Chapter 11: Nightmares
Gelebor...
Darkness surrounded me, followed by whispers; voices that I remembered from my past. A few moments later I was in a temple, one I knew but couldn't quite place. Paladins that I once trained stood beside me; fear and shock evident in their faces. Blood curdling screams filled the hall and hunched creatures crept towards us. I knew by their twisted forms that they were the Betrayed. Without even thinking I lunged towards them; swinging and moving my body in an attempt to end their lives before they ended ours.
The muscles in my arms shook and ached as I slashed and stabbed one of the Betrayed until it lay dead before me. Time seemed to slow down when one of the Betrayed's swords cut into a Paladin. The Paladin's cry was enough to knock me back. I looked behind and realised that the Betrayed were slaughtering them. Arrows ruptured flesh like the wild teeth of wolves at their prey.
Realising that it was useless, I ran. I wasn't sure where I was going but I recognised the corridors I passed. I felt light headed with each breath. The armour I wore clung to me, making escaping from the beasts even more difficult. They were fast; almost too fast.
I forced my way through the wooden door and entered the Inner Sanctum of the Chantry. The walls and floor were covered in thick layers of ice and most of the temple had crumbled away. Several of the Betrayed were cased in ice, but they all faced the throne in a praying position. The ones behind me had disappeared, as if they were never there.
"Brother." Golden eyes pierced through shadow and slowly a figure emerged from the dark.
The air in the room vanished and my heart dropped. I felt it snag on every bone of my ribcage on the way down. I was fluid. "Vyrthur! H-How is this possible?"
He ghosted down the stone steps; his eyes fixed on mine. "You, dear brother, are an easily manipulated fool. Do you honestly believe that I could be killed by a mere mortal? Come now, you can't seriously believe me to be dead, can you?"
"This cannot be possible. I saw your body; what Emelin had done-"
"Emelin? Ah, the Dunmer girl who accompanied the vampire I needed to complete my prophecy; the one who ruined my plans. Have you grown fond of her Gelebor?"
"What do you know of her Vyrthur? Answer me!"
The corners of his mouth twitched into a sinister sneer; his eyes flew to the far corner of the hall and rested on the throne. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
"Yes Gelebor, why don't you?" A familiar voice asked. The light casted over her form and I was stricken into silence. Her complexion was not blue and nor was it white, but a mixture of dark greys. All traces of life were gone and what was left was a hallow-cheeked and skeletal body of a woman who wasn't who she made out to be.
"Emelin..." I barely whispered, my mouth suddenly dry.
"Tell me, Gelebor. Is this the woman you remember?"
Vyrthur's hands wound round her waist. Anger filled within me and I couldn't stop myself from charging forward. However, before I could get close enough I was pulled back by two members of the Betrayed. They snarled and growled as they dragged me back.
"Is this really necessary brother? Is she worth more than I am? I am your flesh and blood! I am one of your kin. Surely she is not worth as much as I am?"
"You died long ago, Vyrthur. You made your choice and had to live with the consequence. Why bring her into this?" I snapped.
Emelin tilted her head to the side and exposed her neck. "Because, dear brother," his mouth moved closer to her, "Auri-El turned his back on me. I'd swore I'd have my revenge-"
I balled my fists as his hand swept over her cheek and struggled against my captors.
"No matter what the cost." He bit her neck. Her scream was strangled. He drained the blood from her body.
My eyes flew open. Traces of smoke still lingered in the air and the tent was filled with the gentle snores and whines of my companions. I rubbed my face and let out a shaky breath.
That nightmare... I knew Vyrthur was gone, but for some reason I couldn't help but doubt myself and what I believed. I knew about his infatuation with Auri-El and even somewhat sympathised with him when he was alive, but I never thought that his hatred ran so deep. Perhaps it was my imagination, but it was too real to be just nothing.
Something stirred in the dark and I found myself looking over at Emelin who was half-burried in her furs. She seemed to be well, innocent and almost peaceful.
I frowned.
How could she scare me so? Even if what I experienced was a nightmare, it still affected me. I didn't want to admit that out of the whole ordeal it was her appearance that terrified me the most, but I knew that it was... and that concerned me.
She nudged her head from under her pillow and her hair fell in front of her face. Without thinking I reached for her cheek and brushed her hair back. I quickly removed my hand when she moved and waited until she was settled.
I shouldn't have been concerned for her. She constantly braved dangers I could only imagine and knew how to take care of herself. Still, I couldn't ignore the worry I felt when thinking about such dangers and wanting to be there to protect her. Perhaps it was fate that brought her with me, perhaps it was Auri-El himself, but I was fortunate to have her company, even if I wished that she had stayed back in Skyrim were she would have been safe.
Unable to sleep I reached for my satchel and took our Niribor's journal. Maybe studying the journal could clear my mind and help me focus on the task at hand.