Why Always Me

I should have known I'd be roped into doing a secondary job to get information on the Elder Scroll I wanted. To be honest, I didn't exactly blame the librarian for wanting me, or anyone else for that matter, to go searching for some lost books. I did feel like telling the orc to shove his job and give me what I wanted, but I figured I was going to need his co-operation going forward. So that's why I was heading back to the inn, in quite a bad mood, when I was stopped by someone I really didn't want to see in the courtyard.

"You there. I have questions for you."

I glared at the Thalmor, resisting the urge to put him down, then and there. I've been questioned once or twice by friends and companions if I hated elves. No, I certainly don't hate them all. I don't really hate anyone. Well, maybe vampires, though I've even let one or two of them live. But Thalmor… Yes, I hate them. I've seen what they do to us. And I know what they've done to others. The only reason I don't slaughter every single one I met is that, perhaps like every other group out there, not all of them were guilty. But still, this Thalmor rubbed me the wrong way already.

"What do you want?" I replied icily, making sure he heard the tone clearly.

He simply sneered, arrogance oozing from him. "You were in Saarthal, yes? It has come to my attention that something was found there."

I shrugged. "No idea what you're talking about. I simply escorted the students back to the College due to the late hour."

"Don't play me for a fool, boy."

Now I puffed myself up and stepped forward, eyes unblinking as I stared into his, making sure he knew exactly what I thought of him through that alone. I had to resist putting a hand to the hilt of my sword. "Who are you calling boy?" I growled.

"I would be very careful what you do in the next five seconds." The change in body language was subtle.

I simply smiled. "I'm not going to do anything. What I do know is that I don't answer to you. You are here as an 'advisor'," ensuring to mock him with air quotes, "So I don't have to tell you a damned thing."

His eyes narrowed and my grin grew larger. "I'll be watching you," he warned, "And I don't need you to confirm anything. Tolfdir can report to me what was found when he's returned."

"Good. Anything else?"

"No."

"Then get out of my way."

I made sure my shoulder brushed his as I walked past, and I thought he was going to shout something. I felt his eyes bore into my back as I walked towards the bridge, making sure I didn't look back towards him. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction. I filled in Lydia and the Companions about what I had to do next, once again laughing at my expense, jokingly calling me 'the errand boy'. Once the laughter had died down, they asked where we were headed. I'll admit, that did surprise me.

"You don't have to hang around."

"You're our Harbinger and need our help. Therefore, we'll stay for the time being," Farkas stated.

"Agreed. And we still need to grab that Scroll. So there's no point heading home now when we still have work to do," Aela added.

"When do we leave, my thane?"

I shrugged. "Guess we'll head out first thing in the morning."

We set out for Fellglow Keep next morning after checking the map and realising we'd be pretty much heading back near enough to Whiterun anyway. Whether any of my Companions yearned for returning to the city, I don't know as they said nothing, but we turned off the main road south and ended up wandering through the wilderness on horseback, taking it slow as we didn't want to stumble across the fort and end up injured.

"So, we're here to find books?"

"Yes, Lydia."

"To end up finding a Scroll?"

"Yes, Lydia."

"My thane, have you ever heard of the term pushover?"

I heard the muffled chuckles of the Companions. "Do you really think I want to be out here finding a bunch of books?"

"Well…"

"He wasn't going to help me otherwise. So it's a case of finding some books, then he'll tell me what I need to know. Hopefully it'll be a case of pulling out a map and writing x to mark the spot."

"Are we getting paid for this?" Farkas asked. I think he was joking, though I couldn't be sure.

"I'll make sure we're compensated."

"What about me?"

"You're provided with food and lodging, Lydia."

"What about always putting my life on the line?"

"You're my sword and shield, remember?" She simply returned a rueful grin, her words coming back to haunt her. I held up a hand, bringing us to a halt. "Aela, you seeing that ahead?"

"I have a mage on that broken tower. Another to our left, near the fort."

"They're all yours. We'll move out once they're down."

