We had made it to the halfway mark as Ivarstead was but half a day riding from where we were now. The songs of the awakening birds riddled the Rift's forest with their beautiful songs. As the morning sun slowly crept over the mountains illuminating our surroundings with a golden glow.
I glanced over at Serana who seemed to enjoy the scenery just as much as me as she sighed a sigh of relief. Most of the journey towards High Hrothgar had been uneventful we were riding over the roads for once instead of riding through the wilderness.
The only problems we encountered were a few wolves which were easily scared of by Serana's vampiric aura, it seemed to have a repellent effect on the wolves.
I wasn't complaining the journeys without Serana had been riddled with endless encounters with those beasts always the same howling followed by being encircled and ending in a pack of death wolves around me.
And another danger we had to face was the name I am not going to utter eight legs weird scuttling sounds and webs vile creatures.
I shuddered at the thought of them believe me I love the rift for all its beauty the only downside of the rift is that it was infested with spiders.
Luckily for me, Serana made quick work of the most with a lightning spell or a firebolt. They hate fire and I loved to see them burn.
I had also found a satisfactory way of dealing with them in the form of my new bow something about seeing them explode into bits filled my being with endless joy. It did earn me a scolding from Serana telling me I should "Save those for the real bad guys."
spiders are bad guys hehe* I smirked at the thought.
"You are not thinking about blowing spiders up again, are you? I know that devious smirk... Save those bolts for a real threat!" Serana spoke up seemingly reading my mind and scolding me again.
I glanced over at the vampire and perked my lips in a pout.
"I knowww, it is just satisfying okay," I replied smiling at her, she just shook her head as she rolled her eyes.
"You are going to regret wasting those." She just stoically replied.
I know she was right so I decided to deal with any spiders in the (boring) old-fashioned way.
We came across a small campsite with about a dozen people occupying it I was cautious to approach them they didn't look like bandits but were heavily armored. An old Nord sitting next to a campfire noticed us riding by and approached my hands already reached for my sword Skyrim's roads were dangerously filled with bandits and uncanny folk its best to be prepared for the worst.
"Stay your hand traveler I only wish to talk. Would you two be interested to talk with me over a nice beverage?" The man said clearly noticing my movements.
"We aren't thirsty but I see no harm in talking," I replied still cautious.
Me and Serana both got off our horses and led them to the campsite tying them up to a tree stump.
The man sat us down as he sat across from us he was a big old Nord with blonde hair and the typical blue eyes he looked at us with a troubled look on his face. Now I got a better look at him he looked like he went through oblivion and back. His face was plastered with wounds as his expression told the story of a deeply hurt man.
"So what is it you want to say to us? It is unusual for people to approach others on the road like this." Serana asked matching my doubts about this encounter.
The huge man sighed loudly as he stared at the ground.
"I am ashamed to ask it but we need help." The man spoke as he fiddled with a stick poking it in the flames.
I quirked an eyebrow all the people were heavily armored and looked like they could hold their own in a fight. What could they possibly want from us?
"What is it you need help with it? You, people, seem like you could hold your own quite well and we are very busy." I replied still questioning the intentions of the man.
The man looked up and stared at me with a pleading gaze his eyes looked hurt.
"As I said I am ashamed to even ask you, people, for help. But we lost so many already and you two look like capable people. See that fort there that was our home we were tricked by some people they slaughtered most of my men when we let them into our home." The man spoke with a broken voice.
"After we found out what they were up to it was too late me and twenty of my man luckily escaped but our families are still in their women and children gods I don't want to imagine what they are doing to them." The man continued his voice now broken he seemed on the verge of crying.
"How could you be so reckless to let strangers in your home?" Serana said antagonizing the man.
I placed a hand on her shoulder and shook my head as I saw the man bow his head in shame.
"There is no need for that Serana," I replied.
Serana wanted to say something but was stopped by the man speaking again.
"I know, we are refugees from the war this castle was the first place we found so we decided to make it our home. Those men told us they lost everything so we pitied them I should have known better." The man replied his head bowed down.
"So please help us rescue our families." The man said pleading.
I felt sorry for this man he had to go through such hardships and was repaid for his kind deeds with betrayal.
"We will help you," I replied.
The man looked at me hopefully as a glimmer of hope struck his beaten expression.
"You will!? Thank you, kind stranger! My name is Horngar I will forever be in your debt." The man replied as he stood up to extend his hand to me.
"My name is Dracar and you owe me nothing. Please just tell us how to save your family." I replied smiling at Horngar who grabbed me in a tight bear hug.
