The barrier that blocked the outer fields of the Pale did not seem to be budging. It was there for a couple of days, now. When the groups had made their shifts of resting and watching, the barrier remained, blocking a wide radius around the mountain that once held the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon atop it. The Companions were attacking it relentlessly with the Vigilants, believing it to be some foul machination designed to hinder their task. Little did they know, it was merely Jyggalag buying them time for reinforcements to arrive.
And they did; Tolfdir, Colette Marence, Phinis Gestor, Drevis Neloren, Faralda, Onmund, Brelyna, J'zargo, Arniel Gane, Nirya, and many of the students of Winterhold marched onto the fields to help the fight against the Daedra. Tolfdir stood at the forefront with the other professors lined in a row behind him.
Kodlak watched as the College of Winterhold approached, and Aela, Farkas, Ria and Vilkas watched the arrival with an odd, passing relief. Normally they would mock the mages for their frailty and reliance on magic, but it appears they underestimated the forces that be.
The old Harbinger met the Arch-Mage halfway. The mages collectively looked to the mountaintop with horror.
Colette clasped her hands over her mouth, worrying by the sight. She hurried past the Companions and to the Vigilants. She grabbed Tolan's arms frantically. "Where is she? Where's Carcette? I-is she still alive?"
They'd learned the distressing news of Cura's death and all that had transpired, and on closer inspection, the redness under her eyelids revealed the stains of many tears. She clung to his arms desperately, nearly digging her fingers straight into them as stress threatened to crush her ribcage and constricted her throat.
Vigilant Tolan had no real answer for her. He crunched his shoulders as he thought about it. "I don't know. I haven't seen her in days, or... a week... since before she left the Hall."
Brother Adalvald added, "Last I saw of her was when Cura's dead body was brought into Stendarr's Beacon. She quit the Vigil altogether and stormed out. I haven't seen her since. Gods... I hope she's okay."
The Restoration Master looked at the darkness shrouding the Hall of the Vigilant. "I spoke with her a week ago. In person. But something seemed a bit off about her. I'm not sure exactly what, but she seemed quite cold."
"It wasn't her. It was a Mythic Dawn Priestess posing as Keeper Carcette." Vigilant Tolan informed her. "That was how they wormed in. They led her away from the Hall and posed as her for a day. Gods only know how long they've been preparing for that."
Colette's eyes widened and she looked down to the ground shamefully. "I... I should have said something. I noticed she was acting weird... maybe if I'd mentioned that to you... but you're so pig-headed!" she pointed at Tolan with a sharp finger. "You probably wouldn't have believed me anyway! You think I'm hysterical, just like everybody else!"
Vigilant Tolan couldn't deny it, though unbeknownst to her he would have listened to something like that - especially since he felt something strange in the air himself.
Kodlak turned to Tolfdir as the others became acquainted. "Are you here to lend us aid?"
Keeper Thorondir moved in to listen.
Tolfdir confirmed. "Yes. Our Conjuration Mage, Phinis, received a message from a ghost. It appears at least part of what she said is true." he gestured to the horror in the south.
Jarl Brina Merilis walked up to him with disbelief trailing each step. "A ghost told you?"
Keeper Thorondir, Gwyneth and Altano each stared at them, expecting an answer.
"The ghost of Madena, the Court Wizard, to be exact." Phinis revealed.
"Ghost? That's impossible. Madena is alive." Brina protested.
Phinis shook his head. "No. This was a ghost, ghost. She was entirely spectral. She was killed two years ago by a man called 'Silus Vesuius'."
As soon as the name passed his lips, he caught the attention of Vigilants Tolan and Adalvald, Irbrand Biene and Nirtius Pontanian. They all knew who that was.
"Son of a bitch." Vigilant Tolan grunted. "That Skeever escaped our Hall when the Vampires attacked! He killed Moric Sidrey!"
Jarl Brina's eyes were opened as well. "No... that can't be... Silus Vesuius was a stupid kid with illusions of grandeur, but not a murderer!"
Horik tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm going to bring Madena out here. If nothing else, she can help the mages."
"Good. We'll get to the root of this." Brina dismissed him and he hurried into the town. She then looked to Tolfdir for his advice. "Arch-Mage, this barrier has been circling the mountain for days. According to the Vigilants, it sprouted after their Shrine was defiled. They need to restore it in the hopes of closing that Oblivion gate."
