"By the Eight," Lynne gasped. "It's freezing in here!"

It made sense; there was a layer of snow and ice over everything in their path, which made it seem ever more possible that the air was freezing in their lungs.

"Come on," Aera said, rubbing her hands together to fight the cold. "We need to finish this."

They wound their way through the icy tunnel, until they came to a fork. One side sloped up, the other down. It was as if she was there again.

Swords clashed, making sparks in the chill. She spun around and drove her dagger into the elf's chest. He clutched at the wound and gargled through the blood in his mouth, "You will fall," Before collapsing, his blood staining the snow. A hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Aera," Lynne asked as she came to. "Are you alright?" She shivered, but not from the cold.

"Yes, I'm fine." She said. "We should keep moving."

They took the path that sloped up, and after following it, came to another room. The area was much larger and opened up above them. There was a small fire towards the middle, with three elves around it. Up on a ridge, another stood watch. There were two more guarding the door that lead to the interior of the fort.

Aera motioned for Lynne to wait. She loaded an arrow and took aim for the elf on the ridge. Her arrow whistled through the air and struck true. The elf's fall was muffled by the snow and the others didn't seem to notice. The two by the door were her next targets.

"You get the one on the left." She whispered to Lynne. Nodding, she drew an arrow; Aera did the same. She took a deep breath, knowing that once they took down these two, the other three would be on their guard; they would have only moments for a chance to take them down.

Her arrow flew, followed seconds later by Lynne's and before they could cry out, the elves collapsed on the snow. As predicted, one elf, probably higher in rank judging by his armor, stood up. He called for arms, but by then, his remaining comrades had fallen as well by two more well placed arrows. He looked up and met Aera's eyes. She quickly reached for another arrow as Lynne switched for her sword. The elf drew his long sword and charged at them. He was fast and reached them in moments. Lynne ran out and intercepted him. The two sparred while Aera held her aim steady, waiting for an opening. Lynne finally caught him and sliced open his forearm. He gasped and faltered; Aera's arrow dug itself into his head. He flipped backwards at the impact as his blood splattered the walls around him.

"Let's go," Aera said removing her arrow. "There is still more to come." They made their way across the cavern to the old oak door. Aera picked the lock and the door opened, letting out a warm draft of air. Lynne sighed in relief. With both the armor and her fur, Aera certainly wasn't as cold as Lynne, and she made a mental note to ask for extra heating in their rooms tonight.

The sudden change from iced rock to warm wood was welcome. As her muscles began to defrost, Aera prepared herself for what was bound to come. How they managed to build a fort inside a mountain astounded her. Perhaps it was already here, and the mountain grew around it? Everything is Skyrim is ancient – so who's to say it isn't a possibility.

The two crept forward into the forts interior. A short hallway opened up in front of them, each wall lined with doors. One of these rooms held the Book; among other things Aera was sure. She loaded an arrow and took a stance across from the first door. She nodded to Lynne who opened it. Inside, an Altmer was writing at a desk on its back wall. Before he had time to turn around, her arrow had driven itself into his skull and he rolled to the floor. They moved onto each room in the same manner, most were empty, but any occupants were taken out easily. They approached the last door on the right. A soft whirring accompanied by a tinkling sound came from the other side of it and Aera heard a voice within; many voiced actually. Lynne opened the door slowly and they marched into the room, bows raised high.

"I must admit, I didn't expect you to breech my defenses so easily. Truly you are a force to be reckoned with." The high elf stood at the front of the room with his back to them, but turned as they entered. Behind him was a phenomenon unlike anything Aera had seen before; it was a glowing mass of blue and green magic that swirled around, and almost appeared to caress him. The voices Aera had heard before were clearly coming from it, as dozens of whispers echoed off the stone. In the middle of it, the magic streams seemed to blend together to form a solid wall, almost portal like in its entirety, but to where, she could not say. The elf smiled at them, his luminous green eyes gleaming. They scanned them over, but when they landed on Aera, his smile dropped.

"Ah, I know you. You were the one that murdered my father and destroyed his guild." He said with a scowl. "But this one," He turned to Lynne, "This one I do not recognize. Who are you my child? I want to know your name before I turn you inside out."

Lynne stared him down. "Listen here you sick bastard; I don't know what your problem is, but one false move and I'll pierce your throat before you have time to scream." Her fingers tightened around the delicate fletching of her arrows. "My name is Lynne, by the way. I hope you remember it on your way to the void."

The elf broke out into laughter, a sinister smile on his face. "Oh aren't you fun! You may call me Avicto, my sweet one. Now as for you," He turned back to Aera. "Why have you come here? What could you possibly hope to accomplish with this? You know that your actions are futile. I possess the most powerful magic in all of Tamriel! There is nothing you can do to stop me!"

She glared at him. "I could kill you where you stand? Face it, you're outnumbered. Try what you will, but I see you dead before the day is out." Her words came out strong, but her hands shook with trepidation.

"My, my, aren't you well-spoken for a primal cat." He hissed the last word at her; Aera hissed back.

"I was taught proper English so I could prove to highbloods like you that not all Khajiit are common filth!"

He scoffed. "You are all filth to me." Avicto turned his back to them and leaned over a lectern. When he turned back, he held a large black tome. Its cover was rotted from age and was covered with veins of glowing energy; not unlike the ones circling around the room. Avicto opened up the Neocresis, flipped to a page in the middle and began chanting.

Panicked, Aera went to release her arrow, but found she couldn't actually move. Looking over, she saw Lynne with a pained expression, also trying to no avail to free herself from whatever spell he had placed on them. Avicto's chanting grew quicker. The veins of magic from the tome were now winding themselves up his arms, pulsing threateningly. When he looked up again, Aera saw his eyes now glowed with the same power. His fingers tightened around the edges of the book, as if he was holding on to this realm with all his life. Maybe he was.

Next to her, Lynne began turning to face Aera. Hopeful she had broken through the spell, Aera grinned, but only for a moment. Lynne's bow was still drawn, and now her steel arrow was pointed straight at Aera's heart. Her eyes met Lynne's; they were rimmed with fearful tears. A sudden idea came to her, though it was not one she wanted to act on, but needed to act on.

"Shoot me." Aera whispered to her. "Shoot me, and I can shoot him once the spell is broken."

Startled, Lynne shook her head slowly at first, then faster. "No, no I won't do it!" she cried "I'll kill you!"

Aera looked her dead in the eye. "Lynne, you have to do this." She said. "I trust you."

She held the terrified Bretons gaze, willing her to believe. Lynne's eyes suddenly hardened, her face set in determined grimace. She nodded once. Her fingers opened and time seemed to slow as the arrow rocketed towards her. Aera closed her eyes.

At first it felt as if she had only been punched, then gasped as a pain unlike any she and ever experienced washed over her. Her senses became muddled, but she vaguely thought she heard Lynne screaming. Aera fell to one knee, but managed to stay upright. Avicto still enraptured in his spell barely had time to react to her arrow, and it only just missed his heart, striking him instead in the shoulder.

The tome snapped closed, and all its power was sucked back into it as its master was no longer in control. He stumbled backwards clutching his shoulder, smiled at them, then fell through the portal as it closed. Aera didn't remember falling until her face was on the cold, stone floor. As her vision darkened, she saw Lynne's face above her, then the blackness overwhelmed her and Aera slipped into the void.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait on the update - this chapter took FOREVER to write. I had to several drafts and consult with my friend Kayla, who is Lynne's creator, on many things. Also I have been bogged down with homework, but I am on fall break for a few more days so I will try to get more written.

Ahh, I love cliffhangers. ;)