-I have to be honest here, this chapter was a freaking nightmare to write! For some reason the creative juices in my head weren't flowing as much as usual, combined with the fact that this chapter didn't feel all that special to me, at least in comparison to the previous ones. I have a feeling this might all impacting this chapter's quality in a negative way, but I'm really hoping that's not entirely the case.

Read on and let me know what you think!-


"Dragonborn? What are-?"

Siffre's mind didn't even care to register what Arngeir was about to say, and her legs were caring less about her own body as they carried her in a run. She rushed out from in between the bright center of the room the Greybeards stood around and straight for the stairs. Still, she regained enough of her self-control to carefully ascend the steps to reach Lydia. What was she doing there? How did she even get there. Had she even healed since last she'd seen her? And no matter if she had or hadn't, was a new bit of injury added to her?

She'd heard her cry out in pain and glimpsed her on her knees. Siffre's eyes narrowed as she considered: it had to have been that Speaking the Greybeards had just now done. If it was a borderline torturous experience for her, then Gods only know what Lydia herself had just experienced! Just looking at her face now, eyes clenched shut and clenched teeth exposed, she could not be in any better state than she was right now!

She finally reached the top of the stairs, dropped low to Lydia's side, and carefully took a shoulder in the grip of each hand.

"Lydia? Lydia, are you alright?!" All reservations regarding her voice abandoned, and uncontrolled vibrations poured from her mouth. Almost in direct response, Lydia's eyes slowly opened, only for her to lightly recoil from her vocal vibrations.

"Argh-! Huh...?" Lydia looked out, and Siffre's face was the first thing she saw. It was one of complete concern and worry, plus she appeared to be panting lightly, "My... thane? Is that you?"

"Yes it's me Lydia!" Siffre said, "But are you alright?" With a pained groan, Lydia rubbed her head with her free hand.

"I... I don't know..." she said, "But by the Gods above, what was that?! I could hardly think...!" Carefully, she helped her housecarl rise to her feet. Even when standing on her own feet, the dark-haired woman still held a hand out against the wall to steady herself.

"Rek los mul..." the light rumbling of the walls that accompanied that speech drew their attention. Well, in Lydia's case as well as a yelp of surprise. They both looked down at the base of the stairs they stood on to see the Greybeards, simply staring up at them from the bottom. One of the non-Cyrodiilic speaking Greybeards had spoken, but there was hardly any way to know which one had done so. Siffre's slowly narrowed as she looked down at them.

"This is... interesting..." Arngeir spoke this time.

"Huh...? Interesting?" Siffre said, "Master... Arngeir... What you did just now..." her eyes quickly glanced to Lydia out of their corners, "Did you know? Did you know she was there?"

"Know?" Lydia said, "My thane..."

"I assure you, Dragonborn, we did not," Arngeir said, "We were not aware of her presence there at the time."

"So you... you actually did that?" Lydia asked, looking straight down at the four men, "By Ysmir's Beard, that was torturous!" Down on the lower level, the four Greybeards simply exchanged slow looks between each other. In comparison to the two womens' stern faces, theirs were kept uncannily calm, almost aloof. As if what had transpired was nothing of any concern to anyone, and the confusion arose from these their reactions alone.

Siffre's gaze steadily became more hardened as she stared them down. She glimpsed her housecarl's gaze, then returned the Greybeards a matching look of her own. The way these men held their looks of apparent uncaring... It stirred something within her. A very familiar feeling which was helping to feed her currently hardening disposition. Her mouth cracked open and a sound threatened to spill forth, until another's voice beat her's to the punch.

"Leave us." Arngeir spoke simply, yet his fellow Greybeard colleagues understood his meaning. Slowly they walked away from the foot of the stairs they stood at and departed in various other directions. All of them retreated up differently located stairs at the other ends of the main chamber. Once they had disappeared from sight, and the sound of their footsteps began to grow lighter, he looked back up at the women, "Now then... If you would be willing to listen... I would be willing to explain..."

Both Siffre and Lydia's eyes narrowed at this simple statement, yet Arngeir had already turned around, motioning for them to follow him to the center of the room. They looked at each other, eventually shrugging, and carefully descended down the stairs. Or rather, Lydia was careful to descend the stairs, by keeping one hand flat against the wall and her feet cautiously stepping one after the other. Siffre herself kept a close watch on her housecarl as they walked down the steps.