After that, he started to explain the inner layout of the fort and how to sneak our way in through an old sewer entrance behind the building.
Not long after that, we made for the sewer entrance which Serana wasn't quite fond of.
"Look Dracar I understand and want to help too but why has it always got to be the dirtiest places? We venture into it stinks in here." Serana protested as she held her nose closed.
I began to chuckle a bit.
"Ah, is a sewer too low of a place for your royal highness? We are nearly at the exit I can see a door a few feet away." I said teasingly mocking the vampires who repaid in kind by shocking me.
"Asshole." She huffed.
Reaching the door we slowly opened it being as cautious as we could. We can't risk somebody seeing or hearing us and killing the captives.
Opening the door I was relieved to find no one behind it even if there was I doubt I could see them seeing as the hallway was pitch dark. It seemed the bandits either didn't care about this place or didn't know it was there.
That was something I didn't have to worry about being a vampire.* I thought as I saw Serana having no issue walking through the hallway compared to me who had to keep one hand on the wall to guide me.
It wasn't long before we had made it to another door as I opened it my eyes had to adjust a bit to the difference seeing as this place was well-lit.
Serana looked at me as she held a finger in front of her mouth.
"I can hear voices in a room next to us." She whispered to me.
"Ha, can you believe the stupidity of that old man? He let us take this fort so easily." A man said.
"Hahaha, yes and the woman was a welcoming gift. I like the one who screams every time I mount her." Another man laughed.
"You are right Wultor spending so much time in the wilderness makes you want for some woman to rape." The other man said
A vein in my head popped hearing the two talk so casually about hurting women. I was disgusted and enraged as I stood up and slowly walked over to the door separating me from my two victims.
Serana apparently shared my intentions as she stood right beside me with a scary expression on her face.
She kicked the door open with such force its hinges broke off.
The two men looked surprised at us before the looks of terror grazed their pathetic faces. As Serana began to violently shoot bolts of lightning all over the room.
Running in terror one tried to run past me but I grabbed him by his throat forcing him into a wall. I grabbed my knife and sliced his ankles before throwing him back to the ground.
The man crawled to a wall and tried to grab his sword which I kicked away.
"Who are you!!? Please let me live!" The man screamed.
"You like to rape women don't you." I menacingly replied.
After saying that I stuck my sword in his groin. An awful scream exited the man's mouth as he whimpered before me.
"You bastard my dick!" He screamed through agonizing whimpers.
"Let us see how well you can use that now," I spoke before killing the man.
I gazed over at Serana who was holding the lifeless body of the other one.
She smiled at me.
"Nice one." She said.
"A man like that deserved to suffer before dying," I replied looking at the dead body before me.
"Do you think his friends heard us?" Serana asked worried for the captives.
"I hope not let's just proceed quickly and get these people out of here," I replied while hurrying up a flight of stairs with Serana close behind me.
It didn't take us much effort to "dispose of" the invaders as I held one of them by the throat.
"Where are your captives?!" I screamed at him.
The man pointed at a door to our left.
"Please don't kill me." The man whimpered.
I gave the man an evil smirk.
"I am going to do nothing of the sort you are coming with us tell us where the key is and open their cells," I told the man who was violently shaking his head.
We entered the room and were met with prison cells holding all the women and children. They looked at us scared and hid in the corner of their cells.
I pushed the man down before the cells.
"Open them and pray to the divines they will show you mercy," I said as I traced my fingers over my blade.
The scared bandit opened the cells and begged for forgiveness the woman who was in the cell were not in a forgiven mood as they kicked the man to the ground screaming at him.
Serana looked at me concerned.
"You are quite ruthless today are you okay?" She asked.
I nodded while walking out of the cells.
"I am, they got what they deserved I hate people who take advantage of kindness, and most of all I hate rapists these families extended their help and got raped and killed for it," I replied looking at Serana.
Serena's concern faded as she gave me a nudge.
"I understand Dracar, just don't make a habit of this behavior." She said while smiling at me.
"I won't Serana," I replied.
Serana decided to drop the subject probably because she understood how much family meant to me. We walked outside of the castle to open the gates for Horngar and his men.
Once we opened them before us was a heartwarming reunion of families hugging each other I smiled at Horngar who nodded at me as he hugged his wife and kids.
The large Nord excused himself from his wife and kids walking towards us with a thankful look on his face.
"Thank the divines for you Dracar, thanks to you I get to hold my wife and kids again. I can never repay you for what you have done." Horngar spoke shaking my hand.
