Druthza

A few hours later...

Our time in the presence of the Greybeards hadn't gone on for much longer before I was given a quest to undertake, one that would take us to the cold, foggy, marshy town of Morthal, located many a mile northwest of the Throat of the World.

And what, exactly, did this quest of mine entail? Apparently, from what Arngeir had told me after my trial in the courtyard, I had to go and retrieve a horn from some Nordic ruin called "Ustengrav," which lay near Morthal a few miles northeast, with the item in question supposedly interred within the ruins' depths.

Meaning that, if Bleak Falls Barrow didn't teach me and Derkeethus anything, this would be an extensive trip for us to undergo, with the main attraction being the deeper portions of the ruins, where our item of interest would be, with no doubt, located.

But, as things stood now, after having hiked back down the mountain, gotten my reward from Klimmek, and asked around for directions whilst the sun sank in the sky, our trek to Morthal was looking to be quite a lengthy trip, even if it did mean completing my initiation into the Greybeards' whole "Way of the Voice" cult.

As we took a seat at the Vilemyr Inn, food and drink before us, I sighed as I placed my map on the table, looking it over once again with my companions. "Right- so from what this tells me, based on where we are now, getting to Morthal will take at least a day or two to accomplish, if we don't take a swift carriage there. But even if we do that, it'll still be a while before we even get there." I explained, tapping my claw against where Mortal was located, knowing full well that the time it would take to circle the Throat of the World and head out in the general direction of our objective would take some time itself.

"There's a carriage just outside of Whiterun," said Lydia, who tucked some of her ebony hair behind her ear to better gaze at me from her seat next to me and on my right, taking a sip of her mead before adding: "he should be able to get us there."

"Do you happen to know just how much it costs for a carriage to Morthal?" Derkeethus asked her from my left, his eyes trained on the map I had in front of us, occasionally glancing up at me while doing so. "That I don't know. I've never traveled too far from Whiterun, truthfully." She said to him, "but my guess is at least 50 septims for a carriage there. The only thing we'll have to worry about is what'll be encountered on the road."

"Hmmm. Fair enough, I suppose." Keeth nodded his head thoughtfully before pulling off a chunk of bread from the loaf in his hand, putting it to his mouth. "When are we to head out?"

I took a drink of my Honningbrew mead before biting off a bit of my boiled creme treat, savoring that sweetness for the moment it lasted before answering him: "we'll settle here for the night, and head out tomorrow morning for Whiterun. The carriage should get us there by nightfall tomorrow, if we get there early."

"Which begs the question..." I turned to face the barkeep standing behind the counter, getting the Nord's attention with a loud snap of my claws: "hey- mind if I ask how much it is for a room here?"

"It's ten for the one I've got open, Argonian. Got two beds, this one," the barkeep told me, and with a noise of approval, I went back to gazing at my map and consuming my brief snack, unconsciously tapping my claws against the wood of the table and humming softly, feeling content at the current moment with how I felt.

We sat in silence for a bit after that, eating our food and listening to the chatter of the few other patrons around us, the absence of a bard leaving the ambiance relatively quiet save for the crackle of the fireplace and our soft breathing.

Overall, it was nice to unwind for the day, even if it was only for a moment. But as I finished off my creme treat and swallowed it down with what remained of my mead, I rose to my feet to offer up ten septims to the Nord behind the bar. "It's greatly appreciated that you've got a room up for the night, especially one with an extra bed. We've got quite a journey ahead of us tomorrow."

"Aye- and your coin is just as appreciated." Spoke the innkeeper, "say... where ya lads headin' to?"

"Morthal." I answered calmly, "not exactly the closest town from here, is it?"

"Nope. And based on what little rumors I've heard from travelers coming from Morthal, it's... eerie, to put it lightly. Always misty, no matter the time of day, whispers coming from the surrounding marsh at night... hell, I've even heard one tell me about vampires!" He laughed dryly. "Ya believe that one?"

"...vampires?" I mumbled with a creased brow, and my mind reeled in disgust as I vaguely remembered just what they were - and where they came from. Product of a damned Daedra... they are vahat... norg, even...

"Aye. Nasty bastards with a taste for blood. Don't let 'em latch onto ya... it'll be the biggest mistake of your life."

I frowned a bit deeper, grumbling lowly in discomfort as I imagined a set of elongated, cold fangs sinking directly into my jugular. It was far from a nice thought, I admit. "I'll be careful, then. Many thanks for the information."

