Chapter 12: The Beginning of the End
“I truly am sorry, my son. Here are your children. Almenar was quite good, however I can tell Tandano misses his mother as he cried for many hours. Safe travels, and do stop by if you ever are in need.” The Priest said as he walked me to the door.
“And remember, her ashes are stored here, but you may return at any time to retrieve them.”
I nodded.
“Thank you for everything.”
I walked out the door. The city was still crowded with people attempting to flee the province. A Herald walked into the center of the main square and blew on a very loud horn.
“By order of Jarl Elisif, our prestigious leader, the Imperial Legion is instated as the Hold’s Guard, the regulator of shipping traffic, and is henceforth permitted to search any vessel, building, or person for evidence of Rebel affiliation.” He blew on the horn once more and marched back to the Palace. His decree only stirred more panic amongst the throbbing congregation.
I made my way back to the stables outside the city and unhitched the horse from the cart. I lashed the cradle onto the saddle bag in front of me and set off.
As before, the roads were largely empty save the periodic Imperial checkpoints.
When I crossed the border into the North-Eastern portion of Skyrim, the atmosphere changed dramatically. Nord travelers reveled in their victory in Whiterun, Stormcloak soldiers lazily watched me pass by, and the small Inns I passed proudly flew the Banner of the Bear, as it was now being called.
Winterhold, however, was as quiet as ever. The same three guards paced back and forth along the only street, the inn buzzed with only the sound of two or three patrons talking. The only different thing about the city was the College.
The banners that once had the symbol of an eye had been stripped down and replaced with the Dominion flag. Armored soldiers stood at attention at the entrance to the bridge and along the walls of the grounds, guarding the Thalmor’s new territory. I noticed the Nords glaring at the College, though there was nothing they could do with their numbers.
The guards let me enter the College, though I caught their glances at me as I passed.
As I walked up the steps to Aren’s office I felt a certain coldness; a tension that hadn’t been there when I first left.
“Caranthir, sera. I had a feeling I would see you again.” The familiar old Dunmer said as I entered the room.
“Yes, well. I had hoped not to.”
“And what was it that drove you here?”
“Erissa… we lived in Whiterun.”
He leaned back in his throne-like chair.
“Oh. I apologize.”
I sighed. “Is there anything you need help with? About the Eye, that is.”
“Well, yes. But you must be tired. I’ll tell you in the morning, and you can sleep in your old dormitory.”
“If you insist.”
I walked back downstairs and entered the room. So many memories…
I lay down on the bed and went to sleep. When I woke up, somebody was pounding on the door.
“Caranthir, come quick! Something is happening in the main hall!”
I jumped up and ran out the door.
Colette was standing there.
“Get on, then!”
I briskly walked over to the main Hall and swung open the door.
“Get this ward down!”
“By Oblivion, I’m trying!”
I looked past the gate and saw Ancano with the Eye of Magnus. He was casting some form of spell on it, and a field of magic had formed around him, preventing us from entering.
“What in Oblivion is going on?”
“Caranthir! Quickly, cast a spell on the field.”
“What kind of spell?”
“A frost one!”
I racked my brain for any frost spells. I only knew one, a beginner spell known commonly as Frostbite.
I cast the spell on the ward as Savos and Mirabelle cast fire and shock spells on it, causing the ward to dissipate. As we slowly began to approach Ancano, he spoke to us.
“Fools! Do you honestly think that you can stop me now? You're all nothing compared to me!”
A large blast of magical power sent the three of us flying.
The world was dark for a few seconds as the ringing in my ears subsided.
“Are you okay?” Mirabelle inquired.
“Huh? Uh… Yes. Yes, I'm fine. How are you?”
“I’m… Fine. I'll live, anyway. Where is Savos?”
I looked around the room and noticed the door swinging closed again.
“He got thrown outside. Come with me.”
Ancano, too focused on his precious Eye, payed no attention to us.
Savos was lying on his back beneath the Statue in the courtyard in his now-bloodied robes.
I knelt down to examine his wounds, and he pulled me closer.
“Labyrinthian…”
With a final gasp of air, his body went limp and his red eyes rolled back in his head.
“By the Gods… He’s dead.” Mirabelle whispered.
By now the entirety of the scholars and students had gathered around in the courtyard.
“He whispered something to you, Caranthir. What was it?” Tolfdir stepped forward as he spoke.
“Labyrinthian. He was trying to tell me something about Labyrinthian.”
“Labyrinthian? How very strange. Moments before this commotion started, he handed me this Torc. He said I’d know who to give it to when they asked about the place.” Mirabelle began rummaging through a satchel at her side.
“Here.” She said, thrusting it in my direction. “Take it to Labyrinthian and find whatever it is we need to stop Ancano.”
“Me? What about my children? What of my well being?”
“I’ll take care of your little ones. Do not worry; I have full faith in you.” Tolfdir smiled wearily after speaking.
I sighed.
“I suppose I have nothing to lose. Where is it?”
“South of Morthal. You can’t miss it.”