"Like I said Horngar you don't owe us anything we are glad to help," I replied smiling at the man.
"Don't let strangers in your home anymore," Serana said at which Horngar laughed.
"Thanks, Serana I won't, you got a feisty woman there Dracar treasures her," Horngar said as he nudged me.
"Believe me I know she is one of a kind," I replied which made Serana blush.
After saying our goodbyes we were on the road again headed for High Hrothgar.
We had left our horses at Ivarstead deciding not to tax them with the steep climb ahead of us. Climbing the mountain was filled with complaints from me as Serana just laughed at my reluctance.
After a long climb and the sun setting we finally had made it to the home of the Greybeards.
Coming into the temple we were met with a surprised Arngeir.
"Dragonborn Serana, what a surprise what brings you two here? Seeking for more knowledge in the way of the voice?" Arngeir said as he guided us in.
"Arngeir nice to see you again," I said as I bowed my head.
"Actually we are here for a different reason we are seeking an elder scroll." I continued.
Arngeir looked at me confused.
"We do not possess an elder scroll Dracar for what reason do you need one?" Arngeir replied intrigued.
"Might Paarthurnax know?" Serana asked.
"It might show us a way to defeat both Alduin and her father," I replied.
The old man rubbed his temple as he sighed.
"I see you two seek the scroll that banished Alduin we do not know of its location Paarthurnax might know but I have to tell you we are neutral in this conflict," Arngeir replied.
Serana seemed agitated at his remark.
"Do you not care for the fate of this world? We will all die if either of those two succeed!" Serana spat out.
Arngeir shrugged her comment off.
"The way of the voice is neutral and we believe that if fate wills it it shall happen. Mortals have no say in this." Arngeir replied.
Serana scoffed as she walked away from the man.
"We will be heading up the mountain Arngeir. Thanks for the information." I said as I left as well.
Once at the outer courtyard of High Hrothgar, I looked at Serana who had an agitated look on her face.
"I can't suffer those ignorant fools." She spat out angrily.
"I know, they have their way and it's quite frustrating I know but we can't change their convictions," I replied.
"Still doesn't change the fact they are insufferable fools," Serana said as she stomped up the mountain.
I chuckled a bit before following her she was right but I couldn't help but laugh at her losing her composure.
As we made it up the mountain Paarthurnax was perched on the word wall gazing at the beautiful night's sky.
"Paarthurnax my friend how have you been," I said alerting the dragon to our presence.
"Ah, Dovahkiin greetings Drem yol lok what brings you to my strunmah my mountain?" It replied in his usual mixed language.
"I have come to ask you about the location of an elder scroll," I replied.
The dragon seemed to ponder about it for a while before answering.
"You seek an elder scroll a kell for what purpose do you need it my fellow dovah?" Paarthurnax asked.
"It might help us in finding a way to defeat Alduin and other threats," I replied.
"Ah geh yes I do know of a kell an elder scroll who defeated Alduin in the past however its location is motmahus is tough to answer," Paarthurnax replied.
"We are up for the challenge please tell us," I replied.
"It's not that I don't want to help you Dovahkiin the location of the kell the elder scroll has been lost in the sands of tiid. All I know is that the dwarves might have taken them. The mages in the guild might know of its location." Paarthurnax replied.
"Great, traveled all this time to be redirected to the other side of Skyrim," Serana spoke up.
I smiled at her remark it was like every other quest being led around every corner of Skyrim but it was with her so I didn't mind.
"I would find it strange if that wouldn't be the case," I replied smiling at Serana who chuckled a bit.
"Dovahkiin I have a request for you when you find the kell will you come back here? There is a time rift here that came to be when Alduin was defeated. The kell might show you how you can defeat Alduin." Paarthurnax spoke up pointing his wing at a spot in the snow the air around the spot was vibrating weirdly.
"I will Paarthurnax if you will excuse us we have to leave we got a long journey ahead of us," I said bowing my head to the dragon.
"Erei mu grind until we meet again Dovahkiin I look forward to our next tinvaak conversation pruzah wundunne good travels," Paarthurnax said as he stretched his wings taking to the air as the gust of wind his wings left behind blown snow all around us.
"Well that takes us one step closer, I didn't like his notion of the dwarves I hope we don't have to venture into one of their strongholds to get it," Serana remarked.
"Why is that?" I asked her with a quirked eyebrow.
"Dwarven strongholds are notoriously deathly they hold constructs even I am weary to fight," Serana replied as she grimaced. "And not even speaking of the dangerous Falmer roaming their halls."
