U.O.T.W. Chapter 320 Firestorm

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    The new passageway held little of interest. A few spider webs littered the corners and had slowly, overtime trailed across the ceiling. Rubble blocks laid scattered upon the ground amidst trails of dust. Aela, who was leading, knelt down as she examined an area of the floor.
    “Footprints, they’re old ones. Probably from the groups of Imperials and Stormcloaks that died months ago”.

     

    Sotek walked up to her then started sniffing at the air.
    “There’s something else, a forge”.

     

    Aela stood up then peered along the corridor. Her jaw slowly fell open as she tried to get her mind around Sotek’s statement.
    “Ermm, yea… there’s a forge down there to the right. How in blazes did you know that?”

     

    Sotek smirked as he walked off in front, taking the lead as he did so. “You’re kidding right? The whole passageway stinks of it. Forge, metal, leathers, smelter and sweat. Come on, let’s take a look”. They followed the passageway and true enough as it entered a walkway, Sotek saw a stairwell leading down towards an old decrepit forge. In front of them was a platform encased in bars, preventing anyone from straying off it. The structure reminded Sotek of the one he saw at the temple of Meridia when Kul-et claimed the sword, Dawnbreaker.
    “Typical, Kul-et’s sword would be so bloody handy right now”.

     

    Aela found herself snapping at him but quickly regretted her harsh reply. “Yes, well, we don’t have it do we? So there”. She cast a quick glance across the walkway then to the room below. She quietly sighed then looked over towards Sotek who was looking slightly glum at being scorned. “Hey Sotek, do you recognise that room below us?”

     

    Sotek rolled his eyes back at the She-wolf’s snap but then he shrugged off his degrading mood as quickly as Aela had caused it and moved over towards her. He looked down at the room below them as a flash of recognition struck him.
    “That’s where we first entered isn’t it?”

     

    She smiled slightly as she nodded.
    “Yep. Soon we’ll reach the crypt. Then we’ll be dealing with draugr as well as cultists. I ermm... Sorry I snapped at you just now”.

     

    Sotek paused and held his breath for a few seconds as if he was weighing something up. He gave her a slight hug and mumbled quietly. “Forget it”. But then he looked across the walkway and stepped towards it slightly. “Aela, what’s down there?”

     

    She looked across to where he was pointing then started making her way across.
    “Not much, it’s a dead end, come and have a look”. She led him across the walkway and true enough the walkway came to an abrupt stop at a small empty chamber.

     

    Sotek glanced at one of the walls which were covered in webs and stepped closer to it. With his axe, he cut across a section which caused the webbing to collapse under its weight of spider silk, dust and crumbling rubble to reveal a small alcove where an old decrepit chest sat. Both Aela and Sotek could tell it hadn’t felt the touch of a warm hand for many years.
    “I didn’t know that was there”. Aela said with a sense of keenness to her voice. The new discovery relit the fire within her, giving her reason to believe that they might actually succeed in their long-forsaken task. “We’ll let Farkas take a look”. Sotek nodded but then he found himself being pushed into the wall as Aela grabbed him and forced him backwards as she started kissing him.

     

    Sotek responded to her touch and his hands quickly held her, but then slowly they lowered down her back forcing her to shudder as his clawed fingertips caressed her spine. The roles were quickly reversed as Sotek’s hands shifted to her wrists as she was turned around and gently pinned to the wall with her back to him. He started kissing the back of her neck, lightly digging in his spiked teeth, causing her to shudder a second time as his hands moved down her body to her hips. She felt his groin press against her backside as he moved tight against her, making her take a gasp of breath. Although his hands were now gripping her hips tightly, her hands were still outstretched as if they were tied up against the wall.

     

    She couldn’t help but let out a moan as Sotek rubbed against her, but her protests fell on deaf ears and her voice had little strength.
    “Stop, no. Stop, let me go...”

     

    Sotek whispered in her ear as he lovingly kissed her neck once more.

    “But I’m not holding you, am I?”

