The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Twelve

The Story Of Iriisii Dovahkiin Book One Chapter Twelve

                                                               Chapter Twelve

     It is a few days later that Iriisii starts to wake, the first indication is her moans of pain as she tries to begin to move.

     Rigmor: "Please, lie still! Don't try to move or speak yet. You have been out of it for a few days now. I had almost thought I had lost you when you rolled off of that dragon's back and would not move, even when you absorbed his soul, your body did not move. I...we were lucky that a crabber came by a few hours after the fight hunting mudcrabs. She helped me make a litter to put you on so we could get you back to her cabin.

     Here drink some water, it will help the dryness in your throat. You should know that you scared the living crap out of me, even as what I saw you do to that dragon was one of the bravest and most courageous things that I have ever seen. Ah, here comes Tirasel. Look she has finally woke up."

     Tirasel: "Good to see you awake, I was beginning to worry about you. Rigmor gave you some water? Good, try not to talk yet, your throat needs more time to heal along with the rest of you. You have some pretty bad swelling and bruising around your head and chest where Rigmor says you were thrown into a series of boulders by that dragon. You are lucky that is all the damage you suffered from that. Your armor is really good to have protected you like it did. Anyway you should try and sleep some more, give your body more time to heal, we can see if you can eat in the morning. Rigmor, please stay close to her, she seems to relax better when you are touching her. She needs that right now more than anything. Now that she has woken up, her sleep will be more natural. It also seems when you are next to her, her dreams are more calm, so just stay close, do not worry about anything, I have everything else under control."

     Rigmor: "Thank you, Tirasel, I do not know what I would have done if you had not come along when you did."

     Tirasel: "No worries, I am glad I could help. You would have done all right. Not moving her, keeping her warm, and protecting her were the very best things you could have done. I think she will make a full recovery, just give it some time and do not strain or do too much, too soon."

     

     A couple of days pass with Iriisii healing at a fast pace, yet not as fast as she has in the past as Rigmor has noticed.

     Rigmor: "You are healing quite fast, but..."

     Iriisii: "I know, it is the effect of the 'void' magic I absorbed with the soul of that dragon. Because it is both the same and different from the other dragons, my own body and soul are having difficulty in properly assimilating it. My own dragonsoul is making progress in doing this, once we have it worked out, it will no longer be a problem. But was there anything else found nearby?"

     Rigmor: "Like what?"

     Iriisii: "A spellbook. One that feels different."

     Rigmor: "I do not know of a 'spellbook' but this journal was found."

     Rigmor passes it to Iriisii who holds it in her hands, hesitating while she decides whether or not to open and read it. Finally she makes up her mind that she must know what may be inside of it, and opens to see a few pages of words and a small map. As she reads the words, she feels... what? The emotions of the writer...no, something different. She lets the words speak without trying to parse any meaning, just to let herself feel what may have been written between the lines as the words were being put down within. Then is when she feels the deceptive attraction, the trap so to speak, the lure to pursue this magic until the user is caught in such a web that they can never escape, and so become a part of the magic itself.

     But who set this in motion and why, what were they trying to do? Do they truly know what is happening and are complicit with it or are they being deceived for as long as they are of use? She is going to have to dive into this, but later. For now, she must recover and continue on her promise to Rigmor. At least the one who wrote the words signed his work, and she has a name to ask about in the taverns and Inns, that name is Samel.

     Iriisii: "I know who wrote it, but there are too many other questions that remain whose answers are not in this journal. His name is Samel, and whereas I have never heard of him before, someone else likely has. I will just need to ask around as we travel and maybe pick up something to help me understand this. For now though, finding your mother is my main task. This journal will have to wait until after that is settled.

     One thing though, and I cannot stress this enough, do not read it! There is nothing about the words themselves that are dangerous, but what lies between them. This is something meant to lure those who come across them for whatever reason. To draw them into learning and using the magic used in their creation. And so they unknowingly become corrupted and lose themselves. Their souls to be used like the one that was that dragon, slowly having his humanity siphoned away until only the animal was left. A tool to be used by another."

     Rigmor: "Do you have an idea as to what their goal is?"

     Iriisii: "As dragons are a strong part of this, I would think that Alduin could be the main lure here. Maybe the attraction is to be the one who stops him. Only to find they themselves were to be used for an entirely different purpose later."

     Rigmor: "Any idea of that purpose?"

     Iriisii: "Again dragons are an important part. For an army of mindless dragon tools, infected with 'void' magic, could lay waste to Atherius and start the process to destroy all of Mundus with no rebirth of the Kalpa.                 

     Rigmor: "But what about the 'Nine'? Could they not do anything against an army of dragons?"

     Iriisii: "If they were still immortal, yes. But they gave up their immortality, as part of the price for creating Mundus. Which is also why the Thalmor are at least half wrong in their belief that they can return to being Gods."

