Caylin's Monsters
Chapter 8: Proving Honor
It took me quite some time to calm down after seeing what Farkas truly was. Once he had changed back into human form and retrieved a new set of armor (his transformation destroyed his previous set), he explained to me what he was and who his attackers were. I was still terrified that Kodlak and the others would change me into a werewolf, too, but Farkas assured me that only The Circle shared that ability.
Farkas called his attackers the Silver Hand. They were a group of werewolf hunters. In their attempt to get to Farkas, they inadvertently had to face the draugr as well. I was strangely relieved. At least that meant there were fewer for us to deal with.
From the way Farkas described these Silver Hands, they sounded more like a band of unruly bandits than a group of crusaders out to protect the world from monsters. I was happy to hear this, at least. I hoped it was true. My conscience wouldn’t be bothered as much if we were killing murderers and thieves.
As we traveled through the tunnels, we encountered a few more Silver Hands and draugr. It seemed that most of the Silver Hand had fallen in battle with the draugr, though.
And it was the draugr I was more afraid of. Why were there so many undead here? What force was bringing them back to life to attack us? I tried to stay calm, but when we entered a chamber with several draugr sarcophagi along the walls, my knees began to shake.
I kept telling myself that if we just walked very slowly and quietly, they wouldn’t notice us. I believe Farkas could sense my distress, but after changing into a werewolf in front of me, I think he realized his words of assurance might not have the same impact on me as before.
As I feared, before we had even taken a few steps, the draugr awoke. I knocked an arrow, and the adrenaline kicked in.
A wave of relief washed over me as I looked at the fallen draugr. Maybe they weren’t so scary after all, I thought. With Farkas at my side, a few draugr were no match for us.
As we approached the door to the next chamber, Farkas told me he thought we were close. Soon we would reach the chamber where the fragment of Wuuthrad could be found.
Farkas and I continued to cut down draugr as we walked down the final hallway. My skills with a sword and bow were definitely improving. I suppose that was one good thing about fighting through so many enemies over the last several days.
Then we saw it, and my heart began to race.
The door to the main chamber was huge. I was intimidated just looking at it. What was waiting for us on the other side?
There were a great number of sarcophagi on either side of the chamber, but nothing stirred as we cautiously crossed the room. We saw the fragment laying on a large stone slab, and Farkas told me to grab it.
As I reached for the fragment of Wuuthrad, I heard a noise. It sounded like a large stone slab had just fallen to the ground. As I looked up, my worst fear was realized. More and more stone slabs began to fall away from the sarcophagi lining the walls.
The draugr poured out of the tombs; these ancient, mummified creatures with their glowing, lifeless eyes would come to haunt my nightmares.
As more and more draugr rose from their graves, I knew real despair for the second time in my life. The first time was having to watch my family burn in our home and being powerless to stop it. Now, however, at least I did have some power. I was not completely helpless.
I knocked and released my arrows as fast as I could, trying to give Farkas some cover as he ran into the thick of it to attack.
Draugr after draugr fell, either by my arrows or Farkas’ sword.
I was not the best aim yet, but my arrows were flying true at that moment. It felt as if time slowed down, and every one of my senses was heightened. After I loosed my last arrow, there were only a couple of them left.
I drew my sword and shield and jumped into the fray to help Farkas finish off the remaining draugr.
When all was said and done, there had to have been fifteen to twenty draugr lying dead in that chamber. I looked over at Farkas, who was breathing heavily, and a small smile crept across my face. For a moment, I forgot my fear of the draugr and of Farkas, and I reveled in the victory we had just won.
The moment didn’t last long, though, and my smile faded away. As I looked around the room, I couldn’t understand what had just happened. Why were there so many of these things guarding that fragment? Were those Silver Hands just trying to kill Farkas because he’s a werewolf, or were they also trying to retrieve the fragment? So many questions were swimming through my mind, but no answers.
Fakas and I didn’t speak as we made our way out of the barrow. With no more enemies to fight, my confusion and fear regarding what Farkas and the other Companions were (at least those in The Circle) returned. I just wasn’t sure how to feel or respond.
Upon exiting the barrow, I felt like I had just woken from a bad dream. The fresh, night air felt invigorating. I didn’t realize how much that place smelled of death and decay until we were free from it. On the way back to Whiterun, Farkas and I didn’t say much, and this gave me a chance to process everything that had happened. As I considered what I knew of Farkas and the other Companions, I had to admit that they were trying to be honorable. On the one hand, they were mercenaries, but on the other, they were trying to fight for what is good and right. Not to mention, they stood by one another as if they were truly family. I decided there was still much I could learn from them.
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