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POV: Briljof

I knew it was going to be daunting going up all the steps to the top of the mountain. All the people talking about it made me think they might have been exaggerating but we weren't even halfway and it sucked. That's not mentioning that the higher we've gone, it has gotten so much colder.

It wouldn't have been as bad if the path was a consistent climb to the top but it went through hills and valleys even up here. Going up and down repeatedly in certain spots just made my legs work harder. Made me dearly miss the horses but they would've been more of a detriment up here. There were a few places walking with them would've been hazardous to our health. Didn't help that there were ice wolves up here as well.

I noticed the first one following us when we made it about a quarter of the way up. One of the planks along the path telling me so. Brealla didn't notice them following us until she heard me knock an arrow behind her. When she heard that she gave me a curious look to which I mouthed 'wolves' to her. She used her spell to detect them and showed me four fingers after she used it. Good thing she did too, I only noticed three. Though the fourth became obvious after she told me, it was a clump of rustling snow in front of us under a bush.

Looking to her and signaling for her to go on me I readied my bow and lined it up on the fourth wolf. Letting the arrow go it zoomed forward and slammed home into the wolfs face. The wolf gave a pitiful howl before going still. The moment my arrow was in the air Brealla spun around and sent twin fireballs over my head at the wolves behind me. Hitting and lighting two of them on fire. Snow covered skin quickly putting out the fire but that didnt mean it was any less painful for them. They released pitiful howls as they writhed on the ground from the pain before Brealla hit them with lightning to put them out of their misery.

The final wolf got an arrow through its snout as it ran at me. It dropped dead instantly as the arrow went all the way to its brain. I didn't want to waste the meat we had just been gifted but there wasn't a good place to build a fire. Having to settle for the furs instead, I skinned the wolves and had Brealla heat them up to dry blood and cook the skin. It wasn't the best but would work for the moment and the furs would be needed as the higher we got the colder it would get.

Though after seeing her heat and cook the skin of the furs it made me realize that she was a walking furnace. There was a joke in there but the look in her eyes stopped me from voicing such a thing as she realized it too. Regardless, taking the back straps from the wolves she cooked them with her fire for the both of us to eat as we walked. We, unfortunately, left plenty of meat behind but we wouldn't have been able to do much with it. Didn't have the gear to carry it all.

The back straps she cooked for us was juicy but tasted off, not that it was under or overcooked. Just didn't taste fully right which was attributed to it being cooked with Brealla's magic. They were still nutritious and gave us energy for the climb. That's all that mattered to me for the food.

Furs from the wolves helped as well to keep us warm, sowing them together helped with that. Our clothes were meant for the cold but the extra furs definitely helped the farther we got up the steps. The furs looked like cloaks as they hung to our bodies. The white of the fur bringing out Brealla's blood red hair far better than her blue mage robes could. I kept that thought to myself for the time though.

As we travelled, we passed by a few people at various shrines to the gods on our way up. Most recently a huntress who was praying to Hircine, the Deadra of the hunt. I wasn't against Hircine in any sense as I had prayed to him on hunts but he wasn't one I wanted to go to. An endless time of hunting sounds fun but I'd rather go to Sovengard. Especially if the rumors of werewolves being products of Hircine were true.

We made it a little past halfway up, marked by a plank, when there was some type of hissing around us. It wasn't anything I had heard before and there shouldn't be any natural animals this high up that hissed. Regardless, my bow was out and strung with an arrow looking around for the source of the hiss. Brealla was on high alert with fire roaring to life in her hands.

Going back-to-back looking around we waited patiently for whatever it was to show itself. We didn't have to wait long as a long skeleton thing that looked to be made of ice appeared a dozen paces from us behind a tree. It was flying too and took off directly at us and my arrow met whatever it was. Only for the iron arrow to fly harmlessly through the eye hole of the thing. Widening my eyes and dropping down to a knee as two fireballs flew over my head and slammed into the thing and set it on fire.