     Rigmor: "Half wrong, I do not understand."

     Iriisii: "Their ancestors were a part of the Aedra that surrendered their immortality. There is nothing they do to ever bring that back. It is done and over with, at least from within Mundus. To gain immortality, they would have to go outside Mundus, and follow whatever laws and rules apply outside. And somehow I do not think that would be a viable path for them. Those outside would look at how they have comported themselves in their quest to regain godhood, and likely would rather not have to deal with what they would become. In short, the Thalmor have only ensured they will never reach that place again."

     Rigmor: "What about the Altmer people themselves?"

     Iriisii: "They do not seek that path, and truthfully do not want it. So it does not matter about them. I would surmise, if it was ever to be for any of us. It would have to follow the rules and laws as they exist for those outside Mundus, whatever those rules and laws are. And that there would have to be a need for it that could not be resolved any other way. Even then I think it would only be extended to the fewest number possible. Those who hold that kind of power, do not like the idea of more competition, especially if it is not under their direct control."

     Rigmor: "You have done a lot on thinking on this, have you not?"

     Iriisii: "My training with the Blade Dancers, included subjects like this. Sometimes you might need to know how the 'Rules of Power' work. Just so you do not run afoul of them, and get caught up in the temptation of something like what this journal represents. If I could bury it where it would never see light of day again, I would gladly do so. But like a lot of things, once the cat is out of the bag, it never goes back in willingly."

     Rigmor: "That is very true. Enough of this, you need to sleep and regain your strength. Once you wake up, we will see about getting you on your feet, and see how you do."

     A few more days sees Iriisii and Rigmor back on the road to North Haven, Tirasel gladly gave them some of her smoked and dried fish and mudcrab meat. Rigmor tried to give her some gold for all the help she had been but she respectfully demurred, so Iriisii hid some under the bed she had been sleeping on since she had been brought in.

     They make their way on up to the northern coast avoiding Solitude, not because of any expected problem, but it was simpler in keeping to the roads they were traveling on not to backtrack. Once they got on the main northern coast road heading west, travel was smoother but the promise of winter was on the winds. They heard more dragon cries echoing from the mountains, but they were able to avoid getting close to any. Then Rigmor spots something ahead that grabs her attention and absolutely will not let go.

     Rigmor: "Dragonborn! Look up there, ahead of us, just off the road! Come on, follow me!"

     Rigmor starts out at a flat run, with Iriisii close behind. As they get closer, they see the ruins of a stone tower. All that is left is the flat base with steps ascending, and a small part of the rear wall. Sitting on the stone floor is a large trap, with an equally large snow bear inside. Someone, not a trapper, was pinned by the cage door holding them down against the floor. The bear was napping just a few feet from the body.

     Rigmor: "Look at him, Dragonborn, he is so beautiful."

     Iriisii hears in Rigmor's tone of voice something that deeply concerns her.

     Rigmor: "We have to let him out! He will starve in there!"

    Iriisii: "That is a wild bear Rigmor. He will do to us what he did to that unfortunate soul trapped by the cage door, should you open it."

     Rigmor: "No. He will not, trust me on this, Dragonborn."

     Iriisii looks at her and reads her determination to free the bear. Knowing Rigmor will not rest until she gets the cage open, all she can do is be prepared to defend them both.

     Iriisii: "I do not believe I am going to do this, but if he makes one move to harm you, I will kill him."

     Rigmor is talking to the bear, seemingly having a calming effect on him. She watches him intently as Iriisii works on getting the key from the body and opening the door. As it rises up she moves herself and Rigmor off to the side in the hope that the bear is more interested in getting out than attacking them. It seems she is right as the bear shuffles to his paws, shakes his head just a bit, and looks around. He then sets off at a brisk pace out of the cage, down the steps, and continues on the path from the road down to the coastal shore toward the east. They stand and look as he slowly disappears into the distance.

     Iriisii: "I do not know what it is with you and bears, but I hope it continues. Just be careful not to take too many chances. If something does not go right, I may not be able to get to you in time."

     Rigmor: "I know, I can feel them from far enough away to know if I can reach them."

     They continue on to where there map places the entrance to North Haven. It has all of the appearance of a long forgotten graveyard. The walls are crumbling and almost completely gone. The gates and the wall section on either side are still standing. Just a little way further in stands a vault. Behind it, tucked into a protected alcove is a dry covered well.

     Iriisii: "Are you ready?"

     Rigmor: "As ready as I will ever be. Let us get this over with."