I watched as Aela took aim with her bow, focusing on the mage standing guard on the tower. She loosed, and we watched the arrow as it hit, the mage stumbling back and falling to the ground below. She wasn't even watching, lining up the second mage. She loosed again, the second mage taking an arrow, this time not falling to the ground. In fact, she got a little bit angry and charged towards us. Which was stupid, as Aela simply hit her with a second arrow. Once the second mage crumpled to the ground, we kicked our horses forward, slowly of course, Aela covering us with her bow.

We tied our horses outside the fort and looked for a way in. The front door, as it were, was barred. Farkas suggested cutting it down, but I said we simply find another way in. Which was a mistake, as a flame atronach appeared from a nearby flight of stairs. Before any of us even had a chance to arm ourselves, I used the new shout I'd learned the previous day, freezing the atronach in place.

"That's a new one," Lydia stated as we gathered around the atronach, now frozen solid.

"Learned it yesterday. Figured it would come in handy, just not that quickly."

We descended the stairs, the door ahead opening into near darkness. "Great," I heard Farkas grumble behind me. I didn't blame him. No doubt we were going to run into a lot of mages and none of us were mages. So we'd have to work fast and smart. Aela was likely going to get a lot of practice with her bow. Without being asked, Lydia also has her bow to hand.

The fort was another crumbling ruin, likely thousands of years old, built by one of the Empires long ago. There was a constant drip as water cascaded in from somewhere, all five of us moving quietly, trying to make as little noise as possible. We followed a series of darkened hallways until we finally walked into a larger room. I heard a voice on the platform above and moved quickly with weapon drawn. I soon wished I didn't as there were two spiders including a mage. I stopped and retreated slowly, allowing the spiders to come forward as there was a reason.

The two spiders soon found themselves skewered by a number of arrows. Once dead, I leapt over their bodies and ran up the stairs, shield raised to prevent any attack from the mage. Knowing mages were unarmoured, I knew it would take little effort to kill them with my sword, proving my point when I ran the mage through with my sword.

"I hate mages," Vilkas muttered behind me.

"We're not going to be running into any bandits or mercenaries in here," Aela added.

I made sure Lydia and Aela were directly behind me as we moved down the long, dark hallways, ready to duck as soon as the enemy came into view. I hated fighting in forts. There was usually not enough room and fighting mages was going to be worse, considering we'd find ourselves doused in flames, frost or who knows what else. I wasn't dumb enough to fall into the mages traps, noticing the pressure pad sitting under some loose straw, pointing it out to my colleagues behind.

Descending a flight of stairs, another mage was sitting at a table on the other side of the room, only turning upon hearing my entry, only getting to his feet by the time an arrow struck home. The five of us then gathered as we noticed prisoners in the cages. But no ordinary prisoners.

"Are those vampires?" Lydia asked.

"I think so. I wonder why they're here?" I wondered, approaching one of the caged vampires. "What are you doing here?" The vampire shrugged but said nothing. "I could let you out if you tell me."

"Are you crazy, Ragnar?" Farkas asked.

"If they turn on us, we'll kill them. They're unarmed but have some skill with magic. Correct?" The vampire nodded. "So, why are you being kept here?"

"The mages are performing experiments on us. We're not the only unfortunates," the vampire replied.

"Any idea how many mages there are here?" The vampire shrugged again. "If I let you out, you could have your revenge. A nice meal too."

"You're serious?" Lydia hissed quietly behind me.

I didn't turn around as I replied. "As I said, they attack us, we kill them."

"You have a deal, human."

"Lydia, find the switch or lever that'll let them out. Only let them out one at a time. You other three, stay armed. If they make a move toward us, kill them."

The first cage door opened and the vampire got to her feet and walked by us calmly towards the closed door. It was seconds later that we heard the cry of battle. Lydia quickly opened the other three doors, letting the other vampires go and help. Once the room was clear, we entered the next room to see three vampires fighting at least half a dozen mages. There were already three bodies on the ground as Aela and Lydia started firing. Without an order, Farkas and Vilkas rushed forward and soon blood flowed in rivers across the floor. In all the excitement and confusion of battle, I'll admit we may have killed a couple of the vampires too. In the end, we were the only survivors as mages and vampires littered the floor.

