4E201 - 18th of Last Seed - Middas

Before continuing on I set on a nearby stone bench and ate some bread and cheese, gulping them down with some Alto wine I had with me for just such an occasion. A few minutes later, I was ready to continue.

Another door lay ahead me and this time I really had the feeling that it was almost over. As I opened it, a long corridor lay ahead of me. There were pictures on the walls, but I ignored them in my haste to reach the door on the other side.

And as I stood there pondering how to open it, I remembered a passage from the dead robber's journal. "When you have the golden claw, the solution is in the palm of your hands." Now, I have to admit I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I got the clue. I took the golden claw out of my pocket and looked it over. On its palm there was a combination of three animals, same as on the door. I decided to try the pattern on the claw, but was ready to run away just in case I was wrong.

I wasn't. I breathlessly watched as the doors to the inner sanctum opened and I walked in. This was the last chamber before this adventure was over. All I could feel at that moment was overwhelming relief and exhaustion. I promised myself that after I returned to Riverwood, I would go to the inn and sleep like the dead. I don't know how much time passed since I went inside the Bleak Falls Barrow, but I was sure that it was already the next day.

A quiet whisper in my head made me stop as I walked across the bridge. I looked around myself to see if there was anyone in the room. Not seeing anyone, I continued my trek up the stairs, the whispering growing louder and louder until I finally saw a stone wall with weird writing on it. It seemed to glow and beckon me to approach it. So I did. And then something went through me. I felt a new power grow inside me though I had no idea what it was.

And then, of course, there had to be another draugr to fight.

The draugr had a weird stone tablet on him and I decided to keep it. You never know, perhaps I'll need it one day. I also picked up his magical sword and a few trinkets from the chest nearby. I might get to disenchant the magical sword and sell some of the jewellery I picked up on my way through the barrow.

It was raining when I finally got out of the caverns. I could hear the thunder in the distance and every now and then a lightning bolt illuminated the night. I felt my legs tremble with exhaustion, but I wasn't in Riverwood yet so I couldn't sleep until I got there.

The rest of the journey was spent without too much excitement. When I finally arrived to Riverwood, I was dead on my feet. I felt like I could sleep for a week straight. But I had to bring the claw to Lucan first.

After Camilla got done hugging me from the happiness of seeing me still alive and Lucan thanking me over and over again, I finally managed to drag myself to the Sleeping Giant Inn and rented myself a room for the night.

I slept until three in the afternoon.

I awoke hungry and thirsty, so I drank some wine and bread and cheese that I brought with me. And then I was ready to start a new day. When I exited my room, Sven was there.

I almost turned around and went back in. I really didn't like Sven. He kept trying to woo Camilla, knowing that Faendal liked her as well. And then he dared ask me to give a letter to Camilla pretending that it was from Faendal. Like hell would I do that. I went straight to Camilla and told her the truth. Was I ever happy that she said she didn't want anything to do with Sven anymore. I went and told Faendal about it and he was very happy with me. Of course he would be, he was head over heels with Camilla and was also bothered by Sven.

I spent a few more hours in the village just catching up with Camilla and Faendal. Lucan bought the jewellery I found in Bleak Falls Barrow and I bought a lantern from him. All I had to do now was catch a torchbug at night and I would have myself something that won't die on me like the torch I found on the bandit did.

Then I returned to the inn, ate some dinner and went to sleep. It would be another early morning for me tomorrow.