The man nodded and politely waved me away, and as I went back to where Derkeethus and Lydia were sitting, they stood up. "We'll be extra vigilant once we arrive, then," rumbled Keeth, who I assumed had been listening in during my chat with the Nord barkeep. "I wouldn't want any of us to be ambushed and bitten... or sucked dry of our blood..."

Especially you, said his moderately intense gaze whilst his eyes settled on mine, his solemn expression speaking volumes in that brief moment of visual contact between us, and I almost questioned it, but I also... didn't want to. It drew me in, but it kept me locked firmly in place, as if I didn't dare move away from the focus of those expressive, shiny--

"My Thane?" Damn it! I startled at the sound of Lydia's voice, she sounded confused. "Are you alright? You're staring at Derkeethus quite intently..."

"I'm fine," I replied tersely, inwardly slapping myself at my tone and externally sighing as I gave her an apologetic smile. "I just had a moment."

Lydia's brown eyes widened momentarily before she simply accepted my statement as final, nodding her head and not saying another word. I inwardly thanked her for her silence, waved her away for a minute, and then told Derkeethus, "you've got a room for the night, alongside me. It'll be better than the floor, no?"

"Aye. I appreciate it, Druthza," he murmured with a little smile while I went for my map, grabbing it from the table and sealing it back in its now-designated satchel on my belt. "I'll certainly find some way to repay you for it, though. Just saying."

"Still keeping that up, are we?" I asked, lowering my voice so the other patrons wouldn't overhear us.

"Yes - and it'll continue."

"Why though?"

He flashed me a look, yet his tone remained pleasantly respectful and level, "because I feel like my savior deserves it."

Savior? I blinked, feeling my cheeks flush under my scales, and was grateful that he was unable to feel the heat radiating from my face at that comment of his. "Keeth, are you sure you don't just mean to call me a 'hero,' or...?"

Keeth stepped closer to me, his eyes practically glowing like stars again in the firelight as he rumbled softly, his gaze piercing mine: "'hero' doesn't cut it, Druthza..." the Argonian sighed, looking as if he wished to say more, but he only fell quiet, leaving me wondering if he was just trying to be nice, or if he meant... more with what he said.

I put that latter thought aside immediately. It's stupid. He can't possibly... no, Druthza - we're not going there. Not yet. Not today. Give it time. I scolded myself, surprisingly able to keep a straight face, rather than openly frown and give away my internal conflict.

Turning on my heel to walk into the room I had rented, I walked to the bed and removed my boots, gazing down at my bare feet with a contemplating expression, flicking my eyes from one green, scaly toe to another. What to do...

I wasn't sure what we'd find out in Morthal. If the barkeep's words were anything to go by, vampires were a possible danger out in the cold, dreary marshes there. I just hope Ustengrav, those ruins, have the item the Greybeards need me to get...

I removed my sword from its sheath and set it against the wall, removed my bag from my back and placed it near the bed, before ultimately lying back on the bed and staring blankly up at the ceiling, getting lost in my own head.

Thoughts whizzed by like rushing water, mental noise pulsed in my ears like my own heartbeat, and my own internal self sat still on a little rocky outcropping, overlooking the rushing river and listening to the constant pulsing of noise. She was used to things like these, the noise and the speed of my own thoughts, and yet... she also wasn't.

The valley she overlooked was soon being cast in shadow, making the river slow and the noise get louder. It was like the sun was setting to welcome in beasts both her and I had never truly faced before.

And before anything could really show its face to my mental self, everything fell away, and I abruptly found myself falling asleep.

I had no time to stop. Not for myself. Not for anyone. He was gaining on me.

Wings beat behind me in a steady, terrifyingly fast pace, causing that dreadful black beast to close the distance between us further. I could feel his smoldering red eyes piercing me in the back like knives, causing my scales to prickle as I charged forward, goldenrod eyes darting about for a safe place to hide.

There was nothing beyond the trees, there nothing beyond the - wait. There! A cave! I felt my heart skip a beat at the sight. Freedom. Safety. Escape.

But my advances were soon put to a screeching halt as I felt my foot catch on an unruly tree root, causing me to topple over and hit the ground in a quaking heap, and I gasped as the great black being suddenly landed himself right behind me, the ground shuddering at his weight and power.

That made me freeze, like a rabbit in the grass as soon as it caught wind of the fox, my heart fluttering madly against my ribs as I waited for death, tears springing into my eyes...