"Are you sure you're alright, Lydia...?" Siffre softly asked.

"I... I should be fine," Lydia grudgingly admitted, "But while I'm thankful those Oblivion-cursed sounds aren't happening right now, who knows if they might happen again..."

"Well... at least it's just Arngeir himself now..." Siffre said, earning her a look from Lydia.

Eventually, the two ladies made it to the bottom of the stairs and onto the flat of the main chamber's flat floor. None of them had tripped nor mistook steps at any point, which was good for them. Master Arngeir awaited the two of them as he stood on the edge of the central light's edge. They walked towards the center of the room, standing side by side underneath the light. Lydia quickly spared a quick glance up at this strange light source, while Siffre stayed focused on the Greybeard himself.

"So, your name is Arngeir?" Lydia asked, to which the man nodded, "Well then... I suppose you can start with an explanation; what in all of Tamriel was that just now?!" Her voice raised at the end there, yet Arngeir held his peacefully controlled demeanor.

"The Dragonborn here had been undergoing training in the proper usage and practice of her Thu'um," he explained, his hand indicating to the lighter-haired Nord, "What you heard, and were present for, were the words of tradition that Greybeards of all speak to a Dragonborn who has accepted the guidance of wisdom into their lives." Lydia's tensed shoulders relaxed as she listened. She then turned to her thane.

"So you- my thane, you also endured that as well?" she asked.

"I did..." Siffre nodded, "But... I almost couldn't handle it either..." She rubbed her free hand across her opposite arm, "It felt like... like the entire Voice was... crushing me. It made it hard to feel, to move, to think even..."

"I'm amazed," Lydia said, "I remember seeing you stand here, in the center of these Greybeards... You had four of them project that... that 'Voice' upon you, yet you remained standing?" At her curiously worded praise, Siffre nodded.

"I too am amazed, and slightly curious," Arngeir spoke up, "I was serious when I'd said few can withstand our unbridled Voice..." His head leaned in slightly as he focused his own gaze upon Lydia, "And yet, you also... Just who are you, exactly?" Lydia raised an eyebrow at this strange question.

"What? My name is Lydia Volrun! I am the Whiterun appointed housecarl to my thane, Siffre!" she waved a hand towards her thane, "What more would there be to know?"

"Lydia... Volrun... It's strange but... that name somehow seems peculiar..." Arngeir spoke softly. Both Lydia and Siffre blinked.

"What do you mean?" Siffre asked.

"Something of familiarity? I'm not sure..." Arngeir pondered until he finally shook his head, "Well, as it is now, I feel that..." He paused for a moment to sigh, "I feel I must reiterate: it was not our intention to harm nor did we bear ill will to you, Lydia Volrun. It is no secret that we Greybeards are known to live a solitary life, in the eternal pursuit of inner balance and study. I suppose with that in mind, we are hardly proficient with... certain social graces... Our profession is purely one for study, and teaching." He looked back up at Siffre this time, "It is why I think it would be most beneficial for you, Dragonborn, if you were to join us here, for study. There is still much more you can learn from us about your Thu'um."

"You want me to... to stay here? Up on this mountain? As a Greybeard?" Siffre asked.

"Wait, is that even possible? Can a woman 'be' a Greybeard?" Lydia silently said to herself. Didn't the word 'Greybeard' imply that one had to at the very least grow a beard...?

"I... I don't..." Siffre trailed off. Lydia watched the thoughtful expressions range across her thane's face. Her own eyes narrowed in disbelief; surely she wasn't actually considering this? She hardly understood half of this philosophical stuff this one Greybeard had relayed to her, but what she did understand was that her thane was being asked to... stay here? And for how long? For as long as it would take to 'help her Voice?' How long would that take exactly? And what would this mean for herself?

"I... don't think so..." Siffre responded, Lydia's eyes widening slightly, "I don't think... that I could stay cooped up here... for however long it would take."

"The study of the Way of the Voice is always filled with-"

"I-I'm sorry, but..." Siffre interrupted, "I just don't feel like... like that philosophy suits me, personally. You're asking me to stay here... but down below, in Skyrim, there are more... important things occurring at this moment! Not the least of which: dragons...! They're, they're terrorizing this land, the people..." She looked back up at Arngeir, "Could this possibly... have something to do with me? Or even what I am?"