Charging it with my dagger and slashing my blade went completely through it like my arrow had making my eyes widen. Knowing Brealla was now the only person that could kill it, I dove out of the way and she hit it again with a fireball and exploded. When it did, pieces of the body pin pricked into pieces of my exposed arms. Picking the ice out it was good to see that the ice was about as pure as it was going to get so basic healing would do fine. Brealla helped me pick out the ice until all the pieces were gone and I subsequently healed myself.

Seeing the blue ice melt on my skin it looked like it would have properties that could be used in potions but what it could be used for where unknown to me. Probably helping with Frost resistance and weakness to fire but that was just a guess.

"What the hells was that thing?" I asked her as we continued our trek.

"Ice Wraith. Either get a club or fire magic. Anything else won't do much at all to it."

"Good to know. I'll just be the distraction for you," she snorted at my words.

After that we continued our way up the steps. The howling of the wind picking up the farther and farther we got up the mountain. With the increasing cold making it hard to bear at times but with the extra furs it wasn't as bad as it would have been without them. Brealla ended up giving me the sown together skins I had given her earlier and ignited a flame cloak around her. Earning a scowl from me as she gave me a cocky grin.

Farther and farther, we climbed the steps and the higher we got the more I got to view the beauty of Skyrim. We were practically able to see all four corners of Skyrim. The rolling hills and mountains with lush forests even at this distance. Even Dragonsreach was clearly visible from where we all. All of them sun-kissed and beautiful in the light of the sun. If there was a way to capture the image it would've been highly sought after. Alas, neither of us were any good at painting and we didn't have the tools for it regardless.

No other wildlife bothered us though as we went up the steps further. It was a quietly beautiful walk and was obvious why every Nord was encouraged to make the journey at least once. Seeing something like this was absolutely worth it.

As we got to a small plateau with an overhang a 100 or so paces in front of us I instantly held out an arm and Brealla stopped. Looking around the area and squinting at the overhang my suspicions were confirmed by a few things. First among them being the smell and then the overhang itself. Brealla looked at me curiously before speaking.

"What do you see?"

"It's a den," I pointed at the overhang. "Frost Troll is my guess. Only thing that would be this high up and with that type of cover. No bear, saber or any other predator would want to live here. Let alone survive long enough to make a den."

"How can you tell?" she asked taking a knee next to me as I crouched down.

"Smell. The overhang is good for blocking out the wind but giving it a long enough sightline to see us before we saw it. Plus, look at the snow near the overhang, it's flattened down with no ice. Only way that happens is from constant padding and we're too far from the peak for it to be the Greybeards. Frost Troll is the only thing big enough to do that consistently with all the new snow this place consistently gets."

"How would you handle this then?"

"Ideally, go around and leave the Troll alone. They aren't that dangerous if you can fight them at a distance but with how the overhang is we have to go right through it. It's a chokepoint perfect for Trolls who are at their most dangerous at close range. Especially Frost Trolls."

"And since we can't go around it?" this is where I sighed. My small joke from earlier coming back to haunt me.

"Traps would be ideal but since the ground is too hard for that and there's no forest to hide and evade we're forced to play by its rules. Which means I get to be bait since your fire magic will do the most damage to it," she looked at me in concern and opened her mouth to protest but I shook my head. "No other way."

Seeing my look she nodded her head and prepared a pair of fire spells in her hands. Knocking an arrow in my bow and moving forward I kept my eyes open looking for any movement. Getting closer and closer to the den the stench of dead bodies started coming into full swing. Trolls couldn't eat everything from corpses and generally leaving the organs of the dead behind. Creating a stench of smell.

Someone had written somewhere that the greater the smell meant better chances for mating with Trolls. Something about showing their progress as a hunter to the females along with a deterrent against challengers. Regardless, the smell wasn't as bad as the book said it could have been, hopefully a young Troll then. Or an old one that had been exiled here after losing its original den.

The farther and farther into the den, the smell stayed about the same but my eyes kept looking for the troll. I was maybe 10 paces from the den itself when the rustling of feet in snow made its presence known above me. Looking at the overhang and spotting the Troll as it slowly moved to be above me. If I hadn't had experience in hunting, been looking for the sound or the Troll it would've gone completely unnoticed by me. It blended in perfectly with the snow and the sky behind it which answered my earlier question. This was an old Troll.

