Chapter Twenty-Six:

A Little Sidetracked

It didn't take long to get to Riverwood, but it was nearly dawn. I was tired, I was upset, and I didn't want to sleep. Sleeping would give my subconscious time to think about Milos. I'd totally asked for it. He just wasn't ready to accept it. I wasn't either, and I'd forced it on him...

No, I didn't force it. It was forced on me. It'd be easier for him to deal with than me. Milos left because of his hate for were-creatures. And I was a hereditary one.

"I don't know where it went, but you're here. That's all that matters to me."

Liar.

My fists clenched. Hiemdall noticed easily. No one had asked where Milos was, but everyone knew I'd talked to him before we entered Riften, so they had a pretty good idea that he probably wasn't even in Skyrim anymore. Maybe he'd gone back to Black Marsh, or Morrowind, or Cyrodiil! Not like it mattered to me. He was just gone.

We disembarked from the wagon, paying the driver extra for the night-run. The Sleeping Giant Inn looked welcoming, and I suddenly wished that I actually would sleep.

Delphine met us in the tavern, as opposed to her secret room. Her arms were crossed, as usual, but they immediately went to her hips when she saw Esbern. I guessed that the gesture was her version of jumping for joy.

"Delphine!" Esbern greeted. "I... it's good to see you. It's been... a long time."

"It's good to see you, too, Esbern," Delphine replied softly (which gave me a mini heart-attack). "It's been too long, old friend. Too long." And then, she was all business again. "Well, then. You made it, safe and sound. Good. Come on, I have a place we can talk." She looked to the man sweeping the floor. "Orgnar, hold down the bar for a minute, will you?"

He placed his broom in a corner. "Yeah, sure," he grunted.

Delphine beckoned Esbern. "This way," she said.

I followed her to the secret room while the others hung back to get some rooms. I didn't blame them, but I was jealous. I didn't want to listen to Delphine, but someone had to...

"Now then," Delphine started as we descended the stairs. "I assume you know about..."

"Oh yes!" Esbern exclaimed. "Dragonborn! Indeed, yes. This changes everything, of course. There's no time to lose. We must locate... let me show you. I know I had it here, somewhere..."

Delphine rolled her eyes. "Esbern, what..."

The old Nord held up a hand. "Give me... just a moment... Ah! Here it is. Come, let me show you." Esbern placed a book on the table, which had a red back and cover. He opened it and pointed to a drawing. "You see, right here. Sky Haven Temple, constructed around one of the main Akaviri military camps in the Reach, during their conquest of Skyrim."

Delphine looked at me increduously. "Do you know what he's talking about?"

"Shh!" Esbern hissed. "This is where they built Alduin's Wall, to set down in stone all their accumulated Dragonlore. A hedge against the forgetfulness of centuries. A wise and foresighted policy, in the event. Despite the far-reaching fame of Alduin's Wall at the time—one of the wonders of the ancient world—its location was lost."

"Esbern, what are you getting at?"

"You mean... you don't mean to say you haven't heard of Alduin's Wall?" Esbern's eyes darted in-between us. "Either of you?"

"Let's pretend we haven't. What's Alduin's Wall and what does it have to do with stopping the Dragons?"

"Alduin's Wall was where the ancient Blades recorded all they knew of Alduin and his return. Part history, part prophecy. Its location has been lost for centuries, but I've found it again. Not lost, you see, just forgotten. The Blades archives held so many secrets... I was only able to save a few scraps..."

Delphine rested her hands on the table. "So you think Alduin's Wall will tell us how to defeat Alduin?"

"Well, yes, but... there's no guarantee, of course."

Delphine smiled. "Sky Haven Temple it is, then. I knew you'd have something for us, Esbern. I know the area of the Reach that Esbern's talking about. Near what's now known as Karthspire, in the Karth River canyon. We can meet you there, or all travel together, your call."

I sighed. "If you're willing to wait a few hours for me to sleep, then we can travel together."

"I'd rather not wait," Delphine admitted. "Esbern and I will meet you at Karthspire while you and your companions get some rest. We'll meet you there."

I nodded. "Got it."