     Iriisii opens the top covering of the dry well and climbs down a ladder that she sees, Rigmor following. They take it slow, listening for Thalmor and their erstwhile allies. When Iriisii hears a few coming from around a corner, she motions Rigmor into a deserted room just a few feet back, while she crouches in a deep depression in the wall where the stone work had collapsed. Iriisii enters into her stealth mindset and as Rigmor takes her eyes off of Iriisii to see where the Thalmor are, she looks back and can find no trace of her in that depression. She concentrates her own senses on locating her, and notices just a slight wavering within the depression indicating Iriisii has never moved from that spot. She thinks to herself, 'How in Oblivion does she do that?', then, "How long did it take her to learn how to do it?'

     The Thalmor party numbers five, only one is a mage. When they are in between Iriisii and Rigmor, Iriisii steps out behind them and takes down two before they realize someone was behind them. As they turn to engage, and the mage prepares a lightning bolt spell, Rigmor steps out of her hiding place and drives her blade through the mage, interrupting both his magic and his life. Iriisii engages the remaining two, and takes out one while Rigmor finishes the other. They drag the bodies into the room Rigmor was hiding in, just in case someone should come behind them from outside.

     Iriisii: "You did good. You used your head, did not rush in. We two took out five without a bit of trouble. Now we will see where that will lead us. Remember keep your head about you, let your enemy make the mistakes that will end their life."

     Rigmor nods her head. That Iriisii watches her and praises her when she does good, makes the sting of her reprimands when she does not all the more bearable. They keep moving onward, taking out group after group, keeping them small and separated. When they reach the farther end of this place, Iriisii notices the difference in how the rooms are arranged. She stops and pulls Rigmor aside to whisper how they are going to deal with this.

     Iriisii: "These rooms are all connected in the center by a short hallway, one after another after another. What we do in the first one will be heard in the second and so on."

     Rigmor: "How do we handle this then?"

     Iriisii: "We hit the first one hard and fast. Try and get on either side of the main doorway as soon as possible. Then wait until the next group comes through. After that we wait to see what any others are going to do. We cannot go barreling through and get turned into a pincushion. At best they will stretch themselves out so we only deal with a couple at a time, worst case, they all try and come through at once to overwhelm us. That changes the dynamic but we can still use that to our favor."

     Rigmor: "How?"

     Iriisii: "Back up and let them fall over themselves, stab the ones on the floor, watch and see if the ones still standing will back up and trip over their fellows coming up from the other direction. We should be able to finish them off at that point. If you have to, use the furniture, upend the table, toss a chair or two then follow close behind it. Anything you can grab and throw to take their eye off of you, just do not do that and stand there waiting for them to come after you. If you do that you have lost the advantage."

     Rigmor: "That actually makes sense."

     Iriisii: "Close quarters fighting like this is more taking advantage of common sense than anything else. Keep them busy and they do not have room to flank you. Stay aware of what is going on, who is where. Force them to get in each others way. It does not sound like much but if you are in control of the chaos, you decide when to take advantage, then you can strike and be in position for the next. Now we are almost done here, just a little further."

     This section of the fighting is fast and furious, but Rigmor realizes that what Iriisii said about this kind of fighting is absolutely true. She does what she has to in order to keep those in front of her in the midst of chaos, then take them down one by one when she has the clear advantage. Then she notices that Iriisii is moving in from behind to help finish them. A few more moments and all the Thalmor are down. They go on to the very end and search the room. Iriisii finds the book Sethri mentioned.

     Gods, the number of people they had taken and sent to various places. It was just as Sethri said, men, women, children. And the worst part is the true scum, the slavers of the same races as the slaves, taking their own people and selling them to the Thalmor. To Iriisii's mind there is almost no punishment too severe for these to suffer. And she makes a promise to herself to one day track these down and exact vengeance from them.

     Rigmor sees her flipping pages through the book.

     Rigmor: "Is my mother in there, does it say where she was sent?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, but we have no more time, we need to get out of here. There is only the one way out and we do not need to become trapped here."

     Rigmor: "You are right, let us get gone from this place, then we can plan further once we are safe."

     They quickly make their way back the way they came in. They see no one else on their way back out. Iriisii secretly hopes this does not mean there is a large group waiting for them to come out. There is no one in sight as they pull themselves out of the old well and back onto solid ground again. Rigmor goes running off toward the gates that they came in by, as Iriisii tries to catch up to her to slow her down. Once she catches her at the gates, she sees her fears materialize.

     She looks and watches how the various groups are placing themselves around the area. She also closely watches Rigmor to gauge her reaction to the Thalmor seated on horseback directly ahead of them. A part of her sections itself off and begins to evaluate tactics on controlling the flow of the battle that is now inevitable. As the Thalmor, whom Iriisii assumes to be Tilar Aedriath begins speaking, she listens carefully to his words and the tone of voice he is using.

     Iriisii, whispering very quietly to Rigmor, "keep him talking as long as you can. I am putting together a strategy for us."

     Rigmor barely nods her head to Iriisii while mildly goading Tilar into running his mouth.