I groaned. Another trip across the province.
“Here, take this.” Phinis Gestor handed me a sword, seemingly made of silver. “It’ll slice through undead like nobody’s business. As a bonus, it’s been enchanted with fire. I hope it serves well.”
I held the sword, tried to get a feel for the balance.
“It's expertly crafted. Thank you. I’ll set off as soon as possible.”
“Not without me, you ain't.”
I turned and saw Valund approaching.
“Valund? Are you sure you wish to join me?”
“Aye. Let's get going.”
I returned to my horse at the inn and removed my armor from its bag. I strapped it on, adjusted the fittings, and we set off for Labyrinthian.
Labyrinthian was a Nordic ruin, much like any other, save for Shalidor’s maze. It was known to be a puzzle beyond the intellectual capabilities of most, but it was said a great treasure awaited whoever could escape the maze’s walls. Thankfully, this was not the part I was headed to. Instead, I was heading to an even older ruin just across from it. Nobody had entered in decades, ever since the Torc mysteriously vanished.
The outside had nothing but a few frozen skeletons and icy stones. As Valund and I walked up to the great door, another set of footprints came up behind us.
“I thought you might want some help.”
It was the Bosmer, a quiver and bow on his back and a short sword in his hand.
“And who are you, eh?”
“Leave him be, Valund. He’s an old friend of mine.”
I inserted the Torc into its place and the doors opened.
As the creaking old doors opened, a vision of the past came to all three of us. A much younger Savos and a group of his past peers stood at the entrance, debating on entering or not. Eventually, they decided to continue inside.
“Eh? What in Oblivion was that?”
“That, my dear Nord friend, was the past.”
We drew our weapons and entered the musty ruin, ever vigilant, as we watched Savos’ past unfold.
“Hey, Elf. Why’da think we’re seein’ this?”
“I… I don't know. Perhaps he enchanted the Torc before his death?”
We entered a large room with a ceiling that must be twenty feet tall. Draugr burials lined the wall and a large mound stood in the middle.
“Hold up. I don't like this.”
“What do you mean, Caranthir?” The Bosmer asked.
“That mound.” I said pointing to it. “I've never heard of these in Nord Tombs before.”
After walking a few more steps without activity, I decided to push on. As we approached, the burials burst open and skeletons attacked us, though we made short work of them. Suddenly, the dirt covering the mound burst from the ground and rained down upon us. A loud roar echoed throughout the cavernous room, and as the dust cleared a monster came into view.
The skeletal remains of a Dragon shook the grime from its centuries-old bones and looked around until it's gaze fell upon our company.
It shook its horned head and stood on its hind legs, it's wings outstretched, stretching after it's long slumber.
“Oi, Elves. Get down if you want to live.” Valund whispered in a hushed tone.
We crouched down behind a fallen pillar, though we all knew the beast could find exactly where we were.
“Eh, hes stin” The beast murmured as it stretched.
“Did that thing speak?”
“Yes. It sounds… familiar, though I can't quite place it.”
“Wo kroved daar staad?”
The Bosmer threw a pebble behind the monster to distract it as we snuck up to another fallen wall section.
“Must I speak this language of yours? Where are you? Reveal yourselves!”
Valund shifted his weight and the monster’s attention whipped around to us. Although it was only a skeleton, I could still feel the power of its soul as it neared our hiding place.
“Eh, Zu'u lost rund hi ahst laat.”
“Run!” I yelled, motioning for the exit on the other side of the room.
We sprinted as fast we could across the cavern as the Dragon’s breath tried to scorch us. However, the monster was much quicker than us in our armor, and the entrance was blocked. If we tried to go back to the entrance, it was certain death. If we tried to kill the undead creature, we would at the very least have a fighting chance.
Valund charged the Dragon from the side and landed a blow, but quickly had to dodge a mighty snap of the Dragon’s jaws. I stayed back defensively, and my Bosmeri friend took a que from Valund and charged the beast as well. He was unable to land his blow, and his footing was lost on a patch of rubble. Tumbling backwards, he was caught in the mouth of the Dragon which swung him wildly until throwing him to the side of the room.
As I watched the Bosmer fly through the air and land with a sickening thud, I turned to the Dragon and charged at it. When it tried to bite me the way it did my friend, I jumped up onto the top of its neck. I steadied my balance as the creature lifted it's mighty skull and began to ram my sword multiple time into the cavity where it's brain would have been. All my pent up grief and anger became a destructive pattern of stabbing the skeletal monstrosity. When it's remains finally went limp, I hopped off it's back and jogged over to the Bosmer.
His back and multiple ribs had been snapped by both the clamping of the demon’s jaws and the impact of the fall. He had three severe puncture wounds from the few teeth the Dragon had left. By some miracle, however, he had lived.
“Caranthir… remember my first… letter?”
“Yes. It said my place is here; not in Alinor.”
“Yes… yes… Caranthir? Goodbye, friend.”
With the little energy he had left he closed his eyes, and I knew he would never open them again.
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