Chapter 55: The Snow Prince Rises Part 3

…

A company of three individuals, a woman, male and a Senche-Raht Tiger had made their way across Skyrim's northern coast from the Collage of Winterhold, westward.

The three were non other than Merril, Sivreth and Rael.

Navigating past the Imperial controlled territories had been troublesome thorn for me.

Going from Winterhold into Dawnstar's territory was simple since both were Stormcloak occupied territories, as such the border patrol was low.

However, going into Hjalmarch where Mortal rules over, was difficult since I had a massive fucking Dragon to transport in secret.

Fortunately or unfortunately, a Moot had been convened by High King Torygg.

I discovered this when I had eavesdropped a conversation between some high ranking guards in Dragon Bridge.

That definitely explained the reason why the security was less on the borders, it seems that all the Jarls have gathered in Solitude to discuss some very important matters.

A Moot, in short is just a gathering of all the Jarls of the Holds of Skyrim.

A Moot is generally not convened unless it is something of such great importance that the advisors and Thanes of the Holds under the Jarls are unable to take charge off. As only the Jarl has the power to make such decisions.

After reaching Dragon Bridge it took 2 days to reach Jehanna, which is a Orc territory.

Darkfall Cave, which was my destination, wasn't long to reach after getting near Jehanna.

It was time for me to finally take my first steps to preparing for the events of the game in the upcoming years.

**************

"This…is the supposed entrance to a prosperous temple of your race?" Merril asked sarcastically.

"Ha ha, stop being sarcastic. The Snow Elves collapsed all other entrances when the Nords begun their genocidal campaign. This is the only one that remains."

"Okay, but I'm pretty sure this isn't big enough for a Dragon to fit inside of."

"Ahbiilok will wait for us beyond the mountain range. That's where the real Chantry of Auri-El is located. But inside the cave is someone I need to meet, and the first test i need to face."

I said to Merril as I held my hand to my side, touching a reinforced Stahlrim container.

Within the container is the very same liquid essence that Akatosh himself had given to me all the way back, on the very day i escaped the Imperial City.

Akatosh had given me a sort of empathic message, this vial must be carried by me, without a single drop being spilled until I took the Initiate's Trials for the Snow Elves.

If even one drop was spilt or wasted…I would die.

My escape from the Imperial City…

My battle with Ahbiilok…

My journey across Skyrim and Solstheim…

All this time i had carried it and finally a weight would soon be lifted iff my shoulder.

But first I need to meet with Gelebor,

Raising my hand I focused on casting a spell Ahbiilok had helped me to create.

Magic condensed in the surroundings as it began to converge together forming a shape of a Eagle that shone vibrantly. Almost as if a living rainbow had taken form.

This Eagle was made using a combination of my [Summon Familiar] & [Clairvoyance] spells to make [Summon Spectral Guide].

The [Spectral Eagle] took flight, soaring into the dark abyss of the cave entrance. 

Its vibrant light pierced through the gloom, casting a rainbow of light through the shadows.

Sivreth, Merril, and Rael followed closely behind, their eyes adjusting to the dimness as the eagle weaved through the narrow passages. 

The echo of their footsteps mingled with the distant drip of water

As we ventured forth into the cave, many Frostbite Spiders emerged from around the corners or descended from the ceiling above.

Alas, they all met the same grim fate as their predecessors as I took out my dagger Alok (Death).

Alok left the embrace of my hand as it levitated before rapidly duplicating itself into numerous copies, all of which began to spin and rotate at rapid speeds.

The Alok copies all remained hovering around me and attacked anything that was deemed a threat.

The gem inserted into Alok would attack as per pre made instructions and scenarios, but also had some sentience to it and acted independently, whilst also having been given my knowledge and intellect to use in order to carry out its objective. Similar to how my Dwemer arm and Dwemer Automatons are made.

Alok's blades sliced off the spiders legs within the blink of an eye before penetrating the skull.

If a Frostbite spider leapt at me, either multiple Alok Blades would impale the spider mid air and the momentum will carry it away, or I would raise my hand casting a spell.

Many lances made of wind would surround me and would only attack the nearest approaching target.

[Aerial Lance] was simply one of hundreds of custom spells i had created and effortlessly mastered.

All thanks to the Dovah's Ring i had created with the Aetherium Forge or with Ahbiilok's mentorship.

The trolls were a different matter altogether. Their grunts echoed through the cavern, a stark contrast to the delicate melody of the eagle's flight. 

But the Trolls were simple to deal with unlike the spiders as Alok would effortlessly pierce the skull of the trolls in a single swift movement.

Watching the display i smirked.

But that was short lived as I received a chop to the back of my head by a delicate hand.

"Uhh you're smiling again…"

"And?"

"It's creepy! Don't do it! It makes my skin crawl just seeing you so happy when you kill anything." Merril said as she folded her arms taking a step slower just to move further from me.

"I'm just happy. All my efforts over the years, my planning and preparations haven't been for nothing. And now seeing the display of the power I now wield is just…" I paused unable to convey my emotions at seeing how easily my weapons and spells could kill creatures I would have struggled with and feared when I first set foot into this world.

Even after facing Miraak and surviving, and fighting Ancanno, whatever had become of him, I still wouldn't be able to kill a troll this easily due to their regenerative capabilities.

Pushing these thoughts to the back of my mind I continued down, treading further into the abyssal cave, following close behind my [Spectral Guide].