     This goes on for a few minutes, as Tilar makes some very wrong assumptions about Iriisii.

     Iriisii still in a very quiet whisper, "do not tell him who I really am. If we keep it to ourselves it is our advantage later."

     Rigmor heard and only refers to Iriisii as her 'Guardian', letting Tilar think she is but a common but well trained sellsword. Tilar goes on about how he wishes he had done things different so as not to have ended up in this situation.

     Iriisii reads between the lines of what he is saying and tells Rigmor, "you are doing good. He is in dire trouble of losing his head over what we have done to his plans. He brought all of these just for the two of us, and still he is woefully underestimating us. We can use that when we spank him hard enough that he cries out for his 'mama' to come save him from us.'

     Rigmor can not help but let a sly smile creep across her face at what Iriisii whispered to her. Even though Tilar knows nothing of what is passing between them, he can feel the situation slipping from his control. And he knows what could come about because of that. So as he prepares to call out to his forces to attack, Iriisii lets Rigmor know what they are going to do.

     Iriisii: "I am going to 'shout' right up the middle toward Aedriath, and see if his horse will throw him to the ground, and then summon the 'void' dragon. It will not stay long so we must make the most of the chaos it will sow. When I do, attack directly to your right, then turn up the side and circle to the center. I will come around the left side and meet you. He likely has more over the hill, we will both go and hit them together. But stay to the side of me, I do not want you getting hit by any shouts. Whatever you do, do not let them flank you until I can get to you. Then we can take care of any who try. Move right after I shout."

     Iriisii shouts, "FUS RO DAH!", the force wave picks up snow as it rolls across the ground throwing it up into a blinding cloud. When it hits, Iriisii and Rigmor can hear Aedriath's horse scream as he rears up. Iriisii summons the 'void' dragon, who immediately lays a carpet of lightning runes everywhere. Whenever a Thalmor or their ally move they impact a rune which detonates. Bodies and parts are raining down like one of those ancient Ayleid flesh gardens. Iriisii moves left as Rigmor moves right adding their own contributions to the bloody carnage. They keep going until they meet just as the 'void' dragon summoning spell wears off and it vanishes. Looking around their are no enemies left until they hear Tilar's voice call out from the other side of the hill.

     Tilar Aedriath: "A thousand gold to the man who brings me her head!"

     They both take off around the hill and meet up with the snow bear having fun of his own with the Thalmor and Orc hunters. Iriisii and Rigmor join in to help keep him alive and thinning out what is left. Once the last are down, Iriisii takes off down the trail after Tilar Aedriath. She sees signs of his passage until she sees a sabre cat chewing on his horse but no sign of him. The sabre cat drags the horse further up into the rocky slope and Iriisii turns and makes her way back to Rigmor.

     Coming back to where Rigmor is waiting for her, she asks Iriisii a very important question.

     Rigmor: "Did you get that 'bastard'?!"

     Iriisii: "No, I found what was left of his horse, but no sign of him. A sabre cat was having the horse for lunch. He must have sacrificed it to divert the cats attention from him and slipped away."

     Rigmor: "What are we going to do now?"

     Iriisii: "We have to get out of Haafingar, it is not safe for us here."

     Rigmor: "Is it safe for us anywhere?"

     Iriisii: "Relatively speaking, there are safer places we can be for right now, but this is not one of them."

     Rigmor: "All right, lead the way."

     Iriisii takes off to the cliff's edge and sees a series of ledges leading away further north.

     Iriisii: "We follow these ledges around the cliff edges. There will ba a small pass into an isolated valley where we can pause and rest a bit before going on. This area is rarely traveled by anyone, so we should be ok."

     Iriisii moves out, keeping away from the edges. Even though there is snow in the air, the winds keep the ledges blown clean of it, so they will leave no tracks.

     Moving quickly around the ledges, they make their way to a small break in the cliffs above them. Once through Iriisii sees a flat stone with some kind of stone cairn with a lit torch at its top. Thinking it would be a halfway decent place to stop, she keeps pushing Rigmor to make it that far before stopping. Once they do, Rigmor has had enough.

     Rigmor: "Tell me now, is my mother on that list?!"

     Iriisii: "Yes, she is."

     Rigmor: "Where is she?"

     Iriisii: "A place called Diamond Ridge mine."

     Rigmor: "The way you said that, I take it to mean you do not know where it is?"

     Iriisii: "You are right, I do not."

     Rigmor: "That is just great, the closer I feel we get, the farther away we actually are. And then that 'bastard' shows up."

     Iriisii: "He is the one Baa' Ren-Dar said the Talmor brought over, Tilar Aedriath. I take it you are saying he is the one responsible for your scars?"

     Rigmor: "Yes, he is. And now that he is here, I will never find my mother."