I was the first to exit the secret room. I had to peek into the rooms we'd rented to see where I could sleep. It turned out that Javin, Aldren and Cha'qim had bunked together. That meant Hiemdall and I had to share a room. I sighed and entered it, shrugging my bag off of my shoulders and faceplanting into my pillow.

"Finally in, eh?" Hiemdall remarked.

"Mhm." I wanted to be lazy and sleep in my armour, but I thought better of it and began to undo the belts keeping the leather firmly in place. "Where'd I put my clothes...?"

"They're in the outer-pocket," Hiemdall grumbled, turning onto his side. "You told me to remind you."

I dug through it until I found a simple shirt and slacks. "Thanks," I said.

A few moments were passed in silence before Hiemdall snickered. "You're comfortable changing in front of other people?"

I shrugged. "Living in an orphanage with twenty other kids doesn't give you room for privacy. At least if you've got something covering your private parts, you should be fine."

Hiemdall sat up on his bed and stared at me for a time. "Are you hungry?" he finally asked.

I'd lost my appetite since Milos had left, but I knew better than to refuse myself food. "I guess."

He stood up and led me out of the room just as Delphine and Esbern were leaving the secret room. Delphine was giving the inn to the man who was always sweeping. He was wishing her well when we ordered something to eat.

"Not so tired anymore?" Delphine asked.

"I can't sleep on an empty stomach," I admitted. "Best to get that out of the way..." Delphine nodded and began to leave when I suddenly remembered something. "Delphine!" I called.

The Blade turned to face me. "Yes?"

"Take your time in getting there," I advised. "I have some business in Whiterun that may take a few days, and it needs to be addressed immediately."

She definitely wasn't jumping for joy, but she nodded and wished me well, as did Esbern. Hiemdall got our plates of food (cooked venison, carrots, and some goat's milk to help it go down. I grabbed the cups) and set them down at a bench. We ate in silence. I barely tasted what was going down, partially because I was eating so quickly.

"So what business do you have in Whiterun?" Hiemdall asked, leaning his head on his arm and looking at me.

I gulped down the milk and stared hard at my plate. "I need to talk to Kodlak. There's not much time left for me before we find out if... if it's gonna happen."

Hiemdall watched me for a few seconds and then sat up straight. "It's not so bad, you know. I mean, I'm not hereditary, but you get used to it."

"I don't want to."

He rubbed his stubble in thought. "What I meant to say is that there are ways you can deal with it."

"The only way I want to deal with it is to get rid of it." I sighed. "First my parents abandon me to Anvil, and then I find out that they've left a little 'coming of age' present." I stared at my milk and swirled it around. "Maybe it would be better if I was dead."

"Then who'd be there to kill the Dragons?" Hiemdall smirked. "I wouldn't fancy my life in the hands of anyone else. You command the respect and trust of those you follow, even though you don't notice it. We follow you because we admire you."

"I don't want to be admired. I don't even want to be here..."

"The Gods have quite a way of working," the young Nord murmured. "Regardless of what we want, there's a little thing in our subconscious minds controlled by them, pushing us towards our destinies. Fate."

I finished my milk and stood up. "Thanks for the talk, but I need to sleep. I have too much on my mind right now."

"I'm sure Milos does too." I was halfway to the door when I stopped. "I'm sure he just needed time to clear his head. He'll come around."

I narrowed my eyes. "I hope."

It was the afternoon when we were all rested, fed, and ready to leave. We walked to Whiterun, only encountering a giant, but he realized he was on the road we wished to pass and lumbered off. I waved in thanks, and he responded in the same manner. If they weren't hostile, they were very friendly.

We didn't stop anywhere but the Jorrvaskr. The moment I stepped inside, I felt this overwhelming feeling of... I couldn't describe it properly. Everyone but Hiemdall remained in the main area to mingle with the Companions there, while I wondered if Kodlak was where he'd been before.

"He's usually in his room," Hiemdall assured me. "He contracted the rot, so he tries not to aggrivate it."

Hiemdall led me down the steps. I could feel the eyes of some of the Companions on me, but I didn't pay them any mind. It wasn't until we got downstairs that anything happened.

Aela came out of her room and leaned against the wall of the hallway, her arms crossed and her expression stern. "What's she doing here?" the Companion asked, indicating me with her chin.

Two other men came out of their respective rooms and watched us. There was a pull in my chest that told me they were Werewolves as well. And twins, by the look of it.