     

    Her eyes shot open and as she looked as her wrists, she realised he was telling the truth. He had released his hold earlier and for a few minutes there was actually nothing holding her arms in place except for herself. She turned around and kissed him passionately as she held him tight.
    “By Hircine, I want you right now”.

     

    Sotek paused as he looked back along the walkway towards where the others were as if he was trying to sum up their chances. Farkas however took matters into his own hands.
    “Hey, are you there? What the hell are you doing? It’s a dead end for crying out loud”.

     

    Aela called back but her voice was broken as she was out of breath. “Ther... Ermm... Far... Farkas, there’s a chest...” She broke away from Sotek who was now smiling at her and composed herself for a few seconds. “Vilkas, come and check this bloody chest, damn you”. She then quickly kissed Sotek once more. “And you stay the hell away from me! I never used to be like this, damn it”.

     

    Sotek smirked as he quickly forced her into the wall a second time.
    “Tell me you don’t like it”.

     

    She strained against his grip, but he was far stronger and wouldn’t let her go. She then changed tactics and grabbed his groin as she threatened to squeeze her hand to try to make him back away, but he stood there persistently. She knew he was fully aroused and wanted her, but she still acted defiant.
    “I need to be the one in control. I tell you when, you don’t tell me! You might like this, but I don’t. Stop it, right now”.

     

    Sotek released her with one hand but then her eyes shot wide open as she froze from Sotek’s touch. His hand slipped inside her armour and grabbed her by the crotch. She moaned out loudly as he pushed his fingers against her. He could feel her heat through her loincloth as he held her there for a few seconds. Then without releasing her, he leaned against her and whispered in her ear.
    “Liar!”

     

    He slid his hand out from her armour and backed away as Vilkas’s footsteps echoed across the room. Aela stood there stunned and completely out of breath as she panted heavily. Vilkas walked into the chamber to see Aela standing there against the wall. She turned to him with a gormless expression on her face and simply pointed to the chest in the alcove. Then she slowly walked back along the pathway towards Farkas, almost as if she was somewhere else.

     

    Sotek stood there for a few moments as he composed himself as well. He found himself to be short of breath, so he just watched Vilkas try to unlock the chest. After a minute and a few lock picks later, Vilkas triumphantly shouted out as he lifted the lid to the chest.
    “I’ve done it, there’s...”

     

    He peeked inside the chest but then groaned as he threw to the wayside an old pair of boots which made Sotek laugh loudly.
    “This place is trying to tell you something”.

     

    He cursed out as he slammed the lid down.
    “Yea? Go screw yourself”.

     

    Sotek smirked as he walked back towards Aela and Farkas, he whispered to himself but Aela heard him and immediately started blushing.
    “No thanks, I’d rather screw someone else”. He gave Aela a sneaky wink which made her blush even more, forcing her to turn away from him.

     

    Aela found herself once again having to regain control of her emotions. She quickly decided to make it easy for herself, but then wished she had thought it through more than what she actually did.
    “Right, we’ll split up. Vilkas you’re with me, Farkas you’re with Sotek, stay together. Let’s go”.

     

    Sotek, who was new to the fort was none the wiser, but both Farkas and Vilkas looked at each other then back at Aela. Farkas looked around the forge which was down the stairway below them then held his hand up. Aela rolled her eyes then angrily turned to him.
    “What?”

     

    “We’re splitting up?”

     

    “Yes, you moron, we’re splitting up. Why? What’s the problem?”

     

    Vilkas glanced down at the forge then across to Aela as well, he headed to the stairway then pointed to the kitchen area which was situated in the next chamber. The only route to it was through a narrow passageway alongside the forge.
    “But there’s only one path. What are we supposed to do? We search one side of the forge while they search the other side or what?”

     

    “Well of course there’s only one path”. Aela groaned in reply. It slowly dawned on her as to what she had done. “There’s only one route to the end, isn’t there? So we’ll ermm... Follow me, Sotek you take my rear... The rear”.