     IriisiiL "Yes, we will."

     Rigmor: "How do you know that! You do not know where this Diamond Ridge Mine is. You cannot even get rid of that 'bastard'. All you seem to be able to do is get us lost! I do not know why you are even staying with me. Why do you not just go away? I was doing just fine before you showed up!"

     Iriisii: "I stay because I care."

     Rigmor: "Why do you care! I do not want you even near me!"

     As she turns and runs for a set of ladder steps going up rock face, with a tent on the ledge the steps end at. Iriisii just stands on the stone base, a hand on the cairn, looking at Rigmor climb her way up and into the tent. Rigmor throws herself onto a cot inside the tent, crying her eyes out, unable to understand why she is reacting this way, much less gain any semblance of control over herself.

     As she lays there, wondering if Iriisii is staying or has left her here. She hears the rumbling of thunder in the distance. As she continues to hear it, she realizes it is coming closer. She slowly gets up and peers out through the entryway of the tent to see Iriisii has not left. Instead she is kneeling on the stone base, as near as Rigmor can tell, her arms are crossed over her chest, and her head is bowed. She cannot tell if Iriisii is praying or meditating.

     A flash in the mountains in the distance tells her that a real bad storm is coming. She tries to step out to call Iriisii to the tent, but strangely cannot move any closer to the outside. Then a crack of thunder and bright flash of lightning hits the ground near the stone base. The snow in the area the lightning hits is boiled into steam. The steam seemingly moves on its own over to Iriisii where it circles her. More steam gathers as more bolts strike the snowy ground.

     From the gathered steam cloud, a Storm Atronach forms in front of Iriisii. Then Rigmor watches as it extends its stony arms to Iriisii, and she looks up at it, uncrosses her own arms, then places her hands on the Atronach's arms. A whole series of lightning bolts strike the ground around the stone base and continuously keeps pouring power into the ground around them. Iriisii absorbs this power and channels it to the Atronach. Rigmor asks herself why is this happening? What is the meaning of it all? Then she has her answer.

     The Atronach begins to lose its stony form, becoming smoother, taking on a form to mirror Iriisii. She continues to watch as the Atronach becomes something different, what she does not know. Its appearance is close to Iriisii's but it takes on some features of its own. Its skin no longer like stone, but closer to a smooth marble. It is able to move with flexibility, rather than just a collection of small boulders tied together with magic. And then she gasps as she sees Iriisii take a dagger from its sheath just above her ankle, use the dagger to slice the palm of her hand, cupping it to hold the blood.

     The Atronach kneels to her, lifts its smooth face, and opens its mouth as Iriisii lets her blood flow into it and down its throat. Iriisii holds the hand with the dagger high above her, and a lightning bolt different than the others drops down. A bolt of a pure golden color strikes the dagger, racing down her arm, across her chest to her other arm. Then down to the blood and is being drunk by the Atronach, both blood and lightning. The bolt vanishes leaving darkness in its absence, Iriisii looks at what she has had a hand in making, and casts an armor made of light around this new being. She then forms a bladed staff made of twisting strands of lightning.

     Rigmor can sense Iriisii talking to it, or is she chanting something. She cannot tell for the thunder is drowning all other sounds out. She just sees Iriisii's lips move, and knows something is being spoken. Then the being raises 'her' free hand, as a twisting pole of lightning drops down and 'she' grasps it. Suddenly 'she' and the pole are gone, Rigmor sees the being rise up into the storm clouds, as they begin to calm, and disperse. Iriisii turns and begins making her way, slowly, trembling, to the steps and climbs one at a time upward to the tent. When she enters the tent, Rigmor is laying on the cot, eyes closed. Her breathing is the only indication that she is still awake. Iriisii goes to her knees next to Rigmor and takes Rigmor's hands in hers.

     Iriisii: "I am sorry for speaking to you the way I did. I had no right to do that."

     Rigmor: "You did what you felt was right. I am the one who has abused your trust. I have allowed my personal fears to override my judgment. It is just that when I lash out it is against those closest to me, and it is just because they are there. They did nothing wrong, they were just there. I was the one who did wrong, and you keep forgiving me of it."

     As Iriisii keeps Rigmor's hands in her own, Rigmor thinks on what she is feeling right now. She knows she has grown to care deeply for Iriisii, perhaps even deep enough to fall in love with her. She finds herself hoping that Iriisii feels the same way toward her, but harbors secret doubts that it is Rose whom Iriisii truly loves, not her. She tells herself that she cannot blame Iriisii for loving Rose, not after seeing how Iriisii reacted to Rose's escape into Cyrodiil. And then there was Iriisii's reaction to Rigmor suggesting they go after Rose. Even now she cannot help but wonder why she did not just say 'to Oblivion' with everything else and go after her. But she did not, she resigned herself that it was the Gods' will that she let Rose go and stay behind in Skyrim. What could be so important as to deny yourself being with the 'love of your life'?