"Hmmm... possibly; Dragons' reemergence to Skyrim, the revealing of a Dragonborn at this time... It seems far from coincidental..." The Greybeard considered.

"Then... I feel like I would be of more use... out there," Siffre pointed in the direction of the entry doors, "Besides, you told me that... I'd have to find out my own destiny..." Siffre's gaze drifted down and away from both Arngeir and Lydia, "Well, it's not something I'd be able... to do from just staying here, would it?" Arngeir himself slowly turned his own gaze to the floor before them. His eyes appeared half closed and his lips pursed together.

Lydia herself watched this entire scene play out before her. All the while a small smile crept up over her face. Over the past several minutes she'd wanted something to happen to these Greybeards; out of spite? Maybe... But while this wasn't exactly what she'd predicted what would happen, she still felt her satisfaction rise a little. It rose more so when looking over at her thane, and knowing she had asserted herself towards what she'd wanted. If she were being honest, there was a lack of that specifically during the early times they were together, so this was a welcome, refreshing change of pace.

"I... cannot deny the logic behind your words," Arngeir conceded, "Could it be my own judgement was clouded in this instance? Doubtful, as I sense a similar passion in you that Ulfric once held... Nonetheless, if that is how you feel... let your Voice be your guide for you." Siffre gave a small smile at this. With Lydia on the other hand, at the mentioning of the Ulfric's name, she raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you, for understanding," she said with a nod.

"But simply know and remember, that we will always be here to guide you, should you ever need us," Arngeir quickly added.

"Wait a minute," Lydia spoke up to draw their attention, "Did you just mention Ulfric? As in Ulfric Stormcloak?" This time, Arngeir's contented disposition faded considerably. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed.

"Yes, a more perfect example of man's hubris exceeding better judgement you will never find..." he spoke, his tone carrying disappointment, "He was one of us, or rather would have been a proper student had his mind and outer body been in harmony with each other..." Lydia gasped lightly.

"Wait, you mean Ulfric actually was here?" she said, "He learned the Thu'um from you as well?"

"And defied what we Greybeards stand for, in favor of pursuing a pointless-" Arngeir confirmed. His voice steadily grew more heated the more he spoke until he cut himself off abruptly. He took a moment of deliberation to calm himself, breathing in and out slowly, "I... apologize, but you'd understand if I find this an uncomfortable and unsuitable topic for conversation?" Lydia nodded, as did Siffre right after her.

'Well Ulfric is definitely alive, perhaps he could be questioned in person?' Lydia thought to herself, quickly dismissing her own thought as being nonsensical. She shook her head of such thoughts, "Well, If all this is all sorted out, are we to leave now, my thane?"

"Actually..." Arngeir said, glancing straight up above them at the light that shone through the thin fixture in the roof. This same light that had been growing steadily dimmer as the minutes passed, "It would seem evening is quickly approaching around this time. While I do not mean to go against your wishes so soon after your declaration, I must advise against traversing the Path in the night."

"Oh, yes that's true..." Siffre said, glancing up herself, "I mean, it was hard enough... climbing this path during the daytime..."

"Yeah, on that I agree..." Lydia added with a low voice of her own. She did not wish to find out what sort of nocturnal creatures might be found along those treacherous steps outside. And on top of that, a yawn that she tried and failed to contain was plenty more reason.

"You are both welcome to use the space where you had been kept for treatment," Arngeir said, indicating to Lydia, "That same space hold two beds within. You would also have my solemn vow that neither myself, nor any of my Greybeard colleagues, would disturb nor trouble you while you are there."

"Alright then, we'll rest here for the evening and... set out in the morning...? Sounds good," Siffre said. Arngeir gestured with a hand for them to follow him. The man led them around and made their way back and up the stairs.

"Right this way..." He said, leading the way. It was around when they'd rounded the familiar hallway corner to Lydia that Siffre glanced over at her, and noticed her neutral expression.

"Lydia," Siffre asked her, "Are you sure you're alright? I saw you... on the floor earlier, and..."

"I'm... feeling a little better, my thane," Lydia responded, glancing back at her, "There's still a heavy ringing in my ears, but other than that, nothing hurts much anymore." Her gaze drifted forward to the back of Arngeir leading them, "Didn't you say what you'd done back then was reserved for Dragonborns?" He glanced down to his side so that Lydia could barely see his eye. He appeared as if he was about to say something, but after a moment of pause, lifted his head back up and faced forward.