Aiming and loosing the arrow immediately as our eyes connected the Troll reared up and roared at me. Dodging the arrow as it sailed left, pushed by the howling winds of the mountain even at this short distance. The troll was easily a foot taller than me with razor sharp claws on its fingers. Knowing my time was short to dodge I turned and took off. The sound of the Troll landing behind me audible along with its second roar and pounding of feet after me.

I ran while looking at Brealla as she fired her magic. The impact of the spells audible from the angered roar of the Troll followed by the increased pace of footsteps. Brealla continuing to fire her spells over me until I slid next to her. Spinning and knocking another arrow in the same move. Bending over to stay as low to the ground as possible to avoid the winds before firing my arow.

The arrow sailed low to the ground as the Troll was no farther than 10 paces from us and slammed into the Trolls knee, a perfect hit. The howl of pain from the Troll as it fell onto a knee was close to ear splitting with how close it was. Brealla's subsequent shots of fireballs didn't make it any easier to deal with the sound. However, the old Troll pushed through the pain and charged us. Getting another arrow to their burning chest as a result.

Dropping my bow after firing the shot I met its charge with my ax and knife in hand. Dodging the swipes of their arms, the powerful arms whizzing past my body and head as the Troll swung at me. Brealla did what she could in support but with me so close couldn't do much without hitting me as well. Limiting herself only to lightning bolts that weren't meant to damage the Troll but more to annoy and interrupt its attacks.

It worked well for maybe 20 seconds until Brealla missed on one of her spells and ended up hitting my left arm, it held my ax. It froze up my arm for a moment and that's all the Troll needed. Swinging its arm I wasn't able to dodge, barely getting my ax back up in time for a block. It did next to nothing besides snap in half as the Trolls arm hit it and then hit my shoulder releasing a shout of pain on impact

The moment it hit my shoulder and sent me flying I knew my shoulder was dislocated. Landing roughly on the ground I rolled and got back up to one knee only to see three Brealla's dive away from two Trolls as it took a swipe at her. The Brealla's just barely dodged the swipe and landed up on her back with the troll towering over her. Before it could do anything though she opened her mouth.

"Fus!" my world and vision snapped back into place at her words. The spinning and multiple Brealla's and Trolls gone.

The blast of the Thu'um made the Troll stumble backwards towards the edge of the walkway we were on. Seeing the moment, I sprung up and charge the troll as it had yet to regain its footing and jumped at it. Drop kicking the troll pushing just enough back that it fell backwards off the walkway all the way down. Least hoped so.

Pushing myself up from the ground Brealla helped me once I got onto a knee to get all the way up. Both of us peering over the edge to see the faint outline of the troll as it kept bouncing downwards. Looking at each other her eyes drifted downwards and saw that my shoulder was disconnected. Instantly her hands began glowing that golden hue meant for healing.

"Don't," I spoke making her stop before she could heal me earning a frustrated sigh from her.

"There's no point in being a 'man' here Briljof. Leaving that as is won't be good for you."

"Aye but healing it without putting it back in place will be just as bad," she silently conceded the point before grabbing my arm, pulling on it and then twisting it until it popped back into place. Earning a pained grunt from me as it popped back into place. Once it was back in place she healed it, relief washing over me.

"C'mon. Shouldn't have that much longer until we get to the Greybeards," I spoke walking off.

Grabbing the furs that had fallen off when the Troll hit me and put them around my body again. Brealla increasing the strength of her fire cloak to help me. It was a nice gesture and definitely appreciated as the wind got substantially worse. Howling around us to the point that we couldn't hear anything besides the wind. Until finally we saw the doors of High Hrothgar in front of us.

Seeing it we exchanged smiles before rushing the left pair of doors. Each of us grabbing a handle before throwing it open and stepping inside. Slamming the doors behind us we enjoyed the natural heat of the temple all around us for a few moments. That is until we heard a cough behind us and looked to see five men standing there. All with long graying beards and governed in black robes and hoods with silver lines going over them. The beards made it obvious who they were, as did their voices the moment they spoke.