"By Ysmir, what are these mages doing…" Farkas stated more than questioned as we looked around the room. It was… disgusting. Tables and walls were caked in blood. The mages were performing all sorts of experiments, nothing which I could understand except humans and vampires must have experienced horrific pain before eventually succumbing to the numerous wounds their bodies were covered in.

"What do you think they were trying to do?" Aela wondered.

"Honestly, who cares. We're going to kill them all," I stated.

"Aye," four people added.

We continued to descend through the fort, believing we must now be deep underground. I always got confused in these sort of forts, that were already half buried on the outside. A couple of mages proved some resistance but soon found themselves dead on the ground as we found more cells, this time with only one occupant. He scurried back from the door as we approached. He looked like a mage and I wondered if this was the same person Urag had mentioned. I gestured for him to approach, sheathing my sword to show I wouldn't harm him.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"My name's Orthorn. I'm a mage from the College of Winterhold."

"Who stole some books…"

"Oh… Is that what you're here for?"

I shrugged. "Urag did mention your name when he sent me here. Whether I was actually meant to save you at the same time or not, well, you can think what you want. But I am here for those books."

"Tell you what, let me out of this cage and I'll help you kill the mages and get the books back. I really want to go back to the College. I was an idiot. I had no idea what they were going to do to me."

I looked back at my colleagues. "We could always use the help of a mage," Lydia stated.

I nodded. "Good thinking." The lever to let him out was behind me, and he was delighted when the door opened, promising again and again to deliver us to the books. I was simply happy to have the help of a mage, though we hadn't really struggled so far.

"So who are we after?" Aela asked.

"The Caller."

"The Caller?" I asked, unable to hide my mirth.

Orthorn shrugged. "That's what she calls herself. I don't know her real name. All I know is that she promised me… things for my help. Instead she locked me up, ready to do whatever it was she had planned."

"Very well. Follow me. Try not to get yourself killed."

He muttered something under his breath, I know not what, nor did I care. This wasn't a rescue mission and I was still thinking this was a complete waste of my time. 'All this for some books.' But I'll admit that letting Orthorn tag along did make our progress slightly easier. We ran into ever more mages, some necromancers and even more vampires, though these poor sods were being used as targets. In the end, we had to put them out of their misery too.

Each chamber and room we entered had at least one or two enemies. Sometimes more. Sometimes many more, which made it… well, I wouldn't say fun, but it was when all six of us could get to work. Progress was slow, methodical but inexorable. I won't say fighting mages was easier, as some were capable of rather nasty spells, but I'd rather fight magic than some big, hairy bastard armed with a massive warhammer. I'd already done that once or twice, lived to tell the tale but had the scars to prove it wasn't always smart.

The one annoying aspect was that Orthorn never… shut… up. I know I could be silent and brooding at times. The twins as well. Lydia liked to fill the silence with her incessant chatter at times. Aela could talk if she wanted. But Orthorn did not have an off switch. He talked and talked and talked until I swore someone wanted to put a dagger in him. I would have been at the head of that queue. He didn't even take subtle hints. Eventually Farkas told him to shut up or he'd shut him up.

Orthorn shut up. At least for a little while.

But I couldn't complain about our progress and the line of dead mages and necromancers that were left behind us. We found more evidence of experiments, rooms filled with tables covered in bodies, numerous implements of torture laying around and a never ending smell of blood. So thick you could almost taste it. As a warrior, you get used to the blood. I'd been covered it in enough times that it was almost a second skin at times, ending battle bathed in red, only the whites of my eyes and teeth appearing in contrast to the red. Orthorn, on the other hand, looked a little green around the gills as we searched. To his credit, at least he wasn't sick.

One thing I'll remember is that the Keep was enormous. I hoped with each door we opened that we'd finally be at the end, facing down whoever The Caller was. But each time, that hope was dashed, instead opening door after door to be meeting by mages, skeletons, necromancers, conjurers and all manner of other enemies. Frost, fire and ice would usually greet us, thankful I carried the Shield of Ysgramor and that my armour was enchanted. Not to say I still didn't feel some effects from the constant magic attacks.