"This is true, a Dragonborn who has accepted the teachings of the Way of the Voice deserves no less than acknowledgement for this in the very dragon language they were born with..."Arngeir spoke. At this, Lydia and Siffre made off-handed glances at each other, both thinking the same thing,

'And she survived that? Incredible...'

The three of them remained silent for the rest of the way Arngeir led them. As they walked, Siffre gazed upon the inner stonework of High Hrothgar's walls. She felt how incredibly smooth it was to the touch as she casually dragged a hand across the wall. Not a single piece of dust was tracked on her fingertips at all. Either this place didn't age commonly with dust, or the Greybeards themselves were exceptional cleaners.

One more rounded corner, and the ladies were led back into the room that Lydia had first woken up in. They could see clearly that this room had two separate beds in it, both parallel and on opposite ends of the room with a nightstand and two chairs in between them. The former appeared to hold an a small plate with cheese chunks and two halves of bread on them already.

"This is it, where I remember waking up in," Lydia said. She walked over towards the very bed she had used not long ago, Siffre following right behind her. Each one took a seat on the edge of their respective bed.

"Good evening to you, Dovahkiin," Arngeir said with a small bow. Lydia's eyes narrowed a little, almost expecting him to add something else, but Arngeir had already turned and was departing from the room. She slowly brought her gaze back in front of her, and shook her head.

"You alright, Lydia?" she heard Siffre ask. Glancing up, her thane was starting to undo the straps of her gauntlets.

"Yes... no, I..." Lydia started, but suddenly found herself failing to find the right words, "I guess I... I'm not sure what it is I'm feeling..."

"Is it about the Greybeards?" Siffre prodded, "Lydia tell me- did they... 'do' anything to you? Hurt you?"

"No I..." Lydia struggled for words again, "Well, no, they didn't 'hurt' me... In fact, I woke up here in this bed, my injury healed and bandaged!" Her eyes drifted back and forth between her various injury spots, then back up at Siffre, "It's just... These Greybeards, it's like they're different from what I'd heard local legends describe them as? I don't know, am I making sense to you?" By now she slipped off her remaining unstrapped gauntlet and set both of them on her side of the nightstand.

"I think so... Siffre mused, also working on her gauntlet straps, "Still, they seemed a nice enough sort to me... They've been teaching me... how my Thu'um works and is used, among other things..." Lydia's ears and head perked slightly as she listened to her thane speak. It was vastly different from how she what she was used to hearing from her.

"My thane, um, I couldn't help but notice..." she said.

"What?"

"Well, the way you're speaking. I mean, your general speaking," Lydia tried to clarify, "What you say is sounding more and more like whole sentences... and I'm hearing your voice clearer!"

"Really?" Siffre said, eyes widening ever so slightly. She placed a hand on her upper chest, "The first thing one of them helped me with... was how loud I make my voice. But not the Thu'um Voice... my actual voice, like if I want to talk... like a normal person..."

"It uh... It sounds good. I like it." Lydia nodded with a little smile, before she set to undoing her boot straps.

"Thanks..." Siffre removed her other gauntlet as well, but held both of them in her hands for a moment first. She looked down at them, staring at the metallic engravings on the back-hand of one of them. The metal was the coarse and unpolished kind, with reflections of any kind all but impossible on them, "They did end up helping me... The Greybeards. Everything we thought they could help me with... they did. I feel like... like I've got better control, and I can actually do things..."

Lydia listened to her thane speak even as she worked off her boots. She was sounding more and more... enthusiastic about this entire event. Just how different with these Greybeards had her experience been than her own? Did they treat her like some revered hero out of legend or story? It was certainly feeling that way, especially in comparison to how she remembered her interaction with Arngeir. How he seemed to only grant her basic necessities before running off. Even up to now, when he had paid good evening to her, the 'Dovahkiin', it seemed like he'd completely forgotten she was there...

Her thoughts were suddenly brought back to when she'd regained consciousness, and her early discussion with him. He'd mentioned something about 'where everyone stands'? Something along those lines? She'd had some time to think about those words, even before she'd rejoined with her thane. It also reminded her of a line of questioning she had for her.

"My thane?" she spoke up.

"Hm?"

"I was just... wondering something," Lydia said. She stopped her movement after she'd removed her boots completely, "What um... what exactly is next to come?"