"Ah, Dovahkiin," the lead one spoke in an almost grandfatherly voice. Almost being the word there, however. His voice low in volume and tone was like a thundercrack in authority, experience and power. It was honestly terrifying. Especially when the group didn't even bother to look at me and all their eyes were on Brealla.

"Umm, yes?" the nervousness of her voice evident.

"Come. Come, we have much to talk about," he motioned with his hand to follow him as he and the rest turned around but before he could move more than a pace, he turned his head back to us. "Your companion can follow or stay. It matters not to us."

Looking at Brealla she gave me a small nod and I followed behind her as they strolled through the hall. High Hrothgar didn't have the same luster as Dragonsreach but you could feel the history here. Every crack, crevice, and corner held hundreds of years of experience and knowledge. It was like walking through an old library with a couple books catching my eyes. Namely one literally titled Dragonborn. However, there was a sense of peace about the place that you just couldn't find in libraries. Untouched by war and famine; a place of true peace.

If that wasn't all, it was quite beautiful to look at from the inside as well. Rock sculpted beautifully to match the atmosphere. The dragon inscriptions showing the true masters of the voice. That was just a guess but after seeing Brealla use the shout after absorbing a soul of one, it wasn't much of a jump in logic. Either way the inscriptions weren't overdone or too numerous, just enough to let you know who held the true power.

We followed the Greybeards through their temple and back out into the open. Both Brealla and I silently groaning at seeing them exit the place and back into the frigid wind. We still followed them and were pleasantly surprised to feel absolutely no wind the moment we took a step outside.

Was still far colder than anywhere I had been before but there was no wind. It didn't make sense for where we were on the mountain but we wouldn't voice a complaint with no wind. Made it far more bearable in our clothes and furs. The only thing of note outside though was a massive tower. A golden gate to our left and a fire pit next to the tower. It was beautiful in a minimalistic sort of way. The backdrop of Skyrim helping with that.

I then heard the Greybeards start talking to Brealla but to be honest couldn't understand a single word. It seemed that they were talking in Dragonspeak and Brealla could understand every word. At least it seemed like that as she stared at them in rapt attention. The words they spoke going completely over my head.

The dragon-speak was low, guttural in a way, and full of power. These old men seemed harmless enough but were anything but that. They chose to be that way. From the position of High Hrothgar to the power they emanated if anyone wanted this place it would take far too many men to be worth the trouble. If even one of these men could use the shout like Brealla could they simply had to wait at the front entrance of this place. The loses would be incredible as they just threw people off the mountain. That's not mentioning that the shout probably had stages.

When the black dragon used its power at Helgan its voices were longer than Brealla's. Probably multiple words to a 'shout' to make it more powerful. Just a guess but an educated one.

Either way they spoke to Brealla and she responded in the same dragonspeak. Conversing in a way that was simply impossible for me at the moment. They seemed to be in a great conversation as both the Greybeards and her were smiling as they exchanged words. Then one lowered their heads to the ground and spoke again. Words imprinted on the ground followed by one of the Greybeards flowing something that looked similar from the dragon into Brealla.

She sighed in what seemed like relief as whatever it was went into her body and she stared down at the lines on the ground. Following her gaze she seemed to absorb them. However, as I looked at the words, they started to speak to me as well. It was a weird sensation but looking at the words they seemed similar. Maybe not legible to me but in a way that they meant something. Whispers in my ear I as if the words were talking to me.

Taking a step forward towards the words with Brealla I stopped after my second step and backed off. It wasn't unnoticed though and two of the so far silent Greybeards gave me curious looks. Exchanging glances with each other they didn't voice anything and stayed silent. Looking back to Brealla as she seemed to absorb the word.

"Fus Ro!" the same bluish hue burst from her mouth but far far stronger than it had been before. Instead of just churning up the ground in front of her it completely ripped it apart. Ice, earth and all were no obstacle to her voice. Blasting it all away for a solid ten paces. It was incredible and downright terrifying.

If Brealla was already this powerful with the voice after a single Dragon kill imagining where she could be after 10 was insane. Which would bring the Thalmor down on her even harder the more powerful she became. They wouldn't allow someone as powerful as her to just walk around without trying anything. If they connect me to that Feast we will be the most wanted duo in the entirety of the Summerset Isles; probably all of Tamriel too once they put out a bounty.