     

    Sotek smirked as he stared right in Aela’s eyes. He flashed his eyebrows at her quickly as he spoke far louder than was necessary.

    “Take the rear, gladly”.

     

    She glared at him but then as she started walking carelessly down the steps, she inadvertently slipped on the edge. The Huntress grabbed hold of the wall to prevent herself from falling. With a loud curse, she continued her descent.
    “Fuck, damn you! Come on”. Sotek smiled to himself then followed the others as they headed down to the forge.

     

    The forge was stone cold, but as Sotek examined it, he soon realised that it had seen some use fairly recently.
    “This has been used a few months ago, probably by our warring friends back there. Look, there’s little dust in the coals”. He examined the workbench and quickly pocketed a few iron bars and even found two silver ones. “These will come in handy. I’ll be able to make some rings with them”.

     

    Aela studied a large wooden cabinet then prized open the locked door with an old iron sword that was left lying around. Bits of decrepit rotten wood broke away, allowing Aela to peek inside.
    “Oh wow, look at this”. She pulled out a black bow, which immediately caught the attention of both Farkas and Vilkas.

     

    Vilkas weighed it in his hand as he examined it.
    “Is it a Daedric one?”

     

    Sotek shook his head as he took the bow from Vilkas. He pulled back the bowstring as he tested it out.
    “No, it’s Ebony. But close enough”.

     

    The moment Farkas heard the name ‘Ebony’, he immediately became much more interested in the bow.
    “Ermm… Aela, Sotek… Can I have it?”

     

    Sotek and Vilkas both looked at each other, but Aela took the bow and handed it over to Farkas.
    “Well it’s better than your bow I suppose, but you don’t really use them much”.

     

    He took it and played with it in his hands as his eyes focused on Aela’s feet. He kept looking down at the ground as he replied to her.
    “It’s... It’s not for me... It’s for someone else”.

     

    Aela thought for a few seconds until she twigged on who Farkas had in mind. She rested her hand on his shoulder as she whispered to him.

    “She’ll like it, why not”. She smiled at Sotek then a second later turned her attention to the next room. “There’s nothing else here, let’s go”.

     

    The moment they entered the kitchen, Aela held her nose tightly.
    “Oh gods what a stench, it’s almost like cider”.

     

    Vilkas prized off a lid to a large wooden barrel, then started choking.
    “By the Nine, it is cider, or close enough. Hey Sotek, you want an apple?”

     

    Sotek covered his face with a cloth as he peered inside the barrel. It was half full of rotting apples which stank terribly as the juices and fruit started fermenting.
    “Urrgg. No thanks”.

     

    Aela laughed at the face he pulled but then her attention turned to a small wooden box on a shelf. She pulled it down then lifted the lid and cried out with joy.
    “And she strikes again. I got me an amethyst. Vilkas has two pairs of old boots, Farkas has the bow and Sotek’s got a barrel of apples. Enjoy them won’t you”.

     

    Sotek looked her over then glanced back at the casket.
    “Watch it or we’ll shove your ass in the barrel”.

     

    She flicked him on the nose, making him blink several times.
    “Don’t you even think about it”.

     

    The next doorway opened to a short passageway that led to a large room which was almost free of any rubble, unlike the rest of the complex. Various sarcophaguses were spread around and there was a short stairway heading up to the second floor of the room. It was in this section that had an alter on top of a small platform in the middle of it.



    Sotek stared at the stone coffins then decided to have some fun. He rapidly changed his form and within moments Scarface towered over Aela. She looked up at him as he snorted at her, after sniffing deeply at her hair.
    “Oh, thank you very much. Don’t you dare dribble on me, you great troll”. She turned around and studied him for a few seconds, admiring his size and build. “You can see why Red’s attracted to him, can’t you?”

     

    Vilkas looked at the pair of them then shook his head.
    “Aela, pay attention to what’s going on”.