     A still, quiet whisper echoes in her mind, 'Your life, and the lives of every being now living on Nirn and its future is what she considers more important. If she went after Rose, Alduin would have won, and Nirn would have seen a return to the days before the Dragon Wars began. And eventually Alduin would hunt her again, for he would see her as the quintessential threat to his vision of the future. Would Nirn survive what would ensue? If you really want the answer to that, ask the 'Nine' to show you what would happen, then you would understand. Iriisii knew then what her choice would mean for the future, do not ever think she did not know. But she put aside her personal desires and acted for the good of all the others, at a cost that no one should ever have to pay.

     But know this as well, you have decisions that will come in the future. Decisions like the ones Iriisii is making now in guiding you along toward your destiny. You hold her ultimate fate in your hands, her fate, Nirn's fate, and the fate of everything else in existence. I can only give you this clue, you must deny yourself as she has denied herself, even as your decisions are in opposite directions."

     Rigmor: 'What kind of clue is that? What possible decisions could I make to affect all that you have said?"

     Whisper: "You will one day see them for yourself and wonder if you made the right decisions. Look deep inside Iriisii at that time, let her soul tell you if you were right or wrong, and pray you were right."

     Iriisii looks at Rigmor, then just simply says, "get some sleep. I will scout us a path out of here and come back for you when I have found one."

     Rigmor: "What happened out there during that storm?"

     Iriisii: "I felt that I needed some help. Getting knocked cold by that 'void' dragon and not able to protect you if anything further happened, made me see the need. I asked Kyne if she knew what could help me watch over you. She then told me how to proceed."

     Rigmor: "Ok, I can understand that, what did she say?"

     Iriisii: "She told me how to summon a storm atronach. This would be a good starting point, since they also can be effective against those living in the 'void'. I started by sharing what I needed with the summoned atronach and what it would mean for them."

     Rigmor: "What would it mean for them? I mean what could you do that they would find useful in return?"

     Iriisii: "I would go through the process of enabling this one to ascend higher."

     Rigmor: "You mean there are levels of them higher than what we know?"

     Iriisii: "Oh yes. This one would be able to enter the higher ranks as an Elemental, and move to the status of a Higher Elemental. She would be tied closely to me, as I rise and gain in power, so too would she. She thought this a quite fair bargain."

     Rigmor: "So she became a 'she' and started looking more 'human' and less a floating pile of rocks when she became an Elemental?"

     Iriisii: "Yes. And when her form shifted to a 'Higher Elemental', she gained a voice, the use of armor and weapons, which I created for her. She can also ride the lightning, by channeling bolts of it to go where she needs to as fast as the bolt can travel."

     Rigmor: "You gave her some of your blood?"

     Iriisii: "To bind my gifts to her, and to allow her to share my magicka, my knowledge of magic, later she will be able to share knowledge of my martial training."

     Rigmor: "Is that all?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, there are some aspects of my abilities she is not capable of using, even in gaining power as I do, there will be limits to what she can use."

     Rigmor: "Will she ever be able to...unh, you know?"

     Iriisii: "She is a Higher Elemental, not a Succubus. To be able to go that route, she would have to assimilate a succubus into her being. And I am not even sure if something like that is possible."

     Rigmor: "I mean you can absorb dragon souls, gain power and knowledge from them."

     Iriisii: "That is very different from what I was speaking of. I absorb the power and knowledge, yes, even the memories, but the soul is handled differently. Its personality is gone, perhaps that part goes back to AKKA, I do not know for sure. I only know that it does not reside in me once I absorb it. My dragonsoul was implanted directly into me, placed there with my mortal soul, so his personality is there with me."

     Rigmor: "But you have not assimilated him have you?"

     Iriisii: "No, and I never will. We have grown up together like siblings, I could never do that to a sibling of mine, never. And so I also feel of this elemental protector, she is like a sister to me. And so I will treat her as such."

     Rigmor: "Fair enough, I will get some sleep now. Wake me when you have a route out of here for us. I will be ready to put some distance between me and this place."

     Rigmor falls asleep as Iriisii walks outside and looks around. Noting the direction of the setting sun, and watching for the first stars to appear in the coming night sky. She establishes where she is by the setting sun and the stars. Turning around she moves up another ladder to a stone path among the rocks. Continuing she finds a break between two stone pillars and gazes out looking between them. She notices some landmarks off in the distance that tells her she has found her path. So she turns back and makes her way to the tent with a sleeping Rigmor. She feels the presence of the Higher Elemental just outside. Stepping out, the Higher Elemental speaks.

     Elemental: "You need to sleep as well, you will do neither of you any good if you do not rest before leaving here. I do not require sleep, and so I will watch."