Nirtius Pontanian turned to Irbrand. "What number have the scouts estimated, Irbrand?"
Irbrand Bienne paled before releasing the answer. "About one thousand and thirty-three thus far, Sir."
The Dawnstar host of a mere two-hundred gasped. The troops began to murmur amongst themselves.
Brina Merilis choked on the wind. "One thousand and thirty-three... that's... no. Those numbers are not looking good. What's even worse is that they have the high ground."
"So we should just run and hide. Works for me." Drevis Neloren raised his hand.
"Don't be Craven!" Vilkas snapped at the Dunmer. "Where's your spine, man? We have Healers and Mages with their fancy magic, right? If there was ever a time it was useful, this is it."
Kodlak agreed. "You're a Conjuration wizard, are you not?" he pointed to Phinis.
"Yes; each Daedra you fell I can raise to our side." Phinis suggested and gestured over to Brelyna. "My pupil, Brelyna can assist in this matter, as well."
Brelyna nodded. "I'll do my best, sir."
"This one and these ones will do their best, but it is assured that J'zargo will do even better!" the arrogant cat proclaimed. "Now that Cura is gone, J'zargo is the best again. He will not let these ones down."
"Have the Vigilants set the Rune Traps?" Aela asked. "I find it's always good to offset your prey by springing a trap on 'em."
Altano walked up to them. "Werewolves, Necromancy... the only reason you're not dead right now is because we need assistance."
Vigilant Jacob nodded. "I second that. But calm yourself, Altano. That haughtiness got Joshua, Aredhel and the others killed long ago."
"...Yes. You're right, Master Jacob. I'm sorry." Altano fell back in place.
Farkas scratched the back of his neck. "We need to figure out a good plan if we wanna win."
"Gods help us." Onmund shuddered as he stared at the red glow.
They still had time to prepare, but the task was incredibly daunting just the same.
Silus Vesuius leaned forward with his hands in his face. "It's useless. It doesn't matter if you send missives to Skyrim; they'll never reach your men in time."
Silus was once keen on the idea, but it continuously gnawed at him, day and night. He hasn't been able to sleep without visions of Madena's death and a burning Dawnstar flooding his mind.
The Vigilants were worried, measuring out the truth of his words.
"It's hopeless. I'm so sorry." the young man deeply regretted his part in the destruction of their world. For years now he'd denied his better judgement.
Madena was wrong about him, when she saw the shred of humanity therein. There was none. He was what everyone feared, and more. The world would have been better off, had he never been born.
Vigilant Greyvild considered his words and consolidated to fate. "Then we will do our duties as Vigilants of Stendarr and protect the people of Stonehollow in case any of those fiends should pass the Sea of Ghosts."
"You can't win this. We're all doomed, I tell you! Doomed!" Silus came to the realization that Mehrunes would have no intention of sparing him either; especially after having been captured by the Vigilants. He was nothing but an incompetent in the Prince's sight.
Vigilant Greyvild clenched his Amulet of Stendarr and walked to the door. "I have faith in my god. Stendarr, and the other Aedra will come through for us. I know they will."
He walked out and shut it behind him, leaving Silus alone and weeping. He was destitute; no proper clothes, no grand promised victory, and no home to return to.
He was wretched and crying, sprawled on the bed the Vigilants were generous enough to provide for him as a reward for exposing the Mythic Dawn Cultists among the citizens. They were all round up and interrogated, but the Vigilants graciously neglected to point Silus as their source.
He'd helped bring about the downfall of his world. He deserved no mercy, no kindness. His fist's bottom collided with the stone wall with an aggressive crack.
"Throwing another of your tantrums, I see." a familiar and quite smug voice called to Silus from above.
He raised his face from the bedsheets as his heart froze upon the recognition of the voice. He slowly turned his face towards it and saw her standing there: Madena.
Or, rather, her ghost.
"M-Madena! I-is that y-you?" Silus shifted upwards into a sitting position and scurried backwards, his back hitting the cold stone as fear consumed him. "Y-you've come back for revenge, is that it?"
"I thought about it. Considered it quite a lot over the last couple of years, honestly." Madena pulled her ethereal hood down to reveal her face to him. Her eyes burned with the sting of his bitter betrayal.