Snapping out of my thoughts as Brealla and the Greybeards continued their conversation. Walking over to the golden gate they proceeded with the same thing as before and shared a word with her. Before the gate opened and one of the Greybeards shot through the opening like lightning. To move like that would be amazing and Brealla did it a moment later with no effort at all.

After that they continued to talk and that seemed to be the end of it. Of at least gaining new words for Brealla. Instead, they walked over to the tower. I made to stay back but Brealla motioned for me to follow. Doing so we went to the tower and entered it. A spiral staircase on our immediate right but in front of us was another door.

The Greybeard who had been talking opened it and revealed a platform with ropes on the four corners of it. I had no idea what it was but the ropes were connected to what looked like the thing people used to raise up large blocks when constructing buildings. There was a handle right behind the door as well.

Brealla stepped on the platform after a word from the Greybeard and she motioned for me to join her. Doing so the Greybeard pulled the handle and for a moment nothing happened. Then there was a groaning from the ropes above us and the platform we were on slowly went downwards. The Greybeards in front of us disappearing as we went down.

It was a disorienting experience as we rode the contraption downwards. I stayed dead center in the middle as blackness enveloped us and we went downwards. Internally cursing Brealla for putting me on this thing. We rode it downwards for what felt like hours before finally stopping.

Brealla casting a mage light abover her head illuminating the black room. She took a step forward and got off the contraption. Following her lead and getting off as well, I breathed a sigh of relief at getting off whatever it was. My face must've been funny because Brealla softly chuckled as she looked at me, earning a scowl at her. She laughed all the harder and while she laughed I spotted a door and pushed it open.

It opened into the same cave we had gone through to get to Ivarstead. Right near the entrance. Stepping out and looking at the outside of the doors it wasn't surprising that we missed it. It was perfectly camouflaged with the walls to be completely missed. Only way you would see was if you knew it was there.

Brealla followed me and once she stepped through I closed the door. Afterwards we made our way back to Ivarstead with the lights of the town and moon guiding our way. Going straight to the inn we got some food and a room for the night. We went to the room relatively early after eating our dinner and having a few cups of mead.

"Okay… what was that thing we rode down the mountain on and what did you get out of our visit?" I asked Brealla the moment the door was closed behind me.

"The Greybeards called it an 'elevator'. They didn't really explain it but will make our visits to them all the easier. As for what they taught me it was enlightening. About myself and this gift. They said if I survive long enough and kill enough Dragons then I could be the single most powerful person in all of Tamriel. No one person or even armies could match me."

"Huh. I did not expect the Greybeards to be bloodthirsty. They seemed to like their detachment from the world," Brealla nodded along.

"They do and told me all that to warn me. That the power I could gain would eventually corrupt me like it does to all given enough time and power. Just like the dragons."

"And your thoughts on that?" I was a bit worried. Having someone of that level of power would be great to fight the Thalmor but what then afterwards? Too many unknowns and that sounded like something that would only be known after it became a problem. Not good.

"It's… intoxicating and feeling their knowledge of the words they taught to me was euphoric. I don't think I could describe it fully unless you could feel it too but was amazing. Becoming the corruption they described though, is not the plan."

"Do you have a plan in case you do go down that path?" she hung her head and looked at her hands. Playing with lightning between her fingers again, a nervous tick it seems.

"Not yet," she shook her head before shaking it. "That's thoughts for another time. They asked us to do something to gain the final word of 'Unrelenting Force'," great. More busy body work for people, and with no pay. I seriously need to look into taking contracts in the meantime so we could get some money. Looting places and dead bodies can only do so much. We could keep getting lucky and it works out for us just doing that but we aren't the only adventurers around. Plenty of tombs and places must have been licked clean by now leaving on the most dangerous ones untouched.

"What do they want us to do?"

"Get the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. It's in Ustengrav on the far side of Skyrim northwest of Morthal," she held up a map and pointed to a marked spot on it. Guess the Greybeards gave it to her.

"Fantastic. Back the way we came then I assume?" she shrugged her shoulders.