"Any idea where we are?" I finally asked Orthorn, my patience wearing thin.

"I'm not sure. I know we'll be close when we find a staircase leading upwards."

"Will The Caller be alone?"

"No idea. I doubt it, though. She is the leader of this group of mages so would assume she'd have some protection."

We continued on, eventually climbing some stairs, not the staircase Orthorn mentioned, leading towards a series of bedrooms and other living quarters. After wiping out the mages, we had a good look around. It was obvious the mages had been based at the Keep for a long time, and also had not expected to be attacked. Not that we found journals or anything incriminating, just the general sense that the generally lived in peace.

After following another hallway, we came to another staircase and this one was what we had been looking for. At the completion of the ascent, the six of us gathered at the door, gesturing to be quiet as we discussed tactics.

"What's the plan, Harbinger?" Farkas asked.

"Aela. Lydia. Have your bows out, arrow at the ready. Orthorn, you stay behind us. Farkas, Vilkas, you flank me. Maybe we can talk her down." Orthorn muttered something inaudible. "Ready?" Four then five heads finally nodded that they were ready.

I opened the door and calmly strode forward, sword in my right hand, shield attached to my left forearm, covered in armour that should keep me alive. I was greeted by a circular room. In the centre was a pedestal on which sat a book. 'Probably one of those I'm looking for.' Behind the pedestal, staring at me, was a female mage. I took two steps forward, allowing my colleagues to form up alongside. I figured we would have looked rather intimidating, five warriors in a line, ready to cause havoc at my call.

To her credit, The Caller proved feisty. "So, you're the one who barged into my home and laid waste to my projects. How nice to meet you…"

Sarcasm oozed from her tone. 'Don't blame her, in all honesty. We have just laid waste to everyone else.' I shared a glance with my colleagues. I smirked before I bowed slightly. "Pleasure."

"What are you doing here?"

"Who are you?" I retorted.

She scoffed. "I think we're past names, don't you think?"

"I'm Ragnar."

"I'm not going to say it's a pleasure, Ragnar, not after the mess you've made. You may call me The Caller, if you wish. I don't really care. But I will ask you again. Why are you here?"

"The books."

"The books?"

"Yes. Urag is very upset that Orthorn took his books. He sent me to retrieve them. Me and my companions. Er, they are actually Companions too. You know, that guild from Jorrvaskr…"

"And we usually kill mages," Farkas stated.

"And their leaders," Vilkas added.

"Aren sent the Companions for a bunch of books?" she wondered, sounding confused.

"No. It's far too long to explain and I don't really want to either. Just give me the books and we'll be on our way."

"No."

I sighed. Aela looked ready to fire. I signalled for her to wait. "Perhaps we can come to some arrangement. You don't need to die."

She laughed at me. "I'm not going to die. But… I'm willing to meet you halfway. You give me the elf; you can have your books."

"You want Orthorn? Why?"

"None of your business. Now, do we have a deal or not?"

"Ideas?"

"I won't feel comfortable handing him over," Lydia stated.

"I have to agree, Harbinger. Is one life worth a few books?" Farkas asked.

Farkas talked sense and I had to agree. With the deftest of signals, Aela and Lydia put an arrow each into the mage. She went down in a heap and I moved forward immediately, ready to complete the job if necessary. But as I noticed as I rounded the pedestal that both arrows hit true and the mage was busy bleeding out. She attempted to cast a spell despite the fact she was dying. I simply put the tip of my sword to her throat and shook my head. "At least die with dignity," I stated quietly. I waited the next few seconds, watching the eyes eventually glaze over and her head fall to the side.

I gathered the three books, reading the titles and wondering what she had wanted with the three books. I was tempted to ask Orthorn but didn't bother. Honestly, I didn't really care. I had the books back, that was all that mattered. Once happy, we found a ladder leading up to a trapdoor, opening up in the ruins of the fort, our horses tied up not far away. It was still light though was late in the afternoon. As none of us wanted to ride into Winterhold in darkness, we agreed to the short ride back to Whiterun where we'd spend the night. As for Orthorn, he thanked all of us for the rescue but mentioned he probably wouldn't head back the College. At least not yet. He wandered off in the opposite direction to us as we took the road south towards the crossroads.