     

    She nodded but then found herself wanting to change so Red could be close to him. She shook her head wildly to try to snap out of it then turned to Vilkas.
    “Sorry, I’ll keep my eyes on his balls, ermm ball. Oh, screw this!” She drew her bow then entered the room as she tried to ignore the sniggering coming from behind her.

     

    Farkas whispered to Vilkas out of earshot as he pointed to her walking off.
    “Someone’s feeling hot and bothered”.

     

    Vilkas slowly nodded.
    “Yea well, they’ll have some time together once they set off towards High Hrothgar. We’ll have a day at Riften then wait for them in Ivarstead”.

     

    As soon as Scarface and Aela entered the room, there were ominous cracks coming from the sarcophaguses. Three stone lids heaved then shattered, spraying Aela with dust and small pieces of rubble.
    “Oww, damn it, I’m blind”. She struggled to see, but she couldn’t stop blinking as her eyes watered profusely from the dust and grit which caught her unaware. She held her bow with one hand as she tried to clear her eyes, but it was useless. Having no choice, and not being able to see to move out of the way, she dropped to the floor as she tried desperately once more to see. She felt a hand tug at her arm as Farkas pulled her away from the draugr Deathlord, who were now rapidly approaching her position.

     

    “Aela, stay there, we’ll deal with them”. Farkas stated as he advanced towards the three foes. He drew his sword and shield as Vilkas swung his two-handed sword in an arc in anticipation of the upcoming fight. Scarface simply stepped in front of them and grabbed the closest Deathlord with both paws. He pinned the Deathlord’s arms to his sides before lifting him up off the floor by several feet. After Scarface stared at the undead’s face, he shook the body violently for a good several seconds. Within moments the Deathlord’s weapons fell to the floor leaving it defenceless. It shouted out at Scarface but the shout did little except to enforce the werewolf’s interest in the target which he had hold of.

     

    Scarface returned the shout with a howling savage roar of his own, smothering the Deathlord with spittle and saliva as it sprayed over the Deathlord’s face. Scarface stopped as he stared in the undead lifeless eyes of the Deathlord then he quite suddenly and savagely bit into the head, tearing off the face with his long razor sharp fangs, with a single bite. He held the now lifeless decayed corpse up for several seconds then dropped the corpse on the stone ground.

     

    Aela, who had managed to clear her eyes from the dust and debris, came alongside him. She drew her bow but before she took aim at any target, she looked up at Scarface who was looking oddly at her.
    “What?”

     

    The next second Scarface spat out the remains of the decayed face which he had chewed off, at Aela’s feet. She screwed her face up then stepped backwards a few feet.
    “Ewww, that’s disgusting, you bloody animal”. The next second she slapped him across his back as she moved position. She rapidly fired off three shots against the Deathlord which Farkas was fighting, while Scarface joined in the attack with Vilkas against the remaining Deathlord.

     

    The Deathlord swung his sword viciously against Vilkas’s own sword and forced him back a few feet but then the Deathlord froze as his arm was crushed in a vice like grip. It looked up behind its shoulder to where Scarface was standing, to see his arm being restrained by the werewolf. For whatever reason, Scarface decided he wanted it for himself and promptly tore it off by the shoulder. His reasoning became clear when he slammed the arm into the other Deathlord who had various arrows protruding from his chest, knocking him to the ground. Within moments Vilkas and Farkas were standing over their respective enemies. Both Companions thrust their swords into the two chests of the undead assailants, bringing the combat to a swift end.

     

    Scarface dropped to all four paws and circled a draugr as he sniffed at the corpse. Aela watched him for a few moments until she realized he was contemplating on feeding off the corpse. She walked towards him and gently held his cheek as she led him away.
    “No, we don’t feed off undead, it’s not good for you. Here, eat”. She opened her pack and produced several pieces of meat which she had kept wrapped up. Scarface tore into the meat as he greedily fed.

     

    A few minutes later, Sotek changed back, he immediately screwed his face up as he spat on the stone floor.
    “Yuck”.

     

    “You’re not supposed to feed off undead you idiot”. Aela stated while she chuckled at him. She took a flask of water and passed it over to him which he used to wash his mouth out.

