Chapter 37
He had nowhere to run, and the old mer had him cornered. Maltrys had that mean look on his face. That mean look meant only one thing - he was about to get a beating, again. Ciel’nn knew why; he had tried to protect his mother from the violent assault that the old mer had delivered, until he had intervened. It was going to hurt for sure, but it was nothing new under this roof.
The Whiterun Ranger, Reja, frowned at the letter she received from Sarade, delivered by Rangalen. Ciel’nn could see her teeth gritting together as she read the letter. Bad news. He turned to look towards Whiterun in the distance; the outer structures were being reinforced. The Dunmer wondered how long it would last if a real siege would happen. How many dead? Only thing that bothered him, though, was when he should tell the Nord that he was leaving. How Rangalen would take it? He’d want to visit the Shrine of Azura with him before he’d leave.
The ranger cursed and folded the letter, putting it into her pouch. Reja looked to the young warrior and the Dunmer. “Do you two have any safe place to stay? It won’t be safe on the road for a long time.”
The young warrior frowned. “Is it the Civil War now? Or, something else?” He had the feeling they’d not been told everything. “Tellik’s gone. It should -”
“Tellik’s nothing compared to what will come!” The ranger snapped out of the blue, then smacked her hand on her mouth. She shouldn’t have said that! Reja breathed slowly and looked the Nord again. “I meant-”
“So, there is something else after all.” Ciel’nn intervened as he turned around to face them. His tone lowered nearly to a dangerous level. “Something is obviously going on here. Something about the Brethren ring. We’re not stupid, ranger.” He noted the ranger’s gasp - so she knows something, too. “What is the Brethren ring?” The Dunmer asked in a dark but serious tone as he stared at the ranger. Is that fear?
The Ranger stared back with widened eyes. The Dunmer’s gaze was too intense for her liking. Reja saw the darkness about it, but she wasn’t afraid of the mer. No, it was the Brethren ring that she was concerned about. And, how these two knew about them, Reja didn’t know. Straightening her back, the ranger replied, “It’s better that you don’t know. Go where it’s safe. It’s Sarade’s wish.” She looked to the young warrior. “Please? I’ve sworn an oath to not tell anything about them.”
Ciel’nn scoffed before Rangalen spoke, “Somehow Tellik knew about it. Maybe he had contacted them somehow?” The young warrior wanted to know more. The way Tellik had said it… It got him thinking. If there was a fight coming - he wanted to be a part of it. He let out a frustrated sigh when Reja kept her mouth shut.
“Fine, let them come and raze this land to the ground! I don’t care anymore. Might as well as leave Skyrim for good.” Ciel’nn hissed and turned his back to them. He had had enough of this. It was last time he’d help anyone, who wasn’t close to him. He’d leave for his homeland. “Wait! Leaving?” He heard the Nord asking, surprised, but he was quiet.
“I’ll leave you two to it.” Reja said and headed into another direction. She had things to do and to watch.
Rangalen turned to the mer. “You’re leaving? When had you decided about that?” He had hoped that the Dunmer would stay for longer time. He frowned to himself - he wasn’t sure if the mer had a house here in Skyrim. Just thinking about Ciel’nn leaving made the young warrior sad. Yes, he didn’t swing that way, but he cared more than he let on. “Why?”
“There are things I need to do.” Ciel’nn replied in a low tone, without looking to the Nord. “I need to go to Morrowind, and find some answers. To heal, if that’s possible…” I don’t expect you to understand. He was broken, Ciel’nn acknowledged it, and Ce’vale’s last words during the shift in Oblivion meant he had to go home. He missed Morrowind - that was clear now.
“I know you’re not yourself, but can’t the temples help at all?” Rangalen asked as he stepped closer to the mer. “What about me?” His voice was but a whisper. He didn’t want to admit that he felt already miserable. The Dunmer had taught him things he’d never thought to learn on his own. There were more things he wanted to say, but it was a mess in his mind. “When do you leave?”
“I don’t know yet, Rang.” Ciel’nn glanced at the Nord. “We would still be friends, though.” He smiled a tiny bit. “Gah, don’t look so down. It doesn’t suit you. I have a question, though.”
“What is it?” The young warrior tried to smile. He’d do anything to help the Dunmer, while he could.
“I want to visit the Shrine of Azura. Will you come along?” The Dunmer asked and gently touched the Nord’s arm. It would be fine, if the Nord didn’t want to come. Ciel’nn was certain he’d make it on his own.
The young warrior nodded. “Of course, I want to come with you. When do you want to go?” Rangalen hadn’t been at the Shrine before, so it would be exciting to see. He had heard it’s a big statue built by the Dunmer.
“Soon, but we can detour at Rorikstead, and then head to the Shrine.” Ciel’nn said in a thoughtful tone.
Their trip to Rorikstead was uneventful, except a lone bandit decided to attack them. He fought with the young warrior, who ended the fight with slashing at his side and stabbing through between the neck and shoulder. “Not much of a fight this one.” Rangalen said as he cleaned his sword before putting it back on his belt. “Seems there are less of his kind.”
