

Faendal slapped her shoulder in what was meant to be a reassuring and friendly show of faith, but it only served to make Gabrielle even more nervous.

"My friend," he said, "only a true warrior could make it through this alive. I'd wish you luck, but you obviously don't need it."

She stared at him and wished it were possible to shoot fire from her eyes. When the elf didn't immediately go up in flames, she sighed, sheathed her sword, and mentally prepared herself.

'A true warrior is fearless,' She repeated the old mantra in her thoughts.

As she backed up a bit and readied herself to sprint through, she let the mantra circle in her head over and over. Taking a deep breath, she took off. Gabrielle sped past Faendal, into the small pathway. She felt the air as it was cut by the giant blade, felt her heart speed up and her breath stutter as her body automatically expected the pendulum to come down on her flesh. Then, she was through and tripping over her own two feet.

A hysterical laugh bubbled up from deep within her and burst forth. She spun in place and then looked back down the corridor at Faendal. His face was completely worth the whole trip. If there was some way to save this moment, Gabrielle would jump on it in a second.

"Come on Faendal! It's a lot easier than it looks," she said, trying to hold back the fit of giggles that wanted to erupt.

He almost frowned at her, but then his face twisted into one of fear and pointed behind her and screamed, "Watch out Gabrielle!"

She spun around and was hit across the chest by another of the restless draugrs that cursed this particular cave. Her back hit the corner of the passageway and knocked the breath out of her. Her hands glowed with the magic she called forth and blasted the draugr with as much fire as she could muster. The bones splintered in the heat of the flames and the monster fell after a moment of confused flailing.

There was a sound of rattling, metal moving against metal, and a steel arrow lodged itself in the stone next to Gabrielle's head. At least three more draugrs came from seemingly nowhere and started to rush at the Redguard. She stood as quickly as she could and drew her greatsword.

"Faendal! I need you here!" She yelled as she came forward to meet the first draugr. Their swords clashed and she put all her strength into pushing the monster back. Her back ached from the earlier impact and she felt like her limbs were moving through water.

She heard a racket behind her, a curse, and then something was pushing her forward. She had no choice but to try to use the momentum and braced herself as the draugr came under her blade. Her sword cut through it and the skeleton fell apart and to the ground. There was a scrambling and arrows soared through the air above her head. The archer draugr fell with a rattle to the ground.

The last draugr came at her and so Gabrielle stabbed up and through the creature. To ensure it died, she slashed it until the creature fell at her feet.

Air felt like a struggle to gather into her lungs and then push out. She felt a hand on her arm and drag her over to the wall next to the passageway. Both bodies slipped to the floor and it felt to Gabrielle like their hearts were the only two beating in the whole of Skyrim. After a moment, she called forth her healing magic and let it encircle them. It was warm and had a welcoming light.

"Much better," she sighed in relief.

"Feeling like a true warrior yet?" Faendal asked. It was quiet a moment, but then they both burst out laughing.

"Of course! I have proven and will prove again that I am a true warrior," Gabrielle said with pride.

They both started to rise when Gabrielle discovered the hoop on the chain embedded in the wall. She looked at Faendal and saw him shrug. They were both curious, so the elf prepared for any battle that would come and the Redguard pulled the chain. Their bodies tensed, but there was only a loud clicking noise and then…nothing.

The adventurers exchanged a look of confusion before Faendal noticed something. Or rather, a lack of something.

"Do you hear anything?" He asked as he looked around the room.

"…no, not really," Gabrielle said. She then looked down the passageway with the swinging blade now gone, began to turn back towards Faendal, and did a double take.

"Uh," she tapped Faendal on the shoulder and grinned sheepishly when he turned back around. His jaw dropped and he almost lost the arrow notched in his bow.

"Oops."