"Huh?" Siffre said with a tilted head and raised eyebrow, "'Next to come?' We go back down tomorrow morning, and I'll figure how to put my Voice to good-"

"No no, that's not what I mean," Lydia quickly interrupted, "I mean... well, with me," she indicated to herself, "What is really next for me?" Siffre stopped tilting her head, but now her eyes narrowed at the statement. For her? What brought this on?

"For you?" she said, "I... don't understand. Is something... happening to you in the future?"

"I was just wondering if..." Lydia said, "If you would even still have use for someone like me... I mean, I was at least to help you get up this mountain and to the Greybeards in the first place, which has been done. But now that't it's been done... Is there really any more use for me?" Siffre's narrowed eyes slowly widened the more she heard Lydia speak. More use for her? Just what was she implying exactly?

"Lydia..." she said, "Of... of course I'd have use for you! I- ah..." Siffre hesitated, but this time not as a speech related pause, but from different consideration, "I... like the company... 'you're' company, that you've been so far..." Lydia listened to her thane. The tiniest bit of red could be felt on her cheeks, but she attributed that to the exact temperature in this room they were in.

"My company?" she said, "I hardly think I'm good at conversations really..."

"Are you joking?" Siffre said, "Between the two of us, you've been the one who... has spoken the most out of us!"

"And now that you're sounding like you can speak better... now you will," Lydia countered. Siffre paused again; that was true. There was no denying that she gaining more proficiency at speaking. Is that what was to happen? That she'd become everything that Lydia was and more? A better speaker? A better warrior-

At the thought of warrior, Siffre was suddenly reminded of the sword held in her her own sword sheath. Slowly reached to draw it forth, its 'shing' sound filling the air as metal drew upon protective leather. Lydia watched this as well, and her own eyes widened in realization as well. Siffre glanced down at it once, then walked forward a little to hold it out to her housecarl.

"I'd almost forgotten... this does belong to you," Siffre spoke. Lydia slowly reached out to take the sword at the hilt from her thane's hands. She stared at the blade, her own reflection eyeing her almost incredulously, "You told me Jarl Balgruuf... he gave you this sword because he thought... that you deserved it? Well... I'd also say you deserve it, and, well... I'd like to have you along, more often... I'd never had someone... trustworthy, to travel with..."

Lydia lowered the blade as she looked back and straight forward. Her own face reflected in the flat of the blade was quickly replaced with that of her thane's. She no longer had a face of neutrality, but rather was more peaceful. She held a small smile on her face, and Lydia could slowly feel any lingering doubts fade away. With that, she reinserted her blade back into her own sheathe.

"That's that, then; I'll follow you for as long as you'll have me?" Siffre nodded.

"It's like Jarl Balgruuf said: I may be Dragonborn, but I'm just one woman..." she glanced in the direction of one of the clear windows that allowed the day's fading light to flow into the room, "And who knows how many more dragons there are out there..." She looked back down, then returned her gaze to Lydia, "If I'm going to have to fight more... I'd like to have someone I trust to fight with..." Memories of her own fight with the dragon at the Whiterun Tower briefly flashed in front of Lydia's mind; its gnashing maw snapping at her endlessly. Suddenly, her own memories morphed into those of herself and her thane standing side-by-side, slashing their weapons away at the reptilian terror. This new prospect on her mind, she met Siffre's gaze with a determined smile of her own, as well as a quick nod.

The two ladies then continued their own process of removing their own armors from their bodies. When she'd gotten to removing her boots, Siffre was much more relieved to find that her own feet were no longer blister-riddled. Some light chaffing around her ankles but nothing near as worrying as the first time Lydia had removed her boots for her. From the looks of her feet, these foot-wraps were doing excellent work in protecting her feet.

Finally their armors were removed and set aside on the respective chairs near the feet of their beds. Clad in nothing more than light tunics and trousers, they each sat on the edges of their beds. Inside of High Hrothgar may have been filled with cool air, yet that cool air still felt refreshing on their exposed arms. It was during this time that Siffre was reminded of the bread halves and the cheese chunk laid out on the nightstand's plate. She reached for the bread half close to her and took a small bite, then quickly followed it up with multiple bites one after the other. In contrast, Lydia reached for her own bread while watching this display with mild amusement.

"My thane! Surely you're not that hungry?" she asked, taking slower bites.

"I... I'm just so...!" Siffre said in between bites and gulps, "My stomach felt so empty!"