Silus slowly lifted himself up and stood before her with open arms. "I'm ready. Take my life, if that's what you want. I won't run. I won't fight back." He turned his gaze away, fearing what was to come.
Madena paused for a second and stared him up and down, studying the target before her. After a small instant, she brought her spectral right hand up and sent him reeling backwards with a well-founded slap across the face.
The sound of impact was that of a brutal gale striking the man's face.
Caught off-guard by the suddenness of the motion, Silus spun and landed on the bed, and his back hit the wall. He found himself rubbing his aching cheekbone and he looked back at the scorned spirit of his betrayed friend. He anticipated a series of attacks, and even bursts of magic to come his way, but there was nothing. When he finally moved his hands from his head he stared at the specter. "I...is that it? Is that all you're going to do to me? After what I've done?"
"I've said it before, Silus. I'm a pacifist. I would never kill again." Madena reminded him calmly. "And I'm certainly not breaking my vow on the likes of you."
Even with the prospect of killing her killer, Madena stood firm in her beliefs, even if death made them pointless as far as the world was concerned.
Silus looked to the floor as more tears began to fall like a leaking shutter. "I never wanted it to happen, Madena. I'm sorry... I'm so..." he choked a few more painful sobs down, interrupting himself mid-ramble. "I'm so... so... sorry!"
Madena watched him weep like a child as she stood before him, her hands on her hips. Whether it was fool's sentiment or sentimental kindness within she could not be certain, but she felt a sense of relief. Like a heavy weight was lifted from her heart.
The apology was genuine. He meant it.
Perhaps Silus hadn't intended to harm her, but was coerced by a powerful Mage. The cult that dragged him in - perhaps they forced it upon him.
It was a reassuring thought, though she could never fully forgive him for it.
"I wish there was something I could do to bring you back to life... to make things right." Silus pleaded with the spirit.
Madena walked to the bed and sat beside him. "There is something you can do. Go back to Dawnstar and tell them the Madena there is a fake. Join the fight against Mehrunes Dagon! Try to undo what you did!"
"I'll never make it in time, Madena. The invasion's already begun; I saw the red sky blossom over the horizon." Silus stated.
Madena froze for a moment as she took in the information. "Stendarr save us, then."
Silus looked at the Vigilant robes lain on the nearby dresser, next to an Amulet, casually left there. "Maybe..." Silus walked to the dresser and took the robes into his hands. He closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Maybe this is how I can atone for my sins."
He spent a few moments looking at the pine green Novice Robes; studying their form. "You were right, Madena. I am not my ancestors - I never should have let Vonos manipulate me."
He still had Mehrunes' Razor in his personal artifacts. The Vigilants didn't search his room at the inn.
He plunged its blade into the chest of Moric Sidrey years ago, killing the Vigilant during the Vampire raid on their Hall.
Moric wore robes exactly like these. The pine green with golden lining and bleached leather surcape. Granted, most Vigilants and even mages in Skyrim wore these, but Moric stood out to him.
He didn't even know the man, really, but he was in such a dark place at the time that it didn't matter to him. In truth, he wanted to ring the Keeper's neck most of all.
But she was just doing her job, at the end of the day. She was protecting Tamriel from the Mythic Dawn resurgence.
The resurgence he was part of.
He unfolded the robes. They were a little big for him, but boots could mitigate the difference quite easily.
"I'm going back to Dawnstar." Silus declared as he donned the uniform of his former foes. "I don't know if I can make it in time, but I'll fight."
Madena stared at him for a period of time, surprised at his shift in character. Though, she supposed that after all he's done and seen, it was only natural that he wouldn't be the lost puppy he was years ago. There wee many more things she'd wanted to tell him, but their conversation was cut short by the clamour of steel boots outside the door. She closed her ghostly eyes and faded slowly. "Good luck, Silus."
Silus reached out to her and his hand passed through her. He stood there alone with his hand stretched forward like a fool.
Vigilant Greyvild opened the door to his room and was surprised to see Silus in Vigilant Robes. "What's this?"
Silus elected to explain, though he had to first work up the courage to do so. "Oh... er... Well... I..." he twiddled his thumbs as the words fell into place in his head. "I want to make amends for what I've done. I want to help fight the Daedra and the Mythic Dawn."