Ciel’nn had watched the short fight and he had to admit to be impressed. “You have become ruthless, Rang.” He replied, looking at the dead bandit. Ruthless indeed. “I’d still lose to you, if we’d duel.” He heard the young warrior saying. Ciel’nn had to look up to his friend and smirked. What a fascinating idea! “Way too fast you’d lose. Do you really want to try it? I’d hate to hurt you.”
And, it was the truth - he’d need to stop himself to go with the fullest of his speed and swings. The duel would be over in less than minute, or so Ciel’nn thought. He wouldn’t need to leave so soon. There would be time for dueling, if the Nord so wanted it. “Maybe they are afraid of the Bear-heads.” He referred to Rangalen’s earlier comment about the bandit.
“It would be some good practice.” Rangalen replied with a smile. It would be exciting, too. He’d been hurt before, and he’d get to feel personally how the Dunmer fought. Or, perhaps he just wanted to spend more time with him. The smirk on the Dunmer’s face told him it was going to be alright. “You okay with that?”
“Well, since you’re up for it, I’m all for it! Maybe if we put on a show, they’ll give us a free dinner.” Ciel’nn mused as they arrived at Rorikstead. “Let’s go ask the Inn keeper. It’s going to be fun!”
“Hey, you two!” Heddsen came to the two friends.
“Heddsen, nice to see you doing well. Where’s Elissan?” Rangalen asked. He had a strange feeling as he looked around the town. It was quiet, but it was obvious due to the attacks.
“They took her! Damn them all!” The man replied, almost tearing up. “They took Elissan away and killed all the guards. We have nothing left!”
“Taken by whom?” Ciel’nn asked in a dark tone, frowning. He had a hunch about who, but hoped he was wrong.
“We don’t know, but they had these Bear-head type of helmets.” Heddsen groaned. “I might not see my daughter ever again! All is lost! Who even are they?”
Ciel’nn and Rangalen exchanged glances. Ciel’nn’s gaze had the darkness in it, brooding once more. The young warrior thought he’d understand it. This was bad. No, actually it was worse than they had thought. There wasn’t a lot to do, if at all - they didn’t knew anything about them. Other than that they used the Bear-Head helmets and acted like raiding bandits. Ciel’nn frowned. There’s got to be more than that. Could they be… part of the Brethren ring? If only Sarade were here!
“I’m really sorry, Heddsen. We know only as much as you do. I really wish we could help.” Rangalen said in a sincere tone. He wondered if they’d duel anymore as the Dunmer seemed to be in thoughts again. He watched Heddsen nodding sadly and walking back to the house. The young warrior took a deep breath. “Are we going to do something?” Honestly he had no idea what to do - this was beyond his limits. “We do nothing.” He heard the Dunmer’s low tone reply. “All we can do is stay over a night, and move on.”
Despite what had happened Ciel’nn decided that they would have the friendly duel. They had taken a place to duel nearby Rorikstead. He was holding his sword in a defensive pose and nodded to the young warrior. “Come on, then.” He smiled. “It’s better that you attack first.”
The young warrior stood in his place, having only sword in his hand. “I’ll try not to cut you down.” He smiled back. “Ha ha! Like you can!” The Dunmer laughed with a purr. Rangalen enjoyed the laugh and charged at the mer.
Their swords clashed a couple of times before Ciel’nn side stepped and avoided the young warrior’s slash. “Good, try faster now.” He prompted his friend with a cocky expression. This is fun - it’s just like back home with Ce’vale. “Come on.” He watched the young warrior coming at him with some determination. That’s more like it. He took the blows and parried slashes that Rangalen threw at him. “My turn, prepare!” Ciel’nn announced.
The young warrior had almost a full time job to meet the mer’s slashes. He managed to block and parry several attacks that were only half powered. While at it, Rangalen paid attention how the Dunmer moved; swift and in fluid motion. So graceful. “Parry!” He heard Ciel’nn nearly shouting, before he realized he had lost the duel. The mer did a quick move to swing the Nord’s sword on the side and poked on the side with two fingers.
“You’ve lost!” Ciel’nn smirked. “Look at my fallen warrior now.” He joked as he stepped away, making a theatrical spin around, spreading his arms. For a moment he didn’t worry about a thing and all seemed to be well. “How was it, Rang? Want to re-duel?”
Losing to a friend didn’t sting as bad as losing to a brutish warrior. There was something to be learned from this. Ciel’nn really had him and won. “It was exciting.” Rangalen smiled between his breaths. “You really are something, Ciel’nn.” And, he really meant it. He could see the mer winning in some kind of arena and win fortunately. “A re-duel would be great, if we had more time. You wanted to go the shrine today, right?”
“Flatterer! I’m just a nobody, who knows how to fight.” Ciel’nn protested even though he knew he was good in combat, but only to a certain degree. Still, he gave the young warrior a shy smile. The Nord looked at him like he was some kind of hero. Pfft! He wasn’t a hero at all. “I’m not in a hurry, but maybe in a few days. We can stay here a little longer, you want to re-duel and lose again.” He teased.
Rangalen could only smile. He took in everything that Ciel’nn did and said to him. He was going to miss the Dunmer and dreaded the day he’d be leaving.
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