"Huh, well I guess climbing up a mountain side does work up an appetite..." Lydia said. She glanced over at the cheese chunk still on the plate, "I wonder how the Greybeards even get food like this? Does someone deliver it here, or would they actually leave this place to get it themselves...?"

Eventually Siffre did slow how fast she was eating her bread. The two women were then able to eat at reasonable speeds from that point on. Eventually they finished their foods, both of them could feel bits of drowsiness upon themselves. The light outside was dimming considerably through the window fixture as well. Lydia patted her own bed once to get a feel for what it was she'd be sleeping on.

"This bed feels sturdy, and the mattress firm..." she noted, "Just how did the Greybeards get such furniture up here?"

"I... I don't know..." Siffre's response was interrupted by a yawn, "I think I'll sleep now..." She slipped herself underneath the covers of her bed. Lydia slowly did the same and pulled the covers up to her neck. This was a surprisingly nice experience; this bed was nice and warm. Much better than having to sleep with her head down on some table any day or night! As she started to close her eyes and let sleep take its hold on her, she heard a familiar sound to the side.

"Hey, Lydia?" Siffre softly said.

"Hm?"

"Um... just so you know... I wouldn't mind if you... well, instead of calling me 'my thane', like you usually do... you can call me by my name..." Lydia rolled her head over to glance one eye over at her her thane, or rather as she was now preferring to be called...?

"Your name... Hmmm..." Lydia sounded out, "Well, if you insist, my th- er... Siffre..." Siffre nodded once then turned her head and body away in her bed. Lydia herself looked straight back up at the ceiling above her. Yep, that would definitely take some getting used to...

Seemed to be an ever-growing list when it came to her thane, Siffre the Dragonborn.


A gentle glow of morning light shone through the upper windows. Siffre and Lydia woke up at around the same time, though initially alarmed at waking up in unfamiliar territory. Their unease didn't last long, as memories of the day before reminded them of where they were. In beds of the fort of High Hrothgar itself.

On that note, there was not a single Greybeard to be seen before them in the room they were in. While this was somewhat of a small relief, Lydia found herself taking more relief in this knowledge. Perhaps the less she had to do with them, especially at this precise moment, the better.

The two pulled themselves from their beds, Lydia taking a moment to do some small body stretches, with Siffre watching out of curiosity.

"So then my thane- oh, I mean, Siffre..." Lydia said but quickly caught herself, "Where exactly are we going once we're off this mountain?"

"I... I'm not sure..." Siffre said, slightly embarrassed, "I actually new to this Hold myself... I have no idea where what is, here..." Finishing her stretches, Lydia looked over at Siffre as she proceeded to put her own armor back on her.

"You're not from here? That's..." Lydia started, but then shook her head. Implications weren't like that weren't important at the moment, "This is the Rift Hold, or I mean Ivarstead itself is in the Rift," Lydia explained, "And while I've also never been here myself, it might be best we set out for a Hold's main city. This one's is called Riften."

"Riften..." Siffre said, moving to put her torso armor back on, "You said you've never been there...?"

"To Riften? No..." Lydia replied, "But at the very least, we can get a broader scope of directions from there."

"Hm, that's a good idea," Siffre replied.

"It's also the best place we can go to get you a new weapon," Lydia pointed out.

"Oh yeah... I'd forgotten about that..." Siffre said, her soft tone taking on a melancholic one as well.

"Fear not, Siffre; remember, I am your sword and your shield," Lydia said, "Though in this case I suppose that's to be taken literally..." A sound emerged from Siffre's lips. Looking up, Lydia was surprised to hear the small sound of a chuckle escape from her mouth. It wasn't that amusing, yet Lydia found herself smiling at that response all the same.

Finally the last bits of their armor were placed back on. Lydia gripped her shield in her left hand while her right hand unconsciously drifted into contact with the hilt of her sword. Glancing down at her armaments was a quick mental reminder to her of what she had just said earlier. Siffre was very much without a suitable means of fighting back against threats. So until that could be rectified by re-outfitting her with a suitable weapon, she would need to be in full protective mode of her thane.

So for now, she would be taking the lead.

Lydia led the two of them back out of the room and down the hallway. The dreary interior was barely illuminated by the soft glow of morning light. That was yet another thing about this place she would not be missing; just how the sun bathes the world around them in both light, and life. How men could ever stand to live up here away from such pleasantries will probably remain a mystery to her.