"Construct's? Falmer?" I asked confused.
Serana looked at me with a surprised expression.
"You don't know anything about the Falmer and the Dwarves? The dwarves built the Numidian the huge construct that Tiber septim used to conquer the world. And the Falmer are devolved snow elves vengeful and ruthless roaming the dwarf's strongholds." Serana explained.
I gulped the Numidian was a gigantic vessel that could destroy entire countries that kind of power was scary to fight. Hopefully, we wouldn't find anything like that if we had to venture into one.
"Let us hope that we don't have to venture into a place like that," I replied grimacing.
After a week we had finally made it to the college of winterhold we had to take some detours to avoid Stormcloak's and Imperial's battlefields the war between the two factions seemed to reach its peak as traveling between the holds became almost impossible. I had hoped they would de-escalate the war when the dragon's emerged but neither side seemed keen on giving the other any ground.
Once there we had convinced the Archmage to let us in the Arcaneum by telling him the nature of our search he allowed us entry. We were helped by an orc named Urag gro Shub he wasn't the most pleasant man to be around as he was always pointing out that if we damaged one of his precious books he would incinerate us.
But he did his best in aiding us in finding information on the elder scroll.
Meanwhile, Serana was ecstatic being here being the bookworm she is this place could be considered heaven for her.
Rummaging through some books I found one about the Dovahkiin intrigued I opened the book and began reading it.
Dovakhiin translation dragon born or dragon child. It's used for people whose souls have the essence of a dragon in them.
Often regarded as a child of Akatosh the people regarded as Dovahkiin possess incredible power and an incredible proficiency in learning words of power or (shouts) as some people call them.
The last known Dovahkiin was Tiber septim with his incredible power he used that power combined with the Numidian to conquer the known world and establish the empire as we know it today.
The Dovahkiin is said to only be born during times of extreme strive and hardship it's a purpose to save mankind from the dangers of that time.
Often times dying in the process or disappearing altogether. *
I had read enough I didn't need a book telling me how turmoiltulous my fate was.
Serana noticed this as she walked over to me.
"Read something weird?" She asked as she caressed my back.
"Nothing much just a book about being a Dragonborn. Telling me how fucked my life is and how I should save the world no new information there." I said looking at Serana.
She chuckled.
"Well, luckily for your fate you got me here with you." She said as she winked at me.
"Yeah, great a woman who loves to suck my blood and teas me to eternity I am soooo lucky," I said fake mocking the female vampire.
"HEY! You better watch that mouth of yours before I will suck you dry for real." She said as she smacked me in the back.
I burst out in laughter as Serana stomped off rummaging through some more books.
After a few hours of searching and a very messy library, Urag came walking towards me with two books.
"Dragonborn, I believe I have found what you are looking for," Urag said as he handed me the books. "Be careful with those they are old and precious."
"Ah, finally!" I said excitedly as I grabbed the books out of Urag's hands.
"One of the books is written by an old friend of mine. He went mad a long while ago and left the college." Urag said with a sad expression on his face but quickly regained his composure.
Effects of the Elder Scrolls and Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls, the last one seemed particularly interesting as it was written by a former college member Septimus Signus.
I began to read the second book which contained some notes from the author.
I believe I have finally found it a way into Alftand I have found the attunement sphere and a blank lexicon. With these tools, I can finally make it in there.
But I know I am being watched I must hide must flee must retreat hahaha.*
"Well, he sure does sound mad I hope Urag knows where he is," I said to Serana
Serana nodded as we walked over to Urag letting him read the author's notes in the book. His eyes widened.
"That crazy fool he actually found the location of an elder scroll and decided to hide away..." Urag spoke as he shook his head. "All that knowledge lost for nothing."
I made eye contact with Urag with a questioning look. Which made the old orc realize I wanted information.
"Ah, yes I presume you want the location of Septimus. He is currently held up at a small outpost on the ice sheets behind the college. Last I saw him he spoke of a huge Dwemer box." Urag said as he rubbed his head clearly worried for his old friend.
"Thank you so much for your help Urag we will be heading off now," I said thanking the orc for his hospitality.
Serana and I bowed respectfully before leaving Urag with a mess of books to clean.
As we left the door I could hear Urag scream.
"HEY! WAIT! Who is going to help me clean this!"
"Shall we pretend we didn't hear him?" Serana asked as she grimaced at cleaning the mess.
"Yeah, we got more important tasks to complete anyway," I replied before picking up the pace a bit.
