Chapter 37

Day 153

It took everyone only a minute to clear out of the meeting room, rushing into the dry air of Hammerfell. I chocked slightly as it seemed to have gotten even hotter in the last hour that we had been inside the tower. The sight that had awaited us however was enough to make me forget about the scorching heat. A vast army of undead stretched out before us, moving to charge the outer wall.

"This fortress was not built to withstand something like this." Zaynabi wheezed as she attempted to catch her breath.

"We reinforced the walls and built our own siege weapons. It'll last." Valinka said reassuringly though it felt hollow after what I had witnessed in Skyrim. I decided not to mention anything and turn my attention to the groups of soldiers rushing to the tops of the walls. They began to fire arrow after arrow into the horde. I could only guess though that it was hardly making a dent. Valinka's captain had rushed to the back of the fortress and I could see him turning the corner now, helping others to push up two catapults. I rushed forward to help, Kharjo in tow.

"Set up!" The captain shouted and everyone moved to set up the catapult. It took several minutes to get the catapults ready to fire their first shots. During that time one of the archers from the wall reported to Valinka.

"The guard around the gate has been destroyed." Valinka said as she approached us. She then turned he face towards the wall. "Fire!" She shouted, her face turning red with anger as she drew her blades. Her two long swords shone in the sunlight, one held high as she gave the order to fire. The catapults fired, the wood giving a loud groan as the large rocks were hurled into the air. We could hear the crunch of bodies as they disappeared over the wall. Valinka then ran onto the wall where she lept off!

"She's rushing them!" I drew Dawnbreaker and followed up onto the wall where we saw Valinka surrounded by undead. She swung her blades again and again, the greenish blood of these creatures sprayed around her. Leaping off the wall I rolled as I hit then brought my blade up to meet the flesh of an undead. It severed the creatures arm then it burst into flames.

"Meridia, guide my blade." I whispered to myself and brought the sword down on another. Valinka was in a rage, I had to get to her before she-. My thoughts were cut short as an arm slammed into the back of my head. I saw spots but swung behind me in an arc. The blade sliced into three different creatures and they all burst into flames. Putting a hand to my head I was able to try and steady myself before falling over, the creatures seemed to sense I was off and began to move in as a group. I knew by now that these things weren't just mindless, they felt nothing and moved as a pack to take down whatever target they had been pointed at.

It seemed to me that they weren't just monsters that had just been conjured to form a horde. They were smarter, stronger and slightly faster than the undead Tamriel was used to. These things were of another world, this I knew.

"Darius!" Balls of fire seemed to fall from the sky as Zaynabi dropped from the wall, Kharjo behind her with his blade in hand. The creatures around me sprung back, some too late and were caught by the flames. "Dark moons take you!" Zaynabi cursed as she helped me back to my feet, switching to another book that hung by her belt and channeled healing magic.

"You are most fortunate my friend." Kharjo smiled when he reached us. He sliced into a few of the creatures then helped Zaynabi to steady me.

"We need to get to Valinka!" I shouted as the catapults fired again, crushing large amounts of undead that were not too far from us.

"Her men are already fighting at her side." Zaynabi pointed behind me. The gates had been slightly opened, many men stood ready with spears and blades while others rushed past them to get to their leader. Valinka was busy slicing away at the creatures, sprays of their green blood shot high into the air from the force of her blades. This was the image I was left with as darkness took my vision.

I had never been hit behind the head like that before. Had never gotten a concussion so I honestly wouldn't know what it had felt like before this. I believe I had a dream though. Of a floating ball of light that made me feel safe and loved. Very familiar to how a mother's embrace should feel I think. I can't recall exactly what she had said to me. The only thing I really took away from it was that she had said something about the amulet piece I was searching for will find me? It hurts to try and remember.

Day 156

The next time I woke I was within the medical tent, Zaynabi placing a cool rag over my forehead.

"Darius!" She exclaimed with a smile when my eyes had flickered open.

"Ugh! My head! What happened?" I groaned and attempted to sit up. Zaynabi placed a clawed hand on my shoulder to push me back down. Only then did I realize I had been shirtless. "W-wait. What happened to my clothes?" I was only in my cloth pants as I lay on the small cot.

"You had broken out with a fever. We had to try and cool you down somehow." She explained as I lay my head back down. It felt as though I had been hit by a truck, but the expression would only confuse the Khajiit. I sighed and kept my gaze on the roof of the medical tent.

"How long had I been out? I assume the battle went well since we're all still alive."

"You are right. We had driven them back, but we had taken some losses. They attempted to attack us again the second day you had been out. If they continue to do so we won't have anyone left on the wall." Her expression was hard to read as she changed the cloth my forehead which had already gotten hot. I sighed heavily as I thought about our situation. I was ill, we still hadn't gotten the amulet piece, we were hunted by Morgran and probably most of the rebellion now, an army of undead and powerful sorcerers now roamed and probably controlled most of Tamriel, and to top it all off we were surrounded by said legion.

"Meridia visited again. I'm not sure what she said though." Zaynabi's expression darkened then she became concerned. My head began to throb as I attempted to remember what the daedric prince had told me.

"Do not push yourself. It wouldn't do us any good if you got too reckless and died." She shook her head and placed the cooler cloth on my forehead. "Get some rest. Valinka will want to see you soon."

((I'm SO sorry about the delay in chapters. My daughter is now almost 9 mo. can't even believe it's been that long already. but I got a little vacation time going here and have a lot of ideas to put out their for new stories and this existing one. At the moment I have canceled my other stories to focus solely on this one and my new one coming up. Hope you all enjoy the new chapters to come!))