Rounding the corner the two women reentered the main chamber and walked down its steps. Before them was a familiar hooded man, kneeling on the ground within the light with his back to them. There was absolutely know way of telling which Greybeard this one was from first glance. Fortunately, at the audible sound of dual footsteps against the stone floor, the man slowly turned his head. The sight of a braided beard and the man was immediately identified to Siffre and Lydia.

"Wind guide you, Dragonborn," Arngeir spoke softly. Lydia's eyes narrowed in confusion at this strange greeting, and even Siffre found herself doing the same.

"Er, good morning, Greybeard Arngeir," Lydia said, "Well, we were just one our way out of here... to the real world..." She was careful in muttering that last part under her breath, where hopefully she wasn't heard.

"B-but, before we go," Siffre quickly cut in, "I would like to say... thank you, for all the help you've given to me... Oh! I mean, for us..." Siffre suddenly remembered and motioned between herself and Lydia. From on his knees Arngeir looked up at the both of them, his eyes holding some sort of feeling in them. He then slowly rose to his feet and faced them completely, hands held in front of him.

"For you, Dragonborn... it was nothing short of a privilege," he spoke, honest reverence in his voice, "And if you feel your destiny lies outside of these walls, then I would defer to your judgement. As a matter of fact... I might have something that in a way might aid you on your journey." Even Lydia's eyes perked up at this statement. The Greybeards were planning to give them something? Something actually tangible for once?

"What is it?" Siffre asked.

"You see, during last night, we had felt the faintest whisper of a Word of Power," Arngeir spoke. At the mention of this, Siffre's face flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh no... please tell me-" she said, "I, I don't mean to do- especially when sleeping-"

"Please be at ease, Dragonborn; I was not referring to you," Arngeir held up a palm before her, "I refer to a Word of Power, from outside the walls of High Hrothgar."

"A Word of... Power?" Lydia said, "What is that exactly?"

"The phrase itself is self-explanatory," Arngeir quickly replied, "Carved Words of the Dragon Tongue scattered across Skyrim. If I were to venture a guess, I would assume no different from how you discovered your first Word?" Siffre's eyes widened, but rather as her mind ran back with memories. Back within Bleak Falls Barrow, that main chamber, and that strange curved hollow rock adorned with a stone dragon's head gazing down upon her. How written upon the stone, among the strange carvings of some forgotten language, that one single word seemed to jump out toward her, begging to be read, and learned.

"Yes... yes that was it..." Siffre recounted, "And you... you found... another?"

"Even from these hallowed halls, far removed from the world below, we can hear the Word's Thu'um resonate a song of harmony," Arngeir said.

"That's... impressive," Lydia had to admit. To be able to hear much of anything besides the outdoor's howling winds? And also through these undoubtedly thick walls? Those had to be some sharp ears.

"Well? Where is this Word? What is this Word?" Siffre asked, almost failing to control her volume-raising excitement.

"While I cannot quite identify what this Word is exactly," Arngeir said, "I could possibly... do you carry a map on your person?"

"A map?" the Dragonborn stopped short, "I-I don't, er-"

"I do...!" Lydia suddenly spoke up, grabbing both their attentions. That was not simply an exclamation for attention either; Lydia reached into her side back, dug through it for but a moment, and pulled forth a folded piece of parchment. She moved it and her hands between herself and the two others as she unfolded it completely. Before them lay a light-brown, rough textured map, a general outline of the province of Skyrim itself.

"Ah yes..." Arngeir studied the map intently, "From where it was felt..." He allowed his finger to hover over the map in complete random shapes, never stopping in one place for too long. Finally, confirmation was given with a tap of his finger on one location, "Here, in this general area; I believe there is where its essence was felt from."

Siffre and Lydia studied the indicated location themselves. Lydia's eyes slowly narrowing as she realized where exactly that was.

"This is in Eastmarch?" she asked, "South of Windhelm?"

"I am confident that is where you will find it," Arngeir replied, "Let this be a lesson to be learned, Dragonborn: learning the Word of Power is a great feat, but the journey towards obtaining it is no less a great feat in itself." Siffre looked up from Lydia's map and nodded to the Greybeard.

"Thank you for telling me about this," she said. Lydia used her finger nail to lightly scratch into the parchment and mark the location on her map before folding it away.

