Chapter 12: The Break of Dawn

"So what do you call yourself now? Surely you still don't claim to be the 'Unbroken'?"

Marz sighed, and looked at Uthgerd just in time to see the tips of her ears flush, and her fists clench. The two women had been bickering since they all had left Whiterun many days ago.

The night before they left Whiterun, Marz had returned to Breezehome, and told her of everything that had transpired in his absence. How he had refused the Beast Blood, and the death of Skjor. How the Companions had agreed to allow her entry into Jorrvaskr for as long as the orc wished it. He told her how he was tired of hearing Meridia's voice every time he touched the Beacon so it was past time to return it to her temple. However, after reviewing the Companions' map of Skyrim, Aela noticed that there was also a Silverhand hideout not far out of the way that would require their attention. As such, the Huntress had declared her intention to join Marz and his follower.

Uthgerd had been so angry at the news, that she had faced away from him when she took him into her that night. The first few days of travel had been spent answering the Huntress' questions regarding the nature of her relationship with Marz. Now, it seemed Aela was content to pass the time by trying to goad Uthgerd into some sort of confrontation. Truth be told, Marz was surprised that Aela had asked to join him on his journey. She had been aggressively grieving since the death of Skjor, and the orc had been forced to postpone this journey for several days while Aela and the rest of the Companions mourned their fallen comrade.

"Let it be Aela," the orc growled. To his own surprise, the Huntress actually fell silent. The trio had departed Dragon Bridge only half an hour ago, and were nearing Meridia's Temple according to the map. Aela had warmed to him in the aftermath of their attack on Gallows Rock, but he still felt that he was no closer to winning her heart. Though she had volunteered of her own accord to accompany him on his current tasks, so perhaps there was hope after all.

He heard Uthgerd make a comment about Aela's height, but thankfully before the two could start bickering again–a new voice sounded from all around them. "LOOK AT MY TEMPLE, LYING IN RUINS. IF THEY LOVE ME NOT, HOW CAN MY LOVE REACH THEM?"

As they approached the Statue of Meridia, her voice sounded once more. "RESTORE MY BEACON, THAT I MAY GUIDE YOU TO YOUR DESTINY!"

*

"She did say we needed to cleanse the temple right?"

"Shhh"

Marz understood the confusion though. Aside from a handful of shades, so far their journey into the temple had been eerily quiet. The orc didn't know what to expect inside, but somehow the empty rooms were creepier than if they had been filled with draugr. As the group continued through, it wasn't long before they found themselves outside the temple once more, before following the temple steps back inside. Now, dark trails of shadow swirled around the inside, and sure enough, four corrupted shades appeared, and began attacking them.

"Aela," Marz barked. "Light the beacons! We'll take care of the shades!" He lost track of Aela after that, but Uthgerd appeared by his side, and by the time they had disposed of the last of the shades, Aela had reappeared. "The way is clear," she said. The Huntress guided the group through the corridors into several more rooms. These only held a shade or two and were easily cleared. Soon enough, the group found themselves in the Killkreath Catacombs.

They entered a room with another pedestal, but this one was surrounded by dozens of lit candles. "Be ready," Marz growled quietly. He knew they were getting close to the necromancer Malkoran. He heard a door open at the bottom of the stairs and Aela snuck down to scout it out. She was back in a few moments. "Four shades, and one necromancer." She whispered. Marz nodded, "Can we ambush them?" he asked. Aela shook her head. "They are all spread about the room," she whispered back. Marz nodded again and took the lead. There could be no sneaking.

Marz took a deep breath and charged into the room. He strafed to the right just as the necromancer turned and fired an ice spike spell in his direction. The spike impaled itself into the pillar he had just taken cover behind. He saw Aela and Uthgerd charge in while the enemies' attention was focused on him. They took down a shade each, before running to take cover from Malkoran's ice spikes. Marz cut off the head of the shade bearing down on him, and peeked around his cover. Aela and Uthgerd were too busy engaging the remaining shades to see that the necromancer was flanking them. Marz yelled, and threw his axe, desperate to draw the mage's attention. It worked.

The necromancer deflected the thrown axe with a spell, and shot spike after spike at Marz as he ran from cover to cover trying to flank him. Marz unstrung his bow, and attempted to shoot arrows, but Malkoran cast a ward with one hand, and shot spikes with the other. His ward deflected all of the orc's arrows. Marz was growing frustrated. Orcs detested magic almost as much as Nords did, and Marz knew that if the necromancer weren't so skilled in his ranged spells, he would be dead already.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aela in beast form charge at the necromancer from the shadows. The necromancer made a motion with his arm, and Aela was sent flying into the wall. She hit the ground with a whimper, and shifted back into human form. He saw Malkoran smile maliciously, and raise his hand. It glowed with blue energy, and Marz knew the sorcerer meant to impale his shield-sister. Before Marz could take any action, Uthgerd leapt forward in front of Aela's fallen form. When the ice spike left Malkoran's hand, the nord deflected it with her greatsword.

Marz ran forward as silently as he could, yanking an ice spike from the wall as he ran. The cold burned his hand, but he did his best to ignore it. He had to reach the necromancer now. Malkoran was now using both hands to fire ice spikes. Uthgerd deflected spike after spike, before Malkoran changed his target. His next spike took Uthgerd in the leg, and she went down next to Aela with a scream, dropping her greatsword. Malkoran raised his hand again, and Marz could see the point of an ice spike appear in his palm.

"NOOOO," Marz leapt the remaining distance and stabbed the ice spike into the necromancer's chest just as he turned to face the orc. He watched as the light left the necromancer's eyes, and his body fell to the floor, a split second before his own shade appeared, and began attacking. Marz had to take cover from the shade's fireballs, so when the creature screamed, Marz looked around the stone and saw the shade dissipate in a cloud of black smoke. Uthgerd stood behind where the creature had stood only a moment ago, breathing heavily, and leaning on her greatsword.

Marz smiled, and took a step towards the nord and stumbled. His head felt foggy, and he felt a cold chill sweep across his body. "Chief!" Uthgerd's voice sounded far away. The orc frowned. That's strange, he thought. He glanced over at his thrall-wife and saw her eyes fall to his chest. Confused, the orc looked down, and saw the end of an ice spike protruding from his chest, next to where he knew his heart was.

He felt even colder now, and it was getting hard to breathe. He leaned over, trying to catch his breath, and fell. He rolled to his back, and saw Aela, and Uthgerd both leaning over him now. The room seemed to be getting darker, and though he saw their mouths moving, he couldn't hear them anymore. He was tired. He closed his eyes, and let the darkness take him.