"We could or we could get up to Winterhold. See if they have anything for us at the library and then head there. Should only add a day or so of travel to us if everything go-"

"Don't say that," I snapped interrupting her. "Do not say those things. Nothing ever goes right when those words are uttered," she raised her hands in mock surrender.

"So Winterhold then?" she asked. A little bit of hope seeping into her voice. I couldn't fault her hope though. If I had been invited somewhere to teach my passion I would be hopeful too. The small bits of lightning dancing around her eyes and mouth exemplifying the hope she had to go there.

"Yeah, let's visit the College. Hopefully they can shed some more light on Skyrim in general as well."

That was the end of the conversation and we passed out quickly after that. With me on the ground for the second night in a row.

We spent the night at the inn before waking up before dawn the next morning. Saying a small goodbye to the Innkeeper who was also already up we mounted our horses and made our way to Winterhold. We had to go about halfway to Riften before we were able to safely descend into the swampy area.

Not wanting to risk getting tracked or attacked by predators we pushed our horses all the way through the area until we were back on the main road. There were a couple close calls where I saw spiders looking at us but we were moving too fast for them to care about us. With it being still early too by the time we went through the area most predators weren't out and about quite yet.

Getting through the marshland and hitting the main road we didn't slow down. Following the road as it split off, one way going to Windhelm and the other too Winterhold. Following the road to Winterhold the temperature gradually dropped. Not a lot but enough to be noticeable. More and more snow became visible, and I huddled my white furs closer to my body. Even Brealla had to take a cloak as her fire spell almost set her mount on fire. The cold was not as bad as yesterday's trek up the mountain. There was no powerful wind. Yet was still noticeable.

Despite the unpleasantness, Brealla had a happy smile on her face as she galloped ahead. Eventually reaching mountains that stretched from north to south had me grumbling. Us following the sign and going North closer to Dawnstar to make our way around the mountains. As we went North on the road, Brealla pointed to some mountains to the East. Even from this great distance, there were clear signs of ancient ruins on the mountain.

"That should be The Labyrinthian. Rumors state that there's a powerful magical artifact there. The last mage to make it back from there though was the Archmage of the College, Savos Aren, and even he made it out alone. No one knows for certain what's there besides him and he has told no one."

I hummed to be polite. Unless there was gold in those ruins, I was not that interested. Still, maybe Brealla would like whatever artifact is buried there. We passed by the two mountain rangers to our East and West. Able to see the small town of Dawnstar as we traveled from North to East. Our provisions still holding out and neither of us wanting to make a detour.

The sun showed about mid afternoon as I noticed Brealla became much quieter. Galloping to her, her green eyes were focused on a book she was carrying. The cover had a plain red binding. It took five seconds for Brealls to notice my starring.

"What are you reading?" her cheeks flushed slightly at my question as if she was embarrassed.

"O-Oh nothing that important. Or at least, not that important about Dragons. Its, The Apprentice's Assistant by Aramril. The author certainly has the ego of a Dragon, though. Still, she offers good advice on how to survive. Like bringing stamina and magic potions for emergencies," I nodded to her words.

"Yes, potions are useful for amplifying the effects of ingredients. Haven't really bothered to learn how to perfectly extract the poison from frostbite spiders or make a potion with powerful effects. Just more of a basic 'this ingredient is poisonous, and this heals you.'

"Have you thought about learning more about your craft?" Brealla put down her book to give me her full attention. Shrugging at her words I answered regardless.

"With everything going on, just didn't have the time to learn potions making. The Alchemist in Whiterun wanted 500 gold a lesson, I don't have the money for that. Besides, eating or grinding up the ingredients to use in foods or putting them in your lip work almost as well. It's better that way in some sense as carrying a full alchemy kit, even if I knew how to use it, just isn't feasible on the road," Brealla adopted a contemplative look before answering.

"I'll see if I can find something to help teach you how to be a proper alchemist. I suspect we are going to be on the road for a long time. Even we Nords can get bored looking at the scenery of Skyrim," I looked at the scenery around mme nodding to her words before looking back to her.