Vigilant Greyvild said nothing; he simply stated with a surprised expression. Silus felt uncomfortable, as he didn't know exactly what it entailed.
"Well?" Silus shifted uncomfortably.
Vigilant Greyvild selected his own words carefully. "This is sincere? Are you truly willing to repent, to leave your old life behind?"
Silus closed his eyes and looked downwards. His demeanour was serene; and vulnerable. "Yes. I was a fool, and I did terrible things in the name of a god I didn't understand to get revenge on the people who shunned me my entire life. But... if Stendarr will have me, I promise I will atone for what I've done."
Vigilant Greyvild closed the door behind him and walked over to the other side of the room. "Do you swear by it?"
Silus nodded. "Yes. I do."
Vigilant Greyvild gestured to the floorboards between them. "Then we shall begin. On your knees."
Silus did as instructed, kneeling on the ground, and Vigilant Greyvild walked over to the water basin with a goblet beside it in the hallway. He filled the goblet with water and returned to the room with Silus. "Do you, Silus Vesuius, relinquish all properties, ownership, and ties to family?"
Not that he had any.
"Yes."
"Will you stand with Stendarr, walking in his ways, and fighting against the Four Abominations in service of the Gods and Empire?"
"Yes."
"In the joining, you will sever your ties to any strange gods, and previous affiliations. Do you agree?"
"Yes."
"Then by my authority as acting Vigilant of Stendarr, I declare you Brother, and you will stand in battle against the darkness, forevermore." Vigilant Greyvild downturned the goblet and poured the water over Silus' head. "Rise, Vigilant Silus, and may the blessing of Stendarr be upon you. Walk always in the light, or we will drag you to it."
After a few moments of silence, Silus felt something warm within him. Perhaps it was the 'light' that the Vigilants were always talking about. It was wonderful.
He looked up to the kinder Vigilant. "Thank you for giving me a chance to redeem myself."
Vigilant Greyvild looked calm; serendipitous. "Of course. We all make mistakes, son. Before I joined the Vigil, I was a hopeless Skooma addict robbing nobles in Chorrol. I'd fallen in with a bad crowd, myself - a cult worshipping Sanguine. I'd nearly drunk myself to death, were it not for the Priestess of Stendarr who'd come along from High Rock with her parish on a pilgrimage there. The Divines really operate in strange ways."
Silus was dumbstricken. "You were a Daedra worshipper? The Vigilants didn't just kill you?"
Greyvild cocked his head to the side. "Well, I think that goes without saying. I stand before you right now."
Nevermind the fact a ghost just stood before him before. Though, Silus understood what he was saying.
"We aren't all bloodthirsty monsters, you know." Vigilant Greyvild informed him. "You're a Vigilant now. Do you feel sudden, murderous urges?"
"No." Silus admitted. He felt a little less tortured, but otherwise he still had the same mind, and the same feelings as before.
"People murder because they desire it. It runs antithetical to our Divine's wishes." Greyvild explained. "First and foremost, our job is to protect people against the Four Abominations. Some take it to mean that the 'slaying monsters' part of our job is paramount, when in reality, it is to guard the people from the monsters. We must be Vigilant, so that we can protect and heal."
"So, what are the Four Abominations?" Silus wanted to know, as it sounded very important.
Vigilant Greyvild took the Amulet of Stendarr off the nearby desk and raised it to eye level, allowing it to dangle in front of Silus' vision. He recounted their ancient manuscript and spoke thusly, ""Thus Stendarr looked upon the world of mortals, and he found it afflicted by Abominations. And he made it known unto his priests, resolutes, and templars, that these unnatural profanities are abhorrent in his sight, and are to be exterminated by the Righteous without halt or mercy. For these Abominations are each and every the eternal enemies of the mortals of the Mundus, and shall not be suffered to abide among us.
And these Abominations are four in kind, and may be known thusly: The Daedra; those unworldly horrors that are not of the Mundus, but come from Oblivion to inflict cruelty and death upon the mortals of Tamriel; The Manbeasts, those mortals who through traffic with the bestial Hircine do change their skins for those of animals, preying thence upon the innocent; The Risen Corpses, those restless undead whose rotting bodies persist with loathsome and unnatural vigor, sowing fear and agony among the living; The Deathless Vampires, who feed horrifically upon honest citizens, regarding righteous mortals as mere cattle to sate their unholy hungers.""