     Iriisii: "I meant to ask before, but do you have a name?"

     Elemental: "What is a name?"

     Iriisii: "A specific sound or series of sounds given to identify and signify a specific individual. Mine were given to me by those who birthed and raised me."

     Elemental: "But you have more than one 'name'."

     Iriisii: "Iriisii is my birth name, Starborn is my family name, signifying the line of my parents and ancestors. All others are 'titles' given to describe something I am or have done that deserves to be remembered. 'Dovahkiin' means Dragonborn in Dovahzul, the speech of dragons. This celebrates that Akatosh has enabled my dragonblood, and anointed me to become his 'hero', sent to fight to save Nirn from whatever besets it that the Gods cannot deal with."

     Elemental: "I see, since you have in a way, birthed me, would you give me a name?"

     Iriisii: "Hmmm, I think I know of a way to find out what your name is. Just give me a moment."

     Iriisii closes her eyes, then opens her arms. A warm summer breeze, with traces of late afternoon sunlight flows from her and envelops the Elemental. As the breeze surrounds and flows through the Elemental it changes and returns to Iriisii as a sea breeze coming off of the ocean onto the sandy beach, giving a taste of clouds gathering off over the deep ocean water. Iriisii smiles as she reads what is being whispered to her.

     Iriisii: "Your name is, Lok Strun Okaaz, it means 'Sky Storm Sea' in Dovahzul. A very powerful name, signifying powerful elements that when joined birth great power, as the Storm stands between the Sky and the Sea."

     Lok Strun Okaaz: "Do you have such a name as well?"

     Iriisii: "This will be the first time my true name will have been uttered outside of Aetherius. My name is, Monah Ro Hahnu, which means, Mother Balance Dream."

     Lok Strun Okaaz: "I am honored to know your true name, and I understand what it means, although there will be far too many who will not. I hear your name rolling as the sound of bells tolling, reaching until the very 'end of times' and then beginning the cycle of life once more. I give praise to your hallowed name, Monah Ro Hahnu! Now sleep, and may your dreams teach the truth of the Balance you serve."

     Iriisii falls deeply asleep for the first time in some months, even before meeting Rigmor, she needed to keep a part of herself aware of what was going on around her in the night. Now once again through the agency of adversity she has someone to watch over her, and one who could become an ally of power. While she sleeps Aetherius watches her with ever growing awe at the things she is becoming capable of and what they may portend for the future.

     Alessia: "There can be no doubt now, she will go so much farther than even we dreamed she would."

     Talos: "Aye, and even though we truly had no say in the matter, I feel we have let her down by not being able to bring her to this place ourselves as her father and mother."

     Alessia: "I understand, and a part of me agrees with you. But we knew the strictures that were in place when we birthed her, we knew we could not be with her as we wanted to be. But still what we have had with her, I would not give up for any price. She is poised to go beyond the teaching of her heritage, prepared to take it where it was intended to go, and give that gift to all that exist in whatever Realm they call home."

     Talos: "Do you think...?"

     Alessia: "Possibly, even now the Streams of Time allow for it, whereas before her coming they did not. But I fear for her if she takes that path, what she will be called to endure..."

     Talos: "I know, but she will take the legacy that we both began, flawed and corrupt as they became along the way. And from them bring forth her own. Her 'Legacy', her 'Child', will continue after she has at last moved on herself, to last for true eternity and become the true meaning of immortality. Yes, she will have trials, the likes of which we cannot imagine. But she has those who will stand beside her and help her shoulder the burdens. Something we lacked when we were where she is now. This time, it is being done right, and it will last for all time itself and maybe, just maybe, hidden in those far flung mists that the future will be formed from, when what we know as 'time' has crumbled away into dust. Her dream will still be there, a beacon of hope, of learning to light the path for whosoever will step upon it and walk it forward."

     Alessia: "I had no idea you could speak so eloquently. Come, take me home, and tell me more."

     Rigmor and Iriisii begin traveling back to Angie's. From Northwest Camp, the road is long, they keep a sharp eye out for any Thalmor, Imperial Legion, bandits, bears, and other problems that a lot of travelers encounter. Iriisii has no issue with cleaning up the roads as she can, and now she realizes vampires are becoming more prevalent, sitting on the side of the road and luring travelers to their deaths. And for whatever reason the Vigilants of Stendarr are not able to bring their numbers under control.

     Sometimes she sees two or three chasing a single vampire and having to run it down. When she sees the trouble they are having she steps in and takes care of the matter. But lately she sees the vampires have changed their tactics. When it is three on three out in the wilds, the vampires are winning far more often. At least by the stripped and drained bodies of the Vigilants that she sees. She thinks if this goes on, the vampires are going to do something that is going to have a serious impact of Skyrim, and the Vigilants are not prepared to handle it. This civil war will also work to the vampires advantage, keeping the provinces from coming together and working out a way to deal with the problem.

