Chapter 22
The wind was howling through the mountains, biting at Beras' nose and cheeks. He pulled the folds of his cloak closer to his face, hoping that he would not get frostbite. Cloud Ruler Temple was definitely close; Beras could feel it. He could not, however, see it. The falling snow was like a wall, preventing him from seeing anything past a few feet in front of himself.
After three days of continuous snow, Sabona and Alix had decided that they would have to continue North towards Skyrim, despite the weather. Beras had not questioned their judgment at the time, but now, upon seeing how difficult it was to travel a relatively short distance, he had begun to wonder whether or not they would even survive the trip through the Jerall Mountains.
"How much longer, do you think, until we make it to the Temple?" Beras asked, but his voice was whipped away by the wind. Beras sighed, and tried to wiggle his toes. It must have been hours since he had last been able to feel them.
Looking up from his ice-coated boots, Beras saw that Alix was trying to cast a spell of some sort. Judging by the color and shape of the light in her palm, it was a circle of protection. However, upon closer inspection, he found that it was tinted slightly green, the same shade as many Alteration spells.
Suddenly, she flourished her hand, casting the spell. An orb, not a ring, of light erupted from her palm and encircled the three of them, acting like a barrier that blocked out the snow and wind. Alix smiled, very clearly pleased with herself.
Sabona stared at her for a moment. "Did you just make that spell up on the spot?" he asked, obviously in awe.
Alix nodded. "I thought that if I combined mage armor with a circle of protection, I could make a somewhat-solid barrier. Solid enough to keep out the snow, at least."
"Well, thanks," he said, giving her a polite nod. "I don't think Beras was going to survive much longer." Sabona paused for a moment before adding, "Nor was I, to be honest."
"We'll be at the Temple in a matter of minutes," Alix said. "Now that we're protected from the wind and snow, we can really pick up the pace."
Beras suddenly became aware of how hard he was breathing and tried to slow the pace of his breaths. This only lead to a painful cramp just below his ribs. He sighed, making up his mind to ignore the pain.
Like a ghost emerging from the mist, a dark shadow appeared in the snow. As they walked closer to it, details of its architecture began to reveal themselves. It was Cloud Ruler Temple, just as noble and mighty as Beras last remembered. Despite himself, he felt tears forming in his eyes at the sight of his home.
As always, he could see two lookouts perched at the top of the fortress's walls, despite the blizzard. No doubt, one of them had already informed the captains of their arrival.
As if on cue, a voice penetrated the whistling wind. "Stop! You approach Cloud Ruler Temple, stronghold of the Blades! State your purpose!" Beras recognized the voice as that of Captain Ceolwe.
"We're travellers, headed North towards Skyrim," Sabona shouted up to her. "We were caught in the blizzard, and will surely die if you don't grant us shelter!"
"And how, might I ask, does that concern the Blades?" Ceolwe called back down, coldly. "By no means do the lives of three insignificant travellers have any impact on the longevity of the Empire!"
Sabona sighed, rolling his eyes. "I didn't want to play this card," he mumbled. Straightening up, he stared directly into Ceolwe's eyes. "One of these three 'insignifiant travellers' was someone who lived with you, in that Temple of yours, for the last four years."
"Beras?" Ceolwe snorted. "That can't be. Beras is dead."
Sabona jabbed Beras in the side, and gestured towards the Captain with his head. "Let them know who you are."
Fidgeting uncomfortably, Beras shouted, "I-it really is me! The Thalmor took me as a prisoner, but I escaped and-"
"Open the gates!"
Beras sighed in relief as he watched the massive set of doors slide open. Along with Alix and Sabona, he began to climb the entrance flight of stairs. Almost instantly, the storm subsided, leaving just a slight, chilly wind.
At the top of the steps was a small group of people; Ceolwe, Widmur, and another woman who Beras recognized as Retta, the person who usually planned out missions and saw to their completion. All three of them were staring at him with a look of subtle shock.
"Get her," Ceolwe commanded.
Widmur nodded, and left into the Temple without another word. A few minutes or later, he emerged.
"I don't see why you can't just tell me why you're calling me out here," a very familiar voice complained. A second person came out of the Temple, a woman with shoulder length brown hair and tired, blue eyes.
Annel looked up and froze, her mouth hanging open in surprize, and eyes wide. She stood there for a moment, and a single tear fell from her left eye. "Beras…" she said quietly, staggering forwards. "You… you're…"
Beras smiled weakly, and ruffled his hair awkwardly.
Annel leaped forwards, punching Beras hard in the jaw. "AN IDIOT!" she screamed.
Beras tumbled backwards, rolling down at least ten steps before he was able to stop his fall. His entire body was in pain. "Annel," he cried. "I'm-"
Before he could finish, he felt a boot make contact with his cheek, sending him toppling all the way to the bottom of the stairs. "You're such an idiot, Beras!" she screamed, as she ran down the steps after him. "What were you thinking!?"
Before Beras could respond, Annel had slammed her elbow into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
"It's been over a month since I thought you were dead. A month," Annel scathed. "What could have been so important that you weren't able to stop by and let me know you were alive!?"
Beras sat up, gasping for breath. Wiping his mouth, he found he could not make eye contact. "I'm sorry. I was learning to use magic, and I guess I-"
A slap to the face cut him off this time. "Oh, now I understand! You were learning magic! And of course, while one is learning magic, it's impossible for them to visit home and tell everyone that they are alive!"
Guilt hit Beras like a hammer. Of course he should have come back first, what was he thinking? Was he so wrapped up with the idea that he could be good at something that he lost sight of what was really important?
"You!" Annel shouted, punctuating every word with a punch to the face. "Have! No! Right! To! Put! Me! Through! Hell! Like! That!"
Suddenly, she wrapped one arm around his back, and held the back of his head with her other hand. Before Beras knew what was happening, she had pulled him into a kiss. Tears streaming from her eyes, the two of them lingered there for what felt like hours.
Beras pulled away, and backed up a few inches. He did not know why, but it felt… wrong, as if he were kissing his own sister. "W-why?" He stammered. "Why did you do that?"
Annel shook her head. "I don't know," she mumbled, staring down at the ground in an embarrassed manner. "I-" she said, beginning to shake. "I-"
Annel looked up at him, her face contorted in agony, and tears pouring from her eyes. "I thought you were gone!" she cried, leaping forward and pulling him into a hug. She buried her face into Beras' shoulder, sobbing violently.
Beras sat in shock, staring at his crying friend. To him, Annel had always been so tough, never even hinting at a sign of pain. Yet here she was, reduced to an emotional wreck because of him. And she did not seem any less tough to him at all. Maybe sadness wasn't felt only by the weak. Maybe the strong can be brought down by the same means that the weak are.
Tears began to build up in his eyes as well and, taking a shaking breath in, he wrapped his arms around her. Throughout the years, she had always been there for him. Why was it that, on the one occasion that she really needed him, he had vanished? Never again, swore to himself.
"I'm sorry," Beras cried. "I'm so, so, sorry."
Annel squeezed him tighter, her sobbing increasing.
Beras wrapped his own arms around her, pulling her into a closer hug. "I'll never leave you like that again." he said. "I promise."