"Such a pity that you, a mere sliver of spoiled flesh in comparison to my majesty, are destined to destroy me..." snarled Alduin coldly, his voice full of deep, boiling contempt and anger. "You are nothing but a COWARD! A FOOL! DO YOU DARE THINK YOURSELF WORTHY OF STANDING IN MY STEAD!?"

His voice boomed through my body, making me cry out with a high-pitched, strangled whimper - but not before my whimper amplified into a sudden scream, as Alduin's serrated teeth suddenly raked down my back like a set of meat cleavers, tearing open muscles and scales alike as fiery agony shot through every nerve in my torso.

"CONSIDER A WARNING, JOOR! HI FEN NI VIIK DOVAH!"

And suddenly, my eyes shot open - and I found Derkeethus hovering nearby, worry etched onto his face. The inn was quiet, save for the snore of the patrons who had taken up residence in the other rooms, and I was audibly hyperventilating. "Steady breaths, Druthza..." he murmured calmly and quietly, kneeling at my bedside and giving me a concerned look. "You look like you had a nightmare... is it so?"

I slowly sat up and sighed, bringing my knees up to my armored chest as my brow furrowed, nodding slowly despite my attempts not to. "I did... but it's nothing to concern yourself about. Really." I tried to tell him, but he seemed to mirror my expression and quietly shook his horned head. "You don't need to brush off what scares you, Druthza. Everyone fears something, even if they don't admit it openly." He explained to me,  his gaze softening as he spoke. "So please, tell me: what startled you so badly?"

I might as well tell him, if he's willing to listen... "Alduin. I was running from him, and then he attacked me, and... gave me a warning not to go after him." I said bluntly, shaking my head. "It was unexpected, and it... well, it scared me."

"Mmm," he hummed in contemplation, taking a moment to respond. "Maybe, it's a response to the trauma you faced in Helgen, with him attacking you. And maybe his warning was just your mind further hammering in the fear he made you feel... it's only a guess, but that's what I'm thinking." Keeth shrugged, giving me an apologetic look. "I hope I'm helping you calm, Druthza."

"You're doing fine... thank you, for trying to figure it out for me and listening to me," I said, watching as Keeth rose to his full height and returned to his bed on the other side of the room, promptly laying down and, after murmuring a goodnight in my direction, turned over and went to sleep.

Which then left me to follow suit, gingerly laying back and shutting my eyes, trying fruitlessly to sink back into my own slumber as haunting scenes of a ruined Helgen and a snarling Alduin filled my head.

The following morning was particularly chilled and quiet, the dawning sun shadowed by the thick cloud cover which promised a light, cold rain during our trek back to Whiterun to seek out the carriage we'd need to get to Morthal.

But, compared to a surprisingly alert Lydia, Derkeethus and I were particularly groggy and sluggish on this dark, chilly morning, his deep, rumbling yawns sounding now and then as he rubbed his eyes to clear them. Meanwhile, I was still fighting to keep mine open as we trudged down the road, the Whiterun stables slowly coming into blurry view up ahead as I let out a deep yawn of my own, wiping my eyes as they proceeded to water.

"Are you well, my Thane?" Came Lydia's voice from ahead of us as she looked over her shoulder, and I tiredly nodded, my raspy voice coming out slightly slurred from grogginess. "Aye. I'm only tired, nothing more..."

The possibility of catching a nap while on the carriage to Morthal popped into my head as we came upon the Nord man busy fixing his horse to the wooden cart, our footsteps alerting him to our approach as he spoke up. "Hello there. If you're looking for a ride, I'm just about ready to go. I'll only be another minute, you three."

"Please, go on," Keeth rumbled from beside me, his voice husky from sleep, "we can wait."

The Nord's preparations didn't take very long as he soon hoisted himself up into the front of the carriage, beckoning us to hop in the cart behind him as I trodded up to him. "So, where to on this dark, early morning?"

"Morthal, please," I told him, reaching for the coin pouch on my belt and handing him the fifty septims he requested for the payment, and as I lifted myself into the cart, I saw Keeth reaching out to help me in beside him, his big, scaly hands clasping around my leaner arms perfectly.

I then sat down across from Lydia, curling my tail so that it would hang limply from my seat as I settled in, grunting lightly as a yawn rose from me once more, my body shifting about as I felt myself slumping. Hist help me, I'm sleepy...

 Moving to lean back against the side of the cart, I felt my head tilt back as I gazed blearily up at the dark sky, instilling in me further the feeling of drowsiness as my eyelids grew heavy, only for those same dark clouds above to cloud my vision as I quickly slipped off into a nap.

We'll be there soon...