"No. I don't think I'll ever tire of looking at something so beautiful," Skyrim truly was beautiful. At my words Brealla turned her head away and I assumed that was the end of our conversation and continued in silence.

We had to slow down a couple times on our road to let the horses rest after pushed them so hard through the swampy area. There were also a few icy areas on the road to Winterhold that we went slow on to avoid injury to both ourselves and the horses. The map the Greybeards had given Brealla helping with our travels.

We kept pushing though and by the time the sun was beginning to disappear we found ourselves in Winterhold. At least that's what the sign said. Helgan looked to be in better shape than this city. Half the buildings were no more than rubble and the other half looked to be barely holding on. The rubble was old though, at least years so they should've been rebuilt by now. That was some serious incompetence from the Jarl not to fix them for his people. Unless there wasn't enough people in the area to make it worthwhile.

Not wanting to pay for the night at an inn we hooked up our horses at the towns stable. Paying the night for the horses we walked to the bridge that went to the College. The college was a magnificent building on its own little island away from the town of Winterhold. It looked to be in far better shape than the city but the same couldn't be said for the bridge. It was in about the same shape as the city. Half destroyed and half barely holding on.

The mages should've fixed it by now. That was some serious incompetence. If they were even half as capable as Brealla, then there was no reason for it to be in that fashion. Unless they didn't care to fix it and were just that isolationist. Which, from Farangar's words the other day, wasn't that farfetched to believe. It was honestly disappointing and the look on Brealla's face told me she felt the same as me. Eyebrows knit closer together and eyes hardened in judgment with her lips pursed together like she was looking for a possible answer to why the city was like this but finding none. Hopefully the college had answers.

Walking to the Bridge there was a high elf waiting there for us. With their patented snobbish look of superiority she stared down at the two of us as we walked forwards. The moment we got onto the Bridge the elf strutted up to us and blocked our way forward.

"Only those who are deemed worthy by me may pass. No one else and there is no exceptions," she eyed me particularly there which made sense. I looked the part of a hunter with my gear while Brealla looked like an actual mage. She probably believed I was her guide, which was correct in a sense.

"My name is Brealla Whitestone. Mirabelle Everdine is expecting my arrival," Brealla stated with as much authority as she could muster. Though it fell short against the High Elf as she probably had a 100 or so years on the both of us. They were capable of living two centuries at minimum so it made sense. As for her surname, Whitestone was reserved for orphans of the Empire.

"I was not made aware of any such persons to expect. Cast Fear on the stone tablet to my left and you may pass," she gestured to the stone tablet on the ground. She might have had the demeanor of the usual High Elf but she seemed just professional and doing her job. It was a nice change of pace honestly. Brealla did as asked without any effort.

"May I bring him along?" she gestured to me and the elf shook her head.

"No. Only those who can cast the magic may pass."

"He's my companion. A great mind with potions as well," the Elf looked contemplative for a second before shaking her head.

"I cannot. He must stay here," Brealla looked like she wanted to fight it but held her tongue before turning back to me.

"I'll be back within the hour. Go to the Inn if you wish," I nodded my head and she left across the bridge leaving me and the elf in an awkward silence.

"You fight in the war?" of all the things to ask I just had to ask that to break the silence.

The woman just narrowed her eyes at me before going back to the corner she had been at without a word. Seeing the dismissal for what it was I stayed silent and didn't move while Brealla did her research. The silent wait was agonizingly slow but it was relatively bearable. The furs on my back made it so. They needed to be treated properly soon so they wouldn't smell too bad. If they were left alone the smell would be an invitation to many predators to at least check out the smell.

Brealla came back almost an hour later on the dot but wasn't alone. A Thalmor mage was briskly walking behind her with irritation written all over his face. It might've been amusing if Brealla seemed satisfied at all but she looked down right murderous. She looked inches away from spinning around and unleashing hell upon the knife eared Thalmor. The Thalmor seemed completely focused on Brealla until his eyes landed on me and they widened in recognition. Fantastic.