Silus scratched his neck. "All I gleamed from that was 'kill, kill, kill, kill.' Where does the mercy come in?"
"Discernment." Vigilant Greyvild placed the Amulet around Silus' neck. "If a Vampire would instead prefer to feed on animals in the forest, they would no longer match the decree to be slain, as they would not be feeding horrifically upon honest citizens."
"So, what you're saying is..."
"You decided to repent of your days as a Daedric cultist. I am extending to you Stendarr's true mercy." Vigilant Greyvild clarified.
Perhaps, then, it was Stendarr's mercy that had Silus be captured by Greyvild and not by Carcette again, or the others whose names he hadn't quite caught back then.
Silus felt a cold wave of emotion at the thought. "I... I don't deserve such kindness. Not after what I've done. Why? Why is he being merciful to me?"
Vigilant Greyvild shrugged. "Perhaps because Lord Stendarr is merciful by his nature. When he was the hearth god Stuhn in Sovngarde, in ages long past, he was a harsher individual. He favoured imprisonment over mercy. When he shed that form and took on the name Stendarr to appease the elves, he spoke a case for mankind."
Silus had never heard that one before, even in his lifetime among the Nords in Skyrim. "He's too merciful. I don't know if what I've done can ever be rectified."
Vigilant Greyvild scratched his stubble. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Many said the same about the first Oblivion Crisis. And here we are. The gods are with us. I believe we will prevail."
"Then we need to set sail to Skyrim. Help in any way we can." Silus informed him.
Vigilant Greyvild agreed, but was uncertain. "We will set sail immediately. Gather your weapons and meet us at the docks near Stonehollow. We will aim for Dawnstar at once."
They quickly split up and Silus hurried to his room at the Inn. He bolted up the stairs and moved the dresser aside. He pulled a couple of loose bricks from the wall and retrieved his satchel which contained his Mythic Dawn uniform and Mehrunes' Razor.
The robes glared at him with disgust, and he glared at them in kind. "You..."
He had a brief vision of himself, mirrored to him, in those scarlet robes. The other Silus shook his head with disappointment. "They beat you. They tortured you. What do you think you're doing?"
Silus stared at the reflection before concocting an answer. "Vigilant Greyvild did nothing of the sort. That was the Vigil near Dawnstar."
"If they see you again they're going to maim you. There will be no mercy from Carcette and her friends."
"Then let them! I would deserve it, after what you did!" Silus barked back.
"Don't be like that. It's too late to turn on the Mythic Dawn now. Mehrunes is here, and he's going to smear you all over the mountainside, Vigilant or not. He's already killed Vonos. You know it, I know it."
"Vonos brought it on himself!" Silus grunted, disillusioned with the Dunmer who brought him into the fold. "You know his intentions were for us to kill ourselves here!"
"Sacrifice, Silus. Sacrifice ourselves here, to crack open the Gate in the mountain."
"No. Sacrifices are meant to be benevolent - not destructive!" Silus contested.
"Are they not destructive, by their very nature?" the reflection pointed out. "Look, Silus. You don't want to cross Dagon. At the end of the day, you've only ever wanted one thing: to belong somewhere."
"Listening to Vonos was a mistake. Dagon was never going to grant us power." Silus grabbed him by the collar. "Don't you understand that yet? He doesn't intend to keep the promise he made to Mankar Camoran centuries ago! No mortals will be above any mortals - not as we would have liked, anyway. A slave holding a whip is being whipped, in kind."
"So you think Mehrunes Dagon will make us a slave."
"Yes. That's all we will ever be to the Daedra; slaves, playthings, toys, puppets." Silus clenched the robes tightly and folded them up. The mirror image of himself vanished, and he was left back in reality. "I don't want to be anyone's puppet. Not anymore."
He pushed open the front door and descended the roads until coming upon the docks. There, he joined Greyvild and a whole host of Vigilants, and boarded the ship.
He was ready. Whatever was waiting for him back in Skyrim, he would fight it. He had much to repent of. It only made sense he should tackle it head-on.