Lutherus Sotasius - Chapter VI, Part III

  • THE GAULDURSON LEGEND

    From the Journal of Lutherus Sotasius. Date of Entry: Heartfire, 5th, 4E, 201.

     

    Lutherus and Alinstein, who had managed to come round following his rout earlier volunteered to wait with Tolfdir, until the College of Winterhold's Arch-Mage, whom neither Lutherus or Alinstein had met yet could arrive. Normally any find by the College would be handled by the attending Head, but this was something much more significant. Tolfdir hadn't accounted on liberating an artefact of unknown potential from such a local resource, and so he wanted to ensure it's delicate transfer to Winterhold would be performed with as much care as possible. Voices started to sound inside the raised walkway above them, Tolfdir recognised this as the Arch-Mage and retired briefly to inform him of the find. Lutherus and Alinstein continued to wait, the latter investigating a peculiar staff that rested on the table in the room they occupied. In the corner of his eye, Lutherus noticed on the body of the Draugr, a yellow token of some sorts hung around it's neck. Lutherus knelt to investigate, noticing in his hand the amulet's Talisman broken.

     

    "Never expected a Gauldurson to be here, of all places." Came the voice from the Arch-Mage as he descended the stairs and frightening Lutherus at the same time. He quickly pocketed the amulet before the Arch-Mage could see beyond the table in which he stood.

     

    "Gauldurson?" He asked.

     

    "Yes. One of the Gauldurson Brothers." Replied Alinstein as he moved toward Lutherus. "Sons of the Arch-Mage Gauldur."

     

    "Exact words of the text, Alinstein." Replied the Arch-Mage present, nodding in approval. He moved to the table and retrieved a Staff resting on it. He pursed his lips and exhaled to remove the accumulated dust and inspected the Staff with great care, observing the white crystal on top down to it's opposing wooden end before placing it upright on the hard ground. "The Legend of Gauldur is definitely true then."

     

    "This is turning out to be quite the first day of the year!" Chuckled Tolfdir, who had followed the Arch-Mage in. "You two can head back now. Thank you for waiting with me." He said to Lutherus and Alinstein. They both made their way back, eventually finding their way back to the entrance. Before leaving, Lutherus had a few choice words to tell Alinstein.

    "I guess it's just my nerves. It's like I have a wall in my head that prevents me from concentrating my powers properly."

     

    "Any wall built can be easily torn down." Retorted Lutherus, whose earlier fury at his cowardly colleague had turned to compassion and sympathy.

     

    "It's a wall I've been battling ever since I've came here. It's really affected my studies."

     

    Lutherus hypothesised. "Might I assume that this 'wall' forced you to repeat the year?"

     

    Alinstein gulped. "Yeah. I cannot return to my parents a failed Mage. My pride or what's left it, won't allow it."

     

    "Pride? Alinstein for Oblivion's sake. Pride is but a bottle of bootleg mead that needs to be swallowed on occassion."

     

    "I don't drink alcohol."

     

    "Exactly. You refrain from it so much, maybe it's time you did."

     

    "What? Drink?"

     

    "N-no!" Replied Lutherus, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I'm talking figuratively. Your pride is a state of mind that is ultimately stopping you. Drink alcohol as in, deprecate your cowardice. Get drunk on being courageous."

     

    "How?"

     

    "Well, I'm only an Illusionist but I can teach you what I know. In return, you can tell me more of this legend you spoke of earlier."

     

    "Oh, the Gauldurson Legend? How do you not know that?"

     

    "I did. But it was shelved as nothing more than a wild Nordic myth back in the Imperial City, but now that I have this." Said Lutherus, as he pulled the Amulet from his pocket. "I am much more certain of this myth's validity." Alinstein looked down at the amulet in shock.

     

    "Divines above! Where did you get that? You can be expelled for that! All finds must be reported to the the attending Head!"

     

    "But consider what this would lead to. Look!" Lutherus replied, as he held the amulet by the broken Talisman toward Alinstein. "That right there tells me more than enough. This find is not complete." He could hear the footsteps of more Lecturers and Seniors arriving from the College. "I'm on a hunch, let's talk somwhere more private." The two headed back to the College as the night time snow rolled in, the courtyard leading into it was practically deserted given that most of it's inhabitants had retired to bed or had headed to Saarthal. Lutherus his way to the Hall of the Elements and headed upstairs to the private study area, Alinstein joined him briefly afterwards with a book in hand - Lost Legends.

    "According to this fabled legend, Arch-Mage Gauldur was murdered by his three sons. All jealous over the power he possessed." Said Alinstein, as he presented the book to the table. "One is believed to of perished at Folgunthur near Solitude. Jyrik of course, we found at Saarthal. Nobody knows where the third rests."

     

    "Well, maybe someone does." Replied Lutherus, as he indicated toward the name of the author of the book. "Talsgar the Elder. Archivist of the College of Winterhold."

     

    "It'd be no use asking him. This book is ancient, I bought it many years ago. Talsgar is probably dust by now."

     

    "What about Urag? The current Archivist?"

     

    "What, that scornful old coot? He would never tell a couple of Apprentices."

     

    "Maybe if we make a journey to Folgunthur-"

     

    "Nope. College has final jurisdiction on where it devotes it's resources. All of it will be concentrated on the find in Saarthal."

     

    "What about an independent enquiry?"

     

    "We would still need permission from the College. Plus, given it's proximity to Solitude we would need total clearance from the Legion's Commander. General Tullius. He's not one that looks too kindly on our practice here."

     

    "No." Replied Lutherus, as he took off his ring from his index finger and showed it to Alinstein. "But for a proven soldier like me, maybe he will." Alinstein looked closer at the ring, recognising it as an Imperial Signet.

     

    "Divines, you're a Legionnaire?"

     

    "Auxiliary Legionnaire. But he's recognised my potential, and knows my background. I'm sure he-" Before Lutherus could finish, they were both disturbed by a glow of light behind them. Startled, they quickly hid their possessions on the table and turned around.

     

    "Hey! What are you doing up here?!" Shouted Urag. "It's past midnight!"

     

    "We...we didn't realise." Said Lutherus, panicked.

     

    "Get to your bunks right now, you're not supposed to be up here past curfew!" With both hearts racing due to the surprise, Lutherus and Alinstein headed back down the stairwell. "Oh, and be sure that I'll be speaking to your heads about this!" Called Urag as they left the Arcaneum. They hurriedly returned to their rooms and went to sleep. The following morning, both Lutherus and Alinstein found a parchment on their doors. Thinking it would be a disciplinary hearing due to last night's infractions, they expected the worst. However, the contents of the parchment carried a completely different message.

     

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