The man didn't waste time either and charged a lightning spell in his hands. Snapping my bow out to the ready with an arrow already knocked, I dodged to the right avoiding the blast of lightning he fired. The shot sailed over Brealla's shoulder but making her spin on the balls of her feet and unleash her own spell at the man. Twin lightning bolts slammed into the mans chest and they barely made him falter in his step. Fucker had to have rune inscribed armor to take shots like that and be completely fine.

At least that's what I thought before my eyes saw that his robes were singed and ripped where the blast had hit. Behind the robes though was a set of familiar leather armor. Motherfucker! This guy had my gods damned armor. Growling and pulling the bowstring taut and aimed at his head the arrow was set free immediately.

It sailed through the air true on target as the Thalmor had to block an ice spell aimed for his face. Before the arrow could hit its mark it was stopped in mid air mere inches from his left eye. Confused as to why that happened I saw that everyone else was frozen around me. No one was able to move; not me, not Brealla, not the Thalmor and not the other High Elf. All of us were frozen as we heard footsteps approach from behind the Thalmor.

Appearing behind the knife ear was a Dark Elf in decorative robes that oozed power. I could tell that his robes were enchanted and inscribed with runes to the highest degree just from looking at them. Probably cost an absolute fortune, especially when a couple groupings of runes flashed a couple times. Runes only did that when they were of the highest degree in power. Even with my laughable amount of magical talent too, the man himself blanketed the whole area in his magical aura.

Walking forward he plucked my arrow out of the air and twisted it so it pointed it upwards. Next he extinguished the magic that had been in the Thalmors hands with but a wave of his hand. Doing the same to both Brealla and the other High Elf before stopping in front of me. His eyes looking at me as if they could see my entire soul and it wouldn't surprise me if he could. Blood red eyes barely touched by age this man held experience and power that only the Black Dragon from Helgan superseded.

"Ladies and gentleman, I do not know your quarrel but the bridge and five paces beyond it is still a part of College grounds and there will be no fighting," the man spoke as he addressed everyone. Simply waving his hand again and the spell holding us disappeared. The arrow shooting upwards into the sky and off to lands unknown.

"That ma-"

"Is still on College grounds," the Dark Elf spoke cutting off the Thalmor mage who scowled and looked ready to throw a fit. However, he backed down and stormed off back towards the College leaving us alone.

"Faralda," the man addressed the High Elf woman. "This is Brealla Whitestone. She will be your number two in the future. As I understand it though she may be preoccupied for some time. When she does decide to visit us, be sure to be accommodating to both her and her companion," the woman simply nodded to him.

"As for you Miss Whitestone. I wish you and your companion good luck in your endeavors," he turned around and left us there. Brealla coming up to me and pulling me along to the Inn. She paid some gold for a room and we went in immediately. Two beds this time so no ground for me.

Brealla was silent for a few moments as I let her collect herself in the room. Pacing around with lightning dancing up and down her arms, a stormy look on her face. So, playing with lightning meant she was nervous and this meant she was angry; probably. It took her a few minutes to compose herself before she was calm enough to sit on the bed opposite me.

"They had nothing credible on Dragons. All of it was speculation on theories we already have," she ran a hand down her face. "It was a bust and now the Thalmor know our whereabouts."

"Do they know where we are heading?" I asked and she shook her head. "Good. They won't be able to follow us past a few miles outside of the town. I'll make sure we're hard to track… That fucking knife ear has my armor," I growled out.

"The Hammerfell Leather armor under his robes?" I nodded. "Sentimental value?"

"If close to 10,000 Gold could be considered sentimental value, then yes," her breath shook as she sharply inhaled.

"Wha… How? Why?"

"How do you think he tanked your lightning so easily. Its inscribed with Runes to an extremely high degree. It can tank a charged lightning bolt from Master level mages and be fine, still hurts but it won't kill."

"Fantastic," sarcasm dripping in her voice. "He's got one hell of a superiority complex too. Believes the gods gifted him to the world."

"That's not much different from the rest of the Thalmor," I responded getting a small chuckle from her.

"Not wrong there… Let's just go to sleep, we'll have to wake up early tomorrow to get to Ustengrav for the Horn," I nodded my agreement and snuffed out the lamp before tucking myself in.

There we are folks. Hope you enjoyed!