     

    “Now you tell me. Give me a kiss”.

     

    She threw him a filthy look as she shook her head at him.
    “No, fuck off, you corpse eater”.

     

    Sotek jokingly growled at her, but then pointed to a corpse laying on the floor.
    “Well when did you ever say, oh by the way Sotek we don’t feed off undead?”

     

    Aela smirked as she wrapped her arms around him.
    “Oh, by the way Sotek, we don’t feed off the undead, ok?” He leaned into her ear then hissed loudly, making her cringe. “Oh, you bastard”.

     

    Above them, looking down from the shrine was Farkas. He called down to Sotek before the argument with Aela got out of hand, as it usually would.
    “There’s a soul gem here, it’s a big one too. And there’s a piece of armour as well”.

     

    Aela angrily called up to him.
    “Is it a black one?”

     

    He looked initially confused as he lifted then chest piece up to show them while he called down back to her.
    “No, it’s ancient Nordic. You know? Brown leather with gold trimmings?”

     

    Aela couldn’t help but swear at him as she clenched her teeth.
    “You fucking raven starver! The soul gem? Is it black?”

     

    He paused then glanced back at the altar before responding to her scornful snarling.
    “Raven Starver? That’s a bit harsh… No, it’s a big bluish type one”.

     

    She turned to Sotek as if she was waiting for him to explain.
    “It sounds like it’s a grand soul gem. That’ll be useful”. He headed up the steps and pocketed the gem, then he looked over the armour that Farkas had found. “That’s it, a female chest piece. Thanks for that”. He took the armour and carefully folded it up before storing it in his pack. “Only seven more pieces to find”.

     

    Vilkas groaned as he headed through the next passageway.
    “Only seven, gees!”

     

    Aela gave him a few slight shoves, pushing him closer towards the doorway with each one.
    “Hey, it’s not that bad”.

     

    “Get off, quit shoving me”.

     

    He went to push her back but Sotek intervened.
    “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. He might not like it”.

     

    Vilkas held her by the arm as he faced off to Sotek.
    “Who wouldn’t?”

     

    Sotek leaned towards him and whispered evilly at him.
    “Scarface”.

     

    Vilkas huffed as he shoved Aela towards the Argonian.
    “You keep her under control”.

     

    Sotek laughed as he gently pushed Aela forwards.
    “You need to learn to play with other children”.

     

    She smiled broadly as she turned towards Vilkas.
    “I can play with other children. I like to play ‘Bite in the dark’ ”.

     

    Vilkas groaned out loudly as he gave up trying to win one over Aela. He entered the passageway but then quickly came to a stop.
    “Hey, guys”.

     

    Aela rolled her eyes as she shook her head.
    “We’re not falling for it, there’s nothing there”.

     

    He stepped back into the room but this time he completely blanked Aela as he turned his attention towards Sotek.
    “Three draugr Deathlords. There, at the end of the corridor. I’m sure of it”.

     

    Aela stepped right in front of Sotek as she glared at Vilkas.

    “Bullshit”.

     

    Sotek manhandled her as he shifted her to his side.
    “I’ll have a look”. He sneaked into the corridor, watching out for any signs of movement, but he couldn’t see a thing. Then, after a few seconds he could make out the shape of three Deathlords, just like Vilkas had said. He turned back towards the others but then he stopped as he smelt something else. Kneeling down, he felt the stone floor, then after confirming his initial thought, he moved back a few feet then prepared to attack.

     

    Aela was still arguing with Vilkas when all of a sudden, Sotek shouted out, surprising them as well as the three draugr.
    “YOL TOOR”. His fire breath shout roared along the corridor catching the pools of oil alight as it swept along the passageway. All three draugr received the full blast of the flames as it enveloped them completely. Several explosions filled the corridor as oil burners ignited adding burning oil to the inferno.