"Aela," Hiemdall greeted, "Farkas, Vilkas, Taryn needs to talk with Kodlak."

"She shouldn't be allowed near him!" Aela growled.

I glared at her. "And why not? I'm seeking help, to see if he has any cure!"

"So this is the one you were talking about, Aela?" Vilkas asked while his brother crossed his arms over his armoured chest.

"Yeah," Aela replied to her fellow Companion. "And as for you, you shouldn't be anywhere near our Harbinger! You're not even a Companion!"

"She goes to him with my authority," Hiemdall said. "It's only natural for her to—."

"She's not getting anywhere near Kodlak!" Aela stood tall, her arm tensed. She wanted to draw her bow.

I was in a defensive position before I even knew it. So was Farkas, Vilkas, and Hiemdall. It was a classic stand-off. Just as Aela's hand touched her bow, the doors at the end of the hall opened. Kodlak Whitemane strode down the hall, a firm frown on his naturally stoic face.

"Companions, withdraw!" he ordered. "No fighting in the Jorrvaskr! Not ones that intend to draw blood!" Aela reluctantly backed-down. Kodlak regarded me, recognition in his eyes. "Taryn Greystone. I remember you. What brings you back to the Jorrvaskr?"

"I think we both know the answer to that," I growled, a little more hostile than I had initially meant to be.

Kodlak's mouth became a thin line. "Ah. I see." Kodlak turned his back on me. "Follow me. Alone. We need to talk in private."

"But Kodlak—!" Aela interjected, but was silenced with a wave of the Nord's hand.

"I can still handle myself, Aela. There's no need," he assured her.

I followed Kodlak into his quarters. The old Nord sat at his desk and turned a page in a book he'd likely been reading before he came out. I closed the doors to ensure privacy.

"How do I get rid of it?" I asked, getting to the point.

Kodlak leaned back in his chair and looked at me plainly. His silver eyes darted across my figure before they settled on my face.

"I don't yet know," he admitted. "But I'm getting close. However..." Kodlak sighed. "I'm not sure if it will work for a hereditary Werewolf."

I leaned on one of the glass cases in his study housing a longsword. "Why didn't you tell me about this when I was here before?!" I pressed. "What the hell kind of medicine did you use on me?! Why get Hiemdall to watch over me?! What's Aela's problem—?!"

Kodlak silenced me by raising both his hands, seemingly in defense, but his frame was showing authority. I'd always hated seeing such a thing as a child. He slowly got to his feet and reached above his bookcase, beginning to fiddle with the hidden weapon case.

"The medicine I used was specially created by a friend I have, a High Elf named Sventius Arus—no connection with the Thalmor, I assure you—and I use it to help quell the Wolf Spirits that sometimes rise to challenge." Kodlak reached inside of the case. "Aela wishes to protect me at any cost. I was her Harbinger since she was a little girl, so it's only natural now that I'm... sick."

Kodlak brought out an ebony dagger from the case. It looked old, easily older than me, but it still looked sharp. Kodlak twirled it around and then handed it to me, hilt out. I grasped the hilt warily and examined it. On the pommel was a name, engraved with magicka.

"I didn't tell you what I thought you were before because I wasn't entirely sure," Kodlak continued as I read the name. "There were... many things I needed to be sure of when you came."

Elana Victus. That was the name on the hilt. I held it out for Kodlak to take back, but the old Nord shook his head.

"It's yours," he said. "By right, it's yours."

One of my eyebrows went up. "Why? Whose dagger is this?"

Kodlak's eyes lingered on the weapon for a while. "My wife's," he said plainly.

I put it on his desk. "Then you keep it. It's yours. She would've wanted you to—."

"No, she wouldn't." Kodlak picked up the dagger and held it out to me again. "Elana was an Imperial woman who grew up in the Great War and had a great disdain towards the Thalmor. She came to Skyrim on a mission, and we met."

"I don't see how this has anything to do with why you want me to—."

"I had just become Harbinger when we met. It was an accident, of course, since she had gotten side-tracked on her mission and captured by the enemies of the Companions. But I knew her long enough and well enough to know that she would have wanted you to have it." Kodlak pressed the dagger into my hand. "She would have wanted it given to her daughter."