After a long and arduous day, the group reached a chamber that seemed to be the end of the line. 

The eagle hovered in the centre as it landed on top of a sun shaped emblem, and a humour figure standing before it with arms aloft in prayer.

Gelebor, the figure and one of the last Pure Snow Elves left in Tamriel, turned to face the approaching trio. 

"Come forward, you have nothing to fear here."

However, when the light from the candles and torches reached the trio, illuminating through the darkness he had a look of recognition when he gazed upon Sivreth. Immediately, his eyes widened in shock.

"Wait! You're...Sivreth?" he stuttered in suprise.

"You know who I am?" I replied, a hint of suspicion in my voice, I assumed that Auri-El had given him a vision of my arrival.

Gelebor nodded. "Other than the surprise visit I had not expected so soon. It was a little obvious recognizing your identity given both your age and…that proclamation you made in recent years."

I nervously brought my hand to scratch the side of my temple. "Ah, yes...that."

Merril however, had a visible eye twitch at his blatant dismissal. '"That!" You openly challenged all of Tamriel and declared war on the Thalmor!

Merril felt an headache coming and she put a hand on her forehead to calm down.

Gelebor took a few steps closer and we had also done so to not be so far. "But that's not how I know you, it's because we met many years ago though you were just born back then." 

"What?" I blurted out as I momentarily staggered in my step.

"Come and sit, we have much to talk about, and for why you have come here…I hope it's not what I think it is for."

"My main goal isn't to retrieve Auri-El's Bow, though it certainly is on the list."

I answered Gelebor as myself, Merril and himself sat down on some wooden chairs, he as our host, had been set up.

Rael meanwhile, had gone to a place where the warmth of the torches would reach him, as he began to lick himself before taking a nap.

"Who may I ask are you young lady?"

Merril's body became ramrod straight as she quickly stuttered out a response. "Uh I-I'm Merril sir!"

"No need to be nervous, my name is Knight-Paladin Gelebor. To both of you welcome to the Great Chantry of Auri-El."

"I'm sorry, I just haven't met any other Falmer other than Sivreth, and he is uhh different than most people"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I complained while glaring at her, which got a small chuckle from Gelebor.

"There must be some amusing stories the both of you have. But I prefer snow elf. The name Falmer usually holds a negative meaning to most travelers. Those twisted creatures you call Falmer, I call the Betrayed."

"What exactly did the Betrayed do?" She curiously inquired.

"They swept into the Chantry without warning and began killing everyone without pause."

"Didn't you fight back?"

"The Chantry was a place of peaceful worship. I led a small group of paladins, but we were no match for the Betrayed's sheer numbers. They slaughtered everyone and stormed the Inner Sanctum where I believe they corrupted my brother, Vyrthur, who's the current and quite possibly the last Arch-Curate for our race."

"What do you mean he's been corrupted?"

"I don't know what the Betrayed did to him, but something's wrong. He never looks as though he's in pain or under duress. He just... stands there and watches, as though waiting." Gelebor said, though it was evident in his tone such a subject talking of his own direct relative brought him some pain to remember.

"Have you never tried going to see him?"

He nodded his head in denial "Leaving the wayshrines unguarded would be violating my sacred duty as a Knight-Paladin of Auriel. And an assault on the Betrayed guarding the Inner Sanctum would only end with my death."

Seeing as Merril asked her lot of questions it was my turn. "Do you know how many Betrayed there are throughout the entire region?"

"Hmm, if I had to guess, I would assume about 50,000"

Fuck! Those numbers will be a problem if we're discovered! And I would strongly prefer not killing even a single Falmer if I don't have to for what I have planned.

"And what was number of the Snow Elf Population spanning across Skyrim before the Nord's campaign to wipe us all out?"

Gelebor's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Why do you want to know?"

"Please answer me, I'll explain more later." I pleaded to him. I had to know which can give me a brief idea overall for when I use…'that'.

"Very well. I can only have a rough guess, but I'd say a few hundred thousand for those that occupied various parts of Skyrim"

"Wait then how did 500 Nord warriors defeat an army of tens of thousands?" Merril asked as she learnt the true number of the civilian population, which meant that about a seventh or fifth of that would be the total military might numbering in the tens of thousands.

"The 500 Nords that came from Atmora were warriors bred only for war. Not only that, but their tactical prowess and various battle strategies they employed along with magically enchanted weapons and armour. They had been able to match our numbers with ease."

…

A minute went by as no one said anything afterwards opting for the silence this cave gave.

"Gelebor, I-" I voiced out but he cut off my words which shocked me to the core.

"It must be hard for you to think of a topic for a conversation given your origin of your Soul beyond this world, Riku."

"What?!" Merril blurted out faster than me as I was left momentarily baffled.

"What?!" I too yelled as I stood up from my seat in shock.

"Naturally, It must come as a surprise to you as to how I know that. And how I would know about your nickname of a nickname which you had in your past life."

"My Past life? I don't understand?" Merril looked back and forth between me and Gelebor, not following along with what he was saying.

Meanwhile, I remained in shocked silence unable to form any kind of sentence or Eve a thought on how to respond.

******************

And so the double daily updates had officially begun. The chapter i was writing was already long so I broke it up into two to help even the flow as I wasn't to remain consistent with the word count of each chapter being 1,500 words to 2,000 max. This one went over and is 2,206, the next chapter will be up in a few hours.