Our horses stabled, we gathered in Jorrvaskr, Lydia included, who was practically an honorary Companion after spending so much time with them the past couple of days. I finally convinced the trio to wait in Whiterun while I returned to the College, stating that as soon as I had the location of the Scroll, I'd head back immediately and then we could head off to find it. They grumbled but had to admit they would appreciate one or two nights in their own beds.

Lydia and I rode back into Winterhold late the next day, the sun still shining in the distance though snow was currently falling, adding to the piles that spread as far as the eye could see. We tied our horses at the inn as usual, Lydia heading inside, stating she'd simply wait for my return. Faralda was in position at the entrance to the College, mentioning that Ancano had been grumpier than usual and suggested I was the cause of it. I feigned shock and disbelief. All she did was laugh, knowing full well I was responsible. All she added was that I should be careful.

I assumed Urag was delighted to have this three books back, though you'd never have known from his gruff manner. But he still thanked me and handed me a reward, stating that he knew I wasn't really a mage, that he could smell a warrior a mile away so knew I'd rather coin over anything else. I simply thanked him and then asked about the Scroll.

He sighed, giving me a withering look, shaking his head. "An Elder Scroll is an instrument of immense knowledge and power. To read an Elder Scroll, a person must have the most rigorously trained mind, or else risk madness. Even so, the Divines usually take the reader's sight as a price."

"I don't understand. Are you saying that I won't be able to read it? What are they exactly?"

"The simplest way to put it is 'knowledge', but there's nothing simple about an Elder Scroll. It's a reflection of all possible futures and all possible pasts. Each reader sees different reflections through different lenses, and may come away with a very different reading. But at the same time, all of it is true. Even the falsehoods. Especially the falsehoods."

I didn't understand a word he just said. As I said, I don't think I'm some dumb Nord brute but the Elder Scrolls appeared to be beyond my comprehension. So I asked a simple question.

"Where can I find the Elder Scroll I need? Do you have one?"

Urag laughed at me, so that was the answer to whether he one lying around. When he was finally done laughing, he told me to wait as he searched the bookcases surrounding us. Eventually he returned with two books about the Elder Scrolls: 'Ruminations of the Elder Scrolls' and 'Effects of the Elder Scrolls'. I didn't even bother opening them as I figured the chances of me understanding either was practically zero. "Is there anyone who could help me understand these two?"

Urag pointed at the first booked. "Sure. You can try and find Septimus Signus. He's a specialist in Elder Scrolls lore but he's also a bit… Well, I haven't seen him in a long time and he was off the deep end before he disappeared."

"Where is he?"

"Last I heard, he was digging some place far to the north. I'd ask Tolfdir. He may be able to point the way if you have a map."

I thanked Urag for his help, though he couldn't he cracking a joke at my expense as I wandered out of the library. I found Tolfdir downstairs, where the giant orb now took pride of place. Though I was interested in what the orb was, I was more concerned about finding the Scroll. Others can worry about the orb.

"Tolfdir, can I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"Do you know where Septimus Signus is?"

"What do you need him for?"

"I need help finding an Elder Scroll. Urag said he'd be the best person to ask."

The old man's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Whatever do you need one of those for?"

"It may help me defeat Alduin."

"Oh, of course. Of course. Do you have a map?" I pulled one out and opened it up for him. "He has an outpost far to the north here," he pointed near the edge of the map, "You should be able to cross the ice all the way to his outpost. If not, you may find a boat to get you across."

"Excellent. You have my thanks."

"Be safe, Dragonborn. Septimus may appear to be a scholar but he's also… He delves into things that even we mages would consider unsafe. I would suggest you be cautious while dealing with him."

I knew a warning when I heard one. I thanked him again before returning to the inn, explaining to Lydia what we would be doing next. She didn't sound thrilled about crossing an ice-bound, barren landscape, but was happy enough that we were once again making progress. I went to bed that night hoping Septimus would finally point us in the direction of the Elder Scroll.