     

    Sotek had no time to cheer as the whole corridor exploded in flames. Knowing he had made a terrible miscalculation on the amount of oil in the corridor, and hence, fearing for his own life, he shot around the corner and slammed into Aela who was running towards him. They both fell in a heap on the floor with Aela trapped underneath him, screaming at him.
    “What the hell! Get off me you bloody reptile, get the hell off”. She started hitting him and shoving, but until she calmed down there was little Sotek could do as his arms were trapped underneath her, and his weight on top of her, pinned her down.

     

    He grabbed hold of her back then rolled over, forcing her on top of himself. Aela realised what he was trying to do, so she simply rolled with him. Vilkas however, found the whole incident highly amusing.
    “Really! Now? Can’t you both wait until your alone?”

     

    Aela, who was now on top of Sotek, pushed herself up to a sitting position, straddling him. She glared at both Farkas and Vilkas who were smirking at one another.
    “Shut the fuck up”. She then looked down at Sotek, who blankly stared back at her, and slapped him across the face. “You moron”. She then climbed off and spent the next few moments straightening her armour.

     

    Farkas, who was still laughing, grimaced from the slap Sotek received.

    "Well, was it worth it?”

     


    Sotek stepped back a bit from Aela as his eyes moved all over her body.

    “Definitely”.

     

    Aela’s eyes screwed up as she growled at him, but then she started laughing as well. She gave him a slight hug as she apologized.
    “Sorry about the slap”.

     

    Sotek rested his hands on the lower part of her back as he returned the apology.
    “I’m sorry for running into you, I didn’t expect the corridor to ignite like that”.

     

    She looked over his shoulder at the passageway then started walking towards it.
    “Yea it was kinda loud. Let’s see what carnage you caused”.

     

    Both Farkas and Vilkas approached Sotek and whispered to him.
    “You don’t look that sorry. Are you? Really?”

     

    Sotek smirked at them both the moment Aela disappeared around the corner.
    “You got to be joking, right? Aela sat on top, with her knees either side of me. Why the hell would I be sorry?”

     

    That moment Aela stuck her head back around the corner.
    “I heard that, you slimy reptile!”

     

    Sotek’s only response was a loud ominous ‘gulp’. But he was careful enough to make sure that he was behind the others as they joined Aela in the corridor.

     

    The passageway stank of burnt flesh, from various corpses that littered the floor. Aela pointed to one as she walked cautiously past it.
    “You’ve got no respect for the dead, have you?”

     

    Sotek just huffed as he made his way towards the three dead draugr who perished in the firestorm which smothered the corridor.
    “Hey, that grill at the end!”

     

    Aela shoved him as she walked in front of him.

    "That’s the grill which I propped up. You know? Where we were supposed to go past? But some pathetic reptilian slug wanted to look at an axe trap. That’s the grill!”

     

    Sotek groaned quietly then turned towards the others.
    “Ok, which one of you is the reptilian slug?”

     

    Farkas just smirked at Sotek, but he didn’t realise that Vilkas was standing just behind him, grinning wildly as he pointed to Farkas’s back.

     

    Aela who saw the whole thing, laughed then started examining the three draugr. Meanwhile Sotek and the others searched the rest of the passageway. Farkas stuck his head up and called out to the group.

    “There’s a pair of boots here!”

     

    Aela burst out laughing as she replied.
    “Give them to Vilkas!”

     

    Vilkas screwed his face up, as he mumbled quietly.
    “Give them to Vilkas… Ahh piss off, mammoth arse!”

     

    Instead, Farkas took them to Sotek, and handed them over to him.
    “Are these what you’re looking for?”

     

     

    Sotek examined them carefully then smiled broadly.
    “Actually, yes they are. That’s one set. Thanks”.

     

    Aela smiled as she headed down a few steps which stopped by a large black stoned door.
    “See Vilkas we’re getting there. Speaking of getting there, Sotek…” She then spoke as creepily as she could. “Welcome to the crypt”. She turned the handle and pushed open the door then, after glancing back at Sotek, she entered the dark chamber which laid beyond.

     

     

     

     

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