"Then may you go with the Gods on your path to wider knowledge," Arngeir slowly widened his arms and brought them back in again, "Breath, Volume, and Focus." Siffre nodded once and moved towards the door behind Arngeir. Lydia was poised to follow after her until the sound of the man's clearing throat caught her attention, "Though, before you go, might I trouble you for a brief moment of your time, Lydia?"

Lydia did stop, but more in disbelief than anything. What would this Greybeard possibly want to say to her? After all she'd garnered from this experience on this mountain fort, her opinion of the Greybeards had almost been completely reversed. Instead of appearing as revered sages who knew every answer to every problem, they instead act as if they have little time or patience for people 'not like them'. People not also bearing their Voice Powers...

Off to the side, Siffre's eyes also narrowed in confusion, which Lydia noticed.

"I'll... just be a moment, my th- er, Siffre..." she said. Siffre glanced between the two of them, then finally shrugged her shoulders and moved closer to the door. Now alone, Lydia turned back to the hooded man looking back at her.

"Lydia the Housecarl," he said, "In the time that you have been a guest in our presence, I have suspicions that your perception of us had not matched with what was preconceived?"

"Um... that's..." Lydia suddenly struggled for words. Was this man some kind of mind-reader?! "Y-yeah, you could say that..."

"While I cannot make apologies for our way of life, I feel I can directly impart to you a sort of counsel: We Greybeards may be masters of the Thu'um and the imparting of its wisdom to the Dragonborn, but..." Arngeir's gaze drifted up towards Siffre's direction, Lydia looking up as well, "I feel that... for all other manners of life one were to experience... she would need a different sort of guiding mentor..." He looked back at Lydia this time, "Someone ever present to be with her every step of the way..." Lydia simply stared at this man. How could he manage actions that made him both unlikable and also insightful at the same time?! It made no sense to her!

However, sparing a glance in Siffre's direction, and her confusion and anxiety became less prominent. For whatever this man was prophesying to her, her thane herself was a constant. She enjoyed her company more, just as she said she enjoyed hers. If he was saying that being with her would be good for her, well... that may be his opinion, but it was one that Lydia shared.

Lydia said nothing herself, but gave a simple nod to Arngeir. The Greybeard nodded in return, and the housecarl moved to rejoin her thane. Siffre perked up at the sound of Lydia's approaching footsteps.

"Lydia? What was that about...?" she asked.

"Oh... it was nothing really, my thane," Lydia replied, "These Greybeards seem like they're best at giving advice though, I will say." Siffre tilted her head in mild confusion, but brushed it off with a shoulder shrug. She placed both hands on one side of the door, Lydia's hands on the other, and gave a massive push.

With their combined effort, the two women were greeted almost immediately by the ice winds whipping at their skin. Their ears were also filled with the howling that wind also carried. As it was morning, the rising sun's early light nearly illuminated the white of the snow, thus almost blinding them. Both of the women found themselves frowning; this was one part of this journey they were not looking forward to. A quick unclipping of their rolled up wool sleeves to now cover their arms, and they felt significantly warmer.

"Wait, this is what this place looked like outside?" Lydia noted as they walked down the entry steps.

"Oh that's right," Siffre recalled, "You were technically... unconscious when I brought you here, weren't you...?" She looked forward again, the now descending 7,000 Steps laid out before them and offering a new perspective on the path once traveled, "Well, hopefully there won't be any trolls this time while going down..." With that the two made their way off of the fort's steps and onto the crunching snow. With the wind blowing as it was, Lydia and Siffre found it best to hold their shields between the wind and their heads. Lydia made a mental note that at some point they'd need to consider helmets or head-wear in the future.

In addition, as they walked and High Hrothgar grew more and more distant behind them, Lydia spoke up again.

"M- Siffre?"

"Yeah?" she looked at her.

"... Remind me never to travel up this gods-forsaken mountain again..." Siffre's mouth cracked open, then curved up into a smile.

"Agreed."


-Yeah like I said, the creativeness that usually flows through my head felt a bit lacking this time around. Of course this might also be in part because I'm more excited for what the next few chapters have in store: the opportunity to showcase new ideas I really wanted to write about.

But I guess in the end, I'll let judgement of this chapter rest in the hands of you- the readers and reviewers. Let me know what you all thought of this chapter, or even if you agree that that it might've been lacking, and I'll strive to do better in the future!-