      She has heard of the Dawnguard trying to recruit members, but they do not seem to be much better trained and equipped. If they are not better than they are now with the short amount of time they have been seeking recruits, they will not stand a chance any more than the Vigilants do right now. Well, she has the thought, maybe I will have the matter with Alduin settled before things with them get too far out of control. But she thinks this is going to be another matter she will have to address. She makes a mental note to talk to Rigmor about what she may know of vampires, especially the differences in the clans and what clan lives in what province. What she wants to know from Rigmor is whether she is aware of the ones that live in Cyrodiil, in and around the Imperial City and how they differ from the other clans. Maybe they will get lucky and not see any on the way to Angie's, but somehow she is not comforted by that thought, for it says nothing about how many may see them, and whether or not they will be tracked.

      Iriisii considers whether to stop and camp for the night rather than risk continuing onward. If she can see something suitable then that would be a good idea, then against the backdrop of the setting sun, a lone stone tower. Perfect, out in the open, clear space all around, have to see if we could lock and bar the door. She points it out to Rigmor.

      Iriisii: "Rigmor, look there, that lone tower up on the top of that hill. We need to check it out before dark. If we can bar it from within we can both sleep good tonight. I do not want to sleep out here if I do not have to."

      Rigmor: "What is the matter with out here?"

      Iriisii: "Other than than the usual? I have seen a lot of the Vigilants of Stendarr stripped and drained on the sides of the road. It almost looks like they are losing more members than they are gaining, at least among those experienced enough to survive against vampires. The ones out walking the roads now takes three of them to take down a single vampire, and then it takes them too long to do it. The longer it takes, the more likely the vampire will get away or turn the tables on the pursuers. Anyway, we will be safer behind stone walls tonight, and we can make a fire inside to be comfortable."

      Rigmor: "That sounds like a wonderful idea to me right now."

      They get inside and Iriisii starts looking around.

      Rigmor: "What are you looking for? Can I help?"

      Iriisii: "I am looking for loose struts and any small levers. The Dwemer hid some of their secrets within their doors not just in chests or locked rooms."

      Rigmor: "What do you mean?"

      Iriisii: "Find the the items I just mentioned and I will show you."

      Between them they find a few of each among the stuff left and not looted.

      Iriisii: "Ok. Watch what I am doing, it may just save your life one day to know how to do this."

      She goes over to the wall the door is set into and finds a small slot obscured in the decorative carvings, placing a small lever in the slot, she moves it around until she hears a 'snick'. Then she pulls downward on the lever. Both hear the sounds of gears moving within the door as some internal rods move and lock the door into the walls, both vertically and horizontally. Then some slots open within the near edges of the upper and lower sides of the door, ceiling and floor. Iriisii then places small and large strut pieces in these slots as braces to the floor and ceiling. Once she is done she remarks to Rigmor.

      Iriisii: "Good, this will keep us secure tonight."

      Rigmor in a hushed voice with a trace of awe, "How did you know all of this? How to make the door do this? how it all comes together?"

      Iriisii: "You don't think all those pieces were laying around with no purpose do you? The Dwemer were not a people to leave their tools lying around haphazardly. To them, everything had a place and a place for everything. They also took their security, personal, and as a clan, a race, personally. They made enemies of those who worshiped the Aedra and Daedra, and so knew that to survive they had to make entry difficult for those who disagreed with their beliefs. Not to mention they shared the supreme racial arrogance of their fellow mer. Some individuals rose above that arrogance, but not enough to save their people. We are seeing the same thing take place among the Altmer, with the ascension to power of the Thalmor."

     Rigmor: "How do you know all of this?"

     Iriisii: "The teachers and mentors of the Blade Dancers taught me about everything they knew. They kept watch over the rest of Nirn, seeking out the undercurrents of trouble and in some cases the history that started those undercurrents moving. They knew I was Dragonborn before I did, and even as they said nothing of it, nevertheless they prepared me for when Akatosh would call me to his service. They did not know what exactly he would have me do, but history said it would always involve the fate of Nirn. And so they trained both my body and my mind to be ready for whatever was to come my way."

     Rigmor: "That is more than I have heard you speak of your past since I have met you."

     Iriisii stops and thinks for a moment before replying.

     Iriisii: "Yes, it is. Yet it is but a tiny sliver of what they imparted to me. Most of the time I do not have to consciously think of it. It is so closely woven into my thoughts and my reactions. I accept it and move forward. Now we need to start a fire in the brazier up above, warm this place up a bit. At least they left some firewood for travelers. I think I have the makings of a venison stew in my knapsack. We can sit out on the balcony and eat under the stars and the moons."

     Rigmor wraps her arms around Iriisii, "I would like that, very much."