"Yeah, we would be a much of help either way," Serana said trying to justify us running away.
Leaving the poor orc alone to tend to his books.
Walking over the frozen ocean wasn't without its perils me and Serana both had almost fallen into the freezing water navigating over the ice sheets. Falling in would spell certain death for either of us seeing as the ice sheets continuously shifted and drifted making it hard to come up for air if one of us was to fall in.
I just hoped we would be there soon every moment on this ice is another risk of something going wrong.
I spotted the light of a torch in the distance and pointed Serana towards it which was just as happy as me finally reaching our destination.
Once there we opened a little old rickety hatch which led to a ladder leading down under the ice.
We must be on a solid piece of land I can barely see the bottom what kind of crazy fool sits here for his enjoyment?* I thought to myself as I slowly descended the ladder.
Finally reaching the bottom we were met with a weird sight a small hooded man was rummaging through his stuff mumbling to himself. He stood before a huge square made out of metal adorned with round blue-like glass panes plastered all over the square. It seemed like it was radiating something, something which made me feel uncomfortable already.
"Excuse us, are you Septimus Ignus?" Serana spoke up startling the little man he yelped in a high-pitched voice.
"Agh, who are you two raiders thieves demons tell me or or or I will transform you into toads. I will I can surely I do." The man rambled in a high-pitched voice his eyes seemed crazed as he looked at us.
I nudged Serana.
"Uhm, can't you calm him with a spell?" I whispered in her ear.
"What? You want me to use my vampiric calm on him are you sick?" Serana asked me with a quirked eyebrow.
"I know, but look at the man does it look like he can give us any information in that state? Besides that, you will use it for something good so it's okay." I responded realizing how weird that sounds.
"Okay, mister I bend the rules when it suits me," Serana said teasingly.
"I get it...just do it okay?" I replied in defeat knowing full well she was right.
Serana concentrated her Magicka in the palms of her hand and shot a purple light toward the crazed man. He seemed to calm down immediately as his eyes seemed more clear than moments before.
"What happened? Who are you two? You aren't here to kill me right? I gave up on the scroll." Septimus rambled on.
"Relax Septimus we aren't here to hurt you. We are two adventures seeking the elder scroll and came across your book in which you wrote about the scroll and its location." I replied
"Alftand yess Alftand is where you should be it contains secrets. You need to find the great cavern yess. What was it called remember remember." Septimus rambled again.
"Well, the calming spell didn't do much good," Serana remarked looking at the crazed mage.
I motioned for Serana to have patience.
"You spoke of an attunement sphere and a lexicon? What do we need that for?" I asked deciding any information was better than nothing.
"Yess yess entry they shall give you but first you need to enter... I remember Blackreach. It will show you the path if you believe I know I have always known. Dangers you will find die you most probably will hahaha. " Septimus continued his madness clearly too far along to help him.
"Where do we find those objects Septimus?" Serana asked starting to lose her patience.
"Haha you wish to enter yess I shall give you the objects yess. Now, where did I leave them? Ah found them silly me they were before me all along just as this box secrets it has you two must be cautious haha." The insane mage continued as he handed us the two objects.
They had the same golden color as the giant box before us one was spherical with a bunch of lines all over it and the other was a tiny box also lined with a slightly lighter golden color and circles in the middle of each square with a rune inside. What struck me the most was that they weren't heavy at all despite being made out of metal I stashed them in my pockets before leaving.
Before we could leave Septimus suddenly grabbed me by the arm.
"The lexicon you will return yess I need it inscribed yess or else," Septimus said as he then let me go to mumble to himself again in a corner.
what a weird experience that was.* I thought to myself.
Once outside Serana spoke up.
"That was... weird... how can one be so mad and still live?"
"I don't know he probably doesn't even notice himself it's a shame nonetheless for being so smart he found the scroll. Lost and a captive of his own mind." I replied feeling sorry for the smart insane man.
"Well either way our worries about entering a Dwemer stronghold can be thrown out the window," Serana said grimacing.
"Yeah, I had hoped we wouldn't have to venture in one. Seeing all the dangers in there don't sound great especially the encouraging words from Septimus that we will die." I said sighing loudly.
"Just promise me one thing Dracar when shit goes wrong we run. But I know we can do it we have each other. " Serana replied with a worried tone.
So guys here it is another chapter I apologize it's shorter than you are used to. But the next two chapters will be longer and filled with excitement tough battles another elder scroll and the return of the black dread.
Have fun reading and as always I appreciate you all!
Till the next chapter!